DIRECTED BY
AIRED ON
May 18, 1992
RUNTIME
45 minutes
STARRING
VIEWS
199
LAST UPDATE
2024-09-12 00:46:01
PAGE VERSION
Version 1
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SUMMARY
Stardate: 45092.4. While the Enterprise helps a Romulan science vessel, an accident occurs which forces Geordi LaForge and Ro Laren slightly out of 'phase', causing them to become undetectable to everyone but each other. As a result, the crew thinks they are dead and make arrangements for their funerals, even though they are closer than the crew realise.
STORY
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BEHIND THE SCENES
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REVIEWS
A funny one
Written by
Pike on 2018-03-09
★
★
★
★
★
I really liked that episode. The beginning of Morty extensively using his sex machine was really funny.
SUMMARY
A nice concept, I give it 5 out of 10. Good.
___________________________________________
More excellent entertainment!
Written by
kimmy on 2019-03-07
★
★
★
★
Geordi and Ro are believed dead when they become “phased out†in a dimension slightly parallel to ours. Before they learn that though they are very confused when nobody sees them, which makes for some great scenes! It also makes Ro wonder about the afterlife and whether ghosts stories really were real — a rare step for TNG into the supernatural, made by a character who has “ethnic†and more “primitive†characteristics rather than by Geordi who remains a hardcore engineer throughout. All of this happens in parallel to yet another Romulan infiltration plan. The pair manages to draw attention to themselves in an amazing scene at Ten Forward where Ro shoots her disruptor everywhere in the background while nobody seems to be noticing.
One thing that stands out as odd here is how dispassionate the crew seems when they get news of Geordi and Ro’s demise. No cries or dramatic sadness, only cold-blooded following of protocol. I realize Starfleet has removed quite a bit of emotions from the way officers operate in this future utopia, but this seemed extreme. At least we got Riker hinting that Ro meant/means a lot to him. This lack of sadness is counterbalanced by the wake ceremony in Ten Forward, which is purposefully set as a great party with music, which I liked!
The quote:
LaForge, at his own funeral: “Looks like a great party – mind if we join you?â€
TRANSCRIPT
[Bridge]
PICARD: Time, Mister Data?
DATA: We will arrive within transporter range in three minutes twenty one seconds.
MCDOWELL: (at tactical) I've finally established audio contact with the Romulan ship.
ROMULAN [OC]: (heavy static) Main power failing. No way to stop the overload.
PICARD: Enterprise to Romulan vessel. We are en route to your position.
ROMULAN [OC]: Enterprise, what is your time of arrival? We are facing an imminent core breach.
PICARD: Repeat your last transmission.
MCDOWELL: I'm sorry, Captain. They've stopped transmitting.
PICARD: Picard to Riker.
[Transporter room]
RIKER: Riker here.
PICARD: Transport to the Romulan ship as soon as we're within range.
(La Forge and Ro are on the transporter pads)
RIKER: Aye, sir. No weapons. We don't want them to think they're under attack.
RO: This is not a bright idea.
RIKER: I beg your pardon, Ensign. I didn't quite catch that.
RO: Nothing, sir.
(Worf and Riker join them)
[Romulan Engineering]
(it is a scene of death, devastation, fires and controlled chaos)
VOICES [OC]: All main thrusters are shut down. Your information is unreliable. The AH is inoperative. Give me a hand here.
(the team beam in)
RIKER: We're from the Federation Starship Enterprise. We received your distress call.
MIROK: The Enterprise?
RIKER: That's right. Your message said you'd suffered a failure in your engine core.
MIROK: Yes. We had a forced chamber explosion in the resonator coil.
LAFORGE: It's a pretty strange set up, but it looks like the graviton field generator has been completely depolarised. There's no way to fix it. It'll have to be replaced.
RIKER: Where are your replicators?
VAREL: (a woman) They are offline.
RIKER: Who's in charge here?
MIROK: The Captain is dead. I'm the science officer. Mirok.
RIKER: We'd like to move the generator back to the Enterprise for replication.
