| The Next Generation | |
| 126 | |
| Time's Arrow | |
| 45959.1 | |
The Enterprise has been sent back to earth. Is it to combat the Borg? Preside over the execution of Wesley Crusher? Have another family episode? Nope, nothing so exciting, it's to investigate aliens! These are no ordinary aliens, they've modified a cavern under San Francisco with triolic waves to further their diabolical plans. Big deal. The thing that makes these aliens interesting is that they were there 500 years ago, and left artifacts - a watch, a gun, oh and Data's severed head!
Lets do a quick count - one, two. Hmm, there is definitely one too many heads here - Data has his, and there is also a 500 year old spare. Since it definitely didn't come from Lore, and like most engineers, Dr Soong didn't make any spares, it can only mean that at some time in the future Data goes back into the past and is decapitated. Is he a metallic Highlander?
The only crew member who isn't upset by this revelation is Data himself - he finds it somewhat comforting. He now feels more human since he no longer considers himself immortal. You have got to be kidding...
The sole evidence of the origin of the aliens who did the dastardly deed, is a micro-fossil found only on Devidia 2! So, with a "Hi Ho Enterprise" the Bald Avenger flies off to find a way to save Tonto! Devidia 2 is not likely to rate high on the "Most fun places" index, and doesn't even have any life forms. What it does have is a cavern with a high concentration of triolic waves, and a strange temporal distortion. What a complete surprise...
An away team is sent down to investigate, and it doesn't include Data. He rightly complains that this might not be the situation that causes his disassociation, but Jean-Luc will have nothing of it - "I'm human, I'm irrational, and you're not going!" You can't cheat fate...
Troi senses life in the empty cavern, hundreds of lifeforms, and they're all terrified and human! It's the audience hoping she doesn't say "I sense tension." They're all out of phase, and Geordi will need a subspace generator and a sensitive phase discriminator to get to them. Guess where the only one that's sensitive enough is? In Data's head!
He beams down, and slowly adjusts the field... and disappears, with only his voice echoing back in time to the rest of the team. "There are lifeforms... Ingesting energy segments... Ophidian restricted by forcefield... Released... Caught in effect..." And then only silence - he's gone...
...back to San Francisco in 1893! Since the Federation has graciously removed the concept of currency, Data is going to have to sleep on the street if he can't find some way of earning it. Begging is too degrading, and stealing it is out of the question. How about combining the two - a poker game! After buying a dashing new set of threads with his winnings, Data sends the bellboy off to pick up some supplies...
Meanwhile out on the street, a well dressed couple bend over an old beggar... and shoot him with a strange beam from her handbag! It looks like they're sucking out his soul! That's a very alien sort of thing to do...
In the 24th century Picard goes to see Guinan. I wonder if many other Starfleet captains are summoned by their bartenders? She wants to know whether he is going on the away team. "Do you remember the first time that we met?" BRRR - I don't think so!
What does a well-dress android who's stuck in 19th century Earth do for laughs? Gate-crash socialite parties! Especially parties that are to be attended by a certain Madam Guinan! What's she doing back there? She doesn't appear know him, but mention of a star-ship brings her memory back.
One of the problems with socialite parties is that they are attended by socialites! Socialite is just a polite term for "rich, bored and nosey", and this is a good description of Samuel Clemens who's also in attendance. Being an author just makes him worse. He accidentally overhears Data telling Guinan his story, and that's something that you can't undo... unless you use extreme prejudice!
The away team beams down into the cavern again, and sets up Geordi's phase discriminator, with Picard joining them and sending Worf back just as it's turned on. Geordi adjusts the synchronic distortion and they slowly merge with the shadow world. The lifeforms are eating terrified souls! A strange glowing portal open - it must be a fast-food service for the undead, as here come some more. Step into the light...
