Fire Demons

MULDER : 

You know, when I, uh... 

I first came to work at the FBI, 

I worked at Violent Crimes, 

and I saw, I saw 

The Worst of Humanity. 

I saw monsters and I wondered 

how they became that way, 

how these men became so evil. 

I know there were psychological explanations-- 

Victims of their environment, 

Victims of their parents-- 

But the scientific explanations 

were never truly satisfying. 

And I began to think about Evil like, like a disease. 

You know, that it goes from 

man to man or age to age. 

Most of us walk around thinking 

we're incapable of any 

Acts of Evil and we are. 

You know, we can stifle 

that momentary urge 

to kill or to hurt. 

We have some kind of 

immunity to it. 

But I think it's possible 

that there's... 

An occurrence 

in somebody's life, 

a Tragedy or a Loss 

that leaves them vulnerable, 

hurts their Immunity to Evil, 

and all of a sudden at that point 

in their lives when 

they're weakened —

They're open to Evil 

and they can become Evil.

DOGGETT: 

If that were True, 

then what you're saying is... 

Is that this man 

we wheeled in here tonight 

is Infected with Evil, 

The Same Evil 

that killed My Son. 

You really believe that, Agent Mulder?

MULDER: 

Uh, I'm not really a good test 

for questions like that. 

I'll believe almost anything, 

you know, but the, uh... 

The pisser is,

You may never know. 

It may be like Agent Reyes says. 

It could be random and meaningless-- 

Who it Affects, Who it Goes to.

DOGGETT: 

What if it isn't?

MULDER: 

Well, then you'd be 

Seeing Something 

that I don't, 

Agent Doggett.

SCENE 13

SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA

11:02 AM

(Payphone area we saw the night before. Sheriff's Deputies are walking around. DOGGETT pulls up in a rental car. He sees MULDER, in rolled-up shirt sleeves, casually leaning against a Sheriff's car.)

DOGGETT: 

What am I doing here?

MULDER: 

Been asking myself that same question, Agent Doggett. 

But it seems the tenacious Agent Reyes does not want to let go of this one.

DOGGETT: 

Of what?

(MULDER leads DOGGETT toward the crime scene.)

MULDER: 

She's got a murder victim out here, a woman found shot. 

She thinks it's probably the same man who killed those two people down in New Orleans-- this Jeb Dukes.

DOGGETT: 

What does she want from me?

MULDER: 

She wants to know if you See it, Too. 

What She's Been Seeing.

DOGGETT: 

I told you, there's no connection.

(DOGGETT looks over and sees REYES standing with the Deputies in a loose circle around something on the ground. The clothing is different, but the arrangement of people is identical to that of his flashback/vision in the hospital. As she did in the vision, REYES looks back at him.)

REYES: 

Agent Doggett.

(The circle of men breaks apart. DOGGETT comes to stand next to REYES. He looks at the body of the PAYPHONE WOMAN lying face down on the ground. Same position and angle of the body as that of his son in the file photo we saw earlier and the woman in New Orleans. DOGGETT takes a breath and speaks calmly. MULDER is a few feet away, watching them.)

DOGGETT: 

I'm sorry, Agent Reyes. 

I don't see it.

REYES: 

I Think You Do.

(DOGGETT starts to leave. He pauses.)

REYES:
You're just afraid to go there.

MULDER: 

Whoo. You just keep shooting till you hit something, don't you?

(REYES stays focused on DOGGETT.)

REYES: 

You'd rather blind yourself to the connections, but I can't.

DOGGETT: 

You keep talking about these connections.

 Connections to what? 

To who?

REYES: 

What if this is a Thread of Evil … 

Connecting through Time, 

through Men, 

through Opportunity, 

connecting back to you. 

In India, in Africa, in Iran, 

in the Middle East, in the Far East. 

Most of The World, 

they take it as a given. 

They see Evil in Death 

the way other people see God in a Rose.

MULDER: 

(dryly) 

I saw Elvis in a potato chip once.

(REYES glances to MULDER.)

REYES:
You know what I'm talking about.

MULDER: 

Yes, I do. I DO. 

But if this man doesn't see it, 

he doesn't see it, right?

