Star Trek: The Next Generation s06e24 Episode Script
Second Chances
Captain's log, stardate 46915.
2.
The Enterprise|is orbiting Nervala IV, waiting for an opportunity|to retrieve scientific data left there by Starfleet researchers when they evacuated|eight years ago.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
- Any requests tonight?|- Night Bird.
- Any requests?|- Night Bird.
Ladies and gentlemen, Night Bird.
|One, two What was that all about? Will's been trying to get this piece|right for ten years.
He's never made it through the solo.
Here it comes.
- Data to Cmdr Riker.
|- Go ahead.
- You are needed on the bridge.
|- On my way.
Saved by the bell.
- You wanted to see me?|- Yes, sir.
We can transport to the surface|sooner than anticipated.
Is the distortion field|rephasing early? No, sir.
Using the Potemkin's logs|from the original evacuation, Cmdr La Forge and l|modified the transporters.
We can beam out|through higher distortion? Transporters are more efficient|than those used eight years ago.
That's a good thing.
I almost|didn't make it off the surface.
- When can we start?|- 97 minutes.
- How long will the window be open?|- 26 minutes.
After that, the field will rephase.
That's not much time|to retrieve the database.
The proximity to the sun will create|two windows in the next three days.
- Let's hope that's enough.
|- It has to be.
The next window|will not occur for eight years when the planet's orbit will bring it|close enough to the sun.
OK.
Notify the away team|we're going in ahead of schedule.
Aye, sir.
This is different than I remember.
- This place was a mess.
|- Commander.
- Someone was here.
|- A ship could have crashed.
The survivors may have taken refuge.
Commander, someone is approaching.
Humanoid.
|40 metres due east and closing.
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 civilisations, .
.
to boldly go|where no one has gone before.
- Who are you?|- Who are you? Cmdr William Riker, from|the Federation Starship Enterprise.
That's not possible.
I'm Will Riker.
May I ask how you got here? Eight years ago,|I came to evacuate this station.
- What ship were you on?|- The Potemkin.
Why did you not return|with the others? I was the last one out.
The distortion field|interfered with the transport.
They lost the signal lock on me.
When I tried to contact the ship,|I couldn't get through.
Starfleet will have recorded|that I was lost on that day.
That's not what happened.
I was|the last one out and I made it back.
You don't believe me? It's not that we don't believe you.
It's just hard to see|how both stories could be true.
- Will you let our doctor check you?|- Of course.
Mr Worf, take him to sickbay|and notify the Captain.
Let's get to work.
- Worf to Enterprise.
Two to beam up.
|- Stand by.
Looks like you fractured your arm.
I was doing some repairs|when an earthquake hit.
I got caught in a rockslide.
|I had to set it myself.
Jean-Luc Picard.
Lt Will Riker.
I hope you understand|I'll need to verify your claim.
Yes, sir.
Genetically, he is indistinguishable|from Cmdr Riker.
Could there be|some sort of cloning involved here? I don't think so.
No genetic drift.
- But it's not conclusive.
|- I compared their brain scans.
Brain patterns|are as unique as fingerprints.
Except for minor differences,|theirs are identical.
- Can't brain patterns be cloned?|- No.
They're determined by experience,|mostly from childhood.
How can two grown men share|the same childhood experiences? It doesn't make any sense.
I am Will Riker.
I don't know who or what made it back|to the Potemkin, but it wasn't me.
Lieutenant, our Chief Engineer is|checking the logs of the Potemkin.
Perhaps that will shed some light|on the matter.
Don't worry.
|We will get to the bottom of this.
In the meantime,|you will be taken to your quarters.
- Try and make yourself comfortable.
|- I will.
The replicators on the station|don't work.
It's been a while|since I've had a decent meal.
Doctor.
There was a massive energy surge|in the distortion field just as you tried to beam out.
The Transporter Chief tried|to compensate with a second beam.
An interesting approach.
He must have been planning|to reintegrate the two patterns.
Actually, it wasn't really necessary.
Cmdr Riker's pattern maintained|its integrity with just the one beam.
- He made it back.
|- And the second beam? The Chief shut it down, but it was|reflected back to the surface.
And another William Riker|materialised there.
How did the second pattern|maintain its integrity? The containment beam had the same|phase differential as the field.
- Which of them is real?|- That's the thing.
Both.
You were both materialised|from a complete pattern.
Until that moment,|you were one person.
But you and Lt Riker have lived|different lives for eight years.
You are now very different people.
|It's like meeting someone's twin.
