2. Wrath of Khan-itis

Ever since Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, the films have tried to manufacture Khan-like nemeses for our heroic Captains to battle. The Next Gen films in particular have sought (in vain) to create an antagonist worthy of Patrick Stewart, someone who could pack a hefty emotional wallop for Picard: Soran in Generations; a rogue Admiral in Insurrection; his own clone in Nemesis (geddit?). The truth is there really isn’t anyone or anything Khan-like from Picard’s past to draw on – other than the Borg (later used to great effect in First Contact — although even here the Borg Queen was retconned into it to give the drama some extra emotional weight).

However, I think the writers completely missed the character with whom the (famously reserved) Picard had the strongest, and most complex emotional connection. Overlooked, no doubt, because he wasn’t Khan-like at all:

Wesley Crusher.

[I know, I know, Wesley was intensely irritating; perhaps the most irritating character in the history of Star Trek – including Neelix. But adult Wesley could be a different prospect, especially if he grew a beard (look what it did for Riker). But the main reason they should’ve brought Wesley back is, of course, because Picard got his dad killed. As Bruce Lee said: “Emotional content”.]

Fix 2. Cap’n Picard’s shield

First, let’s swap out Worf’s promotion scene for one of Wesley being offered the First Officer position on the USS Intrepid (a science vessel assigned to survey the moons of the Vulcan system). Captain Picard, his mother Dr Beverly Crusher and the Captain of the Intrepid are in attendance at the ceremony on the Alpha Centauri starbase.

However, during the ceremony Wesley hesitates and asks to speak to Captain Picard (and his mother) in private.

Picard: “What’s the matter Wesley? I must say this is a terrific opportunity for you. And you thoroughly deserve it.” Wesley: “Captain is it possible… I’d like to… I’ve heard the helmsman position is available again on the Enterprise. Sir, would you consider me?” Picard (taken aback): “Helmsman? I’m afraid I don’t understand? Wesley you’ve been offered First Officer on a fine ship. In a few years you’ll have your own command. Now, its perfectly natural to be nervous, but…” Wesley: “It’s not that, I just… I don’t want it Captain.” Picard: “Wes, listen to me, when I was your age I couldn’t wait to get out there…” Beverley: “What is is Wes?” Wesley: “I just, I don’t fit in Mom. They don’t like me. I think about coming back to the Enterprise all the time, every day. I grew up there, my friends are there, you’re there. I just…want to come home.” Picard: “Wes, think about what you’re saying. Do you really want to be demoted all the way back to helmsman? Your career in Starfleet would be ruined. Trust me, this is for the best.” Wesley: “But…” Picard: “I’m sorry Mr Crusher I can’t approve this, and I wouldn’t try.” Wesley (emotional): “Please Captain…” Picard: “Mr Crusher, do control yourself.” Wesley: “You just don’t want me there? Is that it?” Picard: “What are you talking about?” Wesley: “Because of what happened to my father? You don’t want me around? You couldn’t wait to get rid of me.” Beverly (shocked): “Wes!” Picard: “That’s quite enough Mr Crusher. The Enterprise is not your home. You will take the commission on the Intrepid and that is the end of the matter.” Beverly (staring at Picard): “Jean-Luc…” Picard: “Mr Crusher you are dismissed.” Wesley: “…Yes Sir.”

After the ceremony Wesley glances over at his mother before turning away to board the Intrepid. Beverly Crusher chases after Picard in the corridor, demanding to know whether her son was right. Did Picard really not want Wes around? Did it have something to do with how Jack (Wesley’s father) died?

The exchange becomes heated, but as they argue, Picard suddenly notices a pink energy ribbon moving past the space station. At the same moment, Beverly — looking in the opposite direction — sees the Alpha Centauri star begin to collapse. Then the starbase shakes violently and starts to come apart.

Picard orders an emergency station-wide evacuation. As Beverley is beamed away, windows all around begin to buckle. Just as he is about to depart, Picard notices a single, solitary figure on the now-empty station, two floors up. He tries calling to him but the man doesn’t seem to hear. Picard hurries toward the man, just reaching him as the station depressurises. Far from being afraid, Dr Tolian Soran looks exultant, standing with his eyes closed and arms outstretched.

Picard reaches him, slaps his communicator on Soran and shouts, “Beam us up!”. Their eyes meet for a moment as the transporter beam energises. Soran glares angrily at Picard.

However, just then the rear wall of the station explodes outward and Picard is flung into space, where he drifts into the path of the Nexus and disappears.