(DOGGETT stares at REYES. MULDER leaves. REYES and DOGGETT continue looking at each other.)

SCENE 13

OUTSIDE THE MOTEL WINDOW

MULDER: 

They put up a cordon in a ten-mile radius. 

No sign of them. 

Best I can figure is they must have had an acetylene torch in the back of the truck. 

I don't know how else they could have done it.

SCULLY: 

I wasn't out of that room for more than two minutes, Mulder. 

Come on, there's someone I want to talk to again.

MULDER: 

Who?

SCULLY: 

Kevin's Father.

MULDER: 

Why?

SCULLY: 

He knew that Kevin was in danger. 

He warned us about a 

Powerful and Respected Man.

MULDER: 

The man's a nut case, Scully.

SCULLY: 

Maybe he is.

MULDER: 

But if Kevin is in immediate danger, even if his father has anything to say about Gates, it doesn't help us right now.

SCULLY: 

Well, it's not doing us a lot of good standing around here.

SCENE 14

THE INSTITUTION

(Mr. Kryder is looking at a portrait of Gates.)

MR. KRYDER: 

So this is the man who took my son.

SCULLY: 

You've never seen him before?

MR. KRYDER: 

No. Why would anyone want to hurt Kevin? What does he want?

SCULLY: 

You really don't know?

MR. KRYDER: 

I ... I'm ... I'm sorry. 

I'm just a little foggy right now.

MULDER: 

Scully?

(Mulder shows Scully the log of medications that Mr. Kryder has been receiving.)

SCULLY: 

Haloperidol. It's a powerful anti-psychotic. 

They've increased his dosage. 

Mr. Kryder? 

You said something before about coming full circle to find The Truth. 

What does it mean? 

Full circle to find The Truth?

MR. KRYDER: 

I don't know. I just can't remember.

(Mulder's cel phone rings. Scully walks out into the hallway while Mulder lags behind to take the call. He hangs up and runs to catch up with her.)

MULDER: 

Scully. They had a sighting of Gates. 

He tried to rent another car at the airport, under the name Forau again. 

Did you hear what I said?

(Scully is looking past him at a waste container against the wall. The container has a recycling symbol on it.)

SCULLY: 

Mulder, look. Arrows that form a circle. 

Full circle to find The Truth. 

Gates' Company owns a recycling plant near here. 

That's where he's taken Kevin.

MULDER: 

Scully, the man is at the airport. 

If he hasn't already killed Kevin, he's trying to get as far away as he can.

SCULLY: 

I don't think so, Mulder.

MULDER: 

You think it's you, don't you? 

You think you're the one who's been chosen to protect Kevin.

SCULLY: 

I Don't Know. 

Look, if I'm wrong, I'll meet you out at the airport. OK?

SCENE 15

21ST CENTURY RECYCLING PLANT

JERUSALEM, OHIO

(Inside the plant are Gates and Kevin.)

GATES: 

The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon will turn to blood, because of you, son.

KEVIN: 

Is that why you want to hurt me?

GATES: 

It's not a question of wanting. 

You have to die, Kevin. 

For everyone. For the New Age to come. 

You understand that, don't you?

(Gates sees drops of blood on the floor and checks Kevin's hands. They are bleeding through the bandages.)

GATES: 

The others were all false prophets. 

You are the only true one among the twelve.

(As Gates reaches for Kevin's throat, Scully appears, aiming her weapon at Gates.)

SCULLY: 

Stop! Federal agent, I'm armed! Let him go! 

Let him go and we'll talk about it!

(Gates pulls Kevin in front of him and they back away.)

GATES: 

There's nothing to talk about. 

I was called upon.

(He and Kevin slip behind some stacks of recycled trash. Scully pursues, but Gates pushes a stack over, blocking her way. He then carries Kevin up the stairs to the top of a shredding machine, while Scully struggles to get around the obstacles.)

KEVIN: 

No! Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!

(Gates starts the shredding machine. He lifts Kevin up as if to throw him into the machine just as Scully reaches the bottom of the stairs. Both Gates and Kevin disappear over the edge.)

SCULLY: 

No!

(Scully rushes up the stairs and sees blood in the blades of the shredder. Leaning forward, she sees Kevin hanging to a ledge.)

