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Riker was instantly awake.  "What kind of debris field?"

Data scanned his panels.  "Metallic fragments, left over energy of an unknown source.  Weapons fire signature matches that of… the Borg."

Riker came to his feet. "Red alert!  Battle Stations!  Data, any sign of a Borg ship?"

"No Commander, the energy signatures are…" Data's voice trailed off.  Riker frowned.  There were times when he hated the androids emotion chip.  This was one of them. "Well, Data? What is it?"

"Yes, Data," Picard entered the bridge still clad in jodhpurs and linen riding shirt.  "What's going on?"

"We have encountered a debris field, Captain.  It showed signs of having been fired upon by Borg weapons, but according to sensors, this ship was ancient, nearly two millennia old."

Picard headed for his ready room.  "Keep scanning, go to modified red alert. Beam some of the debris aboard."

The doors had barely closed behind Picard when he stopped short.  There, in the middle of his ready room stood a great blue box.  On top of it was a light, on its sides in white letters was the legend: POLICE CALL BOX.  Picard moved forward and touched it.  It felt like it was made of wood, but when he tried to move it, it resisted his efforts.  Picard moved around the box.  There, at his desk, feet up comfortably, sat a humanoid being.  It had long curly hair barely controlled by a floppy brimmed hat and a multi colored scarf that was at least two meters long.  The intruder looked up at him and smiled.  "I do so enjoy Hamlet… Captain, is it?"

Picard started to say, "Intruder alert…" When the stranger stood up.  "Please don't bother calling for help."  He took a round object out of his pocket and placed it on the desk.  A series of lights on the device pulsed softly.  "I mean you no harm, Captain.  I just want to talk."

Picard was suspicious.  "What is that device? Who are you?"

The man smiled and held out a small white bag.  "Jelly baby? No? I'll indulge myself then, if you don't mind. As to who I am, I am the Doctor, this device has placed a, you would call it a cone of silence around this area."

Picard, uncomfortably aware of his fencing clothes, crossed his arms and growled, "Are you Q?  This would be just like you to pull a prank like this."

The Doctor looked hurt at this accusation.  "The Q? Please! Do I look like one of those rapscallions? No, wait if I were one of those galactic delinquents, I could look like anyone, couldn't I?"  The Doctor rubbed his chin.  "You just discovered the wreckage of a spacecraft, did you not?"

Picard nodded.  "Do you mind if I get my uniform?"  The doctor smiled and moved aside.  "Please do."  Picard stepped around his desk and to the small replicator in the corner.  "Captains uniform normal duty dress."  Changing quickly, Picard sat at his desk and reached for the device.

"Ah-ah.  Don't do that, please. It's keyed to my genetic code and will give you a nasty shock."

"What if my crew needs me?" asked Picard.

"Won't matter.  This device has also removed us from your temporal reality. When I deactivate it, it will restore you right to the point where you entered."

Picard sat back, wondering if he was dreaming this.  "So why are you here?"

The Doctor sat on the edge of the desk.  "The wreckage you discovered was from a spacecraft, the Battlestar Galactica, which just ended a long, lonely voyage at the hands of the Borg."

"The Borg!"  Picard sat up straight.  "Are they near?"

The Doctor shook his head.  "No, after the destruction of the Galactica, whose technology they deemed unworthy of what is it? Ah, assimilation, they moved off toward the Delta Quadrant.  The Galactica, sadly, had reached the end of her time line.  But not all things end happily, do they?"

Picard thought briefly of his family, dead in a fire these past three years.  "No, they don't.  So what is the point of this conversation?"

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