Title: Star Trek-Infinity: Traveling in Time Speeder [PG] (MISC) Author: Charles Rando (trando@worldnet.att.net), http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Corridor/9434 Series: MISC Rating: [PG] Part: NEW 1/4 Disclaimer: Paramount owns the characters in The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, and Peter David owns the Selelvian race (see his book, Strike Zone). "Time Speeder" and the original characters within are the property of Stephen Ratliff, and I extend my sincere thanks to him for allowing me to use his story. I'd like to think that the characters I've invented and the story are mine. :-) Summary: The Infinity gets sucked into a strange universe... where a teenage girl named Marissa commands a starship! When time travelers threaten the present of this universe, can the crew of the Infinity help Marissa save the timeline? And can they do it fast enough, considering that every second they spend in the other universe, they become more like the people in it? Author's note: This story is my attempt at writing a "Trials and Tribble-ations" type story, using one of the works of Mr. Stephen Ratliff. Yet again, thank you, Steven for allowing me to use your story (you did say I could, didn't you? ) Please write and let me know what you think of it (I know, it is a bit... surreal!) Prologue Lyam Sympton was your average human from the outside. You would have never guessed that those brown eyes and brown hair covered a obsessed man. Most people believed that Starfleet was an organization devoted to science and exploration which also protected the Federation's borders. Lyam believed that it was a military organization just waiting for an opening to take over the Federation. He was willing to die for his convictions, and he wasn't the only one. However, times being what they where, he did not need to die. He had a plan instead. In order to carry out that plan, however, he needed a Constitution class starship. This was not an easy item to find, but if you looked hard enough one could be bought or 'borrowed'. As for why he wanted one, that was simple... perhaps too simple. Seeking more information to further his theory on Starfleet a friend of his had tapped into Starfleet's mission log recorders. In particular, those of the original Enterprise. Lyam laughed at the irony that Starfleet would provide it's own undoing. ****************************************************** Captain's Log- Stardate 48314.7 We are continuing our surveillance of the Neutral Zone after a brief supply run to Jantarus II. For some reason, it seems that Romulan activity has been increasing across the zone. For most races, such activity could be classified as a normal occurance... but with the Romulans, I'm not so sure. I just hope it's not a precursor to war. Captain Rando reclined slightly in his chair and took a sip from a tall glass of ice cold water in his ready room. He knew that some of his equals in Starfleet prefered coffee, tea, or even raktajino, but he still maintained that nothing beat an ice cold glass of water. He had been examining the away team reports from the recent mission to Jantarus II when he had felt the need for a drink. It had been a simple milk run: the Infinity had been assigned to deliver medical goods and other supplies to the small science station orbiting the planet, and they had also helped get the station's replicators back online. Everything had gone without a hitch... in fact things had been pretty hitchless for quite a while lately... even all that activity on the other side of the Neutral Zone didn't really seem to be leading anywhere. Lieutenant Remley would later chastise him yet again for foreshadowing disaster. "Rando, I think you might want to look at this." Captain Rando looked up in the direction of the voice, surprised because that wasn't something he heard everyday. Well, yes he did hear Lieutenant Remley, Commander Witherell, or Lieutenant Williams tell him there was something he should look at (and each time he had wondered why they could never just tell him what it was), but he had never heard J.W. say it. "What is it, J.W.?" he asked, more than a bit curious. "Activate your console and I'll show you," the Bajoran Prophet replied, his tone expressing great exasperation. It was obvious that there was something he wanted to convey to Rando, and that he felt that Rando wasn't being cooperative. Rando turned on the console to prove this wasn't the case. "I am detecting strange variances in subspace about five light-years from our current position. The variances are reminiscent of the wormholes I used to create." "You mean the ones that sent us back through time and space?" Rando asked, and then added with a hint of sarcasm. "Yes, I remember those." "I believe it is something we should investigate," J.W. continued. Rando thought about this. Since his expulsion by his people, J.W. had become a little... lost. Every so often, Counselor Kassal would try to talk to him about it, but he would never tell her anything. Sonja had then concluded that because J.W. wasn't exactly sure what he was supposed to be doing on a ship filled with humanoids, he wasn't doing anything. He would just hole himself up in the ship's computer and not talk to anyone. Rando didn't have to ask Counselor Kassal to know that these "subspace variances" might be just enough to pull J.W. out of his shell. "All right then," he said, rising from his chair and heading towards the ready room door, "we'll check it out." Rando walked out onto the bridge of his ship. Even though it was Alpha shift, only a few members of the senior staff were present. The rest all had other duties to attend to, as the ship wasn't on alert. As Rando came up behind the CONN station, he ordered, "Full stop, Ensign." Ensign Marit Kynten gave him a puzzled look, but nonetheless followed his command. "Reporting full stop," the Bajoran said. "Very good. Now, J.W., where were these subspace variances?" Rando asked. There was a slight pause as J.W. checked the computer records. "There are located at 247 mark 23," he replied. "Five point two light-years away." "Ensign Marit, input that heading and engage at warp one," Rando ordered, and then sat down in his command chair. Commander Kevin Witherell, the Betazoid first officer, turned to him. "Is something up, sir?" "J.W.'s detected some strange readings in subspace, so we're going to check it out," Rando replied. He smiled. "This day might not be so boring after all." "Sir," came the voice of Lieutenant Remley at tactical, "please don't say that." ****************************************************** Lyam Sympton was ready to move. A group of his colleagues had joined him in his private yacht, the Starfleet's Bane. They were just entering the Zed-15 Depot Yard. Their objective was the decommissioned USS Eagle NCC-956. "Have they detected us?" Lyam asked his comrade and engineering specialist, Boris Gutanhoff. "I don't think so," Boris replied. "Ready boarding parties, Frank," Lyam ordered. "Boris, I want that ship operational ASAP." "I'll do my best," Boris responded. "Hopefully they won't have stripped it too much." Moments later, a half dozen hired guns beamed on board the Eagle. They fanned out and checked out the empty ship. Signaling all clear, the leader requested that the engineer be beamed aboard. Boris got right to work on the shuttlebay doors. Despite the fact that the Eagle had been out of service for more than 80 years, the bay doors still opened allowing the Starfleet's Bane to squeeze into the bay. Lyam Sympton exited the yacht. "Welcome aboard, Captain," Boris said. "How is our transportation, Boris?" Lyam asked. "No weapons, but she'll go fast enough to break the speed limit and get us where... or shall I say WHEN we're going," Boris replied. "Then let's get under way before the supply yard notices us," Lyam ordered. "I'll be on the bridge." CHAPTER ONE "J.W.'s right, there's definitely something weird out there," Lieutenant Phil Williams