Just a minute. I'll be right there.
I'm coming.
- Deanna. - Hello, Reg.
I'm so glad you could make it. It's wonderful to see you.
- Would it be all right if I came inside? - Yeah, of course. Come in.
Is there something I can get you? Some coffee, tea?
Wait a minute. Don't tell me. Chocolate ice cream.
You know me too well. But just one scoop. I'm watching my figure.
Why? You look lovely.
You always knew how to flatter me.
- Would you like me to get it? - Get what?
- The ice cream. - Right. The ice cream. No.
Come in. Sit down. Make yourself comfortable.
- It's a nice place. - Thanks.
- One scoop of chocolate ice cream. - Did you just move in?
No. I've been here almost two years.
I just haven't had a chance to unpack.
- Is everything all right, Reg? - Of course. Why wouldn't it be?
To be honest, you seem a little on edge.
Do I? It's just that I'm excited to see you.
I'm excited to see you, too.
I think Geordi's a little disappointed that I didn't invite him to come along.
I was hoping to get together with him, too, before the Enterprise leaves orbit.
But I wanted to spend time with you first. Is that all right?
Of course it is.
I hear you've been working on the Pathfinder project.
I was. I'm not any more.
- What happened? - Nothing, really.
Just got to be a lot of pressure.
- Well, hello. - Neelix!
He's not used to company. It's not polite to eat our guests' food.
If you're hungry, just say so.
Deanna, Neelix.
Neelix. That's an unusual name.
Maybe we should introduce him to Data's cat, Spot.
I have a feeling you didn't ask me here to reminisce.
Tell me what's wrong.
- I've lost myself, Deanna. - Lost yourself?
In Voyager.
I've become obsessed... with Voyager.
Here you are on shore leave and I lure you into a counselling session.
Don't worry about that.
I'm here now and I want to help.
Thank you.
Now, start at the beginning.
Has it ever occurred to you
that a tachyon beam directed at
a Class-B itinerant pulsar could produce
enough gravimetric energy
to create an artificial singularity?
I can't say it has.
It occurred to me.
But my supervisors thought
it was an abuse of MIDAS.
MIDAS?
Mutara Inter-dimensional Deep Space Transponder Array.
Reg, you're losing me.
- I'm sorry. - The beginning.
The beginning, right.
I suppose it all started in the holodeck.
- Doesn't it always? - Goon.
Well... I was running a few simulations.
Boost the gain on Voyager's transceiver.
Transceiver gain is at maximum.
Narrowband filter to signal processor.
Filter engaged.
Voyager, come in.
This is Starfleet Command.
- Voyager, come in. - Good.
Lower the filter band by 0.3 kilohertz.
Reg, what are you doing?
Oh. Uh... Uh...
Pete, I was just...
Running a simulation. What about the transmitter diagnostics?
Right. The diagnostics.
You have finished them, haven't you?
- Almost. - Almost isn't good enough.
- We've got Admiral Paris in the morning. - Admiral Paris?
- Don't tell me you forgot. - No, of course not.
- I just got the days mixed up. - Reg...
Computer, end program.
Now I think about it, it's a good thing that Admiral Paris is coming tomorrow.
- We can brief him on my theory. - What theory?
I went over interstellar phenomena forecasts from Deep Space 9.
They predict a Class-B itinerant pulsar will pass within four billion kilometres
of the MIDAS array in three days.
- Will it damage the array? - No, the shields will hold.
I was thinking we could use the pulsar to our advantage.
Suppose we instructed the array to direct a tachyon beam at the pulsar.
Theoretically, we could produce a gravimetric surge powerful enough
to create an artificial wormhole.
We could establish two-way communication with Voyager.
- You're dreaming again. - I think this could work.
Based on my simulations...
Your last simulations wasted six months trying to develop a transwarp probe.
- This is different. - I really appreciate your imagination.
It makes you a valuable part of this team.
But I won't tell the admiral he can chat to his son
because of some cock-eyed theory that only exists up here.
- Now, please, finish those diagnostics. - Yes, sir.
And, Reg, remember, while the admiral's here, I do the talking.
You do the talking. Understood.
Pete was only trying to look out for me, but I was sure my plan would work.
I just couldn't give it up.
Burning the midnight oil?
I finished the diagnostics, sir.
Yes, I know. I looked them over.
Good job.
Now, why don't you call it a day?
I just have a few more things to take care of.
Well, I'll see you tomorrow, then.
Oh, Reg, why don't you drop by tonight when you're through here?
- Drop by? - Come to the house. Have some coffee.
