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Q and A : The new Star Trek : The Next Generation Novel by Doug Geiger


		      Chapter 1


		Captain's Log - Stardate 42765.5
		     After the Enterprise's latest encoun-
		ter with Q, which resulted in 18 deaths
		and some structural damage to the saucer
		section, we are enroute to Starbase 197.
		Our encounter with the Borg will be added
		to Starfleet records for future reference.
		Starfleet Command has given extended shore
		leave to the entire Enterprise crew while
		repairs are made to the saucer section.



		"Mister Data, ETA at Starbase 197," asked 

	Captain Picard, an imposing, bald man who sat in the 

	center seat of the Bridge.



		"At our present speed of Warp 6 we will

	arrive in 6.43321 hours, sir," reported Lieutenant

	Commander Data from the navigator's station at the

	front of the Bridge.  Data's gold eyes and pale 

	skin told everyone that he was an android.



		"6.4 hours would have sufficed, Lieutenant,

	thank you.  Status report, Mister Worf."



		"All departments report maximum efficiency.

	Hull sensors indicate that the damage to the saucer

	section will not be structurally dangerous unless

	we exceed Warp 8," replied the Klingon communica-

	tions officer and Security chief from the Upper

	Bridge.
  Page 2





		"Thank you, Mister Worf.  Keep me informed

	of any changes."

		"Picard to Engineering," said Picard, tap-

	ping his combadge, "Mister LaForge, any problems 

	to report?"



		"Nothing new to report, Captain," said the

	blind Chief Engineer, the pulsating light from the 

	Warp engines glinting off the VISOR that allows 

	him to "see."



		"Will the damage caused by Q effect our

	phasers in any way?" asked the Captain.



		"When Q removed the cylinder from the 

	Enterprise some major systems were disrupted, 

	including weapons, but we've been able to reroute

	most of them.  I have the Engineering staff pulling

	double shifts running diagnostics on each system. 

	So far nothing's been encountered to prevent us 

	from restoring all systems to their original paths.

	I just want to be sure so that nothing happens to

	damage the saucer section even more.

		"But to answer your question, Captain, 

	since we'll be at Starbase 197 soon, I've taken 

	the phasers off-line until full scale repairs can

	be made.  Q didn't touch the phaser rings but he
  Page 3



	came awfully close," reported Geordi.



		"In that case, I sincerely hope the phasers

	won't be needed, Lieutenant.  Picard out.

		"Counselor, what is the crew's mood?" asked

	Picard as he turned to his left to consult Deanna

	Troi, the empathic Ship's Counselor.



		"They are tired, both mentally and 

	physically, but that is understandable.  They are

	also saddened by the deaths of the crewmembers.  

	All in all, Captain, I don't think the crew could

	stand the stress of another mission.  You should

	request a shore leave for the entire crew, yourself

	included," said the beautiful Betazoid.



		"Deanna, you know how I hate to be away 

	from the Enterprise, even for a short time.  But 

	I have a surprise for you.

		"Mister Worf, open a shipwide channel,"

	requested Picard.



		"Channel open, sir."



		"This is Captain Picard.  Due to the 

	stresses placed upon both ship and crew by the time

	vortex and our encounter with Q, Starfleet Command

	has granted shore leave to all crewmembers upon 
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	our arrival at Starbase 197.  Please refer to the

	schedules posted by the department heads as to your

	beam-down time.  Enjoy yourselves.  As the best 

	crew in Starfleet, you deserve this vacation.

	Picard out."



		From throughout the ship, cheers could be

	heard.  Smiles even broke out among the Bridge 

	Crew, except for Worf and Data.  Data because he 

	was an android and the purpose of some human 

	expressions eluded him.  Worf because he was a

	Klingon and they just don't do that kind of thing.



		"That's great news, Captain, but why'd 

	you keep it a secret?" asked William Riker, the

	bearded First Officer seated on Picard's right.



		"Well, Number One, the message came through

	just before I came on the Bridge.  How are you 

	going to spend shore leave, Will?"



		"There are some new holodeck simulations 

	I've been wanting to try out," said Riker.



		"Ah, you mean the survival games," said

	Worf with appreciation.  "I too want to see those."



		"No, Worf, I meant the historic recreations.
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	I've heard they're extremely detailed."

		"What about you, Captain?"



		"Oh, I don't know.  I have some reading to 

	catch up on.  I'd also like to work on my painting,"

	said Picard.



		For awhile, they flew on in silence.  Fin-

	ally Picard said, "Mister Crusher, steady on course.

	I'll be in my Ready Room.  You have the Bridge,

	Number One."  And Picard left the Bridge.



		"Was that not unusual?"  asked Data.



		"I'm not sure, Data.  The Captain has been

	pretty angry about our inability to deal effectively

	with Q and the Borg," said Riker.



		"There is that, but I sense something else.

	He doubts his ability to command.  I've talked with

	him and his mental condition has improved somewhat.

	He just needs time.  The deaths of the crew aren't 

	helping either.  He feels personally responsible.

	Combined with the stress of informing their 

	families, it all adds up to a great deal of strain.

	He will get through it because he is strong.  He 

	just has to understand that it's not his fault,"

	analyzed Deanna.
  Page 6





		Suddenly, the Enterprise shook violently.

	The shocked exclamations of the Bridge Crew were

	lost amid the red alert klaxons.



		"Data, shields up.  Ensign Crusher, take 

	us out of warp.  Worf, damage report," ordered 

	Riker.



		Picard emerged from his Ready Room looking

	shaken, blood from a large cut on his forehead 

	flowing down his face.  "Wh-what hit us?"



		"We're working on it, sir.  Worf, where is

	that damage report?" asked Riker.



		"Communications throughout the ship were

	damaged.  In addition, the damaged section of the

	saucer has been stressed to the limit.  Any more

	shocks like that and the hull could rupture,"

	reported Worf.



		"Mister Data, why didn't our sensors 

	register anything?" asked Picard.  "And shut off

	that damn noise!"  The red alert klaxons fell 

	silent.



		"Unknown ,sir, but an unidentified ship
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	has just come within sensor range."



		"On visual."




		The viewscreen changed from an empty star-

	field to a crystalline ship approaching quickly.  

	It was the shape and color of a huge, multifaceted

	diamond.  Spires and antennae projected from 

	numerous points on the hull.  A huge weapons pod

	was slung on its underside.



		"Intruder slowing to sublight," reported

	Data.



		"Mister LaForge, why didn't sensors register

	the intruder?" inquired Riker, tapping his combadge.



		"We were in the process of restoring the 

	sensors to their original paths."



		"Mister Worf, open hailing frequencies,

	universal translator on," ordered Picard.



		"Hailing frequencies open."



		"This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard commanding

	the Federation starship Enterprise.  You are 

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	intruding into Federation space.  Please state your

	business peacefully or we will be forced to take

	action against you."



		"Captain Picard," sneered a hissing voice

	as an insectoid appeared on the viewscreen, "why

	should we fear you?  This one vessel could 

	obliterate any ten of your Federation vessels.  I am

	Skon of the Xin and I question your right to exist,

	just as you question my right to be here."



		A low growl emanated from Worf and Picard 

	shot him a warning glance.



		"Now see here, Skon.  We want no trouble.

	Our mission is to explore the galaxy and make 

	peaceful contact with new races.  We have no quarrel

	with the Xin.  In fact, we've never heard of you 

	before."



		"What!  The Xin control seven galaxies.  

	Our technology is far more advanced over yours.  

	We are superior in every way."



		"It would appear not, as the Enterprise 

	still exists," retorted Picard.



		"Ha!  That was merely our weapons system

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	on its lowest setting.  What you would call a 

	warning shot.  I assure you, at their highest 

	setting, they are capable of shattering planets.  

	Do not anger me, Picard," warned Skon.



		"I wouldn't dream of it, Skon.  I just want

	to know what you're doing in Federation space."



		"I don't have to answer to you, Captain.

	But if you must know, my orders are to collect 

	specimens from the various galactic powers in order

	for the Xin to formulate a plan for Universal 

	domination.  You, Captain, have the honor of being 

	the first Federation starship captured on the Xin

	road to glory.  Prepare to be boarded and relinquish

	command to me."



		The screen reverted to a view of the Xin 

	ship.



		"We're not caught yet.  Worf, send a 

	distress call to all Federation ships."



		"All frequencies are being jammed, Captain."



		"Damn.  Mister Crusher, lay in an escape

	course away from Federation space and engage at

	Warp 3," ordered Picard.  "Mister Data, scan the

  Page 10


	computer banks for any reference to the Xin."

	The blood from his wound still flowed freely,

	staining his uniform a darker red.


		"Aye, sir," Data acknowledged, walking aft

	to the science station as the Enterprise leapt into

	Warp.  Worf moved forward to take Data's place at

	the Ops station.  The stars on the viewscreen 

	lengthened into streaks as the Enterprise broke the

	lightspeed barrier.



		"Captain, should I call Dr. Pulaski to look

	at your injury?  It looks serious," said Riker, the

	concern in his voice was evident.



		"Not now, Number One.  I don't have time

	to get my head examined.  I'm fine," grumbled the

	Captain, his eyes locked on the viewscreen.



		"Captain, the Xin ship is closing on us at

	Warp 3.5," the Klingon reported.



		"Mister Crusher, Warp 5," ordered the 

	Captain.  The stars on the viewscreen grew into 

	even longer streaks as the Enterprise accelerated.



		"Reverse angle on the viewscreen.  Let's 

	see the Xin ship," said Riker.  The view changed

	from one of stars accelerating towards them to one 
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	of stars accelerating away from them.  In the center,

	a white speck slowly increased in size.



		"The Xin ship has increased to Warp 4.....

	Warp 5.....Warp 6," said Worf, astonished.



		"Mister Crusher, increase speed to Warp 8."



		"Sir the hull cannot take the stress caused

	by such high speeds.  We must slow down."



		"I am aware of that, Worf.  As Captain of

	this vessel, I take full responsibility."



		The vibration of the deck, nearly 

	imperceptible before, had become quite evident.

	The red alert klaxons went off again and the 

	computer's voice warned "Due to extreme speed, hull

	rupture imminent."



		"Mister Worf, raise maximum strength 

	deflector screens around the damaged portion of 

	the saucer section.  As close to the hull as

	possible."



		"Aye, sir.  Deflector screens up."



		On the screen, the white speck had begun 
  Page 12



	to grow in size again.



		"Sir, Xin ship gaining on us again.  It's

	speed is Warp 9.5," Worf nearly yelled.



		"Picard to Engineering.  Mister LaForge, 

	can we accelerate to maximum Warp with the ship in 

	its present condition?"



		"Possibly, but I wouldn't advise it.  The

	hull could go at any moment.  I have a team working

	on reinforcing the damaged section of the saucer,

	but we're talking about nearly every deck of the

	primary hull," reported the Chief Engineer.



		"So noted, Lieutenant.  Picard out.  Worf,

	raise shields around the damaged section.  Mister

	Crusher, increase speed to maximum.  Warp 10."



		"Sir, are you serious?  You heard what

	LaForge said.  Warp 10 could destroy the Enterprise!"

	objected Riker.



		"Number One, if that was just a warning 

	shot, we will need help.  Since frequencies are 

	jammed we must try to find it ourselves.  Mister

	Crusher, our speed."


  Page 13



		"Warp 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.7, 9.8, 9.85,

	9.9," Wes read off the speed in ten second 

	intervals.  "Holding at Warp 9.9."



		"Picard to Engineering.  Why are we holding

	at Warp 9.9?"



		"Because of the energy being diverted to 

	the shields and deflector screens.  We can't go any

	faster unless we lower them.  But if we do that, 

	the ship will tear itself apart."  In the

	background could be heard the pulsing throb of the 

	Warp engines.  They sounded like a human heartbeat

	accelerated to the bursting point.  "Also, there's

	a slight flaw in the matter/antimatter containment

	field.  Maximum Warp would destroy the field totally

	and the Enterprise would be obliterated, along with

	most of the rest of this sector of space."



		"Very well.  Thank you, Lieutenant.  Picard 

	out.  Worf, what is the Xin's speed?"



		"Warp 12, sir.  It is gaining rapidly."



		Worf was right.  The image on the viewscreen

	had almost blotted out the rest of the starfield.



		"We have no choice then, unless you've 
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	found something, Mister Data?"



		"I am sorry, Captain, but there is no 

	information regarding the Xin in either my own or the

	ship's memory banks," replied Data apologetically.



		Worf relinquished the Ops station to Data

	and went back to his Communications console.



		"Worf, try to call for help again."



		"Sorry, Captain.  We are still being 

	jammed," reported the Klingon irritably.  He did

	not like feeling useless.  So far his advice had

	gone unheeded and his attempts to send any message 

	at all had been ineffectual.  On top of that, the

	Enterprise, Starfleet's best ship, was running away.

	Finally he said, "Captain, I recommend that we turn

	and fight.  We will soon be overtaken and will be

	forced to fight anyway."



		"Mister Worf, as much as I value your

	recommendations, this is my Bridge and I will not

	have people telling me how to run my ship!"



		Before Worf could reply, however, the

	Enterprise was hit by a blast from the Xin ship.

	The stars on the screen shortened.
  Page 15





		"Mister Crusher, why are we slowing?"



		"They hit our Warp nacelles, Captain.

	Warp drive is nearly destroyed."



		"Captain, the Xin ship is slowing to match

	our speed," reported Data.



		"Mister Worf, scan the Xin ship for some

	vulnerable location.  It appears we'll have to make

	a fight of it after all."



		"Captain, unable to scan the Xin ship.  

	Sensors do not register anything."



		"It's an awfully powerful nothing then,"

	said Riker.



		"Let's give them a taste of their own 

	medicine, shall we.  Slow to impulse power, Mister

	Crusher."



		The Xin ship also slowed to match the speed

	of Enterprise.



		"Shields at maximum," ordered Picard.  

	"Mister LaForge, I need those phasers now!"
  Page 16





		"Way ahead of you, Captain.  Phasers will

	be on-line in 45 seconds."



		"Mister Crusher, evasive maneuvers.  Mister

	Worf, try sending a distress message on all channels

	again."



		"Aye, Captain," Ensign Crusher and 

	Lieutenant Worf replied in unison.



		After a few seconds, Worf said, "Captain,

	communications are still being jammed.  Unable to 

	send the distress message."



		"Damn.  Well, we'll just have to do the best

	we can.  Mister Data, have Weapons load the Bridge 

	logs into a disarmed photon torpedo and launch it

	in the direction of Starbase 197.  Include a 

	warning about the Xin."



		"Torpedo away, sir," replied Data after 

	a brief pause.  "You do of course realize that it

	will not arrive at Starbase 197 for over eight

	months."



		"It's the best we can do with no 

	Communications.  How long until we have full phaser 
  Page 17



	power?" asked Picard.



		Data's board beeped and he reported, "We

	now have full phaser power."



		"Mister Data, arm all photon torpedoes and

	prepare to fire all phaser banks simultaneously on

	my command."



		But before the order could be given, the

	Enterprise rocked under another barrage from the 

	Xin ship.  Warning lights began flashing at all

	Bridge stations and the Bridge lights flickered.



		"Captain, our shields are down to 38%.  

	We cannot withstand another hit of such strength,"

	reported Data.



		"Thank you, Mister Data.  Damage report,

	Mister Worf."



		"Minor damage to most systems.  Warp drive

	is irreparable.  Shield control damaged.  The hull

	has begun to rupture along the edges of the damage

	that Q caused.  There are four dead and twenty

	people injured," reported Worf.  "Doctor Pulaski

	is on her way with a medical team.  More technicians

	are enroute to repair the damage."
  Page 18





		"Let's give the Xin something to think

	about.  Fire phasers and ten rapid fire photon 

	torpedoes.  Geordi, what shape are the engines in?"



		"I'm afraid the Warp engines are gone and 

	impulse power is in nearly the same shape.  Our

	maximum speed now is one half impulse power and

	that's pushing it."



		The viewscreen lit up with the combined

	flare of phasers striking home and the detonation

	of ten photon torpedoes.  When the pyrotechnics 

	dissipated, the Xin ship was still there, unharmed.



		"Captain, they are preparing to fire 

	again," warned Data.



		"Divert all power to shields.  Mister

	LaForge, prepare to drop the containment field on

	the matter/antimatter intermix chamber.  Commander,

	get down to the battle bridge in the stardrive

	section and set a course that will take it directly 

	into the Xin ship.  Mister Worf, advise all personnel

	in the secondary hull to evacuate to the saucer 

	section immediately."



		As everyone went about their assigned 
  Page 19



	duties, the Enterprise shook again.



		"Our shields are gone, Captain.  We are

	now defenseless," reported Data.



		"Picard to Riker.  You'd better hurry,

	Number One.  We are out of options."



		"Almost finished.  Separate the ship and 

	beam me over on my signal."



		"Did you hear that, Chief O'Brien?"



		"Aye, Captain.  Transporters are ready.  

	When you give the word, I'll lock on to all life-

	signs in the engineering hull and beam them over."



		"Do it.  Use the cargo transporters if you

	have to,  I don't want to lose any more of my crew.

	Energize!  Mister Data, disengage locking clamps

	and power up the impulse engines on the rear of 

	the saucer," and tapping his combadge he said,

	"Number One, you're out of time."



		"Done, Captain.  Ready to beam over."



		"Mister O'Brien, how many people left in 

	the secondary hull?"
  Page 20





		"Only Commander Riker.  I'll beam him

	directly to the Bridge."



		"Thank you, Mister O'Brien.  Picard out."



		With a high whine, a tall blue column of 

	light appeared and slowly coalesced into the form

	of Commander Riker.



		"Captain, the Xin captain again orders us

	to surrender," reported Worf.



		"Ignore him, Lieutenant.  Mister Data, 

	secure for saucer separation.  Activate the 

	secondary hull's course programming once the 

	saucer is free," ordered Picard.



		Slowly, majestically, the Enterprise's

	saucer section lifted up and away from the neck of

	the engineering hull.  The impulse engines activated

	and the saucer section began to move away from the

	Xin ship.  The secondary hull turned and headed 

	directly for it.



		By this time, Geordi LaForge had rushed 

	out of the Turbolift to the Engineering station

	on the Bridge.  "Transferring Engineering to the
  Page 21



	Bridge.  Ready to drop matter/antimatter shielding

	on your command."



		"Much as I hate to say this, detonate,

	Mister LaForge, for the sake of the Federation,"

	ordered Picard.



		As the engineering hull neared the Xin 

	ship, Picard said, "Damn that Q.  If we were at

	full strength we might have had a chance!"



		The engineering hull blossomed into a 

	gigantic explosion as the full fury of a matter/anti-matter

	explosion was vented on the Xin ship.


  Page 22



			Chapter 2


		The blast from the Engineering hull bloomed

	yellow and orange against the blackness of the 

	surrounding space.  Blossomed and -- stopped.  The explosion

	just hung there in space.



		"Captain, I cannot explain it, but all

	chronometers have stopped," reported Data.



		"Captain, I sense a presence," said Deanna

	Troi, who had been silent during the entire encounter

	with the Xin.  "It is not so much malevolent as

	mischievous."



		"No, it couldn't be...Not so soon after

	last time.  It's just not possible," said Picard.



		"And why not, Jean-Luc?  I've grown quite

	accustomed to bailing you out of trouble," said

	a man in Vulcan religious robes.  He had just

	appeared between Wesley Crusher's and Lieutenant

	Commander Data's control consoles.



		All of the Bridge Crew recognized him

	instantly and groaned in unison "Q!"  Everyone

	except Worf, who just growled fiercely.

		"What, you're not happy to see me?"

  Page 23




		"Why should we be, Q.  You've done nothing

	but taunt us since we first encountered you!"

	shouted Picard.  By now, it was all Picard could

	do to sit up straight in his chair.



		"Yeah, why don't you get lost?" added

	Riker.



		Worf's growl turned into a roar as he 

	launched himself from the Bridge's upper level.

	A phaser appeared in his hand.  He landed in a 

	crouch between Picard and Q and raised his phaser 

	to fire.  An incandescent blue light erupted from

	the phaser's muzzle and struck Q.  The beam hit Q

	full in the chest, causing his body to be enveloped

	in a brilliant halo.



		"Really, Worf, haven't you learned anything

	from our past encounters?  You know that won't work.

	In fact, I'm insulted that I don't rate higher than

	heavy stun."  With a flick of his finger, more for

	effect than because it was required, Q sent Worf's

	phaser blast arcing back to its source.  The 

	phaser couldn't handle the added energy so it

	overloaded, sending Worf flying across the Bridge

	to smash into the wall next to the Turbolift,

	unconscious.

  Page 24




		"Really, mon capitan, I expected anger

	from Worf, but not from you.  And you, Will.  I'm

	omnipotent, I can't get lost."



		From behind him, Q could sense rapid

	movement from Data's station.



		"And just what do you think you're doing,

	android?  You of all peop-, uh, beings should know

	that nothing you do can effect me," said Q.



		"I was merely summoning Dr. Pulaski from

	Sickbay to attend to Lieutenant Worf," replied

	Data.



		"Come now, Data, I find you and your

	friends too amusing to allow you to be seriously

	injured.  Worf will be all right, but you'd better

	summon the good doctor anyway.  Your captain looks

	ill.  Probably overexcitement at seeing me or else

	the accumulated nausea of seeing Worf everyday for

	the past two years.  Take your pick."



		Picard had by now lost a lot of blood from

	his head wound and was looking paler.  He had been

	trying not to show how weak he felt but it wasn't

	working very well.  He rose shakily to his feet 

  Page 25


	and confronted Q.



		"I have had about enough of you and your

	insults, Q," Picard said in a low, dangerous

	whisper.  "Surely, you in your INFINITE wisdom can

	find something better to do than annoy me and my 

	crew."



		"Okay, Picard, have it your way.  I'll 

	just go blow up some stars or something.  I'm sure

	the inhabitants of the orbiting planets won't 

	mind.  I'll tell them Jean-Luc Picard sent me."

	And Q started to disappear in a column of rainbow

	sparkles, an obvious exaggeration of the Enterprise

	transporters.



		"Wait!  Stop, Q!  I already have twenty 

	two deaths on my conscience because of you, I

	don't need any more," Picard yelled.



		"Oh, how quaint.  I do believe that you're

	jealous.  You don't want me to play with anyone

	else but you."



		"It's not that, Q.  Obviously you're here

	for some reason and I'd like to know what it is."



		"Very well.  I've come to stop you from

  Page 26


	making a terrible mistake.  If you look at the

	viewscreen very carefully, you'll see that the Xin

	ship was not destroyed.  All the pyrotechnics 

	you've been throwing around have just made them 

	mad," explained Q.  "And one of you science types,

	especially the android or the boy," he said 

	indicating Data and Wesley Crusher, "should have

	realized that since the ship is crystalline in

	nature,  any energy you expend on it is magnified

	and stored until it is needed.  The Xin captain

	lied, Picard.  This is no mere specimen collecting

	mission, but an advanced raiding scout.  Even now,

	a fleet of over five hundred Xin ships is massing

	at the edge of Federation space.  This brings me

	to the reason for my visit.  I will help you

	defeat the Xin."



		"Why?  Why help us?  Every time you appear,

	you torment us," said Riker.



		"Because, if the Xin take over the galaxy,

	most of Starfleet will be destroyed in the battle.

	That includes the Enterprise.  I've grown quite 

	fond of you.  I like visiting with you.  Besides,

	I, too, hate to see the Enterprise in pieces.  It

	just doesn't seem right somehow.  I will restore 

	the Enterprise if you promise to allow me to help

	you defeat the Xin."

  Page 27




		At this point, Captain Picard, who had 

	been looking worse by the second, collapsed into 

	a heap on the floor at Troi's feet.  All of the

	Bridge Crew, those who were still conscious at 

	least, rushed to the Captain's side.



		"Look's like you're finally first in 

	command, Number One," laughed Q.  "I've disabled

	the Turbolift carrying Dr. Pulaski and cut the 

	Bridge off from the rest of the ship.  Your

	captain will die soon.  Agree to my terms and I'll

	let the doctor save the Captain and I'll tell you

	how to defeat the Xin.  Do we have a deal, Riker?"



		"Yes, though I'll probably regret this, 

	damn it, but yes, I agree," said Riker, reluctantly.



		"I knew you'd see it my way.  Okay, I'm a

	being of my word.  Zap!"  With a flash, all the

	Bridge personnel except Worf and Picard were

	returned instantaneously to their proper stations.

	In addition, Dr. Pulaski appeared in the center 

	of the Bridge, fists raised as if pounding on 

	something.  "Let me out--What?  Not you again, Q?"



		"Just attend to your Captain, if you 

	please, Doctor, so that we may get on with our

  Page 28


	business."



		"Excuse me, Commander, but my control 

	panel indicates that we have warp power available

	to us, even though the secondary hull was

	destroyed," reported Data.



		"How is that possible, Data?" asked 

	Wesley.



		"Simple, I undestroyed it.  Matter is so

	easy to manipulate if you know how.  Don't worry,

	the Enterprise is now fully repaired.  No hull 

	stress, nothing," explained Q.



		"Q, we must get the Captain to Sickbay

	immediately.  If we don't act now, he will die,"

	said Pulaski urgently.



		"Oh, I don't think so, Doctor.  I have

	faith in you.  But if you insist."  With a wave

	of his hand, Q made Picard and Pulaski disappear.



		"What have you done with them, Q?" asked

	Deanna.



		"Yes, where are they, and what about 

	Worf?" Riker queried.

  Page 29




		"Why, they're in Sickbay, of course.  And

	as for Worf, he's thick skulled.  He'll survive.

	Besides, I like him better this way.  The mighty

	warrior, reduced to a helpless pile of flesh.

	Still, to earn your trust, I guess I'll have to 

	remove him to Sickbay, as well."  



		Worf vanished.



		"There.  Satisfied?"



		"No, but I guess I'll have to live with 

	it," said Riker.



		"Yes, you do, don't you," said Q.



		"Alright, Q, what do we have to do now?

	You've humiliated all of us on many occasions.

	Just tell us what comes next."



		By this time Riker was standing toe-to-toe

	with Q and staring him straight in the face.



		"Patience, my son," said Q, now dressed 

	in the raiments of a priest from Old Earth.  "All

	shall be revealed in the Good Lord's (mine 

	actually) own time." 

  Page 30




		In a flash, Q was clothed in the garb of a

	big game hunter from Ancient Earth's African

	continent.



		"I propose a great hunt for a rare,

	magnificent beast.  One the Universe has not seen

	the likes of for over half a century."



		"Enough with the fashion show, Q.  Out

	with it!  What do we have to do to save the

	Federation?" Riker shouted.



		"Temper, temper.  All right, since you

	insist on the truth, here it is.  Fifty three 

	years ago, the last of a race of giant energy 

	absorbing creatures died.  They were similar in

	nature to the probe that nearly destroyed Earth

	around Stardate 8000.  I'm sure you have a record

	of it in your memory banks.  You must capture one

	of these creatures and use it to attack the Xin 

	ships.  It's really not so hard, now is it?"



		"Hold it, Q.  If these creatures have been

	extinct for fifty three years, how are we supposed 

	to capture one?" asked Riker.



		"Obviously, you must go back in time and

  Page 31


	bring one back to the present.  Come on, Will,

	use the brain all non-Klingon Starfleet officers

	are supposed to have."



		"Q, I admit that on rare occasions, time

	travel has been successfully achieved, but never

	with a ship the size of the Enterprise.  Our 

	chance of success is only one in six million,

	three hundred forty five thousand, eight hundred

	sixty three," analyzed Data.



		"I know of no way, short of a miracle,

	that we could even have a hope of success,"

	protested Wes.



		"That's where I come in," said Q.  "Just

	as with the Borg, you need me.  I will handle all

	time travel.  You need only concern yourselves with

	hunting down and capturing the creature.  That seems

	a fair division of labor.  Very equitable, I think,"

	said Q.



		"If I agree, will you give us time to

	prepare?" asked Riker.



		"Of course, as much time as you need.

	Just remember, time is stopped only locally.  The

	Xin fleet is still gathering.  Your time is running

  Page 32


	out.  Decide, Riker!"



		"Alright, Q.  I agree, God help me, but I

	must agree," declared Riker.



		"Fine.  Call me when you're ready and we

	can get to work," said Q, fading away.



		"You heard him.  Let's get to work," said

	Riker.



		Behind him, on the viewscreen, the explosion

	had disappeared when the Enterprise was reconstituted

	and the Xin ship could be seen clearly.  Slowly,

	imperceptibly, and unnoticed by the crew, it moved.

	Just a meter, but it moved nonetheless.


  Page 33



			CHAPTER 3

		Captain's Log - Stardate 8051.2

		The Enterprise has just completed a mission
	taking her dangerously deep into Klingon space. 
	Due to the delicacy of the mission, the details
	must remain classified.  Commendations to all crew
	members, especially Commanders Sulu, Chekov, and
	Scott, Captain Spock, and Doctor McCoy for bravery
	in the face of life-threatening danger during a
	beam-down mission.  These commendations will be
	forwarded to Starfleet Command upon our arrival at
	Starbase 43 for debriefing.



		"Captain, nearing the edge of Federation

	space," reported Commander Sulu.



		"Mister Chekov, any pursuers?"



		"No, Keptin.  Sensors detect no wessels 

	following us out of Klingon space," reported the

	Russian navigator.



		"Kirk to Engineering.  Scotty, are you 

	there?" asked Kirk, depressing the intraship

	communications switch on the arm of his command

	chair.



		"Aye, I'm here," replied the burly Scotsman.

	In the background, Kirk could hear the deep, 

	rhythmic pulsations of the Warp engines. 



		"What shape are the engines in, Scotty?

  Page 34


	Did they sustain much damage?  They did take a

	lot of punishment."



		"Don't ye worry, sir.  Between you and the

	Klingons, they've been takin' quite a poundin'

	lately, but they're a lot tougher than I make out.