But, no matter how strange|it may seem to us, we now have two Will Rikers|on board.
As Lt Riker|is with us for several days, we should do everything we can|to make him comfortable and welcome.
We still have to retrieve|the database.
The computer on the station|is not operational.
Many of its components|have been removed.
Lt Riker used them to keep|the radiation shield operational.
Can it be repaired, at least|enough to access the database? Without knowing what he did,|it's tough.
- Perhaps he can help.
|- He was alone for a long time.
I'm hesitant to let him go back|until evaluation.
- I'll talk to him.
|- Thank you, Counsellor.
Come in.
Hello, Will.
Imzadi.
- Will|- I never thought I'd see you again.
We need to talk.
- You're on board because of him.
|- No.
Cmdr Riker and I are friends.
Close friends, but nothing more.
Why don't we sit down? Do you remember the last time|we saw each other? Like yesterday.
|The Janaran Falls on Betazed.
It was the day before you started|on the Potemkin.
- We were going to meet on Risa.
|- We never did.
I know.
No, what I mean is,|Cmdr Riker and I never did.
You see, he earned a promotion|very quickly.
I know that, too.
"For exceptional valour during|the evacuation of Nervala IV.
" I've been looking|at his service record.
He chose to make his career|a priority.
There wasn't much time|for anything else.
We kept in touch,|but we didn't see each other again until we were posted here|two years later.
By then, our feelings for each other|had changed.
We've served together for six years.
Things never went back|to the way they used to be.
I had a lot of time on my hands|down on that station.
There were days I was so lonely,|I thought I might lose my mind.
Do you know how I made it through? I thought if I hung on|for one more day, they'd rescue me.
Maybe I'd see you again.
I guess things don't always work out|the way you expect.
I know this isn't|what you were hoping for.
But you can make a future|for yourself.
Thanks.
Capt Picard wanted me to find out if you'd help us|retrieve the station's database.
I reconfigured it so many times,|they can't make head or tails of it.
- I'd be happy to help.
|- Do you feel up to it? - Absolutely.
|- Good.
I'll tell the Captain.
Well, I have to go.
Deanna.
I know it's been a long time|since we've been together.
I know your feelings have changed.
Mine haven't.
I can't just give up.
|I'd like to be with you again.
Goodnight, Will.
Phase distortion is dropping.
|The next window opens in 42 seconds.
- How long will we have?|- 36 minutes.
We are losing time.
|Lt Riker should be here.
Computer, locate Cancel inquiry.
You were supposed to report|at 0800 hours.
Sorry.
It's been a while since|you had to punch a clock.
Let's go.
Energise.
I've shut down the consoles.
I re-routed|almost everything through here.
Check out the primary EPS system.
Get some power to these consoles.
I shunted the database|to the main core.
- Can we access it here?|- There's been seismic activity.
If the links were damaged,|we may not be able to.
I'll try to tap|into the command pathways.
You see if you can access|and disable the file server.
I've been thinking,|we should let Dad know.
He'd be thrilled to know|there are two of us.
Actually, he and l|have patched things up.
I've got by for a long time|without seeing him.
I'm not about to start now.
- What made you contact him?|- I didn't.
He came on board|when I was offered the Aries.
What did he say when|you turned down your own command? He couldn't understand.
For once, he and I agree.
The EPS coupling is fused.
|The unit has to be replaced.
I've accessed the command pathways.
|The relays are functioning now.
See if that did the trick.
- It's not working.
|- The link must be damaged.
We'll have to go under the station.
We have less than three minutes.
I'll stay here.
I'll be finished|by the time the third window opens.
It's too dangerous.
|The caverns are unstable.
I've been down there dozens of times.
We'll come back|during the third window.
We'll try to access the core|from up here.
Riker to Enterprise.
|Ready to beam up.
You go.
|I'll be finished when you get back.
Hold it.
I gave you an order, Lieutenant! Computer.
Valerian root tea.
Hot.
"Meet me in transporter room three|at 1900 hours.
It's important.
" "It pulses unendingly|all through the night, Seek out the crystal|that powers our flight.
" - Can I help you, Counsellor?|- No, thank you.
"What the future holds,|no one can know, But forward we look|and forward we go.
" - The Janaran Falls.
|- I remember.
Where did you get this? I made it a couple of years ago.
- You made this?|- You should've seen the first two.
It took a while to get|a fine enough beam from the phaser.
It's lovely.
Thank you.
Can you stay and talk for a while? I wanted to remember|our last night together.