MIROK: All right.
RIKER: Geordi, you and Ro.
LAFORGE: La Forge to Brossmer. Two people and one piece of equipment to beam aboard.
[Transporter room]
BROSSMER: Aye, sir.
(She activates the controls and things fizzle)
BROSSMER: What the hell? Engineering, I need more power to the primary energising coil. Brossmer to Commander Riker. I'm losing them I have to abort.
[Romulan Engineering]
BROSSMER [OC]: They should be returning to your coordinates, sir.
RIKER: Chief, do you have them? They're not here.
BROSSMER [OC]: No, sir.
RIKER: Where are they?
[Transporter room]
BROSSMER: I can't locate their patterns.
[Romulan Engineering]
BROSSMER [OC]: We've lost them, sir.
[Bridge]
BROSSMER [OC]: I've done all I can, sir. I'm afraid they're gone.
PICARD: Mister Data, begin a level one diagnostic. All transporter systems offline until further notice. Could they have materialised somewhere else?
DATA: Negative, Captain. Sensors are unable to locate them anywhere within transporter range.
PICARD: Counsellor?
(Troi shakes her head)
RIKER [OC]: Riker to Enterprise.
PICARD: Go ahead, Number One.
[Romulan Engineering]
RIKER: Captain, we're still looking at a core breach unless we can fashion a new graviton generator.
[Bridge]
RIKER [OC]: I need replacement personnel, sir.
PICARD: Mister Data, you may continue the diagnostic of the transporter systems at another time. Take a shuttlecraft and two more engineers down to the Romulan ship.
DATA: Aye, sir.
PICARD: Mister McDowell, alert the main shuttlebay to have all available ships and pilots standing by in case we need them.
MCDOWELL: Aye, sir.
PICARD: Ensign, lay in a course away from the Romulan vessel. Engage at warp one if you detect any sign it's going to explode.
[Romulan Engineering]
MIROK: Pressure in the containment chamber has increased fifteen melakols in the last two minutes.
RIKER: What can we do to stop the overload?
MIROK: Most of the conduits were damaged during the explosion. I can't even access the central computer.
WORF: Commander. Emergency bulkheads have sealed this section off from the rest of the ship. There is no way to gain access to the main Bridge or control centres.
RIKER: Survivors?
WORF: Readings indicate at least seventy three Romulans are still alive.
VAREL: Seventy three.
(an alarm sounds)
MIROK: The pressure has jumped two hundred melakols!
VAREL: I've lost control of the containment chamber.
MIROK: It's going to implode.
RIKER: We'll need to dump the entire engine core. Do you have an auto-eject system?
MIROK: Yes, but it's not functioning. I'll have to do it manually.
RIKER: Mister Worf, you two seal the chamber.
VAREL: Implosion will occur in one minute five seconds.
RIKER: Enterprise, we need to jettison the entire engine core. You'll need to extend the shields once it clears the hull.
PICARD [OC]: Understood, Number One. We'll stand by for your signal.
(Worf and Varel have got to the manual latches and undone them)
WORF: We must get the doors closed.
(but Worf can't move the debris jamming them open)
WORF: Commander!
RIKER: Time?
VAREL: Thirty seconds.
(the three men finally shift the girder and start to pull the doors shut)
MIROK: I'm ready, Commander.
RIKER: Stay there! Eject the chamber on my order!
DATA: Excuse me, sir.
(Data takes over and pulls the doors shut)
MIROK: Implosion in five seconds)
RIKER: Now.
(everything shakes as the core is ejected)
RIKER: Enterprise, extend shields!
(KaBOOM)
RIKER: Well, we're still here.
MIROK: Yes.
[Bridge]
RIKER [OC]: We'll have a complete power survey done within the hour. We'll probably have to supply them with energy for life support, and they'll need a new engine core to get home.
PICARD: Understood, Commander. Keep us informed of your efforts. Picard out. I'll be in Sickbay.
MCDOWELL: Aye, sir.