reported. He indicated the screen on his science console. "Look at this. A ripple effect in subspace... almost like a rip in reality." Rando leaned closer to look at the screen. "What could be causing it?" he demaned. "I've never seen subspace distortions like these, Captain," Williams admitted. "I have no clue." "Are we in any danger?" Williams shook his head. "I can't guarantee that, sir. All I can say is that...." His console suddenly started beeping in alarm. "Sir, the subspace variances have formed a definite rift in space! It's expanding!" "Red alert! Ensign Marit! Get us out of here! Maximum warp!" Rando ordered. Marit tried to comply, but the distortion wave hit the Infinity before she could execute her orders. "Report!" Rando yelled as the ship shook. The inertial dampeners hadn't been prepared for the distortion wave, and everyone was being thrown around like ants in the wind. "We've entered the spatial rift!" Lieutenant Remley reported. "I can't get any readings besides that!" He paused. "I told you not to foreshadow any more, sir!" "Ensign, can you reverse our course?" Rando asked as he made his way to the CONN station. "Get us out of here?" "Thrusters are not responding, sir," Marit shouted back. "We have impulse engines, but the only way we're going is straight." Rando looked over at his first officer and then said, "Then straight it is. Engage impulse engines! Get us the hell out of here!" "Aye sir!" Marit exclaimed as the ship buckled one last time. And then it stopped. "We're free of the rift, sir!" Remley reported. "Back in normal space again!" "Good work, Ensign," Rando congratulated. "I knew we could count on you." Marit just looked back and forth over her console. "Sir, it wasn't me." The silence that followed Marit's announcement was broken by another beeping sound, this time from Lieutenant Remley's console. "Sir, I'm detecting an incoming signal. I can't locate its source." Rando nodded. "Put it onscreen, Lieutenant. It might give us a hint to why we're here." And on the viewscreen was the bridge of another Federation starship... with a teenage girl in the command chair. ****************************************************** Captain's Log USS Stargazer NCC-2893 STARDATE 51371.35 Lieutenant Commander Picard recording until the arrival of the Captain. We are currently proceeding to Deep Space Nine to pick up Captain T'Gwen Washington and the Cardassian members of our crew. En route we are to enforce the speed limit of warp 5 for starships equipped with the older model warp engine. Marrissa surveyed the bridge of the Stargazer. In front of her was the CONN position where Lieutenant Katherine Lochard was working. Over on the forward port corner, stood the Operations console where some ensign Marrissa didn't know sat. Next to the Captain's chair on the right was a seat for the First Officer. She wondered how long it would take her to get used to a Cardassian in that position. Directly behind her, between the turbolifts, was tactical. Lieutenant Ross Lochard was seated there, not quite used to having a chair. On the port side of the bridge was the Engineering station, currently unmanned. To the starboard was the fighter command consoles where Marrissa would probably spend most of her time on the bridge. Below that station was one of the unique features of the refitted Stargazer. Since the Tactical, Engineering and Fighter Command needed more room on a fighter carrier than most ships, their had not been enough room to put the ready room and conference room off the bridge, so a staircase led down to the floor below where they had been relocated. "Captain, I'm detecting a vessel exceeding warp 5," Ross said. "Operations?" Marrissa asked "Warp signature confirmed, civilian pre-refined warp drive," the ensign replied. "Traveling at warp 7.32" "Registration?" Marrissa inquired. "The ship is transmitting the registry of DSK-63689, which is listed as the Freeport Rover out of Carse," Ross replied. "Kathy, set a course to intercept them in 5 minutes," Marrissa ordered. "Hail them, Ensign. Ross, give me the full record of this ship's traffic violations. Something tells me this is a repeat offender." "The Freeport Rover is responding," the ensign at operations replied. "On screen," Marrissa responded as Ross handed her a PADD over her shoulder. A black haired man appeared on the screen. "This is the Freeport Rover out of Carse, why are you chasing us?" he asked. "I am Lieutenant Commander Marrissa Picard, presently commanding the Starfleet vessel Stargazer," Marrissa said. "I'm certain that you know your ship is going 2.35 warp factors above what is permitted for your warp core design. I'm afraid I'm going to have to issue a speeding ticket. Prepare to receive my boarding party." "That won't be necessary," the Freeport Rover's Captain replied. "I'm sure we can make arrangements that so you won't have to come aboard. It would save us both some time and mean a lot of money." "Sorry, Captain, but I must insist," Marrissa replied. "Plus, it seems that you are going to have to be charged with bribery. Lieutenant Lochard, is your Security team ready?" "Yes, Captain," Ross replied. "My security team will be arriving in two minutes," Marrissa informed. "Stargazer out. Ross, did you notice that barrel in the upper left hand corner?" "You mean the one which was labeled 'Medical substance, bio-mumentic gel?'" Ross replied. "I saw it. I also wish to note that the Freeport Rover is lacking the necessary permits to carry it." "I think we better call for some one to pick up the Freeport Rover and prepare to deviate to the nearest Starbase," Marrissa said. "I'll expect you to return with the captain of that vessel. Dismissed." Meanwhile on the Eagle, the anti-Starfleetites were ready to move. "Lyam, all systems are ready," Boris said. "John, set a course for Proxima Centauri, Warp 7," Lyam ordered. ****************************************************** Ensign Marit was the first to speak. "What the hell was that?" she demanded. Remley shook his head when Rando looked at him. "I don't know, sir. It was a transmission of some sort, but it seemed to flash back and forth from different locations. I first thought it was the Bridge Visual Log of that ship... the Stargazer, but then that other ship came up...." "Sir!" Ensign Jeff Libby exclaimed. "I've located the Stargazer! It's approximately two light-years away, and there's a civilain ship right next to it." "Then that must be the civilian ship they pulled over for speeding," Rando replied. He sighed. "One would think that a starship would have better things to do with its time." "What should we do, sir?" Remley asked. Rando considered this, and then said, "Hail the Stargazer . They're the first contact we've had since our trip through the rift, maybe they know what's going on." Remley executed the command, but reported a few seconds later, "No response, sir." "Are they receiving our hail?" Rando demanded. "They should be..." Remley started to say, but J.W. interruped him. "They won't be detecting anything from us, Rando. As far as they know, we're not even here." "What are you talking about, J.W.?" Commander Witherell demanded. Witherell had been one of the fiercest opponents to J.W.'s forced tour through time, especially because of that time he had set the ship up against the Borg. Commander Witherell had good reason to fear the Borg: they had killed his brother during the battle of Wolf 359. "From the sensor readings I'm getting, it would seem that we are no longer in your universe," J.W. replied. "To make matters worse, for some reason, we are out of phase with this universe. As I said, they have no idea we're here." "Is this a result of the rift?" Rando demanded. "That rift was definitely what brought us here," J.W. told him. "However, I am detecting that the subspace variances that created the rift are coming from that starship." "The Stargazer?" "Correct." Rando looked towards Williams, who affirmed J.W.'s assesment of their