Lt. Barclay and Data were sitting in the navigation room plotting all possible trajectories that the stolen shuttlecraft may have taken.
"Data, this is like looking for a needle in a haystack," Barlcay said.
"Ah," Data replied. "A needle in a haystack: an old Earth saying implicating looking for a small item in a large area." Data looked at Barclay. "You do know that when you look for that needle, you eventually find it."
"That's true," Barclay said, "but when you do, the needle pricks your skin" Data look quizzically. "Data, sometimes when you're looking for something very important, it brings nothing but pain and grief." Data was still at a loss of words. "Data, when you got blown away by Shinzon, the Captain thought you were gone forever. You should have seen the pain and sadness he was going through. You were his favorite out of all the people who served him and continue to serve him." Barclay paused for a second. "It was as if...he lost his very own son."
Data replied, "My father was - " Suddenly they heard a beep on the navigational computer. "Lt. Barclay, I just discovered the warp signature of the Gailleo II shuttlecraft. It is...NOT heading for Delta IV as you theorized."
"Where is it heading?" Barclay looked at the reading and shuddered. "It can't be."
"The Talosian system," replied Data. "It seems that the Galileo is heading to a planet which the Federation has permanently quarantined: Talos IV." Data activated his com-badge. "Captain Picard, Captain Riker, come to the navigation computer room immediately."
"What happened on Talos IV?" asked Barclay.
"I'm afraid I cannot divulge that information without explicit permission from Federation security, Barclay." The door whizzed open, and Picard and Riker stepped in. "Captain, I have discovered the trajectory of the Galileo."
"Where is is headed," asked Picard.
"Talos IV." Picard felt a cold shudder, as he remembered the words of Q, warning him that the forbidden planet was in grave danger. "We must contact the Federation and get permission to travel there."
"Actually, sir," said Data, "travel to Talos IV is permitted as long as there is a member of Section 31 on board."
"Section 31," Riker said, "I thought that organization was abolished due to their involvement in the assassination of Chancellor Gorkon."
"The assassination of Gorkon was orchestrated by rogue members of Section 31," said Data. "The organization itself was found to have no responsibility. In addition, part of the agreement of the Khitomer Treaty requires that all Federation starships have at least one member of Section 31 on board. And sir, as a member of Section 31, I have been given authorization to grant travel to Talos IV, but only for diplomatic reasons."
"Data," said Picard, "saving the Talosians from Palpatine – and possibly Darth Chaos – would qualify as diplomatic, would it not?"
"It would, sir," Data said.
"Then plot a course for Talos IV at maximum warp."
Data, Barclay, Riker, and Picard left the navigation room and raced for the bridge. Picard sat in the captain's chair and activated the shipwide intercom. "Attention all crew, this is the Captain speaking. We are preparing to lay in a course – at maximum warp – for Talos IV." Suddenly, Troi collapsed on the floor sobbing hysterically. "SONAL! SONAL! RUN SONAL!" Then she passed out.
"I'll take her to Sick Bay," Riiker said. He picked his Betazoid wife up in his arms and headed for the turbolift.
"Will," said Deanna, "I do not need to go to sick bay. We must save Sonal. If Sidious kills the Talosians, he will cast Sonal aside and conquer the galaxy by himself. Sonal is just a puppet being used by Sidious, and once Sidious gets what he wants, he will kill him."
"Captain," Data said," course laid in."
LaForge chimed in over the Captain's com-badge. "Captain, warp speed at your discredtion."
"Now, Barclay," Picard said, and Barclay set the ship at maximum warp.
