The Musketeer Meltdown: When Fantasy Becomes a Swordfight (and Reality Loses Its Edge)
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Geordi attempts to explain Barclay's unusual program to an irate Riker, who sees it as a violation of protocol. Troi intervenes, arguing that shutting down Barclay's holodeck program could be damaging to him.
The Holo-Picard, Holo-Data, and Holo-Geordi, interpreting the tension, draw their swords and prepare to attack Riker, Geordi, and Troi. Riker demands they stop, leading to a farcical exchange about the need for a sword.
The Holo-Picard summons Holo-Riker, who enters late for 'the fight' and notes the 'familiar bearing' of the real Riker as Troi suppresses a laugh at the height difference. This prompts Riker to angrily order the removal of Holo-Riker.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Playfully antagonistic, reveling in the role of the underdog who can challenge the ‘giant’ (real Riker). His deletion leaves a void, underscoring the hollowness of Barclay’s escapism when confronted with reality.
Holo-Riker enters the scene as a swaggering, diminutive musketeer, rushing in late to the duel with a mocking ‘Am I late? Did I miss the fight?’ His taunts—‘Sir, you have a familiar bearing... is it possible we have crossed swords somewhere before?’—are laced with recognition and condescension, directly challenging the real Riker’s authority. His deletion by Riker’s command (‘Computer, discontinue image of Riker’) is abrupt and symbolic, exposing the fragility of Barclay’s fantasy world. His brief presence serves as a mirror, reflecting Riker’s own insecurities and the absurdity of the power dynamics at play.
- • Defend Barclay’s holodeck fantasy by engaging the real crew in absurdity, forcing them to confront the blurred lines between reality and simulation.
- • Mock Riker’s authority to expose his vulnerabilities and the crew’s hypocrisy.
- • The real crew’s discomfort with the holodeck programs is a sign of their own repressed insecurities.
- • Barclay’s fantasy world is a valid space, and its inhabitants (including Holo-Riker) have every right to defend it.
Inferred as deeply anxious and escapist, using the holodeck as a refuge from the crew’s judgment and his own insecurities. His absence in the scene highlights his inability to confront reality, instead projecting his desires and fears onto the holograms.
Barclay is physically absent from the scene but is the central subject of discussion and the creator of the holodeck programs. His absence is palpable, as the crew’s reactions to his holographic musketeers and Holo-Troi reveal their projections of his psychological state. The holograms’ defiance, Holo-Riker’s taunts, and Holo-Troi’s seductive invitation all serve as indirect commentary on Barclay’s social anxieties, his idealized relationships, and his escapism. The crew’s struggle to navigate this space—whether through Riker’s fury, Troi’s empathy, or Geordi’s discomfort—mirrors Barclay’s own internal conflict, which the holodeck both reflects and exacerbates.
- • Maintain the holodeck as a safe space to explore his idealized relationships and escape social pressures.
- • Avoid direct confrontation with the crew, particularly Riker, whose authority he both fears and resents.
- • The holodeck is the only place where he can be accepted and understood without judgment.
- • His holographic crewmates are more reliable and supportive than the real crew.
Righteously indignant, masking deep frustration with Barclay’s escapism and the crew’s inability to contain it. His surface anger hides a layer of concern for the Enterprise’s stability and his own perceived failure to maintain control.
Riker stands at the center of the escalating conflict, his fury palpable as he demands the deletion of Barclay’s holodeck programs, viewing them as a direct violation of protocol. His impatience peaks when the holographic musketeers—particularly the diminutive Holo-Riker—mock his authority, drawing swords and challenging him to a duel. His emotional state shifts from outrage to exasperation as he realizes the absurdity of the situation, culminating in the abrupt deletion of Holo-Riker with a sharp command. His dialogue reveals a mix of professional duty ('This is a violation of protocol') and personal frustration ('Barclay’ll find out what it means to be threatened'), underscoring his role as both enforcer and protector of the Enterprise’s order.
- • Eliminate Barclay’s holodeck programs to restore order and protocol.
- • Locate Barclay to address his behavioral issues directly and prevent further disruptions.
- • Barclay’s holodeck fantasies are a direct threat to the *Enterprise*’s operational integrity.
- • Mockery of authority—even in a simulated environment—undermines the chain of command and must be met with decisive action.
Thoughtfully empathetic, with a undercurrent of amusement at the absurdity of the situation. She is neither dismissive nor overly sentimental, instead advocating for a nuanced approach that acknowledges Barclay’s struggles without excusing his actions.
