Date:        Sat, 30 Nov 91 18:40:58 EDT
From: Knight of the Woeful Countenance 

This episode takes place considerably after "Just a Bit of Light."  It
is a multi-parter.  Hope you enjoy it.


[A beautiful green countryside.  Three knights in full armor ride on
mighty war horses, similarly clad in armor.  The sunlight bounces off
their armor in a blinding spray.  The knights are led by a fourth man,
dressed in the humble clothes of a peasant.  He rides a donkey.  Along-
side the four men runs a fifth man, the squire of the first knight.  He
is completely silent.]

Peasant: Lieutenant Kessner, how far until we can see the settlement?

Second Knight: Just over this next ridge, Commander.

[The peasant nods.]

Peasant: Dismount!

[The four men dismount and tether their mounts to a tree.  They walk up
the hill and look down over a deep valley.  Within the valley, hundreds
of men, women, and children, all chained together, work steadily at
breaking up the rock and extracting some strange material, which they
pass back the line to a slowly growing pile.  Across the landscape are
scores of knights with jet black armor, armed with whips and long
staves.  The sound of whips can be heard from time to time as slaves
fall down or fail to work as quickly as desired.]

First Knight: Sweet Jason!  This is a slave camp.

Third Knight: Incredible.  An atomic civilization which still employs
     slave labor.  But, then again, as the proverb says, "The Pope is
     Catholic."

[Everyone gives the third knight a strange look.]

First Knight: Boy, give me your field glasses.  I think I see something.

Peasant: (handing over field binoculars) What is it, Dave?  I'm warning
     you, don't try anything stupid.  The Prime Directive says that we
     can't --

[View through the binoculars.  The first knight sees a tall figure with
flaming red hair which falls to his neck.  The figure wields a sword
which burns with a sinister fire, and wears armor which darkens the air
around it.  The evil knight wears no helmet.  His eyes dance around the
area like little machines, cold and calculating.  The first knight feels
a shadow fall over his soul.]

First Knight: It is he.

Peasant: Who?

Third Knight: Your grace, please don't do anything stupid.

First Knight: 'Tis none other than my accursed foe, Freston.  Sancho,
     attend me!

[The second, silent peasant perks up at this and takes after the first
knight as he charges down the hill, sword at the ready.]

Peasant: ****!  DAVE, GET BACK HERE!

[The first knight continues to run downhill, sword at the ready,
unhearing.]

Peasant: Panza, can you stun him?

Third Knight: No sir.  You made us leave our phasers behind, remember?
     You wanted to avoid violating the Prime Directive.

Peasant: After him, then!  Come on!

[Meanwhile, the first knight has made tremendous progress in getting
down the steep hill.  The Knight of the Fiery Sword, however, has seen
his rapid approach.  He snaps his fingers to his henchlings, and three
black knights soon beset the First Knight.

Quixote: (that is, of course, who the first knight is) Scoundrels!  To
     imprison such noble people as this is unjust!

[To illustrate his point, he breaks a chain with a mighty cut of his
sword.  The prisoners look in confusion as this madman breaks their
chains and sets them free.  Meanwhile, the guards, armed with whips
and submachine carbines gather round him and Sancho.]

First guard: Should we kill him?

Second guard: Capture him alive.

[They beset Quixote, who sees the three black knights, and quickly
bludgeon him into unconciousness with the butts of their guns.]

First guard: Look!  There's more of them!

[He points to Palmer, Kessner, and Panza.]

Palmer: (hoarsely) Oh no.  Let's get out of here.

Panza: Commander?  But what about -- ?

Palmer: NOW!

[They take off, running, followed by the guards.  They reach the top of
the hill when a spray of machine gun fire hits the ground all around
them, kicking up dirt and bouncing off of rocks.]

Kessner: ARGH!

Palmer: Eric!  Are you OK?

Kessner: . . . b-bullet got me . . . in the leg.

Palmer: Come on.

[Palmer picks up Kessner in his arms and runs with him and Panza over
the edge of the hill.]

Panza: They're coming.

Palmer: We're going. (taps communicator) Palmer to Subaru.  Get us out
     of here!

[The away team croutonizes out of sight just as the slavers appear
over the hillside.  The team reappears inside the croutonizer room of
the Subaru, in geostationary orbit above the planet.]

Yi: Commander?  Where is Lieutenant Quixote?

Palmer: Contact the captain, tell her I'm taking Lieutenant Kessner to
     sickbay to get his wound treated.  I'll give her a full report.

Yi: Yes sir.

[As Palmer leaves, cut to Panza's face.  Deep concern and worry are
etched across his face.]