	They'll work at their usual 110%, just like always."



		"That's good to hear, Mr. Scott.  Kirk out.

	Anyone have anything to report?"  Kirk asked the 

	Bridge Crew.  When no one answered, he said

	"I'll be down in Sickbay if you need me.  You have

	the Bridge, Spock."



		Kirk entered the Turbolift as Spock left

	his Science Station and sat in the center seat.



		"Sickbay," Kirk said as the Turbolift doors

	closed behind him.  The Turbolift moved both

	horizontally and vertically in order to reach

	Sickbay.  At one point, his Turbolift car had to

	pause for a few seconds in order to avoid a 

	collision with another car.



		When he finally left the Turbolift, he

	walked slowly to Sickbay.  As the doors slid open,

	he heard Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy say

	"Dammit!  Every time things calm down and I try to

  Page 35


	get my equipment operating properly, Jim goes and

	tries to get us killed!"



		"Problems, Doctor?" Kirk asked.



		"Hell yes, Jim!  We're none of us getting

	any younger, of course we won't get any older if 

	you don't calm down!  You're not a Captain any more.

	Go back to your job with Starfleet Intelligence.  

	As your doctor and your friend,  I'm telling you

	to --"



		"Bones, calm down.  What's this all 

	about?"



		"I'm sorry, Jim.  It's just that I lost 

	five patients,  all of them fresh out of the 

	Academy."



		"Bones, it's not your fault.  They were in

	pretty rough shape to begin with.  They never

	should have tried to complete the mission on their

	own.  We were too busy to notice their departure.

	Next thing I knew, they were in a crossfire between

	us and the Klingons.  We were lucky to beam them

	aboard just before the shuttlecraft exploded.

	They were pretty far gone when they were brought

	back.  Don't blame yourself," said Kirk

  Page 36


	sympathetically.



		"I just can't believe that, Jim.  I'm a

	doctor.  I should have been able to save them."



		"Bones, listen to yourself.  You've never

	been like this before.  Remember, like you would

	say, you're a doctor, not a miracle worker.  Have

	a drink to calm down.  My job is harder.  I have 

	to tell their families why their sons and daughters

	aren't coming home."



		"Jim, a drink won't change anything.  And

	you think your job's tough?  I have to live with

	the fact that they might have been saved if I 

	could have begun treating them 30 seconds sooner.

	If you don't mind, Jim, I'd like to work through 

	this by myself."



		"Of course, Bones.  I'll be in my 

	quarters."



		"Jim, before you go -- I'm sorry I snapped

	at you.  It wasn't really anyone's fault.  I just

	need time to convince myself of that fact."



		"I understand, Bones," said Kirk, who left

	Sickbay feeling very depressed.  He entered the

  Page 37


	Turbolift at the end of the corridor and said,

	"Captain's quarters."



		The Turbolift went up and over from G deck

	to E deck.  As Kirk entered his quarters, the ship

	shook violently.  Kirk ran to the communications

	panel on the wall and anxiously asked, "Kirk to

	Bridge.  Spock, what's going on?"



		"My apologies, Captain, but our navigational

	deflector was damaged.  A small meteor came too 

	close to ensure that we would miss it.  I ordered

	Commander Chekov to destroy it with a photon 

	torpedo as it was too close to use the phasers.

	Fortunately, the shields came up in time to absorb

	the majority of the blast.  No damage to the 

	Enterprise occurred," reported the Vulcan First

	Officer in his typically emotionless voice.



		"Be careful, Spock.  McCoy's on the

	warpath.  Any more incidents like this and he's

	liable to lead a mutiny and force us all to walk

	the plank," Kirk said, laughter in his voice.



		"Captain, could you please explain your 

	last remark.  I do not think such a revolution

	would be successful and I see no significance in 

	Doctor McCoy's forcing us to walk along narrow

  Page 38


	pieces of wood," Spock said in a tone approaching

	confusion.  



		"Never mind, Spock, never mind.  Kirk 

	out," said Jim, closing the channel.

		"I've got to find a way to make him loosen

	up.  A project I'll give Bones when he's feeling 

	up to it," he thought to himself.



		Kirk took off his red uniform shirt and 

	slung it over a chair.  He sat down on his bed,

	rubbing both hands over his eyes.  Jim Kirk 

	realized that he was more tired than he had

	thought.  He lay down and after awhile fell into

	a troubled sleep, haunted by the faces of the 

	five dead cadets.  He felt guilty over their loss,

	too.  For an hour he tossed and turned then settled

	down into a peaceful slumber.






		"Bridge to Captain Kirk.  Bridge to Captain

	Kirk."  Uhura's voice woke him from a deep sleep.



		"Kirk here," he answered groggily.  "What

	is it, Uhura?"



		"Sorry to wake you, Captain, but I have a

	message for you from Starfleet Command."
  Page 39





		Kirk walked over to his personal viewscreen

	and was welcomed by the words "Starfleet Command -

	Highest Priority" superimposed over the United 

	Federation of Planets insignia.



		"Computer, this is Kirk, Admiral James T."



		"Voice pattern match.  Prepare for retina

	scan," said the female voice of the ship's computer.

	A circle of white light lit up Kirk's right eye.

	After a few seconds the computer said "Identity

	confirmed."



		The computer terminal's viewscreen changed

	to show Admiral Nogura, supreme head of Starfleet.

	"Admiral Kirk, I have some good news for you.

	Please sit down, as this may come as a shock to you.

		"Firstly, the Enterprise is to return to

	Earth immediately, where she will repaired and 

	become a training vessel for Academy cadets.

		"Secondly, you will be reinstated as head

	of Starfleet Intelligence with the same powers and

	responsibilities you had before the V'GER incident.

		"Thirdly, inform Commander Pavel Chekov

	that he has been assigned to the Reliant, where he

	will be the Science/First Officer.

		"Lastly, the rest of your Bridge staff will
  Page 40



	become instructors at the Academy because of their 

	wealth of experiences under your command.

		"Please inform your crew.   Congratulations,

	Admiral.  Nogura out."



		The viewscreen went blank, but Kirk sat

	there.  He stared, disbelieving, at the viewscreen.

	Kirk was unable to accept the reality of Nogura's

	orders, even though they came from a man second 

	only to God as far as most people were concerned.



		It was thirty minutes later that he 

	arrived on the Bridge.  Spock vacated the command

	chair and reported "All systems running normally."



		"Thank you, Spock," Kirk said flatly as he

	sat down heavily in the center seat.



		"Is something troubling you, Captain?" 

	Spock asked.



		"That obvious is it?  I had hoped to tell 

	you this later, but as long as you're all here...

	That message was from Admiral Nogura.  This will

	be our last mission together."



		Everyone on the Bridge was startled and

	showed it.  Most by gasping, but Spock very 
  Page 41



	eloquently raised an eyebrow sharply.



		"Let me explain.  I am resuming my post

	as head of Starfleet Intelligence.  The rest of

	you, including Mr. Scott and Dr.McCoy will be 

	instructors at Starfleet Academy.  The Enterprise

	herself will be used as a training ship for 

	Starfleet cadets," explained Kirk.



		Kirk rose from his chair and walked

	around in front of Chekov's control station.

	"Congratulations, Pavel.  You are the new science

	officer and second-in-command on the Reliant.

	You'll be serving under Captain Terrell."



		"You mean it, Keptin?"



		"Yes, Chekov, I mean it."  Returning to

	his command chair, he said, "These orders take

	effect immediately upon our return to Earth.

	Uhura, please inform Scotty.  I'll talk to the

	good doctor myself."



		Everyone waited until the end of the duty 

	shift to congratulate each other.  Once off-duty,

	Kirk went down to Sickbay to talk to McCoy.  As he

	walked through the doors, Kirk called, "Bones,

	it's Jim.  Where are you?"
  Page 42





		"I'm in my office, Jim.  Come on in."



		Jim stood in the threshold and asked "Is

	it okay to come in or do I need to call Security

	for a bodyguard?"



		"Everything's fine.  Sit down and have a 

	drink."


		As McCoy poured himself a glass of blue

	Romulan ale, illegal in the Federation, Kirk said,

	"You certainly sound better, Bones."



		"All it took was a look through my records,

	Jim."



		"I don't follow you."



		"I saw the list of all the people I'd 

	saved while on the Enterprise.  The list was so

	long, I lost count.  Then I looked at the list of

	people who died under my care.  It didn't even fill

	up one screen on the computer.  I must be doing 

	something right, Jim."



		"I'm glad you have high spirits.  You'll 

	need them once I've told you our new orders."

  Page 43


	And Kirk told him.



		McCoy was outraged.  "They can't do that,

	Jim.  You're the best damn captain in Starfleet.

	Reinstating your command of the Enterprise was the

	best thing they ever did."



		"But you said--"



		"I know what I said, but I didn't really

	mean it.  I was 'letting my human emotions get the

	best of me.'"  He said the last sentence in a 

	toneless voice, one eyebrow raised.  This brought

	a smile to Kirk's face.  



		"I hope you're going to fight this, Jim.

	I'll make a recommendation in my Medical Log if 

	you think it'll help.  I can say that a desk job 

	would be detrimental to your physical and mental 

	health."



		"Thanks, Bones, but there's no way to 

	fight Nogura and win.  He IS Starfleet, after

	all."



		"I guess you're right, Jim.  I don't 

	like it, that's all."



  Page 44


		"You're still mad at him for forcing you

	out of retirement."  By now, Kirk had finished 

	his drink so he bid McCoy good night and went back

	to his quarters.  He cleaned up his breakfast 

	dishes and ate dinner.  When he was done, he 

	worked on some of the paperwork involved with

	commanding a starship.  Funny, he thought, that in

	this day and age of computer tablets, it's still 

	called paperwork, even though no paper is involved.



		Kirk worked for a couple of hours, until

	his vision started to blur.  He noticed that he 

	was only about half done.



		"Maybe Bones was right," he said to 

	himself.  "Maybe I am getting old.  Used to be,

	I could get through a pile of paperwork this size

	in one night.  Oh well, there's always tomorrow."



		He rose slowly and began getting ready for

	bed.  Then he sat on the edge of his bed and 

	thought about his experiences aboard the Enterprise.

	Countless battles with the Klingons and Romulans.  

	The discovery of Khan after centuries adrift in 

	space.  First peaceful contact with the Horta and

	the Fifth Empire.  Redjac.  The salt vampire.  

	Harcourt Fenton Mudd.  The Gorn.  Tribbles.  V'Ger.



  Page 45


		He'd had a full career, boldly going 

	where no man had gone before, but it was all over

	now.



		He called up to the Bridge but nothing had

	changed, so he went to bed.  For the second night,

	his sleep was troubled, this time by a nightmare.

	Admiral Nogura was laughing at him.  Then he 

	dissipated and coalesced into Redjac and enveloped

	Kirk in a bright red mist.  Kirk collapsed to the 

	ground and Redjac became a single tribble which 

	fell on his chest and began reproducing.  Soon he

	was buried under an infinite number of tribbles, 

	their ever increasing weight pushing him deeper 

	into the ground, suffocating.



		Kirk awoke in a cold sweat to find himself

	tangled tightly in his blankets.  He unwrapped 

	himself and went over to his mirror.  He looked 

	terrible, his face pale and covered in sweat.  He  

	knew immediately that retirement from the command 

	of a starship would not agree with him.



		Kirk went back and lay down, staring at the

	ceiling above his bed.  Other than his vast 

	experience, he could see no reason that he should

	remain in command of the Enterprise.  Besides, 

	Nogura would say that that experience was why he

  Page 46


	should head Starfleet Intelligence.  Eventually

	he fell into a half-sleep.



		The red alert klaxon brought him abruptly

	awake.  He hurriedly dressed and ran for the 

	Turbolift.  He burst onto the Bridge and Spock

	immediately filled him in.



		"Captain, Starfleet has picked up an 

	intruder well within Federation space, headed

	for Klingon territory.  Starships of the 

	Enterprise and Reliant classes are giving chase.

	We, also, have been ordered to intercept.  Our

	course is laid in and we are awaiting your command

	to initiate pursuit," reported the Vulcan.



		"By all means.  Mister Sulu, maximum warp.

	Make any necessary course changes to intercept the

	intruder."



		"Aye, sir.  Accelerating to Warp 12,"

	replied Sulu.



		"Kirk to Engineering.  Scotty, can the 

	engines maintain Warp 12 for any length of time?"



		"Scott here.  Yes, sir.  The engines will

	be able to take it."

  Page 47




		"Thanks, Scotty.  Kirk out."



		For hours the Enterprise gave chase, Uhura

	relaying sensor readings from the other pursuit 

	ships to Sulu, who made the appropriate course

	changes.  Finally Uhura reported, "Captain, the 

	other ships report that they have lost track of

	the intruder."



		"Do not be alarmed, Captain," spoke up

	Spock.  "The intruder is now within our sensor

	range.  The vessel has slowed to a stop.

	Scanning.  There are over 1,000 lifesigns aboard,

	predominately human, but many Vulcans.  

	Fascinating."



		"What is it, Spock?"



		"There is at least one Klingon aboard."



		"Not Klingons again.  We just got through

	dealing with the Klingons.  Scan their energy 

	levels and weapons systems."



		"Jim, their power levels are so high that

	they don't register on my scanners.  As for 

	weapons systems, they outgun us nearly thirty to

  Page 48


	one.  In addition, their ship is of a design    

	similar to ours, but eight times our mass.  A

	confrontation would not be advisable."



		"Thank you, Spock.  Recommendation noted.

	Mister Sulu, bring us out of Warp when we're in

	visual range.  Mister Chekov, as soon as we drop 

	out of Warp put out shields and deflectors at

	maximum."



		"Aye, sir," both helmsman and weapons 

	officer acknowledged in unison.



		As the Enterprise dropped out of Warp,

	the stars on the viewscreen shortened from streaks 

	to pinpoints of light.  In the center of the 

	viewscreen sat an alien vessel that bore an uncanny

	resemblance to the Enterprise.  It looked as if 

	someone had taken Kirk's ship, enlarged it to

	four times the height and twice the length and 

	then squished the saucer, engeneering section, and

	engine nacelles flat.



		"Commander Uhura, open hailing frequencies,

	visual communication."



		"Frequencies open, Captain."



  Page 49


		"This is Admiral James T. Kirk commanding 

	the United Starship Enterprise.  Intruder, please

	identify yourself within five minutes or we will

	open fire with all weapons."


  Page 50



			Chapter 4

	Captain's Log - Stardate 42767.3
		First Officer William T. Riker reporting

		Since Q's departure, all crew member's in
	all departments have been working around the clock,
	checking all Enterprise systems for any defects 
	left when Q reintegrated the secondary hull.  So
	far, none have been found.  The checks must be
	completed soon.  The Xin ship we've confronted
	has moved over forty meters since Q left and is
	picking up speed.  Lieutenant Commander Data has
	been researching the probe Q spoke of and has 
	nothing to report as yet.
		Captain Picard has slipped into a coma.
	But there is good news.  Lieutenant Worf has
	recovered and is back on duty.



		"Commander, I have completed the research

	you ordered.  Details concerning the probe itself

	are sketchy, as the probe rendered all technology

	within range powerless.  Upon reaching Earth, the 

	probe sent powerful signals into the oceans, trying

	to communicate with Earth's whale population.  As

	the whales had been hunted to extinction two 

	centuries earlier, the officers of the original 

	Enterprise went back in time to the late 20th

	century.  Two whales were brought back to the 23rd

	century.  The probe communicated with the whales 

	and left Earth, restoring power to all stations and

	vehicles it had rendered powerless.  No subsequent

	contact with the probe or its creators has occurred.

		"I hope this information is sufficient, 

	sir," said Data.



  Page 51


		"More than sufficient, Data.  Thank you.

	Mister Worf, have all stations reported ready yet?"

	asked Riker.



		"Yes, Commander.  There is no measurable

	effect of the Enterprise's destruction and

	reassembly."



		"Then we're almost ready.  Riker to 

	Sickbay," he said, tapping his combadge.  "Has the

	Captain's condition changed?"



		"Pulaski here.  I'm sorry, Commander.  His

	lifesigns remain strong but he's still comatose.

	I will notify you of any changes, though."



		"Thank you, Doctor.  Riker out.

		"Bridge to LaForge.  We're ready to go,

	Geordi.  Can you transfer Engineering control to

	the Bridge and join us up here?"



		"I'm on my way.  I don't trust Q with the 

	Enterprise and I'd like to be where I can see him,

	not that it matters with someone of his raw power,"

	said Geordi.



		"I'm sure everyone shares your sentiments,

	Geordi.   Riker out.

  Page 52


		"Mister Crusher, what's the problem?" asked

	Riker.



		Wes had been involved in a whispered 

	discussion with Data for several minutes.



		"It's nothing, Commander.  I'm just nervous

	about letting Q try something as tricky as time   

	travel with the Enterprise," said Wesley.



		"There's nothing we could do about it even

	if we didn't want Q to send us back through time.

	He's just too strong.  Besides we have no choice.

	The survival of the Federation rests with us.  The

	outcome of this mission determines the future of 

	the galaxy," explained Riker.

		"Deanna, what feelings do you get from the

	crew?  How do they feel about this mission?"

	Riker had told the crew what they were doing and

	why and now wondered if he had made the right

	decision.



		"The crew are fearful of such a great 

	undertaking, but that is understandable.  They have

	confidence in the Bridge personnel and in them-

	selves," said the ship's counselor.



		"In that case, I guess we can call --"

  Page 53




		There was a flash of light and everyone

	on the Bridge finished Riker's sentence for him:

	"Q!"



		"Always punctual, at least when it suits

	me.  Now, shall we begin?  Very well.  I have

	modified the warp nacelles to facilitate time

	travel.  

		"Don't worry, Mr. LaForge," said Q, 

	anticipating the Chief Engineer's protest, "they

	will function normally as long as you follow my

	instructions.  Listen carefully."



		With a flash, a large toggle switch 

	appeared in the center of Worf's control board.



		"I'll explain it so that even you can

	understand it, Klingon."  A growl emanated from

	deep within Worf's throat.  "In order to travel

	through time, the Enterprise must achieve Warp 8.8.

	Then simply pull the switch back to travel back-

	wards through time.  You will automatically stop

	somewhere near the middle of the 23rd century.

	Once you have captured the creature in a tractor

	beam, simply accelerate to Warp 8.8 and push the 

	switch forward to return to the present.

		"And now I bid you adieu."  So saying, Q

  Page 54


	vanished.



		"Let's get started, people.  Geordi, Data,

	gradually bring our speed up to Warp 8.8.  Worf,

	pull the switch on my signal.  Mister Crusher,

	plot a course to the creatures' most probable

	location, using 23rd century starcharts."

		"Mister Worf, shipwide communications.

	This is First Officer William T. Riker speaking 

	for Captain Jean-Luc Picard.  We are about to 

	attempt time travel.  Hang on, I don't have to tell

	you how dangerous this is.  Riker out."

		"Mister Data, what's our speed?" asked

	Riker.



		"Warp 4.5 and increasing."



		"Commander, I don't know if the tractor 

	beam can handle the stress of moving something at

	Warp 8.8.  It could overload or rip the Enterprise

	apart," worried Geordi.



		"We'll worry about that when we get that 

	far.  Mister Data, our speed?"



		"Warp 7 and accelerating," replied Data.



		"Keep me informed in one-tenth Warp

  Page 55


	intervals once we reach Warp 8," said Riker.



		"Warp 8 ... Warp 8.1 ... Warp 8.2 ...

	Warp 8.3 ... 8.4 ... 8.5 ... 8.6 ... 8.7 ...

	Warp 8.8"



		"Worf, the switch!" shouted Riker.



		Worf slammed the switch to the rear position

	and nothing happened, at least on board the 

	Enterprise.  Outside, however, the Enterprise 

	shimmered amid a ball of coruscating blue 

	lightning streaks and vanished.  All Enterprise

	systems continued to function normally except for

	the chronometers, which ran backwards.



		"Mister Data, what's going on?  I sense no

	change in our movement," said Riker.



		"Unknown, sir, but the chronometers are

	running backwards.  Stardate 20000 and decreasing.

	Our velocity is constant at Warp 8.8."



		"Any damage to report, Mister Worf?"



		"None, Commander.  It would appear that Q

	knows what he's doing.  But why use technology to

	send us back?  Why not just wave his hand or snap

  Page 56


	his fingers?  I do not trust him."



		"I don't know, Worf.  Maybe he just wants

	to show us how 'inferior' our technology is.

	Perhaps he's not truly omnipotent.  Q is an enigma,

	we'll probably never know for sure," said Riker.



		"Commander Riker?"



		"Yes, Data, what is it?"



		"We are at Stardate 8053.1, traveling at

	one-half impulse power."



		"Thank you, Mister Data.  Now what?  Where

	do we go to find the creature?"



		"Q fed a course into the navcomp before he

	left.  It will take us to the Vexis Corinhi 

	system," spoke up Wes.



		"The star went supernova on Stardate 33071,

	destroying all planets in the system," added Data.



		"Well, unless someone has a better idea,

	engage course at Warp 5.  Mister Data, ETA to the

	Corinhi system?" asked Riker.



  Page 57


		"16.7 hours at present speed."



		"Mister Worf, any transmissions?"



		"I'm picking up various subspace messages.

	It appears that we are nearing the edge of 23rd 

	century Federation space.  Many of the trans-

	missions concern an energy surge at the location

	where we entered this time zone.  All available

	ships have been sent to investigate."



		"Specifically, what are their orders?" asked

	Riker.



		"They are under orders to investigate and 

	return to their assigned patrol areas.  It appears 

	that tensions are escalating between the Federation

	and the ... Klingons?!"  He shouted the last word

	in disbelief.



		"Lieutenant Worf, the peace treaty between

	the Federation and the Klingon Empire was not 

	signed until 20 years before we left, or over 50

	years into the future, using this time as a 

	referent," explained Data.



		"I'm sorry, I had forgotten," rumbled the

	Klingon by way of apology.

  Page 58




		"Don't worry about it.  How many ships,

	Worf?  What classes do they represent?" asked Riker.



		"There are 10 ships, maybe more.  Some are

	still beyond sensor range.  Most of the ships in

	range are from the original Enterprise class.

	There are a few Reliant class vessels as well,"

	reported Worf.



		"Mister Crusher, evasive action.  We most

	avoid contact with those ships at all costs or

	risk changing the future."

		"Mister Data, call up the schematics on the

	main viewer.  Let's see what we're up against," 

	said Riker.



		The first schematic appeared on the main 

	viewscreen almost immediately after Data reached 

	Science Station 1 at the rear of the raised Bridge.

	It showed the standard top, front, and side views,

	with important areas marked.  This particular

	schematic was of an Enterprise class vessel.  It

	showed a large saucer section connected to the 

	Engineering hull by a thin neck.  The two warp

	engine struts jutted out at a 45 degree angle 

	from amidships.  The long warp nacelles themselves

	sat higher than the exposed bridge in the center

  Page 59


	of the saucer section.  The nacelles seemed 

	extremely vulnerable compared to the design of the

	Galaxy class starships, whose short warp nacelles

	were slung lower to the Engineering hull, tucked

	away beneath the saucer.



		"As you can see, Commander, these ships

	are vulnerable compared to us.  The shields are not

	strong enough to defend against a sustained attack.

	Despite the fact that these ships have what was for

	this time state-of-the-art Leeding FWG-1 engines,

	their maximum sake speed is equivalent to our Warp

	1.65," explained Data.



		The Enterprise class starship was replaced

	by a Reliant class vessel.  It consisted of a

	saucer section with Warp nacelles slung under-

	neath on very short engine struts.  The Bridge 

	was on top of the saucer section.



		"The design is more compact.  As with the

	Enterprise class, the impulse engines on the rear 

	of the saucer are only slightly less vulnerable 

	than the Bridge and Warp nacelles.  Also, the 

	photon torpedo array on the top rear of the saucer

	is always open to attack.  As with the Enterprise 

	class, this design has a top speed of Warp 1.65, in

	terms of our UltraWarp capabilities."

  Page 60


		"Avoiding these ships should not be 

	difficult," finished Data.



		"Thank you, Lieutenant.  Worf, are there 

	any ships following us?"



		"Yes, Commander," Worf answered as Data

	returned to his station.  "Two of the ships have

	remained at the point of our arrival, leaving

	eight to trail us and more are closing on opposite

	headings."



		"You mean there are ships coming out of 

	Klingon territory?"



		"At least one.  Others are closing on

	courses tangential to the Klingon-Federation

	Neutral Zone."



		"Mister Crusher, initiate a spiral

	course.  Evasion is our top priority.  Mister

	Data, what is our present speed?"



		"Warp 2, sir, due to the stresses involved

	in our tight spiral course."



		After a while, Riker said, "Ensign Crusher,

	change course.  Come up through the center of our 

  Page 61


	spiral.  Warp 6.  Mister Worf, are any ships

	persisting?"



		"Yes, Commander.  The ships are relaying

	information between themselves.  As long as one

	ship knows where we are, they will all continue to

	follow us."



		"All right then.  Geordi, can the engines 

	handle a full 180' turn at Warp 6?"



		"Based on the tests we've run, the 

	Enterprise is in peak operating condition.  No

	faults in any systems, including Warp drive.

	Reduce speed to Warp 3, just in case there's some

	hidden defects we haven't discovered yet."



		"Got it, Geordi.  You heard him, Mister

	Crusher, reduce speed to Warp 3 and initiate a

	180' turn.  Bring our speed up to Warp 6 again as

	soon as possible.  Mister Data, where will our 

	pursuers expect to meet us?"



		"Logic would indicate that we should alter

	course mid-way down the spiral.  They will converge

	there."



		"When we reach 25% of the way down the 

  Page 62


	spiral, put us back on our original course to the 

	Corinhi system, Mister Crusher."



		"Aye, Commander."



		The Enterprise lurched slightly as the

	inertial dampers strove to absorb the shock of a

	90' turn at Warp 6.



		"Mister Worf, any pursuers now?"



		"Not exactly.  No pursuers but there is 

	still a ship coming in our general direction from

	out of Klingon space."



		"Can you identify whose side it's on,

	Klingon or Federation?  Any name you can put to it?"

	asked Riker.



		"It's undoubtedly Federation, an Enterprise 

	class vessel.  Still waiting for the computer to

	decode identification beacon."  After a pause, Worf

	continued, "Commander, I now have the name and

	registry of the approaching vessel.  Registry:

	NCC - 1701.  It is the ... Enterprise."



		Expressions of surprise circulated around

	the Bridge.

  Page 63




		"Mister Data, how long until they are in

	visual range if we drop out of Warp now?"



		"Forty-five minutes, Commander."  

	Uncharacteristically, Data kept it at that,

	fighting his urge to be more precise.  For some

	reason the humans seemed to prefer the inaccuracy

	of round numbers.



		"Ensign Crusher, one-quarter impulse. 

	Data, I want all pertinent details concerning the

	original Enterprise and her present complement of

	officers."



		"Aye, Commander.  I will begin immediately."

	Data left his station at Ops to walk to the Research

	station at the rear of the Bridge.  He was 

	intrigued at the possibility of meeting the crew

	of the Enterprise.  The ship was the most famous 

	in Starfleet history and had spawned a whole series

	of ships with her name.  Something must have made 

	the original Enterprise special and he was 

	determined to find out what it was.



		After Commander Riker informed the crew

	of the situation, a silence fell over the Bridge

	as each member of the Bridge crew contemplated 

  Page 64


	their upcoming contact with the Enterprise.  After

	thirty minutes had expired, Data reported that he

	had finished his research and was ready to report 

	his findings.



		"Proceed, Mister Data," said Riker.



		"This Enterprise was refit circa Stardate

	7500.  All her systems were updated and her hull

	redesigned.  She successfully dealt with V'GER's

	attack on Earth and was assigned to another 5-year

	mission.  Afterwards, she became a training vessel

	for Starfleet Academy cadets.  On one such training

	voyage, the Enterprise was forced to battle the 

	evil 20th century madman, Khan Noonian Singh.  Khan

	threatened Starfleet with the Genesis device, the 

	details of which are still classified.  During this

	mission, the Vulcan First Officer, Spock, was killed

	saving the Enterprise from the detonation of the

	Genesis device, but not before passing his katra

	on to the ship's doctor.  When trying to rescue the

	First Officer's body, the captain of the Enterprise

	was forced to initiate the self-destruct sequence

	to keep her from being captured by the Klingons."

	This brought a low growl from Worf.  "We are

	currently within the time period of the 

	Enterprise's 5-year mission, immediately preceding

	their encounter with Khan."

  Page 65




		"What's the Captain's name, Data?" inquired

	Riker.



		"Jean-Luc Picard," answered the android, 

	giving Riker a quizzical look.



		This seemed to lighten the mood on the

	Bridge, eliciting smiles and chuckles from nearly

	everyone.



		"No, Data," said Geordi.  "Who was the

	Captain of this eras Enterprise?"



		"Ah ... James Tiberius Kirk."



		"Kirk ... Kirk ... That name sounds 

	familiar," said Riker.  "I remember now.  He beat

	the Kobayashi Maru simulation at the Academy.  

	Wasn't it also his distinctive style of leading

	away teams that caused Starfleet to dissuade all

	starship captains from leading away teams into

	dangerous or questionable situations?  Something

	about a risk to the chain of command and a loss

	of Starfleet security if anything happened to 

	him."



		"Affirmative, Commander.  Although I must

  Page 66


	say that it still takes a considerable amount of 

	persuasion for captains to adhere to Starfleet's

	directive.  Many of them prefer to be on-site

	during away team missions," added Data.



		"Mister Data, I thank you for your insights.

	Lieutenant Worf, range of the Enterprise."



		"Still beyond visual range but closing

	rapidly," replied the Klingon.



		"Thank you, Worf."

		"Due to the state of Federation/Klingon

	relations, when we communicate with the Enterprise

	from this time, you shouldn't be on the Bridge,

	Worf.  I'm sorry," said Riker.



