ANOTHER WAY Picard informs Soran that there must be another way that they can get him into this 'Nexus'. Soran explains that he has spent eighty years looking for another way and says that this is the only way. Picard desperately tries to convince the doctor that what he's about to do isn't any different to from when the Borg destroyed his world. Then Soran reveals that he wouldn't have hurt a fly, until he met the Borg and realized that the only thing constant in the universe, is death. Death will eventually get everyone, especially the good old captain. Picard informs him that it is there mortality that defines them, which is part of their truth to their existence. Soran informs them that he has found a new truth. Picard realizes that it is the Nexus and Soran explains that time has no meaning there and the predator has no teeth.

UNDER ATTACK On the Klingon ship, the two sisters become excited as Geordi finally enters Engineering. They are on the verge of victory. "That's it," informs Lursa. They replay the view and zoom in on a particular point on the screen. They realize that the Enterprise's shield's are operating on a frequency of 257.4. Excited, B'Etor orders the torpedoes to match the shield frequency of the Enterprise. The Bird-Of-Prey soon fires at the unsuspecting Enterprise. On the Enterprise, Worf reports that the Klingons have found a way to penetrate their shields. Riker breaks orbit for an evasive manuever, however, a deadly blast kills the conn and Riker orders Deanna to take the helm. The Enterprise fires back, but the Klingon ship's shields hold. Riker wants to know if there are any weaknesses to the Bird-Of-Prey and Worf informs them that they were retired from service because of defective plasma coils, which is part of their cloaking device.

A MINOR VICTORY Geordi, meanwhile, is having problems of his own, as the Klingon's relentlessly pound on the Enterprise's Engineering Hull, which is causing critical damage to its system. Using Worf's suggestion, Riker comes up with a way to disable their cloaking device which will drop their shields and they will have two seconds of vulnerablity. They will use the ionic pulse to engage the cloaking device, and as it does, their shields will drop. Data quickly initializes the ionic pulse, but before they can activate it, a Klingon torpedoe strikes the aft station of the Bridge, injuring several crewman at the station. Data initiates the ionic pulse and on the Klingon ship, the helmsman reports that they are cloaking and their shields are dropping. The sisters are stunned. On the Enterprise, Riker orders, "Fire!" A torpedoe speeds towards the Klingon ship, instantly destroying it to pieces. On the Enterprise, Data screams, "Yes!" with happiness.

EMERGENCY!!! Geordi's problem in Engineering are from over. He reports that there is a problem with one of flow regulators and there's nothing to do. Soon a coolant leak occur, and Geordi reports that they are about five minutes from a warp-core breech. Engineers rush out to safe themselves and isolation doors close down. On the Bridge, Riker orders Data to begin saucer separation and Deanna to clear the planet's orbit once they do. Soon, the corridors are filled with people rushing to safety, including children. Some children are alone, by themselves, and Geordi and Farrell get them to safety.

GOODBYE, ENTERPRISE!!! Riker reports that the warp core is going critical and that they have to get out of there. Geordi is the last one through with one child clinging to him. He closes the hatch to the Jefferies Tube and informs the Bridge. Riker begins the saucer separation and soon the Enterprise's saucer section separates from its Engineering Hull. "Separation complete!" Data informs. Deanna soon engages impulse and the Enterprise slowly moves out of orbit, however, the Engineering section explodes before it can go out of orbit completely. The saucer section is hit by the shockwave of the explosion and rocks the ship roughly. The saucer soon reels toward the planet's surface, to which Data exclaims, "Oh, shit!"

TOUCH DOWN The Enterprise's sauce section enters the atmosphere of Veridian Three and Data tries to sail in for a smooth landing, using the lateral thrusters. "All hands, brace for impact!" shouts Riker and watches as the surface of Veridian Three creeps slowly upon them. Finally, THWAP! The saucer hits several rockface and trees, knocking the crew on the Bridge and bringing down the bulkheads. Similar events occur throughout the ship as the crew try to avoid being hit by shrapnel. This is a long and dangerous slide as the saucer section is hit by trees, rocks and other objects. The saucer finally comes to a stop, after sending Riker and the Bridge officers to the front of the Bridge. Upon stopping, Riker looks up to see the Veridian star shining through the cracked window on top of the saucer.

Page 5: