Author's preface: This episode occurs about two years after the episode "Pen Pals" and is a sequel to it. Thus, it fits in about the fourth season. That's all you need to know to enjoy the story.

Scene: DREMA FOUR

Crusher, Data, Sarjenka, Senkar and the woman are in a room next to the previous one. The woman is almost unnoticed in the background.

SARJENKA - Who are you?

DATA - I am Data.

SENKAR - What do you want? How did you find us?

CRUSHER - We want to make sure you are all right. I'm a doctor, and I've followed the news about you and your brother in hiding.

SENKAR - More lies. You are government spies.

SARJENKA - (looking intently at Data) I believe them.

SENKAR - They still haven't said how they found you.

DATA - The news service gave details on the locations of your residence, your school, your friends, and your relatives. I determined from these an estimated geographical center around which to begin a building-by-building elimination of probability...

CRUSHER - Never mind, Data. Sarjenka, we've found you, we're sure you are well, so now we're going to leave you in peace.

SENKAR - Do you think we can just let you leave?

CRUSHER - No one will know we've been here. I promise.

SARJENKA - Now I'm glad you weren't from the news service. I don't think I wanted my story to come out just that way. I feel like an idiot.

CRUSHER - You're not. You're a very bright girl. And I hope, when the time is right, you'll think about what I said. If you come out in the open, I think that people will listen. Talk to them, Sarjenka.

SARJENKA - I want to let them go.

Senkar begins to protest, but backs down and capitulates.

DREMAN WOMAN - NO!

SARJENKA - What is it?

DREMAN WOMAN - This way.

The woman turns and opens a door to a basement stairway. Crusher and Data exchange looks, and Data follows the woman, with Crusher behind. After some pitch black stairs, another door opens, and Data and Crusher exit at dusk. The door closes, and they make a cautious exit.

Scene: TOWN OF TREETON, DUSK

Crusher and Data are making their way to the better part of town. From the shadows, a figure is watching. Crusher and Data sense that they are being followed, and are moving cautiously. Suddenly, Keller jumps down from a low roof and stands in front of them, poised to flee but also ready to confront them. Crusher and Data are startled, but recover.

CRUSHER - Whoa, you startled us. Now run along, please.

KELLER - I know who you are.

DATA - We also know that information.

KELLER - You're aliens! I saw you. You came in a space ship. I know everything.

CRUSHER - Yes, we're aliens. Now go play, young man.

KELLER - I know more. I know where the other two are.

CRUSHER - The other two?

KELLER - Picard and the other one.

CRUSHER - Where are they?

KELLER - They're in security.

DATA - Doctor, if this boy is being truthful, we must investigate.

KELLER - Come on!

Scene: OUTSIDE SECURITY BUILDING, NIGHT

Crusher and Data are following Keller. They come to an alley behind Security.

KELLER - They're in there.

CRUSHER - We can't just walk in and get them, can we?

KELLER - No. They're guarded.

CRUSHER - How many guards are in there?

KELLER - I don't know.

DATA - Do you have a plan, Doctor?

CRUSHER - It depends. What's your name?

KELLER - Keller.

CRUSHER - Keller, do you want to help us?

KELLER - Sure!

CRUSHER - Good. Because we need your help. I'm going to trust you to do your part.

Scene: SECURITY LOBBY

Scene switches to interior of Security lobby. Two guards are present, one watching a TV, one filling out forms. Crusher and Keller enter.

KELLER - Mom! Mom! Look! They're here! We're saved!

CRUSHER - Can you help us? We have no way of getting home.

KELLER - Our motor broke down, and we've been walking forever.

Guards look at each other. The one filling out forms gets another form. He looks bored.

GUARD - Name.

CRUSHER - Beverly Crusher.

GUARD - And yours.

CRUSHER - He's my son.

GUARD - I still need his name, lady.

CRUSHER - Wesley Crusher.

GUARD - You have the same last name?

CRUSHER - Yes. It was my idea.

GUARD - Address.

CRUSHER - Wesley, tell the officer where we live. I'm so proud of him. He knows his address, his ID number, and his conn number.

GUARD - His conn number?

KELLER - 2424 Selcundi West. That's in the Marion district.

GUARD - I know where it is. Look, it's not that far. Why don't you walk?

CRUSHER - At night? Alone? In this part of town?

GUARD - Minsky, take these two home.

MINSKY - Come on.

Keller and Crusher follow him out to the car. Minsky sits in the driver's seat while Keller and Crusher stand outside. He looks up at them and frowns.

MINSKY - Well, get in. What are you waiting ...

Data pops up from the back seat and puts a grip on his neck.

DATA - Please do not move.

The guard doesn't move. Crusher comes around to the driver's seat and takes the weapon and car "key" from the guard. She holds the weapon on him.

Scene: Security Lobby

Minsky enters followed by Crusher holding the weapon. Data comes in next, and then Keller.

GUARD - What's this?

DATA - Please put your hands behind your head, and do not make any sudden moves. You stand over there with him.

Guards comply, and Data takes Guard's weapon. Keller starts looking in the drawer at all the keys, and takes a handful. He then exits to the cell area.

DATA - Doctor, I suggest you hold these two while I attempt the jail break.

Exits after Keller. The guards look at each other, then the first Guard speaks to Minsky.