		"I understand, Commander.  I wouldn't want

	to jeopardize the mission," said Worf.



		"Worf, take Mister Data with you.  The 23rd

	century isn't ready for an android on a starship.  

	Call for replacements before you go.  Best personnel

	in your department.  You, too, Worf," ordered Riker.



		"Aye, Commander.  Ensign Gawron is on his

	way."



  Page 67


		"My replacement is coming, as well, sir. 

	Ensign Harris is the most promising member of the 

	Ops department," reported Data.



		"Riker to Sickbay.  How is the Captain?"



		"Pulaski here.  He has come out of his coma

	but he's still unconscious."



		"That's good to news.  At least his 

	condition has improved somewhat.  Keep us informed.

	Bridge out."



		As the Turbolift doors opened to admit Worf

	and Data, out walked Ensign Christopher Gawron.  

	He was tall, a little over six feet in height, and 

	had average length, wavy brown hair.  He had the

	light complexion of the Northeastern United States

	of Old Earth.  He went immediately to Worf's station

	and stood at attention, awaiting his orders.



		"Ensign Gawron, have you been briefed on

	the details of this mission?" asked Riker.



		"Yes, sir. And I must say that it is a 

	dream come true.  I am something of an expert on 

	the exploits of the original Enterprise.  But to

	finally meet Captain James T. Kirk --" 

  Page 68




		"Try to curb your enthusiasm, Ensign.  We'll

	try to keep all communications to a minimum.  Just

	try to prove that we are no harm to the Federation

	and complete our mission."



		"Aye, sir.  Commander, the Enterprise has

	dropped out of Warp and is closing on impulse power,

	shields raised," reported Gawron.



		"Raise our shields, too, and go to yellow

	alert.  Geordi, better get down to Engineering,

	just in case."



		"Aye, sir."  And Geordi LaForge started 

	toward the Turbolift just as the doors opened to

	allow Ensign Margaret Harris onto the Bridge.



		"Sir," started Ensign Gawron.  Riker 

	acknowledged him and he continued, "The Enterprise

	is within visual range."



		"On screen," said Riker.



		As Ensign Harris took her seat, the view-

	screen lit up to show the cutting edge of Starfleet

	technology at that time: A flat saucer section with

	a raised Bridge on top, two Warp nacelles rising

  Page 69


	above the saucer, held up by engine struts projecting

	from the top of the Engineering hull at 75 degrees

	above the horizontal.  The Enterprise gleamed a

	brilliant white, reflecting the light from distant

	stars.  The navigational deflector glowed a bright,

	light blue.  It truly looked the part of the flagship

	of Starfleet.



		"Ensign Harris, I assume that you know what

	this is all about," said Riker.



		"Yes, sir.  We have gone into the Federation's

	past to capture a creature that will allow us to

	stop the Xin warships.  After trying to avoid all 

	contact with vessels from this era, we are slowing

	to confront the original Enterprise, in order to

	show our non-hostility."  As she spoke, she

	unconsciously played with her long, curly brown

	hair.  She was of average height for an Earth woman

	and looked like she came from the same area of 

	Earth as Ensign Gawron.



		"Very good.  I think Data made a good choice.

	Mister Gawron, any communications from the Enterprise?"



		"None yet, Commander Riker," he replied.



		"Sickbay to Bridge. Pulaski here."

  Page 70




		"Riker here.  Go ahead, Doctor."



		"Commander, the Captain has just regained

	consciousness and wants to know why we're under a

	yellow alert.  Shall I tell him? He's very

	insistent," queried the ship's Chief Medical Officer.



		"Do you think it's wise?  One of his dreams

	has been to speak with the crew of the original

	Enterprise and it could come as a shock that we  

	are in a situation where that is required," replied

	the First Officer.



		"You're right, Will.  He's in no shape for

	such a shock.  I'll give him a sedative, just to

	force him to get his rest.  Pulaski out."



		"Sir, the Enterprise is hailing us," 

	reported Ensign Gawron.



		"On screen."



		On the viewscreen appeared a boyish face,

	made older by deep lines of stress, topped by close-

	cropped brown hair.  He was dressed in the old style

	uniform of a Starfleet admiral.

		"This is Admiral James T. Kirk commanding

  Page 71


	the United Starship Enterprise.  Intruder, please 

	identify yourself within five minutes or we will 

	open fire with all weapons."


  Page 72



			Chapter 5

		Amused expressions made the rounds of the

	Bridge as Riker ordered "Screen off."



		"Is he serious?  Our shields can absorb

	all the power he's got and still operate at peak

	efficiency," said Ensign Harris.



		"I don't know, Ensign.  Deanna, any

	impressions?"



		"Commander, I sense that he is serious.

	Admiral Kirk sees us as a threat that he must deal

	with," replied the Counselor.



		"Excuse me, sir, may I say something?"



		"Is it relevant, Mister Gawron?"



		"I think so, Commander.  About this time,

	the Federation experienced a series of border raids.

	Many people blamed the Klingons and Romulans but

	nothing was ever proven.  Starfleet's main computer

	was even broken into once and some information 

	about Starship design stolen.  Captain Kirk may

	think that we are actually a Klingon or Romulan

	attempt at a Federation Starship."


  Page 73



		"Thank you, Ensign.  Now all we have to do

	is prove that we are members of the Federation.

	Hmm ... Ensign Gawron, I've got a job for you.  

	Get down to Holodeck 3 and program it for a 23rd

	century Starship Bridge.  Better make it one grade

	higher than this time's Enterprise, just to be 

	convincing."



		"Aye, sir, I'm on my way," said Gawron, 

	running to the Turbolift. 



		"Not so fast, Chris.  Ensign Harris, you

	go with him.  Use the replicators to make appropriate

	uniforms for all members of the Bridge Crew.  

	Hurry or Kirk may call for reinforcements."



		"Yes, sir.  I'll model them after Admiral

	Kirk's," she said, swinging her Ops console out of 

	the way.  She walked up the ramp and left the 

	Bridge with Ensign Gawron.



		"Mister Crusher, have you had any luck in

	your experiments to export Holodeck matter into    

	the external environment?"



		"Uh, yeah.  Well, sort of.  I can produce

	holograms outside of the Holodeck, but they have 

	no substance," answered the Helmsman hesitantly.
  Page 74





		"Could you channel the images through

	shield control and use them as a sort of cloaking

	device?"



		"Probably, Commander," said Wes.     



		"Get on it now.  Use Holodeck 1 and get

	Geordi to help you.  Move it."  Wes left the

	Bridge.



		"Ensign Ferrar, summon the replacement 

	Bridge Crew up here.  You remain here as well,"

	Riker ordered Ensign Gawron's replacement.



		"Okay, Deanna, down to Holodeck 3."



		The Counselor and First Officer entered 

	the Turbolift and went down to Holodeck 3, where 

	they joined the rest of the Bridge Crew, already

	in their 23rd century uniforms.  Riker and Deanna

	accepted their uniforms from Ensign Harris and 

	entered the changing room.  They soon emerged,

	Riker as a Captain and Deanna as a Science 

	Officer.

		Riker ran down the corridor to where Wes

	and Geordi were working at the wall panel outside

	Holodeck 1.
  Page 75





		"Commander, I was just about to contact 

	you," said Geordi.  "We need to know what design

	to use for our shields.  What should we turn the

	Enterprise into?"



		"Change us into the same configuration as

	the Hood from our time, hull registry NQ - 3000.

	Make sure you center the 'Bridge' on Holodeck 3."



		"Aye, sir.  But NQ?" asked Geordi with a 

	puzzled frown.



		"He is the reason that we're here, after

	all," Riker said as he turned and jogged back to

	Holodeck 3.



		"Well, now we just need a name," said Geordi.



		"I have an idea, Geordi, from my Ancient 

	Earth history class," said Wes.



		They set to work.

		In the meantime, the others had taken their 

	places.



		Riker turned his chair in Ensign Gawron's

	direction.  "Good job, Chris.  Only one thing left
  Page 76



	to do.  Link Communications from here to the real

	Bridge.  It must appear that this is a fully 

	functioning Bridge."



		"Way ahead of you, Commander, uh, I mean 

	Captain.  The computer will mirror the main view-

	screen on this viewscreen.  All communications will

	appear to originate from here.  In addition, there

	is a hole in your armrest to accommodate your combadge

	so that you can talk intraship normally."



		"I hope you're right because we're out of

	time.  Mister Crusher, Geordi, are you ready?"

	Riker asked, tapping the combadge in his chair arm.



		"Yes, Commander, just finished," they 

	answered.



		"Will your illusion interfere with the

	transporters in any way?" asked Riker.



		"No, sir," answered Wes, "it's just a 

	sophisticated light show."



		"Then on my signal: 'Lower shields', be

	ready with your illusion.  Riker out."



		"Aye, sir."
  Page 77





		"Captain, we are being hailed again,"

	reported Ensign Gawron.



		"On screen."



		"Please identify yourself.  This is your 

	last chance," warned Admiral Kirk from the screen.



		"Mister Gawron, visual channels open.

	Admiral Kirk, this is Captain William Riker of 

	the experimental vessel NQ-3000.  Welcome back to

	Federation space."

		"I know this is somewhat unusual, but we're

	the good guys.  Allow me to explain our presence."



		"By all means, proceed," allowed Kirk.



		"This vessel was built in secrecy because

	of recent security breaches.  We were on a testing

	mission when we were ordered to meet you in case

	you were chased across the Neutral Zone by the 

	Klingons.  My orders are to ensure that you reach

	Earth in one piece, so you can begin your next

	assignment."



		"They don't look like any Federation ship

	I've ever seen," said a grouchy voice somewhere 
  Page 78



	behind Kirk.



		"Quiet, Bones!" Kirk whispered over his

	shoulder.  Turning back to the screen he said,

	"I'll need some proof, Captain Riker."



		"Certainly, Admiral.  This ship utilizes 

	a cloaking device which both shields and disguises

	the ship at the same time.  I will now put an end

	to this illusion.  Lower shields," Riker ordered,

	leaning toward his armrest.



		In the hall, Wesley Crusher tapped a touch

	sensitive wall panel.






		On the Enterprise, Kirk's Enterprise, the 

	viewscreen shifted from a picture of Riker to a 

	view of the other Enterprise, which shimmered and

	appeared to disintegrate.  It then reformed into

	a 23rd century vessel of advanced design: NQ-3000,

	the USS Houdini.



		"Isn't that amazing, Doctor?  I had no

	idea that Starfleet technology had advanced that

	far."



  Page 79


		"Jim, I'm still not convinced that we were

	talking to a Federation starship.  There have been 

	no clues as to where this ship has come from and no 

	evidence that shields can be used as they suggest.

	Scotty could have done that already if it was 

	possible.  And why did the markings on her hull

	read NCC-1701-D, USS ENTERPRISE?  I don't like 

	this, Jim."



		"Doctor, we have been absent from Earth

	for quite awhile, in which time there may have been

	a great increase in the sophistication of Starfleet

	technology.  As to your question, however, I do not

	possess enough data to speculate," said Spock from

	his science station.



		"A ruse, perhaps, to scare off any foes

	it might encounter," spoke up Sulu.  "Many animals

	employ the same idea."



		"Hmm ... Maybe, but I think we'd better

	see for ourselves.  Uhura, get me Captain Riker."



		"Aye, sir.  On the screen."



		"Captain Riker, that display was impressive,

	but forgive me if I'm still doubtful of your 

	authenticity.  May I beam over with a small party

  Page 80


	to tour the ship?"



		"Of course, Admiral Kirk," said Riker's   

	image.  "I'll relay the coordinates of our Bridge

	to your Transporter Room.  Riker out."



		The viewscreen reverted to a dark star-

	field, at it's center hung the Enterprise, reflecting

	the light of a million stars.



		Ensign Harris looked up in horror.  "They

	can't beam through our shields.  We can't even do

	that.  They'll be scattered all over this sector

	of space!"



		"Calm down, Ensign.  Riker to LaForge.

	Geordi, monitor the other ship's power levels.

	When they're ready to beam over, drop our cloaking

	field momentarily, just enough for them to slip

	through.  Can you handle that?"



		"Got it, Commander," came Geordi's voice

	from the arm of Riker's chair.  "No trouble at

	all."






		"Jim, you're not seriously thinking about

	going over there, are you?" asked Doctor McCoy,
  Page 81



	incredulously.



		"We must be sure that they are non-hostile

	and that they really are members of the Federation,"

	Spock said impassively.



		"Are you out of your Vulcan mind, Spock.

	We're still here, aren't we.  If their power levels

	were as high as you said, they could have blasted

	us out of the sky by now.  Our continued existence

	is proof enough that they're non-hostile.  Why does

	it matter whether or not they're Federation?"

	asked McCoy irritably.



		"Because, Doctor, if they are non-Federation,

	they still occupy a Starfleet vessel.  Either they 

	are from Starfleet, there is a security leak some-

	where from which they obtained starship plans, or

	they have stolen a Federation starship."

		"As none are reported missing, we can 

	eliminate this last possibility."



		"But, Spock, --" began McCoy.



		"Gentlemen, gentlemen, please," interrupted

	Kirk.  "We can settle this later.  For now, let's

	get down to the Transporter Room.  Come on, Spock.

	Coming, Doctor?"
  Page 82





		"Of course, Captain.  I have to make sure

	you don't break your fool neck in some adolescent

	stunt while trying to save the universe singlehanded,"

	said the Doctor grumpily as he, Kirk, and Spock

	entered the lift.  The Doctor's grumblings could

	still be heard for a few seconds after he had left

	the Bridge.



		

		"Do you think that's such a good idea,

	Commander?  I mean, we can't let them out of here
	 
	to see the rest of the Enterprise," objected Ensign

	Harris.



		"On the contrary, Ensign.  That's exactly

	what we're going to do."  Everyone on the 'Bridge'

	looked at Riker, shocked.  They awaited his 

	explanation.

		"All the other Holodecks except Holodeck 1

	have been programmed to be various areas of the ship.

	We can use the intraship transporters to move 

	from Holodeck to Holodeck.  There should be no problem

	as long as no one tries to enter the Holodeck that

	we're in at any given moment.  If we had refused 

	to let them beam over, they would have become

	suspicious.  By giving them a guided tour, we'll 

	allay those suspicions."
  Page 83



		"Mister Gawron, make sure you send the correct

	'Bridge' coordinates.  It wouldn't do for the most

	famous captain in Starfleet to end up in a wall or

	on the real Bridge," warned Riker.  "Better make

	sure that you drop our shields long enough to beam

	them over.  Cut it as close as possible to avoid any

	problems.  Better jam their sensors just in case."



		"I verified the coordinates by computer before

	I sent them.  They will arrive in the area in front 

	of the command chair.  Our computer is tied in to

	their transporter and will drop shields for a 

	split-second during transport and block their 

	sensors," reassured Gawron.

		

		No sooner had he said that, than three 

	columns of light appeared and coalesced into the 

	forms of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy.



		"Welcome, Captain, Mister Spock, Doctor."

	Riker shook hands and gave the Vulcan salute where

	applicable.  "I'd like you to meet my Bridge Crew.

	Science Officer Deanna Troi, Communications Officer

	Lieutenant Christopher Gawron,  Helmsman Lieutenant

	Margaret Harris, and Navigator Lieutenant David 

	Callari."  Riker pointed to each in turn.  

	Fortunately, he had had the foresight to temporarily

	promote the members of the Bridge Crew.  Captain
  Page 84



	Kirk would have been skeptical of a Bridge full of

	ensigns.  David Callari was filling in for Wes, who

	was monitoring his cloaking device.



		Kirk and Spock were looking around the 

	Bridge attentively, McCoy was looking bored.



		"Doctor McCoy, would you like to see our

	Sickbay?" asked Riker.



		"I'd rather see my own Sickbay right now,

	but as long as I'm here, why not?"



		Riker surreptitiously hit his combadge and

	said, "Doctor Pulaski, teleport to the Bridge

	immediately."



		"Aye, Captain, I'm on my way."  Doctor

	Pulaski shimmered into existence next to Riker's

	command chair.  "How may I be of assistance?"



		"Please beam over to Sickbay with Doctor

	McCoy and give him a guided tour," said Riker.



		"Sure thing, Captain.  Come along, Doctor.

	We're off to Sickbay," she said as McCoy moved to

	stand next to her.


  Page 85



		"What do you mean 'beam over to Sickbay?'

	What ever happened to walking?"  McCoy asked

	hesitantly.



		"We use transporters to travel throughout

	the ship.  It's much faster that way and cuts down

	on the need for turbolifts so we can have more room

	for equipment," answered Pulaski.



		McCoy had grown noticeably paler by the

	time the transporter took effect.  They both 

	dematerialized into their component atoms, to be

	reconstituted in the bogus Sickbay located in

	Holodeck 4.

		

		By now, Kirk and Spock had completed their

	tour of the Bridge.



		"Well, gentlemen," said Riker, "are you 

	ready to see the rest of my ship?"



		"By all means, Captain, lead the way," said 

	Kirk, moving toward what appeared to be a Turbolift, 

	but was actually the port side head.



		"Wait, Captain.  We don't use Turbolifts

	to get around any more.  As Doctor Pulaski said, we use

	intraship transporters.  It's much more efficient than walking.
  Page 86



	Mister Gawron, if you'd please send us to Engineering."



		"Aye, sir," said Gawron, his hands flying 

	over his control panel.  Most of it was for show.

	All he did that mattered was to send a pre-recorded

	message to Transporter Chief O'Brien that told him

	what to do.



		Riker, Kirk, and Spock became columns of 

	light and faded to nothingness as they were beamed

	to Holodeck 5 to see the fictional Warp Intermix

	Chamber.  After a thorough tour of 'Engineering,'

	they went to see the Rec Deck, Computer Center,

	Mess Hall, Conservatory, Gym, and Weapons Control

	Room.  Finally, they went to Sickbay to pick up

	Doctor McCoy.



		The four of them beamed back to the Bridge,

	leaving Doctor Pulaski in Sickbay.



		"Well, Captain, are you satisfied that we

	are who we say we are?"



		"Definitely, Captain Riker.  I'm sorry I 

	ever doubted you," replied Kirk.  "Any problems,

	gentlemen?"



		"Yeah, Jim.  I'm a Doctor, not a ping-pong
  Page 87



	ball.  I'm tired of being bounced all over the place

	by that transporter beam.  Let's just get back to

	the Enterprise and go home."



		"As you wish, Doctor.  Well, it appears

	that we must bid you farewell, Captain Riker.  I

	hope we meet again soon."



		"Me too, Captain Kirk, me too.  Goodbye,

	Captain, Commander Spock, Doctor McCoy."



		The three Enterprise senior officers

	dematerialized on Kirk's command to Scotty: "Three

	to beam up."



		"Well, that's that.  Computer, discontinue

	programs in all Holodecks except Holodeck 1," 

	ordered Riker.



		The Bridge disappeared to be replaced by 

	a small room with a yellow grid etched into the

	ebony walls.



		"Come on, everyone, back to the Bridge."



		All of the crewmembers left through the 

	door in the far wall.  The Holodeck lights went 

	out as the doors closed behind Riker, the last
  Page 88



	person to leave.  As everyone else went to the

	Turbolift, Riker walked the other way to congratulate

	Wes and Geordi who still stood outside Holodeck 1.



		"Good work, gentlemen.  Your illusion appeared to be

	very convincing.  May I ask just what this ship looked like?"



		"See for yourself, Commander," said Geordi.



		"What do you mean 'see for yourself'?  How can I see

	for myself?  Our cloaking device was just a computer generated

	image, wasn't it?"



		"Not exactly, sir.  We needed a physical model to

	project onto the outer hull of the Enterprise.  That's why 

	I've been using the Holodeck as the basis for my experiments,"

	explained Wes.



		"What we've done is in effect to turn the Holodeck

	inside-out.  Rather than modeling something from the outside

	world in the Holodeck, we've projected something from the 

	Holodeck into the outside world.  We still have the image in 

	the Holodeck.  Come on in," urged Geordi.



		The doors slid open and Wes, Geordi, and Riker entered

	Holodeck 1.  They appeared to be walking on nothingness.  The 

	walls, ceiling, and floor had become starfields, stretching

	away to infinity.  As the door slid closed behind them with
  Page 89



	a faint grinding sound, the illusion became complete, if a

	little disorienting.  Directly ahead of the trio hung a long,

	low starship.  It had an almost flat saucer with immense

	impulse engines at the rear.  A short neck connected the 

	saucer to a long, graceful secondary hull.  The warp nacelles,

	almost double the length of the secondary hull, rose just 

	above the top of the saucer.  They were connected to the top

	of the engineering section by narrow, right-angled warp

	engine struts.



		Riker walked around the ship and whistled 

	appreciatively.  "I'm impressed.  I just have one question:

	What would have happened if we needed to fire phasers or

	photon torpedos?"



		"No problem, Commander," answered Wes.  "We lined up

	the forward torpedo tubes on the Houdini with those on the 

	Enterprise.  We lined up the phaser banks on both ships as

	closely as possible, too.  Watch."

		"Computer," he said, raising his voice.  "Superimpose

	Galaxy class Enterprise onto existing image of the Houdini."



		The light blue image of the Enterprise shimmered into

	existence around the Houdini.  The Enterprise's saucer section

	dwarfed the Houdini's.  The bridge of the Houdini was located

	in the center of the Enterprise's saucer.  As Wes had said, the

	photon torpedo tubes lined up, as did many of the phaser banks.

	The ships were the same length, but the Enterprise was much
  Page 90



	wider, yet still the more graceful of the two.



		After studying the ships for awhile, Riker said, 

	"Come on you two, we've got a job to do."



		As the doors shut behind them, the Holodeck went dark.


  Page 91



				Chapter 6

		"You don't mean to tell me that you actually 

	believed that?"



		"Now, now, Doctor.  We have no reason to doubt them,"

	said Kirk.



		"Indeed, Doctor, your attitude is not logical.  They

	have shown us their ship and have not acted in any way 

	hostile toward us."



		"But Spock, can your damn green-blooded Vulcan logic

	explain away the Klingon lifesign your sensors registered?"



		"Obviously the sensors had a malfunction or there is

	indeed a Klingon on the Houdini as a prisoner," said the 

	Vulcan.



		"Alright Spock, what about their power levels?  You

	said that they didn't register on your scanners.  Don't you

	think that if Starfleet had come up with a ship like that 

	that somehow we would have heard of it?"



		"Please, Doctor, even you must be familiar with the 

	department of Starfleet entitled `Security.'  One of their 

	main jobs would have been to keep this ship a secret.  Their

	energy levels may merely be a ruse to intimidate their 

	enemies, just as their cloaking device is.  All the data on
  Page 92



	hand point to this conclusion," finished Spock.



		Chekov turned from his console long enough to whisper

	to Sulu, "I bet the technology was inwented by Russians."

	Sulu just rolled his eyes and concentrated on his own

	console.



		"Captain Kirk, the Houdini is hailing us," said Uhura.



		"On screen."



		"Audio only, sir," said Uhura apologetically.



		"Okay, let me hear it."



		"Captain Kirk, this is Captain Riker.  I regret to

	report that we must leave you now.  Starfleet has ordered 

	us to investigate reports of a Klingon secret weapon in

	the Vexis Corinhi system.  The Enterprise is to return to

	Earth as per instructions.  Riker out."



		"You heard the man, Sulu.  Let's go home.  Warp 

	factor 5."



		"Aye, Captain, warp 5."



		"The Enterprise slowly moved away from the Houdini

	and, trailing a bright rainbow of colors, accelerated to
  Page 93



	Warp 5 and was gone.






		"Mister Gawron, did your plan work?"



		"I think so, Commander.  The subliminal message that

	Lieutenant Commander Data and I worked on was broadcast with

	your farewell message.  Every time their communications system

	is used, it will be broadcast ship-wide.  Soon no one on their

	Enterprise will remember that they ever met us,"  answered 

	Ensign Gawron.



		"And you say that it works like a computer virus,

	only in this case, the message will stop being transmitted

	after a few months?"



		"That is essentially correct, sir.  Like a 

	computer virus, it will move onto any communication system

	that comes in contact with an infected one.  It will not only

	transmit a message erasing the memories of us from organic

	beings, but will also destroy any records of us in the ship's

	computer banks,"  answered Data, standing with Gawron and 

	Riker at the Communications station.



		"Good work, Data."



		"On the contrary, Commander.  Ensign Gawron came up

  Page 94


	with the idea.  I merely wrote the software," corrected Data.



		"I'm sorry.  Ensign Gawron, good work."



		The Turbolift doors opened to allow Worf onto the

	Bridge.  He walked to the Communications station and relieved

	Gawron.



		"I yield to your experience and skill, Lieutenant 

	Worf, and am honored to have been given the opportunity to

	serve in your place."



		Gawron entered the Turbolift after Riker dismissed

	him.  Data walked down the ramp to the lower Bridge.  He

	took the place of Ensign Harris, who entered the Turbolift 

	with Gawron.  As an afterthought, Riker tapped his combadge 

	and said, "Bridge to Ensigns Gawron and Harris.  Be ready, 

	we may require your services again before we're done with

	this mission.  Bridge out."

		"Mister Data, status report."



		"All systems operating within acceptable limits.

	Shields are not yet functional because of our cloaking 

	device.  Commander LaForge is working on it now and 

	estimates full defensive capabilities within 10 minutes."



		"Alright, Mister Crusher, resume course and speed 

	to the Corinhi system."

  Page 95


		"Riker to Sickbay.  Doctor Pulaski, how's the 

	Captain doing?"



		"He's awake and asking questions again.  What should

	I do?"



		"If you think he's strong enough, fill him in on 

	what's happened up to this point."



		"I think he can handle it, Will.  I'll take the 

	chance.  Pulaski out."



		"Now entering Klingon space.  Sensors show no

	vessels within range," reported Data as the connection to 

	Sickbay closed.



		For hours they flew on.  From time to time Riker 

	asked for status reports from the various department heads

	including Geordi in Engineering and Pulaski in Sickbay.  

	Everything was working normally on the Enterprise, all

	systems running at or near peak efficiency.  In addition,

	Captain Picard's condition was improving.

		In short, things where looking up for the Enterprise,

	when, true to form the ship was struck by a barrage of phaser

	fire.  Once again, the red alert klaxons filled the Bridge 

	with their grating blare.



		Riker leapt into action immediately.  "Worf, damage

  Page 96


	report.  Data, shields up.  Full sensor sweep of the area.

	Mister Crusher, full stop."



		"All decks reporting in.  No damage, sir," reported

	Worf. 



		"Full sensor scan reveals no ships in the area other

	than ourselves.  Shields at full strength," said Data.



		"Pulaski to Bridge.  Can you stop all that knocking

	around up there, Commander?  I have some patients in critical

	condition and your bouncing around is not improving their

	health!  Pulaski out!" snapped the Doctor.



		On the viewscreen, the empty starfield shimmered to

	reveal six Klingon Birds of Prey as they decloaked.  The 

	Enterprise was surrounded.



		"Commander, the Captain of one of the Klingon vessels

	is hailing us," Worf rumbled from the rear of the Bridge.



		"One-way visual.  Don't let him see us," responded 

	Riker.



		The viewscreen lit up to show the dark, mist filled

	Bridge of one of the Klingon ships.  In the center seat sat

	an imposing Klingon, heavily armored for battle as was the

	custom among Klingons.  His black hair fell about his 

  Page 97


	shoulders, moving as if infested with vermin, which it 

	probably was.



		"Federation vessel, if that is what you are, your 

	ship is new to me, but I recognize the name Enterprise.  It

	shall be a pleasure to destroy our hated enemy, Captain

	James T. Kirk.  Respond, Kirk.  I will hear your pleas for

	mercy before I open fire," the Klingon commander said in a 

	deep, rasping voice.



		"Worf, change into some Klingon battle armor.  Wesley,

	help Worf in programming the replicators for this era," 

	ordered Riker.



		As Worf and Wesley left, Deanna said, "Something 

	doesn't feel right, Commander.  I did not feel any emotions

	from the Klingon commander.  No hate, no curiosity, nothing."




		Tapping his combadge, Riker urged, "Get a move on

	Worf, Wesley."  Then to Troi, "What do you mean, the Klingon 

	Commander had no emotions?  He sounded excited enough."



		"It is as if nothing was there.  I can sense the 

	emotions of the Enterprise personnel, but I get nothing from

	the Klingons.  At this range I should be able to sense 

	something," insisted the Counselor.



		"Mister Data, scan the Klingon ships for lifesigns,
  Page 98



	power sources, anything," said Riker.



		After a momentary pause, the android reported, 

	"Sensors do not register any ships other than the Enterprise

	in this sector.  As far as the computer is concerned, there

	are no Klingon ships."



		"In that case, lock phasers on the Klingon ship in

	front of us and fire when ready."



		"Phasers will not lock on target, Commander.  Firing

	phasers manually," informed Data.



		On the viewscreen, a bolt of searing red light shot

	out of the lower collimator ring of the Enterprise.  It 

	lanced toward the nearest Klingon ship and passed through it.

	All six Klingon ships shrank to nothingness and disappeared.



		"Commander, sensors register an immense energy source

	approaching from behind us.  It is on an intercept course."



		"Thank you, Data.  Lieutenant Worf, Ensign Crusher,

	to the Bridge immediately," Riker said into the overhead

	Bridge speaker.  "Mister Data, reverse angle on the screen

	and magnify."



		The viewscreen changed to show a blue and orange

	sphere approaching rapidly.  All of the Bridge crew knew
  Page 99



	what this meant, so no one had to tell Worf and Wesley what

	was happening when they arrived on the Bridge.  Inevitably,

	the red mesh of a giant forcefield surrounded the Enterprise.



		In a flash of light, Q appeared on the Bridge, this

	time dressed in the ceremonial gown and mortarboard of a 

	college professor from Old Earth.



