[Art
class]
(A life class is in process, and a young woman is
posing as a semi-reclining nude)
DATA: Captain, we have arrived at Tanuga Four. The away team has
completed its survey of Doctor Apgar's work and is ready to return to
the ship.
PICARD: Good. Please. And feel free to examine the work of the other
students too.
DATA: Ensign Williams' striking style is heavily influenced by
geometric constructivism.
DATA: Lieutenant Wright has effectively fused the incongruities of the
surrealists with the irrationality of Dadaism.
(Then back to Picard's tall canvas)
DATA: Interesting.
PICARD: Oh, thank you. In what way?
DATA: While suggesting the free treatment of form usually attributed to
Fauvism, this quite inappropriately attempts to
juxtapose the disparate cubistic styles of Picasso and Leger. In
addition, the use of colour suggests a haphazard
mélange of clashing styles. Furthermore, the unsettling overtones of
proto-Vulcan influences
PICARD: Thank you, Mister Data.
DATA: You are welcome, sir. If I can be of further assistance
PICARD: No! Thank you.
Captain's log, Stardate 43610.4. After completing a
delivery of dicosilium to the Tanuga Four research station, our away
team has received an update from Doctor Nel Apgar on his efforts to
create Krieger Waves, a potentially valuable new power source.
[Bridge]
PICARD: Welcome back, Mister La Forge.
LAFORGE: Thank you, sir.
PICARD: Where's Commander Riker?
LAFORGE: He's still on the station, sir. Doctor Apgar wanted to have a
word with him.
PICARD: Any problems?
LAFORGE: Not with the scientific part of the mission, no, sir.
RIKER [OC]: Riker to Enterprise. I'm ready to leave, now.
LAFORGE: I'm sure Commander Riker will be able to explain everything,
Captain.
O'BRIEN [OC]: Stand by, Commander. Engaging transport.
[Transporter room]
O'BRIEN: Transporter Room to Engineering. I have a
power drain.
[Bridge]
(And the orbiting research station goes Big Bang!)
PICARD: Transporter Room! Is Commander Riker aboard?
O'BRIEN [OC]: Not yet, Captain. I'm having trouble clearing the signal
[Transporter room]
O'BRIEN: Transporter Room to Bridge.
[Bridge]
O'BRIEN: He's aboard.
[Transporter room]
RIKER: Why do you sound so surprised, Mister
O'Brien?
O'BRIEN: For a moment, we weren't sure you left the space station in
time.
RIKER: In time for what?
O'BRIEN: It just exploded, sir.
Captain's log, supplemental. Commander Riker has
informed me that Doctor Apgar was the only one aboard the space station
when it exploded. We remain in orbit investigating the accident.
[Transporter room]
O'BRIEN: I've gone through the whole system,
Captain. I can't find any malfunction in the transporter.
[Transporter room]
O'BRIEN [OC]: Nothing that would cause an explosion
like that
PICARD: Why was there a power drain before
transport?
O'BRIEN [OC]: I don't know, sir.
PICARD: I shall want an answer to that. I'm sure the Tanugans will too.
O'BRIEN [OC]: Yes, sir.
DATA: Captain, the radiation and debris are consistent with an overload
of the station's reactor core.
PICARD: Were there any indications of reactor core problems while you
were on the station?
LAFORGE: No, sir.
PICARD: Number One? Mister La Forge indicated that this was not an
entirely routine mission.
RIKER: It's a long story, sir, but I'm sure it doesn't have anything to
do with this accident.
WORF: Captain, Chief Investigator Krag of the Tanugan security force
requests permission to beam aboard.
PICARD: Granted. Will you escort him to the Bridge, Mister Worf.
WORF: Aye, sir.
PICARD: Perhaps you had tell me as much as possible prior to his
arrival, Number One.
[Transporter room]
(A humanoid male, hair swept up at the sides to
give a severe look)
WORF: I'm Lieutenant Worf, head of ship's Security. I will take you to
the Captain.
[Bridge]
PICARD: Chief Investigator, welcome to the
Enterprise. I'm Captain Picard. This is my First Officer, Commander
William Riker.
KRAG: Commander Riker, I am here to take you into custody.
RIKER: Custody? On what charge?
KRAG: Suspicion of murder.
RIKER: Murder? Now wait a minute, you can't come on
PICARD: Chief Investigator, we are perfectly willing to cooperate with
you, but
KRAG: Then release the prisoner for transportation to the planet.
PICARD: Let's continue this discussion in private. Number One, you have
the Bridge.
[Ready room]
PICARD: Just what is the evidence against my
officer?
KRAG: Two witnesses have come forward to describe Commander Riker's
threats against Doctor Apgar.
PICARD: Threats? I'm aware there was a private conversation between
them.
KRAG: Apparently, it was much more than just a private conversation,
but he will have a chance to prove his innocence.
PICARD: Investigator, in our system of jurisprudence, a man is innocent
until proved guilty.
KRAG: In ours, he is guilty until he is proved innocent, and you are
under our jurisdiction. If I understand the Federation
regulations on these matters, and I just happened to look them up
before I
PICARD: I am aware of Federation regulations, sir, and if you
investigate them further, you will find the captain decides if
extradition is warranted.
KRAG: Are you saying it is not?
PICARD: I'm saying, if there is sufficient cause to warrant a trial, I
will release my officer into your custody.
KRAG: Would you say you're close to your First Officer, Captain?
PICARD: That question is irrelevant here.
KRAG: Really, Captain, you cannot believe that. How can I expect a fair
and impartial decision?
PICARD: I must protect the rights of my officer.
KRAG: I can appreciate that, but you will do it on the planet, not
here. After all, what if you were suddenly to decide to leave this star
system?
PICARD: You have my word as a Starfleet officer that I will not.
KRAG: Unacceptable. Captain, you will turn him over to me for
interrogation now.
PICARD: Interrogate him here.
KRAG: We must recreate, step by step, moment by moment, all the events
leading to the explosion. We will require access to all the witnesses,
as well as the data from the lab's ground computers. It would be
impossible to accomplish here.
PICARD: Perhaps not. Mister Data, will you report to my Ready Room?
DATA [OC]: Aye, sir.
PICARD: We may be able to assist you in recreating the events.
(Data enters)
PICARD: Commander Data, this is Chief Investigator Krag. Commander, by
taking testimony from the away team and from witnesses provided by the
Investigator, would it be possible to programme the Holodeck to
recreate what happened on the science station?
DATA: It would require construction and design specifications, full
orthographic representations of the Krieger equipment, as well as
visual representations and voice analyses of the persons involved. But
it is possible.
KRAG: Very well. Arrangements will be made to provide you with all
available information. I shall return shortly with our witnesses.
PICARD: Commander, will you escort Investigator Krag to Transporter
Room Three.
[Bridge]
PICARD: Ensign Crusher, Mister La Forge, we are
going to recreate the research station here on the holodeck. I want you
to work with Commander Data on the preparations. In addition, Commander
La Forge and Commander Riker, I want you to give the computer detailed
depositions of everything you saw, everything you heard while you were
on board. Counsellor, I want you to assist me during this inquiry. My
decision about the extradition will be based upon the evidence
presented during these recreations.
RIKER: Captain, may I have a word with you?
PICARD: Under these circumstances, Number One, I think that would be
inappropriate.
Second officer's log, Stardate 43611.6. Programming
of the holodeck has taken eighteen hours eleven minutes, and is now
complete. All participants have entered their depositions. Technical
schematics and complete records from the lab's ground computers, as
well as Doctor Apgar's personal logs, have been included. The
recreations will have a nominal eight point seven percent margin of
error.
[Holodeck - Space Station Lab]
(There is a curved table with chairs for Picard,
Troi, Riker and Krag to sit at and watch the evidence)
PICARD: Is there anything you'd like to say before we begin, Number
One?
RIKER: Just this. I'm not a murderer. I went to the Tanugan lab as an
official representative of Starfleet. I acted
accordingly. I was there to evaluate Doctor Apgar's progress in the
development of a Krieger Wave converter. That's all I was interested
in. Computer. Load deposition programme Riker one. Run the simulation.
(Holographic Riker and La Forge beam in)
RIKER: Doctor Apgar, I'm Commander William Riker. Lieutenant Commander
Geordi La Forge.
