Beverly was scanning Deanna. Picard and Riker watched, concerned.

"Aside from slightly elevated adrenalin and serotonin levels, you're completely normal." she said.

"Can you describe it, Deanna?" Picard asked gently.

She looked at him, tears in her eyes.

"It was... a violation." she said and Riker took her hand. "Shinzon's Viceroy seems to have the ability to reach into my thoughts. I've become a liability... I request to be relieved of my duties." she continued with difficulty.

"Permission denied. If you can possibly endure any more of these assaults. I need you at my side. Now more than ever I-" Picard started.

But before the words are out of his mouth he began to dematerialize.

"Worf! Raise Shields!" Riker said through the combadge.

But Picard was gone.

Beverly, Deanna and Riker looked at each other then headed to the main bridge.

When they got there they told them what happened.

In the Scimitar brig Picard stood in the Reman brig. His communicator pin was removed.

Beyond the security force field a ghoulish medical apparatus is being prepared. A metal chair with laser scalpels, IV tubes and hyposprays connected to it. Reman doctors work over the mysterious chair.

Shinzon entered with the B-9 following then stood on the other side of the force field.

Picard noticed something immediately. Tiny veins are now visible on Shinzon's face; the faintest sign of an intricate spider-web pattern of pale blue veins.

"Hello, Jean Luc." Shinzon said.

"Why am I here?"

"I was lonely..." he said and realized Picard was staring at the veins on his face. "Perhaps I'm not aging as well as you did."

He nodded to a guard. The guard deactivates the force field.

A Reman doctor entered and raised a hypospray toward Picard.

"What are you doing?" he said trying to resist.

"I need a sample of your blood. What do your Borg friends say? Resistance is futile." Shinzon said maniacal laugh.

The Doctor took a quick sample of Picard's blood as Picard glanced to the B-9.

"Yes. The bait you couldn't refuse. I learned there might be an existing prototype from a Cardassian historian, then went to a great deal of trouble to find it and scatter it about on Kolarus III. I knew it would pique your curiosity and conveniently make the Enterprise the closest ship to Romulus when I contacted Starfleet." Shinzon said.

The Reman doctor leaves the cell. The force field is reactivated. The doctor goes to the mysterious medical apparatus and analyzes Picard's blood. As:

"All of this so you could capture me?"

"Don't be so vain. After we found it, we made a few modifications. An extra memory port, a hidden transponder. Perhaps your eyes will be a bit less confident when you learn I've gained access to Starfleet's communications protocols. I now know the location of your entire fleet..." then he looked at B-9. "...You may go."

"Where?" he asked.

"Out of my sight." Then B-9 obediently left the room. "Maybe I'll train it to do little tricks for me like your robot does. Or maybe I'll snap its ugly head off."

"What's this all about?" Picard asked.

"It's about destiny, Picard. About a Reman outcast who-"

"You're not Reman."

"And I'm not quite human. So what am I? What do you see?" Then he peered at Picard deeply. "Do you see a life you might have led? Lost youth never to be recaptured?"

"I see a young man trying desperately to deny who he is."

"I see an old man, set in his ways, afraid to live without a uniform to prop him up and a Starfleet regulation to tell him what to do. I see the man I will never be."

"I won't defend my life to you."

"My life is meaningless as long as you're alive. What am I while you exist? A shadow? An enigma?"

Picard looked at him stern.

"If your issues are with me... This has nothing to do with my ship and nothing to do with the Federation."

"Oh, but it does. We will no longer bow like slaves before anyone. Not the Romulans and not your mighty Federation. We're a race bred for war. For conquest."

"Think about what you're doing, Shinzon. Are you ready to plunge the entire quadrant into war to satisfy your own personal demons?"

"It amazes me how little you know yourself."

"I'm incapable of such an act, and so are you."

"I think the facts speak for themselves. The same noble Picard blood runs in our veins. Had you lived my life, you'd be doing exactly as I am. Look in the mirror, and see yourself."

Shinzon looked at him deeply.

"Consider that, Captain. I can think of no greater torment for you."

Then he turned to go.

"It's a mirror for you as well..."

Shinzon turned back to him and Picard gazed at him evenly.

Picard's probing gaze made Shinzon a bit uneasy. He glanced to the ghoulish medical preparations.

"Not for long, Captain." he said back to him. "I'm afraid you won't survive to witness the victory of the echo over the voice."

Then he left.