The Cowboy

“We are all the beneficiaries 

Of those who've gone before us-- 

Who've worked, who've fought, on occasion who have cared, immensely to the very depth of their soul, to achieve Liberty. 

If we really want to know Her, 

in the beginning should be the question :

"What is Liberty?" 

I was involved with "cowboy diplomacy", as you describe it, 

long before you were born.

-- Ambassador Spock

Commander Geordi LAFORGE :

Captain Scott — I've tried to be patient, I've tried to be polite. 

But I've got a job to do here, and quite frankly — 

you're in the way. 

Captain Montgomery SCOTT

Scotty : 

I was driving starships 

while your great-grandfather was still in diapers. 

I'd think you'd be a little grateful for a some help. 

I'll leave ye to work, Mister La Forge

*****

Captain J-L PICARD :

You’re a Starfleet Officer — 

You have a Duty!

Captain James Tiberius Kirk :

I don’t need to be lectured by you — 

I was out Saving The Galaxy 

when Your Grandfather was in Diapers!

And to be honest.... 

The Galaxy owes me one!

The Cowboy

Adam Kesher :

Cowboy! 

The Cowboy :

Howdy! 

Adam Kesher :

Howdy to you. 

The Cowboy :

Beautiful evening. 

Adam Kesher :

Yeah.

The Cowboy :

Sure want to thank ya 

for coming all theway up to see me...

 from that nice hotel Downtown. 

Adam Kesher :

No problem. 

What's on your mind?. 

The Cowboy :

Well now, here's A Man who wants to get right down to it. 

Kinda anxious to get to it are ya? 

Adam Kesher :

Whatever. 

The Cowboy :

A Man's Attitude... 

 

A Man's Attitude, 

goes some ways --

The Way His Life will be.

 

Is that somethin' you might agree with? 

Adam Kesher :

Sure....!

The Cowboy :

Now... 

Did you answer because you thought 

That's What I Wanted to Hear... 

or did you think about What I Said,

and answer 'cause 

You Truly Believe That to be Right? 

Adam Kesher :

I agree with What You Said... 

Truly. 

The Cowboy :

What'd I Say..? 

Adam Kesher :

That A Man's Attitude 

Determines, to a Large Extent 

How His Life Will Be. 

The Cowboy :

So, since you agree... 

You must be A Person, 

Who Does Not Care about The Good Life. 

Adam Kesher :

How's that? 

The Cowboy :

Well, stop for a little second and think about it. 

Can you do that for me? 

Adam Kesher :

Okay, I'm thinking. 

The Cowboy :

No. You're not thinkin'.

 

You're too busy being a smart aleck to be thinkin'.

 

Now I want ya to think, 

and stop bein' a smart aleck. 

Can you try that for me? 

Adam Kesher :

Look ... where's This going? 

What do you want me to do? 

The Cowboy :

There's sometimes A Buggy. 

How many drivers does A Buggy have? 

Adam Kesher :

One. 

The Cowboy :

So let's just say I'm drivin' This Buggy... 

and you, if fix your attitude, 

You can Ride Along with Me. 

Adam Kesher :

Okay. 

The Cowboy :

I want you to go Back to Work tomorrow.

 

You were re-casting the lead actress anyway... 

audition many girls for the part.

 

When you see The Girl that was shown to you 

earlier today, you will say: 

This is The Girl. 

The rest of the cast can stay. 

That is up to you. 

But that lead girl is not up to you. 

Now, you will see me one more time if you do Good. 

You will see me two more times if you do Bad. 

Adam Kesher :

Good Night. 

"For me, it's about going back to what the hell happened to this guy. 

He gets this ring, he's adopted into 

an interplanetary Police Force, 

and basically all his relationships fall apart and he can't hold down a job.

But he happens to be 

The Greatest Cosmic Cop of All.

We loved the disconnect of that :

the beatnik idea of how Hal Jordan has no home, he sleeps on friends couches, he travels with nothing but 

His Lantern and A Rucksack.

He's like A Cowboy trying to survive in the 21st Century."

"It's freedom to be oneself -- 

To do what one wants to do, 

To remain oneself for as long 

as one chooses to.

And basically, 

that's all. 

It's not Happiness, 

it's not Responsibility, 

it's not Truth. 

It's just being oneself."

Berlioz.

Captains log, stardate 50893.5. 

The moment I have dreaded for nearly six years has finally arrived. 

The Borg, our most lethal enemy have begun an invasion of the Federation, and this time there may be no stopping them.

[Enterprise-E observation lounge]

RIKER: 

How many ships?

PICARD: 

One, and it's on a direct course for Earth. 

It'll cross the Federation border in less than an hour. 

Admiral Hayes is mobilising a fleet in the Typhon sector.

DATA: 

At maximum warp it will take us three hours twenty-five minutes.

PICARD: 

We're not going.

RIKER: 

What do you mean,

'We're not going'?

PICARD: 

Our orders are to patrol the Neutral Zone, in case the Romulans decide to take advantage of the situation.

TROI: 

The Romulans?

DATA: 

Captain, there has been no unusual activity along the Romulan border for nine months. 

It seems highly unlikely they would choose this moment to start a conflict.

CRUSHER: 

Does Starfleet feel we need more shakedown time?

LAFORGE: 

Captain, we've been out in space for nearly a year now. 

We're ready! 

The Enterprise-E is the most advanced starship in the fleet. 

We should be on the front line.

PICARD: 

I have gone over all this with Starfleet Command. 