------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Day of the Knight"
    By Dave Learn


Starring
   Jim Palmer
   Jeff Holton
   Eric Kessner
   Dave Learn
   Kerri Russell
   Alyssa Milano
   Colm Meany

Guest-Starring
   Dave M'iello as Freston

Music by: Delcara and the Many
Lighting by: Bell of PA
Telephones by: West Penn Power
Directed by: Peter O'Toole
Casting by: James Coco
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Interior USS Subaru sickbay.  Loud, angry voices.]

hj: You did *WHAT*!?

Palmer: I didn't have a choice, Captain!  I did my best to stop him and
     get him back, but the idiot wouldn't listen to me!

hj: Great!  So I'm supposed to go back to LMC2 and say, "I'm sorry,
     Admiral, but my first officer *lost* a crew member on Castor Beta
     Six."  It's your responsibility as first officer to keep control of
     the away team, not to lose them!

Palmer: Captain, I did everything within my power to prevent him from
     doing this.  Check his service record -- Lieutenant Quixote is
     authorized for away teams which observe and even interact with
     non-Federation humanoid cultures, provided the Prime Directive is
     kept.

[Things calm down a bit.]

hj: Fine, but how -- how am I supposed to tell the Admiral that we lost
     him?

Palmer: Captain, it may still be possible to rescue him.

hj: How?

Palmer: The croutonizer.  We can lock onto him and beam him back up to
     the Subaru.

hj: (considers it) No.  You said he was captured, and I doubt that they
     will leave him by himself.  If we were to croutonize him out, we
     would be in violation of the Prime Directive.  We can't do it.

Palmer: (exasperated) But Dave's life -- !

hj: Every Star Fleet officer swears to give up her life before violating
     the Prime Directive.  There's nothing we can do, except return to
     LMC2 and make a full report on this.

Palmer: But what about -- ?

hj: Commander -- (gently) Jim, I know you liked him.  So did I.  But
     there is nothing we can do about it.  Star Fleet regulations are
     clear.  Look, take your next two shifts off.  Get some rest.  It's
     never easy losing an officer.  Or a friend.

Palmer: I . . . all right, Captain.  You win.

[Palmer trudges out and heads to his quarters.]

hj: Practor, lay in a course for LMC2, jolt-warp six.  Engage when
     ready.

Practor: (ic) Aye aye.

[Palmer's quarters.  He is stretched out on his bed.  All around his
room are trophies from his baseball career, including the MVP trophy
he won three years before he resigned.  A picture of his graduating
class hangs on one wall, just over it hangs an authentic baseball bat
used by Roberto Clemente back in the twentieth century.]

Palmer: Frap.  Dave, why did you have to do that, you lunatic?  Now
     we have to leave you behind, and we won't have your hopeless
     optimism, your idiotic banter.  No more attacking dragons in
     Missy's room, no more joking about firing you out the crouton
     tubes.  Dummy.  Why did you have to do that?

[Ripple back, memory effect, to Rama Clarke Three.  A steamy, hot jungle
which the away team is trudging through.]

Palmer: Hurry up, Ensign.  The people here are in the middle of a war,
     you know.  I'd hate to be caught in the middle of their fighting.

Ensign: Just a little bit longer, Commander.  I need more samples for
     the botany lab to analyze.

Palmer: Fine, fine, just make it quick.

Quixote: Boy . . .

Palmer: What?

[Quixote suddenly leaps in front of Palmer and catches a gunshot in his
chest which would have killed Palmer.  Once he realizes what just
happened, Palmer drags the ensign to the ground along with Quixote.
Gunfire continues to fly over their heads as the two warring factions
begin to fight.]

Palmer: Dave, are you all right?

Quixote: (a little pained) A knight would never complain of his wounds,
     though his very bowels were dropping out.

Palmer: Palmer to Subaru.  Croutonize us up, and prepare sickbay for a
     chest wound.

[Cut to the bridge, present time.]

Palmer: If it weren't for him, I would be dead right now.  I have to do
     something!

hj: Jim, we can't do anything for him.  He violated the Prime Directive,
     and the planet's natives captured him.  What do you want me to do?

Palmer: Well, if we can't croutonize him out, a small group of us could
     locate and free him.

hj: And have the government think that there was a rebellion?  Do you
     have any idea what kind of a purge could take place on that planet,
     how many people would die, as a result of such an action?  The
     government could think Dave was a leader in a revolution and go
     looking for him.  They would kill to find him, and thousands of
     people would die over a man they never knew existed.

Palmer: But . . . but . . .

hj: I said no!  Now we're almost to LMC2.  You'll have to make a state-
     ment to Admiral O'Brien.

Palmer: (tersely) Yes, Captain.

[On board LMC2.  Palmer and O'Brien, in O'Brien's office.]

O'Brien: . . . genuine shame, Commander.  I understand how you feel.
     Right now, you probably want to go back and get him.

Palmer: Yes sir.

O'Brien: It can't be done.

