Francois was so surprised that he had to blink and look again to be sure he wasn't hallucinating. On the other side of the bars of his cell stood a man who looked exactly like him. Too startled to say anything, Francois just stared.
"There is not much time to explain," the stranger said. "I am your identical twin brother. We were separated at birth, and I was raised by peasants. Listen, Francois. It is very important that I gain access to your cell. I have a plan to help you escape."
Francois was so taken aback that he failed to notice that the stranger used no contractions.
"My good man, I have no idea whether I should trust you or not, but I do know that escape from the prison is impossible, and should you attempt to get me out of here, you would only be adding your own death to mine."
"Please, Francois. You must trust me. We do not have very much time."
Realizing that he had nothing to lose, Francois decided that he may as well do as the stranger told him to.
Once inside the cell, the stranger procured a piece of paper and a pen, which he handed to Francois.
"Write as I dictate," the stranger ordered Francois.
Francois took the pen in hand and obediently began to write.
"Dear Veronique," the stranger began. As Francois began to write, Data crept furtively behind him and held an open bottle under his nose. Francois was unconscious within seconds. Data quickly exchanged his own clothing for that of Francois. Jean-Luc and Will were waiting to carry the unconscious man out of the cell.
They had almost made it out of the prison when a guard attempted to apprehend them.
"Stop! Where are you carrying Citizen Picard?" the guard demanded.
"I just want you to know that I have the utmost respect for the law," Will said, striking the guard with such force that the man was rendered unconscious. Moments later, Will, Jean-Luc, and Francois were being beamed aboard the Enterprise.
Veronique sat beside her mother, trying to knit but not really paying any attention. Today was the day her beloved Francois would arrive in the cart. Her mother had told her so, gleefully. Her mother hated all aristocrats, and if she knew how Veronique loved Francois, she would consider her daughter a traitor.
The roar of the crowd told Veronique that the cart had arrived at the execution site. She couldn't bear to look but forced herself to do so anyway. There he stood, bravely awaiting his fate, with the others. She wondered whether he would look her way. He didn't.
"Citizen Picard," a soldier said harshly. "You will watch as the others are taken to madame la guillotine. You will not at any time shut your eyes or turn your head away. Lastly you will be taken to madame la guillotine yourself."
Data nodded curtly, saying nothing. Veronique gasped, wondering why on earth he had been singled out for special cruelty. Beside her, her mother howled with approval.
Data watched impassively as, one by one, each of the other prisoners were led to the instrument of death. The crowd burst into applause as each head fell. At last Data, never wavering in his step, was taken to the machine and put into position. Veronique cringed as she watched the blade fall.
Francois opened his eyes to find himself in surroundings he could only describe as downright bizarre. Surrounding him were several people in what appeared to be skin-tight jumpsuits made of some type of material he was completely unfamiliar with. He seemed to be in a large room containing various strange looking pieces of equipment that appeared to be made of some type of metal. He wondered whether this was actually happening or if it was simply another hallucination, like that of the man who had looked exactly like him and had claimed to be his long-lost twin brother.
"Where am I?" he asked.
"You are aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise." The man who was speaking was middle-aged and almost completely bald. "I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard, one of your descendants. You see, we are visitors from the future; from the twenty-fourth century, to be precise."
Francois shook his head in disbelief. "I must be dreaming."
"This is no dream," Jean-Luc assured him.
"But...how did I get out of prison?"
"A subordinate and good friend of mine, a sentient android, volunteered to take your place. He visited you in your cell and tricked you into switching places with him. While you were unconscious, we smuggled you out of the prison and beamed you aboard the Enterprise, leaving my friend behind in your cell."
Francois' face bore a look of utter devastation, and he shook his head wildly from side to side. "To face my destiny with madame la guillotine? No...please, no..."
"It's all right, Francois," Jean-Luc soothed. "As I told you, he's an android; a very human-like one, but an android, just the same. As such, he was able to survive the loss of his head to the guillotine. All that remains is to locate his head and body and reattach them and he'll be just as good as new."
"That's crazy!" Francois cried. "I don't believe a word of it!"
"As I told you, Francois, we are visitors from the twenty-fourth century," Jean-Luc said calmly. "Look around you. How many of the objects in this room can you identify?"
Francois did as Jean-Luc had asked and then, overwhelmed, curled his body into a tight ball and refused to budge.
Beverly's eyes met Jean-Luc's. The poor man. How's he ever going to be able to accept this situation? her eyes seemed to ask him.