Their orders stand. 

...Number One, set a course for the Neutral Zone

[Picard's quarters]

(classical music is playing SO LOUDLY, it would RATTLE ya ANCESTORS..!! — Riker enters with a PADD.)

RIKER: 

Bizet?

Picard: 

Berlioz. 

What do you have?

RIKER: 

We've finished our first sensor sweep of the Neutral Zone.

PICARD: 

Oh, fascinating —

Twenty particles of space dust per cubic metre. 

Fifty-two ultra-violet radiation spikes and a class two comet. 

Well, this is certainly worthy of our attention.

RIKER: 

Captain, why are we out here chasing comets?

PICARD: 

Let's just say that Starfleet has every confidence in the Enterprise and her crew —

They're just not sure about her Captain. 

They believe that a man who was once captured and assimilated by the Borg should not be put in a situation where he would face them again. 

To do so would introduce an unstable element to a critical situation

RIKER: 

That's ridiculous! 

Your experience of the Borg makes you the perfect man to lead this fight.

PICARD: 

Admiral Hayes disagrees.

TROI (on intercom): 

Bridge to Captain Picard.

PICARD: 

Go ahead.

TROI (on intercom): 

We've just received word from the fleet. 

They've engaged the Borg.

[Enterprise-E bridge]

PICARD: 

Data, put Starfleet frequency one four eight six on audio.

DATA: 

Aye sir.

FLEET COMMUNICATIONS: 

Flagship to Endeavor. 

Standby to engage at grid A-fifteen. 

...Defiant and Bozeman, fall back to mobile position one. 

...Acknowledge. 

...We have it in visual range. 

A Borg cube on course zero point two one five, speed warp point nine six.

BORG COMMUNICATIONS: 

We are The Borg. 

Lower your shields and surrender your ships. 

We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. 

Your culture will adapt to service us. 

Resistance is futile.

FLEET COMMUNICATIONS: 

All units open fire. 

...They've broken through the defence perimeter. 

... Continue to attack. 

...We need reinforcements. ...Ninety-six dead and twenty-two wounded on the Lexington.

PICARD: 

Lieutenant Hawk. 

Set a course for Earth.

HAWK: 

Aye sir.

PICARD: 

Maximum warp. 

...I am about to commit a direct violation of our orders. 

Any of you who wish to object should do so now — 

It will be noted in my log.

DATA: 

Captain, I believe I speak for everyone here, sir, when I say  :

...to HELL with Our Orders.

RIKER: 

RED ALERT! 

All hands to battle stations.

PICARD:

Engage.

O echoing valley,

Where, at the break of day,

I once wandered singing, alas!

Will he ever sing again beneath your great woods,

Poor Hylas?

Rock gently upon your sublime breast,

O mighty sea, the child of Dindymus.

O cool bower,

Beloved refuge

From the fires of the day, alas!

When shall you give back your scented shade

To poor Hylas?

Rock gently upon your sublime breast,

O mighty sea, the child of Dindymus.

O humble dwelling,

Where I received

My mother's farewell, alas!

Will he see your happy poverty once more,

Poor Hylas?

Rock gently upon your sublime breast,

O mighty sea, the child....

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.

You should also implicitly TRUST me, is that not so?

Doubt can be a bond as Powerful and Sustaining as Certainty. 

When you are Lost, 

You are Not Alone.

[Borg ship]

(The Borg ship drops out of warp. A fully Borgified Picard looks at the Enterprise approaching) 

RIKER 

[on viewscreen]: 

Locutus of Borg, this is Captain William T. Riker of the USS Enterprise.

PICARD: 

You may speak.

[Battle bridge]

RIKER: 

We wish to end the hostilities.

LOCUTUS 

[on viewscreen]:

 Then you must unconditionally surrender.

RIKER: 

We are prepared to meet to discuss your terms.

LOCUTUS  

[on viewscreen]: 

It is unlikely you are prepared to discuss terms. 

It is more likely that this is an attempt at deception.

RIKER: 

Come now, Locutus. 

If Picard's knowledge and experience is part of you, then you know 

I've never lied to him. 

You should also implicitly trust me, is that not so?

PICARD 

[on viewscreen]: 

Picard implicitly trusted you.

RIKER: 

Then trust me now. 

Meet to discuss terms.

LOCUTUS

[on viewscreen]: 

Discussion is irrelevant. 

There are no terms. 

You will disarm all your weapons and escort us to Sector zero zero one where we will begin assimilating your culture and technology.

(mute) 

RIKER: 

Mister Gleason, can you pinpoint the source of the Borg transmission?

GLEASON: 

I can put you within thirty meters of it, sir. 

RIKER: 

O'Brien, report.

[Transporter room]

O'BRIEN: 

The Borg have adapted their electromagnetic field to prevent main transporter functions, sir. 

RIKER [OC]: 

As expected. 

Mister Data, Mister Worf, proceed as we discussed. 

DATA: 

Aye, Captain. 

(They switch on devices on their arms)

[Battle bridge]

CREWMAN: 

Channel open, sir.

RIKER: 

We would like time to prepare our people for assimilation.

LOCUTUS ::

Preparation is irrelevant. 

Your people will be assimilated as easily as Picard has been. 

Your attempt at a delay will not be successful, Number One. 

We will proceed to Earth, and if you attempt to intervene, we will destroy you.

RIKER :

Then take your best shot, Locutus,

because we are about to intervene.

CREWMAN: 

Channel closed.