Palmer: I know, sir.

O'Brien: But it's good you feel that way.  It shows a genuine ability
     to identify with your crew and feel for them.  (pause)  Commander,
     this may not be the best time to bring it up . . .

Palmer: What is it?

O'Brien: The Captain of the USS Pentheus is retiring in a month or two.
     Your name came up for promotion.  We think you would make an
     excellent captain for her.

Palmer: (overwhelmed) Well, I -- I thank you, Admiral.  It would be an
     honor.

O'Brien: You don't have to decide right away.  Take your time.  You have
     three weeks to make up your mind.

Palmer: Thank you very much, Admiral.

O'Brien: You're welcome.  And thank you for your report.  I don't think
     you need to worry.  It shows very clearly that Lieutenant Quixote
     disobeyed your direct orders.  Actually, this is something a Star
     Fleet psychologist predicted might happen.  It's a bloody shame he
     was right.

[Palmer leaves.  Much later, he sits down by himself in one of the
starbase corridors.]

Palmer: My own ship.  Now that would be nice.  But -- Dave.  Sheesh.
     Why do I have to keep thinking of you?  Why won't you leave me
     alone?  Why do I have to keep thinking of you and your dog?  Leave
     me alone, please!

[Palmer gets strange looks from people passing him in the hallway.]

Palmer: Dave, please, stop haunting me like that.  It wasn't my fault.
     I did everything I could.  How far do you want me to take this?

[A dark room with strange machines all over the place.  Quixote is
strapped to a table, bereft of sword and armor.  A number of metal
plates are strapped to his head and body.  There are three other men
in the room: Freston, a wizard, and a nobleman.]

Nobleman: Where are your fellow rebels?  Tell us where your base is, and
     we'll let you go free.

Quixote: I am no rebel.  'Tis you who are the rebels.  You rebel against
     all that God has ordai--

[The wizard flips a switch.  Quixote's body arches from an electric
shock.]

Quixote: aaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiggggggghhh!

Nobleman: Were is the rebellion based?  How many are you?

Quixote: I have nothing to say to you.

Freston: You are a fool to have come here, Dave Quixote.  These people
     have belonged to me for years.  When they kill you, they will begin
     a search of the populace.  Millions will die for your foolishness.

[Quixote spits at Freston, but hits the nobleman instead.  He nods to
the wizard, who flips the switch again.  Quixote screams and writhes in
agony.]

[Back at LMC1.  A security guard stands watch at a croutonizer pad.]

Guard: (to the camera) Commander?  Can I help you?

[A fist reaches out and k.o.s the guard easily.  A pair of hands reaches
down to the croutonizer controls and activates them.  Rush up to the
croutonizer pad, as though adopting perspective of commander.  The
air shimmers and scene shifts to interior, USS Paul Maxwell.  A pair of
hands activate the power supply.  Lights come on, engines begin to run.]

[Exterior, LMC1.  The Paul Maxwell begins to move at half impulse.]

[Interior Paul Maxwell.]

O'Brien: (ic) I don't know who you are, but you have five minutes to
     get that ship back here, or I'll bring Star Fleet's whole weight
     down on your shoulders.

hj: (ic) Palmer, that's you isn't it?  Jim, you can't go get him.  Stop
     it.  If you do this, you won't get the Pentheus.  You'll be lucky
     to keep the Subaru.

[Interior Subaru, main bridge.]

hj: Palmer, aren't you listening to me?  That does it!  Give me eighty
     push-ups.  I can handle stealing a personal ship, but ignoring a
     superior officer is inexcusable.

Practor: The Paul Maxwell is at full impulse.

hj: Kuso.  Practor, follow him, full impulse.

Practor: Full impulse, aye.

[The Paul Maxwell goes to warp speed.]

Kessner: He's gone to warp speed.

hj: I can see that!  It was on the viewscreen!  Give me sixty push-ups
     for stating the obvious.

[Kessner drops and begins his push-ups.]

hj: Practor, follow him and try to overtake him.  Lieutenant Yi, prepare
     to beam Commander Palmer out of the Paul Maxwell, directly into the
     brig.

Yi: (ic) Aye Captain.

[The Paul Maxwell suddenly drops out of view, off the bottom of the view
screen.]

hj: What!?  Where did he go?

Practor: Ian_Fleming class vessels are far more manueverable than
     James_T_Kirk class starships.  Commander Palmer has taken the
     Paul Maxwell on heading Mark two seven nine by twelve point six
     three.

hj: Right.  Where is he now?

Practor: Compensating.

[The Paul Maxwell appears on screen again.]

hj: Out loud, Kessner!

Kessner: 56 . . . 57 . . . 58 . . . 59 . . . 60.

hj: Patch me through to the Paul Maxwell.

