Stardate 42679.2: The Enterprise salvages a Starfleet shuttlepod, aboard which a comatose second Picard is found. The records from the shuttlepod reveal that it was launched from the Enterprise six hours into the future, and that the Enterprise was subsequently destroyed with all hands in a giant vortex. As the time of his departure approaches, the second Picard slowly recovers. The vortex appears as predicted, and the "present" Picard orders to hold position. Energy bolts attack Picard, insinuating that there is an intelligence urging him to leave the ship. When his double tries to leave the ship for exactly this reason, repeating what he already did, Picard decides his departure will only perpetuate the cycle and shoots him with a phaser. He then orders a full-speed course directly into the vortex, upon which the shuttle and his future self disappear and everything is back to normal.

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