situation. "It all checks out, sir. And I am detecting the subspace variances coming from the Stargazer." "Then something on that ship brought us here," Rando said, "and unless J.W. can open a wormhole to our universe..." "Which I seem to be unable do," J.W. interjected. "Something about this universe is preventing me from doing so." "We're going to need that ship's help to get home." Rando turned to Marit. "Ensign, move us up alongside the Stargazer. Wherever it goes, we go. Lieutenant Remley, scan for more transmissions. I want them onscreen whenever they come. Lieutenant Williams, J.W., I want you to work on a way for us to get back home. And if we do, I'll never foreshadow again." CHAPTER TWO Captain's Log USS Stargazer NCC-2893 STARDATE 51372.35 Lieutenant Commander Picard recording until the arrival of the Captain. We have dropped off the Freeport Rover and her crew at Starbase 329 to await trial. With all the evidence against her, there is a great likelihood that the Freeport Rover will become property of the Federation Government. Later that evening, Marrissa organized a poker game in Seven Slightly Starboard. Among the participants were Lieutenants Ross and Katherine Lochard, Lieutenant Sam Lavelle, and Admiral Montgomery Scott. "I'll see your ten, and raise you 5, lassie," Scotty said. "I fold," Katherine said. "I'm in," Ross stated. "I'll see your 15 and raise you 10," Lavelle called. "Sam, you really should work on your bluff," Marrissa said. "I'll see you and raise 10." "Too rich for my blood, lassie," Scotty said. "I fold." "I'll see you and raise you 20," Sam Lavelle stated. "I'll see your 20 and raise you 50," Marrissa said. "Watch those cards, Kathy, Marrissa's got something," Ross asserted. "I ... fold," Sam said. "Like I said, work on that bluff," Marrissa said. "It looks like this hand's mine. Since I've now won five straight hands, I'll sit out the next one. Kathy, your deal." Marrissa got up and went over to Mary, who was dusting the piano next to Marrissa's wall. "Mary, what is an old fashioned upright piano doing in a Starfleet bar?" "Pianos have always been in bars since the ancient west on Earth," Mary responded. "I hear you play?" "Not much, and I haven't practiced in ages," Marrissa said. "Sometime I'll have to pick it up again." "Go ahead, try," Mary said. "All right, but I'm warning you I haven't practiced in a good two years - maybe more," Marrissa warned. Then she began playing the Blue Danube Waltz. A little hesitant and occasionally she made a mistake, but on the whole it sounded pretty good. "Hey, Marrissa, this is a bar, not a concert hall," Ross shouted. "OK, you asked for it," Marrissa said. "Mary, get me a strawberry juice." Ross looked over at her thinking 'not again,' but Marrissa wasn't going todo that. She began playing the Entertainer. "Marrissa, that's still not right," Ross said back. "Hey, you give me the music and a day to study it and maybe I'll play it. Otherwise... Kathy, order a strawberry juice and if your husband complains again, throw it on him," Marrissa responded. "You heard the Commander, honey, now be quiet," Katherine Lochard said. As Marrissa continued to play, a young man phased into view behind her. "Are you sure you haven't been practicing?" he whispered in her ear. Marrissa whirled around to face him. "Wesley Eugene Crusher, brother, what are you doing here?" "Well, little sister, I thought I'd drop by to see you," Wesley replied. "Wes, you never 'drop by'," Marrissa retorted. "Who said I couldn't change?" Wes replied. Then under Marrissa's stare he relented. "Actually the Traveler said I'd be needed here." "Well if the Traveler said so, who am I to second guess him?" Marrissa said. "Come let me introduce you to the crew, but I'd advise you not to join the poker game. Your bluff is worse than Lavelle's." ****************************************************** "That was exciting," Marit grumbled. "I'm glad I stayed on another shift for that." She looked around her. The rest of the senior crew, except for Commander Witherell, had been replaced by their Beta shift counterparts. She rose from her console, told Witherell she was going to bed, and entered the turbolift, desperately trying to get the last scene out of her head. ****************************************************** "0600 hours, Gamma Shift is relieved," Marrissa said. "I hope you had a good time in command, Ensign Faraday." Throughout, the bridge officers were switching off. "Yes, sir, although I didn't expect to hold command so soon after graduation," Ensign Faraday replied. "Get used to it, I've seen your record and I may be using you more often than you think," Marrissa said. "Dismissed. Ross, system status." "All systems normal," Lieutenant Ross Lochard replied. "Captain, I'm detecting another craft exceeding warp 5. Definite pre-refined warp drive. Current speed is warp 7 and accelerating." "Kathy, intercept course, maximum warp," Marrissa ordered. "Ross, additional data please." "Sensors indicate... no, this can't be right, Ops, confirm my readings," Lieutenant Ross Lochard said. "Readings confirmed, vessel is the Constitution class starship USS Eagle, NCC-956," the ensign at Ops replied. "The Constitution class was retired over 70 years ago," Marrissa stated. "Ross, where was the Eagle stored?" "The Zed-15 depot yard," Ross said. "Notorious for losing several starships." "Well they've lost another one," Marrissa said as Scotty entered the bridge. "Time to intercept, Kathy." "Ten minutes," Kathy responded. "But they're going awfully close to that star." "It might as well be 10 years," Scotty said. "They're attempting time travel. Helm, you better change course to a hyperbolic, matching theirs as close as possible, if you want to catch them." Kathy looked at Marrissa. "You heard the Admiral," Marrissa said. "If I remember the descriptions of time travel, we better strap in. All hands, prepare for rough maneuvers. We have to come out of this as close as possible to the time which the Eagle does, so keep a close eye on them, Kathy." "And hope the new inertial dampers are better than they were on the original Enterprise," Scotty said. ****************************************************** "What the hell are they doing?" Captain Rando demanded as he stepped onto the bridge. Part of the way through the poker incident, he had decided, like much of the bridge crew, to get some much needed rest. Unfortunately, his rest had been interrupted by a red alert and a sudden call to the bridge. "The Stargazer is in pursuit of a Constellation class starship," Witherell reported. "From what I saw on the viewscreen, the Constellation class starship is attempting time travel, and the Stargazer is in pursuit." Rando sighed in frustration. Now they had even more to deal with before they could get back home. "Keep with them, Ensign Marit. Set a hyperbolic course to match theirs. It looks like we're going to have to tag along." ****************************************************** Ahead of them, the USS Eagle shot around Proxima Centauri and disappeared. Then the Stargazer followed suit. The whole ship shook. Down in Seven Slightly Starboard, the vases on the tables slid off on to the floor, shattering. Throughout the ship things fell from their places, however in a tribute to the new ship's engineering, no consoles exploded. Moments later they left warp, decelerating in another time. "Ships status, Engineering?" Marrissa said. "Tactical determine the location of the Eagle. Ops, current date please. Lieutenant Lavelle, Wesley Crusher report to the bridge." "All systems are normal, but I'd like to run a level two diagnostic to be sure," Scotty replied. "That takes systems off line, and I'm afraid we can't risk that until we know where we are and what we are going to have to do," Marrissa said. "Run a level three instead." "Aye, sir," Scotty replied. "I've found the Eagle, Captain," Ross Lochard replied. "She is headed toward Earth. The Eagle has a lead time of about