The Surface of Truth

Exterior - Guardian's Planet - Both Enterprises are in orbit.

KIRK (VO)

Captain's Log: Supplemental. Our investigation of the Guardian's malfunction is raising more questions than it's answering. After joining forces with the crew of the future Enterprise we have uncovered some distressing facts about our ship's fate, facts which their captain has neglected to share, and which make trusting Picard and his crew more difficult.

Interior - Bridge of Kirk's Enterprise

UHURA
Captain, I'm receiving a transmission from the surface. It seems Spock and Data have entered the Guardian portal and disappeared.

KIRK
(Resting his chin on his fist, his face belying his frustration at having to cooperate with a stranger, supposedly from the future, purportedly a part of the Federation, but nevertheless a stranger he cannot fully trust.)

Uhura, hail the other Enterprise.

UHURA
Hailing frequencies open.

The viewscreen displays the bridge of the Enterprise-D. Picard dominates the screen in his captain's chair.

KIRK
Captain Picard, the away team has reported that our men have entered the portal.

PICARD
We've received the same report. (Picard turns his head at a muffled address from someone out of the range of the screen and Kirk scowls. Picard turns back to address Kirk, his own face now wearing a matching scowl.) I've just received another report, this one from my chief engineer. It seems that while your engineer was working on our ship, he just happened to access our computer's historical database. I'm sure I needn't tell you, Captain, how this act is a clear violation of the Prime Directive as it applies to temporal-

KIRK

You gave me little choice. You refused to tell me yourself about the fate of my crew, and now I find out that my Enterprise has been destroyed. Will be destroyed.

PICARD
The timeline must be preserved. Who knows what effect your knowledge of events could have on both our futures? If we are going to work together, there must be an element of trust between us. If we can't trust each other-

KIRK

Trust? How do you expect me to trust someone who keeps the destruction of my ship a secret? And now I've sent Spock into a dangerous situation without all the facts.

PICARD
Your anger is unwarranted. My crewman is at risk as well. And to have given you all the facts may well have increased the danger of this situation, not lessened it.

KIRK
Perhaps the Enterprise of the future could await its own destruction calmly, but the crew of this Enterprise cannot. Kirk out.

The viewscreen goes blank

PICARD
Damn! That man is certainly stubborn.

RIKER
A common trait among Starfleet captains. Or so I'm told.

PICARD
You're right, Number One. Kirk's anger is understandable. But a Starfleet Captain must follow orders, as an example to the crew.

RIKER
Even at the expense of that crew? If you were in Kirk's position, would you still cling so tightly to the Prime Directive?

Picard doesn't respond, but his grimace is enough answer for Riker.

Cut To: Interior - The Guardian Portal. Data and Spock face what appears to be a hall of mirrors. A thousand reflections stare back at them. Both Spock and Data turn around, expecting to see the portal behind them. Instead the mirrors continue on behind them.

SPOCK
Most intriguing. During my previous experience with the Guardian we were immediately transported into the past. I do not believe that is the case this time.

DATA
I must agree. The tricorder readings do not pinpoint a time or location.

SPOCK (into comm) Enterprise, do you read? Silence answers him.

DATA
(into comm)
Data to Enterprise. (Silence) I do not believe we will be able to contact our ships.

SPOCK
Then we must attempt to find another means of escape.

Spock and Data begin their exploration of the portal's reflective interior.

Cut To: Interior - Bridge of Enterprise-D

RIKER:

No communication from either Spock or Data.

PICARD: I hate to think of what Kirk's planning over there. James T. Kirk has always been unpredictable. So let's take a page from his book and be unpredictable ourselves. Number 1, research the Enterprise's destruction. I want to know exactly what events led up to the devastation. (into the comm system) Mr. La Forge, I want you to keep an eye on our systems. I don't expect Mr. Scott's trick is the only card Kirk has up his sleeve. See if you can find a way into their systems. If I can't have a window into Kirk's thoughts, at least I can find a peephole into his ship.

LA FORGE(over comm) Understood.

Cut To - Interior - Guardian's portal Data and Spock wander farther into the portal. Suddenly Data stops.

DATA
It seems these reflections are inaccurate.

SPOCK
Inaccurate?

DATA
Yes. (Points to a reflection of himself) In this reflection, my eyes are green. And here (pointing to a reflection of Spock), your phaser is on the left side, not the right, which would be appropriate if this were a true reflection.