Angie's sister's in from Boston. I think she might like you.
I don't think I can...
I'm spending the evening with... Neelix.
Correct me if I'm wrong, Reg, but Neelix is your cat.
- Well, if you change your mind. - Thanks. I'll try.
I couldn't leave until I'd strengthened my case for accessing the MIDAS array.
The meeting with Admiral Paris was 14 hours away. I'd come up with nothing.
Pouring over the data wasn't helping.
I decided that what I needed was... a little inspiration.
Computer, activate holo-grid mess hall scenario, Barclay 11 gamma.
- Hey, Reg. - Warning, the shark is circling.
- Let the games begin. - What'll it be?
- The usual. - Computer, one milk, warm.
- Thanks. - Just trying to get on your good side.
- So you'll go easy on me tonight. - You know what I say.
- "If you can't stand the heat..." - "Get out of the warp core.”
Sit down and give us mortals a chance to get even. That's an order.
If you insist, but I think it's only fair to warn you
I have no intention of letting my winning streak come to an end.
Now, where's... Tuvok?
He said it's illogical to lose to a superior player.
That's too bad. I love to watch that Vulcan squirm.
You know the rules. Deuces, one-eyed jacks and suicide kings are wild.
- The man is ruthless. - A killer.
Come on, guys, you know it hurts me to see you lose.
After all, you are my best friends.
I hoped the poker game would calm my nerves,
so I could get a decent night's sleep.
But when I got home that night, I couldn't keep my mind off of Voyager.
I needed to get back to the holodeck.
That feels so good.
A therapeutic massage can be an effective treatment for insomnia.
But we need to get to the cause of it if we're going to find a permanent solution.
It's just that every time I close my eyes, my mind starts to race.
- Can you be more specific? - I worry about the project.
Have I explored the problem from every angle?
Is there something else I should be trying? Am I doing enough?
Hm. Acute work-related anxiety.
I'll speak to the captain about reducing your schedule.
Something tells me she's not going to be able to help.
You are an invaluable member of this crew, Mr Barclay.
Thank you, Doctor. It's nice to be appreciated.
- Turning in, Reg? - Yes, sir.
Hey, Reg.
For some reason, I never slept in my apartment
as comfortably as I did in my holographic quarters.
I suppose I felt more at home on Voyager.
- Good morning, everyone. - Morning, Reg.
- You're awfully chipper. - Slept like a baby.
Then you can whip up your famous cheese omelette.
- I'm starved. - Sorry. I have an important briefing.
Just have time for coffee.
- Don't forget about tonight. - Remind me.
- You're teaching me velocity. - No way.
- Reg and I have a hoverball game. - Don't fight. Plenty of me to go round.
Sorry to bother you, but I'm having trouble with the warp core recalibration.
I'll stop by engineering later and we'll talk it through.
Thank you. I really appreciate it.
Velocity, hoverball, warp core recalibrations.
- Reg, I don't know how you do it. - I'll let you in on a little secret.
There's two of me.
The Delta Quadrant, sector 41751, grid 9.
Voyager's doctor reported this as the ship's position
when his program was transferred to Starfleet two years ago.
Assuming they're still on course, we've extrapolated likely trajectories.
Estimating an average warp speed of 6.2
and accounting for various astronomical obstacles...
...we can reasonably assume Voyager is now in one of these three sectors.
Can we contact them?
We've been working with the Vulcans on the deployment of the MIDAS array.
We're still in the testing phase,
but it won't be long before we can send signals at hyper-subspace speeds.
A message that would take years to reach its destination
could be received by Voyager in a matter of days.
Impressive. Will they be able to respond?
No, sir, but at least they'll know we're still looking for them.
We'll send data on the hyper-subspace technology
and hope they can use it to return the call.
Excuse me, Admiral Paris.
Sorry. There may be a way to establish two-way communication with Voyager.
Now is not the time.
It's all right, Mr Harkins. Let the man speak.
I'm all ears, son.
Well...
Well, you see, there's a Class-B itinerant pulsar.
As you probably know, sir, neutrino emissions...
Uh... Oh.
What I mean to say is that with the array,
we could open an artificial...
- A... singularity. - A wormhole.
Yes, sir.
We could use it as a conduit to talk to Voyager.
I can't give you high marks for clarity, but you've certainly got my attention.
Is there any merit to what he's saying?
Mr Barclay has a tendency to get ahead of himself.
What he's suggesting is beyond our abilities.
- But you haven't even... - Mr Barclay!
I haven't explained myself well, but with all due respect,
what do we have to lose by trying?
I think we're forgetting that there are 150 people stranded in the Delta Quadrant.