[Corridor]
(Picard walks past Ro lying on the floor. She wakes up)
RO: Ensign Ro to the Bridge. This is Ensign Ro reporting in. I'm at section twenty three baker, near Sickbay. (she wobbles) Sickbay.
[Sickbay]
(the door doesn't open for her, but she gets in when a man walks out)
RO: Excuse me, I need some help. Excuse me? Excuse me, I need some help.
(but everyone ignores her)
RO: Excuse me! I need some help!
[Crusher's office]
CRUSHER: We shouldn't make any hasty decisions, Jean-Luc. The transporter could've beamed them somewhere else. The Romulan ship, another deck of the Enterprise.
PICARD: We've already checked those possibilities. The initial findings would seen to indicate that there was a radiation surge from the Romulan engine core which disrupted the signal. They never rematerialised.
CRUSHER: We should check again. There might be something that we've overlooked and
PICARD: Beverly, we've done everything that we can.
CRUSHER: You're right. I just hate making out death certificates. Does Ensign Ro have any family?
RO: Captain, I'm right here.
PICARD: None that I know of, but I'll check with the Bajoran liaison Office.
RO: I'm not dead!
CRUSHER: I'll have the official reports ready within the hour.
RO: Captain, I don't know what's going on
(Picard walks straight through Ro and out of the office)
RO: Doctor. Doctor Crusher. Doctor Crusher, I'm right here. Damn it.
(Ro's fist goes straight through the desk, so she tests it out on a desk console. Then she looks at what Beverly is doing, updating her personnel file to current status - deceased)
[Romulan Engineering]
MIROK: We're ready, Commander.
RIKER: Riker to Enterprise. Begin power transfer.
(a beam comes from the Enterprise and the light come back on)
MIROK: The power flow is consistent at four hundred kolems. No fluctuations in frequency. The main power grid is online.
PICARD [OC]: Picard to Riker.
RIKER: Riker here. Power transfer appears stable at this end, Captain.
PICARD [OC]: Good.
[Bridge]
PICARD: What is the status of the engine replacement?
RIKER [OC]: Engineering is modifying one of our subspace resonators to act as a new engine core. It won't do more than warp two, but it'll get them home.
PICARD: Very well.
DATA: Captain. The diagnostic of the transporter system shows an anomalous energy fluctuation. I will need to inspect the imaging scanner in transporter room three.
PICARD: By all means.
DATA: Captain? I have a personal favour to ask. I considered Commander La Forge to be my best friend. I believe it is my responsibility to plan and conduct the memorial service. May I have your permission to do so?
PICARD: Permission granted. Make whatever arrangements you think are appropriate.
DATA: Thank you, sir.
[Romulan Engineering]
(a Romulan confers with Guy Vardeman as Worf enters)
WORF: Commander, the (looks round) the Romulans want a computer. We cannot give them access to Federation technology. That is an unacceptable security risk.
RIKER: What about a computer core from thirty or forty years ago? One the Romulans are already familiar with.
WORF: That would be satisfactory.
RIKER: Check with the Enterprise, see what's available. Be sure your concern are addressed before we install it.
WORF: Aye, sir. Thank you.
[Engineering]
(Geordi is failing to attract anyone's attention)
RO: La Forge?
LAFORGE: Ro. Boy, am I glad to see you. And I'm really glad that you can see me. It's like I'm here, but I'm not here.
RO: No one can see me either.
LAFORGE: I can't figure it out. One minute we were transporting from the Romulan vessel, and the next I wake up in the arboretum with a splitting headache. Can you pass through things like bulkheads?
RO: Tables, people, yeah.
(they touch hands)
LAFORGE: Well, we're solid enough to each other.
RO: It's not what you expected, is it.
LAFORGE: What do you mean?
RO: This. Death.
LAFORGE: What?
RO: We're dead, Geordi.
LAFORGE: Is that some kind of a joke?
RO: Our patterns were lost in a transporter malfunction. We never rematerialised after leaving the Romulan ship.