SCULLY: 

Kevin! Hold on! Hold on!

(She reaches down and grabs Kevin's hand and pulls him up onto the platform grating. They embrace.)

KEVIN: 

I knew you'd come.

SCENE 16

THE SHELTER, TWO DAYS LATER

(Kevin and Scully are in one of the shelter bedrooms. Kevin has just finished packing his belongings.)

SCULLY: 

You all set?

KEVIN: 

(smiling) 

Thanks.

(He reaches out to shake hands with Scully. She turns his hand over and sees no sign of a wound on his palm, then shakes it. Kevin starts to leave.)

SCULLY: 

Maybe I'll see you again sometime.

KEVIN: 

(looking back) 

You will.

CARINA MAYWALD: 

(unseen, from the hall) 

You all ready, Kevin?

KEVIN: 

Yeah.

(Kevin leaves. Scully turns away from the door and looks down as Mulder enters. She brings a hand to her eyes to wipe away a tear, as Mulder picks up her coat and helps her into it.)

MULDER: 

You OK?

SCULLY: 

Yeah, I think so.

MULDER: 

We have a couple of hours before our flight. 

I told the sheriff we'd go down and make a formal statement about Gates' death.

SCULLY: 

I'd appreciate it if you'd handle that alone, Mulder. 

I have an errand I need to run.

MULDER: 

OK.

SCULLY: 

I'll see you at the airport.

SCENE 17

A CONFESSION BOOTH

SCULLY: 

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. 

It has been..... six years since my last confession, 

and since then I've drifted away from The Church. 

I'm not sure why exactly.

PRIEST: 

Have you come to confess?

SCULLY: 

No, um, there's a man that I work with - a friend - and usually I'm able to discuss these things with him... 

but not this. 

Father, do you believe in Miracles?

PRIEST: 

Of course, I see them every day ... 

The rising sun, the birth of a child ...

SCULLY: 

No, I'm talking about events that defy explanation. 

Things that ... I believe helped me to save a young boy's life. 

But now I wonder if I saw them at all. 

If I didn't just imagine them.

PRIEST: 

Why do you doubt yourself?

SCULLY: 

Because My Partner didn't see them. 

He didn't ... he didn't believe them. 

And usually he ... he believes without question.

PRIEST: 

Maybe they weren't meant for him to see. 

Maybe they were only meant for you.

SCULLY: 

Is that possible?

PRIEST: 

With the Lord, anything is possible. 

Perhaps you saw these things because you needed to.

SCULLY: 

To find my way back?

PRIEST: 

Sometimes We Must Come Full Circle to Find The Truth. 

(Scully looks up at the priest) 

Why does that surprise you?

SCULLY: 

Mostly, it just makes me afraid.

PRIEST: 

Afraid?

SCULLY: 

Afraid that God is Speaking ... 

But that no one's Listening.

[THE END]

The Emptiness SHAPED LIKE GOD

The Emptiness 

SHAPED LIKE GOD.

Unable to Interact with The Fifth World in UNBROKEN Aspect.

Batman, Beware 

The Hole in Things — 

Can MAN confront Evil’s CHALLENGE? Turn it UPSIDE DOWN and END it?

The Hermetic Teachers impart their instruction regarding this subject by bidding their students examine the report of their consciousness regarding their Self. 

The students are bidden to turn their attention inward upon the Self dwelling within each. Each student is led to see that his consciousness gives him first a report of the existence of his Self-the report is "I Am." 

This at first seems to be the final words from the consciousness, but a little further examination discloses the fact that this "I Am" may be separated or split into two distinct parts, or aspects, which while working in unison and in conjunction, yet, nevertheless, may be separated in consciousness.

While at first there seems to be only an "I" existing, a more careful and closer examination reveals the fact that there exists an "I" and a "Me." 

These mental twins differ in their characteristics and nature, and an examination of their nature and the phenomena arising from the same will throw much light upon many of the problems of mental influence.