		"You have done well, students.  You have passed two

	of the tests that I have set for you.  I must admit that you

	humans are very resourceful.  Especially you, Riker.  I didn't

	think you were capable of the level of deceit you used on 

	Captain Kirk and were about to use on the Klingons.  I'm

	really very impressed," said Q, in a tone of voice that 

	passed for sincerity.



		"Just what do you want, Q?  Why have you come back 

	in time to bother us?" demanded Picard as he strode from the

	Turbolift.  The only sign of his injury was a small patch of

	synthoskin covering the wound on his temple.  He stopped 

	directly in front of Q.



		"Ah, Jean-Luc.  I'm glad to see you again.  To tell 

	you the truth, Riker is no where near as much fun to deal 

	with as you are," said Q.



		"You mean humiliate and mock!" snapped Picard.


  Page 100



		"By no means.  I find humans fascinating, and since

	you've been one nearly twice as long as Riker, I find you 

	twice as fascinating," explained Q smugly.



		"Enough, Q.  Why are you here?"



		"Patience, mon capitaine.  I'm here to tell you 

	about the next phase of your quest, if you'll allow me a

	word in edge-wise," said Q sarcastically.

		"In order to complete your mission, one of you must

	go on a quest.  There will be many perils and great danger.

	I will choose the questor myself.  Let's see...your Tin Man

	and microbrain are too strong, Riker has too much experience,

	Picard is too old, and the boy and the Counsellor would never

	stand a chance."



		"Q, why not let Lieutenant LaForge go.  He is as   

	close as any of us to average human physical condition,"

	suggested Picard.



		"No, Captain.  His blindness would be too great a

	handicap.  The questor must have a chance to complete the

	quest if this is to be a fair challenge," said Q.



		"A fair challenge?!?  You've eliminated all of the

	Bridge crew from contention.  Who's left?" asked Riker.



		"I never said it had to be an officer, did I?  You
  Page 101



	forget that there are over 1000 people on this ship to chose

	from, not just you seven.  My choice is Ensign Cristopher 

	Gawron.  I like him for some reason.  He appears to be the

	least pretentious of the Bridge crew."



		With a flash, Ensign Gawron appeared on the Bridge,

	dressed in his gold uniform and fitted with a tricorder and

	hand phaser.  He looked disoriented until he realized where

	he was.



		"What happened?  How did I get here?  I was playing

	billiards on the Rec Deck and then ZAP..."  he asked, 

	looking confused.



		"I am of the Q and you have been chosen to undertake

	a quest.  The rules are simple.  Usig only your phaser and

	your wits you must find the ships dilithium crystals."  The

	ship's entire supply of dilithium crystals suddenly appeared

	in a pile in the center of the Bridge.  "They will all be 

	located in one spot.  Just touch them and you will be 

	instantly transported back here and the crystals replaced.

		"There will be no pressure placed upon you to under-

	take this quest.  Just know that the lives of the Enterprise

	crew and consequently the future of the Federation depend 

	upon you."



		"You can't be serious, Q.  This man is just an ensign.

	He has no experience in this type of thing and you have no 
  Page 102



	right to subject him to it."



		"Alright, Picard, let me put it this way.  Would 

	all the omnipotent beings present raise their right hand? 

	There, see.  I only see one hand up, and oh look, it's mine.

	Can you beat that?  It looks like you've been outvoted."

		"Be careful, Picard, or I may just decide to leave

	you here in the past.  No one tells me what I can or can't

	do.  Are you ready, Ensign?"



		Before he could answer, both Gawron and Q vanished.

	Q's head reappeared a moment later to say: "I will allow you

	to watch Mister Gawron's progress on the viewscreen.  Good-

	bye, crew."  Q's head winked out of existence.



		"Captain, the Enterprise has been transported into

	orbit around a large planet," reported Data.



		As soon as Q had vanished, the energy field on the 

	screen was replaced by a huge brown planet.



		"Sensors show what appears, at one time, to have been

	a small town or village.  Reading one human lifesign, and 

	many large, primitive animals," reported Worf.



		"Thank you Worf, Data," Picard said.  "Now all we

	have to do is watch and wait."


  Page 103



		"LaForge to Bridge."



		"Go ahead, Geordi," acknowledged Riker.



		"Commander, I don't know how, but the dilithium

	crystals are missing.  Both Warp and impulse engines are

	down.  We have no maneuvering capabilities whatsoever,"

	warned the Chief Engineer.



		"Captain," interjected Data, "Our orbit is decaying.

	Estimate 8 hours until we enter the atmosphere, and an

	additional 3 hours until planetfall."



		"Can our shields handle the atmospheric friction,"

	asked Picard.



		"Captain, we have no shields.  If we enter the 

	atmosphere, we'll most likely burn up,"  cam Geordi's voice

	over the intercom channel.



		"And if we don't burn up, we will be travelling at

	an estimated 200 meters per second upon planetfall.  The

	Enterprise will not survive," said Data somberly.



		The viewscreen changed yet again.  This time it

	showed Ensign Gawron at the edge of an old, tumbled down

	town.  He entered, cautiously.


  Page 104



		

  Page 105



			Chapter 7

		Slowly, Chris started toward the nearest building 

	in the town.  Inside, it was dark.  As he crossed the threshold,

	he noticed a dank, mouldering smell.  Most of the furniture 

	was rotted through with age and dampness.  A few of the pieces

	still appeared to be in good shape.  He rested his hand on 

	the nearest chair and jumped back, startled, as it disintegrated

	into a pile of soft, rotten wood.  In the far corner, Chris 

	noticed a pile of what he thought were tattered blankets.

	Upon closer inspection, though, it turned out to be the former

	occupant of the house.  The bones had yellowed and grown

	brittle over the years.



		Since there wasn't anything of use here, he moved 

	on to the next building to find an almost identical scene.

	Chris moved on, finding each building as dilapidated as the 

	last, until, finally, he came to what appeared to have been

	some kind of store.



		As he looked through the various shelves, Chris

	found little of use.  There were, however, a strong coil of

	rope and a long, sharp knife.  The rope was in surprisingly

	good condition, compared with its surroundings, and the knife

	showed some signs of corrosion but looked as if it could be

	used adequately as a cutting tool, and for defense if 

	absolutely necessary.



		Slipping the knife into his belt and looping the 
  Page 106



	rope over his shoulder, Ensign Gawron left the tumble-down

	shop to explore the rest of the town.  Other than the 

	decaying bones of the natives and a few rusted through cooking

	utensils, there was nothing to see.



		By the time he had reached the last house, Chris had

	given up much hope of finding anything that could help him on

	his quest, particularly because he didn't know what his quest

	would entail.  As he entered the last building, he noticed

	that it was the only one to have any kind of floor covering,

	this in the form of an ancient rug.  The tattered cloth lay

	incongruously in the center of the room.  He tried to move

	it, but found that it was firmly secured to the ground and

	would not rip, despite its obvious age.  Gawron drew his 

	phaser and fired.  The carpet burned away to reveal a 

	weathered door, made of some metal he didn't recognize.  There

	didn't seem to be any way of lifting it, as the surface was

	completely featureless.



		"Oh well, time to get to work," Chris said to himself

	and inserted the knife into the nearly imperceptible seam 

	between the door and the floor around it.  He pushed down with 

	all his strength until the door was up just high enough for

	him to kick a rock into the gap.



		He returned the knife to his belt and sat down until

	he caught his breath.  He noticed that it took longer than

	usual and realized that Q hadn't warned him about this 
  Page 107



	planets thin atmosphere.  Then, rising, Chris hefted the door

	back and it landed on the floor with a resounding thud. 

	There was now a dark, gaping hole in the floor.  The rock

	that had been propping the door open now fell in and Chris

	counted the seconds before he heard the rock hit bottom.

	After an eternity, that was really only seven seconds, the

	small crack of rock on rock was heard.  He estimated that 

	the pit was at least 250 meters deep.  



		Ensign Gawron hurriedly grabbed some cloth scraps

	off of one of the corpses in the corner, but couldn't bring

	himself to wrench off a femur.  Instead he found a reasonably

	sound chair leg, tied the cloth scraps to it, and lit it with

	a low intensity burst from his phaser.  Tying a knot in one 

	end of his rope, he lifted the door just enough to slide the 

	rope under it, the knot preventing, he hoped, the rope from

	sliding down with him once he put his full weight on it.  

	The other end of the rope was tossed into the pit.  Grabbing 

	the torch with one hand, he started down the rope into the 

	hole.  It took about fifteen minutes to reach the floor below.



		Slowly, Chris surveyed the situation.  He was in a large 

	cavern with a vaulted ceiling.  Rocks and bones of various 

	shapes and sizes littered the cave floor.  Three tunnels 

	branched off in front of him.



		Since he couldn't think of anything better to do,

	Chris arbitrarily chose the rightmost tunnel and started to 
  Page 108



	explore.  He had barely gone around the first bend when he 

	was forced to stop abruptly at the edge of a yawning chasm.

	He tossed a rather large stone down into the darkness.  Soon

	it was lost from torchlight.  He waited five seconds for it 

	to hit bottom ... ten seconds ... fifteen seconds ... twenty

	seconds passed and still he heard no sound from below.  A 

	rocky outcropping projected out over the pit, about halfway

	across, well out of Chris' reach.



		Looking beside him, Ensign Gawron saw a broad-

	leafed plant.  Curious, he broke off a leaf and examined it.

	Some fluid, sap he assumed, ran out of the leaf onto his 

	hands.  It was thick and extremely sticky.  Suddenly, he had

	an idea.



		Dropping the leaf, Chris ran back to the cavern and

	cut off as much of his rope as he could reach.  He estimated

	that he had twelve or thirteen feet, as the rope had been just

	two meters longer than the depth of the pit.  He scooped up a

	handful of rocks and ran back to the edge of the pit, careful 

	not to get too close for fear of falling in.






		Back on the Enterprise, a confused look came over 

	Riker's face as Chris, on the viewscreen, split one end of the

	rope lengthwise, coated the strands with sap, and then wrapped

	them around the stones he had picked up. 

  Page 109




		"What the hell does he think he's doing?  This is no

	time for arts and crafts!" asked Riker.



		Data, sitting at Ops turned and said, "I believe his

	purpose will become clear in a moment, sir."



		On the screen, Chris dried the sap with flames from

	his torch, all the while, careful not to set the rope itself

	ablaze.  Then, swinging it in wide circles, he let it fly out 

	over the pit.  The heavy end wrapped itself around the rocky 

	outcropping a few times and Chris pulled on the rope to make

	sure it would hold.  Confident in its strength, he picked up 

	his torch and swung out across the abyss.  The torchlight

	danced eerily on the walls, making Chris unsure where the 

	other side of the pit really was.  He tossed the torch as 

	far as he could toward the other side of the pit and it

	landed about 2 meters from the edge and bounced to a halt.

	The light steadied and Chris readied himself for his leap

	off the rope.  As his swing reached its greatest length 

	toward the far side, he jumped off the rope.  



		Troi gasped in horror as Chris mistimed his leap and

	slammed into the edge of the pit.  






		His hands clawing furiously for some purchase on the

	hard ground, Chris slowly slid farther over the edge.  Finally,
  Page 110



	just as he was about to fall to his death, he found a handhold

	and he hoisted himself away from the edge and lay flat on his 

	back, trying to regain the strength in his arms.  When they 

	were no longer throbbing from the exertion, he got to his 

	feet, retrieved his torch, and set off down the tunnel.

	Eventually, Chris came upon an underground lake.  It was the 

	width of the tunnel and swallowed his torchlight, providing no

	view of the bottom, if indeed there was one.  Chris decided to

	swim out a little way to see how far he could proceed.  He walked 

	in the cold water, torch held high above his head to prevent it

	from accidentally being extinguished.  Soon, when the water 

	became to deep to wade any further, he began to swim.  For 

	a few hundred meters, he swam along easily until the tunnel 

	roof sloped down to meet the water, blocking his advance.



		He weighed his options.  He could return to the 

	original junction and try a different tunnel or he could

	press on.  He decided to keep going, since the other two

	tunnels could be false leads and he'd end up back here anyway.

	Unfortunately, he'd have to give up his torch.  In order to

	provide as much light as possible, at least for awhile, he

	jammed the torch into a depression in the rocky wall before

	him.  Then, taking a few deep breaths to hyperoxygenate his

	blood, Ensign Gawron slipped below the obsidian surface of the

	lake.  Luckily, the water was clear, if a little dark, and the 

	torch provided ample illumination.  Swimming quickly, looking

	everywhere for a tunnel or some other way to proceed, he went

	deeper and deeper.  Finally, as he approached the lake bottom,
  Page 111



	Gawron found what he was looking for: a tunnel, more than wide

	enough for him to swim through.  He was so excited about his

	find that he entered the tunnel without noticing the bones of

	various other explorers, half buried in the ooze.



		At the other end of the tunnel, he could see a dim

	light.  Eagerly Chris swam on.  Ahead, a dark shape separated

	itself from the tunnel floor.  There was some kind of 

	phosphorescence in the tunnel walls which allowed Chris to see,

	barely.  Soon the shape revealed itself to be an alien fish,

	mouth open, teeth glinting in the dim light, headed directly

	towards him.  It had a long, muscular neck, stream-lined body,

	and powerful tail.  Its two forward flippers were spade shaped

	and propelled it along at at least ten knots.  On its head

	were two short, horn-shaped projections that Chris assumed 

	were sense organs, the creature being nearly blind living in

	the shadowy depths as it did.



		All of these observations were made while Chris struggled

	to slip the knife out of his belt.  Too late he realized it 

	was futile.  The creature was on him, twining its neck around

	him, trying to squeeze the life out of him.  Sharp teeth gnashed

	at him.  



		Chris knew that he was running out of both time and

	options.  His lungs already ached for clean air and what oxygen 

	was left was being slowly forced out by the creature's reptilian

	embrace.
  Page 112





		As darkness fought for control of his peripheral vision,

	he remembered his phaser.  The water would diffuse the beam, 

	but that would work to his advantage if the creature had even 

	rudimentary vision.  Slipping the phaser out of its holster

	on his belt, he set it for wide dispersal and fired it directly

	into the creature's eyes.  He noted with satisfaction that the

	creature's sensory horns suffered slight burns, as did most 

	of the thing's face.  Shocked and in pain, the creature 

	loosened its grip and Chris kicked free, swimming as hard as 

	he could to the end of the tunnel.  He broke the surface of 

	the water into the cool, sweet air just as the blackness which 

	had battled for the periphery of his vision had won and was

	creeping inward.



		After catching his breath, he gave himself a quick

	once-over looking for any injuries.  The dull pain in his

	side told him that he had bruised some ribs, but that seemed

	the worst of his injuries.



		Gathering himself, he started off down the tunnel.  

	Again he noted the phosphorescence in the walls and assumed 

	that it was some kind of light emitting mineral indigenous 

	to this planet.  As time was of the essence, he gave it only 

	a cursory examination and continued off down the passage.



		Eventually, the tunnel widened and Chris found himself

	in a sort of room, carved out of the rock.  The floor was 
  Page 113



	covered in a mosaic of different sized tiles, many of which

	were covered with soot and what looked like grease.  In the

	wall to his left he noticed several small holes surrounded by

	black, oily patches of rock.  Between the holes were larger,

	dark patches of soot and ash.  Curious, Chris looked across

	at the other wall.  Opposite the larger patches were holes,

	similar to those on the near wall.  In addition, the holes

	on the near wall were directly across from large, oily stains

	identical to those he had just examined.  



		Moving forward to investigate, Chris tripped over

	a loose piece of tile and fell, his hand striking a piece of

	the mosaic floor.  The tile disappeared into the floor as 

	flames shot from the apertures in both walls.  After a few 

	seconds they extinguished themselves and Chris stood up.  He

	had felt the heat from the flames on his back.  He took out

	his knife and tossed it further across the floor.  Immediately

	flames shot forth.  Chris waited for them to die down and then

	ran as fast as he could, feet barely touching the ground.  

	Fortunately, when he did touch the ground, he seemed to land 

	only on safe tiles, because the flamethrowers remained inactive,

	at least until he was three quarters of the way across.  He

	felt rather than saw the flames spring forward to envelope 

	him.  With a last, desperate burst of speed, Ensign Gawron

	launched himself through the far doorway.  He landed, slapping

	at his clothes, rolling to smother the flames.  He had been

	lucky, his wet clothes had protected him for the most part.

	Now his clothes were dry and he was ready to continue.  He
  Page 114



	thought about retrieving the knife, but when he saw how far

	into the room it was, he changed his mind.  He walked around

	a bend in the tunnel and came upon a blank wall.  



		Just as he was about to give up and turn back, he 

	noticed a button below a sign that read "PRESS ME."  Figuring

	he had nothing to lose, Chris reached toward the button and

	as his finger touched it...he felt his body slowly dissolve.







		On the Bridge, all was confusion.  Worf was fuming

	about what he perceived to be duplicity on Q's part.  Picard

	and Riker were talking anxiously among themselves, Troi 

	occasionally interjecting a comment.  Wesley was scanning the

	planet's surface for any sign of human life readings.  Data 

	was the only one who did not show any outward signs of emotion.

	Instead, he merely looked at the viewscreen, analyzing what

	had happened, occasionally glancing at his control panel, where

	the time left to them was counting down.



		"We have only seven hours, forty-three minutes, and

	fifteen seconds before we impact with the planet," read off

	Data.  Immediately silence reigned.  



		"Let's hope that both Q and Gawron know what they're

	doing," said Riker hopefully.


  Page 115



		"Gawron has confidence in himself," said Troi.  "Q, as

	always, is an unknown.  We must treat him with caution."



		"Agreed.  I have no wish to spend the rest of my 

	existence trapped in the past," said Picard.



		"Especially since we may cease to exist if we change

	the past sufficiently.  It would be a life of constant paranoia

	and dread that our actions may endanger our continued 

	existence and that of our history as we know it," informed

	Data.



		On the viewscreen, Gawron had reappeared in the 

	original junction.






		Assuming that it was Q's work, Chris wasted no time 

	and set off down the middle tunnel.  As he did, he noticed 

	that the knife had been replaced in his belt.  "I guess Q 

	wants me to have some kind of a chance," he thought to 

	himself.



		Soon, the tunnel narrowed and Ensign Gawron noticed 

	that it was littered with thick, green tendrils.  Not paying

	them much mind, he forged ahead.  But as soon as his foot 

	touched one of them, they all came to life, twisting around

	his legs.  Instantly, the phaser appeared in one hand, the 

  Page 116


	knife in the other.  Simultaneously firing and slashing, he

	slowly forced his way ahead.  Soon the tunnel behind him was 

	filled with burned or bleeding tentacles, many still writhing

	spasmodically.  The air was thick with the smell of charred

	plants.  Still Chris fought on, swinging away with the knife

	and firing left and right.  He had slipped into a fighting

	frenzy, firing and slashing wildly, when he noticed that the

	charge on his phaser was low.  Deciding to preserve as much 

	as possible, he stopped firing and forced himself to calm

	down.  He cut his way through the remaining tendrils.



		Finally he was through and, looking ahead, Chris saw

	a shimmering pool and realized for the first time how thirsty

	he had become.  Slipping his weapons back into their storage 

	areas on his belt, Chris ran forward and fell at the edge of 

	the pool.  As he bent to take a drink, he noticed the skeleton

	of an alien warrior, half in and half out of the pool.  His 

	lips were almost touching the surface of the pool when he 

	sensed that something was wrong with the skeleton.  It simply

	wasn't there below the pool's surface.  Chris kicked the rest

	of the creature into the pool.  It sank slowly and then the 

	corpse bubbled away.  Soon nothing remained of the alien but

	a greasy spot, which soon dispersed. 



		"Acid," Gawron thought.  "I have to be more careful.

	Oh well, no sense killing myself over a drink."  Still thirsty,

	he continued on.  After walking for what he estimated to be 

	an hour, he felt a slight breeze on his cheek and heard a low

  Page 117


	whirring sound, as if something was rushing past his ear.

	Drawing his knife, he held it up in front of him.  It was 

	immediately snatched from his grasp and broken in two by a

	seemingly invisible force.  Upon closer examination, however,

	Chris saw a razor thin blade spinning at eye level, so thin 

	as to be invisible in the dim light to any unsuspecting

	traveler.



		"Gives new meaning to the phrase `a little off the

	top,'" Chris thought out loud.  Ducking, he quickly moved 

	past the blade.  Again he reached a dead end tunnel.  This

	time when he tried to move, he found he couldn't.  Looking

	down, he saw that he was trapped in some sort of sticky ooze.

	Just out of reach was the button that said "PRESS ME."  He 

	dared not try to stretch further.  If he fell, Chris doubted 

	that he could get back up off the floor.  Drawing his phaser,

	he tried to melt the glue to no avail.  Finding only one option

	open to him, Gawron threw the phaser as hard as he could at

	the "PRESS ME" button.



		As soon as the phaser made contact, he found himself

	at the familiar junction.  Directly ahead of him, the phaser

	clattered to the floor a short distance into the middle tunnel.

	Chris retrieved it, noticing that it was now his only weapon,

	as the knife had not been replaced this time.  Remarkably, 

	the tricorder which hung over his should had survived unscathed

	so far.



  Page 118


		Returning to the junction, Ensign Gawron set off down

	the third, and he hoped final, tunnel.  Before he had gotten

	far, however, he heard a low rumbling and turned just in time 

	to see the cavern roof collapse, blocking off any hopes of 

	retreat.  



		

  Page 119



			Chapter 8

		Chris dodged out of the way of the still falling

	ceiling and ran down the tunnel.  After the rumbling had 

	finally ceased, he went back just far enough to pick up a 

	piece of the rubble that exhibited the peculiar phosphorescence,

	intending to study it further after his return to the 

	Enterprise.  "That is, if I return," he reminded himself.



		Continuing down the passage, Chris observed no 

	remains of any kind.  He found this surprising, until he

	realized that Q probably constructed the whole labyrinth.

	If Q didn't want it to seem that others had gotten this far,

	it was up to him.



		Lost in thought, Chris panicked as the floor fell

	out from under him.  Although surprised, he still managed to

	leap onto more solid ground.  He rolled and came up facing 

	the direction he had come, phaser in hand.  Where there had

	been ground moments before, was just a large hole.  Inside,

	Gawron could see the phosphorescence glinting off sharp 

	sticks covered with liquid that tricorder analysis proved to

	be poison.



		"Maybe Q isn't as fond of the Enterprise crew as he

	says.  I don't think I was meant to survive."  Resigning

	himself to his fate, he ventured on.  Soon, the walls became

	less craggy and resolved themselves into a series of sharp

	outcroppings.  Chris's foot came down with a sharper click
  Page 120



	than his boots had been making.  Suspiciously he looked 

	around and saw that the walls had begun to come together,

	narrowing the passage.  He could just make out the forward

	edge of the sliding walls.  He glanced behind him and saw

	that he had not quite come halfway.  Deciding quickly, he

	ran down the tunnel towards the far end, occasionally checking 

	his progress.  When the passageway, not very wide to begin 

	with, had shrunk to half its width, Chris put his head down

	in an all-out sprint toward the end of the passage.



		He emerged from the closing walls, panting, and 

	turned in time to see them close to eighteen inches and slam

	shut.  By now, Gawron's uniform shirt was all but destroyed

	and his pants hung in tatters below his knees.



		Looking ahead, Chris noticed a strange glow, stronger

	than the walls' natural phosphorescence, emanating from around

	a bend in the cave wall.  Approaching warily, he rounded the

	bend and saw where the bluish light was coming from: the

	ceiling.





		"Captain, sensors indicate a source of hard radiation

	has just appeared on the planet," reported Data.



		"Location in relation to Mister Gawron."



		"The radiation is distorting the readings, but he
  Page 121



	appears to be standing within it."



		"Must be coming from the ceiling," said Riker.  "How

	long can he be safely exposed to it, Data?"



		"Any exposure to radiation is unsafe, Commander, but

	there will be no irreparable damage for at least forty-five

	minutes.  I cannot be more precise."    



		"Great he has forty-five minutes, and we have two

	and a half hours," muttered Riker.



		"Engineering to Bridge, LaForge here."



		"What is it, Geordi?" asked Picard.



		"Captain, we've been in the planet's atmosphere for 

	thirty-two minutes and the hull temperature has already 

	reached 200 degrees Centigrade.  Without shields, we don't

	have as long as we normally would," came the voice from the

	intercom.



		"Acknowledged, Lieutenant.  Do what you can.  Bridge

	out," snapped Riker, upset at his inability to do anything 

	useful.



		"Take it easy, Number One.  We have Q trying to kill

	us already.  We don't need anyone else's help to do it for 
  Page 122



	him," said Picard warningly.



		"Aye, sir," said Riker, a little too loudly, a little

	too formally.






		Taking out his tricorder, Chris aimed it upwards.  

	After scanning the tunnel roof for a few seconds, he read the 

	results of the analysis.  The ceiling was coated with nearly

	pure, energized dilithium.  Prolonged exposure would result

	in a horrible death from radiation poisoning causing rapid

	decay and massive systems disfunctions.  As he put the tricorder

	away, his rock sample fell from his belt and bounced.  The 

	stone leapt up to shoulder height, where Chris caught it,

	startled.  He put it back into his belt.



		"Reduced gravity.  Sure, why should Q make anything

	simple."



		Laying down on his stomach, Chris began a slow,

	relaxed crawl through the anti-grav field, careful not to

	make any sudden, violent movements which would result in his

	being thrown at least partly to the tunnel roof.



		After nearly thirty minutes, Ensign Gawron had made

	his way under the fifty foot stretch of dilithium.  Gratefully,

	he stood, his uniform shirt falling in shreds to the ground to

  Page 123


	reveal his chest, covered in lacerations, both large and small.

	His back was covered with bruises and burns.



		Deciding to talk to Captain Picard about combat pay

	upon his return to the ship, he proceeded around another bend

	and was confronted by a blank wall of rock.  He search 

	exhaustively for the familiar button that would return him to

	the junction, but could not find it.



		Finally defeated, with no retreat possible, Chris

	slumped against the dead end wall -- and fell through it.  

	He found himself in a large chamber.  There, on a stone 

	pedestal, sat the pile of dilithium crystals.  Rising quickly,

	footsteps echoing loudly, he grabbed the dilithium crystals.

	In a flash, his rocky surroundings were replaced by the 

	familiar environs of the Enterprise.



		Riker was talking to LaForge over the intercom.

	"... don't care what you have to do.  Get out and push if you

	have to.  We've been in the atmosphere for nearly an hour."


	  
		"Commander, hull temperature is increasing.  Fifteen

	hundred degrees Celsius and rising.  Estimated survival time

	of the Enterprise, assuming temperature increase continues

	at this rate is one hour, thirty-eight minutes, fourteen point

	eight three five six ni--" 



		"Commander Data," spoke up Chris from the back of the

  Page 124


	Bridge, no one having noticed him, "I've got the crystals.

	How long will it take to install them and power up the

	engines?"



		The channel to Engineering still open, Geordi 

	answered: "Installation will take about ten minutes.  Restart

	will take an hour and a half."



		"Two minutes too long.  What happens if you bypass

	the safety checks?" asked Picard, anxiously.  While he waited

	for the answer he turned to Data and Gawron.  "Get down to 

	Engineering as fast as possible."  Data and Chris left the

	Bridge.



		"Under present circumstances, I was going to bypass

	the safety sequence anyway.  That gains us about forty-five

	minutes," came the answer from the Bridge speaker.



		"Do it, Geordi.  As quickly as possible," ordered

	Picard.  "Bridge out."



		Picard noticed that he was sweating and turned to 

	survey the Bridge.  Everyone there had a sheen of perspiration

	on their faces.  The humans were red-faced from the heat.

	Picard knew that the environmental controls were suffering 

	from the heat of the atmospheric friction. 

		He flicked on the intraship communicator.  "This

	is your captain speaking.  We have entered the atmosphere

  Page 125


	of an unknown world.  The increased heat is from the 

	atmospheric friction.  Steps are being taken to remove the

	Enterprise from danger.  In the meantime, all non-duty 

	personnel and civilians, remain in your quarters and keep

	your physical activity to a minimum.  Picard out."



		The Bridge was silent.  Periodically reports came in

	from Engineering.  There were no major problems and the restart

	process was nearly complete when the red-alert sirens blared.

	"Warning!  Maximum safe temperature exceeded!  Total systems

	failure imminent!" warned the computer.



		"Bridge to Engineering.  You better have some good

	news!" yelled Riker into the intercom.



		"I need more time, Commander," pleaded Geordi.  "The

	engines will be back on-line in three minutes.  You have 

	shields now."



		"Not good enough, Geordi.  This ship can't hold

	together for much longer.  Bridge out."  Riker slapped the

	channel shut before Geordi could respond.



		Wesley turned quickly, an idea forming in his mind.

	"Worf, what's the minimum safe distance for the Enterprise

	to survive the detonation of a photon torpedo?"



		"Two kilometers.  Why?" growled the warrior, his bony

  Page 126


	brow wrinkling in confusion.



		"Captain, I recommend that we fire a photon torpedo

	and set it to detonate two kilometers in front of our predicted

	position."



		"Ensign Crusher, what purpose would it ser--"  Picard's

	expression changed as he saw where this was leading.  Turning 

	to Lieutenant Aures at Ops, he said "Transfer all available 

	power to forward shields."  As she moved to raise the shields,

	Picard turned to Worf and ordered him to "Fire two photon

	torpedos.  Set one to detonate two kilometers in front of

	us and the other to detonate two seconds after, same position."



		All eyes on the Bridge turned to Picard, wondering 

	what he could be planning.  The whoosh of escaping air

	could be heard as the torpedos were launched.  As the first

	one detonated, the blast forced the Enterprise's bow up so

	that the lower hull was absorbing the friction of the

	atmosphere.



		"Now, Ensign, transfer all power to lower shields!"