APGAR: My assistant, Tayna. Well, let's get on with it, shall we?
MANUA: Don't be in such a hurry, dear. Perhaps our guests would care
for some refreshments.
APGAR: My wife, Manua.
RIKER: A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Apgar. If you're prepared to get
started, so are we.
APGAR: Of course I'm prepared.
RIKER: All right, why don't you give me the overview of your research
while Mister La Forge and your assistant take a look at the
experimental data.
APGAR: Fine, whatever. I must say, Commander, I resent this early
arrival. Starfleet will get its converter. I've had a few setbacks,
that's all.
RIKER: We're not here to pressure you, Doctor. We just want an update
on your progress.
APGAR: Tayna, show the Commander's assistant whatever he wants to see.
Give him full access to our records.
TAYNA: Yes, Doctor. If you'll come with me. Our lambda field generator
is on the planet since it requires a minimum of five thousand
kilometres for the field to collimate.
(Tayna and Geordi move to the back of the set. Manua has been gazing at
Riker all the time)
MANUA: Really, darling, you're being rude. After all, Commander Riker
is willing to sit through all your prattle about Krieger Waves. Let's
have a drink, Commander, and we'll hear all about Krieger Waves.
(Manua takes Riker's arm and leads him away. Apgar follows, arms
crossed)
[Holodeck - Space Station Living quarters]
(Drinks are served in tall glasses -
champagne-style)
RIKER: To your success, Doctor.
MANUA: And the rewards that come with it.
APGAR: Riker, what is Starfleet doing here anyway? My delivery wasn't
scheduled for another three months.
RIKER: We were in this sector on another mission, and since you had
already contacted Starfleet about additional dicosilium, it seemed like
a good opportunity.
MANUA: How interesting. Tell us about this other mission.
RIKER: It's just a study of a proto-star cloud. The Enterprise'll be
back tomorrow.
APGAR: The Enterprise just left you here?
RIKER: We didn't want to inconvenience you. We've made arrangements for
quarters on the planet.
MANUA: I won't hear of such a thing. Commander, I insist you and Mister
La Forge stay with us.
APGAR: I hardly
MANUA: I know that you would prefer to be alone with your very
important work but I, for one, am glad for the company.
(Apgar leaves)
MANUA: Good. I must apologise for my husband's lack of social graces.
He may be one of the great scientific minds in the galaxy, but he does
come up a bit short in other areas.
KRAG: Wait a moment. Stop.
PICARD: Computer, freeze programme.
KRAG: Then it's your testimony that it was Mrs. Apgar's idea for you to
spend the night aboard the space station.
RIKER: It's my testimony and it's the truth.
PICARD: Resume programme.
[Holodeck - Space Station Guest quarters]
MANUA: Our guest quarters aren't luxurious but I've
tried to make this room warm and inviting.
RIKER: I'll be very comfortable, thank you. Good night.
MANUA: The environmental controls are over here.
RIKER: I'm sure I'll find everything I need.
MANUA: And the door shuts by touching this panel.
(door closes)
RIKER: Mrs. Apgar.
MANUA: This is my sanctuary. Privacy is very important on a small
station. I'm left alone here. Often for hours.
RIKER: It's late. I am tired.
(She slips her dress off her shoulders)
MANUA: Are you still tired, Commander?
RIKER: Ma'am, excuse me. I really think that you ought to leave.
(Apgar enters)
APGAR: I knew I'd find you with him. Did you think I didn't notice how
you looked at him? I'm not the fool you take me for.
RIKER: Doctor.
(Apgar slaps Manua, then takes a swing at Riker, who sways out of the
way. Apgar falls against the bed)
RIKER: Doctor, believe me. This has been a terrible mistake.
APGAR: You won't get away with this. I'll see to it. I swear I will,
Riker.
(Apgar and Manua leave)
PICARD: Freeze programme.
RIKER: I didn't see Doctor Apgar until the following morning when he
asked to see me alone. Commander La Forge returned to the Enterprise.
Resume programme.
[Holodeck - Space Station Lab]
APGAR: I suppose if I make a formal complaint, your
report on my work won't be very good.