So, how does it feel|being with people again? Great.
Strange.
For a long time, I did whatever|I wanted, whenever I wanted.
- It's been hard taking orders again.
|- I can imagine.
But I'll have to get used to it|to get my career going.
Is that what you've decided? I'm the one who wanted to make|captain by the time I was 35.
I'm a little behind schedule,|I'll admit that.
It's good you don't feel set back.
I do.
Things are a little more complicated|than I had planned.
But nothing is going to stand|in my way.
There you go.
Thanks.
You don't know how many times|I thought about you.
About us.
For weeks after the evacuation, I kept thinking they'd find a way|to come back for me.
I even thought we'd meet on Risa|like we'd planned.
But days went by, and nobody came.
Then I realised why.
They thought I'd been killed.
No one came.
They thought|there was no one to come for.
So I figured that they'd had|a memorial service for me.
Somehow that made me feel better.
I can understand that.
You were there, dressed in black.
|Very flattering on you.
I'm sure I looked terrible, with my eyes|all red and swollen from crying.
Sometimes, I would look up|into the sky and I'd think, if I tried hard enough,|I could make you feel my presence.
That if I could let you know that|I was alive, maybe you'd wait for me.
I know it sounds crazy, but there|were times when I could have sworn What am I talking about? The other day, when I told you|about how Cmdr Riker and l didn't meet on Risa, what I didn't say was|how disappointed I was.
You didn't have to.
I knew.
I started to hear from him|less and less.
I knew his career|was taking him away from me.
But I didn't want to believe|it was over.
I spent a lot of time|thinking about him.
Wondering where he was,|what he was doing.
Sometimes I'd look into the sky|and imagine that he knew, .
.
and that somehow,|he could sense me thinking about him.
So, who knows? Maybe one night, we were looking up|at the same star .
.
and you were thinking about me, .
.
and in a way,|I was thinking about you.
Come.
- You wanted to see me, sir?|- Yes.
Come in.
Lt Riker has been to see me|to talk about the away mission.
He believes|we can retrieve the database by directly accessing the main|core underneath the station.
Seismic activity|makes those caverns unstable.
- In my opinion, it's risky.
|- He was there recently.
He seemed confident it could be done.
We may be able|to retrieve the database from a console inside the station.
But if not, we won't have|another chance for eight years.
Lt Riker's plan is more dangerous, but has a better chance|of succeeding.
Given the importance of the data,|it's worth the risk.
I'll look over the schematics|and draw up a mission plan.
I'm sure Lt Riker|will be happy to help.
I'll talk to him.
Sir.
- Lieutenant.
|- Sir.
I met the Captain|about your recommendation.
I would appreciate it|if you came to me first.
- I tried talking to you yesterday.
|- I rejected your plan.
- May I ask what he decided?|- To go with your recommendation.
- That's not the point.
|- Isn't it? If you think I'm coming down on you|because he overruled me, think again.
I disagree with him, but he is my commanding officer|and I follow his orders.
Just so there's no confusion, I am your commanding officer.
|I expect you to do the same.
If you can't, there's no place|for you on my away team.
Yes, sir.
There will be a meeting at 1400 hours|to draw up a mission plan.
We stayed in ten-forward|talking for hours.
- Then what happened?|- He walked me to my quarters.
- Then what happened?|- Beverly! I'm just asking.
You know it's over|between Will and me.
He's not Will.
He is Will, but|You know what I mean.
It's hard for me to separate|my feelings for them.
Deanna.
Just because things turned out how|they did between you and Cmdr Riker doesn't mean you shouldn't let things|with Lt Riker take their course.
- I knew you'd encourage me.
|- lsn't that why you brought it up? - I think I'll call it a day.
|- Beverly! Bye.
Some form of t'ai chi ch'uan? Klingon exercises, actually.
|Lt Worf teaches a class.
The forms are very similar.
|Do that again.
- You did the KoH-man-ara.
|- T'ai chi ch'uan.
The crane block.
Let's try something else.
What is that called?|Mr Worf's a very good teacher.
Hello, Will.
If you want to be with him,|you don't have to ask my permission.
The look in your eyes.
|I recognise it.
You used to have it for me.
We've both had relationships|with other people.
This is different.
|I didn't know how you'd feel.
Flattered, sort of.
This must be very strange for you.
Ever since he came on board, I find myself thinking|about the choice you and I made.
Me, too.
Do me a favour.
Be careful.
I know you and he have had problems.
That's not what I'm talking about.
If he had gotten off the planet|instead of me, don't you think he would've made|the same choices that I made? I don't want you to be hurt again.
Two pair.
Full boat.
Kings over.
I'd like to thank you both|for your generous contributions.
Come in.
I thought you'd be alone.
Excuse me.
Why don't you join us? The game is five-card draw.
Ante, please.
- Lieutenant?|- Three, please.
- Mr Worf?|- Four.
- Commander?|- I'll play these.
Dealer takes two.
You control the bet, Lieutenant.
- 50.
|- Fold.
Here's your 50.
And ten more.
You didn't take any cards.
|Why not make it a little sweeter? No, thanks.
Playing it safe? - You in?|- I will call.
Here's your ten.
|And it'll cost you another 100.
I've practised too long|to be fooled by that face.
You're bluffing.
Here's your 100.
|And 20 more.
Dealer folds.
I thought that if one thing|were clear by now, it's that you and I play differently.
Let's see who comes out on top.
I thought you'd settle for second,|Commander.
I've never settled for anything.
I know what I want.
|I know what I've got.
You'd be lucky to do so well,|Lieutenant.
Here's your 20.
- Now I know you're bluffing.
|- Are you in or not? Get this over with.
I'll call your three, and raise you|anything you've got left.
Well? Take it.
You always had the better hand.
|In everything.
Come in.
Hi.
There's something|I'd like to talk to you about.
Capt Picard has got me|a posting on the Gandhi.
Considering|I've been out of commission, it's an amazing opportunity.
- When would you leave?|- In about a week.
I see.
Deanna.
After six months,|I'm eligible to bring family aboard.
If we got married You said those exact words|before you went to the Potemkin.
I know.
I was just held up.
But if you hadn't been, what would|have happened between us? I wouldn't have made the mistake|of leaving you.
I know that.
I don't know if I can believe that.
It took me a long time to get over|what happened with Cmdr Riker.
I don't know that I want to be|in that position again.
- I would never hurt you.
|- It's not just that.
I've worked hard to make a life|on the Enterprise.
I'm happy here.
If the situation were different,|I'd stay.
But I can't.
Not while he's aboard.
I know.
- Are you saying it's over?|- No.
No.
I just don't know|if I'm ready to give up my life here.
Maybe we both need some time.
Goodnight.
Captain's log, supplemental.
The third transport window|has opened.
The away team is making their final|attempt at retrieving the database.
Once we restore the link,|shunt the database to this console.
Are you ready, Cmdr Data? - You're with me.
|- Cmdr Data's expertise It doesn't take much expertise|to repair this.
You and I can handle it.
Lieutenant, I am curious|about something.
If you met your double, would you|have difficulty interacting with him? - I think so.
|- Why? I am not easy to get along with.
But Cmdr Riker and Lt Riker are.
Yet they seem to have trouble|getting along.
I have found that humans value|their uniqueness, that sense that they are different|from everyone else.
The existence of a double|would preclude that feeling.
Could that be the source|of the friction? Perhaps it is more a matter|of seeing something in your double, something that you do not like|in yourself.
This is it.
There's the core.
- You waiting for something?|- Your orders, sir.
How should I get over there? You've been down here.
|I'm sure you know the best way.
Yes, sir.
I do.
- It's leaking ion radiation.
|- You didn't report this? It wasn't here before.
|It must have happened recently.
If we repair this conduit, we|won't have time to access the core.
Scan it now.
It's working.
The radiation levels|are dropping to normal.
Next time, don't give up so easily.
Hang on.
Come on.
Grab on.
Come on! Come on.
Climb! - I'm being pulled in.
|- Let go.
- One of us has to get out.
|- Climb.
Come on! Climb! They have restored the servo link|to the core.
Download the database.
Initiating data transfer.
Captain's log, stardate 46920.
1.
We have retrieved the database|from Nervala Station and are headed|for our rendezvous with the Gandhi.
Come in.
I hear the Gandhi is going on|a mission to the Lagana Sector.
That's right.
|It'll take four months to get there.
I won't be joining you.
I guess I'm not surprised|to hear that.
I'm just not ready|to give up my life here.
Not yet.
Come in.
- I'm sorry.
|- It's alright.
I wanted to give you something.
My quarters are full of things|that belong to both of us.
The least I can do is give you this.
- Thanks.
|- Good luck, Will.
- I might go with the name Thomas.
|- Your middle name.
I guess we are different.
|I never cared for that name.
Well, I sort of like it.
I guess I'd better get going.