I have a son on that ship, Lieutenant.
I haven't forgotten that fact for a single moment.
- I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to... - Take the rest of the day off, Reg.
- But... - That was not a suggestion.
- How did you deal with your feelings? - What do you mean?
Well, did you talk to Commander Harkins after the meeting? Apologise?
Well, no.
I wanted to fine-tune my plan, so I just went right back to work.
Be more specific. What exactly did you do?
Well, I needed someone to bounce ideas off of.
- Someone to help focus my thoughts. - Sounds reasonable.
I suppose you consulted with some of your Pathfinder colleagues.
Well... not exactly.
- You went back to the holodeck. - They're the only people I can talk to.
- They're not people. - I know, but they help me with my work.
Poker, massages, sleeping in holographic quarters.
- Sounds more like escape. - I can't concentrate if I'm not relaxed.
- Can't you relax with your friends? - Friends?
Commander Harkins invited you to his home.
You went to the holodeck instead.
It's not what you're thinking, Deanna.
This isn't a relapse of my holo-addiction.
OK. Tell me how the holograms helped you with your work.
Well, I talked to them about my ideas.
I worked out technical problems.
- I need specifics here, people. - Take us through it again.
One step at a time. Maybe it'll spark an idea.
We've got our itinerant pulsar and our inter-dimensional transponder array.
- How do we get our wormhole? - This could keep us up all night.
We know we can produce gravimetric energy,
but can we do it at levels high enough to create the singularity?
We're talking about a massive subspace reaction.
Maybe that's the problem.
- Reg? - Maybe we need to think smaller.
You're losing me.
How much bandwidth do we really need?
The average wormhole is huge, but if we compressed the datastream.
- We wouldn't need a conduit as big. - What's your idea?
A micro-wormhole.
- Impressive. - You've outdone yourself this time.
- I'll still need help with the details. - Put together a team.
Use whatever resources you need.
A power ratio of approximately 60 terawatts should do the trick.
- That's enough? - Should be.
But we must compensate for gravimetric interference.
How do we do that?
I was thinking of applying a narrowband filter to the transponder signal.
- Barclay strikes again. - What's going on here?
- Who's your friend? - Aren't you going to introduce me?
Computer, delete characters.
I thought I told you to go home.
- I was working. - You call this work?
You've created holograms of the Voyager crew.
It's not what you think. It's an interactive diagnostic program.
- I designed it to help me solve problems. - How long have you been in here?
- Since the briefing. - It ended ten hours ago.
I know that I embarrassed you in front of the admiral
and I'm... sorry.
I wanted to refine my idea and present you with a specific plan. I've done that.
You were right about the wormhole idea being too expansive. So I scaled it back.
All the extra time you've been putting in, if I checked the holo-logs,
would I find you've been spending those hours in here?
- Well, not all that time. - How much of it?
Maybe 20 or 30 hours a week.
- Don't you think that's excessive? - Not if it helps us contact Voyager.
Before I brought you onto my team I reviewed your file.
You've struggled with holo-addiction before.
From where I stand, it looks like you've had a relapse.
- I know it may look that way... - I think you need counselling.
What I need is for you to pay attention to my ideas.
I should have been paying more attention to your behaviour.
I thought I was being a friend by giving you some leeway.
I didn't realise how involved you've become with Voyager.
Is it really so wrong? Do you have any idea what it must be like
to be stranded 60,000 light years from home?
Do you have any idea how lonely that must be?
I'm sorry, Reg, but until you get some help, you're off the project.
- You can't do that. - You've given me no choice.
This holo-grid and the lab are officially off limits.
Now, go home.
I won't leave until you've heard what I have to say.
Reg!
Don't make me call security.
- What is it, Nicole? - He's still here.
You told him I have a meeting scheduled at 15007.
Yes, sir. He won't go away.
- Send him in. - Yes, sir.
- Admiral, thank you for seeing me. - You're frightening my secretary.
You have five minutes.
- Five minutes, right. - Sit down.
First I want to apologise for speaking out of turn yesterday.
It's only because I care so much about Voyager.
Commander Harkins has informed me about your attachment to the crew.
I understand you've been spending time with a holographic recreation of my son.
Frankly, I find that rather disturbing.
I understand how you could see it that way,
but that does not negate the fact
that I have a plan for communicating with Voyager.
- Harkins doesn't think it's viable. - I have refined the idea.
I've simplified it. All I'm asking for is a chance to try.
If I'm right, it could mean the chance to talk to Tom.
Commander Harkins removed you from the project with good cause
and that's his prerogative.
