Loyalty (v.)

A lot of people are curious 

about your resignation;

You had a brilliant career, an impeccable record —

They want to know why you suddenly  left. 

Personally, I believe you, that 

it was a matter of principle. 

But what I think 

doesn't really count, does it? 

One has to be sure 

about these things. 

I have to check Your Motive. 

I've been checked! 

Of course  — but when a man 

knows as much as you do,

a double-check does 

no harm, does it?

Sit Down.

[INTERCOM BEEPS]

LA FORGE Jr. :

Admiral Picard, Captain Riker, 

please report to observation. 

SEVEN :

Good evening, sirs.

I apologise for interrupting your sleep. 

PICARD :

What is it? 

SEVEN :

Permission to Speak Freely, sir? 

RIKER : 

Go ahead. 

SEVEN :

You're gonna tell me what the hell

you two are really doing here, 

or I'm about to throw both of you

out an airlock and never look back. 

RIKER : 

Watch it, Commander. Is that

How You Speak to An Admiral? 

SEVEN :

It's How I Speak to A Friend. 

PICARD : 

All right. 

I received a coded distress call 

from Beverly Crusher, former

Doctor on The Enterprise. 

SEVEN :

I know Who She is.

RIKER : 

She's wounded. 

She said, "Trust no one,

including Starfleet". 

We didn't want you 

to become complicit,

jeopardize your career. 

SEVEN :

My career….

When I was a Ranger, 

things were much... simpler. 

Trust My Instincts, 

Bring Justice to 

an unjust universe. 

[SPEAKS SHAKILY] But then you... 

You and Janeway convinced me

to join Starfleet... 

[SCOFFS] I thought this could be

the right path for me, I thought... 

I thought I could one day

inspire people to follow me, 

even if it's dangerous. 

The way that you do. 

PICARD :

I can see that you're struggling —

But I still think that

you're in the right place. 

SEVEN :  [SCOFFS] 

How can I inspire when all I do is

take shit from someone like Shaw? 

How am I supposed to 

just ignore my gut, 

ignore my instincts, 

just to follow orders? 

PICARD :

If you find that answer,

will you let me know? 

Because I never did. 

RIKER :

I like that Seven.