He was going home! That was what Captain Picard had told him when he got to the bridge. Geordi and Chief O'Brian would be finished calibrating the transporter in less than an hour, and then he'd be going back to Brooklyn.
But before he went back, he wanted one last go at engineering.
As he approached the doors to main engineering he glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and then he stepped through.
He had made it! He went a few steps further and then… There it was! Two magnificent stories of pulsing blue power. The warp drive in all its glory! Mesmerized, he started walking towards it as if in a trance. He hardly noticed when a large hand came down on his shoulder. But when it started dragging him away from the beautiful sight before him, he couldn't help but notice.
Looking up, he saw the scowling face of Worf. "You have been told before that you are not allowed in here," the Klingon security chief snarled as he dragged John bodily from engineering.
John banged his fist against the wall of his cell. Less than an hour remained until he left the ship, and he was back in the brig. It was worth it though. While he had never been technologically inclined, he was always able to appreciate power. The warp drive was practically bursting with it. Now that he had seen it, he could return home satisfied.
As he massaged his fist, he glanced at the small cot that was in his cell and contemplated lying down. Why not, he thought. Nothing to do now but wait.
"We've run a few simulations, and everything checks out," Geordi said to John as the two of them stood in transporter room 3. Chief O'Brian was also there, as well as Picard, Riker and Doctor Crusher. "There was a slight increase in the ambient magnetic field," Geordi continued, "but it was very minor and shouldn't pose any problems."
"But just to be sure," Doctor Crusher began as she waved her medical tricorder in front of her, "I'll be monitoring your vital signs in case anything should go wrong."
Riker stepped forward with John's gun in his hands. "I think this is yours," he said, offering John the weapon.
"Thanks," John said, as he accepted it. He absentmindedly gave the barrel a loving caress as he stuffed it into the waistband of his pants.
"I want to apologize again for this…" Picard paused, looking for the right word. "Unexpected incident," he finished. "I hope we didn't inconvenience you too much with your accidental hijacking Mister McClane."
"Actually," John responded, "this has been quite an experience. I never thought I'd be aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. And it's been an honor to meet you and your crew." John uncharacteristically thrust his hand out. Picard grasped it firmly and the two shook hands. Then John walked onto the transporter platform.
As he stood there he glanced around the room, taking in what would probably be his last view of the twenty-fourth century.
There was Riker, hands clasped behind his back; Crusher next to him, eyes glued to her medical tricorder; Picard, standing prominently, looking very much like a captain should; and Geordi, looking over O'Brian's shoulder as the transporter chief finished the transport preliminaries.
"Beginning transport," O'Brian said a moment later. John felt the transporter beam begin to take him. It fluctuated for a second, and he saw O'Brian increase the power slightly. Just then, an alarm sounded.
"The magnetic field is increasing rapidly," O'Brian said, slightly panicked.
"Shut it down!" Geordi exclaimed.
"No, I can still finish the transport safely," O'Brian replied.
John could feel his molecular bonds dissolving as the transporter effect fully took hold of him.
Just as the room started fading from his sight, he heard a surprised shout, and then a fast moving object struck him right in the head.