I won't let my personal feelings interfere with Starfleet procedure.
I've... I've broken protocol and I should be punished,
but the crew of the Voyager shouldn't be and neither should you.
I just need access to the lab for one more day.
After that, if I'm wrong, I'll resign my commission.
I'll order a review of your findings.
If it's concluded your ideas are valid, I'll instruct Harkins to pursue it.
- But I'm the one who... - That's the best I can do.
Good day.
- So the meeting went well? - No. It didn't. Not at all.
He said he'd review your findings.
Don't you see? He was trying to get rid of me, just like Harkins!
- Try to relax. - Now you see why I need your help.
Yes, I do.
Call the admiral in your capacity as a Starfleet counsellor
and tell him that I am psychologically fit to return to work.
- I can't do that. - Why not?
Look at yourself. You're experiencing acute anxiety, sleeplessness, paranoia.
You did what you could. Now it's time to let Starfleet worry about Voyager.
- We need to take care of you. - There is nothing wrong with me!
You said yourself you've become obsessed with Voyager.
What if I have? If an obsession helps me to do my job better,
it's a sacrifice I am willing to make.
A little instability in exchange for contact with a stranded starship.
Voyager is more important than my condition.
Voyager is important, but so are you.
That ship...
...that crew...
...they're all I have.
Tell me why that is.
Ever since I left the Enterprise, things haven't been the same.
It's as if...
...I lost my family.
So you created a new family on the holodeck.
Only they're not real.
I didn't know how else to cope.
Do you remember when you first came aboard the Enterprise?
You had trouble fitting in, didn't you?
But after a while, you started to make friends.
You can learn to do the same thing here on Earth.
I don't know how.
- We'll work on it together. - You're scheduled to depart tomorrow.
I've decided to ask Captain Picard for a temporary leave of absence.
- To spend some time with an old friend. - Deanna, you don't have to do that.
Try and stop me.
Sorry, Neelix, I have to leave.
No, you can't talk me out of it.
Authorisation code required.
- Barclay alpha 17 gamma. - Access denied.
That code has been de-authorised.
Computer, re-enter authorisation code Barclay alpha 17 gamma.
Access authorised.
Computer, interface with the MIDAS array.
Activate the control matrix.
- Matrix activated. - Full power to the graviton emitters.
Emitters powering.
Scan the area surrounding the array for a Class-B itinerant pulsar.
A pulsar has been detected at coordinates 227 by 41, mark 6.
Good.
Direct a 60 terawatt tachyon beam toward the pulsar.
Tachyon beam initiated.
How long until levels are sufficient to produce
a gravimetric surge of five million teradynes?
Approximately 17 minutes.
Computer, is there a micro-wormhole present at coordinates 343 by 277.
Scanning.
- Affirmative. - I knew it.
Adjust phase alignment to direct the wormhole's trajectory
to Delta quadrant, grid 9, sector 41751.
Trajectory established.
Open Starfleet emergency channel and transmit toward the singularity.
Channel open.
Starfleet Command to USS Voyager. Come in, Voyager.
Voyager, do you hear me?
This is Lieutenant Reginald Barclay.
Step away from the controls.
Pete... I've sent a message.
Stand down, Mr Barclay.
All right.
You win.
Transfer controls to holo-grid program Barclay pi-3 and restrict access.
Stop him. Stun him if you have to.
- Did you see those two men? - I did not.
They look like security, but they're not. They're after me. I need your help.
Tuvok to all hands, intruder alert.
Computer, locate any unauthorised personnel aboard Voyager.
Two unidentified humans, deck 4, section 8.
Isolate them with force fields.
Security to Commander Harkins, we've been isolated by force fields.
- Can you shut down the program? - I'm working on it.
Access denied. Holo-grid controls have been encrypted.
Harkins to security, I need reinforcements.
Redirect the wormhole's trajectory to Delta Quadrant, grid 11, sector 64238.
- Retransmit the message. - Trajectory established.
- What's going on? - I'm trying to help some friends.
- Is there a response? - Negative.
- Redirect the wormhole's trajectory. - Reg!
- You'll have to come with me, sir. - I'll cover for you.
Computer, seal Jefferies tube door, J-53.
Cut all power to the holo-grid.
Unable to comply. Main power controls have been encrypted.
- Very clever, Reg. - Commander Harkins, we've lost him.
I've got an idea. I'm coming in.
You're Reg's friend. You've got something to do with what's going on.
- Disengage primary coolant system. - Are you crazy?
- That'll cause a warp core breach! - Exactly.
I want an explanation for what's going on aboard my ship.
