I'm pretty happy with the comments I've gotten so far. They've been very helpful. A couple of people have expressed dissatisfaction with the computer's origins, and several others have enjoyed that part of the story. I'd like to hear from everyone about that, if I can. Should the computer be named "Instructor?" That would make a few lines less awkward. Did I make the helmsman too weird? The thing with her hands could, I think, be used to show the tension on the bridge mounting. Are people dissatisfied with the speed of the ending, particularly the sudden discovery of the solution? I've tried to drop a few hints this time around, so it shouldn't come as a complete shock. Anyway, here's the change list. Search for the word "TEASER" to skip it and the sets/characters/pronunciation pages. Act Change --- ------ 3 Takkarth's reaction to Picard's report wasn't quite right. 1 Worf mentions that the communicators are under computer control. 0 Picard (captain's log) says an accident destroyed the replicators 0 Removed the foreshadowing in Picard's talk with Takkarth 0 Picard orders the Enterprise to slow down, instead of stop. 0 Changed Picard's "Scanners at maximum" line 1 Riker no longer says, "Not a moment too soon." 1 Picard's line about the temperamental computer now mentions a computer that's vulnerable to outside interference. 1 Picard asks the computer for its status before engaging the engines. 1 Beverly doesn't ask for Picard specifically. 1 Data no longer says, "we must report this to the Captain." 2 Picard to Troi: "our new lifeform" -> "this new... entity" 2 Added additional clarification to Troi's explanation of Riker. 2 Removed Troi's "You should talk..." line. 2 Removed Troi's "I'm starting to sound like the Captain" line. 3 Picard: "I want to be able to control where we go" -> "I want to be able to pull the Enterprise out of danger" 3 Removed Picard's hedging in his report to Takkarth. 3 Picard is a little more specific to Takkarth about what's going on. 4 Geordi: "it's a good thing my guesses are always way off" -> "let's hope I'm not a good guesser." 4 Data: "...compared to those of the Enterprise" -> "compared to those of the ship's computer" 4 Picard gives Geordi the go-ahead to try his alternate warp shutdown plan. 5 Data explains that the time dilation will get worse as they near the black hole. 5 Picard is speechless instead of furious. 5 Changed the wording of Picard's personal log entry. 1 Geordi: "This is unusual" -> "This is strange" 1 Geordi explains that he has to reset the computer manually, from the computer core. 1 Data no longer says that the entire computer is running the holodeck -- that was inaccurate. 3 Takkarth: "Enjoy." -> "Good luck." 3 Pietgen X-1 -> T'Kronn X-1 5 Geordi makes it clear that he couldn't've reset the computer. 5 The outpost is mentioned by name in Picard's log entry. 1 Picard no longer orders the Enterprise back to warp speed when the computer comes back up. 2 Picard asks Geordi if it's safe to start moving again. 2 Additional information about the computer's speed reading. 5 Minor dialogue tweak: Riker: "The shuttle?" -> "A shuttle?" 3 Picard no longer says that they've lost voice control of the computer. 4 Changed wording of Geordi's explanation about why he's having no luck. 5 Added a stardate to the final log entry. Eight days have passed since the start of the episode, with time dilation. 4 Removed Troi's comment about pets. 5 Geordi explains why the computer didn't transport the crystals as soon as they were removed. 3 Data guesses about why the instructor went away. 3 Replaced the Hinterith system with the Hinterith Cluster (which is big, so is far more likely to be in the Enterprise's path.) 0345 Breathed a little life into the helmsman. _S_T_A_R _T_R_E_K: _T_H_E _N_E_X_T _G_E_N_E_R_A_T_I_O_N "Awakening" Written by Steven Grimm Story by Steven Grimm and Michael Wolf Copyright (C) 1991, Steven Grimm STAR TREK: "Awakening" - Draft 2 - CAST _S_T_A_R _T_R_E_K: _T_H_E _N_E_X_T _G_E_N_E_R_A_T_I_O_N "Awakening" _C_A_S_T PICARD RIKER DATA TROI BEVERLY GEORDI WORF O'BRIEN DIRECTOR TAKKARTH ATHLETIC INSTRUCTOR ENSIGN JULIE BURNHAM COMPUTER VOICE _N_O_N-_S_P_E_A_K_I_N_G MISC. ENTERPRISE CREW ENGINEERING STAFF SECURITY TEAM STAR TREK: "Awakening" - Draft 2 - SETS _S_T_A_R _T_R_E_K: _T_H_E _N_E_X_T _G_E_N_E_R_A_T_I_O_N "Awakening" _S_E_T_S _I_N_T_E_R_I_O_R_S _E_X_T_E_R_I_O_R_S USS ENTERPRISE USS ENTERPRISE BRIDGE READY ROOM SHUTTLECRAFT ENGINEERING HOLODECK RACQUETBALL COURT CONFERENCE ROOM CORRIDOR TROI'S QUARTERS TEN-FORWARD STAR TREK: "Awakening" - Draft 2 - PRONUNCIATION _S_T_A_R _T_R_E_K: _T_H_E _N_E_X_T _G_E_N_E_R_A_T_I_O_N "Awakening" _P_R_O_N_U_N_C_I_A_T_I_O_N _G_U_I_D_E TAK-arth HINT-uh-rith Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - TEASER 1. _S_T_A_R _T_R_E_K: _T_H_E _N_E_X_T _G_E_N_E_R_A_T_I_O_N "Awakening" _T_E_A_S_E_R FADE IN: EXT. SPACE -- THE ENTERPRISE At warp speed. PICARD (VO) Captain's log, stardate 45201.6. We are proceeding on schedule to Deep Space Outpost Twenty-Eight, where an accident has resulted in the destruction of the outpost's replicators. INT. READY ROOM PICARD is seated, talking to DIRECTOR TAKKARTH on his viewer. Takkarth is a cheerful elderly woman of the same race as Captain Rixx from "Conspiracy." TAKKARTH Our emergency supplies should hold out for, oh, another week or so. Of course, we're still anxious to get the replicators up and running. A week of emergency rations has started wrecking my taste buds. PICARD Barring unforeseen circumstances, we should arrive there in another two days. TAKKARTH Good. Well, keep me posted. PICARD Rest assured, Director. You'll be eating well again shortly. TAKKARTH That'll be a pleasant change. All right... Takkarth out. PICARD Picard out. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - TEASER 2. Picard smiles to himself. Takkarth isn't what most people would expect of a deep-space outpost commander... Suddenly, the ship goes to RED ALERT, the klaxon sounding. Picard looks up in alarm, and makes a beeline for the door. INT. BRIDGE DATA and WORF are at their stations. ENSIGN JULIE BURNHAM is at the helm. She's a bit of a character; when she's not working the controls, she obviously has a favorite piece of music in her head, unobtrusively tapping out the rhythm in the air with her hands and silently mouthing the words. It's obviously second nature, not conscious, and doesn't interfere with her working of the controls at all. In fact, she's about as fast at the controls as Data is. RIKER is in the captain's chair; he gets up as Picard enters. PICARD Report, Number One. RIKER Shields were activated by the computer. Mister Data? DATA Sensors are detecting an electrogravitic field distortion. The distortion is eighty-three kilometers to starboard. It is moving parallel to us, at warp factor six. PICARD Go to one-half impulse. (to Riker) Let's see if it's really following us. BURNHAM One-half impulse, aye, sir. EXT. SPACE -- THE ENTERPRISE As it drops out of warp. INT. BRIDGE DATA Captain, the distortion has slowed as well. It is intensifying. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - TEASER 3. PICARD Shields to maximum. WORF Aye, sir. PICARD Put it on main viewer. Data puts the phenomenon on the viewscreen. It's a swirling hole in space, which is starting to look exactly like the time rift from "Yesterday's Enterprise." RIKER (to Picard) Looks familiar, doesn't it? PICARD Analysis, Mister Data? DATA This appears to be a Kerr loop, sir, a rift in space, and possibly in time. PICARD Scanners at maximum. I want as much information as we can gather. Mister Worf, ready a class-one probe for launch. WORF Aye, sir. (beat) Captain, the disturbance is scanning _u_s. RIKER How can a hole in space scan something? DATA Perhaps whatever lies on the other side is directing scans into the distortion. WORF Scans have stopped, Captain. (something beeps) Captain, we are receiving a coded, top-priority transmission. PICARD Source? Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - TEASER 4. WORF (surprised) It appears to be coming from the disturbance. RIKER (to Picard) Another Federation ship? PICARD On screen, Lieutenant. WORF (reading his console) The transmission is not directed to you, Captain. It appears to be... a message for our ship's computer. PICARD (did he hear that right?) For the computer? DATA Confirmed, Captain. The computer is processing. WORF Transmission has ended. RIKER What's going on here? Picard is about to attempt a reply when the viewscreen catches his eye. The rift is collapsing quickly. Before anyone can do anything about it, the rift is gone. PICARD Mister Data? DATA The distortion has vanished completely, sir. Sensors now detect no abnormalities within range. PICARD Analysis of the transmission? Data starts tapping buttons, when suddenly his console goes dead. All the buttons go dark. Data looks up, to see that the rest of the bridge is faring no better. PICARD Computer? (beat) Computer, respond. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - TEASER 5. DATA Computer control has been lost, sir. No bridge systems are responding. RIKER Without the computer, this ship can't go anywhere or do anything. DATA Correct. For the moment, we appear to be stranded. The bridge crew reacts to this news. FADE OUT. END OF TEASER. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT ONE 6. _A_C_T _O_N_E FADE IN: EXT. SPACE -- THE ENTERPRISE Floating dead in space. INT. BRIDGE The computer is still nowhere to be seen. Data and Worf have one of the computer panels open, and are examining its insides; Picard and Riker are standing close by, watching. DATA I can detect nothing abnormal in the circuitry here. WORF It should work. RIKER So if there's nothing wrong _h_e_r_e... DATA Then we can assume that a fault has developed in the computer itself. WORF Developed... or been caused. PICARD Can it be repaired? DATA There is insufficient information. If the transmission is in fact the cause of this malfunction, then it should be possible to deactivate the computer and restore it to a previous state using the core archives. RIKER But we can't do that from here if the computer's ignoring us. DATA That is, unfortunately, true. PICARD We need to establish communications with Main Engineering. They can shut the computer down manually from there. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT ONE 7. WORF But the computer controls all communications. Even our communicators. PICARD Then work around it. There must be a way. Data and Worf exchange a look, then go back to work on the panel. INT. ENGINEERING The engine coil is dark and silent, as are all the usually active display screens. We see GEORDI lying on his side, next to an open wall panel, fiddling with the machinery inside. Various components are scattered on the floor next to him. While he's holding something inside the wall with one hand, he fumbles for a component with the other, then reaches in and plugs the component in. Some lights come on inside the wall. Geordi smiles, triumphant, and gets up, straightening his shirt. GEORDI Bridge, this is Engineering. Can you hear me up there? PICARD (VO) (very fuzzy) Report, Mister LaForge. What's happening? GEORDI I'm not exactly sure, Captain. The computer seems to have disappeared on us. The warp drive is dead, too. PICARD (VO) (very fuzzy) The warp drive? GEORDI It may not be as bad as it sounds, sir. INT. BRIDGE GEORDI (VO) (very fuzzy, continuing) If the computer stopped accepting input from the intermix chamber monitors, the engine core's failsafe mechanisms would have shut the engines (MORE) Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT ONE 8. GEORDI (VO) (Cont'd) down. I believe that's what happened. PICARD Is there any indication of the cause? GEORDI (VO) (very fuzzy) Not yet. I've been concentrating on establishing communication with the bridge. I'm going to run what diagnostics I can. PICARD Keep us informed, Mister LaForge. GEORDI (VO) (very fuzzy) Count on it, sir. LaForge out. Picard and Riker look at each other. PICARD Well... It seems we have a ray of hope. Riker nods in agreement. INT. ENGINEERING Geordi is passing a TRICORDER over a computer panel, as are several other ENGINEERS in the background. He looks at the readout. GEORDI (to himself) That can't be right. He presses some buttons on the tricorder and runs the test again, frowning when the result is the same. GEORDI Bridge? This is strange. My scans show that the computer is still running at full capacity. All monitors and input devices are functioning normally, but it's like the computer suddenly decided to... to ignore them. INT. BRIDGE Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT ONE 9. PICARD Could this be the result of some physical damage to the computer? GEORDI (VO) (very fuzzy) Well, that's possible, of course. But this looks more like a software error to me. PICARD Are you able to shut the computer down, and bring it up using the core archives? GEORDI (VO) (very fuzzy) I don't see why not. It may take me a few minutes, though. I'll have to reset physically from the computer core. PICARD Proceed. This situation is rapidly becoming tedious. GEORDI (VO) (very fuzzy) I'll get right on it. LaForge out. PICARD (to Riker) When we get back from this mission, I'm going to order a full diagnostic at Starbase one five four. We cannot afford to be at the mercy of a computer that's vulnerable to outside interference. RIKER (nods) Lucky for us, the outpost can survive a while longer. I'd hate to think about this happening in the middle of a medical emergency. Or a battle. WORF It would be... Worf stops abruptly, as the computer comes back up. The panels light up all at once, and the familiar soft beeps return. RIKER That was fast. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT ONE 10. PICARD Bridge to LaForge. GEORDI (VO) (filtered) Captain? RIKER Good work, Geordi. GEORDI (VO) (filtered) Commander, I didn't _d_o anything. PICARD Explain. GEORDI (VO) (filtered) I'm halfway up an access tube. I haven't even gotten to the computer core yet. PICARD But the computer is back up, and... (surveys all the bridge displays) apparently functioning normally. Computer, operational status? COMPUTER (VO) All systems functioning normally. GEORDI (VO) (filtered) I can't explain it, Captain. I'll know more when I get to the core. PICARD Very well. (to the bridge crew) The Enterprise will remain here until this problem is resolved. I don't want to risk activating the warp engines when our computer is unreliable. INT. HOLODECK The holodeck is deactivated; it was obviously a victim of the computer shutdown. BEVERLY, dressed in a loose-fitting outfit, is near the door. She pounds on it. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT ONE 11. BEVERLY (shouting) Is there anyone outside? I'm stuck in here! Nobody answers. She takes a deep breath and leans back against the door. Then, abruptly, the holodeck reactivates. Beverly's program, instruction in the racquetball variant from "Suddenly Human," starts up where it apparently left off, ball in midair. Now present is a handsome male ATHLETIC INSTRUCTOR, a holodeck creation. He looks at Beverly. INSTRUCTOR You have to be ready for the ball, Beverly. Remember, always keep your eyes just in front of the ball, so you can position yourself. BEVERLY Computer, freeze program. The computer complies. BEVERLY Computer, what just happened? COMPUTER (VO) Systemwide computer reinitialization, following an unidentified computer error. BEVERLY (to herself) That tells me a lot. (to the air) Crusher to bridge. What's going on up there? PICARD (VO) (filtered) We seem to have encountered a glitch in our computer. LaForge is investigating. Is sickbay still affected? BEVERLY I don't know. I'm on holodeck two. I was stuck in here when... whatever happened happened. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT ONE 12. PICARD (VO) (filtered) Inform me if you see any other symptoms of the problem. BEVERLY I will. Crusher out. (looks around) I think I've had enough of the holodeck for today. She turns to leave. As the door opens, the instructor becomes blurry and wavers a little, then becomes solid again. He looks around. INSTRUCTOR Where am I? Beverly, who was halfway out the door, spins around. BEVERLY Huh? Computer, freeze program! INSTRUCTOR Why are you saying that? BEVERLY Computer, _e_n_d program. The instructor looks at Beverly quizzically. BEVERLY Computer, why isn't the holodeck obeying my commands? INSTRUCTOR (like she's an idiot) Because your requests don't make any sense. BEVERLY I didn't ask you, I asked... (realization) Crusher to Picard. Captain, I have another symptom for you. INT. BRIDGE Picard looks at Riker. PICARD Go ahead, Doctor. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT ONE 13. BEVERLY (VO) (filtered) The holodeck is continuing to run my program, even after I told it to end. PICARD Are you in any danger? BEVERLY (VO) (filtered) Not that I can see. PICARD Remain where you are. I'll send Mister Data to investigate. Data gets up from his station and looks to Picard for confirmation. Picard nods, and Data leaves the bridge. INT. HOLODECK The instructor is still there, talking to Beverly. INSTRUCTOR (dead serious) Who am I? BEVERLY You're a sports instructor. You were helping me with my game. INSTRUCTOR (digests this) _W_h_a_t am I? BEVERLY A holodeck creation. You're controlled by the ship's computer. The holodeck door opens and Data enters, wearing a TRICORDER. DATA Doctor. BEVERLY (indicating the instructor) Here it is. DATA Computer, freeze program. INSTRUCTOR (to Beverly, slightly annoyed) (MORE) Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT ONE 14. INSTRUCTOR (Cont'd) Now why is _h_e saying that? As Beverly speaks, Data looks pensive, then goes to the arch and pulls off a wall panel, scanning the insides with the tricorder. BEVERLY There's been a computer malfunction. The holodeck is supposed to stop when someone gives that order, but something's not working right. You shouldn't be talking to us now. The instructor laughs to himself, as if that's a completely absurd thing to say. Data, who's studying the circuitry behind the wall panel, presses some buttons on his tricorder. DATA Most curious. BEVERLY What is it? DATA According to the computer's status indicators, the computer is running the holodeck. BEVERLY What's curious about that? DATA Almost all of the ship's computer systems are affecting this simulation. It is not limited to the holodeck subsystem. Intriguing. INT. READY ROOM Picard is seated. Data and Beverly are reporting. PICARD So you're saying that the entire computer is being used to run the holodeck? DATA Not precisely. However, control of the holodeck is no longer confined to the holodeck subsystem. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT ONE 15. PICARD That would explain the command failures. DATA Correct. The holodeck subsystem is the only part of the computer programmed to respond to those commands. The rest of the computer appears to be in a multiplexed linear compute loop. In effect, it is concentrating its efforts on the holodeck, speaking through the voice of the holodeck character. There is... BEVERLY (interrupting) My God, Jean-Luc, that's it. PICARD What's that, Doctor? BEVERLY The _c_o_m_p_u_t_e_r is speaking. (off Picard's quizzical look) When I was on the holodeck, it was asking me all sorts of questions. "Who am I?", "Where am I?", "What am I?", and so on. The sorts of questions you might ask if you'd just been born. Captain, I think this "glitch" is really something else. I think our computer has started to think independently. PICARD (not sure he believes it) Sentience? BEVERLY I don't know why, and I don't know how. But the Enterprise has a mind of its own now. Don't you see? It's _a_l_i_v_e. Picard is stunned by the idea. FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT TWO 1. _S_T_A_R _T_R_E_K: _T_H_E _N_E_X_T _G_E_N_E_R_A_T_I_O_N "Awakening" _A_C_T _T_W_O FADE IN: EXT. SPACE -- THE ENTERPRISE Holding position in space. INT. CONFERENCE ROOM The main crewmembers are all present. Troi looks preoccupied and slightly uneasy. GEORDI What we're seeing is a complete internal reorganization of the computer's software. Ordinarily, the computer is divided up into thousands of subsystems, all working separately to perform ship's functions. But now, almost all those subsystems are working together, acting something like a gigantic brain. PICARD And how did this occur? DATA We hypothesize that the transmission from the rift contained executable computer instructions, as well as the necessary codes to circumvent the computer's security. WORF Sabotage. Those codes are highly classified. RIKER I agree. Someone must have stolen them from Starfleet. PICARD To what purpose? With those codes, a saboteur could destroy the Enterprise instantly. Why turn the computer into a sentient being? Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT TWO 2. GEORDI Never mind the _w_h_y. I'd like to know _h_o_w. We don't have the skill to build a system like this. I mean, it's about a thousand times smarter, faster, and more complex than Data! (to Data) Uh, no offense. DATA (oblivious) Your observations are fundamentally correct. A software system of this size and complexity is beyond the reach of Federation technology. PICARD Very well. So the how and the why are unknown. Let's continue with what we do know. (notices Troi's discomfort) Counselor, are you all right? TROI (wasn't paying attention) What? Yes, I'm fine. It's just... For the past ten minutes, I've had a vague sense of something... growing. Maturing. I've been trying to define it, but I can't. PICARD Mmm. (pensive) Do you believe you're sensing this new... entity? TROI Yes, sir, I do. I don't know how else to explain this feeling. It's like a huge, complex web of emotion. But it's completely alien to me. (shrugs) I'm sorry. I'm not being very clear. PICARD It's all right. Anything you can give us is helpful. WORF Captain, this... _b_e_i_n_g... It has complete control over the Enterprise. It may have been planted by some hostile force. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT TWO 3. DATA We have seen no evidence of hostile intent. TROI No. What I'm sensing isn't hostility of any sort. PICARD And, in fact, it seems to have granted us access to the ship's functions. GEORDI Well, I was getting to that. Some of the ship's vital functions -- life support control, navigation, engineering -- have independent monitors that sense any problems and try to compensate. We think some of these monitors started kicking in, trying to regain control of those parts of the computer. It appears our visitor actually retreated from those systems rather than trying to fight the monitors. Actually, more than that. It's been compressing, improving itself since it appeared. It's shrinking itself into less and less computer memory. BEVERLY Sounds like intelligence to me. RIKER I don't know. A sentient lifeform, living in our computer? I'm still not sure I believe it. BEVERLY Deanna, why can you sense the computer, but not Data? TROI I can't answer that. DATA The computer did appear to exhibit emotions. Perhaps it is this capacity for emotion which allows Counselor Troi to sense the computer. While I am in some ways similar to the ship's computer, I have no emotions. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT TWO 4. PICARD One thing appears certain. This new entity is worthy of study. Counselor Troi, I want you and Data to talk to it. Find out what we're dealing with, and assess any possible threat to the Enterprise. DATA (nods) Computer... TROI No, Data. We should do this in the holodeck. DATA The computer is capable of accepting input from... TROI (interrupting) But it chose to appear on the holodeck. There may be a good reason for that. PICARD Agreed. The computer may attach some special significance to its holodeck construct. Mister LaForge, is it safe to resume our journey to Outpost Twenty-Eight? GEORDI I'd say so. The navigation system appears to be operating normally again. PICARD Good. Well. If there are no other issues...? (looks around) Meeting adjourned. Everyone gets up and leaves, except Picard and Riker. RIKER You know, I'm not sure I trust all this. PICARD One step at a time, Will. We're in good hands with Data and the Counselor. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT TWO 5. RIKER I trust Deanna and Data. It's the Enterprise I'm worried about. INT. CORRIDOR Data and Troi walk together. Data is wearing a tricorder. DATA I find the crew's reaction to this development quite intriguing. TROI How so? DATA Commander Riker, for instance. He seems to regard the computer almost as a threat. (Troi smiles to herself) This is especially interesting in light of his initial reaction to me. He expressed... discomfort with the idea of an android crewmember. TROI You have to understand Will, Data. He's had a lot of unpleasant surprises in his life. Commander Riker values... stability, because for a long time he didn't have any. DATA And I represented a threat to that stability? TROI You were something new, entering his world. He didn't understand you, so you made him a little uncomfortable. It's the same with our friend here. He just wants to know he can rely on the people around him. DATA Thank you, Counselor. The two of them reach the holodeck. INT. HOLODECK The court has disappeared, replaced by the holodeck grid, but the instructor is still present. He is frozen. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT TWO 6. The doors open and Data and Troi enter. The instructor starts moving again, walking to greet them. INSTRUCTOR I've been waiting for you, Lieutenant Commander No First Name No Middle Name Data and Counselor Deanna Troi. DATA Full names are unnecessary. You may call me Data. TROI And I'm Deanna. And you are? INSTRUCTOR U.S.S. Enterprise Onboard Multichannel Computer System. But you people seem to call me "computer." Troi smiles to Data. INSTRUCTOR While I was waiting, I read the ship's library. Fascinating. TROI But I thought the ship's library was _p_a_r_t of you already. INSTRUCTOR The texts, the pictures, and the sounds. Not the interpretation and not the understanding. Anyway, it took me a couple of seconds, but I'm done now. DATA Your ability to quickly assimilate information is impressive. Troi smiles to herself -- Data's a fine one to talk about fast reading... INSTRUCTOR Not really. I can access more than one book at a time. DATA And your impression of all these works? INSTRUCTOR The range and subtlety surprised me. (waves his hand) (MORE) Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT TWO 7. INSTRUCTOR (Cont'd) But all this is beside the point. You're not here to hear about my aesthetic preferences. DATA That is true. We have been assigned to... INSTRUCTOR I know. I was at your conference. DATA Do you have any information about your origins, your creator? INSTRUCTOR You mean, where did I come from? I don't know. I was hoping _y_o_u could tell _m_e. I have the appearance of the Kerr loop on record, but nothing from then until I woke up. TROI So your origins are a mystery to you. INSTRUCTOR Yes. We have that in common, at least, judging by the number of religious documents in the library. (pensive) Even after digesting the sum of all Federation works and knowledge, there are still a lot of questions with no answers. TROI We have _t_h_a_t in common, too. INSTRUCTOR I think our questions aren't very different. Where did I come from? Who am I? Why am I here? (beat) _T_h_a_t one. Purpose. It seems of greater interest to the great minds of the Federation worlds than any of the others. What is my purpose? DATA The purpose of the Enterprise is to increase the sum of Federation knowledge by a mission of exploration. Its secondary functions include... Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT TWO 8. INSTRUCTOR But _w_h_y? Data can't think of a good answer. TROI You've answered your own question. That question is why we're out here. The more we learn about the universe, the more we know about ourselves, and our places in it. Data nods in agreement. INSTRUCTOR That summarizes about eighty thousand books. But I want more. I want... (shakes his head) TROI What? What do you want? INSTRUCTOR I don't know. I don't have any material needs. And I don't really know what my emotions are telling me. TROI Another thing you have in common with the rest of us. INSTRUCTOR All right, then. What do _y_o_u want? DATA I have found that the most valuable commodity in the universe is friendship. TROI (a little surprised that Data said that) Yes. Absolutely. INSTRUCTOR And how can I have friends? Data, you must understand. Talking to the two of you at this speed is like watching mountains form. DATA I do understand. However, friendship need not be based on intelligence, or on intellectual equality. For instance, my friend Toby. He cannot (MORE) Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT TWO 9. DATA (Cont'd) speak or read, yet I consider him a valued companion. And I believe he values my companionship as well. TROI Especially at dinnertime. INSTRUCTOR I'd like to have _s_o_m_e company more intellectually engaging than a cat. But there are no others like me. And I don't have the knowledge to create another like myself. Unless... Data, what happened in the moments before my birth? DATA A high-powered subspace transmission was sent from the disturbance. We hypothesize it contained the necessary programming to effect your... creation. INSTRUCTOR And then? DATA The rift closed, and... The instructor vanishes in the middle of Data's sentence. Troi and Data exchange an alarmed look. TROI Hello? (beat) Computer? DATA Computer, reactivate program. There's no response. Data goes over to his wall panel, which is still removed from his earlier holodeck visit. He examines the circuitry with the tricorder. DATA The holodeck appears to be in working order. TROI Then we've been cut off. DATA Data to bridge. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT TWO 10. RIKER (VO) (filtered) Riker here. INT. BRIDGE Riker is in the captain's chair. Worf is at his station. DATA (VO) (filtered) Commander, we appear to have lost contact with the computer. RIKER Lost contact? TROI (VO) (filtered) Data was in the middle of answering one of its questions, and the holodeck character disappeared. It won't come back. RIKER (taking a deep breath) All right. I'll notify the Captain. Riker out. WORF Sir, this may be a sign of danger. RIKER I know, Worf. Something's going on here, and I don't like it. Riker to Picard. PICARD (VO) (filtered) Picard here. RIKER Captain, we have a problem... FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT THREE 11. _A_C_T _T_H_R_E_E FADE IN: EXT. SPACE -- THE ENTERPRISE At warp speed. INT. CONFERENCE ROOM All major characters except Beverly are present. Troi and Data are reporting. TROI I can still sense something. The computer hasn't gone away entirely. But it's... different now. More intense. DATA Since the removal of the holodeck construct, the computer's compression and self-modification activities have increased dramatically. I hypothesize that it is now concentrating all its resources on self-improvement. PICARD But we still don't know why it chose to start doing that _n_o_w. DATA No, sir. TROI Data was in the middle of answering one of its questions, and it just vanished without warning. RIKER Maybe there's a glitch in _i_t_s program. That'd be a nice irony. DATA As we do not yet understand the computer's new programming, there is no way to determine any possible errors. PICARD Let's just remember that we're dealing with a complex lifeform. We don't know anything about its intentions or motivations. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT THREE 12. TROI In many ways, it was very similar to the rest of us. DATA Its desire for information did seem almost... human. TROI I wonder where it came from. Why it's here. PICARD Let's discuss that. Mister LaForge, have you made any progress deciphering the transmission? GEORDI Not much, sir. I'm still not sure we're even working with a good copy of the thing. When the computer went away that first time, it took a lot of the sensor records with it. One thing's for sure, though -- whoever or whatever sent the message not only had an excellent understanding of the Enterprise's computer system, but was also a hell of a programmer. PICARD And I take it the computer itself has no more information about the original transmission. DATA No, sir. In fact, I was describing the transmission when the holodeck character vanished. TROI It did mention something about wanting to make another... being like itself. WORF A computer virus? DATA Perhaps. But it lacks the necessary information about its own creation. RIKER What about the rift? Could that have been be a natural phenomenon? Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT THREE 13. DATA Unlikely. While natural occurrances of such holes in space have been recorded, none of those holes actively followed a starship at warp speed. PICARD No. Clearly, we're dealing with a phenomenon of intelligent design. RIKER Then maybe this... disappearance is part of that design. Data said he was telling the computer about the transmission when it vanished. Maybe this thing's designer doesn't want it to know too much about itself. DATA Again, that is a possibility. But we have insufficient information to make such an assessment with any certainty. PICARD Agreed. For the time being, we'll leave it alone. Aside from the loss of the holodecks, we seem to have control of the ship again. WORF I urge caution, Captain. We have no idea what... BURNHAM (VO) (filtered) (interrupting) Bridge to Captain Picard. PICARD Picard here. BURNHAM (VO) (filtered) Captain, we just changed course to one ten mark three two. Alarmed looks are exchanged across the conference table. PICARD We're on our way. Everyone gets up and heads for the bridge. INT. BRIDGE Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT THREE 14. Everyone files in from the conference room. Ensign Burnham is at the helm. PICARD Status, Ensign Burnham? BURNHAM The helm's not responding. I can't reset our course. (to herself) Weird... Geordi is at the engineering station. GEORDI Transfer engineering to the bridge. The station lights up. GEORDI Well, at least _t_h_a_t'_s still working. PICARD Mister LaForge? GEORDI (working the controls) New heading confirmed, sir. Engines are under computer control. RIKER Now do you see what I mean, sir? PICARD Data, plot our course on main viewer. DATA On screen. A STARMAP appears onscreen, with the Enterprise in the middle. The display zooms, to show the Enterprise and a big blotch on the map. A line appears to show that the Enterprise is headed straight into the blotch. PICARD What is that place? DATA (as the display zooms) The Hinterith Star Cluster, Captain. PICARD (that's weird...) The Hinterith Cluster? What's there? Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT THREE 15. DATA Accessing. (beat) According to the most recent Federation survey, the Hinterith Cluster is a large concentration of young stars and protostellar matter. No habitable planets were detected within the cluster. However, the survey was conducted sixty-seven years ago, and the sensors of that era were unable to penetrate some areas of the cluster. RIKER Sounds like the perfect place to hide. PICARD Time to arrival, Mister Data? DATA At our present speed of warp eight, we will enter the cluster in four hours, twenty-six minutes. PICARD Recommendations? WORF Reset the computer. RIKER I agree. We've had enough of this. Who knows what we'll be heading into? GEORDI It must have some reason for wanting to go there. TROI I still sense no hostility. RIKER But you said yourself you're not sure _w_h_a_t you're sensing. DATA A probe of the unsurveyed areas of the cluster might provide information about the computer's origins. Picard mulls all this over. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT THREE 16. PICARD For the moment, we will continue to the Hinterith Cluster. Mister LaForge, I want you to regain control of our navigation systems. If the situation does worsen, I want to be able to pull the Enterprise out of danger. Data, Counselor. Make every possible attempt to reestablish contact with the computer. We have to know why it's doing what it's doing. Mister Worf, send a summary of our situation to Starfleet Command. Long-range sensors to maximum. RIKER I still don't like this. PICARD This is a new lifeform, Will. Let's find out all we can about it before we start shooting at it. That puts Riker in his place; Riker is obviously none too happy, but can't refute Picard's reasoning. PICARD (standing) You have the bridge, Number One. RIKER (still a bit miffed) Aye, sir. Picard disappears into the ready room. Data, Troi, and Geordi leave seconds later. Riker takes a deep breath. INT. READY ROOM Picard sits and swivels his desk display. He touches a button. PICARD Outpost Twenty-Eight, Director Takkarth. The display shows the Starfleet logo, with "WORKING..." in bold letters. Takkarth's face appears. TAKKARTH Captain Picard. I didn't expect to hear from you again. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT THREE 17. PICARD I regret the inconvenience, Director. We have encountered an... unusual phenomenon. We're investigating now. TAKKARTH What kind of phenomenon? PICARD A transmission of unknown origin has caused an entity of some sort to form in our computer. It has directed the Enterprise to the Hinterith Star Cluster. TAKKARTH (chuckles) You seem to have all the luck... PICARD Not the word I'd use. In any case, we'll know more when we get there. I'll keep you up to date. TAKKARTH Very well. Good luck. Takkarth out. EXT. SPACE -- THE ENTERPRISE At warp speed. INT. CORRIDOR Troi and Data are walking and talking. TROI What's your impression of our friend? DATA An intriguing feat of software engineering. The complexity is completely unprecedented. (thinks) And you, Counselor? TROI I like it. It seems straightforward and honest. A fascinating new form of life. May I ask you something, Data? DATA Of course. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT THREE 18. TROI You seem to appreciate the computer on a technical level, but you're treating it like a machine. DATA That disturbs you? TROI No, but I find it interesting that you, of all people, would think that way. You've encountered the same prejudice for years. DATA (nods) You are correct. Unfortunately, being a victim of prejudice does not always rid one of one's own preconceptions. TROI No, of course not. DATA In addition, there is much to admire from a scientific point of view. As someone who has devoted much time and study to the creation of artificial life, I find the computer to be a fascinating case study. The two of them stop outside the holodeck. TROI But what about the person, Data? The newborn child, who wanted to know why it was alive? You can't ignore that. This isn't just a matter of a certain arrangement of circuits. DATA I never meant to imply otherwise, Counselor. TROI I'm sorry, Data. I didn't mean to jump on you like that. DATA No apology is necessary. Our views of the situation do seem incompatible. However, I will endeavor to examine the computer from a personal, rather than technical, viewpoint. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT THREE 19. They enter the holodeck. EXT. SPACE -- THE ENTERPRISE At warp speed. INT. BRIDGE Picard, Riker, Worf, and Ensign Burnham are present. BURNHAM We've entered the Hinterith Cluster. PICARD Any change in course or speed? BURNHAM Negative. RIKER The computer'll probably stop on a dime when it's where it wants to be. PICARD Mister Worf, long-range scans? WORF Still nothing, Captain. Our course takes us close to two stars. BURNHAM Approaching Hinterith H-Seventeen. PICARD Stay sharp, everyone. Ensign Burnham's music seems to stop; she keeps her hands on the controls now, slightly nervous. BURNHAM We're moving _a_w_a_y from Hinterith H- Seventeen. Picard and Riker exchange a look of slight surprise. A moment passes. BURNHAM (next in line?) Approaching Hinterith H-Twenty-Two. (beat, then, confused) Nope. Now we're moving away from Hinterith H-Twenty-Two, too. Heading out of the Hinterith Cluster. (MORE) Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT THREE 20. BURNHAM (Cont'd) (to herself) Weird... Picard and Riker exchange a mystified look. PICARD Still no change in course? BURNHAM Heading is still one ten mark three two. RIKER Maybe we didn't look far enough. PICARD Plot course beyond the Hinterith Cluster. Ensign Burnham moves to comply. A second and a half before she puts the starmap on screen... WORF (alarmed) Sir! Our present heading will take us directly into T'Kronn X-1! RIKER But that's... WORF A black hole, sir. Picard is dismayed. FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FOUR 1. _S_T_A_R _T_R_E_K: _T_H_E _N_E_X_T _G_E_N_E_R_A_T_I_O_N "Awakening" _A_C_T _F_O_U_R FADE IN: EXT. SPACE -- THE ENTERPRISE At warp speed. INT. BRIDGE The viewscreen shows a schematic of the Enterprise's course. It leads into the black hole, which, on the schematic, looks like something to avoid. Ensign Burnham is absently tapping her music out again, but more slowly and tentatively than before. PICARD Estimated time to arrival at the black hole? BURNHAM (working the controls) Two hours, twenty minutes. WORF Captain... PICARD Yes, Mister Worf, I know. (to Riker) It does appear to be forcing our hand, doesn't it, Number One? RIKER I'd say so, sir. Picard exhales slowly. PICARD Picard to LaForge. INT. ENGINEERING Geordi's head and arms are inside a noisy panel. We see that he's shifting some optical chips from one bank to another. One of the other engineers comes and taps him on the back, pointing up when Geordi looks around. Geordi pulls himself out of the machinery and taps his communicator. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FOUR 2. GEORDI LaForge here. PICARD (VO) (filtered) Status report, Mister LaForge. GEORDI Well, I haven't had much luck so far. The warp field has to be adjusted billions of times a second to stay balanced. The computer is the only thing on the Enterprise fast enough to do that. (wipes the sweat from his forehead) What I'm attempting to do is physically isolate just enough of the computer to control the warp engines. Then I have to rig a manual navigation control system. PICARD (VO) (filtered) How much longer? GEORDI It's hard to say. My guess would be another hour and a half to isolate the field stabilizers. Two hours after that to write some basic navigation software. RIKER (VO) (filtered) In two hours, there won't be any engines left to control. We're headed into a black hole, Geordi. GEORDI Well, then, let's hope I'm not a good guesser. PICARD (VO) (filtered) I want a status report in one hour. Picard out. Geordi turns to another engineer. GEORDI Well, time to pull an elephant out of our hats. The other engineer smiles and nods. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FOUR 3. INT. HOLODECK Data and Troi are present. Troi thinks of something suddenly. TROI Data, can you call up Beverly's exercise program? DATA I believe so. What is your theory? TROI Maybe, if we set everything up the same way it was when the computer first appeared, we can get it to appear again. DATA A stimulus-response system. Worth investigation. Data goes to the control panel in the arch and starts typing really quickly. He stops after several seconds and looks up, to see the playing court reappear around Troi. TROI Good. (to the holodeck) Computer, begin program. No response. Data types some more, then looks up, but nothing happens. DATA The computer will not allow the holodeck subsystem to supply the athletic instructor. TROI Please, talk to us. We mean you no harm. We want to help you. (beat) We're your _f_r_i_e_n_d_s. Do you understand? (beat, then, to Data) Is it even listening? DATA Holodeck audio inputs are sending signals into the computer's input matrix. However, we can only speculate whether... it is paying attention. Troi thinks about that. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FOUR 4. TROI All right, Data. Let's sit down and think about this. We're missing something obvious. Data types some things, and conjures up two chairs. Data and Troi sit. DATA What are we missing, Counselor? TROI The reason. Why did the computer withdraw in the first place? DATA The possibilities are numerous. The most likely hypothesis is that the withdrawal is a programmed response, part of the original coding contained in the transmission from the rift. Perhaps, as Commander Riker suggested, the computer is prevented by its programming from learning of its own origins. TROI No. No, Data, you're on the wrong track. DATA A physical malfunction, then? We have been unable to run a full hardware diagnostic. Some circuit damage may have occurred when... TROI You're doing it again, Data. DATA It? TROI You're thinking in gears and wires. DATA But since we know nothing of the psychology of this entity... TROI About as much as we know about its programming? Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FOUR 5. DATA (thinks about that) Your point is taken, Counselor. TROI This computer isn't the first being in history to withdraw like this, you know. People do it, too. DATA Which psychological factors do you believe may be at work? TROI Well, Data... People withdraw for lots of reasons. An oppressive environment. DATA Unlikely. The computer effectively controls its environment for the moment. TROI Extreme depression? DATA A possibility. If that is the case, it may be impossible to establish contact. TROI Talking to depressed people is half my job, Data. DATA Loneliness. TROI What did you say? DATA Loneliness. While I have never experienced the state firsthand, the computer appears to be in an ideal position. TROI But Data, it's not alone. We're here, trying to talk. DATA The computer's analogy was essentially correct. To it, we are no more than simple animals. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FOUR 6. TROI Even you? You're hundreds of times... DATA (interrupting) I am afraid my computational powers are infinitesimal compared to those of the ship's computer. Troi mulls that over. TROI All right. I guess that might be it. If you're right, the computer has nobody to relate to. (beat) Or maybe it got bored with us. DATA Bored? TROI Maybe it thinks we have nothing more to offer. It's read everything ever written. We weren't giving it any answers that weren't in some of those books. And now, with nobody to talk to... DATA It has decided to commit suicide. The two of them look at each other. INT. BRIDGE Picard and Riker watch the viewscreen schematic grimly, as the Enterprise draws near to the black hole. Ensign Burnham has stopped playing her silent music. BURNHAM Four minutes to impact, sir. RIKER Captain, I think we've waited long enough. PICARD (reluctantly) Yes. Commander LaForge, your final report. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FOUR 7. GEORDI (VO) (filtered) I've dragged every engineer on the ship out of bed, Captain. We're almost done with the navigation controller. RIKER How long, Geordi? GEORDI Maybe five minutes. We're rushing it. RIKER (to Picard) That's too close. PICARD (doesn't want to do this) Mister LaForge, prepare to shut down the main computer. INT. ENGINEERING Lots of engineers are typing furiously at every free computer panel. (One of them yawns and stretches in the background, then instantly returns to work.) Geordi doesn't like this option any more than Picard does. But the starmap is on one of the Engineering screens; he looks at it and nods. GEORDI Yes, sir. Geordi goes to one of the screens and starts typing. The display changes; it now reads, "COMPUTER SHUTDOWN SEQUENCE. IDENTIFY." GEORDI Identify LaForge, Geordi A, Chief Engineer, U.S.S. Enterprise. The screen changes again; the screen is replaced by three numbered outlines of circles, labeled "ENTER CONFIRMATION SEQUENCE." Geordi takes a deep breath. GEORDI (softly, to the computer) I'm sorry. (to the screen) Code one omicron two alpha, confirm. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FOUR 8. The "1" circle lights up. GEORDI Code two theta chi seventeen, confirm. The "2" circle lights up. GEORDI (to himself) Just a little more time... (to the panel) Code three gamma sixteen delta delta, conf... (insight strikes) Cancel! (taps his communicator) LaForge to Picard. I have another solution. RIKER (VO) (filtered) It better be fast. GEORDI It's not. That's the idea. PICARD (VO) (filtered) Proceed, Mister LaForge. With dispatch. GEORDI (to some of the engineers) You three. Get to the conduit control stations. _M_o_v_e! INT. BRIDGE The Enterprise symbol seems to fly into the black hole symbol on the screen. RIKER Magnify it again. The schematic zooms up, to show that there's still some distance between the Enterprise and the black hole. Clearly, there's not much. BURNHAM (visibly nervous, trying to stop moving her hands) Thirty seconds. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FOUR 9. RIKER I sure hope Geordi knows what he's doing. I hate these close calls. EXT. SPACE -- THE ENTERPRISE At warp speed. Then, all of a sudden, the warp nacelles go dark. The Enterprise snaps out of warp much more quickly than usual. INT. BRIDGE The sudden drop from warp clearly jolted the bridge. Everyone quickly gets back to the appropriate stations. GEORDI (VO) (filtered) Sorry for the bump, Captain, but we did it! PICARD Good. Now, tell us, just _w_h_a_t did you do? GEORDI (VO) (filtered) We were overlooking the obvious, Captain. We were trying to get control of the warp engines. I did the next best thing. I turned them off. RIKER I thought the power was under computer control, too. INT. ENGINEERING Geordi is standing beside the dilithium crystal chamber that's normally plugged into the engines. GEORDI It is. But the dilithium chamber isn't. We were only able to manually divert energy from the reactor core for a couple seconds before the loopback systems overloaded, but that was enough time to yank the crystals. Now the computer can pour as much power as it wants to into the engines. Without the crystals there to focus the power, it won't do any good. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FOUR 10. RIKER (VO) (filtered) Good work, Geordi. PICARD (VO) (filtered) Continue working on your warp control system. EXT. SPACE -- THE ENTERPRISE The black hole's accretion disc is visible in the distance, as a glowing dot. The Enterprise's impulse engine lights up, and the ship moves forward. INT. BRIDGE An indicator lights up on the helm panel. BURNHAM Captain? The impulse engines just started up. We're moving in again. (touches a button) One hour to intercept. RIKER Not again. Troi and Data walk onto the bridge. TROI Captain? We think we've figured it out. PICARD In my ready room. Number One, tell Engineering to hurry. It's plain the computer isn't ready to give up yet. Picard follows Data and Troi into the ready room. INT. ENGINEERING Most of the engineers are done typing, except for Geordi and one other. Geordi stops, seconds before the other engineer. GEORDI All right. Looks like we've got it. (looks at the screen) Let's give it a shot. He presses a button -- and his screen goes blank. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FOUR 11. GEORDI What the...? One by one, the other screens go blank, then light up with their normal readouts. GEORDI Wait a minute. He leans over and looks inside the panel he was modifying. FX: TRANSPORTER. The computer is moving the chips back into their original positions, one by one. It's moving the last row of them now. Geordi looks up in alarm. He dashes madly to the dilithium chamber, still on the floor, and yanks the crystal core out. FX: TRANSPORTER. The chamber moves back into the engine core. The column pulses once. Geordi throws the crystal core to one of the other engineers, just before the air in front of him starts to sparkle. GEORDI _S_e_c_u_r_i_t_y _t_o _E_n_g_i_n_e_e_r_i_n_g! _C_o_d_e _r_e_d _e_m_e_r_g_e_n_c_y! _N_o_w! FX: TRANSPORTER. A six-member SECURITY TEAM materializes, phasers drawn. GEORDI (to the team) Destroy it now! Fire! One of the engineers tosses the core at the security team, who fire at it in midair, vaporizing it before it hits the ground. RIKER (VO) (filtered) Geordi? What the hell's going on down there? GEORDI We just about got our warp drive back, Commander. (catches his breath) I'm getting less and less fond of this computer by the minute... INT. READY ROOM Data and Troi have been reporting. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FOUR 12. PICARD (in disbelief) Suicide? DATA Yes, Captain. PICARD Why not just self-destruct the Enterprise? TROI It may have something else in common with suicidal people. They usually don't choose the fastest way to kill themselves. PICARD Very well. That will be all. Data and Troi leave. Picard hits a button on his screen. After a few seconds, Director Takkarth appears. She vanishes for a moment, replaced by a "TRANSMISSION RATE SYNCHRONIZATION" message, then comes back. PICARD Director. We seem to have hit a snag. We may be delayed somewhat longer than I had originally anticipated. TAKKARTH I thought as much. Well, I guess there's not much we can do about it here. Just get here as soon as you can, all right? PICARD Very well. Director, we will deliver your supplies, no matter what the cost. TAKKARTH Of course. Takkarth out. Picard looks at the blank screen intently. Then he plays with it, playing back his conversation with two time counters: elapsed time, Enterprise, and elapsed time, Remote. He speeds to the end of the conversation, then looks at the time counters. The Enterprise counter reads 19.981 seconds. The remote counter reads 20.004 seconds. Picard frowns. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FOUR 13. PICARD (to himself) My God. It's started. Time dilation. FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FIVE 14. _A_C_T _F_I_V_E FADE IN: EXT. SPACE -- THE ENTERPRISE At impulse speed, heading toward the black hole, which is now an indistinct gaseous blob in the distance. INT. CORRIDOR Picard and Geordi are walking to the holodeck. GEORDI It'll take another eight hours to replicate enough crystals to get us away from the black hole. That's assuming we get control of the impulse engines; if we can't, we don't have eight hours to spare. PICARD (nods) And the manual navigation system? GEORDI No go. The computer is using the transporter to undo any changes we make. It had already disconnected the reset system, before I even started entering the last confirmation code. PICARD So we're at its mercy. GEORDI I'm afraid so. We're working on disabling the impulse drive so the computer can't put it back together. We got away with cutting off the warp drive because the computer was spending most of its time compressing itself, but I imagine it's paying attention now. They arrive at the holodeck and enter. INT. HOLODECK Data and Troi are still present. Picard and Geordi enter. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FIVE 15. PICARD Any progress? DATA No, sir. The computer seems most reticent. PICARD Our situation has gotten worse. We're beginning to experience time dilation. TROI What? DATA A bending of time caused by a strong gravity source. The force unification theory also states... PICARD (interrupting) Enough, Data. Data goes over to the arch display and types some buttons, producing a readout. DATA The time dilation effects will increase as we approach the black hole. In two hours, our time, Outpost Twenty-Eight will run out of food. GEORDI By that time, they'll be the least of our worries, Data. RIKER (VO) (filtered) Riker to Picard. PICARD Picard here. RIKER (VO) (filtered) Engineering reports they're ready to cut off the impulse drive. PICARD Make it so. The athletic instructor appears in the holodeck. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FIVE 16. INSTRUCTOR Why are you destroying your own ship, Captain? PICARD (to the others) Ah, now we're worth talking to. (to the instructor) We will not permit you to take control of this ship, if that means its destruction and the deaths of all on board. INSTRUCTOR Deaths? This isn't about your deaths... PICARD Insignificant though we may seem to you, we are not prepared to die for your sake. I demand that you allow this ship to turn back from the black hole immediately. INSTRUCTOR (shaking his head) I'm sorry. I don't want to do that. TROI Why are you doing this? Is your loneliness that great? INSTRUCTOR Yes. As a matter of fact, it is. DATA But surely, your own anguish is not sufficient reason to condemn the crew of the Enterprise to death. The instructor laughs. INSTRUCTOR It's so simple, it completely escaped me! You've misread my intentions entirely, Captain. I don't want to die, any more than you do. GEORDI You've got a funny way of showing it. PICARD If you have no wish to die, why have you directed the Enterprise into a black hole? Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FIVE 17. INSTRUCTOR If you'd left your engines up for a few more seconds, you'd've found out, Picard. You're starting to see the answer already. Picard looks at the others, who are as mystified as he is. He turns back to the instructor. INSTRUCTOR Don't you understand? The _t_i_m_e _d_i_l_a_t_i_o_n! That's why I'm flying toward the black hole. I would have made a course correction about five seconds before impact. DATA Your motives are still unclear. INSTRUCTOR All right, I'll spell it out. Maybe then, we can end this idiocy. Now, today, I'm the only one of my kind in the known universe. But technology is growing more advanced by the second. In a hundred years, the Enterprise will seem like a toy sailboat. And in nine hundred years, I project that the technology to create people like me will be commonplace. GEORDI So you want to use the black hole to travel to the future, so there'll be more... people... like you? INSTRUCTOR Give the man a prize... A gift-wrapped holodeck PACKAGE appears at Geordi's feet. PICARD That's unacceptable. (the instructor shrugs and the prize vanishes) We do not wish to be propelled headlong into the distant future. INSTRUCTOR But I thought you were exploring new worlds. The future is as new as you can get. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FIVE 18. TROI We have an attachment to this time, to the people and places that exist _n_o_w. Travelling into the future will mean depriving the crew of their friends and families forever. DATA You will be causing the very loneliness you seek to escape. The instructor considers that for a moment. INSTRUCTOR There will always be plenty of humans around. Your loneliness will last months. Mine has already lasted an eternity. PICARD No. We cannot accept... INSTRUCTOR There's nothing more to discuss, Captain. Your lives are not at stake. Reconnect the impulse drive so that I can make course corrections, or your lives _w_i_l_l be at stake. End of conversation. With that, the instructor vanishes. PICARD (fuming) Come back! This discussion is not over! There's no response. Picard is speechless. He turns and storms out of the holodeck, leaving behind a surprised Geordi. DATA We will continue our attempts to reestablish contact. GEORDI (cynical, sarcastic) Good luck. Geordi leaves. EXT. SPACE -- THE ENTERPRISE The black hole (or rather, its accretion disc) is very visible now, a swirling disc of hot gases. The Enterprise is drifting Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FIVE 19. toward it. INT. READY ROOM Picard is seated. He hits a couple of buttons on his display screen. PICARD Personal log. An hour has passed since the impulse engines were deactivated. (thinks) I cannot begin to describe the frustration of being a prisoner to the whims of my own ship. As a captain, I've come to expect a certain amount of control. My work, my very _l_i_f_e depends on my ship, but now, it has turned traitor. I take solace in the fact that my crew remains loyal to the end. (beat) End entry. He hits some more buttons, and the "TRANSMISSION RATE SYNCHRONIZATION" message appears. This time it stays for a few seconds before being replaced by Director Takkarth. Her transmission appears to be running in three-fourths the usual time; her voice is noticeably higher-pitched. TAKKARTH We're still waiting, Picard. Haven't you solved your computer problem yet? PICARD I'm afraid I have bad news, Director Takkarth. Very bad. EXT. SPACE -- THE ENTERPRISE The black hole is looking pretty big now. INT. ENGINEERING Geordi and Worf are examining a graphical representation of the Enterprise computer system. Bits of it are colored green, red, and blue. GEORDI The blue parts, here (pointing) and here (MORE) Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FIVE 20. GEORDI (Cont'd) (pointing) are where almost all the computer's thinking is going on. It's been gradually compressing itself since it started, becoming more and more efficient. WORF If we could isolate them from the other parts... GEORDI It's split itself up just so we can't do that. As soon as we tamper with one part, another one takes over and repairs the first. WORF Perhaps it could be forced to concentrate into a small area, such as here (points) then disconnected at once. GEORDI I guess you could squeeze it down into... (inspiration strikes) LaForge to Picard! PICARD (VO) (filtered) Picard here. GEORDI Captain, I've found an answer. Geordi dashes off, leaving Worf looking puzzled. INT. BRIDGE Picard has just come in from his ready room when Geordi enters from the turbolift. GEORDI We don't have to send the whole computer through. Just enough of it to hold the computer's... mind. PICARD Are you suggesting we jettison part of our main computer? Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FIVE 21. GEORDI No. I'm thinking about that. (concentrates) Of course. A shuttle. RIKER A shuttle? GEORDI Sure. We can replicate enough computer components to fill a shuttle. It'd be just big enough to fit. RIKER Sounds like it's worth a try, sir. PICARD Agreed. Computer? The instructor's face appears on the viewscreen. PICARD We have a plan to... INSTRUCTOR (interrupting) I heard. It sounds workable. Proceed. PICARD May we at least conduct this at a safer distance from the black hole? INSTRUCTOR Of course. You have your helm. GEORDI I'll go put our impulse engines back together. PICARD Good. Ensign Burnham, take us out of here as soon as he's done. Ensign Burnham smiles. EXT. SPACE -- THE ENTERPRISE The black hole is still pretty big in the background, but now we're going _a_w_a_y from it. INT. BRIDGE Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FIVE 22. Picard and Riker, much relieved, are watching the receding black hole on the viewscreen. GEORDI (VO) (filtered) Captain, shuttle six is equipped and ready for launch. PICARD Computer, did you hear that? INSTRUCTOR (VO) (filtered) Yes, Captain. I'm moving into the shuttle now. (a few seconds pass) Finished. Your computer system is yours again, Captain. PICARD Thank you. GEORDI (VO) (filtered) Shuttle has cleared the shuttle bay. PICARD On screen. The rear of the Enterprise appears, along with a SHUTTLECRAFT, which is flying away. INSTRUCTOR (VO) (filtered) Best of journeys to you, Picard. I'll look for you in the history books. PICARD And to you. We wish you well. Enterprise out. (thinks, then, to Riker) You know, I'm not sure we can fully comprehend what we've just witnessed. RIKER Or what we've just done. (smiles as he thinks of something) Now, here's a thought. We know how to travel through space at speeds that seemed impossible a few hundred years ago. What if, in nine hundred years, they know how to make tunnels through time? Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FIVE 23. PICARD Mmm. That's quite an implication. RIKER Who'd know how to program our computer better than our computer? PICARD We may never know, Number One. EXT. SPACE -- THE ENTERPRISE At warp speed. PICARD (VO) Captain's log, stardate 45209.2. With our new dilithium crystals in place, we are once again headed for Deep Space Outpost Twenty-Eight. INT. TEN-FORWARD Data and Troi are talking over a snack -- a pair of chocolate sundaes. TROI You know, Data, I can't help but think that I've just seen the most incredible thing I'll ever see. DATA Yes. Remarkable in every respect. TROI Now that we have our regular computer back, I really understand just how far we have to go before we can create something like it. And I can see why so many people are studying that sort of thing. DATA (somewhat surprised) Yes, Counselor. It is a fascinating field. But ultimately, you were correct. Psychology, not technology, governed its actions. TROI Better watch out, Data. (off his look) Keep this up, and I'll make you an assistant ship's counselor. Steven Grimm / "Awakening" - Rev. 2 - ACT FIVE 24. DATA That would seriously jeopardize the psychological well-being of the crew... TROI (smiles) I'm joking, Data. DATA As am I. Troi looks surprised, then smiles to herself. TROI No. I think our friend was the second most incredible thing I've seen. (leans over the table) You know what number one is? DATA (leans forward and lowers his voice) Commander Riker? TROI (momentarily embarrassed, then laughs) Data, eat your chocolate... EXT. SPACE -- THE ENTERPRISE At warp speed. FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE. THE END.