Kessner: Hailing frequency open.

hj: Palmer!  Stop it now, and maybe we can get you an honorable dis-
     charge.  If you keep up this irresponsible behavior, you'll be
     lucky to see the inside of a starship again.

Kessner: No response.

hj: Yudetako.  Practor, lock a tractor beam onto the Paul Maxwell.

Practor: He's headed directly to that star up ahead.

hj: Then I'd slow him down if I were you.

Practor: He's out of range.

hj: Palmer!  How far do you intend to take this?

Kessner: No response.

Practor: Hull temperature rising.  One thousand degrees.

hj: Are we in range for the tractor beam?

[Practor shakes her head.  Cut to: the two ships at jolt-warp speed as
they head toward the star.  The Paul Maxwell rushes dangerously close,
and then dives down, using the gravity of the star to propel the ship
faster.  The Subaru, not as manueverable as the much smaller Ian_Fleming
vessel, is forced to slow down and move around the star.  As they clear
the star, the Paul Maxwell is nowhere to be seen.]

hj: Where is he?

Practor: Scanning.  Captain, I am detecting some wreckage between the
     fourth and fifth planets of the system.  There is sufficient mass
     for it to be an Ian_Fleming vessel.

[hj pales.]

hj: Drop to impulse and take us there to get a closer look.

----------------------------


Date:        Sun, 26 Jan 92 01:12:39 EDT
From: Knight of the Wolves 
Subject: TCG4: "Day of the Knight" part two (LONG)

[The Subaru, as it docks outside LMC2, cut to Subaru main bridge.]

hj: Captain's log, stardate 103824.0.  As Captain of the Subaru, I have
     had many hard duties from running a ship full of nincompoops to
     putting up with certain officers' reprogramming the uniform
     replicator to put cheez-whiz in my underwear.

Kessner: I did not!  It was Missy!

hj: *ahem*  None of them are as difficult as the task now before me.
     For the second time in forty-eight hours, I am forced to report
     the loss of an officer . . . and a friend.

[The bridge crew try to act overwhelmed with emotion at the poignancy
of the speech.  There is a lot of bawling and nose-honking.]

hj: Oh, shut up, everyone.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Day of the Knight" (Part Two)
By Dave Learn


Starring
     half japanese
     Eric Kessner
     Jim Palmer
     Dave Quixote

Guest Starring
     Colm Meany as Admiral O'Brien
     Dave M'iello as Freston the Enchanter


Edited by
    The Lady Melinda Kay of Allen
    Lord Christopher of Hassell
Cookies by Mrs Fields
    (the recipe will cost you $250)
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
In memory of Gene Roddenberry: warp speed!
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[hj is now in Admiral O'Brien's office.]

hj: There was nothing left of him or the ship.

O'Brien: (shocked) Nothing.

hj: No sir.  Ensign Practor scanned the debris.  There was enough
     present to account for the Paul_Maxwell.  Apparently the
     tidal forces as he swung around the star were too great for the
     ship.  It was torn apart.

O'Brien: And Commander Palmer?

hj: A . . . a smear, sir.  What we found wasn't worth bringing back
     to base.

O'Brien: How's your crew handling it, Captain?

hj: Not well, sir.  Commander Palmer and Lieutenant Quixote were both
     popular with the ship's complement.

O'Brien: And you, Captain?

hj: Oh, I'm fine, sir.  Lieutenant Quixote was a bit . . . unbalanced,
     and Commander Palmer was a pain to work with.

[Pause.]

O'Brien: Captain, you're lying to me.  You've sounded like a Vulcan
     ever since you came in here.  Maybe a Vulcan can get away with
     not showing emotion, but a human can't.  I know you're hurt and
     bothered by the loss, and I can't leave you in command of a star-
     ship until I'm convinced you're emotionally recovered from the
     loss.

hj: What!?  I --

O'Brien: You're staying here, Captain.  Neither you nor the Subaru leave
     this base until I'm convinced you're ready for it.  Consider it an
     enforced shore leave.

hj: But --

O'Brien: No buts, Captain.  Admiral Bradford is going to be arriving
     here in a few days to inspect the base.  He'll probably want to
     inspect the Subaru, too, as long as you're here.  Zortylwankoid
     is checking our computers.  If you like, he can give Heian a
     once-over, too.

hj: Permission to prepare the Subaru for inspection, Admiral?

O'Brien: Granted.  Oh, and Captain?  No push-ups, please.

[With a heavy sigh, hj departs.  Cut to the inside of the Paul_Maxwell,
which is still in very good condition, as is its occupant.]