Aboard the Enterprise, the bridge crew watch on in horror.

[This plot reworking is designed to achieve two things: firstly, it gets around the ponderous time-loop of trying time stop Soran launching his rocket in the desert — this way Picard gets to the Nexus alone, no time-shenanigans required; second, it massively raises the stakes for the Enterprise crew to solve the mystery because they believe they just witnessed their captain’s death.]

Next we pick-up with James T. Kirk’s Nexus experiences. He is on Earth, at the same mountain lodge as in Generations, but he’s with a much younger Carol Marcus. As in the movie, Kirk doesn’t understand how or why, but he’s so overcome with happiness he doesn’t question it. However, when he hears a child’s giggle and the patter of running feet down the corridor the spell is broken.

Kirk (stunned): “Is that… David?” Carol: “Of course Jim, he’s so excited to see you!” Kirk (angry, backing away): “No. Stop this. David is dead. This isn’t real.” Carol: “Don’t you want to at least see him?” Kirk: “No! Get away from me.” Kirk runs out of the house into the snow: “Let me out! Show me the way out!”

The scene instantly changes and Kirk is now in the burning engineering section of Picard’s former command the Stargazer. He has stepped into Picard’s Nexus experience, a perpetual nightmare in which Picard desperately tries to save the life of Jack Crusher (Wesley’s father) over and over again.

Just like the real incident, Jack is being crushed under a burning gantry. No matter what Picard does, he is never able to pull Jack clear in time. Kirk tries to convince Picard that is it isn’t real, but Picard is lost in his own memories made real by the Nexus.

Finally, Kirk decides to help Picard. In a flash of inspiration Kirk tears shielding panels off the nearby warp reactor and turns the core up to maximum. Every metallic object in the room is pulled toward the core, including the gantry which is lifted clear of Jack’s body. “If you can’t move Mohammed then you have to move the mountain” muses Kirk.

Jack Crusher wakes up and thanks Picard, before asking him about Wesley. This causes Picard to at last snap out of it and accept the scene for the charade it is.

Picard: “This is ego. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you Jack. For your sake, but especially for Wesley’s.” For the first time he seems to see Kirk. Picard (awed): “… James T Kirk. Yes… yes! You are real; I know how you got here.” Kirk: “You have me at a disadvantage Sir. But I think I know why I’m here: to meet you.” Picard: “Why do you say that?” Kirk: “Because I think you know the way out.” Picard suddenly remembers something Guinan told him about how to exit the Nexus: you just have to tell it where you want to go. Where should he go? Picard (musing): “…you have to move the mountain” Kirk: “Huh, what’s that?” Picard: “A madman has developed a weapon capable of destroying stars, and I think it’s got something to do with this place. Captain Kirk, will you help me stop him?” Kirk: “What are we waiting for?”

[…]

They figure out Soran’s next target is the Vulcan star, but they get there too late: Soran has already launched his weapon.

The Enterprise and dozens of Federation ships warp into the Vulcan system as the Star begins to collapse, trying to evacuate the Vulcan homeworld.

[Scenes of desperate people running to get on ships mirrors the film’s opening, but this time Soran himself is the threat.]

Soran stands on a sparsely populated moon of Delta Vega on the system’s outer rim.

Picard realises that Wesley’s ship the Intrepid, is helping with the rescue operation on that moon.

The Intrepid stumbles upon Soran, who fires one of his torpedoes at the ship, crippling it, and the order is given to abandon ship. Wesley is thrown into space in an emergency wrap-around spacesuit, holding on to injured crew mates. The Nexus reaches Soran’s moon just before the shockwave causes it to explode.

The Enterprise is badly damaged during the rescue operation and emergency repairs are underway. The warp drive is out of action and another shockwave is headed straight for them.

Riker directs engineering to get the shields back up but Picard overrules him and instead orders that the priority should be to repair the warp drive.

The ship gives an almighty rumble and suddenly lists over.

Picard: “Geordi! I need warp speed now damn it!”

Cut to Wesley tumbling in space, cradling an unconscious shipmate. Wesley tries to hold on as billion pieces of rock from the moon fly toward them. The fragments tear through the Intrepid’s hull and on towards him.

Wesley turns his head away.

Suddenly the Enterprise D warps into space directly in front of him and absorbs the full impact of the debris field. The ship is pulverised by the impact, which smashes into the saucer section. The bridge is hit directly and the port nacelle is destroyed. Wesley stares up at the giant insignia: NCC-1701-D.