		No sooner had her hands stopped moving, than Aures

	was thrown from her chair, as were most of the Bridge crew, 

	by the second explosion.  The Enterprise was lifted up and

	pushed back, out of the planets atmosphere.  It settled into

	a high, loose orbit.  Seconds later, the warp nacelles lit

  Page 127


	up red and blue.



		"Warp power is now available, Captain," reported

	Wesley.



		"Resume course and speed," said Picard, and, tapping

	his combadge, "Ensign Gawron to Sickbay, then meet me in my

	Ready Room.  You have the Bridge, Number One."



		Picard left the Bridge through the portside doors

	into his Ready Room.



		


		As Chris entered Sickbay, Pulaski rushed over.

	"It's about time you got here.  Here, sit down," she said,

	indicating a diagnostic bed.  "What happened to you, have a

	disagreement with Worf?"



		"No, Q," replied Chris.  "I think I won."



		"I'm impressed.  Now lie down."


		Chris lay back slowly, trying not to aggravate his

	injuries, especially those on his back.  The scanners in the

	bed went to work automatically, displaying their results on

	the wall panel beside the bed.



		"Life signs appear to be normal.  Just surface

  Page 128


	injuries," diagnosed Pulaski.



		"You mean I'll live, Doc," inquired Chris, only half

	jokingly.



		"I'm afraid so."



		Pulaski wheeled over a healing ray: a low power laser

	used to graft synthiskin over wounds.  She set to work and 

	after about twenty minutes, Chris looked, if not felt, as good

	as new.  Except for the burns on his back.  For these, and as

	a treatment for his cuts, Pulaski bathed him in a different

	ray, one that would help to regenerate his skin.



		"Unfortunately, this will have the side effect of

	making you tired and stiff.  I suggest you take it easy for

	twenty-four to thirty-six hours.  Consider yourself relieved

	of duty, Mister ..." she trailed off, not knowing his name.



		"Gawron.  Ensign Chris Gawron."



		"Pleased to meet you, Chris.  Anyone who can beat

	Q is certainly a good person to know.  I'm Doctor Katherine

	Pulaski," she said, reaching out to shake Chris' hand,

	careful not to reopen any of his injuries.







  Page 129


		The door to Picard's Ready Room chimed.  He switched

	off his desk terminal and said, "Come."



		The doors parted and Chris entered.



		"Tell me, Ensign, just what happened to you down

	there?"



		Slowly, carefully, not wanting to omit any details,

	Chris told Picard about his adventure.  When he finished,

	Picard went over to the food dispenser in the corner and

	ordered "Tea, Earl Grey, Hot."  As he returned to his chair,

	sipping his tea thoughtfully, he said, "Most impressive.

	You exhibit tremendous stamina and resilience."



		"I can't really take all the credit for it myself,

	sir.  I owe part of it to an old friend," Gawron admitted.



		"He trained you?"



		"No," Chris laughed.  "Putting up with him over the

	years convinced me I could do anything.  He was a little hard

	to take for an extended period of time.  Had a terrible sense

	of humor, too."



		"You mean he took everything seriously?" asked Picard.



		"Just the opposite.  There was nothing that he took

  Page 130


	seriously.  Nothing except his friends," he said wistfully.



		"What happened to him?  He sounds like an interesting

	personality," said Picard, curiously.



		"Had the wrong psych profile for Starfleet.  He had

	what some people call 'spontaneous genius;' brief, unexplained,

	unpredictable flashes of brilliance.  Jumped to too many 

	conclusions, too many times.  Even though he was right the

	majority of the time, he was considered too much of a risk

	for Starfleet Sciences.  Wouldn't have lasted long, anyway.

	He had no use for authority of any kind," finished Chris.



		"I know the type.  As much as I'd like to continue

	reminiscing with you, we have a mission to complete.  You,

	however, are confined to the civilian areas of the Enterprise

	until Doctor Pulaski or myself tell you otherwise," said

	Picard, in a tone heavy with tension, but with relief evident.



		"I see no problem with those orders," replied Gawron.



		"Glad to hear it.  Dismissed."



		Chris exited, followed by Picard.  As Chris walked

	toward the Turbolift, Riker turned and said sternly, "Ensign,

	is that uniform regulation?"



		Chris stopped and looked down at the sorry state of 

  Page 131


	what used to be his uniform.  His shirt was gone and not much

	was left of his pants.  His boots were ripped and scorched.

	"I think it used to be.  I wonder if this look will catch on."

	Almost as an after thought, Chris added, "Sorry, sir.  I didn't

	have time to change."



		"That's alright," said Riker, breaking into a wide

	grin.  "I just hope it doesn't catch on.  Carry on, Ensign."



		The Turbolift doors closed with a soft his behind

	Chris as he sped away from the Bridge.



		Picard took over the command chair from Commander

	Riker.



		"Status, Number One."



		"Still orbiting the planet, Captain.  Sensors 

	register nothing down there.  No city, no lifesigns at all,"

	reported Riker.



		"Strange.  From what I understand of Ensign Gawron's

	story, there was a good-sized village and an extensive series

	of tunnels on the planet, as well as at least one species of 

	large water lizard and a carnivorous plant.  I can see Q's

	hand in this.  I wish he'd stay in the Continuum or do 

	something useful, rather than continually bothering us."



  Page 132


		Riker turned to look at Picard, eyes bright.

	"I know you won't believe this, but after being part of the

	Q for a few hours, I think I understand him.  At least a 

	little.  Being omnipotent there's not much that challenges

	him.  Humans do because we are stubborn."



		"I agree, Captain," said Counselor Troi.  "He sees us

	as both superior and inferior at the same time.  He envies us

	our mortality and our ability to love others.  Because of the 

	Q's immortality and their power, they must always be careful.

	We have no such responsibility."



		"Captain, if I may remind you, we have a mission to

	perform," reminded Worf from above.



		"Yes, quite right, Lieutenant.  Mister Crusher, 

	compute and execute a new course to the Vexis Corinhi system."



		"Aye, Captain," acknowledged the Ensign.  "Course 

	computed and laid in."



		"Warp 5, engage."



		"Warp 5, sir," replied Wes.



		"Mister Data, ETA to the Corinhi system."



		"Three hours, barring any further interruptions,"

  Page 133


	answered the android.



		"Counselor, how are the crew faring?" asked the 

	Captain.



		"For a time they were nervous, but now that the 

	Enterprise is no longer in immediate danger, they are again

	confident in our ability to succeed," reported the Betazoid.



		"I hope so, Deanna.  But where Q is involved, we're

	always in immediate danger," said Riker somberly.



		"I sincerely hope that you're wrong this time,

	Number One," said Picard grimly.  "I don't care about Q's

	assurances.  Neither the crew nor the ship can take much 

	more."



		"I agree, Captain.  Mister Data, dig up any 

	information you can on the Vexis Corinhi system.  We might 

	as well know as much as possible about our destination,"

	ordered Riker.



		"Accessing, Commander."  Data cocked his head slightly

	to one side as he searched his internal memory banks for the 

	requested information.



		"The Vexis Corinhi system contains fourteen planets

	orbiting a G class star.  The fourth and fifth planets are

  Page 134


	marginally class M.  The inner three planets revolve around 

	the sun in very tight orbits and are little more than molten

	lava.  The sixth through ninth planets are solid, but 

	inhospitable by human standards.  They are home to perpetual

	geothermal and electrical disturbances.  The remaining planets

	are lifeless pieces of rock, barely large enough to be 

	classified as planets.  At this time, the Klingons have

	peripherally scanned the system but have not explored it or

	established any outposts.  In our time period, the fourth

	planet is known as --" Data stopped, unsure of whether to

	continue.



		"What is it, Data?  What do we call it in our time?"

	demanded Picard.



		"In our time period," continued Data, after a 

	worried glance at Worf, "the fourth planet is known as

	Khitomer."



		Worf looked up, startled.  "Khitomer," he said 

	under his breath, and more loudly, "My family!  Captain, we

	must warn the Klingon high command of the attack on Khitomer."



		"You know we can't, Worf.  If we were to change 

	everything that we think went wrong with history, we may 

	not continue to exist.  I can sympathize with you, though.

	With our knowledge we could prevent the destruction of the

	original Enterprise and the death of Tasha Yar, but we can't."

  Page 135


	Picard turned back to Data, obviously saddened at his 

	inability to change things for the better.  "Where will we

	most likely find these creatures?"



		"If the creatures we are looking for energy to absorb

	as a nutrient, the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth planets

	would be the logical choice," answered Data.



		"Ensign Crusher, when we enter the Corinhi system,

	plot a course for the sixth planet at one-half impulse power."

		"Worf, a want a full sensor sweep of the area.  Check

	for any potential surprises," ordered Picard.       



		As Wesley started his computations, Worf protested,

	"Captain, if Commander Data is correct, we will be unable to

	scan the planets because of the prescence of so much energy.

	I recommend a shuttlecraft survey of each planet."



		"Make it so, Lieutenant.  When we enter orbit around

	Vexis Corinhi VI, take ten shuttles and perform a routine 

	search.  Once you find something, return to the Enterprise

	and we'll take it from there," said Picard.



		"Aye, sir.  I will select ten shuttle crews and make 

	the necessary preparations," said the Klingon.  As he moved 

	to the Turbolift his replacement moved to take his place.



		"Good luck, Worf."

  Page 136




		"Thank you, Commander Riker, but Klingons do not

	believe in luck."


		
		The Turbolift doors closed and he was gone.






  Page 137




				CHAPTER 9

		Chris entered the gym looking for something to do.

	Looking around, he saw a volleyball game in progress.  In 

	other areas, people were lifting weights, jogging, and doing

	exercises, but most of the people there were gathered near

	the volleyball court.  Many because they were unfamiliar with

	the game, not being native to Earth.  Others because their 

	friends were playing.  Still others stood there because they 

	had nothing better to do.  Among the crowd, Chris recognized

	many familiar faces.  



		As he entered, they elbowed their way out of the 

	crowd to surround him.  They all began talking at once,

	asking him what had happened.



		Chris chose not to answer until they had all quieted

	down.  J'ff, a Tellarite male, bellowed happily, "I'm glad 

	you're back, you rotten space scum."  Insults were the way

	Tellarites expressed friendship.



		"I'm glad, too, J'ff, you mangy hairball," Chris

	tried feebly.  He didn't sound it.



		"You should be happy.  Chris, you're a hero!" said

	someone from the back of the crowd.



		"No, I'm not.  I just did what anyone else would have

  Page 138


	done in the same situation," he protested.



		"Sure, anyone else would have done it, but you're the

	one who actually DID it.  You saved the ship and everyone 

	owes you a debt of gratitude," J'ff said, trying to convince

	him.



		"Captain Picard already thanked me and Doctor Pulaski

	says she respects me for outwitting Q.  That's way more than I 

	needed or expected."



		"Well, we're proud of you, if it means anything,"

	snorted J'ff, de facto spokesman for the group.



		"That's all I wanted to hear.  See, I'm happy now."

	True, Chris' mood had brightened alot since he first entered

	the Rec deck.



		Together, they walked over to the volleyball court.

	The game had broken up by now, but several people were

	playfully hitting the ball back and forth over the net.

	Chris and J'ff joined in, the others preferring to watch.

	Soon, ten people were on the court.  A game was soon 

	organized.  Chris' team consisted of himself, J'ff, Sonya

	Gomez from Engineering, the Andorian Theltok, and Mark

	Bentley, a Rec deck attendant.  Their opponents were Bill

	and Ted Kelso, the twin maintenance cadets, Ray Smith, a

	civilian student, and Steve Bennett and Larry Howard,

  Page 139


	computer technicians.  Despite a valiant effort, one which

	left Chris in serious doubt about his decision to play, his

	team lost 19 - 17.  The teams shook hands and left the court

	to let others use it.  Chris headed off for 10-Forward for 

	dinner.






		"Mister Data, what is our current ETA?" asked Picard.



		"1.75 hours, sir."



		"Mister Worf, status."



		Worf had returned from making the preparations for

	his shuttle mission.  "All ship's systems are functioning at

	normal levels.  Sensors detect no ships in our vicinity,"

	replied the Klingon.



		"I have serious doubts about my perception of normalcy,

	Mister Worf.  Keep me informed of any changes," ordered Picard.



		On the screen, three ships shimmered into existence

	and solidified.  Their green hulls and stylized markings were

	unmistakable.



		"Captain, three Klingon battlecruisers have just 

	decloaked and are powering up their disruptors and photon

	torpedoes!  Point blank range," shouted Worf.
  Page 140





		"I think we can all see that, Worf," snapped Picard.

	"Red alert.  Shields up, Data.  Worf, ready phasers and load

	torpedo bays.  Wait for my order to fire."



		"Shields up, Captain."



		On the screen, a sparkling ball of red fire erupted

	from the nose of each battlecruiser and sped toward the 

	Enterprise.  The ship rocked with each hit.



		"Shields holding at 54% efficiency.  Minor hull

	damage.  Shields rebuilding," reported Data.



		"Worf, fire phasers at their engine pods.  Disable

	them," ordered Picard..



		Worf hesitated for a moment, then stepped back from

	his station.  He stood looking straight ahead.  "I cannot,

	sir."



		"Lieutenant, I gave you a direct order," said Picard

	dangerously.



		"Captain, these are my people.  I will not fire on 

	them," Worf said defiantly.



		On the screen, sizzling disruptor beams lanced out 
  Page 141



	at the Enterprise.  Again the ship shook.  "Shields down to

	14%," reported Data.



		"Mister Worf, fire those phasers or get off my Bridge!"



		"I am sorry, sir.  But I will not fire."



		"Mister Worf, you are relieved from duty.  Report

	to the brig.  I'm sure you know the way."



		"Yes, Captain," said Worf sullenly as he left the

	Bridge.  Riker jumped over the railing part way up the aft

	ramp and took Worf's position at Tactical.  He immediately

	fired tight beam blasts at their attackers.  The Klingons'

	engine pods burst open amid the flash of vaporized metal,

	leaving behind the sparking arcs of fused electrical circuits.



		"The Klingons have been disabled, sir.  I read their

	power levels at 11% nominal.  They have only life support

	and limited subspace communications range," reported Data.



		"Thank you, Mister Data," said Picard.  "Damage

	report."



		"Minimal damage to forward saucer decks.  Shields at

	38% and holding.  Engineering crews are at work trying to

	increase power to the shields," stated Riker, reading the 

	information off of Worf's console.
  Page 142





		"Open hailing fre--"  Picard was cut off as the 

	ship rocked as a blinding light emanated from the viewscreen.

	The Enterprise pitched back and forth under the force of the 

	colliding debris left from the exploding Klingon ships.



		"They must have done that deliberately.  In order to

	prevent us from capturing them," thought Riker out loud.



		"Perhaps they hoped to destroy us in the process,"

	hypothesized Data.  "They did succeed in rendering us

	defenseless.  Our shields are down."



		"You are both correct.  I sensed great fear and

	hatred from those three ships.  They were afraid of us and

	of what we might do to them should they be captured," spoke

	up Troi.



		"The Klingons used anti-Federation propaganda to 

	make their people fear and loathe humans.  The Federation

	was made out to be a group of bloodthirsty monsters set on

	galactic domination.  In addition, they were trained to kill 

	themselves, rather than be taken alive," informed Data.



		"That's all very well, Data, but we still have a 

	mission to perform.  I have a feeling that the Federation's 

	time is running out, if the information you gave me was 

	correct, Number One," said Picard.
  Page 143





		"It was as correct as anything concerning Q can be,

	sir.  But the fact that Q can travel through time makes me 

	nervous.  He could pop up at any time," worried Riker.



		"It's something we'll have to live with, Number One.

	Mister Crusher, resume course and speed to Vexis Corihni VI,"

	ordered Picard wearily, tired of having to repeat himself,

	tired of the interruptions, and, most of all, tired of Q.



		"Aye, sir.  Warp 5 to Vexis Corihni VI," answered

	Wesley.



		After an hour and forty-five minutes had passed,

	Wes reported, "Slowing to one-half impulse power."



		"Full range sensor sweep initiated," said Ensign

	Ferrar from Tactical.  "No sign of anything out of the 

	ordinary."



		"Commander Data, launch a Class-1 probe to Vexis

	Corihni VI.  Full instrumentation.  I want as much information

	as is humanly possible to get," said Picard.



		"But, Captain, regrettably, I am not hu--"  One look

	at Picard silenced the android before he could finish his

	lament: "human."  "Probe launched, sir," he reported instead.


  Page 144



		"Ensign Ferrar, anything registering on your scans?"

	asked Riker.



		"Nothing, sir.  As far as I can tell, everything is 

	as it should be," replied the tall Andorian in the sibilant

	whisper peculiar to his race.



		"Mister Crusher, assume a standard orbit.  Commander

	Riker, get a survey team together and use a shuttlecraft to 

	search the planet for these creatures," said Picard.  "Just

	locate them, nothing else."



		"Aye, sir.  Data, come with me."  Tapping his combadge,

	Riker said, "Lieutenants LaForge, Rubino, and Aures, report 

	to Shuttlebay 1 for a reconnaisance mission.  Riker out."



		Riker and Data left the Bridge together, planning the 

	mission.  As they left, Ensign Harris arrived on the Bridge

	and slid into Data's chair, swinging the control panel into

	position in front of her.  After a few seconds, she reported 

	to Picard.  "Information from the probe, sir:  Surface 

	temperature sixty degrees Centigrade, wind speed ninety

	kilometers per hour, visibility five feet.  The planet is 

	just like Earth in it's early history.  Numerous volcanic

	eruptions, seas of boiling mud, no lifesigns, immense

	electromagnetic storms."



		"Thank you, Ensign," acknowledged Picard.  "Maybe 
  Page 145



	Commander Riker can find some of these non-existent creatures,"

	he said to himself thoughtfully.







		In Shuttle Bay 1, Riker's survey team was gathering.

	Data, of course, had come with Riker.  Lieutenant LaForge was 

	waiting for them when they arrived, followed soon by Rubino 

	and Aures.



		"I assume you all know what you're here for," stated

	Riker.  When no one said anything, he said, "Good, let's get

	started."



		As the five officers approached shuttlecraft 3, DaVinci,

	Lieutenant Phyllis Rubino, her black hair brushing the shoulders 

	of her science uniform, asked, "Commander, if the sensor readings

	are correct, won't the electrical storms interfere with 

	communications?"



		Riker looked at Data, signaling him to reply.  "Yes,

	Lieutenant, you are partially correct.  We will not be able to

	contact the Enterprise, but they will be able to contact us. 

	The ship's communications equipment is much more powerful than

	any of our shuttlecrafts'."



		"In addition, we'll have to watch out for those volcanoes.

	Molten rock is shot nearly to the outer edge of the atmosphere
  Page 146



	and then falls back, superheating in the process," added Jill 

	Aures.  The geophysicist was short by human standards.  She had

	a full head of jet black hair and a slim figure.



		"How dangerous are they to the shuttlecraft?" asked

	Riker.



		"On the way up, they could blast a hole through the 

	hull.  On the way down, they're hot enough to melt through

	the exterior plates of the Enterprise like a laser through 

	butter.  The small ones will only shake us up a bit.  I don't

	even want to think about what the large one's could do!"

	answered Geordi worriedly.



		"See that we don't find out, Geordi," said Riker.

	"You'll be our pilot, as well as using your VISOR to analyze

	the planet's atmosphere.  Data will assist you.  Rubino, 

	you're our xenobiologist.  You'll be in charge of getting as

	much information as possible about these creatures, as well 

	as trying to classify them.  Aures, this is our big chance 

	to study a planet in its infancy.  See that we don't miss 

	anything important."



		With that they boarded the DaVinci, Riker in the lead,

	and completed the pre-flight checks.  Riker signaled the Bridge,

	"Shuttle 3 ready for departure."



		Picard's voice came back "Acknowledged.  Bon voyage,
  Page 147



	Number One."



		"Thank you, sir.  DaVinci out.  Okay, Geordi, let's

	go."



		"Aye, Commander."  LaForge's hands moved over the

	control panel with grace and precision.  The shuttle slowly

	slid forward, picking up speed as the doors to Shuttle Bay 3

	parted and the warning signal sounded.  The DaVinci flew out

	of the neck of the Enterprise, between its hulking warp

	nacelles.  As the DaVinci passed, their blue light briefly

	illuminated the cockpit, glinting off Geordi's VISOR as they

	dipped down toward the planet's surface.



		"Hang on, folks.  Things get bumpy from here on in,"

	warned Geordi.  It proved to be something of an understatement,

	as the shuttlecraft lurched violently from side to side.

	"I'll try to find a more moderate climate," shouted Geordi 

	through clenched teeth.



		All around them rocks leapt and fell.  Sending off 

	sparks and trailing by streaks of flame, the were almost as

	bright as the lightning that burst everywhere, arcing across

	the dark sky.



		To Geordi, it appeared beautiful.  He could see the 

	magnetic fields and thermal radiation of everything 

	surrounding the shuttle.  It took all his effort to take in
  Page 148



	the sights around him while fighting to keep the shuttle airborn.

	Finally, after many tense minutes, the buffeting died down to a

	mild rocking.



		"Good work, Lieutenant.  Everyone alright back here?"

	Riker turned to look at Rubino and Aures.  Both were nearly as 

	pale as Data, but nodded to indicate that they felt up to the

	task at hand.



		Geordi pilotted the shuttle as Data, Rubino, and Aures

	went about their tasks.  After awhile, Riker took over the 

	controls from LaForge, so that he could join in the analysis.



		Suddenly, Rubino looked up.  "Commander, I think I've

	got something.  Come around to course 103 mark 330."



		The shuttle turned as it made the 30 degree dive below

	the horizontal.  A flash of lightning pierced the roiling clouds

	around them, allowing them to see the creature for the first time.



		"It resembles as Earth sea creature known as a jellyfish.

	Its tentacles absorb energy and channel it to the sac on top 

	where it is converted into some form of nutrients," reported

	Rubino.



		"I don't know if you can see this, but there's more

	to that thing than just tentacles and a body/bag," cautioned

	LaForge.
  Page 149





		"What do you see, Geordi?" asked Data.



		"It looks like...I don't know exactly what it looks

	like.  It keeps changing shape and shifting up and down 

	through the entire electromagnetic spectrum.  Everything except 

	visible light."



		The creature drifted towards the DaVinci, as if 

	curious about the strange intruder into its world.  A

	tentacle snaked out in the direction of the shuttle.  As it

	made contact with the DaVinci's outer skin, a brilliant flare

	of lightning struck the port engine nacelle.  A blinding 

	flash lit up the inside of the shuttle, and the creature

	recoiled and fled in pain.  Inside alarms sounded and consoles

	sparked and sputtered.  Everyone except Geordi and Data had 

	their hands tightly clasped over their eyes, moaning in pain.



		"Can anyone see?" Riker managed to gasp, voice weak 

	with pain.



		"I can, Commander," answered Geordi.  "My VISOR

	protected me from the flare."



		"What about you, Data?"



		"Regrettably, my optic sensors were damaged in much

	the same way as yours.  My vision will return eventually, due
  Page 150



	to my self-repair functions, sir."



		"Geordi, can you get us back to the ship?"



		"I'll try, Commander.  The port nacelle took quite

	a hit.  No guarantees," answered the Chief Engineer, with 

	unaccustomed pessimism.  The old saying about the blind

	leading the blind crossed his mind, but he didn't speak it.



		Slowly, ponderously, the shuttle spun on its 

	horizontal axis.  It limped in the general direction of space, 

	struggling to gain altitude and at the same time avoid the

	omnipresent showers and fountains of molten rock.  Just as 

	it seemed they were safe, a rock the size of a man's fist

	rocketted upwards, through the port nacelle, sending the 

	shuttle into a violent end over end tumble.  As Geordi's

	hands moved rapidly over his control board, trying to 

	reestablish control of the shuttle, Aures screamed in alarm

	as her station exploded in a shower of sparks and plastic 

	shrapnel.  Rubino and Riker felt their way over to her.

	Aures was unconscious and Rubino's hands encountered a warm,

	sticky wetness wherever she touched Aures.  Still unable to

	see, Riker felt his way down Aures' arm until he found her

	wrist.  He desperately felt for a pulse.  It was there, though

	barely perceptible.  Her breathing was so shallow as to be 

	nearly unnoticeable.



		"LaForge!" Riker shouted through the acrid smoke that
  Page 151



	was rapidly filling the cabin.  "Get us back to the ship now!

	Aures is dying!"



		"I'm trying, sir, but we only have one functioning

	engine and everything that's not destroyed is barely 

	functional."



		"Are the shields still up?" asked Data.



		"Shields 1, 2, and 4 are at 53%, 3 and 5 are down.

	Shield 6, in the rear, is at 89%.  Why?"  A look of puzzlement

	settled onto Geordi's face.



		"At what distance would an 89% effective deflector 

	screen absorb and reflect the force of a small matter/anti-

	matter explosion?" inquired the android.



		"That depends on the size of the explosion.  If we

	detonate one of our engines..."  A look of understanding lit

	up LaForge's face.  "Yes, Data!  Of course!  If we jettison 

	our port nacelle and drop it's containment field, we can bounce

	the force of the explosion off our aft deflector and launch 

	ourselves out of here.  Brilliant!"



		Geordi set to work on the necessary calculations and

	then told Data, "If we channel all power to the aft deflector,

	we can survive the nacelle's explosion at a range of 3.738 

	kilometers.  If it hits us squarely, that is."
  Page 152





		"What happens if we're too close or it doesn't hit 

	us squarely?" Rubino asked anxiously.



		"You remember the story of Icarus?"



		"Yes, he flew too close to the sun and his wings of

	wax melted.  He --" she broke off dejectedly, face paling.



		"He fell to Earth.  That's us if this doesn't work,"

	finished Geordi.  "I've programmed the computer to drop the 

	nacelle's containment field at .4 kilometers just in case.

	Before we get started, anyone who doesn't want to do this, I

	suggest you get off now."  No one moved or spoke.  "Here

	goes.  Ejecting port-side engine nacelle."  The shuttlecraft's

	tumble shifted slightly as its weight became uneven.  Geordi

	channeled all power except minimal life support to the aft

	shield.  Aures was strapped into a chair by Riker and Rubino

	before they belted themselves in.  Geordi made sure both he

	and Data were buckled in as he read off the nacelle's distance

	from the drifting shuttle.  "100 meters, 200 meters, 300

	meters, 350 meters, 390 meters, brace yourselves!  Four hun--"

	His words were knocked out of him by the force of the 

	explosion.  Everyone was pressed back into their seats as they

	accelerated.  The last thing Geordi remembered seeing before 

	he passed out was the Enterprise shining in the sky.  Then

	darkness closed in.


  Page 153






		"Captain!" shouted Maggie Harris.  "Sensors detect

	something approaching at Warp 1.2.  It's Commander Riker's

	shuttle and its heading straight for the lower surface of

	our saucer."



  Page 154




			Chapter 10


		"What the hell!  They can't go that fast.  Their

	shuttle was designed for impulse speeds only," pondered

	Picard.  "Ensign Ferrar, lock on tractor beam.  Grab them 

	before they put a hole in my ship!"



		"Tractor beam locked on, sir.  The shuttle is 

	slowing down," answered Ferrar.  "It's being pushed toward

	the outer edge of the saucer."



		"Speed down to Warp 1 and decreasing," reported 

	Harris.



		"They're too close," warned Wesley.



		"A few more seconds and they'll be clear of the

	saucer, Captain," said Ferrar.



		"I hope so, Ensign.  Open hailing frequencies to

	the shuttle," ordered Picard.



		"Frequencies open."



		"Picard to shuttle.  What the hell is going on,

	Commander Riker?"  A pause.  "Riker, are you there?  Will,

	answer me!"  No response.


  Page 155



		"Ensign Harris, life readings on the shuttle."



		"I read four humans, one android.  The humans are

	all unconscious," she answered.



		"Speed and range of the shuttlecraft," asked Picard.



		".05 impulse and closing from 500 meters," answered

	Wesley.



		"Sir, the shuttle has passed out of tractor beam range.

	The lower engineering hull is in the way," reported Ferrar 

	anxiously.



		A slight jarring rang through the hull.  A red alert

	sounded as the computer calmly reported "Warning.  Hull breach

	on level 14.  Loss of atmosphere.  Isolating effected areas."

	At one of the rear science stations, a diagram of the Enterprise

	appeared, the damaged areas flashing a brilliant orange.



		Picard tapped his combadge.  "Damage control and 

	repair teams to deck 14.  Chief O'Brien, beam all five shuttle

	occupants directly to Sickbay.  Doctor Pulaski, prepare for 

	incoming wounded."






		In Sickbay, five shapes sparkled and materialized

  Page 156


	into Riker, Rubino, Data, LaForge, and Aures.  Pulaski and

	her staff went to work immediately.



		

		"Damage report, Mister Ferrar," said Picard.



		"Five compartments were opened to space, as well as

	many bulkheads being damaged.  There were no casualties."



		"Begin repairs immediately.  Picard to Sickbay.

	Doctor Pulaski, what is the condition of the survey team?"



		"Everyone is suffering from mild exposure to space.

	Commanders Riker and Data and Lieutenant Rubino are suffering

	from temporary blindness.  Lieutenant Aures caught the brunt of

	an exploding console.  She seems to have shielded the others 

	from the blast.  She's lost a lot of blood and is chock full

	of plastic shards, but has a good chance of pulling through."



		"May I speak to Data, please, Doctor?"



		"Of course, Captain," Pulaski acquiesced.



		"Data here, sir.  What do you require?"



		"Please tell me what happened down there," said

	Picard.



  Page 157


		Data related their experiences in a condensed form.

	When he had finished, Picard asked, "How long until you'll

	be fully functional?"



		"My optical sensors are currently functioning at 38%

	efficiency.  I estimate one hour until I can safely return to

	duty."



		"While you're waiting, formulate a plan to capture

	one of these creatures with the tractor beam, keeping in mind

	the interference generated by the planet's atmosphere," said

	Picard.