four hours on us." ---"Well, we're here, sir," Lieutenant Remley reported. ---"Yes, but where is here, exactly?" Captain Rando mused aloud. "Or more precisely, when?" "Kathy, set a course to intercept," Marrissa ordered. "Ops, do you have the date for me?" "Aye sir, it is July 26, 1996," the ensign at Ops replied. "Happy negative 281st birthday, Captain," Ross responded. "Ross," Kathy admonished. ---"Happy 344th birthday, Captain," Remley added, "Give or take a few days." ---"1996 plus 281 years... this Marissa Picard was born in 2277?!" Rando demanded. ---"It's a mirror universe," J.W. replied, indicating that that should be enough explanation. "Captain, the Eagle has already entered the Terran System," Ross informed. "Kathy, where do you think you will catch up with them?" Marrissa asked. "I'd have to say in Earth orbit, assuming that's where they're going," Kathy Lochard replied as Wesley and Lieutenant Lavelle entered the bridge. "Any advice for me, big brother?" Marrissa asked Wesley. "Just don't let your ship be seen," Wesley replied. "Admiral Scott?" Marrissa questioned. "Visual and ray sensor screen active," Scotty replied. "The Eagle has entered Earth orbit," Ross apprised. ---"The Eagle has landed," Remley quipped. ---"Stop that," Captain Rando admonished. ---If Lieutenant Remley heard his Captain, it didn't show. "Hey, this is kinda fun!" "Time to orbit?" Marrissa asked. "Thirty seconds," Kathy said. "Hail the Eagle," Marrissa ordered. "Use subspace narrowband channels." ---"Or narrowband subspace channels. Whatever you like." ---"Lieutenant!" "They are refusing to respond," Ross said. "Detecting transporter activity." "Trace beam down location," Marrissa ordered. "Washington D.C.," Ross replied. "The Eagle is moving off." "Time for a meeting, Scotty, Ross, Kathy, Wes, Sam, join me in the conference room," Marrissa ordered. "Ensign Rettson, you have the bridge; just keep us in orbit." Marrissa and the aforementioned five descended from the bridge on the staircase. Down on the deck below, they turned to the right and into the conference room which faced the front of the ship. ---"They have time travelers who have just gone over three hundred... or over two hundred years in the past and are probably attempting to alter history and they're HAVING A MEETING!" ---"Mirror universe, Rando." As Marrissa sat down at the head of the table, she said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a problem. We've got God knows how many time travelers who just beamed down to Washington D.C. for a purpose which we don't know. I'm open to speculation or, if my brother has any information he'd care to share, actual facts." "I don't have much," Wesley said. "All I know is that the Traveler sent me to make sure they don't mess up the time line." "That isn't much to work on," Marrissa said. "Now what do we know... we know they want to change the past. We know they beamed down to Washington D.C." "We know that Washington D.C. was the capital of the United States at the time," Kathy said. ---"Duh." ---"See, I told you it was fun, Captain." ---"Can I have the next one?" ---"If you catch it, Kynten." "Anything else?" Marrissa asked. "Well then, Computer, list important events that occur between July 27 and August 3, 1996. Include any close calls or votes in Congress which had a margin of less than 4." ---"But unfortunately the vote to launch nuclear missles at Russia was overlooked because there was a margin of FIVE votes." ---"Nice one, Ensign." ---"Thank you, Lieutenant." "July 27: Sadam Hussian attempts to invade Syria," the Computer began. "The Bosnian Serbs surrender to the Bosnian government. Prince Charles of Great Britain reveals that the last three years were a joke on the press. He resumes normal marital relationships with Princess Diana leading to the birth of Princess Gwenaveare a year later. July 28th : A bill to repeal the ban on logging in areas inhabited by the spotted owl is defeated by one vote. July 29th : Bob Dole introduces his Pact with America Platform. July 30th : H. Ross Porit enters the Presidential race. July 31st : UN Secretary Bortous-Bortous Gali suffered from an assassination attempt. August 1st : Long time ABC anchor Peter Jennings is shot and suffers a career ending injury by a Serb snipper who hadn't heard about the end of the war. International outrage causes the delay of the lifting of sanctions against what was left of the Yugoslavia. August 2nd : A bill to increase the size of the Federal Court system passes by one vote. August 3rd : A bill to do away with NASA is defeated by one vote in the Senate. Sadam Hussian announces that he has taken over Syria. The Syrians confirm, thus beginning Hussian's take over of the Middle East." ---"Sir, I'm not a history major, but how many of those events occured in our universe?" Remley asked. ---Rando shrugged. "I'll let you field that one, Commander." ---Witherell shook his head. "Not a one, sir, not a one." ---"Mirror universe," Rando replied. 220 66869 <33EE1490.301D@worldnet.att.net> article Path: ix.netcom.com!news.he.net!newsfeed.direct.ca!europa.clark.net!204.127.161.1!wnfeed!204.127.130.5!worldnet.att.net!newsadm From: trando@worldnet.att.net Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative.all-ages,alt.startrek.creative Subject: NEW: Infinity: Traveling in Time Speeder, 2/4 [PG] (MISC) Date: Sun, 10 Aug 1997 19:20:48 +0000 Organization: AT&T WorldNet Services Lines: 474 Message-ID: <33EE1490.301D@worldnet.att.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: 207.116.186.39 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Mozilla 2.02E (Macintosh; U; 68K) Title: Star Trek-Infinity: Traveling in Time Speeder [PG] (MISC) Author: Charles Rando (trando@worldnet.att.net), http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Corridor/9434 Series: MISC Rating: [PG] Part: NEW 2/4 Disclaimer: Paramount owns the characters in The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, and Peter David owns the Selelvian race (see his book, Strike Zone). "Time Speeder" and the original characters within are the property of Stephen Ratliff, and I extend my sincere thanks to him for allowing me to use his story. I'd like to think that the characters I've invented and the story are mine. :-) Summary: The Infinity gets sucked into a strange universe... where a teenage girl named Marissa commands a starship! When time travelers threaten the present of this universe, can the crew of the Infinity help Marissa save the timeline? And can they do it fast enough, considering that every second they spend in the other universe, they become more like the people in it? Author's note: This story is my attempt at writing a "Trials and Tribble-ations" type story, using one of the works of Mr. Stephen Ratliff. Yet again, thank you, Steven for allowing me to use your story (you did say I could, didn't you? ) "Well, which one do you think it was?" Marissa asked. "I think we can safely rule out the events in the Middle East and Bosnia," Ross replied. ---"Only America matters," Marit quipped. "I think we can remove everything that took place outside the US," Sam Lavelle reasoned. "After all, they did beam down to Washington D.C." ---"See?" Marit asked. "That leaves the logging bill, the court system bill, the bill to eliminate NASA and the entry of H. Ross Porit into the presidential race," Scotty replied. "On the surface I'd have to say that NASA is a likely target." ---"Ok, I just have one question: who the hell is H. Ross Porit?!" Rando demaned. ---"Well, sir, in our universe, H. Ross Perot was a businessman who ran for president of the United States in 1992 and 1996," Witherell said. ---Rando considered this. "Must be a problem with the universal translator." ---"Sir, the transmission we're getting is in English," Remley noted. ---"Shut up, Lieutenant." "Why?" Marissa asked. "It's the only event which has a clear effect on the future," Scotty replied. "I don't follow," Marrissa responded. "If NASA is cut, there