LAFORGE: Wait a minute. What are you saying, that we're some sort of spirits?
RO: Spirits, souls. My people used to call them borhyas. Whatever term you want to use, we're it.
LAFORGE: But my uniform, my visor. Are you saying I'm some blind ghost with clothes?
RO: I don't have all the answers. I've never been dead before.
LAFORGE: We are not dead.
RO: According to Doctor Crusher, we died in a transporter malfunction at fourteen thirty hours. Geordi, I saw her make out the death certificates. We need to make peace with our former lives. That's what I was taught. We have to say goodbye to the people who were in our lives.
LAFORGE: No. You may be ready for the afterlife, but I'm not.
RO: I don't see that we have much of a choice. When I was growing up, I never gave much thought to all the talk about borhyas. I figured that it was just superstition passed on to children.
LAFORGE: Fine. You go make peace with yourself, all right? I'm going to transporter room three. I'm going to figure a way out of this situation.
[Transporter room]
BROSSMER: I didn't have any warning that something would go wrong, sir. Suddenly their patterns just weren't there.
DATA: I believe the cause of the accident may be related to the explosion on the Romulan ship.
LAFORGE: Really?
BROSSMER: But that happened before we even arrived.
DATA: In all likelihood, the explosion damaged the Romulan cloaking device, causing it to discharge chroniton particles. I am detecting a chroniton field in here.
LAFORGE: A chroniton field?
BROSSMER: If the particles were produced on the Romulan ship, why are you detecting them here?
LAFORGE: The transporter beam.
DATA: I suspect they travelled through the transporter beam. That may have been the cause of Geordi and Ro's death. I will go to the Romulan ship. Perhaps I can discover the source of the emissions.
BROSSMER: Commander, are these chronitons dangerous?
DATA: They pose no danger to humans. However, some of the ship's systems may be affected by prolonged exposure. When I return I will devise a method to eradicate them.
LAFORGE: La Forge to Ensign Ro. (then realises the comm. system doesn't work for them)
[Bridge]
(Ro follows a crewman out of the turbolift)
RO: Thanks for the ride. I'm here to say goodbye.
(she gently touches her helm console, then Riker and Picard enter)
RIKER: There are a lot of what appear to be experimental engine components lying around over there. I'd say they were testing a new warp drive design and it blew up in their faces.
[Ready room]
PICARD: That would explain why they're so far away from Romulan space. To avoid being picked up on Federation long range scans.
RIKER: We should have an engine core ready for them by nineteen hundred hours.
PICARD: Commander, there'll be a memorial service at twenty three hundred hours this evening. Mister Data is making arrangements.
RIKER: I'll be there.
RO: Me, too.
RIKER: In fact I might like to say a few words.
PICARD: You did know La Forge longer than any of us.
RIKER: Actually, I was thinking more about Ensign Ro.
RO: Me?
PICARD: When you're ready, coordinate with Mister Data.
RO: Wait a minute. What are you going to say about me?
(Riker leaves)
RO: Captain. I don't believe this. I'm dead. you can't even hear me and I'm still intimidated by you. I just wanted to say thank you. For trusting in me when no one else would.
LAFORGE: Hey, there you are. Excuse me, Captain. Listen, Data's taking the next shuttle over to the Romulan vessel and we need to be on it.
RO: Why?
LAFORGE: because I think what happened to us, the answers are over there.
RO: Why can't you just accept the fact
LAFORGE: Look, if you're right then we're dead and this doesn't make any difference. But if I'm right, then we're still alive and I'm going to need your help.
[Shuttlecraft]
DATA: Lieutenant, I am planning a memorial service for Commander La Forge and Ensign Ro. I would like you to participate.
WORF: What kind of service?
DATA: Captain Picard asked me to arrange a ceremony that was appropriate. I have given a great deal of thought as to what is appropriate in this instance.
WORF: Sir, shuttlecraft four has not yet cleared the Romulan ship.
DATA: Hold position here.
LAFORGE: This is weird, listening to them plan our funeral.
