INSIDE MAN
Episode 152
Part B

 

In the Astrometrics Lab, Seven runs a diagram demo on the main viewscreen for the Barclay hologram.

Seven: "When a Borg cube enters a transwarp conduit, it's subject to extreme gravimetric shear. To compensate the Borg project a structural integrity field ahead of the cube. By modifying Voyager's deflector we may be able to do the same."

Barclay hologram: "No one at Starfleet would've thought of this."

He leaves the dais and joins her at the console. Barclay hologram: "So what's the first thing you're going to do when you get back?" Seven: "Begin repairs to Voyager. Even with the structural integrity field it's likely the ship will suffer significant damage." Barclay hologram: "Yes, but our people at Utopia Planitia will take care of that - engineering crews and technicians-" Seven: "Are you implying that I'm superfluous?" Barclay hologram: "Of course not! I only meant that if you're too busy working you're going to miss all the welcome home hoop-la. Starfleet's planning parties, ceremonies, speeches. There, there's a ticker-tape parade down Market Street!" Seven: "I won't be attending any of those events." Barclay hologram: "But you'd be the guest of honour!" Seven: "When I first arrived on Voyager it was difficult for the crew to accept me. I'm anticipating a similar welcome on Earth." Barclay hologram: "You don't have any idea, do you? I didn't mention this earlier, didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. But you're the one that people are most looking forward to seeing." Seven: "That's difficult to believe." Barclay hologram: "Why?" Seven: "I was Borg." Barclay hologram: "Exactly. You were Borg. You escaped, and despite incredible odds you managed to reclaim your humanity. No one's ever done that before. You're famous." Seven: "Fame is irrelevant." Barclay hologram: "Maybe, but you've given hope to everyone who's ever lost somebody to the Borg. You've inspired millions." Seven: "If you think my participation in the hoop-la would be beneficial to others, then I'll comply."

Planet Earth, Alpha Quadrant.

Project Pathfinder Headquarters, Communications Center, Starfleet Headquarters, San Francisco, North America, Earth.

Inside the Pathfinder lab, Commander Harkins finds (the real) Lieutenant Reg Barclay working at the computer and asks: "Is this going to take much longer, Reg?" Barclay: "Well, the computer is still inputting data. That should do it."

Barclay: "Right, computer, display the intended trajectory of the datastream transmitted at 0600 this morning. Now display the actual trajectory and identify the termination point."

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Computer: "The trajectory ends in sector 39542 grid 8." As the computer reports Barclay knows what the termination point will be and states aloud the end part of the location reference at the same time as the computer does.

Barclay to Harkins: "Sound familiar? That's exactly where the datastream dissipated last month. There is something there, there is something preventing the datastream from reaching Voyager, a micro-wormhole, a radiogenic field..." Harkins: "Long-range scans didn't pick up anything unusual." Barclay: "Still, we could send a ship to investigate. We could confirm my theory." Harkins: "What about my theory, Reg? The hologram was too complex. It caused the datastreams to degrade before they reached their destination."

Barclay: "Well, to be honest, I- I don't agree. The truth is, we don't know what happened to my hologram." Harkins: "Then let's stick to what we do know. For the second month in a row, we tried sending your hologram to Voyager, and for the second month in a row it failed to get there." Barclay: "And I want to know why so it doesn't happen a third time."

Harkins: "It won't happen a third time. Next month we go back to standard transmissions." Barclay: "But a holographic matrix carries twice the information, interacts with the crew." Harkins: "Admiral Paris wants us to send more tactical data like tactical upgrades, letters from the crew's families." Barclay: "But Pete-" Harkins: "Sending a hologram to Voyager was a good idea but it didn't work. It's time to move on."

A class of children and their teacher are led into the Pathfinder lab on a school field trip. Harkins is giving them a guided tour.

Harkins: "And this is the research lab, where most of Pathfinder's homework gets done. All the datastreams are compressed here and then transmitted all the way to the Delta Quadrant.

Harkins: "Your teacher's been telling me you've been studying some of the Delta Quadrant races Voyager's described to us. Who can name one for me?"

Several of the children put up their hands. He indicates a girl who answers: "The Talaxians." Harkins: "Very good."

He indicates the girl in the pink dress who raises her arm and she answers: "The Ocampa." Harkins: "That's right. Who else?"

"The Borg, the Borg!" comes Barclay's excited voice. They are interrupted as Barclay rushes into the lab and makes straight for Harkins, ignoring the children. "They assimilated my hologram! That's how it disappeared." Harkins: "Reg, now isn't the time."

But Barclay does not hear him. "Look at this. Last month a spacecraft passed within 20 metres of the MIDAS Array just hours before we sent the first hologram." Harkins: "What is your point?" Barclay: "20 metres - it's awfully close, don't you think?!"

Harkins signals an officer to continue the children's tour while he is obliged to give his attention to Barclay who goes on: "The Borg must've sent a transwarp probe to steal my hologram, maybe because they thought it was carrying anti-Borg technology to Voyager-"

Harkins: "It wasn't the Borg, Reg." Barclay: "The Romulans. They're using a cloaked ship. They've been curious about Voyager for years."

Harkins: "That is enough!" Barclay: "But you-"

Harkins: "I am sorry your idea didn't work. But I can't have you going off at a tangent, not again. You'd be no good to Pathfinder or Voyager. How much leave do you have saved up?" Barclay: "Not that much, 50 maybe 60 days." Harkins: "Take a week. Go home. Try to relax."

Barclay: "But Pete-" Harkins: "No, that was not a request, Lieutenant."

Barclay: "Maybe I'll go somewhere, take a vacation." Harkins: "Now that is the most sensible thing I've heard you say all day. My cousin has a beach house in Malaysia. She'd be happy to lend it to you." Barclay: "Thanks. Er, but I have someplace else in mind."

Harkins watches Barclay leave.