RIKER: Doctor, this is going to have no impact on my report. It was a
misunderstanding of the worst kind. We could straighten the entire
thing out if you would ask Mrs. Apgar to join us.
APGAR: My wife and my assistant have transported down to the planet.
What are you going to put in your report, Riker? That there is no
justification for all the extra dicosilium I've requested? That is why
they sent you early, isn't it?
RIKER: Doctor, I
APGAR: I can explain why I needed it. They have no idea what my
problems are. There are explanations for all of it.
RIKER: I don't need explanations.
APGAR: Then we have nothing further to say to each other.
RIKER: I'll tell my Captain to expect your grievance.
APGAR: Do that.
RIKER: Riker to Enterprise. I'm ready to leave. Now.
O'BRIEN [OC]: Stand by, Commander. Engaging transport.
RIKER: Freeze programme. Then I returned to the Enterprise.
KRAG: And you have nothing further to add, Commander? Nothing about
firing a phaser?
RIKER: I never fired a phaser on the science station.
KRAG: That's odd. Very odd. Captain Picard, is it not true that your
sensors detected an energy drain just as Commander Riker began
transport?
PICARD: That's correct.
KRAG: Have you been able to explain it?
PICARD: Not to my knowledge.
KRAG: We have. Our readings are quite clear about it. Information
retrieved from the lab's ground computers indicate that a focused
energy pulse was fired just as Commander Riker began transport.
Furthermore, by analysing the angle and trajectory, we have determined
that it came from the very spot Commander Riker was standing. So then,
will you allow me to show you
my recreation of the end of this story? A speculation, if you will.
Computer, run hypothetical Krag one.
(Riker is repositioned then walks forward to his beam out point again)
RIKER: Riker to Enterprise. I'm ready to leave. Now.
O'BRIEN [OC]: Stand by, Commander. Engaging transport.
(And the holo-Riker draws and fires a phaser at the Krieger Wave
converter)
KRAG: Freeze programme. Three seconds later, the station exploded.
[Bridge]
LAFORGE: The Tanugans are right. Something was
fired at the reactor core just before transport.
DATA: The energy signature would seem to indicate a phaser-like blast.
WESLEY: Well, it wasn't the commander's phaser. It couldn't have been.
There's another answer. We're just not seeing it.
DATA: Was there anything else in the lab capable of creating this kind
of energy discharge?
LAFORGE: Not that I saw. Besides, how do you account for the fact that
it came from Commander's Riker's exact position. Damn it, I should have
stayed with him.
WORF: Commander, sensors indicate a radiation burst on deck thirty
nine, outside cargo bay twelve.
DATA: Source?
WORF: Unknown, sir.
DATA: Computer, identify type of radiation.
COMPUTER: Emission is not consistent with any known radiation.
WORF: It is subsiding, sir.
[Corridor]
(Wesley is scanning a blister and hole in the
bulkhead)
WESLEY: What kind of radiation could do this? Make any sense to you?
LAFORGE: I don't recognise it. Not even the main deflector puts out
that kind of spillage.
WESLEY: Where would it be coming from?
LAFORGE: I don't know, Wes, but whatever it is, it's capable of putting
a hole in solid duranium.
[Holodeck - Space Station Lab]
(Krag enters with Manua, in demure neck to ankle
dress)
KRAG: In a sense we have already met Mrs. Apgar, so we shall dispense
with introductions.
PICARD: Mrs. Apgar, you understand the purpose of this hearing?
TROI: We understand how difficult this will be for you. If you need a
recess, please, don't hesitate to ask.
PICARD: Would you like to make a statement before we begin?
MANUA: No. I just know he did it. He killed my husband.
KRAG: Computer, load Manua simulation one.
[Holodeck - Space Station Living quarters]
KRAG: Run programme.
MANUA: If you greet them with such a long face they're going to assume
something is wrong with the experiment.
APGAR: I just need time. A little more time.
MANUA: I'm certain they'll give you the time you need if you just show
a little charm.
APGAR: You do that so much better than I do. (they kiss) Manua, someday
I'll be able to reward you for all your patience. I'll get you
everything you ever dreamed of.
MANUA: I have all the reward I need. Now go on, I'll be right in.