will be no International Space Agency, and hence no one will discover other races," Scotty began. ---"Sir, didn't the human race encounter other alien races only after a devastating third world war?" Ensign Marit asked. ---"That's right, Ensign," Commander Witherell replied. ---"Then why are they worried about NASA?" ---"Mirror universe," Witherell said, and then changed his answer. "Universal translator." "If Earth doesn't discover other races, there will be no driving force to create the Federation," Lavelle continued. "And no Federation, no Starfleet, and we are out of a job," Marrissa finished. "Gentlemen we have a bigger problem than I thought. Lavelle, get yourself a crew and take the upper Warp Pair Detachable Craft. For convenience sake, we will call it the Star. I want you to take it to keep an eye on the Eagle. Don't let it get back anywhere near Earth. Ross, provide Lavelle with a security team. Wes, I have a feeling I'm going to need you on this mission. Do I have your permission to reactivate your Starfleet commission?" "Why not? Just as long as I can resign again after this mission," Wes replied. ---"Sir, can I resign after this mission?" ---"If you really want to, Evan," Rando replied. ---Remley paused. "Nah, just checking." "Computer, note in log, as of this time I am reactivating Ensign Wesley Crusher's commission and promoting him to Lieutenant junior grade," Marrissa smiled. "I expect you in uniform next time I see you Lieutenant. Does anyone have a suggestion on how we can find our time travelers in Washington?" "I know someone who might be able to help us," Wesley said. "We'll begin with that person," Marrissa stated. "We will adjourn for now." ---"All rise." ---"Lieutenant!" CHAPTER THREE Remley looked innocently at his captain. "What?" Rando shook his head. He didn't really have a problem with the security chief's quips per se, but it was becoming a bit distracting. And after what had just happened... whatever it was. "Just... tone it down a little, ok?" Remley grinned. "Yes sir," he said, obviously glad that Rando hadn't banned his quipping all together. "We have a much bigger problem than Remley's bad jokes," J.W. interjected. Rando looked up towards the ceiling. "J.W.?" "Our trip through time has created a chain reaction that is bringing us in synch with this universe," J.W. replied. "There is one problem, however, which I will attempt to explain in the simplest terms possible. You see, the Infinity and the Stargazer are now occupying the same quantum space in this universe. As we become more in tune with this universe, it will become apparant that there is literally no place for us to go. After that, two things could happen: we could either flash out of existence... or we could find ourselves merging with our counterparts from this galaxy." "You mean we might actually become like that ship of... Captain, we have to get out of here!" "I agree completely, Ensign," Rando told the Bajoran navigator. "Unfortunately, without knowing exactly what brought us here, it might be difficult for us to get back home. Is there anything else, J.W.?" "Just that in the course of our becoming in synch with this universe, there may be some... strange occurances. After all, I'm sure you'd agree that this reality is very different from our own." "What kind of 'strange occurances' can we expect?" Witherell demanded. "I wish I could tell you, Witherell, but I know only a little more about our situation than you do. Suffice to say, this has never happened to me before," J.W. replied. "I'll tell you one thing that's screwed up," Remley interjected. "The external comm. system. I'm getting all sorts of strange signals... from all sorts of times. Somehow, I'm even picking up messages from Starfleet! It'll take some while to clear up completely... I've been able to narrow down the signals to only those sent between last year and next year... but it'll take time to make my way through the ones that are left." Rando sighed. "All right, get to work on it, Lieutenant. Mr. Williams, start narrowing down possible explanations for how we might have gotten here," Rando ordered. "I'm going down to sickbay... this universe is giving me a headache. Keep an eye on that viewscreen." ****************************************************** "Captain! I don't suppose you'd mind filling us in on what's happening?" "I would be more than happy to, Doctor," Rando replied, "if you'd be willing to get rid of this headache." Doctor Calabretta sprung into action, whipping out the medical tricorder he kept holstered to his leg. After a few seconds of scanning Rando, he announced, "This isn't like anything I've ever seen before, Captain. There's no physical reason for you to have a headache, or at least none I can find. If I didn't know better... it almost looks like you brainwave patterns are changing slightly. However, I don't know why that would be...." "Is there anything you can give me to dull the pain?" Rando demanded. Calabretta knew that his Captain usually wasn't one to lose his temper. There must have been something stressing him out enough to lose control. "I can give you a pain killer that will take the pain away for a while, but it won't be a cure-all. In a few hours, the headache will come back." Calabretta didn't wait for Rando to respond, and injected the hypospray into the Captain's neck. Rando rubbed his temples and sighed in relief. "That's much better. Thank you." Doctor Calabretta began putting away his equipment. "Now will you tell me what's going on here?" "I'm sorry, Doctor, I didn't know you weren't informed of our situation. Last night, around 2300 hours, the Infinity was pulled through some kind of spatial rift into another universe. The ride was jolting enough that it actually took us out of spatial synch with this new universe, and as a result we weren't able to interact with anyone or anything here. We were able to determine, however, that the source of this spatial rift was on a nearby Federation starship, the Stargazer. We maintained a close connection with the Stargazer, hoping that eventually we'd be able to figure out what it was that brought us here and how we could use it to get back home. Unfortunately, just a short while ago, the Stargazer began pursuing a group of time travelers on a Constellation-class starship. The end result is this: we're now in orbit of Earth, about three hundred years in the past... the late twentieth century. J.W. says that our trip through time, however, has resulted in us becoming more and more in synch with this universe... but he also says there's no room for us here. He postulates that we will either be blinked out of existence, or else we will merge with this universe, namely our counterparts on the Stargazer." Calabretta nodded, and then his eyes lit up as if an ide had struck him out of nowhere. "Computer, activate Auxialary Medical Holographic Program." There was a brief shimmer of light, and Doctor McDonald appeared beside him. "The doctor is in," she said and then blushed slightly. "I'm been working on modifying my introduction," she explained, and then saw the Captain. "You don't mind, do you, sir?" she asked. "Just as long as you don't try to supplement your program with other personalities and go on a killing spree, taking our Ocampan medical assistant hostage," Rando said. He blinked. Where the hell had that come from? "Nanci, run a neurowave test on the Captain," Calabretta ordered, ignoring the Ocampan comment. He turned to Rando. "If you don't mind, sir, I'd like to run some more in-depth tests on you." Rando shrugged and allowed himself to be led over to a biobed. After about ten minutes, Calabretta came to him with the results of his tests. "Your explanation about our current problems made me wonder, Captain, which is why I wanted to run these tests. I've discovered some good news... and some bad news. The good news is I've discovered the source of your headache. The bad news is, it's because you're becoming in synch with