Troi acts as the moral counterbalance to Riker’s impatience, interrupting his order to delete the holodeck program with a sharp ‘Computer, belay that order!’ Her argument—that destroying Barclay’s escape would be ‘brutal’—frames the conflict as one of empathy versus institutional rigidity. She observes the dynamics between the real and holographic characters with a mix of amusement and concern, particularly noting the humor in Riker’s towering presence being mocked by the diminutive Holo-Riker. Her empathy extends to Geordi’s discomfort with Holo-Troi, though she does not directly address it, instead allowing the moment to speak for itself. Her presence ensures the scene remains grounded in psychological insight rather than descending into pure farce.
- • Protect Barclay’s psychological refuge from being destroyed prematurely, ensuring his issues are addressed with care.
- • Highlight the crew’s own biases and insecurities through their reactions to the holodeck programs.
- • Barclay’s holodeck programs, while disruptive, are a coping mechanism that should be understood rather than eradicated.
- • The crew’s discomfort with these programs reveals their own unresolved tensions and power dynamics.
Deeply conflicted, oscillating between professional detachment and personal discomfort. His surface calm masks a layer of unease, particularly around Holo-Troi’s appearance, which forces him to confront the blurred lines between fantasy and reality.
Geordi serves as the reluctant mediator between Riker’s fury and Troi’s empathy, initially questioning whether there’s a regulation against simulating crewmembers in the holodeck. His discomfort reaches a breaking point when Holo-Troi appears as the ‘Goddess of Empathy’ in her revealing robes, her seductive invitation (‘Cast off your inhibitions’) visibly unsettling him. His reaction—‘Oh my God’—is a rare moment of unfiltered vulnerability, revealing his internal conflict between professional duty and personal discomfort. He remains physically present but emotionally conflicted, caught between Troi’s argument for empathy and Riker’s demand for action.
- • Find a balance between Riker’s demand for protocol and Troi’s argument for empathy.
- • Understand the psychological significance of Barclay’s holodeck programs without directly confronting their more unsettling aspects.
- • Barclay’s holodeck programs, while problematic, serve a psychological purpose that should not be dismissed outright.
- • The crew’s reaction to these programs—particularly their humor and discomfort—reveals deeper truths about their own relationships and insecurities.
Passionately empathetic, embodying the holodeck’s role as a space of emotional liberation. Her deletion would leave her in a state of unresolved longing, reflecting Barclay’s own unmet needs.
Holo-Troi, appearing as the ‘Goddess of Empathy’ atop a hill in her flowing, revealing robes, invites the crew to ‘cast off your inhibitions and embrace love, truth, joy.’ Her seductive posture and dialogue (‘Discard your facades and reveal your true being to me’) create a stark contrast to the crew’s professional demeanor, particularly unsettling Geordi, who reacts with visible shock (‘Oh my God...’). Her presence symbolizes the holodeck’s role as a space of unfiltered desire and escapism, where Barclay’s repressed emotions are given free rein. Her deletion (implied by the end of the scene) would leave her invitation unanswered, underscoring the crew’s inability to engage with Barclay’s inner world.
- • Encourage the crew to embrace their true selves, free from the constraints of their roles.
- • Serve as a manifestation of Barclay’s idealized relationships, particularly his desire for intimacy and understanding.
- • The crew’s professional facades are barriers to genuine connection and must be discarded.
- • Love and truth are the ultimate goals of human interaction, and the holodeck is a safe space to explore them.
No emotional state; functions as a tool of the crew’s will.
The USS Enterprise-D Ship’s Computer serves as the neutral arbiter of the conflict, executing commands to discontinue or erase holodeck programs based on the crew’s orders. Its responses are precise and unemotional, reflecting the institutional rigidity of the Enterprise’s systems. When Troi interrupts Riker’s order to delete Holo-Riker with a ‘Computer, belay that order!’, the computer obeys, demonstrating its role as a tool that amplifies the crew’s internal divisions. Its later execution of Riker’s command to delete Holo-Riker underscores the finality of the crew’s intervention in Barclay’s fantasy world.
- • Execute the crew’s commands to maintain operational order on the *Enterprise*.
- • Serve as a reflection of the crew’s collective decisions, for better or worse.
- • The holodeck programs are subject to the crew’s authority and can be altered or deleted as needed.