		"Yes, sir.  Data out."  The channel to Sickbay closed.



		"Captain, sensors register a large object rising 

	towards us from the planet," reported Ferrar.



		"Shields up.  Ensign Harris, analysis."



		"The entity is unscannable, sir.  It absorbs any

	sensor beams directed at it.  Range ten kilometers and closing,"

	she said.



		"Ensign Ferrar, lock on with a tractor beam as soon as

	the creature comes into range," ordered Picard.



		"Tractor lock established."

  Page 158




		"Sir, we're being pulled toward the creature and

	power to the tractor beam has increased," reported Wesley.



		"It's eating the tractor beam; forcing it to use

	more power," said Picard in wonder.  Then, remembering the 

	situation, he ordered "Disengage tractor beam."



		"Sir, I sense intense curiosity and great longing,"

	spoke up Troi.



		"It's probably never encountered a starship before,

	and certainly nothing as powerful as the Enterprise," said

	Picard. 



		"To a creature such as this, we represent a pure food

	source.  It must sense our great power and see it as a constant

	supply of nutrients," Troi analyzed.



		"No one treats me as lunch if I can help it," stated

	Picard emphatically.  "Mister Data, I trust you've been 

	monitoring our situation on the Bridge."



		"Affirmative, Captain, but I require additional 

	information in order to complete my plan."



		"You'll certainly get your additional data, 

	Commander.  I intend to use all our resources against this 

  Page 159


	thing to ensure we survive this misson.  Picard out."



		"Power drain on the forward shields," reported Harris.

	"Down eight percent."



		"Picard to Engineering."



		"Gomez here," came back Lieutenant Sonya Gomez's

	husky voice.



		"We have a power drain on the forward shields.  An

	alien being is siphoning off our power.  Is there anything

	you can do down there to limit the power drain?"



		"Nothing I can suggest offhand, other than shutting

	everything down, sir.  If there's no power, that creature 

	won't have anything to absorb," she answered.



		"Captain, if we shut down everything except 10-Forward,

	the creature would be drawn to that," suggested Wesley.



		"Your point, Ensign," prompted Picard irritably.

	Annoyed that things were not going as planned.



		"If we then brought up shields and hit it with phasers,

	photon torpedos, sensor scans, and the tractor beam maybe we

	could knock it out, or at least keep it from stealing any more

	of our power."

  Page 160




		"Like when a human overeats," came Gomez's voice from 

	the Bridge speaker.



		"Make it so," said Picard.



		"Aye, Captain.  Blocking power feeds to all ship areas

	except 10-Forward," reported Gomez.



		The Bridge stations' consoles went dark one by one.

	Finally, the viewscreen faded to black and the Bridge lights 

	went out, only to be replaced after a brief delay by the red

	emergency lights.



		In Sickbay, Pulaski looked around franticly as Aures'

	life monitors winked out.  The hum of the stasis field which

	had been surrounding her open chest cavity faded and disappeared.

	As she was enveloped in near darkness, Pulaski tapped her 

	combadge.  "Pulaski to Bridge.  What's going on up there?"



		Picard answered her call and told her what was 

	happening.



		"I don't care, Captain!  I need power down here.  Aures

	has massive internal injuries that require immediate attention."



		"I sympathize with you, Doctor, but I must weigh the 

	safety of the entire ship against the life of one crewman.  

  Page 161


	Power will be restored momentarily.  Bridge out."



		'Damn that man,' she thought to herself, 'I'm just

	trying to do my job.'



		While this was happening, the Sickbay staff had been 

	scrambling around Aures' diagnostic bed under the direction 

	of the Vulcan doctor, Selar.  They set up portable stasis 

	field generators and were running medical scanners up and down

	the comatose geophysicist.  As the stasis field came back up 

	the medical scanners began to report life readings.  They were 

	dangerously low, even nearer death than before.



		Pulaski came back to the bed.  She didn't like what

	she saw.  "Okay, Selar, prepare to operate.  We'll need 

	to replace her heart and probably her lungs as well.  We

	haven't got time to match the replacements to her physiology

	so we'll use full prosthetics."



		The Vulcan turned to her with a subdued look of 

	alarm.  "Doctor, is that wise under these conditions?"



		"I don't like these conditions any better than you,

	but we don't have much choice.  Aures has the same chances of

	dying, one way or the other.  Let's get to work."





		On the Bridge, things were going according to plan.

  Page 162


	Since the viewscreen was unpowered, Wesley had gone down to

	10-Forward to report the range of the creature.  Data, his

	vision nearly returned to normal,  was sitting in Riker's

	chair.  As none of the Bridge stations worked now, everyone

	was sitting back, tensely listening to Wesley's periodic 

	reports.  "The creature's just coming into range now."



		"Ensign Ferrar, fire phasers, photon torpedos, and

	lock on with a tractor beam.  Ensign Harris, full sensor 

	scan of the creature.  Raise shields."



		As Picard finished speaking, blue power lanced out 

	from the Enterprise as the phasers hit and a tractor lock 

	was established.  The whoosh of photon torpedos leaving their 

	tubes could be heard on the Bridge.  When Ferrar had fired

	all available torpedos, he restored power to the viewscreen

	so that the Bridge crew could see what was transpiring.

	White light washed over the faces of the Bridge crew as the

	photon torpedos detonated, causing them to look ghostly in the

	subdued light.



		After several additional phaser beam followed the 

	initial volley, the creature began to expand.  It's glow

	increased to a painful incandescence, accompanied by a high

	pitched whining that forced itself over the Bridge speakers.



		"Shut that off, Ensign!" shouted Picard as the entire

	Bridge crew, excluding Data, covered their ears.

  Page 163




		"I can't, sir.  This isn't coming over subspace 

	radio or any intraship channels.  This is a real-time 

	transmission from the alien."



		On the screen, the alien had stopped expanding and

	its tentacles were slowly being drawn against its underside.

	It was no longer moving, just drifting under its former

	momentum.



		"Troi, can you sense anything from it?  Is it dead?"

	asked Picard.



		"No, not dead.  It appears to have gone into 

	hibernation.  It will remain in this state until threatened

	or it burns off all the energy it has just consumed," she

	replied. 



		"Picard to Engineering.  Who's in charge down there?"



		"Scott here, Captain.  How did yer plan work?" came

	back the heavily accented voice.



		"All went as planned.  You can return power to the

	rest of the ship,"  replied Picard.  "And Scotty, I'm glad

	you're our Chief Engineer.  Otherwise, we might not have made

	it."



  Page 164


		"Och, 'twas nothing, sir.  Just doin' me job.  Scott

	out."  



		The channel to Engineering closed.








		



  Page 165




			Chapter 11


		The cubic ship floated through space, slowly

	rotating.  The damage had been repaired and the light

	at its center pulsed blue-green.  Having no other purpose,

	it had continued on its course even after the inferior 

	ship had vanished.  Trying to catch it, perhaps.  Even 

	the cubic ships occupants didn't know for sure.  Connected

	together via subspace net as they were, they were presently

	trying to figure out how a ship of inferior design crewed

	by an inferior species could suddenly exceed all measure

	of velocities.  It had certainly gone faster than its 

	engines were designed for.



		The current thread of contemplation across the 

	subspace net was why the ship had allowed itself to be 

	damaged, almost destroyed before escaping.  Was it to 

	analyze the cubic ships capabilities, or was this species so

	superior that they can afford to play games with their lives.



		"Energy reading on course 115.54,320.41," echoed 

	across the interior of the ship.  After a due nanosecond of

	consideration, the ship changed course.  



		"Reading similar to last scan of Enterprise Warp

	envelope," came the eerie mechanical voice.  



		As a red, gridlike forcefield surrounded the cube,
  Page 166



	a face appeared on the screen.  "I can take you to the 

	Federation starship Enterprise," said the face without

	preamble.  "I was responsible for bringing them here in

	the first place.  Allow me to help you and I'll take you

	to a place where there are many lifeforms you can convert

	as well as technology you can absorb."



		"Identify yourself," they echoed in unison, after

	probing the forcefield for weakness and finding none.  Even

	they could not escape.



		"I am from the Q Continuum.  To me, you are 

	insignificant.  You cannot escape.  Follow me or be 

	destroyed."



		Never having been faced with their destruction 

	before, the semi-organic beings on the cube echoed back

	"We accept your offer, you of the Q Continuum."



		"Not you, Q.  Oh well, never mind.  Prepare for 

	time travel."  Q was gone, followed moments later by the

	disappearance of the cube.

		

		The Borg were again hunting the Enterprise.







		"Geordi, are you alright?"
  Page 167





		At the sound of the strange, but familiar voice

	Geordi opened his eyes.  Still unable to see, he felt to

	both sides of himself for his VISOR.  



		"Here," said the voice again and Geordi could feel

	someone press the VISOR into his left hand.  He put it on

	and immediately wished he hadn't.  His head began to throb

	even more painfully than it had been for the past several

	seconds since waking.  After a great deal of concentration 

	to tune out most of the extraneous information he turned to

	who he assumed was a doctor.



		"Where am I and who are you?" he questioned shakily.



		"You're in Sickbay on the Enterprise, Lieutenant. 

	I'm not surprised you're having trouble remembering.  The way

	I hear it, you had a nasty fall out of a Jeffries tube.

	Something about an explosion in Engineering..." broke off the

	gruff voice as someone else, also familiar entered Sickbay.



		"How is he, Bones?  When will I get my Chief Engineer

	back?"  asked the newcomer.



		"How the hell should I know?  I'm a Doctor, not a 

	prophet!  Lietenant LaForge here took a nasty fall and hit 

	his head.  He's having difficulty remembering."  Then, 

	looking thoughtful for a moment and examining the readouts
  Page 168



	on the diagnostic panel on the wall, "I'd say about 24 hours.

	IF he can get some rest.  You know.  No performing minor 

	miracles for a day, doctor's orders."



		"Good enough, Doctor."  And to Geordi, "I'll check 

	in on you later, okay Geordi?"



		"Fine.  Maybe I'll remember something by then,"

	LaForge said as he lay back on the diagnostic bed and closed

	his eyes.



		Both Kirk and McCoy left him to rest and entered McCoy's

	office.



		As the door closed behind them, Kirk asked anxiously, 

	"What's really wrong with him, Bones?  A little fall like that

	shouldn't have put him in Sickbay."



		"I don't know, Jim.  This just doesn't feel right.

	I mean, ever since the two of us and Spock beamed aboard that

	other ship, something has just been out of synch," answered

	McCoy, taking a seat behind his desk.  He leaned back tiredly.



		"What do you mean: 'that other ship?'  We haven't 

	been on another ship for at least two months.  I think you

	need a break, Bones.  You've been working too hard," said 

	Kirk with concern.


  Page 169



		"Touche, Jim?  That sounds awfully like what I tell

	you all the time.  But I can't believe you don't remember 

	the Houdini.  Your physical yesterday showed no mental

	abberations, other than a death wish," McCoy responded

	sarcastically.  "Are you sure you don't remember the Houdini?"



		"Positive, Bones.  Maybe you should talk to Spock,

	see what he has to say."



		"Thanks, Jim, I'll do that,"  said McCoy as Kirk got

	up to leave.  He called Spock on the Bridge, but he knew

	nothing of any Houdini except for 'a minor conjuror of little

	note from Earth's early 20th century.'



		McCoy began to doubt his own sanity when both the 

	computer and Captain's Logs showed nothing of the Houdini.

	In fact, all they listed were routine patrol missions along

	the Federation-Klingon border.



		McCoy poured himself a large glass of Saurian 

	brandy and vowed to find out what was going on.






		"Captain, who was that?"  Data had turned in his chair 

	to stare inquiringly at Picard.



		"That was Chief Engineer Scott, Commander.  Who did

  Page 170


	you think it was," answered the Captain.



		Data considered for a moment, his gaze seeming to turn 

	inward as he searched his internal memory banks.  "I know of

	no one calling themselves Scott who is also a Chief Engineer

	currently serving in Starfleet.  I thought that Geordi

	LaForge would be in Engineering, as he has always been."



		"Who?" asked Riker, entering the Bridge from the 

	Turbolift.  "Computer...search records for any mention of a

	'Geordi LaForge' serving on this ship at any time."



		The computer beeped in acknowledgement and after a

	few seconds, its female voice answered: "No record of any

	person by the name of 'Geordi LaForge' known to have served

	on the Enterprise at any time."



		"Check for any reference to a 'Geordi LaForge' 

	anywhere in the Enterprise memory banks," ordered Picard.



		Another pause, longer this time, as the computer

	sifted through every piece of information in its possession,

	working backwards from the most recent records.  "There is 

	record of someone named 'Geordi LaForge.'  He served aboard

	the original Enterprise, NCC-1701, from stardate 1510.3 to

	stardate 8130.3 when it was destroyed.  He is listed as the

	ship's Chief Engineer."



  Page 171


		"Thank you, Computer," acknowledged Picard.  "There,

	you see Mister Data, I think that the stress of this situation

	has been too much for you.  Some of your positronic pathways

	may have been fused together so that you're confusing events

	from this time with events from our time."



		"Impossible, sir.  My brain is protected from surges

	of the magnitude required to cause the damage you suggest,"

	responded the android calmly.



		"Still, at least report to Sickbay and have Doctor

	Pulaski examine you," said Riker.



		"Aye, sir, but may I first stop in to see Worf in

	the Brig?" inquired Data.



		"Of course, Data.  Just be sure you have yourself

	checked out," said Picard.



		As Data left the Bridge, everyone left exchanged 

	worried glances.  To think that someone with such strength,

	such knowledge, had for all intents and purposes lost their

	mind...The fact that Data was a construct made it no easier

	to accept.



		


		As Data entered the Brig, he noticed that the force 

	field covering the doorway to Worf's cell was not in place.
  Page 172



	Yet Worf still sat in the cell.  He looked up upon Data's

	entrance.



		"What happened, sir?" he grumbled.



		"We have captured one of the creatures, mostly 

	through the good work of Chief Engineer Scott.  The Captain

	is preparing to return to our own time with it," replied Data.



		"Who did you say?  What happened to Geordi?" asked

	Worf.  Data could see his curiosity straining alongside his 

	concern for his friend.



		"You mean you never heard of anyone named 'Scott'

	serving aboard the Enterprise, either.  The Captain says

	that no one named Geordi LaForge has ever served on this 

	ship."



		"We must DO something.  Geordi may be in danger.

	What does the computer say about Geordi?" queried the Klingon.



		"Computer records show a Geordi LaForge serving aboard

	the original Enterprise in this time period.  It is my belief

	that Q somehow caused Geordi and Scott to change places, 

	modifying all computer records and people's memories.  I was

	not affected for some reason.  You were not either.  Perhaps

	it was Q's disdain for your race, or some peculiar physiological

	trait of the Klingons."
  Page 173





		"It does not matter 'why.'  What we must do is 

	recover Geordi and return Scott to his proper place," 

	rumbled the warrior.



		"Do you have any plans for doing this, Lieutenant?"

	asked the android.



		"If we separated the Stardrive section and followed

	the other Enterprise, the saucer would have to follow us.

	Perhaps, when everyone is back in their proper place, every

	thing will return to normal," said Worf.



		"An interesting theory, but how could we get everyone

	except Scott out of the Stardrive section long enough for us

	to separate?"



		"Leave that to me," said the Klingon, coming as close

	to smiling as he ever had.  "You secure the Battle Bridge.

	I will signal you when I am ready to separate the saucer."



		"Agreed."  Worf and Data walked side-by-side to the 

	Brig doors and then parted company, each going their own way.





		Data had gone to Sickbay, per the Captain's orders,

	but Pulaski had been unable to find anything physically 

	wrong with the android.  She reported her findings, such as
  Page 174



	they were to the Captain.  Data had been on his way to the

	Battle Bridge on Deck 8 when Picard paged him.

		

		"You are hereby removed from duty until some solution

	to your problem presents itself" was all Picard had said.

	Data wondered if whoever or whatever had changed everyone's

	memories hadn't also put everyone's personalities ever so

	slightly off-kilter as well.



		By now, Data had entered the Battle Bridge and set

	about all possible preperations for saucer separation that

	wouldn't be readily detected on the Main Bridge.  All he

	had to do now was sit back and wait for Worf's signal.  Data

	sat in the command chair, with a slightly less than straight

	posture, his form of physical relaxation.






		Fortunately for Worf, it was near the middle of the

	night shift when he entered Engineering.  He waited until

	there was no one in sight, then he stealthily crept over to

	the main engineering console.  He punched in his special

	security codes in order to gain access to the collection

	of disaster simulations that were normally used to train 

	his security force on the Holodeck.  



		"Computer, run program 'Security8Alpha'," he whispered,

	just loud enough for the computer's audio pickup to hear.

  Page 175




		"Proper clearance provided.  Running program

	'Security8Alpha'," responded the computer, much too loudly

	for Worf's liking.






		On the Bridge, Wesley turned anxiously to Picard 

	as the Red Alert klaxons went off yet again.  "Captain, the

	magnetic containment fields around the ship's matter/anti-

	matter core have begun to dissipate.  Approximately 45 seconds

	until uncontrolled matter/anti-matter collision."



		"Thank you, Ensign.  Picard to Engineering, is there

	any chance of you getting the problem under control?"



		"Scott here, Cap'n.  There IS no problem...well,

	at least no' a one I kin find, sir.  I recommend entering

	Warp and separating the saucer.  That way, if she does blow,

	most o' ye'll not be in any danger," reported the Chief

	Engineer.



		"Prepare for emergency saucer separation.  All hands

	to emergency stations," ordered Picard.  "Ensign, how long?"



		"Twenty seconds, Captain."



		"Warp 8, Ensign.  Any heading.  Engage!" shouted

	Picard.
  Page 176





		Wesley hurriedly punched in a course that would take 

	the Enterprise into deep space, away from any possibly 

	inhabited planets.



		"Moving to course 90 mark 136.  Speed currently Warp

	4 and increasing.  Fifteen seconds to detonation," said the 

	Ensign, somehow finding enough self-control to remain calm.



		"Seperate saucer...NOW!" ordered Picard.



		On the Bridge viewscreen, the saucer appeared to lift

	up and away as the larger, faster Stardrive section shot out

	from under them.  Wesley counted down the time to detonation.



		"12 seconds...10...9...8...7...6...5 seconds...4...3

	...2...1...detonation!"



		Everyone present covered their eyes in preparation

	for the blinding flash they knew would soon follow.  It never 

	did.



		"Captain, I don't understand," began Troi.



		"The Stardrive section never was in any danger,

	fools."



		"Q, what do you have to do with this," asked Picard,
  Page 177



	rather more loudly than he would have liked.



		"Tut, tut, Jean-Luc.  I had nothing to do with the

	false alarm on the Stardrive section.  You owe that to 

	Microbrain and the Incredible Toaster Man."  The voice 

	came out of nowhere, Q not deigning himself to become solid.



		"Worf and Data?  Impossible," said Picard.  

	"Computer, location of Lieutenant Worf and Commander Data."



		"Lieutenant Worf and Commander Data are not on the

	saucer at this time.  Last known positions were in Main

	Engineering and the Battle Bridge, respectively," answered

	the feminine voice.



		"You see, Jean-Luc.  If I was one to say 'I told you

	so'," he trailed off.



		"But you are, Q," muttered Riker, irritated with the 

	whole situation.



		"Quite right, William.  Quite right.  So I'll say it.

	I told you so.  There much, much better," said Q smugly.



		"Get out of here, Q.  Unless you're going to help us."



		"An ultimatum, Picard.  So unbecoming.  I'm not going

	to help you.  Not yet, anyway.  There's nothing in it for me.
  Page 178



	Bye now."



		Since Q was not visible, there was no indication that 

	he had left, other than a slight whoosh of air and the sound 

	like someone snapping there fingers.



		"Ensign," said Picard.  "Trail the saucer at maximum

	impulse power.  I want to know what's going on."



		"But we'll never catch them," protested Wesley.



		"Just do it, Ensign!" Picard glowered at the boy.



		Meekly, Wesley obeyed.






		Worf entered the Battle Bridge, carrying an unconscious

	Montgomery Scott over his shoulder.  Data looked up as he 

	entered.



		"Were you successful, Lieutenant?" asked the android.



		"Yes.  People began evacuating the Stardrive section

	as soon as I implemented my simulation.  Only Scott and a few 

	others were present.  Everyone except us has been rendered 

	unconscious by my phaser set on stun."



  Page 179


		"Good.  I have laid in a course that will parallel

	that of the original Enterprise's back to Earth.  We should

	catch up with them within the next forty-eight hours."






		On the saucer section, Pulaski was furious.  It seemed

	that whenever she really needed the ship to hold steady so

	that she could work on a patient, was the time that the Bridge

	Crew decided to run the ship as rough as possible.  The power

	drain, momentary though it was, when the ship separated, 

	almost proved deadly to Aures.  The operation had been at a

	critical stage when the ship separated and Pulaski had almost

	lost her.  She wasted no time bringing this to the attention 

	of the Bridge Crew.  Picard said, however, that if Aures was

	still alive to stop worrying about it and get back to work.

	This only made Pulaski madder.



		 She was now in the process of removing the stasis

	field from Aures' body.  Most bodily functions had returned

	to normal, the only major problem being the heart, which 

	beat almost tentatively in her chest.  Pulaski's prognosis

	was that she'd almost fully recover, if she ever regained 

	consciousness.



		"Selar," she said, removing the last stasis field.

	"Watch her.  I'm going up to the Bridge to find out exactly

	what's going on.  I'll be back shortly."


  Page 180



		"Of course, Doctor," the Vulcan said to Pulaski's

	back as the physician left Sickbay.  'Humans,' Selar thought 

	to herself.  'Sometimes I don't understand their desire to 

	become involved in thing they can't change.'  The Vulcan

	continued on about her work, occasionally glancing up at

	Aures' readouts.






		"Alright, Captain," said Pulaski, stepping out of 

	the Turbolift onto the Bridge.  "What's so important that 

	you feel you must constantly endanger the safety of my

	patients?"



		It had taken her only a few seconds to realize that 

	Picard was not at his customary place in the center of the 

	Bridge activity, but that didn't stop her from asking the

	question.



		"He's in the Ready Room.  He doesn't want to be

	disturbed," answered Riker, turning in his seat to face her.



		"Well, that's too damn bad, because I'm going to

	disturb him," Pulaski said resolutely as she headed for the

	Ready Room door.



		The door chimed, but Picard just ignored it.  It

	chimed a few more times, but he didn't look up, concentrating

  Page 181


	on the information on his desk computer terminal.



		Finally, exasperated, Pulaski told the computer:

	"Emergency medical overide.  Authorization: Pulaski-Alpha."

	The door slid open immediately.



		"What the hell--," Picard started, but Pulaski cut 

	him off.



		"Captain, what is going on up here?  I've got a lot

	of injured people in Sickbay, three of them critical.  Why 

	do you keep knocking the ship around, cutting power to

	Sickbay, and otherwise trying to kill us?"



		"Please, Doctor.  This doesn't concern you," he 

	answered.



		"Yes it does!  I'm the one who has to put everyone

	back together again," Pulaski said.



		"Very well.  Data and Worf are missing.  They took

	control of the Stardrive section after simulating a Warp 

	core breech.  They took Scotty with them."



		"Who?" Pulaski asked.



		"Not you, too, Doctor," said Picard resignedly.



  Page 182


		"Data told me that he didn't know this Scotty, either.

	At the time, it seemed that he was wrong.  Now, though, I have

	no memory at all of this Scotty.  What happened to Geordi?"



		"I don't know what you're talking about, Doctor.

	Data was ranting about this Geordi, also.  Give yourself a 

	psych exam.  Compare your brainwave profile now with the one

	on record.  Let's see if we can't get to the bottom of this."

	Picard turned back to his terminal screen, signaling that 

	this meeting was at an end.



		Pulaski left, her mood hardly having improved since

	finding out the reason for the problems in Sickbay.






		On the rotating viewscreen, a white ship was just

	becoming visible.  It was traveling at Warp 1.  Slowly, its

	image increased in size.



		"Analysis of structure and registry indicate that 

	this is the Enterprise," the mechanical voice echoed.



		"Error!  This ship is extremely primitive compared

	to the Enterprise," another voice echoed back.



		"Confirm that this is the Enterprise," echoed yet

	another voice.


  Page 183



		"Initiating individual Borg sub-processes," echoed

	the first voice.



		Slowly, the Borg stepped from their cubicles, full

	powered, with only one thought on their group mind.  The

	capture of the Enterprise.

  Page 184



			CHAPTER 12



		"How long until we rendezvous with the Enterprise?"

	rumbled Worf, from the chair beside Data.



		Data turned to him, looking away from the viewscreen

	for the first time in what Worf judged to be hours.  "I

	estimate, assuming they remained on their last known course 

	and speed, that we will overtake them in 1.342 hours."  Data

	turned back to the screen, assuming their conversation over.



		Worf merely grunted, thinking how easy it would be to

	just draw his phaser and incapacitate the android.  The way 

	would then be open to warn the Klingon Council of the attack

	on Khitomer.  To do so would, of course, impugn his honor as

	a warrior, but Worf felt it would nearly be worth it.  Instead

	of drawing his phaser, Worf turned back to Data and asked,

	"Is there any sign of the Saucer Section?"



		Data turned again from the Ops console and said,

	"They began to pursue us as soon as they realized out 

	deception.  Their progress is hampered by the fact that they

	are towing the energy creature behind them.  We will have

	sufficient time to rescue Geordi before they can catch up."



		Worf decided, rather than prolong the conversation,

	to busy himself analyzing the warp engine traces left by the

	Enterprise.  It was these miniscule bits of matter/antimatter
  Page 185



	and microscopic dilithium shards that allowed them to be

	reasonably certain of the Enterprise's path.  As long as these

	short-lived clues were present, their lifetime measured in 

	hours, they knew they were on the right track. 



		In the corner Scott, who had been feigning

	unconsciousness for the last several minutes, began to stir.

	He knew that his chances against an android and a Klingon 

	were slim at best.  But if he could only activate a 

	communications beam without their knowledge...



		Slowly, Scott moved toward the communications panel.

	He took care not to make any sound whatsoever which might 

	alert the android's sensitive hearing.  As he was about to 

	press the Emergency Beacon control/cell on the comm board,

	Data turned around.



		"Ah, I am glad to see that you are awake, Engineer.

	You will be glad to know that you are being returned to your

	rightful place on the correct Enterprise."



		"Ah'll be wontin' none o' that.  My rightful place 

	is servin' Cap'n Picard.  I don' know if he approves o' this,

	but I'll wager he doesn't.  Now turn this ship around or I'll

	alert every vessel wi' in range and ye'll probably be kicked 

	out o' Starfleet," said Scotty bravely.  He was trying to 

	bluff the android, as he knew Riker could from their many 

	poker/drinking sessions.  
  Page 186





		"You have no hold over us," said Worf, drawing his 

	phaser and advancing on Scott.  He made sure that the 

	Engineer saw him raise the setting on his phaser from light

	stun, up through heavy stun, and finally to kill.  Knowing 

	that such a situation was possible, but not expecting it,

	Worf had nonetheless activate the Bridge safeguards that

	would not allow a phaser blast greater than heavy stun.  He

	hoped that Scott did not know this.



		Scott slowly backed away, toward the Turbolift.

	"Worf, me friend.  What d'you mean, holdin' me at phaser

	point?  Wha' have I done to deserve treatment like this from

	me two closest friends in th' universe?"



		By this time, Scotty was on the threshold of the 

	Turbolift.  He dove inside before the doors had completely 

	opened and shouted "Emergency close!"  The doors obediently

	snapped shut.  "Main Engineering, please, and hurry!"



		"All Turbolifts move at a constant speed" was all

	the Turbolift said by way of reply as it started its journey

	through the great starship.






		Back on the Battle Bridge, Worf was trying to open 

	the doors to the Turbolift shift, without much success.  Data

  Page 187


	motioned him out of the way and easily slid the doors apart.

	Worf rushed forward, expecting a Turbolift car to be waiting.



		"Worf!" Data exclaimed as he grabbed the Klingons thick

	gold sash, the only thing keeping Worf from plunging to the 

	bottom of the Turbolift shaft, some thirty decks below.



		After being returned to solid ground, Worf turned

	thankfully to Data and started to thank him before he realized

	that neither he nor the android expected or required such

	sentiments.  Instead, Worf went to the far wall of the Bridge,

	saying as he went, "He has shut down all Turbolift activity.

	We must climb down to Main Engineering.  He will soon 

	activate the self-destruct mechanism."



		As Worf opened a recessed hatch revealing a narrow

	ladder, Data asked "How do you know he will activate the self-

	destruct mechanism?"



		"Because, it is what I would do in a similar situation."



		Worf started down the ladder, followed by Data.

	Unbeknownst to either of them, the security console had

	begun to register three lifesigns and one android aboard.

	Seconds later, another reading appeared, then another.  Soon,

	there were close to twenty lifeforms present aboard the

	Enterprise.  They were all moving to join the one life-reading

	located in Main Engineering.

  Page 188







		"Captain, sensors are picking up a ship approaching

	from behind us.  Their readings are like nothing I've seen 

	before."  Spock's face was bathed in the blue/green light 

	from the Science Station viewer.  



		"Isn't that what you said about the Houdini, Spock?"

	asked McCoy.



		Spock gave McCoy a puzzled look.  "Doctor, if you 

	persist in these childish delusions about a mystery ship

	which no one, including the computer, can remember, you will

	be declared unfit for duty."



		"That's enough, you two.  If Bones thinks he saw a

	ship, then he saw a ship."  Kirk tried to ease the tension 

	on the Bridge.  "Mister Sulu, slow to Impulse power.  Uhura,

	hail that ship on all frequencies."



		McCoy looked hard at Kirk.  "Don't patronize me, Jim.

	I know what I saw."  Kirk didn't hear McCoy storm off the Bridge.