this universe, and not only that... it would appear you're becoming someone else entirely." Rando blinked. "Becoming who exactly?" "I can't say for sure," Calabretta answered, shaking his head and taking a moment to clean his glasses. Not that they needed it... the lens were specially designed to keep dust away. He then checked the computer's database, and replied, "It's definitely not someone on this ship. I could do a complete check in the medical database, but it'd take hours to find a match." Rando used the computer controls to bring up an image from the viewscreen he had seen on the bridge. "What about her? Can you match the brain pattern to her?" Calabretta ran another computer correlation, and then said, "The young lady's name is Marissa Flores. A few years ago, she won a science competition and was rewarded with a tour of the Enterprise." "The brain scan, Doctor?" Rando demanded. For some reason, he was becoming worried. It was almost as if all of the events Calabretta was telling him about were... familiar to him somehow. "Just a second, sir," Calabretta replied and then said, "It does seem like there's a correlation here, Captain. The wave patterns are slightly different... but in my opinion they're similar enough to be a match. Sir, are you all right?" "No, Doctor, I'm not," Rando replied. "And I don't think I will be until we get out of this universe." ****************************************************** When the viewscreen did come on again, it caught the attention of almost everyone on the bridge. Commander Witherell went into full observation mode so that he wouldn't miss any crucial bits of information, while Ensign Marit and Lieutenant Remley listened for things they could make fun of. Counselor Kassal and Lieutenant V'gel had joined the rest of the senior crew for the first time since this adventure had started. "Are you sure this guy Bill will believe us?" Marrissa asked. "After all, it does sound a little farfetched. Time traveling because we were chasing a speeder; it's almost ridiculous." ---"Admitting you have a problem is one step towards a cure, isn't that right, Counselor?" ---"That is one way of looking at it, Lieutenant," Kassal replied. "Ever here of a television series called Star Trek?" Wes replied. "No, television isn't something that I have had time to study," Marrissa said. "You probably wouldn't have come across it," Wes said. "Viacom Interplanetary put their copies of the series under timelock when events predicted in it began coming true." Before he could explain, the viewscreen flickered and the sound was lost. Lieutenant Remley immediately began working on re-establishing the connection. ---"Wait wait wait, this universe had a show called Star Trek that actually became true?!" Marit demanded. "What the hell is up with that?" ---"Universal translator," Commander Witherell said. ---The viewscreen came to life again. "Got it, sir," Remley replied. "How close were they to my history?" Marrissa asked. "You appear in one episode of the Next Generation titled 'Disaster'," Wes replied. "The rest of your career is covered quite nicely in what is referred to as 'fan fiction.'" ---"Wait, hold on, what was that?" Witherell demanded. ---"He said, 'The rest of your career is covered quite nicely in what is referred to a 'fan fiction,'" Remley repeated helpfully. ---Witherell considered this. "Is there anyone on the ship who might be considered an expert in literature?" ---"There's me," J.W. replied, "but I'm busy right now trying to get us home." ---"Ensign Bayreuther knows quite a bit, doesn't she, Jeff?" Remley asked. ---Libby nodded. "Yes sir," he replied. ---"Get her up here," Witherell ordered. "I want to check this out." He turned his attention back to the viewscreen. "And yourself?" Marrissa asked. "I'm afraid my character was hated by some fans known as 'Trekkers,'" Wesley said. "Some of the nicknames they gave me were quite creative... but that's another topic. Right now, you need to know why Bill will trust us. Besides the fact I've visited him before, he is also a Trekker, and knows Star Trek backward and forward. Coincidentally, the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode in which you appear is on right now. He'll probably be watching it when we arrive." ---"Lieutenant, if they beam down somewhere, how long will it take us to trace their location?" Witherell asked. ---"Just a few seconds," Remley answered. "Transporter operations weren't common in this time period." ---"Do you think you'll be able to establish video contact?" ---Remley tapped his console as he thought. "I suppose it all depends on where they are. I may have to tap into a video surveillence system... or possible a satellite feed." ---"Get on it," Witherell ordered. "I want to see where this conversation goes." It did only take Lieutenant Remley a few seconds to locate Marissa and Wesley, and just a few seconds more to tap into a video surveillence system... a system that would have definitely intrigued the man Marissa and Wesley were going to visit. The television was on in the room which Marrissa and Wesley beamed down into. A man with almost white hair was seated before the television on a sofa. "What?" he said, putting the Big Mac that he had been eating down. "Oh, it's you, Wes. Who's your girl friend?" "Actually she's my stepsister, Lieutenant Commander Marrissa Picard, that girl who the Captain, my step-father, is about to make his 'Number One,'" Wesley said indicating the view of Captain Jean-Luc Picard pinning a couple rank pins to Marrissa's outfit on the television. "Marrissa, this is President William Jefferson Clinton, also known as Bill." "Always willing to meet an friend of Wes', he has been a great help to this country," the President replied. At Marrissa's glance Wes said, "I'll explain that later, Marrissa. Bill, we believe some people from the 24th century are trying to sink NASA." "Why would they do that?" Bill replied. "I know you can't tell me. How do you think they are going to do it?" "Our leading method is their going to influence some members of the House of the Representatives," Marrissa replied. "Probably using some method which is not exactly legal." ---"Was it the Senate or the House of Representatives?" Marit asked. "I don't know much about old Earth politics, but weren't they two different bodies?" ---"They did say it was the Senate earlier... although I suppose the bill would have to pass both the House and the Senate to be passed. What I want to know is, why don't they just have their friend the President veto the bill?" Witherell wondered. ---"Wouldn't that be too easy, sir?" Remley asked. ---"Heaven forfend." "I think it's time to reactivate plan 'Oklahoma,'" Wes said. "Don't let anyone, even members of Congress, bring any object of size into the Capital Building." ---"No pianos, no tractors, and certainly no elephants," Remley quipped. "Then everyone will think there has been a bomb threat, but really we will be looking for large sums of cash and other methods of conversion," Bill Clinton replied. "But you'll have to cover any twenty fourth century methods." "That shouldn't be a problem, if I have the right access," Marrissa responded. "After all, I have a whole Constellation class starship at my disposal." Bill Clinton did a double take. "You have a starship?" he said. "The Stargazer, NCC-2893," Marrissa said. "The Captain and first officer haven't arrived yet. I'm second officer. It occurs to me that you'll need to contact me sometime in the next couple of days, so...." Marrissa pulled a second communicator out of her pocket. "Take this communicator; I assume I won't have to explain how to use it." "If you had to, I wouldn't have been watching Star Trek for the last nine years," Bill said. "I should have everything in place in an hour. If you need to install anything, let me know. I can get you the documents you need to do so." "I don't think that will be a problem," Marrissa said. "A little work with the transporter