Let us begin with a consideration of the Me, which is usually mistaken for the I by the student, until he presses the inquiry a little further back into the recesses of consciousness. A man thinks of his Self (in its aspect of Me) as being composed of certain feelings, tastes likes, dislikes, habits, peculiar ties, characteristics, etc., all of which go to make up his personality, or the "Self" known to himself and others. He knows that these emotions and feelings change; are born and die away; are subject to the Principle of Rhythm, and the Principle of Polarity, which take him from one extreme of feeling to another. He also thinks of the "Me" as being certain knowledge gathered together in his mind, and thus forming a part of himself. This is the "Me" of a man.

But we have proceeded too hastily. The "Me" of many men may be said to consist largely of their consciousness of the body and their physical appetites, etc. Their consciousness being largely bound up with their bodily nature, they practically "live there." Some men even go so far as to regard their personal apparel as a part of their "Me" and actually seem to consider it a part of themselves. A writer has humorously said that "men consist of three parts—soul, body and clothes." These "clothes conscious" people would lose their personality if divested of their clothing by savages upon the occasion of a shipwreck. But even many who are not so closely bound up with the idea of personal raiment stick closely to the consciousness of their bodies being their "Me" They cannot conceive of a Self independent of the body. Their mind seems to them to be practically "a something belonging to" their body-which in many cases it is indeed.

But as man rises in the scale of consciousness he is able to disentangle his "Me" from his idea of body, and is able to think of his body as "belonging to" the mental part of him. But even then he is very apt to identify the "Me" entirely with the mental states, feelings, etc., which he feels to exist within him. He is very apt to consider these internal states as identical with himself, instead of their being simply "things" produced by some part of his mentality, and existing within him—of him, and in him, but still not "himself." He sees that he may change these internal states of feelings by all effort of will, and that he may produce a feeling or state of an exactly opposite nature, in the same way, and yet the same "Me" exists. And so after a while he is able to set aside these various mental states, emotions, feelings, habits, qualities, characteristics, and other personal mental belongings—he is able to set them aside in the "not-me" collection of curiosities and encumbrances, as well as valuable possessions. This requires much mental concentration and power of mental analysis on the part of the student. But still the task is possible for the advanced student, and even those not so far advanced are able to see, in the imagination, how the process may be performed.

After this laying-aside process has been performed, the student will find himself in conscious possession of a "Self" which may be considered in its "I" and "Me" dual aspects. The "Me" will be felt to be a Something mental in which thoughts, ideas, emotions, feelings, and other mental states may be produced. It may be considered as the "mental womb," as the ancients styled it-capable of generating mental offspring. It reports to the consciousness as a "Me" with latent powers of creation and generation of mental progeny of all sorts and kinds. Its powers of creative energy are felt to be enormous. But still it seems to be conscious that it must receive some form of energy from either its "I" companion, or else from some other "I" ere it is able to bring into being its mental creations. This consciousness brings with it a realization of an enormous capacity for mental work and creative ability.

But the student soon finds that this is not all that he finds within his inner consciousness. He finds that there exists a mental Something which is able to Will that the "Me" act along certain creative lines, and which is also able to stand aside and witness the mental creation. This part of himself he is taught to call his "I." He is able to rest in its consciousness at will. He finds there not a consciousness of an ability to generate and actively create, in the sense of the gradual process attendant upon mental operations, but rather a sense and consciousness of an ability to project an energy from the "I" to the "Me"—a process of "willing" that the mental creation begin and proceed. He also finds that the "I" is able to stand aside and witness the operations of the "Me's" mental creation and generation. There is this dual aspect in the mind of every person. The "I" represents the Masculine Principle of Mental Gender-the "Me" represents the Female Principle. The "I" represents the Aspect of Being; the "Me" the Aspect of Becoming. You will notice that the Principle of Correspondence operates on this plane just as it does upon the great plane upon which the creation of Universes is performed. The two are similar in kind, although vastly different in degree. "As above, so below; as below, so above."

These aspects of mind-the Masculine and Feminine Principles-the "I" and the "Me"-considered in connection with the well-known mental and psychic phenomena, give the master-key to these dimly known regions of mental operation and manifestation. The principle of Mental Gender gives the truth underlying the whole field of the phenomena of mental influence, etc.