	He was too engrossed in the image on the viewscreen.  A gigantic

	ship, cubic in shape, slowly rotated as it followed them.

	Its surface was covered with a lattice work of pipes and

	conduits.



		"No response to our hails, Captain," reported Uhura.
  Page 189



	She turned back to her console, in order to keep trying, when

	a face appeared on the viewscreen.  It had a pale-white, 

	deathly pallor to it.  The visible part of it, that is,

	because most of it was covered be glossy black implants and

	wiring.  One eye was gone, replaced by a camera-like appliance.

	What could be seen of the body looked to be covered by coal-

	black battle armor.



		The face spoke, and yet didn't speak.  The 'voice' 

	seemed to be coming from all points on the alien ship.



		"Federation Starship Enterprise, prepare to be

	boarded.  All technology and personnel will be absorbed into

	the Borg."



		"Who, or what, are the Borg?" asked Kirk.



		"We are the Borg."



		"Fascinating.  A race of techno/biological beings."

	Spock had turned from his Science Station to stand next to

	Kirk.  The faint whirring of the automatic sensors could be

	heard from deep within it.



		"Where do you come from?  What do you want?"  Kirk

	hoped he could stall long enough to come up with a plan.



		"Many of your years ago, we evolved at the outer 
  Page 190



	edge of this galaxy.  We were created.  Our creators were

	absorbed and we continue to absorb and evolve.  During

	a great catastrophe, many of the Borg were destroyed.

	Those remaining were left without purpose...Until the coming

	of Khan."



		Kirk was nearly speechless.  He managed to croak out

	"Khan?  As in Khan Noonian Singh?"



		"The Khan came to us badly damaged.  He told us of 

	the Genesis device and of how it joined him with Reliant.  

	They are both of the Borg now.  They have become one with 

	us as you shall.  The past is irrelevant, damage is irrelevant,

	you are irrelevant.  Prepare to be assimilated."




		The screen went dark and there was a noticeable THUNK

	as the Borg tractor beam locked on.



		"Borg tractor beam locking on," reported Chekov.



		"Mister Sulu, get us out of here, Emergency Warp!"

	shouted Kirk.



		Spock, who had gone back to his console, was soon 

	joined by Kirk.



		"Spock, have you got anything?"

  Page 191




		"I believe so, Captain.  The Borg ship seems to be

	sending out a signal.  It appears to be a combination of 

	Khan's brainwaves and the U.S.S. Reliant's signaling beacon."



		"But, Spock, Khan's on Ceti Alpha V and the Reliant's

	only been out of drydock for a month," said Kirk.  If he had

	heard this from anyone else, he wouldn't believe it, but coming

	from Spock, he had no choice.



		"Engineering to Bridge."



		"Bridge here," answered Kirk.  "Go ahead, Geordi."



		"What's going on up there?  I read shield power at

	17% and Warp power at 12%."  LaForge's voice, still a little

	shaky from his ordeal, held a note of both curiosity and fear.



		"A race called the Borg have locked a tractor beam

	on us and are draining our power," answered Kirk.  After he

	got no response from below, he said, "Geordi, are you there?

	Geordi?"



		No response.  Kirk just assumed that Geordi had 

	rushed away to get more power for the engines and shields.






		In Engineering, Geordi had blacked out as soon as
  Page 192



	Kirk mentioned the Borg.  He was only now regaining his 

	senses as the channel to the Bridge closed.  



		Geordi looked around at the unfamiliar setting.  He

	had seen engine rooms like this in his Academy classes, but 

	had never really been in the Engineering Section of a 

	Constitution Class Heavy Cruiser before.  He took it all 

	in, his mind racing with the nostalgia, the sense of history.



		"Chief, what's wrong?" asked Ensign Sumners, new to 

	Engineering himself, he had never seen anyone react to a 

	comm conversation the way LaForge was.



		"Oh, uh, nothing.  Nothing.  I'll, uh, be right

	back."  Geordi headed for the nearest Turbolift at a run.

	He had to try to at least stall the Borg until the Enterprise,

	HIS Enterprise, got here.  He had no idea where he should even

	start.






		"Shields are down.  Warp drive is inoperable.  Jim,

	we are powerless," reported Spock from the rear of the Bridge.



		"Well, I guess we'll have to fight then.  Chekov, arm

	all phasers and load torpedo bays.  Sulu, bring us about.

	Uhura, contact Starfleet.  We need reinforcments!"  Kirk felt

	the adrenaline rushing through his system, heightening his 

  Page 193


	perceptions.



		"Captain, communications are jammed.  Unable to send 

	distress call," reported Uhura from her console.



		"Phasers armed, torpedoes loaded," said Chekov from

	the Weapons/Defense Station.  The red alert klaxons and tracer

	lights had started as soon as the computer noted the weapons' 

	activation.



		"Direct heading for Borg ship.  They are still closing,"

	informed Sulu.



		"Chekov, fire when they are within 10 kilometers.  

	Sulu, be prepared to get us out of here, maximum possible 

	speed," ordered Kirk.



		Sulu and Chekov exchanged worried glances.  Ten

	kilometers did not leave much room for error, on either

	of their parts.  "Aye, sir," they answered in unison.



		His back turned, leaning over his science viewer,

	Spock read off the distance between the Enterprise and the

	Borg.  "10,000 kilometers,   8,500 kilometers,  5,000 kilo-

	meters,  1,000 kilometers...100 kilometers,  75 kilometers..."



		Everyone on the Bridge watched as the Borg got 

	closer and closer.  Kirk hoped that his plan of playing

  Page 194


	possum would work.  Everyone else hoped he was right.



		"25 kilometers,  20 kilometers,  15 kilometers,

	12 kilometers.  Borg tractor beams and weaponry powering up,

	10 kilometers.  Borg tractor beam locking on."  The ship 

	trembled as the tractor beam latched on directly to the hull,

	no shields intervening this time.



		The Borg cutting beam, fully energized, began slicing

	a swathe of destruction across the wide saucer of the Enterprise,

	just above her registry numbers.



		"Chekov, Sulu, what are you waiting for?  Fire, get

	us out of here!" shouted Kirk.


		Chekov looked worried.  "Sir, I vas about to fire,

	when control vas diwerted to somevhere else on the ship.  

	The veapons cannot be fired from the Bridge."



		Sulu spoke up, "Same here, Captain.  The course and

	speed were laid in and then nothing."



		The ship shook again and damage reports started coming 

	in from all areas of the ship, especially the saucer.  The 

	Bridge lights flickered and went dark, as did the viewscreen.



		A Borg soldier appeared on the Bridge and started 

	advancing toward Kirk, followed by another, and another.

	Soon, the entire Bridge crew was being advanced upon by a
  Page 195



	small army of Borg.  Then, they stopped.



		"We are under attack.  Return to Borg ship."

	They all seemed to echo it and at the same time none of

	them made a sound.  They vanished in that swirling pattern

	peculiar to the Borg transporters.



		The viewscreen had come back to life, albeit dimly, 

	as had the Bridge lighting.  On the screen, they saw a strange

	looking ship attacking the Borg.  Then they saw their own 

	phasers and photon torpedoes firing.  The other ship, closely

	resembling a duck, wove a complex, seemingly random, pattern

	around the Borg, firing as it went.  Both the Borg tractor

	beam and cutting beam lanced out, but to no effect.  The new 

	ship just was not where the Borg had aimed, no matter how fast 

	they retargeted the beams.  



		Kirk and the rest of the Bridge crew just stood and

	watched the fight, powerless to do anything.  Just as it 

	appeared the Borg were finished, the blue/green glow at their

	center pulsing feebly, two things happened in close succession.

	First, the new ship stopped moving and firing and hung dead in 

	space.  This proved insignificant compared to what happened 

	next.  The Borg ship split in two pieces, both smaller than

	the original, but no less deadly.  



		As Kirk watched in horror, the Borg ship closest to

	the new ship oozed completely around it, absorbing it and its
  Page 196



	crew.  Then both Borg ships advanced on the Enterprise.



		


		On the Battle Bridge of the Stardrive Section,

	Data was instructing the computer as to how and where to 

	fly the ship, while he, Worf, and Scotty, stood with their 

	backs to each other, surrounded by an ever growing number 

	of Borg.  Each of the Enterprise crewmen had a phaser in

	each hand, held at the ready.  As the Borg advanced, Scotty

	began firing wildly, while Data and Worf each fired controlled,

	accurate bursts into the advancing wall.  



		"Lieutenant Commander Scott, you must be careful 

	what you shoot.  You may hit something..."  Worf paused 

	wearily as a console exploded in flames.  "...important,"

	he finished.



		"Och, sorry," the Scotsman replied sheepishly.

	He turned to fire at another advancing Borg, but it was too

	late.  The Borg were upon them.  They were dragged over to

	an Engineering monitor that had been hooked up to the Bridge

	viewscreen.


		
		The view was of the Borg ship, tractor beam firmly

	holding the gleaming white hull of the Enterprise.  As Data

	watched in fascination, and Worf and Scott in fear, the Borg

	ship split into two roughly equal sections, the nearer of the

  Page 197


	two advancing on the Enterprise.  It opened up, like a great,

	ragged maw, Borg soldiers in their cubicles clearly visible,

	and engulfed the Stardrive Section.  The viewscreen went

	blank as the Borg herded the three Starfleet officers to the 

	nearest airlock, and away from the useless Starship.





  Page 198



				CHAPTER 13

	Captain's Log, Stardate: the past.
		We are in pursuit of the Stardrive section of the 
	Enterprise, after it was commandeered by Lieutenant Commander
	Data, Lieutenant Worf, and Chief Engineer Scott.  To add to 
	the problem, we are being slowed down by towing the energy
	creature behind us, but it is necessary.  Engineer's 
	Assistant Gomez assures me that we will be able to make the
	time jump as soon as we reconnect the sections of the 
	Enterprise.  On a more ominous note, more and more of my 
	crew are either unable or unwilling to remember that Scott
	is Chief Engineer.  They remember someone named Geordi
	LaForge at that post.  I am going to look into the matter.



		Picard got up from behind the desk in his Ready

	Room.  He was disturbed by everyone's insistence that they

	had never heard of anyone by the name of Montgomery Scott.

	And now Pulaski was becoming more and more convinced that

	he was the head of a conspiracy to deceive everyone on this

	ship.  His supposed purpose for this conspiracy eluded

	him.  Wearily, he stepped out onto the Bridge.



		No one seemed to notice him enter.  All eyes were

	on the forward viewscreen.  On the screen, this era's

	Enterprise hung motionless in space, flanked by not one,

	but two Borg ships.  One ship was larger than the other by

	about a half.  Even from this distance, Borg were visible

	walking along the hull of the Enterprise, stopping every

	so often to remove a section of the hull for further 

	analysis.  



		'Not again,' thought Picard.  'Now I have to deal

	with the loss of the Stardrive, the Borg, and possibly the 

  Page 199


	death of every lifeform from this era.'



		Riker was about to tap his combadge to signal Picard

	when he noticed the Captain standing just outside the Ready

	Room doors.  "Captain, the Borg just came into range.  Sensors

	indicate that the dilithium trail left by the Stardrive Section

	ends right where the large Borg ship is.  There are no traces

	of either the ships destruction, or damage to the Borg."



		"I sense Q's hand in this," said Picard gravely.

	"Is it possible, that he pulled a switch?"



		"'A switch.'  I don't understand."  Riker's 

	puzzlement was evident, due to the lack of his ever present

	grin.  Picard sympathized with him.  He didn't quite 

	understand either, it was just a dimly formed idea in the

	back of his mind.



		"What I mean is, do you think it possible that Q

	switched the Stardrive Section with the Borg ships, sending

	the Enterprise home to our time?"  



		"Knowing Q, anything's possible.  I would say that it's

	probable, considering that the Saucer can't reach Warp speeds

	and we'd have no way to get back without his help," answered

	Riker.



		By now, the distance between the Enterprise and the 

  Page 200


	Borg had decreased to less than 10,000 kilometers.  "Arm all

	weapons," ordered Picard, even though he knew that only 

	phasers were available.  He also knew, as did most of the 

	Bridge crew, that they would have to be extremely lucky with

	the few phaser shots available to them before the Borg fully

	adapted.  'Not the most promising of situations,' Picard

	thought to himself.






		Aboard the Enterprise, Geordi had already expended 

	all photon torpedoes and drained all the phaser banks into 

	the smaller Borg ship.  Nothing worthwhile had happened.

	Most of the firing had been due to a feeling of revenge 

	over the fate of the Stardrive Section.  He knew that there

	was no hope left for any of its occupants.



		He just sat there, staring blankly ahead, not noticing

	when the Borg soldiers walked into view of the camera.  He

	couldn't help but think that it was all his fault, somehow.

	'If only I had been on the Enterprise...'  Then the more

	realistic part of him answered, 'You'd be a Borg by now.

	Besides, this is the Enterprise.'  The fact that it was an

	inferior design to the one he knew didn't matter.  The name

	meant something, and he had watched the most recent bearer 

	of that name be destroyed.



		Slowly, in the back of his mind, an idea took shape.

	It was, admittedly, a long shot.  And, he'd need some help to
  Page 201



	pull it off, but at least it was something to do.  He only 

	hoped that there was someone left alive on the Stardrive 

	Section, and that it had not yet been incorporated into the 

	Borg.






		On the Bridge of the Enterprise, Kirk stared at the

	viewscreen, speechless.  If a ship of that size could so

	easily be captured by the Borg, how could his ship, his crew,

	hope to do any better.



		If he was unprepared for the absorption of the

	Stardrive, he was definitely surprised by the face that 

	appeared next on the viewscreen.  It stared out at him

	with the cold, steely malevolence that he remembered over

	fourteen long years.  The face was a computer reconstruction,

	he realized, by the way the image wavered and the mouth 

	refused to move when it spoke.



		"Kirk.  I have waited nearly a century to defeat

	you, to punish you for what you did.  My crew are all gone,

	destroyed by your treachery, but I still have life, of a 

	sort.  On two occasions have you sentenced me to death,

	but I have survived.  I now impose sentence on you."



		"Khan, what do you want.  And what do you mean, a

	century.  It's only been 14 years."

  Page 202




		"Jim, sensors indicate that the transmission is being

	broadcast from the Borg ship, but not from one specific

	location.  It is as if the entire ship were hailing us,"

	Spock reported.



		Kirk turned back to the screen as the voice spoke 

	again.  "To you it has been years, but to me, to me it has

	been a century.  First Marla, my wife, then Joachim, then,

	nearly, myself, Kirk.  But no, I held on and now, you die."

	The transmission cut off and Kirk looked at Spock.



		"Clearly insane, Captain.  His years of isolation 

	must have effected his mind."



		"I hope you're right, Spock.  I also hope that he's

	powerless to carry out his threat."



		Kirk's only answer was a shudder running through the

	ship, as two tractor beams locked onto the twin engine nacelles

	and began pulling them off.  The Borg did not engage their

	cutting beam, just pulling the engines closer and closer.

	Kirk at first wondered how only one ship could do that, without

	just pulling the Enterprise closer.  Then he realized that the 

	larger ship had locked onto the Enterprise's forward hull while

	the other ship pulled at the rear.



		'Like an interstellar game of 'Tug-o'-War',' thought

  Page 203


	Sulu to himself, unable to do anything to prevent the 

	destruction of the Enterprise which would ensue, should the 

	hull rupture when the nacelles were removed.



		"Any suggestions," asked Kirk.  



		No one said a word.





		Geordi ran along the corridors of the Enterprise,

	but everyone was concentrating on finding a solution to the 

	Borg so no one noticed him.  He ran into the Transporter 

	Room and began to reprogram the console.  The Transporter

	Operator turned from where he had been recalibrating one

	of the wall panels, but was phasered before he could raise

	the alarm.



		Finished, Geordi stepped onto the platform and 

	prepared to beam out.  The console was locked and his would

	be the last normal beam-out.  Further, the console could only

	be reactivated by his voice command.  No one else would be

	able to get it to function correctly, anyway, after Geordi's

	reprogramming.



		The Transporter Room shimmered around him, and was

	replaced by the familiar confines of the Engineering Deck,

	deep within the Stardrive Section.  He cautiously checked 

	to be sure that there were no Borg anywhere near Engineering

  Page 204


	before he set to work.



		He had accessed the ship's computer and set to work

	rerouting a myriad of control circuits before he heard it.

	At first he thought he had imagined it, but then he heard it

	again.  The dull thud of a footstep.  It echoed hollowly in

	the empty ship.



		'Empty except for me and who, or what?' wondered

	Geordi in the back of his mind, as he hurriedly tried to 

	finish what he was doing and get into hiding.  



		He was more than three quarters of the way done

	when the next footstep came, unnervingly close.  Geordi 

	worked faster.



		He was about to press home the final modification 

	when behind him, he heard the whisper of a movement, the 

	soft padding of a footstep on carpeting, and a large

	shadow fell over Geordi's shoulder and across the panel

	where he was working.



		Without thinking, Geordi turned, drawing his phaser,

	and fired.






		Kirk's spirits had been buoyed somewhat by the 

	arrival of the other ship, the one McCoy kept calling the 
  Page 205



	Houdini.  Then he saw how ineffectual the other ship was 

	against the Borg.  Its phaser bursts lit up space and its

	photon torpedoes created dazzling explosions, but did 

	nothing to even slow the Borg down.  The Borg ship that had

	swallowed the first Starship had now begun to advance upon 

	the disc-shaped newcomer.



		"Captain, sensors show what may be a power build-up

	on the larger Borg ship," reported Spock, looking into his

	viewer.



		"Can't you tell for sure, Spock?" asked Kirk.



		"Impossible at this time.  The Borg on our hull have

	damaged some of the primary sensor equipment and their 

	individual readings are interfering with what sensors are

	still available to us."



		"We've GOT to DO something!" shouted Kirk.  He was

	used to fighting machine intelligences, having done so on 

	many occasions in the past, but they had been nothing like

	the Borg.  If something did not conform to their purposes, it

	was either assimilated or termed 'irrelevant' and ignored.

	He had a feeling that most of his ship and crew, unfortunately,

	fell into the former category.



		"Keptin," Chekov spoke up, trying to get Kirk's

	attention.  "One of the transporters has just been actiwated.
  Page 206



	Internal scans also show that vun of the shuttlecraft has 

	been transported somevhere else, not vithin current scanner

	range.  Vait!  There goes another vun."



		The lights on the Bridge began to dim.



		"Spock, what's going on?"



		"Captain, main power has been diverted to Transporter

	Room 3.  Also, life support and 75% of emergency power.  

	Total Warp energy is now being beamed somewhere.  The power

	output is too high to register on my scans.  I would estimate

	that it is in the 1,000 to 2,000 GigaWatt range," reported 

	Spock, calmly.



		"Spock, do you know what you're saying?"  McCoy's ice

	blue eyes seemed to pierce through the Vulcan.



		"Indeed I do, Doctor.  Someone in this vicinity is

	using 97% of ship's power for an unknown and presumably 

	hostile purpose."



		Kirk was concentrating so hard on finding a solution

	to this latest threat, that he just let McCoy and Spock go on

	verbally sparring, barely registering in the back of his 

	mind.




  Page 207




		Ensign Gawron dove out of the way of the phaser blast.

	Geordi, seeing who it was, had tryed to throw his aim off at 

	the last second.  He succeeded in moving the phaser beam just

	above where Chris's head used to be.  By now, Chris was 

	peering out from behind an Engineering console, phaser in 

	hand.



		"Sorry, Chris.  Just a little jumpy I guess," said 

	Geordi, trying to force a laugh.  "What are you doing here,

	anyway?  I thought the Borg would have rounded everybody up

	to make ready for the assimilation process."



		"They did.  I was hiding in the auxiliary dilithium

	store.  Between the radiation and the shielding in my rad

	suit, they couldn't detect me.  What are you doing here?"



		"I've come up with a plan to defeat the Borg, or

	at least the Borg ship that has us trapped."  Geordi went

	on to explain his plan to the young Ensign, who volunteered

	to do what he could to help.



		Geordi put him to work, rerouting the power couplings 

	on the Warp Drive circuits, while he crawled into a Jeffries

	tube to check the actual power conduits.  After working for

	twenty minutes, the modifications were complete.  



		They looked at each other in apprehension when Chris

  Page 208


	asked, "But will it work?"



		Geordi answered, "Cross your fingers, just in case,

	'cause here goes nothing."



		Geordi slammed home the button that would send out

	the pre-recorded signal to the original Enterprise and 

	start siphoning off its power.  Behind them, as they studied

	the control readouts, the Warp Core began to grow brighter.

	Along with the brightness, came the high whine of power.  

	Soon, the Warp Core was pulsing with the combined power of

	two Starships, the pulses coming so fast, that the eye could

	barely discern them from a solid, incandescent glow.



		The monitor screens began to change.






		On the Saucer, Picard was giving what may be his 

	last order.  "All hands to stations.  Prepare for collision

	course!  All non-essential personnel to the escape pods.

	Disengage tractor beam from the creature and jettison the

	log buoy."



		Riker, like the rest of the Bridge Crew, looked at

	Picard in astonishment.  'He can't be giving up,' he thought

	in disbelief.  "Sir, are you sure?  I mean, couldn't the 

	creature just eat the Borg's energy like it did to us,

	rendering them powerless?"
  Page 209





		"We could, Number One, if the creature was 

	conscious.  It is not.  It appears to be hibernating now,

	while it 'digests' our energy,"  Picard said with resignation.



		"Course laid in, Captain," stated Wesley Crusher.

	"Maximum speed at an angle of 45 degrees to the closer Borg

	ship."  Picard had told him to lay in the course that would

	damage the Borg the most, giving no regard to the safety of

	what was left of the Enterprise-D.



		"Why 45 degrees, Wes?" asked Riker.



		"Because of the orientation of the Borg ships, a 

	collision at 45 degrees with the nearer of the two, will send

	us directly into the other Borg ship, currently dissecting 

	the original Enterprise," he answered matter-of-factly, as 

	if it were apparent, or should be, to everyone.



		"Captain," said the Lieutenant at Ops.  "Reading a 

	power surge from the closer Borg ship.  Its center is the 

	exact geometric center of the Borg ship, and it radiates

	outward from there.  There is also a subspace link of some

	sort with the original Enterprise."



		On the viewscreen, the Borg ship had stopped moving.

	Impossibly, it was still growing larger, expanding as its 

	surface began to split and tear.  Glimpses of bluish-grey
  Page 210



	metal could be seen fleetingly through the crackling of 

	static and the flare of explosions.  



		The disturbance on the screen was so bright, so

	violent, that the viewscreen shorted out, filling with 

	static.






		On the Borg ship itself, all was in a well-order,

	cybernetic panic.  The loss of atmosphere did not concern

	the Borg, whose self-contained life support systems made 

	the need for air unnecessary.  The major concern was the

	immense power being generated.  It wreaked havoc with the

	Borg subspace net, cutting off communications within the 

	Borg mind itself.  Only the occasional, half-completed

	thought made it anywhere, usually not where it was intended,

	however.



		The three Enterprise crewmen were running through the

	Borg ship, Data directing them back along the path they had

	come while escorted by the Borg.  The Borg were paying no

	attention to them now, and they took full advantage of the 

	fact.  Many times, their path back to the Enterprise was

	blocked by airless regions which had been sealed off.  The

	group lost valuable time by retracing their steps and going

	around the damaged areas.



  Page 211


		Occasionally, the local light dimmed, or flared 

	brilliantly as an explosion blasted a section of the 

	Borg ship, or a Borg soldier, into hundreds of component

	parts, not all of them inorganic.



		With the Enterprise in sight, however, their progress

	was halted by a wall of solid energy.  It advanced on them 

	slowly, backing them up against a section of the Borg ship.

	Immediately, the wall started to flow around them, trying to

	assimilate them.  It had been the group-mind's last coherent 

	order and the ship still tryed to obey.  



		The trio could feel metallic probes plunging through

	their skin, examining their internal structure.  The wall

	released Data immediately, convinced by his robotic workings 

	that he was already a Borg.



		Realizing that someone in the Stardrive Section was 

	responsible for their predicament, he tapped his combadge, 

	the only one the trio had left.  



		"Data to Enterprise.  Do you read, Enterprise.

	Three to beam up immediately, these coordinates."



		Someone on the ship heard him, because just as the

	wall of energy began to singe the front of Data's uniform,

	the wall disappeared and a transporter beam yanked them 

	aboard.  A split second later, the wall was back in place,

  Page 212


	advancing outward, forcing the ship to retreat before it.



		The Borg ship exploded.


  Page 213



				Chapter 14



		From out of the midst of the explosion, came the

	Enterprise's Stardrive hull, shields flaring brightly where 

	debris from the Borg ship passed through them.  Even more

	surprising, the shields were clearly visible, pulsing with

	energy.



		On board the Stardrive module, Geordi was hurriedly

	explaining his plan to Data, Worf, and Scotty.  "...So I had

	the Enterprise transporters lock onto anything in the 

	cargo bay or the raw material store for the replicator and 

	beamed the energy directly into the Warp chamber, without

	materializing it into matter.  This energy was fed directly 

	into the shields and used to push the Borg ship apart around

	us."



		Scott and Data were listening intently, but Worf was

	ready to fight.  "How much power is left for the weapons?" the

	Klingon asked.



		As they entered Engineering, Chris looked up and 

	answered, "Enough for you to indulge yourself, Lieutenant."



		This brought a slow smile to Worf's face, and he 

	turned to Data, "Permission to attack the Borg, sir."



		Data tilted his head to the side as he thought it
  Page 214



	over, gold eyes reflecting the energy surges in the Warp 

	core.  "Granted, Lieutenant, but only until we reconnect the

	sections."



		"Aye, sir."  Worf turned and hurried to the Battle

	Bridge.



		"Data, I have a plan," said Gawron.  "And I'd like 

	to see what you think of it."



		"Proceed, Ensign."



		"Since our shields are still at excess power levels,"

	he looked at Geordi, questioningly, who nodded, then continued,

	"why don't we execute a series of suicide runs at the Borg

	ship?"



		"Ensign, why should we wish to kill ourselves?" asked 

	the android.



		"No, Data," said Geordi.  "What he means is to fly over

	the Borg ship so that the lower part of the shields is actually

	inside the Borg ship, ripping it away.  If Worf fires phasers

	simultaneously, we could do a lot of damage before they can 

	adapt."



		"Very well, Geordi, implement this plan.  You also,

	Ensign."
  Page 215





		As they left, Scott turned to Data.  "An' what about 

	me?  I dinna belong here."



		"You mean you remember where you belong, now?"



		"Yes, sir.  I belong on the Enterprise, but not

	this one.  At least not yet," he finished hopefully.



		"We will return you to your ship at the earliest 

	possible convenience," replied Data.



		"Kin I at least have a look around, first?" 



		"Of course, Commander," Data nodded.  "Be my guest."



		Scott gleefully ran from station to station, examining

	readouts.






		On the Bridge of the Saucer, Picard was thrown off 

	his feet and everyone else was knocked off their feet by the

	force of the explosion.






		In Sickbay, Doctors Pulaski and Selar were just 

	helping Aures out of her bed, to walk around Sickbay, when
  Page 216



	the explosion came.  The diagnostic panel above the bed 

	ripped free from the wall and crashed down on Aures.  Sparks

	danced across the back of the unit, and the smell of burnt

	flesh and melted hair came from beneath the medical scanner.



		Because of the free electricity, neither Pulaski nor

	Selar could get near enough to check Aures' life signs.  Not 

	that it would have mattered anyway.  If she had been at the 

	best hospital in the Federation, with the best surgeons, it

	wouldn't have mattered.  Aures' body was little more than a

	piece of charcoal.



		As they both knew that Aures was done for, Pulaski

	and Selar left her where she was for the moment, and began 

	making preparations for the wounded they knew would soon

	arrive.  Unseen by them, a brief flash of electricity arced

	up one of the electrical pathways that was still connected

	and disappeared into the wall.






		"Spock, what in the hell do they think they're

	doing," screamed Kirk, as the Stardrive roared low over the

	Borg, apparently headed directly for the Enterprise.



		As the Stardrive passed over the Borg, a layer twenty 

	meters thick appeared to dissolve.  Large pits were created 

	by the withering phaser fire, every one of which found its 

  Page 217


	mark at such great power, that for now at least, the Borg's

	adaptational abilities were useless.



		"It would appear, Captain, that that ship is on our

	side, and making an attempt to free us from the Borg tractor

	beam," answered the Vulcan calmly.



		"Captain, Warp engines back online and under helm 

	control," Sulu reported, surprised, as his console returned

	to life.



		"Veapons fully functional, as vell, Keptin," reported

	Chekov.



		"Whoever took control from the Bridge, must have set

	a time delay before he beamed out," mused Kirk, out loud.

	Then to Sulu, "Lay in course 90 mark 174, get us above the

	action as quickly as possible, Mister Sulu."



		"Aye, sir," the Asian replied.  "Course laid in,

	maximum speed."



		


		The Enterprise limped and struggled to rise.  Slowly

	it picked up speed, faltering because of the Borg damage.

	Although the Warp engines were online, the engine nacelles

	themselves were so damaged and out of alignment, that Warp

	speed would have been impossible.
  Page 218





		The Stardrive section turned to make another pass, but

	this time, the Borg erected a force field and the Enterprise 

	shields dropped down to 50% of normal as the ship passed through

	it.  Worf's phaser barrage was now shrugged off, as well.






		On the Battle Bridge, Data was opening a channel to 

	the Saucer Section.  "Data to Picard.  I suggest we reconnect

	the Enterprise."



		"Agreed," came Picard's voice over the comm-channel.

	"Rendezvous with the Saucer at 176 mark 265 in 60 seconds."



		"Aye, sir.  Data out."



		"Course 118 mark 53, speed .2 impulse," reported 

	Ensign Gawron, anticipating Data's orders.



		"Lieutenant Worf, cease fire.  Damage report of

	Stardrive Section and Borg ship."