DATA: I find I am having difficulty deciding what kind of service to have. Do you have any suggestions?
WORF: Human custom is to conduct a solemn, dignified service in which the dead are praised by their friends and loved ones.
DATA: Ensign Ro was Bajoran. Her beliefs should be reflected as well. However their death rituals are quite complicated.
RO: Please, not the Death Chant.
WORF: The Bajoran Death Chant is over two hours long.
DATA: I am not certain that either human or Bajoran rites are fitting, and I have researched the funerary customs of over five thousand cultures to no avail.
WORF: Shuttlecraft four has just cleared.
DATA: Resume course. In almost all societies, it is traditional to say a ritual farewell to those you call friends. I never knew what a friend was until I met Geordi. He spoke to me as though I were human. He treated me no differently from anyone else. He accepted me for what I am. And that, I have learned, is friendship. But I do not know how to say goodbye.
RO: He seems almost human, doesn't he.
WORF: Commander, I am not the proper person to advise you.
DATA: Why?
WORF: I am very happy for Commander La Forge. He has crossed over to that which is beyond. For a Klingon, this is a joyful time. A friend has died in the line of duty and he has earned a place among the honoured dead. It is not a time to mourn.
DATA: Begin docking procedure.
LAFORGE: Data, that's a nice sentiment, but a little premature. I don't plan on being commemorated before my time.
[Romulan Engineering]
(Geordi sticks his head inside a piece of equipment)
MIROK: I'm afraid I fail to see the point of this investigation, Commander.
DATA: Chroniton emissions may have been responsible for the accident which claimed the lives of our officers.
VAREL: A most regrettable event, of course.
DATA: Was your cloaking device damaged in the explosion?
MIROK: All of our systems were damaged, including the cloaking device.
DATA: That explains the chroniton fields I am detecting in here now. For your own safety, it is important to eliminate those emissions.
VAREL: Our safety?
DATA: There is no way to predict what will happen when the chronitons interact with the new engine core.
LAFORGE: I've never seen anything like this. There's something in here that looks like a molecular phase inverter.
RO: What's that?
LAFORGE: It's supposed to change the structure of matter so it can pass through normal matter and energy. Hang on a second. A few years back, we got intelligence reports that the Klingons were working on trying to combine a phase inverter and a cloaking device. In theory, they believed that a phased ship could hide anywhere, even inside a planet, and that conventional weapons would be useless against it.
RO: How far did they get in their research?
LAFORGE: It never got out of the preliminary stages. There were several accidents. The Romulans might be pursuing the same technology, trying to combine an inverter and a cloaking device. And if this is the prototype
RO: Then that would explain the explosion and the chroniton fields.
LAFORGE: And us.
RO: You mean we're cloaked?
LAFORGE: Not just cloaked, phased. Our entire molecular structure altered so that we don't have any substance.
RO: Then that would mean we're not dead.
LAFORGE: Yes. It would also mean that there's probably a way to de-phase us.
DATA: The field emissions are particularly strong in this area.
(the equipment Geordi was examining)
MIROK: You can be assured that the emissions will be eliminated before the engine core is replaced.
WORF: Commander, may I speak with you?
(Data moves away)
VAREL: If they come back they're going to discover the interphase generator.
MIROK: Is their power transfer beam still at full intensity?
VAREL: Yes. It will be until we're ready to switch to internal power.
MIROK: We will set up a muon feedback wave inside the transfer beam. The particles will accumulate in their dilithium chamber. When they go to warp speed, their engines will explode.
LAFORGE: We've got to get to the Enterprise and warn them.
RO: How?
LAFORGE: I don't know, but we have to find a way. Come on.
(A Romulan who had been sitting in a chair gets up, walks through a console and follows them. He gets to the Enterprise on a shuttle, too)
[Engineering]
RO: The muon feedback wave's not showing up on any of the engine displays.
LAFORGE: The Romulans must be hiding it in a sensor return signal. Unless someone runs a level three diagnostic, they'd never detect it. There must be a way to warn them before the ship goes to warp.