(Apgar leaves)
RIKER [OC]: Doctor Apgar?
[Holodeck - Space Station Lab]
RIKER: I'm Commander William Riker. Lieutenant
Commander Geordi La Forge.
APGAR [OC]: My assistant, Tayna. Well, let's get on with it, shall we?
MANUA: Don't be in such a hurry, dear. Perhaps our guests would like
some refreshment?
APGAR: My wife, Manua.
RIKER: It's a pleasure to meet you, Manua.
APGAR: I'm anxious to get started.
RIKER: If you wish.
APGAR: I must say I resent your early arrival, Commander I have much
work to do.
RIKER: Doctor, I'll do everything in my power to make this as painless
as possible for both of us. Do you assist your husband in his work?
MANUA: Oh, dear, no. I'm no scientist.
RIKER: No, neither am I.
MANUA: But I find this all fascinating, don't you?
RIKER: Mister La Forge, why don't you take a look at the doctor's
experimental data. Later, you can give me an overview.
APGAR: Fine. Whatever. Starfleet will get its Krieger wave converter.
These things take time. I've had a few setbacks, that's all.
RIKER: Doctor, I'm not trying to put any pressure on you. I'm sure my
report will only underscore the need for continued
support of your research.
APGAR: Tayna, I'll call up the records. Show the Commander's assistant
whatever he wants to see.
TAYNA: Yes, Doctor. If you'll come with me? Our field generator is on
the planet, since it requires a minimum of five thousand
kilometres for the field to collimate.
MANUA: Darling, let Tayna take care of that. I'm sure Commander Riker
wants to hear how close you are to a breakthrough. I'll pour the two of
you a drink and you can talk all about Krieger waves.
[Holodeck - Space Station Living quarters ]
MANUA: (handing out the drinks) Commander.
APGAR: To success.
RIKER: Success.
APGAR: Well, in a way, I suppose it's good that you're early. Manua's
right, it gives me a chance to show you the progress we've been making.
RIKER: I'd appreciate it if Commander La Forge and I could stay here
until the Enterprise returns.
(Riker is continually staring at Manua)
MANUA: It's a little inconvenient.
RIKER: It would help to accelerate the process.
APGAR: Well, if you wish, Commander. Now, where shall I start? Well,
first of all, you should know that I am very close to being able to
collimate a Krieger field.
[Holodeck - Space Station Guest quarters]
MANUA: Our guest quarters are very modest.
RIKER: Very charming. It has your touch.
MANUA: The station is small, and we don't often have guests. I use this
as my sanctuary.
RIKER: Who do you need sanctuary from?
MANUA: The environmental controls are here.
(Riker closes the doors)
MANUA: Commander, please. It's late and I'm tired.
RIKER: A man more interested in Krieger waves than in a lovely woman
like you. How is that possible?
MANUA: My husband is one of the great minds in the galaxy and we love
each other very much.
(Riker pulls her towards him)
MANUA: Please don't.
RIKER: It must be very lonely. A princess in a very high tower.
MANUA: Please, my husband will be looking for me.
RIKER: Your sanctuary, remember?
(Riker slips her dress off her shoulders)
MANUA: Commander, don't, please!
RIKER: (the real one) She's lying! That never happened.
PICARD: Freeze programme.
MANUA: Please.
(Programme stops)
RIKER: Captain, you know I would never act like that.
PICARD: Commander Riker!
RIKER: This isn't me. I wasn't the one who closed the door. I didn't
proposition her and I certainly didn't try to rape her. Why are you
doing this?
MANUA: (real one) It's exactly what happened.
TROI: Will, come on, sit down.
KRAG: Resume programme.
MANUA: Please.
(Apgar enters)
APGAR: I knew you'd try this, Riker. Do you think I didn't notice how
you looked at her? I'm not the fool you take me for.
(Apgar takes a swing at him, gets blocked and is given two punches to
the stomach in return)
APGAR: You won't get away with this. Your career is over. I'll see to
it. I swear I will, Riker.
RIKER: If you report this, you'll be making a terrible mistake, Doctor.
A terrible mistake.
(Apgar and Manua leave)
KRAG: Freeze programme.