I waited a long time.
|I guess I can wait a little longer.
Take care of her.
2.
The Enterprise|is orbiting Nervala IV, waiting for an opportunity|to retrieve scientific data left there by Starfleet researchers when they evacuated|eight years ago.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
- Any requests tonight?|- Night Bird.
- Any requests?|- Night Bird.
Ladies and gentlemen, Night Bird.
|One, two What was that all about? Will's been trying to get this piece|right for ten years.
He's never made it through the solo.
Here it comes.
- Data to Cmdr Riker.
|- Go ahead.
- You are needed on the bridge.
|- On my way.
Saved by the bell.
- You wanted to see me?|- Yes, sir.
We can transport to the surface|sooner than anticipated.
Is the distortion field|rephasing early? No, sir.
Using the Potemkin's logs|from the original evacuation, Cmdr La Forge and l|modified the transporters.
We can beam out|through higher distortion? Transporters are more efficient|than those used eight years ago.
That's a good thing.
I almost|didn't make it off the surface.
- When can we start?|- 97 minutes.
- How long will the window be open?|- 26 minutes.
After that, the field will rephase.
That's not much time|to retrieve the database.
The proximity to the sun will create|two windows in the next three days.
- Let's hope that's enough.
|- It has to be.
The next window|will not occur for eight years when the planet's orbit will bring it|close enough to the sun.
OK.
Notify the away team|we're going in ahead of schedule.
Aye, sir.
This is different than I remember.
- This place was a mess.
|- Commander.
- Someone was here.
|- A ship could have crashed.
The survivors may have taken refuge.
Commander, someone is approaching.
Humanoid.
|40 metres due east and closing.
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 civilisations, .
.
to boldly go|where no one has gone before.
- Who are you?|- Who are you? Cmdr William Riker, from|the Federation Starship Enterprise.
That's not possible.
I'm Will Riker.
May I ask how you got here? Eight years ago,|I came to evacuate this station.
- What ship were you on?|- The Potemkin.
Why did you not return|with the others? I was the last one out.
The distortion field|interfered with the transport.
They lost the signal lock on me.
When I tried to contact the ship,|I couldn't get through.
Starfleet will have recorded|that I was lost on that day.
That's not what happened.
I was|the last one out and I made it back.
You don't believe me? It's not that we don't believe you.
It's just hard to see|how both stories could be true.
- Will you let our doctor check you?|- Of course.
Mr Worf, take him to sickbay|and notify the Captain.
Let's get to work.
- Worf to Enterprise.
Two to beam up.
|- Stand by.
Looks like you fractured your arm.
I was doing some repairs|when an earthquake hit.
I got caught in a rockslide.
|I had to set it myself.
Jean-Luc Picard.
Lt Will Riker.
I hope you understand|I'll need to verify your claim.
Yes, sir.
Genetically, he is indistinguishable|from Cmdr Riker.
Could there be|some sort of cloning involved here? I don't think so.
No genetic drift.
- But it's not conclusive.
|- I compared their brain scans.
Brain patterns|are as unique as fingerprints.
Except for minor differences,|theirs are identical.
- Can't brain patterns be cloned?|- No.
They're determined by experience,|mostly from childhood.
How can two grown men share|the same childhood experiences? It doesn't make any sense.
I am Will Riker.
I don't know who or what made it back|to the Potemkin, but it wasn't me.
Lieutenant, our Chief Engineer is|checking the logs of the Potemkin.
Perhaps that will shed some light|on the matter.
Don't worry.
|We will get to the bottom of this.
In the meantime,|you will be taken to your quarters.
- Try and make yourself comfortable.
|- I will.
The replicators on the station|don't work.
It's been a while|since I've had a decent meal.
Doctor.
There was a massive energy surge|in the distortion field just as you tried to beam out.
The Transporter Chief tried|to compensate with a second beam.
An interesting approach.
He must have been planning|to reintegrate the two patterns.
Actually, it wasn't really necessary.
Cmdr Riker's pattern maintained|its integrity with just the one beam.
- He made it back.
|- And the second beam? The Chief shut it down, but it was|reflected back to the surface.
And another William Riker|materialised there.
How did the second pattern|maintain its integrity? The containment beam had the same|phase differential as the field.
- Which of them is real?|- That's the thing.
Both.
You were both materialised|from a complete pattern.
Until that moment,|you were one person.
But you and Lt Riker have lived|different lives for eight years.
You are now very different people.
|It's like meeting someone's twin.
But, no matter how strange|it may seem to us, we now have two Will Rikers|on board.