Palmer: Personal log, stardate 103828.6.  I must be out of my mind.  I
     have earned myself at least sixteen courtmartials.
     (grimly)  Dave, I'm going to get you for this.
          I should be at Castor Beta Six within a few hours.  My little
     trick seems to have worked--I doubt the Subaru will be coming to
     stop me now.  If I know hj, she's going to be blaming herself for
     my death.  For what it's worth, Captain, I'm sorry to put you
     through this, but there is no way I can leave Dave to the hands of
     the Castorians.  Prime Directive or no, he is my friend, and I have
     never deserted a friend if I could help it.
          And to think I would have been a captain, too . . .

[Castor Beta Six.  Two soldiers (one of whom looks suspiciously like the
wizard from last episode) and an officer (who looks suspiciously like
the nobleman from last episode) walk through a bare cinderblock hallway.
The two soldiers drag the naked Quixote by his arms down the hall.
Another, shadowy figure walks with them.  It is Freston.]

Officer: It is most unfortunate for you that you do not wish to talk.
     We have ways of persuading you.  This is the first.

[One soldier unlocks a cell door which opens into a dark pit.  They
throw Quixote in.]

Officer: (as the door closes and locks) You will remain in there until
     you tell us what we want.  What is the location of the rebel base?
     How many of you are there?

Quixote: (wearily) I have no words to say.  You ask me riddles I do not
     understand.

Officer: Fool.  You will regret your silence.

[He leaves.  Quixote, covered with welts from the torture, moves back
into a corner of the cell where he huddles.  The air around the hatch
shimmers, and Freston walks through.]

Freston: You are a fool, Dave Quixote.  Look where your madness has
     landed you.  You've stumbled into my stronghold--*I* rule this
     people.  They belong to me.

Quixote: They are not yours.  You have stolen them.

Freston: (laughing)  Stolen them?  They are free to leave me at any
     time, are they not?  Yet they remain with me.  They enjoy what
     I have given them: comfort, wealth, pleasure.  Anything they
     want, I can give them.  I can give it to you as well.  Abandon
     your quest, forget this foolishness.  I will give you whatever
     you want.

Quixote: (shifting, uncomfortable) Give me this, then.  Go away.

Freston: (laughs again)  Such a small imagination you have.  Does this
     land displease you?  I can make it yours.  You can do whatever you
     want with it.  You can set the slaves free, establish a better
     system of government.  It can all be yours.

Quixote: (tempted) I do not want it.

Freston: What do you want, senor?  I know what drives you, the thirst
     for justice which ever pushes you on.  I can still that spirit
     for you.  You can have rest for the first time since you began
     your quest.  Wouldn't that be something?  You could stop placing
     others first, and being kicked in return.

Quixote: (straining not to hear) "Bl-blessed are you when men hate and
     revile you for my name's sake."

Freston: (laughs again) Oh, please, Senor Quixano, spare me.

Quixote: (confused, perhaps frightened) Quixano?  Why do you call me by
     that name?

Freston: No reason.  Except to make you squirm.
          Why do you do these things?  No one thanks you for what you
     have done.  No one remembers the ways you have risked your life
     for others.  They laugh at you!  They call you a madman.

Quixote: Madmen are the children of Go--

Freston: Your own lady laughs at you.  Dulcinea thinks you are a fool.

Quixote: (angry, but unsure) No!  It is a lie!

Freston: A lie?  I think not.  (in Kabeta's voice) "Dave, go get help!"
          Why?  Could it be she understood that you are nothing but a
     fool who thinks he is a knight?  Dulcinea laughs at you, she
     laughs at the name you have given her.  Did she not command you
     not to call her by that name?  You are a fool, and everyone knows
     it.

Quixote: (turning away, straining) No--no--

Freston: Your quest is a fool's mission.  Why should you risk so much
     for others who laugh at you all the time?  Why, Alonso?

Quixote: (white as a sheet) I am not Alonso Quixano anymore.  I am Dave
     Quixote de La Mancha.

Freston: But you are, Senor.  You are a fool, and your dream is but the
     nightmare of a disordered mind.

[Freston reaches out and runs his fingertips along the scars Dave has on
his face from the wolf attack in "Just a Bit of Light."  Dave howls in
terror.]

------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL BREAK

Are you sick of sorcerers?  Winded by wizards?  Mad at magicians?
Then try new

ENCHANTER-BE-GONE!

That's right, just take a can of Enchanter-Be-Gone and spray it around
the house, and those pesky enchanters will never bother you again.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[The interior of the Paul_Maxwell.  Palmer stands ready in a Castorian
soldier uniform.  At his side is a phaser and a pack of smoke grenades
to throw cover.  On the inside of his jacket is a tricorder, a
Feinberger, and a few assorted hyposprays if Dave is in bad shape.  He
walks over to the shuttle croutonizer to make certain that it is
focused on the right frequency to bring him and Dave back.]

Palmer: Well, here goes nothing.

[He reaches up to press a button on the croutonizer and disappears in
a swirl of croutons, only to reappear on the planet surface, inside
a huge complex.  Palmer steps into an alcove to check the readings on
his tricorder.]