The tendency of the Feminine Principle is always in the direction of receiving impressions, while the tendency of the Masculine Principle is always in the direction of giving, out or expressing. The Feminine Principle has much more varied field of operation than has the Masculine Principle. The Feminine Principle conducts the work of generating new thoughts, concepts, ideas, including the work of the imagination. The Masculine Principle contents itself with the work of the "Will" in its varied phases. And yet, without the active aid of the Will of the Masculine Principle, the Feminine Principle is apt to rest content with generating mental images which are the result of impressions received from outside, instead of producing original mental creations.

Persons who can give continued attention and thought to a subject actively employ both of the Mental Principles-the Feminine in the work of the mental generation, and the Masculine Will in stimulating and energizing the creative portion of the mind. The majority of persons really employ the Masculine Principle but little, and are content to live according to the thoughts and ideas instilled into the "Me" from the "I" of other minds. But it is not our purpose to dwell upon this phase of the subject, which may be studied from any good text-book upon psychology, with the key that we have given you regarding Mental Gender.

The student of Psychic Phenomena is aware of the wonderful phenomena classified under the head of Telepathy; Thought Transference; Mental Influence; Suggestion; Hypnotism, etc. Many have sought for an explanation of these varied phases of phenomena under the theories of the various "dual mind" teachers. And in a measure they are right, for there is clearly a manifestation of two distinct phases of mental activity. But if such students will consider these "dual minds" in the light of the Hermetic Teachings regarding Vibrations and Mental Gender, they will see that the long sought for key is at hand.

In the phenomena of Telepathy it is seen how the Vibratory Energy of the Masculine Principle is projected toward the Feminine Principle of another person, and the latter takes the seed-thought and allows it to develop into maturity. In the same way Suggestion and Hypnotism operates. The Masculine Principle of the person giving the suggestions directs a stream of Vibratory Energy or Will-Power toward the Feminine Principle of the other person, and the latter accepting it makes it its own and acts and thinks accordingly. An idea thus lodged in the mind of another person grows and develops, and in time is regarded as the rightful mental offspring of the individual, whereas it is in reality like the cuckoo egg placed in the sparrows nest, where it destroys the rightful offspring and makes itself at home. The normal method is for the Masculine and Feminine Principles in a person's mind to co-ordinate and act harmoniously in conjunction with each other, but, unfortunately, the Masculine Principle in the average person is too lazy to act-the display of Will-Power is too slight-and the consequence is that such persons are ruled almost entirely by the minds and wills of other persons, whom they allow to do their thinking and willing for them. How few original thoughts or original actions are performed by the average person? Are not the majority of persons mere shadows and echoes of others having stronger wills or minds than themselves? The trouble is that the average person dwells almost altogether in his "Me" consciousness and does not realize that he has such a thing as an "I." He is polarized in his Feminine Principle of Mind, and the Masculine Principle, in which is lodged the Will, is allowed to remain inactive and not employed.

The strong men and women of the world invariably manifest the Masculine Principle of Will, and their strength depends materially upon this fact. Instead of living upon the impressions made upon their minds by others, they dominate their own minds by their Will, obtaining the kind of mental images desired, and moreover dominate the minds of others likewise, in the same manner. Look at the strong people, how they manage to implant their seed-thoughts in the minds of the masses of the people, thus causing the latter to think thoughts in accordance with the desires and wills of the strong individuals. This is why the masses of people are such sheeplike creatures, never originating an idea of their own, nor using their own powers of mental activity.

The manifestation of Mental Gender may be noticed all around us in everyday life. The magnetic persons are those who are able to use the Masculine Principle in the way of impressing their ideas upon others. The actor who makes people weep or cry as he wills, is employing this principle. And so is the successful orator, statesman, preacher, writer or other people who are before the public attention. The peculiar influence exerted by some people over others is due to the manifestation of Mental Gender, along the Vibrational lines above indicated. In this principle lies the secret of personal magnetism, personal influence, fascination, etc., as well as the phenomena generally grouped under the name of Hypnotism.

The student who has familiarized himself with the phenomena generally spoken of as "psychic" will have discovered the important part played in the said phenomena by that force which science has styled "Suggestion," by which term is meant the process or method whereby an idea is transferred to, or "impressed upon" the mind of another, causing the second mind to act in accordance therewith. A correct understanding of Suggestion is necessary in order to intelligently comprehend the varied psychical phenomena which Suggestion underlies. But, still more is a knowledge of Vibration and Mental Gender necessary for the student of Suggestion. For the whole principle of Suggestion depends upon the principle of Mental Gender and Vibration.