I'm looking after Voyager's best interests. Trust me.
You've given me no reason to doubt you.
Redirect the wormhole's trajectory to Delta Quadrant, grid 10, sector 3658
and retransmit the message.
- Trajectory established. Transmitting. - Who are you trying to contact?
Warning. Warp core breach in 45 seconds.
Bridge to engineering, report.
- Shut down the program. - Security, intruders on the bridge.
- Force field around the science station. - Warp core breach in 30 seconds.
- Go to engineering. Seal that breach. - Force fields won't help you. It's over.
- But this is my last chance. - Warp core breach in 20 seconds.
Captain to all hands, abandon ship.
Warp core breach in ten seconds.
One way or another, this program's going to end.
...seven, six, five...
Goodbye, captain.
- Computer, end program. - ...two...
I'm ready for my lesson.
I concluded that teaching you to sing is an inefficient use of my time.
- But I've been practising. - In your case, practice is irrelevant.
Your vocal chords are incapable of producing diatonic tones,
not to mention your rhythmic shortcomings.
I sound so good in the sonic shower.
Perhaps you should confine your efforts to that location.
- Astrometrics to the bridge. - Go ahead, Seven.
I've detected a micro-wormhole at coordinates 194.6 by 35.
- A micro-wormhole. - A message is being transmitted.
On a Starfleet emergency channel.
Let's hear it, Harry.
Try applying a narrowband filter to the signal processor.
Can you hear me? This is Lieutenant Reginald Barclay.
That's it. Whoever this Barclay is, he stopped transmitting.
The micro-wormhole is collapsing at a rate of 0.2% per second.
- It doesn't give us much time. - To do what?
To send a message back through and hope Mr Barclay is listening.
It should have worked. I don't understand why it didn't.
There you are. I've reviewed his plan and I think it's worth an attempt.
He's already tried, without your authorisation. It didn't work.
- I'm sorry to hear that. - So am I.
I appreciate your confidence in me, but I don't deserve it.
What would you like me to do with him?
He broke into the lab, accessed the MIDAS array and resisted arrest.
You put me in a difficult position, son. I was hoping we'd be able to...
We're receiving a transmission.
- From where? - Coordinates 343.6 by 27.
The wormhole.
Starfleet Command, come in.
Voyager.
Reg, give me a hand clearing up the signal.
Lower the filter band by 0.3 kilohertz.
This is Captain Kathryn Janeway, do you read me?
I think she's talking to you.
Captain, this is Lieutenant Reginald Barclay at Starfleet Command.
It's good to hear your voice, Lieutenant.
- We've been waiting a long time for this. - The feeling is mutual.
The micro-wormhole is collapsing. We have only a few moments.
Understood. We're transmitting our ship's logs, crew reports
and navigational records to you.
Acknowledged. We're sending you data on new hyper-subspace technology.
We hope eventually to use it to keep in contact
and we're including modifications for your com system.
We'll implement them as soon as possible.
There's someone else here who would also like to say something.
- This is Admiral Paris. - Hello, sir.
- How are your people holding up? - Very well.
They're an exemplary crew, your son included.
Tell him I miss him and I'm proud of him.
- He heard you, Admiral. - The wormhole is collapsing.
We're doing everything we can to bring you home.
We appreciate it, sir. Keep a docking bay open for us.
We hope to...
That's it. They're gone.
You did it, Reg. I'm sorry I doubted you.
Why the long face, Mr Barclay?
Because... it's over, sir.
No, Lieutenant. I'd say that Project Voyager is just beginning.
Thanks to you.
Anyone know this Barclay?
I reviewed his personnel file.
He's had a colourful career, not to mention an unusual medical history.
He's recovered from transporter phobia and holo-addiction.
Whatever his problems, he came through for us.
- Starfleet should promote him. - I analysed the data Mr Barclay sent.
The technology is promising.
We can look forward to future communications with Earth.
- That calls for a toast. - Care to do the honours, Tom?
To... my dad. It's nice to know he's still there.
And to the newest honorary member of the Voyager crew,
Reginald Barclay, whoever you are.
Hear! Hear! To Mr Barclay.
- Congratulations. - I'm not sure I deserve congratulations.
Why not? It's quite an accomplishment.
I couldn't have done it without you.
- What did Harkins have to say about it? - I think he was pleased.
Why wouldn't he be? You're quite a catch.
Not everyone would want a sister-in-law to date someone with my history.
It's a new era. So tell me all about the lucky lady. I want details.
Well, her name is Hope.
- You're kidding. - No.
And she loves cats.