As the Enterprise raced to Vulcan, Picard sat alone in his ready room, which was to the immediate left of the bridge. He should have felt a sense of relief, knowing that he was finally free of the nanoprobes which frequently caused his electrical heart to malfunction. But at what cost? Dead security personnel? Dead shuttlebay operators? His Klingon security chief who was recuperating in sick bay? He had allowed the Vulcan Sonal to manipulate his fear and hatred of the now non-existent Borg to cause great suffering on his ship.

"Always self-loathing and self-pitying as usual," a familiar voice said as it manifested into a familiar and oft-dreaded body as it materialized from what seemed like nothingness.

"I don't have time for your sick games, Q," Picard said.

"But of course you do, mon capitan," Q said. "My race always feared that this would one day happen."

"Q, why is this happening," asked Picard.

Q's face suddenly took on a look of seriousness. "I have never explained to you the true origin of our race," Q said. "We have been around for millions of years. You see, my race at one time was known as the Whills. The Whills of the Force."

Picard looked at Q with a questioning glance. "What is the Force?"

Q sat down beside Picard. "The Force...is an energy field produced by all living beings. You see, every creature in the galaxy is in constant communication with the Force. You have billions of midichlotians in your cells, and they help to produce the living Force, and there are some who are able to communicate with the midichlorians to bend the Force to do what some may consider...un-natural."

"What about the voice that I've been hearing in my head," asked Picard.

"That voice," continued Q, "belongs to an ancient Jedi master from the days of the Old Republic. His name was Yoda. He was the perfect Jedi. He was devoted to pure logic. He showed no emotion. In a nutshell, he was Vulcan before Vulcans existed."

"What were the Jedi?"

"The Jedi were the defenders of the Old Republic. They used the Force for good. For over a thousand years, they guided the Galactic Senate into pushing for peace and justice. And then one day, a lone Senator strong with the Dark Side of the Force manipulated a young senator into giving him the chancellorship. From there, he created what you know from Earth history as false-flag events."

"He created crises himself and posed as a savior," Picard said.

"That's how all dictators achieve power," Q said. "Nero burned Rome and blamed the Christians. Adolf Hitler burned down the Reichstag and blamed the communists. Nazi storm-troopers murdered a Jewish concentration camp detainee and dressed him as a Polish soldier at Gleiwitz to make it appear that Poland had attacked Germany."

"And the Federation's Section 31 assassinated Klingon chancellor Gorkon in order to frame James T. Kirk and keep the Federation in perpetual war against the Klingon Empire," Picard said.

"Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it," said Q. "Palpatine routinely engaged in false-flag events to consolidate power. He also posed as the leader of the Trade Federation and the Commonwealth of Independent Systems and kept the Galactic Repiblic in a state of perpetual war." Picard understood now.

"Just like Big Brother using Goldstein to brainwash the Inner Party and proletarians into thinking Oceania was always at war with Eastasia," Picard said. "Big Brother and Goldstein were one and the same. War is peace. Freedom is slavery."

"And ignorance is strength," Q continued. "And then one day,, Palpatine corrupted a young Jedi named Anakin Skywalker, turned him into a Sith lord named Darth Vader, and overthrew the Old Republic from within and transformed it into the Galactic Empire, as Palpatine - also known as Darth Sidious - became the Emperor."

"This Darth Sidious," Picard interjected, "is he the spirit that had corrupted Sonal?"

"The man that ypu knew as Sonal is no more," Q said. "He is now Darth Chaos."

"What is the -" Picard was interrupted by a voice over his commbadge. "Worf here, sir."

"What is it, Worf? Have you made contact with Vulcan?"

"Sir," the Klingon chief of security said, "they are not resppnding."

Q interrupted. "It may be too late for Vulcan."

Picard activated his commbadge. "LaForge, Data, increase speed to warp factor nine." Picard looked at Q. "How could this Darth Sidious survive all these years?"

Q said in a calm voice, "Palpatine had a final battle against his own granddaughter named Rey. She used the lightsabers of the Jedi twins- and offspring of Anakin - Luke and Leia to destroy his physical body once and for all. However, his dark spirit transferred its essence into the lightsabers, and Rey buried the ancient weapons deep in the sand of a planet named Tattooine. You may be familiar with the planet's current name."

"Vulcan," Picard said.

"Would you like to know how the Vulcan race came into being? Q continued. "After the destruction of Palpatine, the people of Tattooine became peaceful. The barbaric Tusken Raiders felt the goodness of Rey's deed, and they laid down their weapons and accepted the humans of Tattooine as kindred spirits. Tuskens and humans fell in love with one another and interbred. The Vulcan ears - as well as ponn farr - are the last remaining vestiges of the ancient Tuskens. They made a solemn vow to protect the ancient Jedi artifacts and keep them hidden away. However, the essence of Palpatine's spirit seeped through the entire planet. It corrupted a sect of Vulcans which you may know as the Romulans." Picard moved to speak, but Q interrupted. "Captain, I will explain later. Your crew needs you." Before Q disappeared, he said one last thing. "You must ensure that nothing happens to Delta IV. There is a presence there which may be your only hope."