It is customary for the writers and teachers of Suggestion to explain that it is the "objective or voluntary" mind which make the mental impression, or suggestion, upon the "subjective or involuntary" mind. But they do not describe the process or give us any analogy in nature whereby we may more readily comprehend the idea. But if you will think of the matter in the light of the Hermetic Teachings you will be able to see that the energizing of the Feminine Principle by the Vibratory Energy of the Masculine Principle Is in accordance to the universal laws of nature, and that the natural world affords countless analogies whereby the principle may be understood. In fact, the Hermetic Teachings show that the very creation of the Universe follows the same law, and that in all creative manifestations, upon the planes of the spiritual, the mental, and the physical, there is always in operation this principle of Gender-this manifestation of the Masculine and the Feminine Principles. "As above, so below; as below, so above." And more than this, when the principle of Mental Gender is once grasped and understood, the varied phenomena of psychology at once becomes capable of intelligent classification and study, instead of being very much in the dark. The principle "works out" in practice, because it is based upon the immutable universal laws of life.

We shall not enter into an extended discussion of, or description of, the varied phenomena of mental influence or psychic activity. There are many books, many of them quite good, which have been written and published on this subject of late years. The main facts stated in these various books are correct, although the several writers have attempted to explain the phenomena by various pet theories of their own. The student may acquaint himself with these matters, and by using the theory of Mental Gender he will be able to bring order out of the chaos of conflicting theory and teachings, and may, moreover, readily make himself a master of the subject if he be so inclined. The purpose of this work is not to give an extended account of psychic phenomena but rather to give to the student a master-key whereby He may unlock the many doors leading into the parts of the Temple of Knowledge which he may wish to explore. We feel that in this consideration of the teachings of The Kybalion, one may find an explanation which will serve to clear away many perplexing difficulties—a key that will unlock many doors. What is the use of going into detail regarding all of the many features of psychic phenomena and mental science, provided we place in the hands of the student the means whereby he may acquaint himself fully regarding any phase of the subject which may interest him. With the aid of The Kybalion one may go through any occult library anew, the old Light from Egypt illuminating many dark pages, and obscure subjects. That is the purpose of this book. We do not come expounding a new philosophy, but rather furnishing the outlines of a great world-old teaching which will make clear the teachings of others-which will serve as a Great Reconciler of differing: theories, and opposing doctrines.

It’s Happening Now

This smells lovely.

I want you to listen to me! 

I'm listening to you, Nancy. 

I am not seeing things. 

I know I saw what I saw. 

And I know it was turning into you, Jack.

Now, that body that we found-- 

That flower. Where'd you get that? 

In the vase with the other flowers.

Just stuck in there? 

Yeah, why?

Geoffrey gave me one of those.

So what? 

There was a customer, Mr. Gianni, he brought one to the baths.

So what?

Put it down, Jack.

It's a pod with a flower on it.

I could not find that flower in any of the books I looked in.

Jack, put it down.

It's a pink flower, honey. 

It could be toxic. 

Look, I have seen these flowers all over. 

They're growing like parasites on other plants all of a sudden.

Where are they from?

Outer space?

They're not coming from outer space.

Why not, Jack?

They're not coming from outer space.

Why? 

What are you talking about, a space flower? 

Why not a space flower? 

Why do we always expect metal ships? 

I've never expected metal ships. 

There's bound to be other ways They can get into Our Systems. 

That's right. They could be getting into us through touch or through their fragrance. 

We would never even notice it, not from the impurities we have. 

We eat junk and we breathe junk. 

Look, I don't know where they're coming from but I know I feel as though I've been poisoned today. 

We've gotta take those flowers in and have them analyzed. 

This is the only thing we know. 

There's something here. 

They could start getting into us, screwing up our genes, like DNA. 

Recombining Us, changing Us. 

Of course, this is just the same way those rocket ships landed thousands of years ago so those spacemen could mate with monkeys and apes and create the human race. 

It's Happening Now. 