GUARD - Say, you aren't going to let her get away with this, are you?

Crusher turns the weapon to the chair and fires. The chair is knocked down.

MINSKY - I'm not going to stop her.

Scene: SECURITY CELL AREA.

Data enters the cell area, and Picard and Kitsman are helping Keller try every "key" on the lock.

PICARD - Mr. Data! Am I glad to see you.

DATA - Yes sir. Dr. Crusher is holding the guards while I bust you out. This lock will need two keys, placed vertically in an exact orientation.

Data examines the keys, and picks up two, places them on the lock, and the door opens. All four return to the Lobby.

PICARD - You're quite good at busting people out of jail, Mr. Data. Doctor, all clear? Let's go.

CRUSHER - Okay, you two. In the back. Let's go. Move it.

MINSKY - Whatever you say, lady. Just be careful with that thing.

Guard, Minsky, and Crusher walk into cell area. Guards enter the cell, Crusher closes the door and kicks the keys away. She re-enters the lobby, leaves the weapon on the desk, and exits.

Scene: OUTSIDE OF SECURITY, NIGHT

Scene switches to car. Kitsman is in back. Data is in driver's seat, and Picard is also in front. There is a partition between front and back, but sound can pass. Keller is starting to get in and Crusher approaches.

DATA - I am sorry, but you cannot come with us.

KELLER - But why? I helped you. I wanna go with you.

PICARD - You can't.

KELLER - But I wanna go to outer space with you.

CRUSHER - Look, Keller, you've helped us get out of this, and I really appreciate it. But we don't belong here, you do. The best thing would be for you to forget you ever saw us.

PICARD - Doctor, if you would, please.

Crusher gets into the back seat. Keller watches as Data puts the key into the ignition, and the car lights up, but doesn't move. Data and Picard look for the controls, but without success. Keller walks around to driver's side and laughs.

KELLER - Don't need me, huh?

DATA - The forward controls are not apparent.

KELLER - I'll show you if you take me with you.

Data and Picard exchange glances.

Scene: WILD RIDE IN CAR, NIGHT.

Scene switches to a wild ride in the car as Keller shouts instructions and Data tries to follow. Sounds of near accidents and horns honking.

KELLER - Use your right foot to slow down. Now put the blinker thing on. No, the other one, it's green. Now turn while you press the other thing. Press the glower thing, the orange one.

The car stabilizes, and Data is in control.

PICARD - Mr. Data, stop here.

KELLER - What'd you stop here for? Wanderer's Field is another two krelongs.

PICARD - We promised to take you with us, so here you are. This is the tavern where we first saw you. I think you can get home from here.

KELLER - But you promised. I wanna go. I'm gonna tell!

Scene: SHUTTLE EXTERIOR, NIGHT.

Crusher, Picard, Data and Kitsman are walking up to the shuttle. They stand at the entrance to the shuttle but nothing happens.

PICARD - Ensign Ford seems to be occupied. Mr. Data ...

Data presses a panel and opens the shuttle door. The team enters and sees Ford immobile with a stunned look sitting upright in the co-pilot seat. Crusher begins to examine him, passing a medical scanner over him.

PICARD - Well ...

CRUSHER - He's in shock, otherwise, he's not hurt.

PICARD - Then we'll attend to him on the Enterprise. Kitsman, if you will lend a hand, I will pilot.

Picard immediately sits, powers up and readies the shuttle for take off. Meanwhile, Data is in the back at the escape transporter pad, pressing several buttons. He takes a stone and places it on the pad, presses a panel, and the stone is transported off the pad. After a second, the stone seems to re-appear. Now Crusher approaches Data. She seems about to ask him about the stone, when Picard interrupts.

PICARD - Mr. Data, co-pilot please.

Data puts the stone into Crusher's hand, and takes his seat. The stone begins singing to Crusher's wonderment. She lowers herself in to her seat, eyes fixed on the singing stone.

CRUSHER - The singing stone.

Scene: TAVERN PORCH, NIGHT

Scene switches to the tavern porch, looking out over Wanderer's Field. The shuttle rises in a glow from behind the trees and takes off. Camera moves to the Security car, where Keller is locked inside. He is watching the shuttle take off, and is hitting the window with his fist. The car "key" is clearly visible on the car hood.

KELLER - But I wanted to go. I want to go with you.

Scene: EXTERIOR SPACE, SHUTTLE IN ORBIT

Inside the shuttle. Music and shaking suggest trouble.

KITSMAN - Picard, do you know what you're doing? You're worse than Data.

PICARD - What is causing this, Mr. Data?

DATA - There are high level fluctuations in the entire EMR band. Our navigation systems are not functioning.

PICARD - Picard to Enterprise. Enterprise come in. (To Data) Boost the signal. Picard to Enterprise. Enterprise, do you read?

VOICE OF RIKER - Riker here. Captain are you all right?

PICARD - Yes, Number One. However, your help would be appreciated. We're trying to make orbit, but our nav systems are out.

Scene switches to the Bridge of the Enterprise.

RIKER - That's the solar activity. We'll bring you in sir. Riker out. Ensign, take us in. Geordi, lock on a tractor beam. Sick bay, prepare to receive the away team. Mr. Worf, you have the conn.

Riker turns and walks toward the turbo lift.

-to be continued