DATA: This is puzzling. Three more chroniton fields have formed aboard the Enterprise in the last hour.
LAFORGE: There's no reason why the interphase device would be producing new fields aboard this ship.
DATA: We should begin decontamination immediately. Run an internal sensor sweep for locations of all chroniton fields on the Enterprise.
BROSSMER: Aye, sir. The following areas are showing contamination. Sickbay, Transporter room three, main Bridge, Captain's Ready room, shuttlebay two, and main Engineering.
LAFORGE: Ro, look at this.
DATA: I do not understand how these new fields have formed. No transporter beam has been active in any of those areas. I cannot see that they have anything in common.
LAFORGE: Oh, yes they do.
DATA: In fact, they seem to be appearing at random.
LAFORGE: No, they're not. We were in every one of those locations. Somehow we're leaving chroniton footprints behind us.
DATA: Can you narrow the focus of the scan to pinpoint the locations?
BROSSMER: Not with the internal sensors, Commander.
DATA: Go to science station two on the main Bridge. Use a lateral sensor array to get a more precise reading. I will modify an anyon emitter to eliminate the fields once they've been isolated.
LAFORGE: Why don't you go with her and see what the lateral sensors turn up. I'll stay here with Data.
RO: Right.
(Data is scanning with a tricorder, then spraying)
LAFORGE: Well that's interesting. You're reading chroniton readings in here, but not from me? There's a field in this wall? Why? Data, I came through this wall. I walked right through it when I came in here. When the phased matter in my body passed through the wall, it must've disrupted the wall's molecular structure producing a chroniton field. Data, I'm right here that's me you're reading. Watch.
(Geordi walks through the 'pool table' and Data detects the field)
LAFORGE: Come on, it's me. You see?
[Bridge]
(Ro follows Brossmer onto the Bridge, and discovers the Romulan)
PAREM: Do not move. Yes, I can see you.
RO: Who are you?
PAREM: Where is the scientific officer? The one like us. The one who came with you to our ship. He spoke of a plan to return to normal. Yes, this disruptor works. I was wearing it when I was changed. Now, where is he?
[Engineering]
(Geordi is persisting in putting new fields in the pool table)
LAFORGE: Data, stop being so rational. Try using your imagination once in a while. These aren't just random patterns, it's me!
(Data catches Geordi's hand with his spray)
LAFORGE: Hey, watch where you point that thing. Wait a minute, Data, I think you did something here . It's not so easy to push through any more. The molecules in my hand must have been partially de-phased by the anyon beam. Data, if a low level beam can bring my hand part of the way back, maybe a high level beam can bring me all of the way back. I'll just have to get you to turn up the beam intensity so that. Hey, wait a minute, don't stop now. No, no, no. Data, don't give up on it. It works, I was just creating more fields. Your method is fine. You just need to turn up the intensity, Data.
[Corridor]
(The Romulan has Ro at gunpoint)
RO: He's in here.
[Transporter room]
(Ro walks through the door first and dodges to the side. She attacks the Romulan and knocks him down. Then she runs, and the disrupter beam just misses her)
[Engineering]
BROSSMER [OC]: Brossmer to Commander Data.
DATA: Data here.
BROSSMER [OC]: I've just detected a large chroniton field on deck seventeen. The field strength is three hundred percent above the others we've found, sir.
LAFORGE: Is that Ro?
DATA: Acknowledged.
[Crew quarters]
(Ro and Parem run through the quarters of a woman in a state of undress, as Data tracks their progress on his tricorder. Then through a crewman doing press-ups and into a room where a man and woman are having a romantic dinner. Parem shoots Ro in the leg. Data is outside the door.)
PAREM: Get up. Where is the science officer?
(the doorbell rings, and the distraction enables Ro to turn the tables on Parem. They fight.)
MAN: I'll go. Commander?
DATA: Excuse me for interrupting, Lieutenant.
LAFORGE: Ro!
DATA: I'm detecting a chroniton field in your room. May I scan the area?