The Way of Absolute Candor

Vashti is a hotbed for the Romulan Rebirth movement.

But you're just gonna drop in and pick yourself up a nun.

O-Okay, well, now somebody has to tell me what we're talking about.

JL wants to hire an assassin.

They are not assassins, and you can't hire them.

The Qowat Milat have to choose you.

Romulan warrior nuns.

That's a real thing? How bizarre.

I know knew some Qowat Milat.

On Vashti alone, they helped Raffi and me relocate more than a quarter of a million refugees.

And they're the most skilled single-combat fighters that I have ever seen and the most feared enemies of the Tal Shiar.

Sounds like you already owe them more than they owe you.

What-what makes you think they're gonna help you now? 

They have their own criteria whether to give or withhold their assistance to a cause.

And what is that? 

Let's just say that I am confident that they will find ours 

Worthy, and if they don't, 

The Way of Absolute Candor 

means that They won't hesitate to tell us.

What's the Way of Absolute Candor? 

It's their Primary Teaching: Total Communication of Emotion without any filter between Thought and Word.

And it runs entirely counter to everything that The Romulans hold Dear.

We do what we can to maintain Peace.

Half the Sisters serve as qalankhan, free-blades patrolling Roads and Waterways, Helping Travellers, 

defending Romulan and Terran alike.

Do the Qowat Milat still bind their blades to A Singular Cause? 

If The Cause is judged Worthy.

Uh, no, Thank You, Elnor.

[ getting the brush-off, and being rejected once more by the former object of all his Hero Worshipping, the frustration, bitterness, sadness and rage expands in him and overflows, bursting forth like and exploding damn, and he rush to the dooTr and out of The Room, once more. ]

Elnor? 

You feel Shame, seeing Elnor.

I always imagined that you had found a Suitable Place for him.

So many things we imagined back then never came to be.

But it's not just Elnor.

It's everything here, The Poverty, 

The Degradation, The Ethnic Strife --

When I left here, there was none of this.

Because You Could Not Save Everyone, 

You Chose to Save No-One.

Yes.

I allowed The Perfect to become The Enemy of The Good.

You have not spoken of Your Purpose yet.

I infer that you have come to obtain the services of a qalankhkai.

Why? 

I am taking on the Tal Shiar, alone.

So Your Cause is A Desperate One.

It is to me.

Another Rescue? 

If I'm not too late.

You're not too late to Rescue Elnor.

He does not belong here.

Once the evacuation ended, we simply never found a Better Home for him.

He completed his training? 

Last spring.

So he really is a Qowat Milat? 

No.

And as A Man, he never can be.

But he is Open-Hearted, and apart from this display of the reticence you always seemed to inspire in him, forthright.

And his fighting skills are truly formidable.

And you would send him away? 

He might find himself in Serious Danger.

He Might Die.

He Will.

Before that comes to pass, it would gladden my heart to see him Live.

When you bind your sword to a cause, is there some kind of Protocol? 

A Ritual?

Do-do I go on my knees? 

Oh, I do hope not.

Between the two of us, my knees are not what they used to be.

You Tell A Story, I Listen.

Simple.

I had a Friend called Data.

(wearily resigned)

....it's usually A Sad Story.....

He Died.

He Gave His Life to Save Mine, 

and I have missed him ever since.

(Hope-filled and Brightening)

Did you ever miss me? 

Of course I did.

( He takes a moment - and becalms himself)

Continue.

Well, recently, I've learned that Data - 

This is complicated -

That Data had Two Offspring.

And one of them her name was "Dahj" was murdered in front of me.

The other one, I believe, is in serious danger.

And I have to find her before the Tal Shiar do.

- The Tal Shiar? - Yes.

And this other sister is she an android? Mm-hmm.

You told me stories about Data.

He had an orange cat named Spot.

That's right.

I've still never seen a cat.

Well, if you come with us, you might just run across one or two of them.

Why do you need me? Because I failed to protect her sister.

But you don't know where she is or if she's even alive.

- No.

- What about the man who built her? - It's just a guess.

- Are you being pursued? Likely.

Anticipated, actually.

All that is why you need someone.

Why do you need me? Because I'm an old man and you're a young one, and you're strong.