Picard raced from his ready room to the bridge. "Riker, any word from Vulcan?"

"None, sir," said Riker. "I suggest a fully-armed away team to beam down to the planet's surface to search the immediate area."

"Agreed, Will," The Captain said. "You, Troi, and Data come with me." As they made their way to the turbolift, the Klingon Worf had just stepped out. "Sir, I request permission to beam down with you."

"Are you sure you're up to it," asked Picard.

"I am medically cleared to resume to duty, sir," said Worf. "If you would like a second opinion, you may ask Dr. Crusher."

"Come along, then," said Picard. The group made its way to the turbolift for the short ride down to deck three. As they entered the transporter room, they immediately stepped on the transporter pad. "Lt. Commander Barclay, beam us down to Vulcan High Command."

"Aye, sir," said the oft-timid Barclay, still shaken up by the events which had transpired on the ship.

"Reg," Picard said softly. "I need you to be strong. I need everybody to be strong. If we do not get to the bottom of this and stop this Palpatine, the entire galaxy will be in great danger and held at the whim of a madman with unbelievable powers." Picard stepped off the tramsporter pad and gave Barclay a reassuring pat on the back. "I know there is a strength inside of you that is just aching to be tapped into and let out."

"Thank you, Sir," Barclay said with an uneasy smile. "I'm glad to know that somebody on this ship believes in me."

"We all do, Reg," Picard said with a smile. "You've been through so much in your voyages on the Enterprise, and that alone makes you stronger than you realize." Barclay stuck out his hand, and Picard grabbed it and shook gently. "Keep me informed of any anomalies that you discover."

"I will, Sir," Barlcay said. Picard released his grip and took his place back on the transporter pad. "Energize," said Picard. In a flash, the molecular structures of the away team were digitized and stored in the transporter's data matrix and perfectly reassembled on the planet's surface. Their first observation was the Vulcan High Command building. Thin whisps of smoke flowed from the inside. They raced inside and discovered numerous dead bodies, including -

"T'Pan," Picard said softly. "We're too late." The corpse of Vulcan High Priestess T'Pan laid motionless and stiff on the floor along with other Vulcan elders and her personal security. As Picard assessed the situation, he heard a strange voice but saw a familiar face.

"Ani? Ani? Oh it is you. .My grown son. Now...I am complete."

Picard tried to remember the face. Then it dawned on him. "Saavik," he said softly. "We must get to Saavik. I fear she is in great danger." The away team raced down the mountain and made their way to the house of Spock where they found a woman lying on the floor barely breathing.

"Picard," the woman said as she struggled for breath. "Please...save my son. He knows not what he does. He...still has good…in him. Thats why...he...spared me…"

"Saavik," Picard said with urgency in his voice, "you were wounded by a lightsaber." Riker, Troi, and Data turned and looked at Picard, puzzled at the strange word. "If Sonal did not do this to you, then who did?"

"His...name...was...Pal...Pa...Tine…" as Saavik spoke her last word, she let out a death rattle as her physical body succumbed to her mortal wounds, and her katra - her soul - left her mortal remains and wandered across the planet for all eternity.

"Palpatine," said Picard. "He is the cause of all of this. It isn't Sonal - or Darth Chaos - we should be fighting. We must rescue him from the clutches of this evil Darth Sidious."

Suddenly, Picard found himself standing on the planet's surface a million years in the past. He was standing in a hut. He saw a beaten woman tied down. And he saw a blade of light slice the thin walls of the hut open. Through the hole walked in a young boy of about eighteen years of age, and aside from the lack of prominent eyebrows, he bore a striking resemblance to the fallen Sonal. He heard the boy speak.

"Mom! I've come to save you!"

He heard the woman speak. And she bore such a striking resemblance to the late Saavik.

"Ani? Ani? Oh it is you."

The vision dissipated, and Picard became aware of his surroundings. "Ani," Picard spoke out loud. "Ani? Ani?" Suddenly, Q appeared.

"Anakin," Q said. "Anakin Skywalker. Palpatine used the Force to will the Tuskens into mortally wounding her, and he used Anakin's fear of losing his mother and his wife Padme to seduce him."

"And now he is doing the same to Sonal, with his hatred of the Borg," Picard said. "There is a chance to rescue him from the clutches of the Sith."

"Do not get your hopes up, Jean-Luc," The entity stated firmly. "For most, once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny." Q rose to his feet and stared into Picard's eyes. "Be prepared to make a choice which you may regret for the rest of your life."

As Q disappeared, Picard found himself back on Vulcan and looked at Data. "Data, gather all security footage from the Spock household as well as Vulcan High Command. We must examine the security footage and see if Sonal was responsible."