(meanwhile, Geordi has piled into the fight and knocked Parem out through the hull into space, where even an out of phase Romulan cannot survive)
MAN: Certainly.
RO: Thanks.
LAFORGE: Any time.
[Bridge]
LAFORGE: There's still no indication that the Romulans set up a muon wave in our dilithium chamber.
RO: It's there, and when they go to warp
MCDOWELL: Incoming message from the Romulan ship, Captain.
PICARD: On screen.
LAFORGE: Now what?
MIROK [on viewscreen]: Installation of the new engine core has been completed. We are ready to switch to internal power, Enterprise.
PICARD: Understood. Disconnect the power-transfer beam.
MIROK [on viewscreen]: We are now on internal power. Captain Picard, please accept my sincere thanks on behalf the Romulan Empire.
RO: Don't listen to him, Captain.
PICARD: It was our pleasure, Mirok. And I hope that this example of cooperation between our two peoples will not be an isolated incident.
MIROK [on viewscreen]: As do I, Captain.
(transmission ends)
PICARD: Set a course for the Garadius system. Warp six.
LAFORGE: No, Captain wait.
RO: Don't do it, sir.
BROSSMER: Captain. I'm still running the decontamination programme. Mister Data believes we shouldn't engage the warp drive until I've cleared all the chroniton fields from the ship.
PICARD: Very well. Let me know when you finished your sweep.
BROSSMER: Yes, sir.
RO: If we can get to the locations that she's decontaminating, maybe the anyon emissions would re-phase us enough for someone to see us.
LAFORGE: Yeah, well the beam strength would have to be pretty strong in order for us to be visible for more than a millisecond. Somebody's going to have to be looking directly at us.
RO: Then we're going to have to go somewhere with an awful lot of people.
(Riker enters)
RIKER: It's time, sir. We should go.
PICARD: You have the Bridge, Mister McDowell. I'll be at the service in Ten Forward.
LAFORGE: Ten Forward? Well, that's perfect. We'll create as many chroniton fields in there as we can. Get them to flood that room with a stronger beam.
[Turbolift]
PICARD: Deck ten. I've been thinking about the first time I met Geordi La Forge. He was a young officer assigned to pilot me on an inspection tour, and I made some off hand remark about the shuttle's engine efficiency not being what it should. And the next morning I found that he'd stayed up all night refitting the fusion initiators. Well, I knew then that I wanted him with me on my next command. Have you decided what you're going to say about Ensign Ro?
RIKER: Yes, I have. It wasn't easy.
PICARD: Situations like these are never easy, Number One. RO: Why? What wasn't easy? What?
[Ten Forward]
(a party is in full swing, complete with jazz band, balloons)
RO: What is going on here?
LAFORGE: It's our memorial service.
RO: This?
LAFORGE: Why not?
RO: I don't believe this. They think we're dead and they're having a party.
LAFORGE: Yeah. It's perfect. Come on, let's get started.
(Ro fires the disrupter at random targets around the room)
PICARD: Well, this is unusual.
RIKER: Yeah, I think I like it.
(Riker picks up the trombone and joins in)
RO: Now I suppose I'll never know what you were going to say about me.
(and she fires the disrupter through his head)
DATA: Do you think the others will think this service appropriate?
CRUSHER: Look around you, Data. Everybody is sharing their memories of Geordi and Ro, laughing and talking. What could be more appropriate than that?
DATA: I am glad you approve, Doctor.
BROSSMER [OC]: Brossmer to Commander Data.
DATA: Go ahead, Chief.
BROSSMER [OC]: I'm sorry to disturb you, sir. We've cleared the critical areas of chronitons but we've detected a new field forming in Ten Forward that's stronger than any we've seen before.
[Bridge]
BROSSMER: Should I wait until after the service is over before beginning decontamination?
DATA [OC]: No.
[Ten Forward]
DATA: No. Anyon emissions are harmless. Please begin immediately.
BROSSMER [OC]: Aye, sir.
LAFORGE: Here we go.