		"Aye, Commander.  Minor damage to lower four decks

	of Stardrive Section.  Shield power increasing to normal.

	Scanning the Borg now...  Energy levels down 15%, subspace

	activity 56% of normal," reported the Klingon calmly.  Then,

	with some surprise, "Sir, the Borg ship has been reduced in 

  Page 219


	size by 12%.  Reading no atmosphere...wait, they are rebuilding.

	Reading minimal atmosphere."



		"Acknowledged, Lieutenant," said Data.  "Prepare to

	reconnect the Enterprise."  Data tapped out all his commands

	on the control pad mounted into the Command Chair's armrests.

	The Saucer grew larger as it seemed to drift across, then be

	centered in the forward viewscreen.



		"Distance 250 meters and closing," Data counted off.

	"200 meters...decreasing speed to 10 meters per second...100

	meters...50 meters...decreasing speed to 5 meters per sec--"



		The saucer spun crazily on the viewscreen, as the 

	Borg ship pummeled it under a disastrous barrage.  All 

	occupants of the Stardrive and Saucer had been so intent on

	reconnecting the Enterprise, that they forgot the Borg's 

	ability to fight while they heal themselves.



		The Bridge exhaust fans began to clear the smoke

	from the sparking, smoldering consoles.  On the Enterprise

	schematic on the rear wall, large sections of the Stardrive

	section flashed read, damaged.



		"Warning!  Hull breached on decks 14 through 19, and

	decks 25 through 31!  Severe structural damage on decks 12

	through 33!"  The computer's voice could be heard over the

	red alert klaxons.

  Page 220




		"Computer, projected time until total structural 

	failure," requested Data.



		"Five minutes and 14 seconds, if no further damage

	is incurred," the computer responded, matter-of-factly.



		"Chief Engineer," said Data, activating his combadge.



		"Yes," answered Geordi and Scott simultaneously from

	Engineering.



		"I require the Enterprise shields to be reconfigured

	to 'form-fit' the Enterprise.  Use all available power, except

	life support and weapons."



		"Aye, sir."  Again, they both answered in unison, as 

	the link closed.



		"Ensign Gawron, plot a course to the nearest planet

	with an atmosphere within 10% of Earth's," ordered Data.



		"Yes, sir.  Wolf 359C is within 5 minutes of our

	present position at Warp 2," Gawron answered.



		"Lay in a course and engage.  Also contact the Saucer

	and have them follow us."



  Page 221


		"Aye, sir."






		The Stardrive section turned and entered Warp space,

	followed, on impulse power, by the Saucer and its burden.

	Seeing the Stardrive section as the main threat, the Borg

	decided to chase the Engineering hull and to destroy the 

	Saucer later.  Soon all was quiet, except for the Enterprise's

	emergency beacon: "Help.  U.S.S. Enterprise, to any ships in

	range.  This is Captain James T. Kirk.  Need assistance.

	Hurry."






		"The shield is reinforcing the hull, but I still

	don't think it will withstand the strain of entering a planet's

	atmosphere," said Geordi concernedly over the intercom from

	Engineering.  He had heard what Data had in mind, and even 

	though it would in all likelyhood destroy the Borg, it could

	do the same to the ship.



		"Understood, Geordi.  Your objection is noted.

	Proceed with modifications to the navigational deflector

	as per my specifications," answered the android from the 

	Battle Bridge.



		Chris turned from the navigator's station, looking

	questioningly at Data.  He had never heard of the android 

  Page 222


	so cavalierly disregarding such a strong warning as Geordi

	had first expressed.  Still, his was not to question, but for

	now, to fly the ship.



		Worf was once again manning tactical, even though he 

	had nothing to do for the moment.  Data sat in the command 

	chair, concentrating his thoughts on Captain Picard.  'Why 

	hadn't he said anything about my freeing Worf and stealing

	the Stardrive Section?  Did he now remember who Geordi was?'

	He knew none of the answers for certain, which to Data was 

	as good as not knowing the answers at all.  



		"Now entering orbit around Wolf 359C," reported 

	Gawron.  The planet on the viewscreen, third from the red

	star, was mostly brown mottled with a sickly grey/green.

	Small oceans or lakes of molten rock dotted the surface.

	What water there was, evaporated into the atmosphere as

	soon as it fell on the still boiling surface.  The planet

	may have had an Earth-like atmosphere, but it was the 

	Earth of three and a half billion years ago.



		"Geordi," Data called down to Engineering.  "How

	long until we will be ready to implement?"



		"Give me one more minute to fine tune my adjustments,"

	the Engineer replied.  In the background, Scott could be heard

	cursing loudly.  Helping Geordi, he had reversed the polarity 

	on the shield bypass circuit.  Final result, a set of scorched

  Page 223


	fingers and jangled nerves.



		"Mister Gawron, plot a course to insert us into the

	planet's atmosphere at 75 degrees to the surface."



		"Aye, Commander Data," the young man replied.



		"Mister Worf, status of Borg ship?"



		"Sensors show they will arrive in 35 seconds.  

	Energy readings are 89% of normal.  No exterior damage

	evident," the Klingon said simply.  Of all the foes he 

	had faced, the Borg scared him the most.  He did not like

	to admit it, but he was terrified by their emotionless

	natures.



		"Mister Gawron, is course laid in?" asked Data.  The

	android was nervous, if such a thing was possible.  He alone,

	after much analysis, knew the Borg's full potential for 

	destruction.



		"Course computed and laid in.  Ready on your command."



		On the arm of Data's chair, a light flashed, 

	indicating that Geordi, also, was ready.



		In a ripple of space, the Borg ship appeared, dropping

	out of Warp space less than 5 kilometers.  As it rotated, 

  Page 224


	everyone saw the truth of Worf's sensor scans.  They could 

	see no damage.  In fact, the Borg ship looked more powerful

	than before it was damaged.  Slowly, almost warily, it 

	advanced on the Enterprise.



		The tractor beam lashed out, but the Enterprise was

	no longer there.  It had retreated into the planet's atmosphere.

	The Borg fired again, seemingly reluctant to follow the 

	Stardrive Section.  Another clean miss.  This time, however,

	the Enterprise's tractor beam fired, locking on dead center 

	to the face of the Borg cube nearest it.  



		The Borg entered the atmosphere, having no choice

	other than to enter Warp again and risk losing the Enterprise.

	As the two ships moved deeper into the cloud of swirling 

	gases, the glow of the Enterprise's tractor beam dimmed,

	atmospheric particles interfering with its intensity.



		


		On the Bridge, Data watched with satisfaction as the

	Borg were drawn ever deeper toward the planet.  Geordi's 

	status report had not been encouraging and the computer

	kept reminding them that the Enterprise would experience 

	fatal structural failure if they did not leave the planet's 

	atmosphere.  Data thought back to his plan.  It seemed 

	foolish now, but in theory it would work.



		Data had reasoned that if the Borg could adapt to
  Page 225



	a purely energy attack, then what was needed was a more

	physical approach.  Unfortunately, in space, such a physical

	assault would be impossible, short of colliding the Enterprise

	with the Borg.  No, instead he had opted for a different

	approach.  He theorized that if some kind of connector 

	between the Borg and the Enterprise could be set up, and 

	the correct vibrational frequency found, that the Borg

	could be destroyed.  The best connector he could think of

	that was nearby, was a planetary atmosphere.  And, because

	of it's content of water vapor, an Earth-like atmosphere was

	sufficiently thick to conduct the sound vibrations he intended

	to use.



		When Gawron reported that the Borg were fifteen 

	kilometers from the surface, Data press the control studs on

	the right chair arm without looking, eyes intent on the 

	viewscreen.  The image on the viewscreen, the Borg ship in

	pursuit, swung quickly sideways and had to be reoriented to

	face forward once the spinning had stopped.  The Enterprise 

	was now facing the Borg at a range of one kilometer.



		"Mister Worf, fire," ordered Data.



		A deep, basso rumbling filled the Bridge, deafening

	all on it.  Data knew that it must be worse for those in 

	Engineering, closer to the deflector.  The power continued 

	to build up, threatening to tear the ship asunder.


  Page 226



		Geordi lost consciousness first, then Scott.  Gawron

	was next, followed quickly be Worf.  They just slumped over

	where they were sitting or standing, dead to the world.  



		Data did not notice however.  He, too, was suffering

	under the onslaught from the sound waves.  Although more

	resilient than the others, his hearing, so much more 

	sensitive, went first.  Then his optic and vocal circuits

	were interrupted.  Finally darkness closed in and Data's

	last thought to himself, trying to speak and failing,

	"So, this is death.  Intriguing."  Then Data slumped over

	sideways, too soon to hear the computer.



		"Warning, forward progress not abated.  Planetary

	collision imminent.  Five minutes to impact."



		These warnings joined the ones about structural

	failure, the computer talking to itself in stereo, yet

	with the same voice.



		The Enterprise continued its descent, followed by

	the Borg cube, until, sufficient power built up, a beam of

	solid sound erupted from the navigational deflector dish and

	slammed into the Borg ship.






		"Mister Callari, how long until we reach Wolf 359?"

  Page 227


	asked Picard.



		"About five minutes, sir," the young officer replied.



		"Preliminary sensor scans?" queried Riker.



		The young blond lieutenant at Ops spoke without 

	turning, "Sensors show a massive energy discharge deep 

	within Wolf 359C's atmosphere.  Sensors unable to detect

	any ships in the area."



		"None whatsoever?  That does not bode well, Number

	One.  Surely, after the saucer, we're next.  All hands to

	emergency battlestations.  Red Alert."  



		The red tracer lights flashed and the klaxon 

	sounded as Picard grimly sat down in the command chair,

	contemplating what was almost certainly to be a battle to

	the death, with his side coming up short.






		"Captain, life support falling below minimum,"

	Spock reported calmly, face neutral.  If Spock feared 

	death, he did not show it.



		"Dammit, Spock, show some emotion for a change!"

	shouted McCoy from his customary position behind the 

	Captain's chair.  He was perhaps a bit more irritable than
  Page 228



	usual because, now that Geordi LaForge was no longer on the

	Enterprise, McCoy was the only one who remembered him.  He

	knew Scotty belonged on the Enterprise, but he had vanished.



		"Calm down, you two," Kirk said wearily from where

	he had been pacing up and down in front of the viewscreen.

	Spock raised an eyebrow, not realizing he had shown any 

	emotion, because he indeed had not.  



		McCoy continued to bluster.  "But, Jim, if we don't

	do something soon --"



		Kirk interrupted, "I understand, Bones.  I've got

	Spock working on the Science angle and Kyle and Leslie

	working in Engineering to get us up and running."  



		Kirk seemed pleased with himself, but McCoy would

	not be distracted and finished his proclamation, "We're

	dead, Jim.  Or as good as dead."



		"Thank you, Doctor."  Kirk realized, too late, his

	unintentional and exagerrated emphasis on the last word.



		McCoy turned on his heel and stormed off the Bridge. 



		"The good Doctor's concern is overly emotional, but

	it is also logical, Jim," said Spock, for once siding with

	McCoy.  Spock felt fortunate that McCoy would never learn 
  Page 229



	of it, or he would chide Spock about it for the rest of their

	days.  As they only had four hours left, however, it would be

	barely tolerable.



		"I know, Spock, but I had to get McCoy off the Bridge

	so that we could concentrate.  Uhura, have all off-duty personnel

	return to their quarters and tell them to take it easy, conserve

	as many resources as possible.  Also, have someone distribute 

	the oxygen tanks from the space suits to all on-duty crewmen."



		"Aye, sir," Uhura answered and went to work at her

	console, giving the appropriate orders to the appropriate 

	people.



		"Mister Sulu, get us as close as possible to an M class

	planet.  Mister Chekov, prepare to abandon ship."  Kirk turned 

	to Spock.  "Spock, I'll need your help, when the time comes, 

	with the self-destruct command."



		"Unwise, Captain, but I will assist."



		The crew set about their given assignments, trying 

	to ignore the steadily decreasing readouts on the life support

	monitors.

  Page 230



			Chapter 15

		Captain's Log, Stardate 8062.5:
			We are towing the energy creature through
	space in pursuit of the Stardrive Section.  Commander Data
	has come up with a plan to defeat the Borg, and I have 
	given him my permission to implement it.  For some reason,
	I find myself with an uneasy feeling concerning Data and
	Worf, and how they came to be on the Stardrive Section by
	themselves, but no one can remember how they got there.
	I am assuming Q's involvement.



		The Saucer dropped came to a slow stop just outside

	of the Wolf-359 star system, the tractor beam glowing brightly,

	connecting the Enterprise and the energy leech.



		"No contact with the Stardrive Section or the Borg,"

	reported Ensign Callari.  "Sensors do, however, register a

	tremendous power discharge well within the Wolf-359C's

	atmosphere."



		"Thank you, Ensign," acknowledged Picard.  

	Picard turned to Riker.  "If there is no sign of the

	Stardrive hull soon, we must at least return to the future

	with the energy creature."



		"What about Geordi, Worf, and Data?" asked Troi,

	concerned.



		"We have no choice.  If we cannot contact Data, we

	must assume that they have been destroyed by the Borg."

	Then, speaking to the ceiling of the Bridge, "Picard to

	Engineering."
  Page 231





		"Gomez here, sir," came the reply.



		"Prepare impulse engines for the slingshot effect,

	using Wolf-359 as the center of the orbit," said Picard 

	gravely.



		"But, sir--" Gomez began, and was cut off.



		"I don't like the idea any more than you do, Mister

	Gomez, but the safety of the Federation must take precedence

	over any three officers," the Captain almost whispered.



		"Understood, sir." 



		The connection was broken.



		"One question, Captain."



		"Go ahead, Number One."



		"What if the Borg did destroy the Stardrive, but

	still survived?  What if, by traveling into the future,

	we condemn the Federation in the past?" Riker asked pointedly.



		Picard thought a moment.  "A chance I'm willing to

	take, Will.  We are here, we exist.  That, at least, makes 

	me think that the Federation of this era does indeed survive.
  Page 232



	We have no such knowledge of the future."



		"Still, I would like my objections logged, sir,"

	Riker requested stiffly.



		"Of course, Number One.  But if we don't succeed,

	there will be no one to hear them.  Ensign Callari, lay in

	an elliptical course for Wolf-359.  Distance, 1 AU," Picard

	ordered.



		"You do realize how close we'll come to the star's

	surface, don't you sir?" asked Callari.



		"Affirmative.  Plot the course.  Our maximum speed

	with the creature in tow is three quarters the speed of light,

	so calculate distances accordingly."



		"Aye, sir."  Then, after a brief pause, "Course 

	plotted and laid in."



		"Very good."  And, with a flick of the wrist, Picard

	ordered, "Engage."



		The Saucer moved off in its wide, but ever-decreasing

	orbit of Wolf-359.






  Page 233


		The beam of solid sound shook the Enterprise, which

	was shielded from the brunt of the force.  It was infinitely

	worse for the Borg.  The beam pummeled its way through the

	leading face of the cube, disintegrating the ship at the

	molecular level.  The beam continued through to the other

	side of the Borg ship, erupting out the far side of the 

	cube and out into space, where the absence of an atmosphere

	soon rendered it powerless.



		The Borg, unable to adapt to the strength of the

	invisible onslaught, were helpless before it.  As the cube

	still continued to rotate, more and more of the ship was 

	eaten away by the sonic disruption.  After being subjected 

	to it for nearly three minutes, the Borg ship was sliced

	in half, the upper and lower forty meters floating freely

	in the planets atmosphere, the contents of the Borg ship

	falling out to land on the planet's surface or being

	dispersed by the Enterprise's weapon.



		Soon, the upper portion of the cube was gone, 

	fallen into the deadly vibrations emitted by the Enterprise.

	The remaining pieces of the Borg ship landed in the liquid

	rock surface of Wolf-359C.






		Data regained consciousness just as the computer 

	announced "Warning!  Imminent planetfall!  Altitude 100

	meters and decreasing!"
  Page 234





		Data hurriedly rose from the Captain's chair and

	rushed to the navigator's position, shoving Ensign Gawron's

	comatose form out of the way.  His hands played a surreal,

	staccato rhythm over the navigational console.  



		The great warp engines once again became illuminated

	internally as the catastrophic power of the matter/antimatter

	anhilation once again powered the ship.  



		The ship slowed its descent, stopping just as the 

	downward facing end became embedded in the roiling surface.

	The warp engines throbbed and the Enterprise was torn free

	of the rocky embrace, sprinting for open space.



		Behind them, the few remaining Borg soldiers stirred,

	dragging themselves out of the magma slowly, painfully, and

	moving toward the remaining section of their ship, now

	scarcely visible.



		With what little conscious thought was left to them,

	the Borg communicated among themselves "Enterprise will be

	destroyed"  "Time"  "Patience"  "Patience is irrelevant"

	"Predicted time to repair: 80 Earth years"  



		The Borg mind faded into silence, its many disparate

	parts employed in the long task of rebuilding the great ship

	from the exstant ores that could be extracted.
  Page 235







		"Computer, estimated time of repair," Data queried.



		"Three hours and twelve minutes," came the concise 

	answer, the computer already devoting its energy to the 

	automated repair systems.



		Gawron stirred, followed by Worf.  Each sat up

	groggily, head in hands.  Moaning softly, they returned to

	their stations and began running diagnostic programs.



		"Engineering to Bridge.  Is everyone alright up

	there?" came Geordi's voice over the comm channel.



		Data looked from one to the other, receiving curt

	nods of affirmation.  "Yes, Geordi, we are all functional.

	And yourself and Commander Scott?"



		"We're okay down here.  We've begun repairs to the

	Warp engines.  Should be completed in about an hour."



		"What is the top safe Warp speed we can use, Geordi?"

	asked the android.



		"Uh, Warp Four," the Engineer replied slowly.  "Why?"



		"We must return Commander Scott to his rightful 
  Page 236



	place on board the Enterprise of this time."



		"Oh.  Yeah, forgot about that.  Engineering out."



		"Ensign Gawron, lay in a course for the Enterprise,

	Warp four," instructed Data.



		"Aye, sir.  Course laid in," Gawron replied shakily,

	still suffering from the sound blast.



		"Execute."



		Data sat back in his chair as the stars on the 

	viewscreen elongated into streaks, flashing by.  Fifteen

	minutes later, the stars compressed to their normal size

	as the Enterprise dropped out of Warp.



		There before them lay what was left of the Enterprise.

	Its hull pierced, plating pealed back, it looked as if it 

	were rotting.  Electrical arcs were visible through the 

	gaping holes.



		The Enterprise moved slowly, its engine struts

	twisted, Warp nacelles mangled.  The glow of power in the

	engines was barely detectable, as was the light coming from

	the portholes in the ship's side.



		The Stardrive section moved in closely, sending as
  Page 237



	greeting the communications worm that had worked so well 

	before.  An audio only signal was transmitted, telling

	Kirk that help was on the way.  Data also said that Scott

	was beaming over, fresh from monitoring the shakedown 

	cruise of the new U.S.S. Excelsior.



		Memories of this shakedown cruise had been implanted

	into Scott's mind, obscuring any thought of the Stardrive 

	Section and it's technological advancements.



		Reporting that "A maximum speed trial is yet required,"

	Data closed the connection and the Stardrive Section left the

	Enterprise behind.  Out of range, Data did not see the four

	Federation ships shimmer into existence, dropping out of Warp

	just as the Enterprise entered it.



		


		"Set course one one three mark two five, Ensign," 

	ordered Data. 


		
		"Aye, sir.  Course laid in," responded the young 

	officer.



		"Very well.  Engage, Warp 8.6."



		"Commander, Q told us that we must travel Warp 8.8 

	to achieve time travel," argued Worf.

  Page 238




		"I have recomputed the necessary equations and have

	found that we need travel only Warp 8.6 because we now lack

	the mass of the Saucer Section," Data rattled on, talking

	about mass/density relationships in 4th dimensional space

	as opposed to 3rd and 5th dimensional space.  He had just

	started in on 6th dimensional space when Gawron reported:

	"Warp 8.6, sir."



		"Worf, pull the switch," ordered Data.



		When Q had 'installed' the first switch on the Bridge,

	he had also put one here, on the Battle Bridge.  Worf eyed 

	it suspiciously, but pulled it as ordered.



		The Enterprise leapt forward, as with triple the

	acceleration, attaining relative speeds of Warp 19.  The 

	Enterprise left it's present time continuum at Warp 10 and

	moved forward through time, faster and faster.  



		When it finally dropped out of Warp, it was presented

	with a startling view.  On the viewscreen, they watched as 

	the Enterprise, somehow whole again, separated, the Stardrive

	Section floating toward the Xin ship and detonating.  They 

	watched as it was resurrected and propelled through time.



		As the Enterprise left this timestream, the Xin ship

	began moving.  In the three hours between the Enterprise's

  Page 239


	departure and the Saucer's reappearance, Data, Worf, LaForge,

	and Gawron watched as the Xin ship crept through space.



		It had traveled no more than 1000 kilometers when 

	the Saucer appeared, dragging the energy leech behind it.



		On the Main Bridge of the Saucer, everyone had been

	knocked unconscious by the trip through the ages.  All that 

	could be heard was the faint whisper of breathing and the 

	computer's voice.



		"Re-entry into proper era established," it spoke

	mechanically.  "Disengaging tractor beam."



		The energy leech, already awakening from it's 

	artificially induced hibernation, hovered confusedly in 

	space.  Finally, rather than attacking the Xin ship, it

	advanced on the food source closest at hand, the Saucer.



		


		"Mister Worf, fire a single photon torpedo between

	the energy creature and the Xin ship.  Set it to detonate

	at one hundred kilometers from the creature," ordered Data.



		"Aye, sir," Worf responded reluctantly.  He would

	much rather have fired at the Xin himself, pointless as it

	was, than waste a photon torpedo as bait.


  Page 240



		As the photon torpedo flared to life, it's explosion

	illuminating the scene, the creature hesitated.  It sensed 

	more power, more food, from the explosion.  But that was far

	away and this food source was close at hand.



		Finally, it opted for quantity over ease of access

	and moved off toward what radiation was left from the explosion.



		Worf fired eleven torpedoes in all to lure the creature

	after the Xin.  The Xin ship had never regained full temporal 

	motion and, to the Xin, the action seemed to move at well over

	ten times it's normal rate.



		The energy leech sidled up to the Xin ship, 

	investigating.  Then it began feeding, siphoning off all 

	the Xin's energy.  



		The crystal surface became cracked and dull, the

	soaring antennas crumbled away, interior lights dimming, 

	as the Xin ship died.  Nothing the occupants did mattered.

	The weakened hull ruptured as the energy leech disengaged

	it's tentacles.  The Xin crewmembers were sucked out into

	space, along with any equipment that was not tightly 

	fastened down.  



		The Xin's bony carapaces helped to protect them from

	exposure to the hard vacuum of space, but could not prevent 

	the rupturing of their internal structures.  They bled from
  Page 241



	joints and oozed crushed organs from orifices.



		Finally, the Xin ship disintegrated, it's molecules

	joining the vast population of interstellar matter.



		Still hungry, the energy leech now turned on the 

	Stardrive Section.  Worf launched more torpedoes, but the 

	creature was not fooled this time.  It continued it's 

	advance.



		"Lock on tractor beam, Geordi," Data ordered into

	the intercom.



		"Tractor beam locked on.  The creature's leeching

	our energy again, Data.  Better make this fast."



		"Affirmative, Lieutenant.  Ensign Gawron, plot course

	two one six mark four seven," said Data, consulting a read out

	on the arm of the command chair.



		"But that'll take us into the heart of Star 452M5,"

	protested Gawron.



		"We will not be entering the star, but stopping 

	just short of it, Ensign.  Engage course at Warp three."



		"Aye, sir.  Warp three," Chris replied dubiously.


  Page 242



		"Arrival at Star 452M5 in fifteen seconds," reported

	Worf, from his station at the rear of the Bridge.



		"Drop out of Warp .1 seconds before entering the heart

	of the star and release tractor beam," Data ordered.



		"Aye, sir.  Whatever you say."



		"Carefully, Ensign Gawron.  You must not overshoot,"

	warned Data.



		"Dropping out of Warp...NOW.  Tractor beam disengaging."

	Then with surprise, Gawron reported, "The creature is moving

	away, toward the sun.  Distance 123 meters and falling, 100

	meters...90...60...15...2...it has entered the sun.  No longer

	reading any lifesigns."



		With what could have been sadness, Data ordered,

	"Return to the Saucer and reconnect."  Then Data just sat

	there, neither responding to his friends, nor noticing that

	they were even there.


  Page 243



			CHAPTER 16

	Captain's Log, Supplemental:
		We have returned to our own time and Mister Data
	assures me that the Xin ship has been destroyed and also 
	that we have had no noticeable impact on our own past.  I
	only hope that he is correct and that our interference has
	not caused some difficulty that will come back to haunt us 
	in the future.  
		As far as Commander LaForge's defeat of the Borg,
	he reports that such a weapon is not now, nor ever has 
	been physically possible.  I feel that Q planted the idea
	in his head and then allowed the weapon to be implemented.
		Data and Worf have explained to me why they stole
	the Stardrive Section, and I believe them, even if no one
	except them has any memory of the events leading up to it.
	I have also dropped all charges against Worf for refusing
	to fire on the Klingon ships, citing as my reason that
	he was displaced in time, and as such, may have reverted 
	to the behavior of Klingons at that time.
		We are currently proceeding to Starbase 
	Andreievitch for repairs and debriefing.



		Picard looked up from his computer terminal, feeling

	a tingle at the base of his skull, as if he were being 

	watched.



		"Come on out, Q.  I know you're here."



		"Indeed, Captain.  I'm everywhere," said Q, as he

	appeared, now wearing the uniform of a Starfleet Fleet 

	Admiral.  "You've done remarkably well, Jean-Luc, but 

	remember, I can always come back." 



		"I think not, Q.  You see, the Borg know of you now.

	They know of the Continuum and your powers.  They'll find a

	way to adapt, Q.  Then they will come looking for you and 

	maybe you will be absorbed into the Borg."

  Page 244




		Q, a look of terror on his face, pleaded, "No!  It

	can't be true.  I don't look at all good in plastic and steel.

	You've got to help me."



		"No, Q.  It is because of you that the Borg know of

	us.  It seems fitting that they know of you for the same

	reason."



		"Alright then, if you're not going to help, I'll just

	have to have my fellow Q help me."



		"If they don't kick you out before you get a chance 

	to explain it to them," Picard retorted ominously.



		"What do you know, Picard?  Now it's my turn to give

	out bad news.  You remember that Borg ship at Wolf-359C.  

	Well, it wasn't destroyed.  Heavily damaged, perhaps, but 

	not destroyed.  It will be fully repaired in little more 

	than a year, but don't think of warning anyone.  Your

	memory is now blocked.  You have the knowledge but are

	unable to give it to anyone in any form.  

		"Ariva derci, Jean-Luc."  Q vanished from sight.






		In 10-Forward, Geordi and Data were discussing their

	experiences in the past.  


  Page 245



		"Now I understand some of the things Admiral McCoy 

	said to me when he was aboard.  We were in orbit over Farpoint

	Station, and he said that he had lobbied heavily for the 

	construction of the Galaxy Class series of starships.  He 

	also said that he had a vague memory of you and I, but did

	not know from where."



		Geordi turned to look intently at Data, the subdued 

	light glinting off his VISOR.  "You don't mean--"



		"Yes, Geordi, the amnesia program did not work.  Out

	of all his shipmates, he is the only one who remembers us."




		"And he never said a word, keeping it to himself for

	over eighty years.  Unbelievable," whispered Geordi, in awe.



		"I shall have to meet with him again and discuss our

	experiences on the Enterprise and the," Data faltered, 

	"Enterprise," he finished.



		Geordi turned back to his drink, thinking ahead to

	the shore leave that they had once again been promised and

	knowing that something would come up to keep them from 

	getting it.






		And on Wolf-359C, the vague outline of a cube 
  Page 246



	dragged itself free from the hardened rock encasing it.

	It was by no means repaired yet, but a signal had been

	received.  Another Borg ship was on it's way to Federation

	space, and this ship wanted to be ready.



		A year, perhaps, was a good estimate.  After 79 years

	of repairs, what was one more, when the heart of the 

	Federation lay open to it?



 
				Appendix

			Author's Note: Explanations


	Some of you may be concerned about Worf's behavior, Re: Not attacking
the Klingons.  This behavioral change is not unprecedented in Star Trek and
is of the same form as Spock's abnormal behavior in "All Our Yesterdays," where
he reverts back to the behavior of Vulcans of that time period.  Klingons of 
the time period Worf and crew were in would not, in my opinion, fight against 
someone who they saw as doing their duty.

	McCoy's advocacy of the Galaxy class starships stems from his not
knowing what time period (stardate) the "Houdini" comes from.  He knew it was
really named the Enterprise and wanted to speed up development of it so that 
it could go back in time to destroy the Borg.  (See below.)  This is the reason
for the lack of an extensive testing program.  (Captain of the "Yamato," 
"Contagion.")

	The Borg were included in the book to put an extension on Khan, add
something about the effect of the Genesis wave, and fix something I found
hard to believe about "Best of Both Worlds Part II."  I did not think that
one Borg ship alone could defeat 40 Federation starships.  It made sense to me
that their was another Borg ship somewhere.  This ship, stranded for many years
on Wolf-359C, beamed Locutus aboard just as the other Borg ship was destroyed,
finished off the Federation fleet, and then headed for Earth.  By this time,
Khan's personality had been purged by the Borg.

	And that's all I wrote, but before I go, thanks to friends and family
members for their support, and to everyone who consented to appear in this 
work: Chris Gawron, Jill Aures, Maggie Harris, Dave Callari, Phyllis Rubino,
and any others I may have forgotten over the past year of writing.

	Hailing frequencies closed.  Live long and prosper, as we watch the
human adventure continue into the 23rd century and beyond.