will be all it takes. However, I might need a place in Washington to beam my security officers down once I find those time travelers." "I'll arrange for a suite in the Executive Office Building," the President said. "First floor with its own exit." "That should be all, Wes?" Marrissa asked. "I can't think of anything," Wesley replied. "Bill, give my love to Chelsea." "I will, Wes," Bill replied. "Just make sure you stop in more often." "That's a promise," Wes replied and nodded toward Marrissa. Marrissa tapped her communicator and said, "Picard to Stargazer, two to beam up." As they dematerialized President Clinton said, "That's one nice sister Wes has." ****************************************************** The instant Captain Rando stepped back onto the bridge, he wished he hadn't. "I think it's a unit of time," Lieutenant Remley was saying. "'I mean, doesn't it sound like, 'In an mmm-bop, a-gone?'" "Sounds more like an explosion to me," Marit replied. "What do you think, Commander?" "Maybe some sort of public transportation?" Witherell asked. "In this universe, I have no clue." Rando shook his head. He had no idea what his officers were talking about, and he really didn't want to know. "What's happened?" he asked. "Sir, J.W. says that, for a time, the source of the temporal variances was not on the Stargazer," Remley reported. "In fact, he says it was on Earth." "On Earth?" Rando repeated. "How is that possible?" "The Stargazer sent down an away team five minutes ago to track the time travelers," Remley answered. "It's possible that whatever is responsible for creating the rift is on someone in their team." "If we can find out what that is, we can get out of here," Rando said. "Commander, I want you to take an away team to the surface. Follow their away team... study them, but do not interact with anyone... wait, you won't be able to! Well, that solves that!" Witherell nodded. "And if we do discover whatever it is that opened the rift?" "I don't want you doing anything that might disrupt this timeline," Rando said, "even though it is already pretty disrupted. Unless it's absolutely necessary to do elsewise," Rando puased slightly, wondering what he had just said, "we'll retrieve whatever it is from the Stargazer when they beam back aboard." "Aye sir," Witherell said. "Lieutenant Williams, Lieutenant V'gel, you're with me." The three officers gathered in the turbolift and disappeared as the doors shut in front of them. "You have the CONN, Lieutenant," Rando ordered. "I'll be in my ready room. ****************************************************** On board the Eagle, Boris was getting nervous. "Boris, I don't think we will be leaving the area around Jupiter anytime soon," the man at the helm said. "That craft, whatever it is, is just too good at cutting me off." "Well, we don't have to return to Earth until after the third," Boris replied. "So you and your relief have five days to get us free." On board the Warp Pair Detectable Craft nicknamed the Star, Lieutenant Sam Lavelle was enjoying command. He was also admiring the abilities of the young ensign at CONN. "Ensign Hijanda, where did you learn how to block ships like that?" he asked. "I was the first female running back on the Starfleet Academy football team," Hijanda replied. "I'm simply blocking the routes I'd like to take if this was a football field." ---"It took them that long to get a woman on the Academy football team?!" Marit demanded. "I was on the football team! What kind of mixed up world is this?" "You were on the Academy football team?" Lavelle exclaimed. "Usually that team is made up of security cadets with the occasional command cadet in at quarterback, not runningback. And as for females, usually they don't even try out." "So I'm the exception," Hijanda replied. "Every rule has one, or so I'm told." "And our Lieutenant Commander Picard is the exception to a lot of them," Lavelle responded. "She is? I've never met her," Hijanda returned. "Well, our second officer is fifteen years old," Sam Lavelle began. "She is heir to the throne of Essex and hence has a clearance of level fourteen. She's also in charge of the Kid's crew program, and the only person on the ship who isn't of legal age to drink. Princess Marrissa is one big exception." ---"She sounds like it," Lieutenant Remley said. "But what the hell is a 'Kid's Crew?'" ---"I think I may have found that, sir," Ensign Bayreuther said. She had come up from botany, much to the dismay of Ensign Su, to help out. "These bridge logs are almost identical to a piece of fan fiction written by a Mr. Stephen Ratliff in 1996. In fact, what we're experiencing is a story in a whole group of stories. The 'Kid's Crew,' in Ratliff's universe, was a team of teenagers and pre-adolscents trained to take command of the ship if the adult crew members were incapacitated." She chuckled slightly. "In Ratliff's universe, it seems to be an everyday occurance." ---Remley rubbed his hand down his chin. "I wonder if we could use a Kid's Crew on the Infinity," he mused, but after a second of thought, he said, "Nah." "Sounds like this ship is going to be a very interesting place to be assigned," Hijanda responded. "Vulcan Captain, Cardassian First Officer, and a Second Officer who isn't old enough to drink." Hijanda shook her head. "That's one thing for certain about the Stargazer," Lavelle said. "She's one interesting ship." ---"Didn't I just say that?" Bayrether asked. ---"Didn't you just say what, Ensign?" Remley asked. ---"That this ship would be an interesting place to be assigned?" ---Remley shook his head. "No, Ensign Hijanda said that." He looked concerned. "Are you all right, Becky?" ---Bayreuther rubbed her temples. "I just have... a little headache. I'll be all right." ---"I hope so, Ensign," Remley said. "You might be our only hope." ****************************************************** "I hate doing paperwork," Captain Rando thought as he looked through the ship's logs... and then he realized that it wasn't his thought. Marissa was getting into his head again. Rando put down his PADD on his desk and walked across his ready room. If this became any worse, he might no longer be fit for command. In his opinion, Marissa certainly wasn't. He walked over to the food replicator. "Strawberry juice," he ordered and then, "Computer, cancel order. Give me a strawberry juice." He rubbed his temples. "Computer, water... ten degrees celcius." He downed the beverage in one gulp, replaced the glass in the replicator, checked his chronometer, and walked out onto the bridge. "Texas?" wondered Ensign Marit. "I don't know much about Earth at this time, but I do know there was a Texas." "Maybe they retired and moved to Florida," Remley suggested. "They migrated to Bajor!" called Ensign Bayreuther. "Don't you think we would have noticed?" Marit asked. Counselor Kassal shook her head. "No, the answer is obvious: Colorado." Rando looked back and forth at the officers in confusion. He hated coming in on the middle of conversations. "What?" he asked as he stood by the door to his ready room. "Oh, hello sir," Remley said when he noticed him. "We were just wondering where all the cowboys have gone." "Right," Rando said, although it was obvious that he still had no idea what was going on. "I'm going down to my quarters to take a rest," he said. "Doctor's orders. I'll be back up in a half hour. Have we found anything new yet?" Remley tilted his head in Ensign Bayreuther's direction at the rear of the bridge. "Becky has found a correlation between the events we're experiencing and a piece of Star Trek fan fiction written by a Stephen Ratliff." Rando raised an eyebrow. "Star Trek?" he repeated. "I've never heard of it before." "Of course not, sir," the Ensign at OPS interjected. For some reason, Rando simply could not remember his name. "Viacom Interplanatary sealed off all the episodes when it was discovered that events in them were coming true." Captain Rando stood silently in his place, staring in confusion at the young officer. Finally, he managed to get out, "Right, I'm going to go do... that thing I have to do now. Keep me informed." He hurried off the bridge as fast as he could go. 220 66874 <33EE14CC.581E@worldnet.att.net> article Path: ix.netcom.com!news-peer.gsl.net!news.gsl.net!newsfeed.direct.ca!europa.clark.net!4.1.16.34!cpk-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!news.bbnplanet.com!worldnet.att.net!newsadm From: trando@worldnet.att.net Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative.all-ages,alt.startrek.creative Subject: NEW: Infinity: Traveling in Time Speeder, 3/4 [PG] (MISC) Date: Sun, 10 Aug 1997 19:21:48 +0000 Organization: AT&T WorldNet Services Lines: 407 Message-ID: <33EE14CC.581E@worldnet.att.