at Earth Station McKinley for five or six weeks of repair and refit, Picard, with bandages on his head, is back in uniform and at his desk in the ready room. Shelby requests permission to disembark from Captain Riker, who defers to Picard, thus relinquishing command back to him. Picard grants her request and commends her on being promoted to the head of Starfleet's task force in charge of rebuilding the fleet. Shelby is confident to have it back up in less than a year. She also coyly suggests to Riker that he would have his choice of any Starfleet command, but, Riker politely tells her (and Picard) that his career plans are his own business, but appreciates having options. As Riker leaves to take the Enterprise toStation McKinley and resume his duties as first officer, Picard attempts to return to the PADDs strewn on his desk and his usual cup of Earl Grey tea. But a haunted look plays on his face as Picard realizes that no matter how much he tries to go back to his normal life, nothing will ever be the same for him again. He silently goes over to the ready room's window and looks out at Earth in the dark sea of space, forever changed; reflecting on how close he had come to being the instrument of Humanity's demise…

"The knowledge and experience of the Human, Picard, is part of us now. It has prepared us for all possible courses of action. Your resistance is hopeless… Number One."

- Locutus, to