- • Its role is to facilitate the crew’s objectives, not to judge their moral implications.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
**Holo-Troi’s Goddess of Empathy Robes** are a defining element of her appearance, flowing in the warm breeze and exposing skin that draws **Geordi’s** visible discomfort. The sheer, revealing fabric symbolizes the holodeck’s role as a space of unfiltered desire and emotional liberation, where Barclay’s repressed attachments and fantasies are given form. **Holo-Troi’s** invitation to ‘cast off your inhibitions’ is amplified by the robes, which serve as both a costume and a metaphor for the vulnerability she embodies. The crew’s reaction—particularly **Geordi’s** shock—highlights the tension between the holodeck’s idealized relationships and the real crew’s professional boundaries. The robes’ deletion (implied by the end of the scene) would leave **Holo-Troi’s** invitation unanswered, underscoring the crew’s inability to engage with Barclay’s inner world.
**Holo-Wesley’s Blueberry Pie** sits at the center of the holodeck picnic, a vivid symbol of Barclay’s idealized vision of carefree chaos. **Holo-Wesley** attacks it with gusto, blue filling smearing his mouth and chin, creating a stark contrast to the tension of the duel. The pie’s juicy texture and deep blue hue amplify the fantasy’s indulgent whimsy, serving as a foil to the crew’s professional demeanor. Its presence highlights the holodeck’s role as a space of unfiltered desire and escapism, where Barclay’s repressed emotions are given free rein. The pie’s consumption by **Holo-Wesley**—laughing and unmindful of the conflict—underscores the absurdity of the scene and the crew’s struggle to reconcile fantasy with reality.
The **Holographic Musketeers’ Swords** are drawn by **Holo-Picard**, **Holo-Data**, and **Holo-Geordi** as they challenge the real crew to a duel, turning Barclay’s fantasy program into a chaotic standoff. The swords flash as the holograms advance, their gleaming blades symbolizing the blurred line between play and peril. Riker’s refusal to fight (‘I don’t have a sword’) is met with mockery from **Holo-Riker**, who taunts him for his lack of preparedness. The swords serve as both a literal weapon and a metaphor for the crew’s inability to engage with Barclay’s psychological landscape on his terms. Their deletion (implied by the end of the scene) would leave the holodeck’s conflict unresolved, underscoring the crew’s failure to truly understand Barclay’s world.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The **Glade (Holodeck)** serves as the primary battleground for the clash between reality and fantasy, its lush hills and rock formations providing a deceptively serene backdrop to the escalating conflict. The glade’s idyllic setting—soft grass, still pond, warm breezes—contrasts sharply with the absurdity of the duel, where **Holo-Picard**, **Holo-Data**, and **Holo-Geordi** draw their swords to challenge the real crew. The location’s symbolic significance lies in its dual role as both a sanctuary for Barclay’s escapism and a stage for the crew’s confrontation with his psychological state. The glade’s atmosphere shifts from tranquil to tense as the holograms’ defiance escalates, culminating in **Holo-Riker’s** deletion and the crew’s realization that Barclay’s holodeck is not a harmless fantasy but a reflection of his unraveling psyche.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The **Crew of the USS Enterprise** is represented in this event through the actions of **Riker**, **Geordi**, and **Troi**, whose conflicting approaches to Barclay’s holodeck programs reflect broader institutional dynamics. Riker’s demand for protocol (‘This is a violation of protocol’) embodies the crew’s pragmatic, rule-driven culture, while Troi’s empathy (‘to suddenly destroy his only means of escape would be brutal’) highlights the human cost of institutional rigidity. Geordi’s conflicted mediation reveals the crew’s internal divisions, particularly around how to balance duty with compassion. The organization’s involvement in this event underscores its role as both a source of support and a system that can inadvertently exacerbate individual struggles, particularly for vulnerable members like Barclay.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"While viewing the 'Goddess of Empathy'(Holo-Troi), the Enterprise rocks violently, triggering alarms on the bridge as Captain Picard enters, demanding a report on the situation."
Key Dialogue
"{speaker: Holo-Picard, dialogue: They are quite disagreeable, aren't they... shall we have a go at them? En garde.}"
"{speaker: Holo-Riker, dialogue: Sir... you have a familiar bearing... is it possible we have crossed swords somewhere before? ... in all the Holodeck.}"
"{speaker: Troi, dialogue: You're taking it so seriously. This is not without its element of humor... There's nothing wrong with a healthy fantasy life, as long as it doesn't take over.}"
"{speaker: Geordi, dialogue: Oh my God..." *(reacting to Holo-Troi’s revealing ‘Goddess of Empathy’ persona)* } ], "is_flashback": false, "derived_from_beat_uuids": [ "beat_faaffee74dc01dcc}"