Zani told me that you are one of the best fighters that she has ever seen.

It seems to me that my quest has the appropriate criteria.

Will you come with me? Will you bind your sword to my quest? Now that you have use for me? Now that I have value to you? You left me - on my own, old man.

- I never meant to I see no reason not to do the same.

Elnor, it! Rios, it's Picard.

I'm ready for transport.

Copy that.

Next window opens in seven minutes.

You may call me Tenqem Adrev.

We met before.

Once.

Have we? Forgive me.

I, uh Oh, it was in another lifetime, when I was another man.

A Romulan senator, if you can believe it.

I had the honor of being present the day you addressed the Hall of State, the very embodiment of Starfleet, making such eloquent and generous promises on behalf of the magnanimous Federation.

The great Saint Picard.

Senator I found it extremely moving.

How very touched we all were.

There were tears in my eyes.

Thank you.

And then you went away.

And when you returned, you brought the ships.

Those great big Wallenberg-class transports.

We all packed and boarded the Nightingale, five generations of parents and grandparents, siblings and spouses and children.

And the Nightingale brought us here, to Vashti.

We had so little time.

There were so many of you to save.

And so little to be expected from Starfleet.

I did everything I could.

And then you gave up.

Skantal! Bidran! No one asked for your pity, Picard.

Just as no one asked for your help.

You and Starfleet had no understanding of Romulan ingenuity, resolve, self-sufficiency.

You took advantage of us at the very moment where we doubted ourselves, enticed us with your empty promises, and did everything in your power to scatter, confuse and divide us.

That is not so! I promise you You promise?! You promise? Give him your sword.

No.

Come on.

No! Please, my friend.

Choose to live.

I regret your choice.

Enough, Elnor.

The Federation has failed you all.

I failed you all.

I broke faith with you, and the result was terrible pain and loss for you all.

And I am sorry.

Picard, ready for transport.

A tan qalanq is no match for a disruptor, sisterboy.

JL? 

Yes! Now! 

* They beam up * 

That man did not deserve to die.

Yet he CHOSE it.

Fight a Qowat Milat, and the outcome is not in Doubt.

Now, you listen to me, carefully.

I will benefit by your skill and your courage, but if you bind yourself to my cause, I will tell you when to fight and when to refrain.

Is that understood? 

Yes.

Swear it.

I swear.

PICARD :

Dr.Jurati, Raffi, this is Elnor.

RAFFI :

A Boy with a Stick.

PICARD :

I have to ask you - 

What made you decide to bind yourself to My Cause? 

ELNOR :

It met the requirements for Worthiness.

And it seemed like You Needed Me after all.

Dr. JURATI :

What is the requirement for Worthiness? 

PICARD :

A qalankhkai would only bind herself - himself - to a Lost Cause.

Who am I to Argue with The Captain of The Enterprise...?

(Kirk jumps a ravine on the horse and back)

KIRK: 

I must have jumped that fifty times. 

Scared the hell out of me. 

Except this time. 

...Because it isn't real.

(Kirk sees a woman on a horse on a distant hill)

PICARD (OC): 

Antonia?

KIRK: 

She isn't real either, is she? 

Nothing here is. 

...Nothing here matters.

KIRK: 

You know, maybe this is less about an empty house 

than that empty chair on the bridge of the Enterprise. 

Ever since I left Starfleet I haven't made a difference. 

...Captain of the Enterprise, huh?

PICARD: 

That's right.

KIRK: 

Close to retirement?

PICARD: 

I'm not planning on it.

KIRK:

Let me tell you something. Don't! 

Don't let them promote you. 

Don't let them transfer you. 

Don't let them do anything that takes you off the bridge of that ship, because while you're there, 

you can make a difference.

PICARD: 

Come back with me. 

Help me stop Soran. 

Make a difference again.

KIRK: 

Who am I to argue with the Captain of the Enterprise? 

...What's the name of that planet, 

...Veridian Three?

PICARD: 

Yes.

KIRK: 

I take it the odds are against us, 

and the situation is grim?

PICARD: 

You could say that.

KIRK: 

You know if Spock were here, he'd say I was an irrational, illogical human being for taking on a mission like that. 

...Sounds like fun.

The Power of Profanity