Palmer: Heading fifty-seven mark three.  Not too far away.  Now let's
     just hope I can get there without any trouble.

[He walks down the corridor non-chalantly.  An officer spots him and
intercepts him.]

Officer: What are you doing here?  This is a restricted zone.

Palmer: I, uh, was about to relieve the guard, Sir.

Officer: Then you are fifteen minutes late and headed the wrong way.
     What is your name?

Palmer: Uh . . . James T. Palmer, Sir.

Officer: Unusual name.  How long have you been in the service?

Palmer: Uh, not very long, Sir.

Officer: Not very long, and you're already blacklisted, soldier.  That
     is not good.

Palmer: No sir, it isn't, sir.

Officer: Give me thirty push-ups and then head to your post.

[Palmer gives the officer a puzzled look, but he looks nothing like hj.
Palmer drops to the floor and does thirty push-ups in rapid order.]

Officer: Now get going.  Your post is that way.  How you got over here
     without being stopped, I don't know.

[Palmer heads off, and finally comes to the post.]

Palmer: I relieve you.

Soldier: What?

Palmer: I was told to relieve you.

Soldier: I've only been here for thirty minutes.

Palmer: Then consider yourself lucky.  Get out of here.

[The soldier leaves, and Palmer stands guard.]

Palmer: Yeesh.  Dave, don't get killed.  I'd come find you, but if I'm
     not here and Herr Goosesteper checks up on me, we'll both be dead.

[Cut back to LMC2.]

Bradford: What do you mean I'm under arrest?

Panza: Admiral, ever since you arrived here at LMC2, there have been a
     string of murders.  You have no alibi, and the pattern matches the
     killings you committed on LMC1 some months ago.

Bradford: I was alone!  I enjoy spending time by myself--is that such a
     crime?

Panza: The computer records have been tampered with--again.  Don't you
     think we're wise to that sort of trick by now?  Admiral O'Brien's
     wife collaborates his testimony.  In addition to the two of you,
     only Lieutenant Kessner and Commander Zortylwankoid have the
     ability to alter computer records like that.

Bradford: How do you know it wasn't one of them?

Panza: They were playing cards with the senior staff of the Subaru.  The
     only times either ever left were to go to the bathroom.

Bradford: But I didn't kill anyone, I swear!

Panza: That's what you said the last time.  Take him away, boys.

[Starbase and Subaru security come forward and cuff Bradford, who they
drag away.]

Panza: Ah, I love this job.

[Cut to hj and Missy, in LMC2 dining hall.]

Missy: Captain, you can't hold yourself to blame.  They both made their
     decisions, and no one could stop either of them.

hj: A captain's responsible for the decisions of her crew, Missy.  It's
     my fault that Jim's dead.  If I hadn't been so hard on him, making
     him do all those push-ups all the time-- (pause) No, actually,
     those push-ups built character.  If it weren't for those, he would
     have screwed up a long time ago.

[Missy rolls her eyes, but says nothing.]

Missy: Have you heard anything about a new first officer?

hj: I've recommended you for the job, but I can't get an answer.  Star
     Fleet is up to its armpits in red tape lately.  Getting too
     beauracratic, I suppose.

Missy: You recommended *me* for the job?

hj: Sure.  You're well-qualified, and we get along fine.

Missy: Well . . . I'm honored.  I just don't know if I can handle all
     the push-ups.

[hj grins.]

[Cut back to Quixote's dungeon on Castor Beta Six.]

Quixote: (broken) No, no . . . please s-stop.

[The cell door opens and Freston vanishes.]

Officer: Do you wish to talk now?

Quixote: Anything, anything, please.  How many days has it been?

Officer: Two days.  That is usually enough.  Now tell us where the
     rebel forces are.

Quixote: I do not know.

Officer: What do you mean you do not know?

Quixote: (lying) We . . . we move our base of operations whenever one
     of the members is captured, if he knew where the base was.

Officer: A sound proposition.  There were three other rebels with you
     who escaped.  Where would they have gone?

Quixote: S-subaru.

Officer: (turns to person in hall)  Take a platoon of soldier to
     Sisubaru and kill every man, woman, and child in the town until
     they tell us where the rebels have gone.

Quixote: (horrified) N-no!

Officer: Such loyalty is admirable.  (to soldiers)  Take this rebel
     fool out and shoot him.

Quixote: (quietly) Sweet Jesu, what have I done?

[The two soldiers grab Dave by his arms and drag him out of his pit.
Quixote whimpers.  Cut to Palmer, who is still guarding the entry
station.  Outside he sees a group of thirty or forty soldiers, armed
to the teeth, climb into transports and move off.]

Palmer: I wonder where they're going?