As Lt Riker|is with us for several days, we should do everything we can|to make him comfortable and welcome.
We still have to retrieve|the database.
The computer on the station|is not operational.
Many of its components|have been removed.
Lt Riker used them to keep|the radiation shield operational.
Can it be repaired, at least|enough to access the database? Without knowing what he did,|it's tough.
- Perhaps he can help.
|- He was alone for a long time.
I'm hesitant to let him go back|until evaluation.
- I'll talk to him.
|- Thank you, Counsellor.
Come in.
Hello, Will.
Imzadi.
- Will|- I never thought I'd see you again.
We need to talk.
- You're on board because of him.
|- No.
Cmdr Riker and I are friends.
Close friends, but nothing more.
Why don't we sit down? Do you remember the last time|we saw each other? Like yesterday.
|The Janaran Falls on Betazed.
It was the day before you started|on the Potemkin.
- We were going to meet on Risa.
|- We never did.
I know.
No, what I mean is,|Cmdr Riker and I never did.
You see, he earned a promotion|very quickly.
I know that, too.
"For exceptional valour during|the evacuation of Nervala IV.
" I've been looking|at his service record.
He chose to make his career|a priority.
There wasn't much time|for anything else.
We kept in touch,|but we didn't see each other again until we were posted here|two years later.
By then, our feelings for each other|had changed.
We've served together for six years.
Things never went back|to the way they used to be.
I had a lot of time on my hands|down on that station.
There were days I was so lonely,|I thought I might lose my mind.
Do you know how I made it through? I thought if I hung on|for one more day, they'd rescue me.
Maybe I'd see you again.
I guess things don't always work out|the way you expect.
I know this isn't|what you were hoping for.
But you can make a future|for yourself.
Thanks.
Capt Picard wanted me to find out if you'd help us|retrieve the station's database.
I reconfigured it so many times,|they can't make head or tails of it.
- I'd be happy to help.
|- Do you feel up to it? - Absolutely.
|- Good.
I'll tell the Captain.
Well, I have to go.
Deanna.
I know it's been a long time|since we've been together.
I know your feelings have changed.
Mine haven't.
I can't just give up.
|I'd like to be with you again.
Goodnight, Will.
Phase distortion is dropping.
|The next window opens in 42 seconds.
- How long will we have?|- 36 minutes.
We are losing time.
|Lt Riker should be here.
Computer, locate Cancel inquiry.
You were supposed to report|at 0800 hours.
Sorry.
It's been a while since|you had to punch a clock.
Let's go.
Energise.
I've shut down the consoles.
I re-routed|almost everything through here.
Check out the primary EPS system.
Get some power to these consoles.
I shunted the database|to the main core.
- Can we access it here?|- There's been seismic activity.
If the links were damaged,|we may not be able to.
I'll try to tap|into the command pathways.
You see if you can access|and disable the file server.
I've been thinking,|we should let Dad know.
He'd be thrilled to know|there are two of us.
Actually, he and l|have patched things up.
I've got by for a long time|without seeing him.
I'm not about to start now.
- What made you contact him?|- I didn't.
He came on board|when I was offered the Aries.
What did he say when|you turned down your own command? He couldn't understand.
For once, he and I agree.
The EPS coupling is fused.
|The unit has to be replaced.
I've accessed the command pathways.
|The relays are functioning now.
See if that did the trick.
- It's not working.
|- The link must be damaged.
We'll have to go under the station.
We have less than three minutes.
I'll stay here.
I'll be finished|by the time the third window opens.
It's too dangerous.
|The caverns are unstable.
I've been down there dozens of times.
We'll come back|during the third window.
We'll try to access the core|from up here.
Riker to Enterprise.
|Ready to beam up.
You go.
|I'll be finished when you get back.
Hold it.
I gave you an order, Lieutenant! Computer.
Valerian root tea.
Hot.
"Meet me in transporter room three|at 1900 hours.
It's important.
" "It pulses unendingly|all through the night, Seek out the crystal|that powers our flight.
" - Can I help you, Counsellor?|- No, thank you.
"What the future holds,|no one can know, But forward we look|and forward we go.
" - The Janaran Falls.
|- I remember.
Where did you get this? I made it a couple of years ago.
- You made this?|- You should've seen the first two.
It took a while to get|a fine enough beam from the phaser.
It's lovely.
Thank you.
Can you stay and talk for a while? I wanted to remember|our last night together.
So, how does it feel|being with people again? Great.
Strange.