MANUA: Your career was safe. He was a scientist. In another day some
fascinating bit of technical trivia would have distracted him. He would
have forgotten about you and his complaint to Starfleet. Excuse me.
(Manua leaves the holodeck)
PICARD: We'll, um, we'll take a short recess.
(Picard and Krag leave)
RIKER: Why would she lie like that? She was lying. You could tell.
TROI: Will, I didn't sense any deception from her.
RIKER: Then you think that I?
TROI: No! No, of course not. I know you. You don't have to convince me
of anything.
RIKER: We can't both be telling the truth.
TROI: It is the truth as each of you remembers it.
RIKER: But her version puts a noose around my neck.
[Sickbay]
CRUSHER: This is healing beautifully. I think you
can work on strengthening these muscles again.
WORF [OC]: Security to Doctor Crusher. Evacuate. Repeat, evacuate.
Radiation emissions are indicated in Sickbay.
(As Beverly and her patient leave, a hole is burnt in the bulkhead
under a desk. Later, the damage is being examined)
DATA: It is definitely the same radiation that penetrated deck thirty
nine. Highly focused, very powerful but of unknown origin.
LAFORGE: If this should happen in the engine core or the anti-matter
containment tanks, we'll be in big trouble, Captain.
PICARD: Do you have any theories?
WESLEY: Captain, Data's noticed something that's too strange to be a
coincidence.
DATA: The two radiation events aboard the Enterprise occurred five
hours, twenty minutes and three seconds apart. The science station
exploded yesterday at almost four times that interval.
WESLEY: There's a point zero zero one four second variance we haven't
been able to explain yet.
RIKER: So you're saying there's a connection between the radiation
bursts and the explosion?
DATA: We do not have the evidence to support that conclusion at this
time, Commander.
CRUSHER: If they're right, we should be able to predict the next event.
LAFORGE: We're expecting it in just over five hours.
PICARD: Take every precaution to protect the ship's vital areas. If we
haven't identified the source before the time interval, we'll leave
orbit. If you perceive any further danger, advise me immediately.
(Picard leaves)
WESLEY: We'll figure it out for you, Commander.
[Holodeck]
TAYNA: After the fight, Doctor Apgar came to find
me he was very upset.
KRAG: And he told you what happened?
TAYNA: Yes, he told me everything that happened.
KRAG: Based on Tayna's deposition, we have recreated the incident in
Commander Riker's quarters as Doctor Apgar described it to her.
Computer.
PICARD: Inspector, Inspector, this is hearsay. She wasn't a witness to
this incident.
KRAG: But Doctor Apgar is dead. Her statement is admissible according
Tanugan law and I insist you consider it.
PICARD: Well, we'll watch this evidence, and we'll weigh it
accordingly.
KRAG: Computer, run Tayna simulation three.
[Holodeck - Space Station Guest quarters]
(Riker and Manua are wrapped around each other in
passionate embrace. The doors open)
APGAR: I knew I'd find the two of you together. Do you think I didn't
notice how you were looking at each other? I'm not the fool you take me
for.
(Riker swings and misses, and Apgar floors Riker with three good
punches)
APGAR: I'm going to report this, Riker. You can count on that.
RIKER: You're a dead man, Apgar. A dead man.
KRAG: Freeze programme. And then Doctor Apgar came to find you?
TAYNA: Yes.
KRAG: Run Tayna simulation four.
[Holodeck - Space Station Lab]
APGAR: I want you to take Manua and beam down to
Tanuga immediately.
TAYNA: But Doctor, if he threatened you, you shouldn't stay
APGAR: I'm not leaving him here alone. He's capable of anything. I've
got to protect our work.
TAYNA: I'll contact the authorities.
APGAR: No. I'll take care of that.
TAYNA: Doctor, be careful.
APGAR: It'll be all right. Go on.
KRAG: Freeze programme. Then what happened?
TAYNA: I left the station with Manua. The next day, when I heard the
station had exploded, I knew what had happened. He'd killed Doctor
Apgar.
KRAG: Thank you. You are excused.
(Tayna leaves)
KRAG: Captain, I have established motive, method and opportunity. In
any court in the Federation, that is sufficient to warrant the
extradition of the accused. I await your decision forthwith.