(they brace themselves, and sparkle briefly)
LAFORGE: Worf! Worf, can you see us?
RO: Lieutenant!
LAFORGE: We're right here, Worf. Damn.
RO: We have to find a way to increase the emission strength.
LAFORGE: Yeah, I know.
PICARD: if she hadn't lost her rank as a result of that incident at Garon Four, I think she would've made Lieutenant Commander by now.
MCDOWELL [OC]: Bridge to Captain Picard.
PICARD: Go ahead.
MCDOWELL [OC]: Incoming message from Garadius Four, sir. The diplomatic situation is deteriorating. They want an update on our ETA.
PICARD: Stand by, Ensign.
LAFORGE: We've got to do something now, before they go into warp.
RO: The disruptor. I can put it on overload.
LAFORGE: Do it.
RO: Let's go!
(Ro and Geordi hide at the back of the room behind furniture)
PICARD: I would like to get under way as soon as possible. The situation on Garadius Four is becoming serious.
DATA: I see no reason to delay our departure. The chroniton fields have been cleared from all critical areas.
(out of phase KaBOOM that they do not notice)
PICARD: Excellent. Mister McDowell, will you set course for Garadius Four and engage at
BROSSMER [OC]: Commander Data, chroniton field strength in Ten Forward has just increased by three thousand percent.
DATA: Curious. Captain, I believe we should decontaminate this room before getting underway.
PICARD: Very well.
DATA: Chief.
BROSSMER [OC]: Yes, Commander.
DATA: Increase anyon emissions to six thousand particles per second and decontaminate this area.
LAFORGE: Okay, hang on.
(Ro and Geordi are right next to Picard and Data when they sparkle and are faintly visible)
LAFORGE: Data, can you see us?
RO: Captain, we're right here.
LAFORGE: We're right here! We're right here!
(and fade away again)
PICARD: Did you see that, Mister Data?
DATA: Yes, sir.
LAFORGE: Come on, Data. Put it all together now.
PICARD: These were not ghosts. what did we see?
DATA: I believe I may know what has happened, sir.
LAFORGE: Data, please be right.
DATA: It would explain the mysterious chroniton fields
RO: Yes, yes, yes.
DATA: If they were cloaked in some way.
PICARD: Are you saying that they're still alive?
DATA: If I am right, sir, they are, and in this room. Their brief appearance coincided with the anyon sweep. Perhaps the anyons neutralise the cloaking effect. Chief Brossmer.
BROSSMER [OC]: Yes, Commander?
DATA: Set the anoynic beam to its highest level and flood Ten Forward.
BROSSMER [OC]: Aye, sir.
(Geordi and Ro fall to the floor under the effects, but now everyone can see them. The party grinds to a halt)
LAFORGE: Data, do you see us?
DATA: Of course.
LAFORGE: La Forge to Engineering. Take the warp engines off line until further notice. There's a muon wave build up in the dilithium chamber.
ENSIGN [OC]: Captain, who gave that order?
PICARD: That was Commander Geordi La Forge, Ensign. Please follow his instructions.
ENSIGN [OC]: Aye, sir.
LAFORGE: It looks like a great party. Do you mind if we join you?
DATA: Geordi, it is good to see you.
LAFORGE: Thanks, Data. I've never been to a better funeral.
(later, the party is over and Ro and Geordi are alone. Geordi is eating)
LAFORGE: Could you pass the rolls?
RO: You've been eating for over an hour.
LAFORGE: Come on. We didn't eat for almost two days. I'm hungry. What's wrong?
RO: Nothing.
LAFORGE: Come on.
RO: I was raised with Bajoran beliefs. I even followed some of the practices, but I never really believed in a life after death. Then suddenly I was dead and there was another life, and it made me feel like I'd been pretty arrogant to discount everything I'd been taught, you know? Now I don't know what to believe.
LAFORGE: Maybe we should develop our own interphase device. If it can teach Ro Laren humility, it can do anything.
2024-09-12 00:46:01 -
Pike:
Added the transcript.