For a long time, I did whatever|I wanted, whenever I wanted.
- It's been hard taking orders again.
|- I can imagine.
But I'll have to get used to it|to get my career going.
Is that what you've decided? I'm the one who wanted to make|captain by the time I was 35.
I'm a little behind schedule,|I'll admit that.
It's good you don't feel set back.
I do.
Things are a little more complicated|than I had planned.
But nothing is going to stand|in my way.
There you go.
Thanks.
You don't know how many times|I thought about you.
About us.
For weeks after the evacuation, I kept thinking they'd find a way|to come back for me.
I even thought we'd meet on Risa|like we'd planned.
But days went by, and nobody came.
Then I realised why.
They thought I'd been killed.
No one came.
They thought|there was no one to come for.
So I figured that they'd had|a memorial service for me.
Somehow that made me feel better.
I can understand that.
You were there, dressed in black.
|Very flattering on you.
I'm sure I looked terrible, with my eyes|all red and swollen from crying.
Sometimes, I would look up|into the sky and I'd think, if I tried hard enough,|I could make you feel my presence.
That if I could let you know that|I was alive, maybe you'd wait for me.
I know it sounds crazy, but there|were times when I could have sworn What am I talking about? The other day, when I told you|about how Cmdr Riker and l didn't meet on Risa, what I didn't say was|how disappointed I was.
You didn't have to.
I knew.
I started to hear from him|less and less.
I knew his career|was taking him away from me.
But I didn't want to believe|it was over.
I spent a lot of time|thinking about him.
Wondering where he was,|what he was doing.
Sometimes I'd look into the sky|and imagine that he knew, .
.
and that somehow,|he could sense me thinking about him.
So, who knows? Maybe one night, we were looking up|at the same star .
.
and you were thinking about me, .
.
and in a way,|I was thinking about you.
Come.
- You wanted to see me, sir?|- Yes.
Come in.
Lt Riker has been to see me|to talk about the away mission.
He believes|we can retrieve the database by directly accessing the main|core underneath the station.
Seismic activity|makes those caverns unstable.
- In my opinion, it's risky.
|- He was there recently.
He seemed confident it could be done.
We may be able|to retrieve the database from a console inside the station.
But if not, we won't have|another chance for eight years.
Lt Riker's plan is more dangerous, but has a better chance|of succeeding.
Given the importance of the data,|it's worth the risk.
I'll look over the schematics|and draw up a mission plan.
I'm sure Lt Riker|will be happy to help.
I'll talk to him.
Sir.
- Lieutenant.
|- Sir.
I met the Captain|about your recommendation.
I would appreciate it|if you came to me first.
- I tried talking to you yesterday.
|- I rejected your plan.
- May I ask what he decided?|- To go with your recommendation.
- That's not the point.
|- Isn't it? If you think I'm coming down on you|because he overruled me, think again.
I disagree with him, but he is my commanding officer|and I follow his orders.
Just so there's no confusion, I am your commanding officer.
|I expect you to do the same.
If you can't, there's no place|for you on my away team.
Yes, sir.
There will be a meeting at 1400 hours|to draw up a mission plan.
We stayed in ten-forward|talking for hours.
- Then what happened?|- He walked me to my quarters.
- Then what happened?|- Beverly! I'm just asking.
You know it's over|between Will and me.
He's not Will.
He is Will, but|You know what I mean.
It's hard for me to separate|my feelings for them.
Deanna.
Just because things turned out how|they did between you and Cmdr Riker doesn't mean you shouldn't let things|with Lt Riker take their course.
- I knew you'd encourage me.
|- lsn't that why you brought it up? - I think I'll call it a day.
|- Beverly! Bye.
Some form of t'ai chi ch'uan? Klingon exercises, actually.
|Lt Worf teaches a class.
The forms are very similar.
|Do that again.
- You did the KoH-man-ara.
|- T'ai chi ch'uan.
The crane block.
Let's try something else.
What is that called?|Mr Worf's a very good teacher.
Hello, Will.
If you want to be with him,|you don't have to ask my permission.
The look in your eyes.
|I recognise it.
You used to have it for me.
We've both had relationships|with other people.
This is different.
|I didn't know how you'd feel.
Flattered, sort of.
This must be very strange for you.
Ever since he came on board, I find myself thinking|about the choice you and I made.
Me, too.
Do me a favour.
Be careful.
I know you and he have had problems.
That's not what I'm talking about.
If he had gotten off the planet|instead of me, don't you think he would've made|the same choices that I made? I don't want you to be hurt again.