[Ready room]
PICARD: I don't see any alternative, do you?
TROI: We both know Will's innocent.
PICARD: Of course he's innocent. But as a Starfleet Captain, I can't
allow myself the luxury of yielding to my personal feelings. The
evidence warrants a trial. I'll have to allow extradition.
TROI: Do you think there's enough evidence to prove his innocence?
PICARD: No.
DATA [OC]: Captain, I believe we have found the source of the
radiation. Can you join us on the Bridge?
PICARD: Acknowledged.
[Bridge]
DATA: As you know, Captain, we are looking for a
phenomenon that reoccurs every five hours, twenty minutes and three
seconds.
PICARD: The interval between radiation bursts.
DATA: We have found one such phenomenon on the planet's surface.
LAFORGE: It's the field generator that Apgar during in his research.
When it's fully charged, it automatically emits an energy pulse and
then takes five hours, twenty minutes and three seconds to recharge
itself.
WESLEY: It must have been left on after the explosion of the lab.
PICARD: But why would a generator be affecting the Enterprise this way?
DATA: It should not be. It is a harmless lambda field generator.
LAFORGE: But we knew that somehow it was related to our radiation
bursts and then the pieces started just falling together.
DATA: We now know what is causing the bursts, and why the science
station exploded, sir.
WESLEY: And we also know who killed Doctor Apgar.
[Holodeck - Space Station Lab]
PICARD: Chief Inspector, we've watched the events
replayed over and over again and I am impressed, and admittedly
dismayed by the body of evidence against Commander Riker. But isn't it
remarkable that with all the witnesses, all the different points of
view of the events aboard the space station, we haven't seen what
really happened?
KRAG: I do not understand.
PICARD: Allow me, with the help of Mister La Forge, to explain.
Computer, load Manua programme one, time index fourteen four one. Play
programme.
APGAR: Fine. Whatever. Starfleet will get its Krieger wave converter.
These things take time. I've had a few setbacks, that's all.
PICARD: Freeze. Mrs. Apgar, this was from your deposition. It would
seem to suggest that your husband had failed to create Krieger waves.
MANUA: Yes, but he was very close to a breakthrough.
PICARD: He said he needed more time. He was upset by our early arrival.
But in fact I maintain he already had made that breakthrough and that
he was lying to us.
KRAG: On what basis?
LAFORGE: For the last several hours, the Enterprise has been
experiencing unusual radiation bursts. We've identified them as Krieger
waves.
TAYNA: Krieger waves? But that's impossible. From where?
LAFORGE: From right here. Inside the holodeck.
PICARD: We recreated your science lab in every conceivable detail.
Essentially, what was in the original lab is here.
LAFORGE: Including the Krieger wave converter that Doctor Apgar claimed
didn't work. Except it does work.
PICARD: Your field generator on the planet surface has been sending out
harmless energy charges, which this facsimile has been converting into
Krieger waves.
RIKER: But the holodeck can't create anything dangerous.
LAFORGE: Well, it didn't. When you get down to basics, the converter is
nothing more than a complex series of mirrors and reflective coils. The
energy from the field generator down on the planet simply reflects off
of elements in the convertor which turns it into highly focused Krieger
waves.
PICARD: And those same waves have been randomly striking different
areas of our ship as we orbit the planet and our angle to the generator
changes.
KRAG: Why would Apgar lie about his success?
PICARD: Computer, run Manua programme one, time code, fourteen three
eight.
[Holodeck - Space Station Living quarters]
APGAR: Manua, someday I'll be able reward you for
all your patience. I'll get you everything you ever dreamed of.
MANUA: I have all the reward I need.
PICARD: Freeze programme. Run Riker programme two, time code, sixteen
one zero.
RIKER: To your success, doctor.
MANUA: And the rewards that come with it.
PICARD: Freeze.
MANUA: I never said that.
PICARD: Nevertheless, it seems clear that your husband was motivated to
earn the kind of rewards that pleased you, Mrs. Apgar.
MANUA: What's wrong with that?
TROI: Well, he wouldn't have earned great profits from his dealings
with Starfleet. We were only interested in a new power source.