Soldier: (approaching) I relieve you.

Palmer: Thank you.

[Palmer begins to head into the restricted zone.]

Soldier: Are you daft?  You can't go back there.

Palmer: Oh, $#@*!

[Palmer hauls off and slugs the man as hard as he can.  Dazed, the
soldier falls to the ground.  Palmer drags him off to a closet and
stuffs him in.]

Palmer: Lessee, two minutes, maybe four, until he's detected.  Say
     another minute before search parties can mobilize . . . I've got,
     oh, six minutes before they figure out where I am.  I've got to
     make this count . . .


[Palmer's eyes cross to an air vent.  With a grin, he phasers the cover
out of existence and climbs in.  "This oughtta buy me a few more
minutes," he says, and disappears into the vent completely.  Six minutes
later, an alarm goes off.  Palmer stops to check his tricorder.]

Palmer: Six minutes.  I'm surprised it took that long.  Now according
     to this, he's right under me, more or less.  But where am I?

[And as Palmer connects his tricorder to the map of the complex, we
cut to a cement hallway where Dave is being half-led, half-pushed to
an end.  The wall at the end of the corridor is marked with holes and
covered with dried blood.]

Soldier: Face the wall.

Quixote: (facing the wall)  Jesu forgive you.

[The guards raise their guns, take aim, and Palmer suddenly crashes
through the ceiling which was not designed to hold a full grown man.
He lands on top of one guard, and quickly fires his phaser to stun
the second one.]

Quixote: Commander, what are you doing here?

Palmer: I'm rescuing you, Dave.  (stops short)  What did you call me?

Quixote: "Commander."

Palmer: I'd rather if you called me "boy."  It seems more endearing
     from you.

Quixote: As you wish.  You came back for me?

Palmer: Yes.  Now come on.

[The two take off down the hall, only to run into a cadre of soldiers.]

Soldier: There's the intruder--he's freeing the prisoner!

Palmer: Company!  Duck!

[Quixote and Palmer duck down as a spurt of gunfire flies over their
heads.  Palmer whizzes a stun grenade at the troops, and grabs Dave
by the arm.  They duck beneath the stun wave, and then head toward
the soldiers, who have all been knocked unconcious.]

Palmer: We have to get out of here.  Do you know where your armor is?

Quixote: Nay, I do not.  They took my armor and my clothes from me when
     I was captured.

Palmer: It doesn't matter--we have to leave while we can.  Here, put
     this on your arm.

Quixote: (holds the croutonizer band up to his eye) What can this do?

Palmer: It'll get us back to the ship.

[As Quixote puts his on, they activate the croutonizers, and . . .
nothing.]

Palmer: What gives?  Those things were fully charged.

Quixote: 'Tis the work of Freston the enchanter.  He will not let us
     depart from here until he engages me in combat and I either triumph
     or fall victim to him.

Palmer: Freston?  Are you craz--oh, yeah.

Quixote: I must have my armor.  Can you find it?

Palmer: Dave, we haven't the --

[Ratatatatatatatatatatatatatat.  A burst of gunfire shoots down the
corridor the two were about to enter.]

Palmer: Shoot.

[He fires his phaser at the guards.]

Palmer: Dave, climb into the air vent.  We can get away from them
     maybe.

[He exchanges fire with them again.]

Quixote: Give me your instrument.

Palmer: What?

[A bullet comes a little too close for comfort.]

Quixote: Your tricorder, hurry!

Palmer: Here!  (hands it to him)  Now get in there!

[Quixote takes the tricorder and heads into the air vent.  Palmer
jumps in after him, tossing a smoke grenade behind him to hide
their path until they've made some headway.]

Quixote: This direction.

[Palmer, having no choice but to follow Dave, does so.  They end up at
another grate which Quixote kicks out.  There in the room is Dave's
armor and sword.]

Palmer: How did you -- ?

Quixote: (sharply) I am no fool who does not know how to use a
     tricorder, boy.  Now help me into my armor.

Palmer: We don't have ti--

Quixote: If you do not help me, our blood shall be on your hands once
     Freston arrives.  He means to kill us, and I must fight him on
     equal terms.  Once he is defeated, we can leave, but not until
     then.

Palmer: I don't understand.  What are you --

Quixote: Trust me!

Freston: (calling) ALONSO!

Quixote: Do you hear?  He calls!  The gauntlet is thrown, I must fight
     ere we can e'er leave.

Palmer: What?

Freston: ALONSO QUIXANO!

Quixote: Dear God, is it not over yet?  Must I still grapple with thee?
     I am tired!

Palmer: Dave, are you all right?

Quixote: Nay, I am not all right.  Once more unto the breach.  I would
     retire from this madness, but I cannot.  Even now it seeks to
     reclaim me.  My armor!  My sword!