Two pair.
Full boat.
Kings over.
I'd like to thank you both|for your generous contributions.
Come in.
I thought you'd be alone.
Excuse me.
Why don't you join us? The game is five-card draw.
Ante, please.
- Lieutenant?|- Three, please.
- Mr Worf?|- Four.
- Commander?|- I'll play these.
Dealer takes two.
You control the bet, Lieutenant.
- 50.
|- Fold.
Here's your 50.
And ten more.
You didn't take any cards.
|Why not make it a little sweeter? No, thanks.
Playing it safe? - You in?|- I will call.
Here's your ten.
|And it'll cost you another 100.
I've practised too long|to be fooled by that face.
You're bluffing.
Here's your 100.
|And 20 more.
Dealer folds.
I thought that if one thing|were clear by now, it's that you and I play differently.
Let's see who comes out on top.
I thought you'd settle for second,|Commander.
I've never settled for anything.
I know what I want.
|I know what I've got.
You'd be lucky to do so well,|Lieutenant.
Here's your 20.
- Now I know you're bluffing.
|- Are you in or not? Get this over with.
I'll call your three, and raise you|anything you've got left.
Well? Take it.
You always had the better hand.
|In everything.
Come in.
Hi.
There's something|I'd like to talk to you about.
Capt Picard has got me|a posting on the Gandhi.
Considering|I've been out of commission, it's an amazing opportunity.
- When would you leave?|- In about a week.
I see.
Deanna.
After six months,|I'm eligible to bring family aboard.
If we got married You said those exact words|before you went to the Potemkin.
I know.
I was just held up.
But if you hadn't been, what would|have happened between us? I wouldn't have made the mistake|of leaving you.
I know that.
I don't know if I can believe that.
It took me a long time to get over|what happened with Cmdr Riker.
I don't know that I want to be|in that position again.
- I would never hurt you.
|- It's not just that.
I've worked hard to make a life|on the Enterprise.
I'm happy here.
If the situation were different,|I'd stay.
But I can't.
Not while he's aboard.
I know.
- Are you saying it's over?|- No.
No.
I just don't know|if I'm ready to give up my life here.
Maybe we both need some time.
Goodnight.
Captain's log, supplemental.
The third transport window|has opened.
The away team is making their final|attempt at retrieving the database.
Once we restore the link,|shunt the database to this console.
Are you ready, Cmdr Data? - You're with me.
|- Cmdr Data's expertise It doesn't take much expertise|to repair this.
You and I can handle it.
Lieutenant, I am curious|about something.
If you met your double, would you|have difficulty interacting with him? - I think so.
|- Why? I am not easy to get along with.
But Cmdr Riker and Lt Riker are.
Yet they seem to have trouble|getting along.
I have found that humans value|their uniqueness, that sense that they are different|from everyone else.
The existence of a double|would preclude that feeling.
Could that be the source|of the friction? Perhaps it is more a matter|of seeing something in your double, something that you do not like|in yourself.
This is it.
There's the core.
- You waiting for something?|- Your orders, sir.
How should I get over there? You've been down here.
|I'm sure you know the best way.
Yes, sir.
I do.
- It's leaking ion radiation.
|- You didn't report this? It wasn't here before.
|It must have happened recently.
If we repair this conduit, we|won't have time to access the core.
Scan it now.
It's working.
The radiation levels|are dropping to normal.
Next time, don't give up so easily.
Hang on.
Come on.
Grab on.
Come on! Come on.
Climb! - I'm being pulled in.
|- Let go.
- One of us has to get out.
|- Climb.
Come on! Climb! They have restored the servo link|to the core.
Download the database.
Initiating data transfer.
Captain's log, stardate 46920.
1.
We have retrieved the database|from Nervala Station and are headed|for our rendezvous with the Gandhi.
Come in.
I hear the Gandhi is going on|a mission to the Lagana Sector.
That's right.
|It'll take four months to get there.
I won't be joining you.
I guess I'm not surprised|to hear that.
I'm just not ready|to give up my life here.
Not yet.
Come in.
- I'm sorry.
|- It's alright.
I wanted to give you something.
My quarters are full of things|that belong to both of us.
The least I can do is give you this.
- Thanks.
|- Good luck, Will.
- I might go with the name Thomas.
|- Your middle name.
I guess we are different.
|I never cared for that name.
Well, I sort of like it.
I guess I'd better get going.
I waited a long time.
|I guess I can wait a little longer.
Take care of her.