LAFORGE: But if he could turn this into a weapon it would be worth a
lot to the Romulans, the Ferengi and a few others. Now Doctor Apgar had
been ordering extra dicosilium for months. That's a pretty good
indication that he was trying to create larger reflective coils.
PICARD: And when the away team arrived early he must have been worried
that Starfleet was becoming suspicious. He needed more time to finish
his work. Apgar said that each of the three versions. No doubt, he was
afraid that Commander Riker might
learn the truth and cut off his support prematurely. Discovering
Commander Riker with his wife didn't help matters.
I submit that he decided to murder Commander Riker.
MANUA: Ridiculous.
PICARD: Is it? Computer, run Tayna programme four, time index eighteen
one four.
[Holodeck - Space Station Lab]
TAYNA: I'll contact the authorities.
APGAR: No, I'll take care of that.
PICARD: Freeze.
(Apgar has sat down in front of a computer console)
PICARD: Tayna, exactly is Apgar doing here?
TAYNA: Activating the generator on the planet.
PICARD: Why would he do that?
TAYNA: Maybe he was going to work on the converter, I don't know.
PICARD: Maybe he was already thinking ahead to his next confrontation
with Commander Riker. Computer, play Riker programme four, time index
twenty four one.
APGAR: What are you going to put in your report, Riker? That there's no
justification for all the extra
dicosilium I've requested? That is why they sent you early, isn't it?
RIKER: Doctor.
APGAR: I can explain why I needed it. They have no idea what my
problems are. There are explanations for all of it.
RIKER: I don't need explanations.
PICARD: Freeze. To Apgar, this must have seemed as though Commander
Riker were confirming his worst fears. And I believe it was now that he
decided finally to kill him.
KRAG: You forget, Picard, we know the energy pulse which blew up the
reactor originated from Commander Riker's position, not Doctor Apgar's.
LAFORGE: We are hypothesising that Doctor Apgar energised the converter
at the moment of Commander Riker's beam-out, hoping to make his death
look like a transporter accident. But something went wrong. The energy
pulse hit the transporter beam and reflected back to the reactor, which
caused the explosion.
KRAG: An interesting hypothesis. But impossible to prove.
LAFORGE: Not really. We know that the field generator on the planet has
been repeating a discharge ever since the explosion. The intervals are
like clockwork, except the explosion occurred point zero zero one four
seconds after the initial discharge. And the only explanation for that
variance is the time it would take the energy pulse to bounce back from
the transporter beam to the reactor.
PICARD: We've arranged a demonstration to illustrate. Mister La Forge,
I think it's about time, isn't it?
LAFORGE: Computer, load programme, La Forge one. Coordinate auto-engage
time sequence. The next discharge from the field generator is scheduled
to occur in just a few moments, and we've aligned the holodeck
programme to recreate the final events as Commander Riker described
them. Only this time our facsimile will automatically process the
energy charge from the planet and reflect it just as the original
convertor did before the explosion.
PICARD: If we're correct, we'll know it instantly.
COMPUTER: Auto-engage time sequence synchronised.
APGAR: Then we have nothing further to say to each other.
RIKER: I'll tell my Captain to expect your grievance.
APGAR: Do that.
RIKER: Riker to Enterprise. I'm ready to leave, now.
O'BRIEN [OC]: Stand by, Commander. Engaging transport.
(The top of the converter lights up. A beam goes out to Riker and
bounces back to the middle of the machine. There's one small explosion,
then a bigger one. The programme is terminated and we are in a bare)
[Holodeck]
(Except, fortunately, for the table and chairs)
PICARD: Doctor Apgar killed himself during his attempt to kill
Commander Riker.
KRAG: Based on this new evidence, I withdraw my request for Commander
Riker's extradition. Commander, my apologies.
[Bridge]
PICARD: Number One, have we any further business in
the Tanuga system?
RIKER: Not that I know of. I'd be more than willing to put it behind
me.
PICARD: Then perhaps you would do me the pleasure of getting this ship
underway.
RIKER: With pleasure, sir. Ensign Crusher, set course for Emila Two,
warp three.
WESLEY: Course laid in, sir.
RIKER: Engage.
|