Palmer: Oh, $^%!&^!!

[He helps Dave get his breastplate and helmet on and hands him the
sword.  And then--Freston appears in the doorway.]

Palmer: It's so cold . . .

Quixote: Aye.  The very earth is blighted where he walks.

Freston: Alonso.  You must visit me more often.  Do you that even now,
     fifteen thousand people are being executed because of you.  I love
     guests such as yourself.

Quixote: (hoarsely) Fifteen thousand . . .  Monster!  Defend yourself!

[Cut to: room as Palmer sees it.  Quixote swings his sword at airy
nothingness.  He does not see Freston anywhere.]

Palmer: Dave?  Are you ok?

[Cut to: room as Quixote sees it.]

Freston: Too slow, Alonso.

[Cut to: Palmer's view.  Dave swings at Freston, but his sword glances
off of nothing and falls to the side.  Similarly, Dave appears to be hit
by nothing and falls to the ground.  But there is *nothing* there to
strike him.  Cut to Quixote's p.o.v. as he pulls up from the ground.]

Quixote: You monster!  Have at you!

[He swings at Freston, who easily blocks the swipe.  The two continue
while Palmer looks on, not seeing anything for Dave to strike against.
But why, he asks himself, do Dave's blows stop so suddenly?  Why does
the knight-errant jump back to avoid imaginary blows?  And *why* does
Quixote's shoulder suddenly spurt blood when there is nothing to cut
it?]

Palmer: What the . . .?

Quixote: Back, Freston!  I will have victory today, I swear.

Freston: Victory?  I have been alive milennia before you were born.  You
     are nothing to me but a minor nuisance.

Quixote: I will win.  This I swear.

[Quixote swings his sword again and pierces Freston through the chest.
Palmer stares in disbelief at the sword which moves out of Dave's grasp,
yet still suspended in air.]

Palmer: Oh my god.  What in Hell is that?

Quixote: Hell is quite right, boy.  'Tis exactly where this fiend
     belongs.

[Palmer fires his phaser at Freston.  The sword falls to the ground
with a loud clatter.  The edges are eaten away with a foul bile.
Quixote picks up his sword.]

Palmer: What was that?

Quixote: Mine enemy Freston.

Palmer: Is he dead?

Quixote: No.  I am not the man to kill him.

[Another cadre of soldiers burst through the door.]

Officer: Freeze!

Palmer: Now's a good time to go, Dave.

Quixote: Aye.

[Palmer presses the recall button on his arm band, and the two
disappear from the planet.  They reappear on the Paul_Maxwell.]

Palmer: Why did it work that time?

Quixote: I have told you, boy.  'Twas the magick of Freston that kept
     us there.  We have defeated him in battle and so are free to go.

Palmer: But what . . . never mind.

Quixote: Boy, I would beg a boon of you.

Palmer: What is it?

Quixote: Sancho is dead.  Every knight must have a squire, and you have
     served me most faithfully today.  I would be honored if you were
     to become my squire today.

Palmer: I . . . accept, your grace.  Thank you.  (pause)  But have to
     return to LMC2.

Quixote: Will the queen be pleased to see us?

Palmer: Yes and no.

Quixote: No?

Palmer: Dave, I stole the ship we're on right now and I've broken at
     least a dozen orders.  Star Fleet is going to come down heavy on
     the two of us.  We'll be lucky if we stay free, let alone in Star
     Fleet.

Quixote: (misty-eyed) You risked so much for me?

Palmer: Yes.  (pause)  What else are friends for, after all?

[Later.  Back on LMC2.]

Ensign: Admiral, it's the Paul_Maxwell.  She's requesting permission to
     dock.

O'Brien: What?  Give her clearance.  (tapping com badge)  Lieutenant
     Panza, I need you at the landing bay.  The Paul_Maxwell has come
     home.

Panza: (ss) What?  I thought she was . . .

O'Brien: I did, too.  Commander Palmer's going to have some heavy
     explaining to do.

[Cut to Paul_Maxwell interior as Quixote and Palmer prepare to
disembark.]

Palmer: Here we go, old friend.  Are you ready?

Quixote: I have no regrets for my action, and I am more than willing to
     face the consequences.

Palmer: Same here.  Whatever happens, it was worth it.

[They materialize in LMC2's disembarking croutonizer room, where Panza
stands with a full squad of security men.]

Panza: Welcome home, Commander, Dave.

Palmer: Thank you.

Quixote: Indeed.

Panza: I'm . . . sorry, Commander.  I have orders to place the two of
     you under arrest for violations of the Prime Directive and for
     theft.

Palmer: We understand.  We're ready.

[The security men come forward and lead Palmer and Quixote out of the
room.  Cut to Panza's face, where we see sadness for his friends'
situation etched in clearly.  Fade to black.]

---------------------------------------