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Time Squared (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"Time Squared" is the 39th episode of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
.
encounter a double of Captain Picard
, apparently from the future.
drifting through empty space with no power or fuel reserves. When Worf
and Riker
use the tractor beam to bring it into the shuttlebay, they find it has the same name and registry as an Enterprise shuttle. Inside is a double of Captain Picard
, barely clinging to life.
After the double is brought to sickbay for treatment, Data
and LaForge power up the shuttle, but only after a lengthy period of trial and error. It is then discovered that the shuttle's internal clock is about six hours ahead of the ship's chronometer
which means that the shuttle, and therefore Picard's double, is from six hours into the future. They recover a very poor quality sensor log video that shows the Enterprise falling into an energy vortex
and being destroyed.
Dr. Pulaski determines that the incoherent double's biological functions are out of sync, but are improving as the future Picard draws nearer to his own time. Picard orders that his future self be revived, but is unsuccessful in extracting any information from him. Picard is disquieted at the idea that he would abandon his ship and its crew.
As the crew members talk about what they need to do to avoid their destined destruction, they decide simply to let nature take its course. They encounter the vortex, but are unable to move away despite running warp engines at maximum, and only become drawn in further. They send a probe into the vortex which explodes upon impact. Beams emanating from the vortex that scan the Enterprise seem to concentrate on Picard, leading him to understand that his double left the ship to draw its attention, an unsuccessful maneuver. It is theorized that the vortex may be a form of life.
At this point Picard's double, now almost completely aware and coherent, sets out to escape the Enterprise as he did before. Picard follows him and attempts to learn the solution to the predicament. The double only mumbles about how impossible the solution is. As the double is boarding the shuttlecraft, Picard proclaims that the cycle will be broken and fires at him with a phaser
. It is not established whether he is dead or merely stunned, but the sound from Dr. Pulaski's tricorder is the flatline sound heard in previous instances when the tricorder scanned dead individuals.
Picard returns to the bridge and orders that the Enterprise fly straight into the center of the vortex. The Enterprise comes through the other side into normal space, and the doubles of Picard and the shuttlecraft disappear. The Enterprise resumes its course.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
.
Overview
In this episode the crew of the EnterpriseUSS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
encounter a double of Captain Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
, apparently from the future.
Plot
While en route to their planned destination, sensors pick up a lone shuttlecraftShuttlecraft (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek fictional universe, a shuttlecraft is a small auxiliary spaceship carried by the larger craft such as the Enterprise. Shuttlecraft were documented in the writer's guide for the series in 1966 and first appeared in the episode The Galileo Seven. Galileo was the name of the...
drifting through empty space with no power or fuel reserves. When Worf
Worf
Worf, played by Michael Dorn, is a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in seasons four to seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also appears in the films based on The Next Generation. Worf is the first Klingon main character to appear in Star Trek, and has appeared in more Star...
and Riker
William Riker
William Thomas Riker, played by Jonathan Frakes, is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe primarily appearing as a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
use the tractor beam to bring it into the shuttlebay, they find it has the same name and registry as an Enterprise shuttle. Inside is a double of Captain Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
, barely clinging to life.
After the double is brought to sickbay for treatment, Data
Data (Star Trek)
Lieutenant Commander Data is a character in the fictional Star Trek universe portrayed by actor Brent Spiner. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek...
and LaForge power up the shuttle, but only after a lengthy period of trial and error. It is then discovered that the shuttle's internal clock is about six hours ahead of the ship's chronometer
Chronometer
Chronometer may refer to:* Chronometer watch, a watch tested and certified to meet certain precision standards* Hydrochronometer, a water clock* Marine chronometer, a timekeeper used for celestial navigation...
which means that the shuttle, and therefore Picard's double, is from six hours into the future. They recover a very poor quality sensor log video that shows the Enterprise falling into an energy vortex
Vortex
A vortex is a spinning, often turbulent,flow of fluid. Any spiral motion with closed streamlines is vortex flow. The motion of the fluid swirling rapidly around a center is called a vortex...
and being destroyed.
Dr. Pulaski determines that the incoherent double's biological functions are out of sync, but are improving as the future Picard draws nearer to his own time. Picard orders that his future self be revived, but is unsuccessful in extracting any information from him. Picard is disquieted at the idea that he would abandon his ship and its crew.
As the crew members talk about what they need to do to avoid their destined destruction, they decide simply to let nature take its course. They encounter the vortex, but are unable to move away despite running warp engines at maximum, and only become drawn in further. They send a probe into the vortex which explodes upon impact. Beams emanating from the vortex that scan the Enterprise seem to concentrate on Picard, leading him to understand that his double left the ship to draw its attention, an unsuccessful maneuver. It is theorized that the vortex may be a form of life.
At this point Picard's double, now almost completely aware and coherent, sets out to escape the Enterprise as he did before. Picard follows him and attempts to learn the solution to the predicament. The double only mumbles about how impossible the solution is. As the double is boarding the shuttlecraft, Picard proclaims that the cycle will be broken and fires at him with a phaser
Phaser
Phaser may refer to:* Barber pole phaser is an analog synthesizer specially designed to create Shepard tones, an Auditory illusion.* Endosulfan, an organic compound* Phaser , in the Star Trek fictional universe...
. It is not established whether he is dead or merely stunned, but the sound from Dr. Pulaski's tricorder is the flatline sound heard in previous instances when the tricorder scanned dead individuals.
Picard returns to the bridge and orders that the Enterprise fly straight into the center of the vortex. The Enterprise comes through the other side into normal space, and the doubles of Picard and the shuttlecraft disappear. The Enterprise resumes its course.
External links
- Time Squared rewatch by Keith R.A. DeCandido