destroyed.
- Two down, one to go.
- Data, report!
- It has nearly collapsed.
- Losing containment.
Goodbye, Jean-Luc. I'm gonna
miss you. You had such potential.
But all good things
must come to an end.
Containment field is at critical.
I'm losing it!
The Continuum didn't think you had it
in you, Jean-Luc, but I knew you did.
Are you saying that it worked?
We collapsed the anomaly?
Is that all this meant to you?
Just another anomaly,
another day at the office!
Did it work?
Well, you're here, talking to me,
aren't you?
What about my crew?
"The anomaly. My ship. My crew."
I suppose you're worried
about your fish, too.
Well, if it puts your mind at ease,
you've saved humanity, once again.
Thank you.
For what?
You had a hand
in helping me get out of this.
I was the one that got you into it.
A directive from the Continuum.
The part about the helping hand,
though, was my idea.
I sincerely hope this is the last
time that I find myself here.
You just don't get it, do you,
Jean-Luc?
The trial never ends.
We wanted to see if you could
expand your mind and your horizons.
And for one brief moment, you did.
- When I realised the paradox.
- Exactly.
For that one fraction of a second,
you were open to options
you had never considered.
That is the exploration
that awaits you.
Not mapping stars
and studying nebulae,
but charting the unknown
possibilities of existence.
What is it that you
are you trying to tell me?
You'll find out.
In any case, I'll be watching.
And if you're very lucky, I'll drop
by to say hello from time to time.
See you out there.
Captain, are you alright?
- Mr Worf, what's the date?
- Stardate 47988.
- Is something wrong, sir?
- No.
No.
I think I'll get back to bed.
I could use some sleep.
Captain's log, supplemental.
Starfleet Command
reports no unusual activity
along the Neutral Zone and there
is no sign of a temporal anomaly.
It would appear
I am the only crew member
to retain any knowledge
of the events.
- Take it!
- Any time, Doctor.
Four hands in a row.
How does he do it?
I cheat.
I'm kidding!
You know, I was thinking about what
the Captain told us about the future,
about how we all changed
and drifted apart.
Why would he want to tell us
what's to come?
Goes against everything
about not polluting the timeline.
I believe this situation is unique.
Since the anomaly did not occur,
there have already been changes
in this timeline.
The future we experience will be
different from what he encountered.
Maybe that's why he told us.
Knowing that future
allows us to change things now,
so that some things never happen.
Agreed.
Come in.
- Am I too late?
- Of course not. Pull up a chair.
Five-card draw. Deuces wild.
Come in.
Is there a problem, sir?
No, I just thought that I might...
...I might join you this evening,
if there's room.
Of course. Have a seat.
- Would you care to deal, sir?
- Thank you, Mr Data.
Actually, I used to be quite
a card player in my youth, you know.
I should have done this
a long time ago.
You were always welcome.
So, five-card stud, nothing wild,
and the sky's the limit.