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: 207.116.186.39 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Mozilla 2.02E (Macintosh; U; 68K) Title: Star Trek-Infinity: Traveling in Time Speeder [PG] (MISC) Author: Charles Rando (trando@worldnet.att.net), http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Corridor/9434 Series: MISC Rating: [PG] Part: NEW 3/4 Disclaimer: Paramount owns the characters in The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, and Peter David owns the Selelvian race (see his book, Strike Zone). "Time Speeder" and the original characters within are the property of Stephen Ratliff, and I extend my sincere thanks to him for allowing me to use his story. I'd like to think that the characters I've invented and the story are mine. :-) Summary: The Infinity gets sucked into a strange universe... where a teenage girl named Marissa commands a starship! When time travelers threaten the present of this universe, can the crew of the Infinity help Marissa save the timeline? And can they do it fast enough, considering that every second they spend in the other universe, they become more like the people in it? Author's note: This story is my attempt at writing a "Trials and Tribble-ations" type story, using one of the works of Mr. Stephen Ratliff. Yet again, thank you, Steven for allowing me to use your story (you did say I could, didn't you? ) As Wes and Marrissa materialized in the transporter room, Witherell, V'gel, and Williams materialized right next to them. Marrissa ordered, "Admiral Scott, begin operation 'Bug Congress.' Lieutenant Crusher, I want to see you in my office in thirty minutes. Admiral, what's the status of Lieutenant Ross Lochard's security teams?" "Their outfits are ready," the Admiral began. "The phasers have been modified to look like regular guns. Ross is training them on the holodeck now." ---"He's training the guns?" Williams asked. "Thanks Scotty," Marrissa said. "If anyone needs me, I'll be in my quarters." Witherell, V'gel, and Williams followed her there. A half-hour later, Wesley Crusher entered his sister's quarters. "Very nicely done, sister," was his comment as he entered. ---"Yeah, I went to your office, but you weren't there," Williams said in an impression of Wesley. "You aren't here to admire my quarters, Lieutenant," Lieutenant Commander Picard commented. "You are here to explain that comment by the President: 'He has been a great help to this country?'" "Actually, it's quite simple," Wes said. "I was sent by the Traveler a month ago to a time just about two months before now. I was to thwart a Romulan plan to alter Earth history. I successfully identified the Romulan agent who was trying to make it look like the United States had plans to invade every country in the world. The agent was captured and thoroughly exposed. I took the agent back to his proper time where his government executed him for failure." "That sounds like what the Romulans would do to such a person," Marrissa said. ---"No it doesn't," V'gel interjected. "The Romulans enjoy public diplays of humiliation over execution." ---"Mirror universe," Witherell grumbled. This place did not make sense to him at all... and for some reason he was experiencing very hostile feelings towards not just Marissa and her crew but the Infinity crew as well. "But what about his comment concerning his daughter, Chelsea?" Marissa continued. "An unfortunate side-effect. I kind of fell in love with her last time," Wes said. "Leaving her was quite hard, but the Traveler said I would eventually marry her, so it wasn't too bad." ---"Well, it's always nice to know that you're going to marry the woman you're leaving behind four hundred years in the... wha?" ---V'gel looked towards her cousin. "I have no idea," she said. "How you are going to accomplish such a feat is beyond me, but then much of what you do is beyond me," Marrissa replied. "I have to admit that you do a lot of things that are beyond me," Wesley said. "Let's see: diplomacy, those evasive maneuvers you make, inspiring that Kid's crew of yours, and you have more friends than I ever had." "But you time travel," Marrissa responded. ---"That and a quarter will get you a phone call in this day and age," Witherell remarked. "Don't look now, but I think you are in the twentieth century, and you and your ship got here without any assistance from me," Wes said. "Yeah, but you don't need a twenty quadrillion dollar starship to do it," Marrissa replied. ---"Of course, in our universe, the Federation doesn't use money," V'gel remarked. ---"We're just more advanced, I suppose," Witherell concluded. ---V'gel looked at him. "Are you all right, Commander?" she asked. ---"I'm fine!" Witherell snapped, turning his back on the other two officers. Slowly, he turned to face them, rubbing his temples. "Sorry, sorry. I'm just detecting so much hostile intent... it's overwhelming! If I could just figure out where it was originating, I might be able to control it." ---"Well, who exactly is this hostility focused at?" Williams asked. ---Witherell sighed. "Marissa, Wesley, even you and Marianne. Basically anyone... Starfleet." ---"Captain Rando did warn us that our brain waves patterns might begin merging with those people on the other ship," V'gel commented. "What if your brainwaves are merging with the brainwaves of one of the terrorists?" ---"It's entirely possible," Witherell said, "but I have no idea which one!" ---Williams pondered this for a moment. "I'd have to guess that it'd probably be their leader," he said. "After all, for some reason, Captain Rando is merging with Marissa. It sorta makes sense that you, being second in command, would merge with the second most powerful person in this situation. Perhaps if you concentrated hard enough on the feelings you were getting... well, maybe some thoughts might break through and you could determine who... who you're becoming." ---Witherell nodded. "It sounds like a plan," he said, and then began to focus on the feelings in his head that weren't his own. His eyes snapped open when he heard someone call him 'Lyam.'" ---"Sir?" Williams asked. V'gel, to his side, looked concerned. ---"You were right, Lieutenant," Witherell replied. "It's definitely their leader I'm bonded with. But now that I know where these feelings are coming from, I can control them." He sighed. "The headache's even gone away." ---"That's good, sir, because I think we'd better get out of here," Williams suggested. "It's looks like our teenage commander wants to get ready for bed." ---"That's definitely something I don't want to see," Witherell agreed. "Let's get out of here." CHAPTER FOUR The Stargazer had just moved into morning when the President called. "President Clinton to Lieutenant Commander Marrissa Picard," he said over his communicator. Marrissa answered after swallowing her last bite of strawberry toast. ("I still have no idea how she can eat that," Lieutenant Williams had remarked.) "Marrissa here, how can I help you Mister President?" "My advisors have just informed me that Congress has taken up the matter of cutting NASA," the President said. "They say that it looks like most of the Senate is in favor of it. I think we may need to revise our plans." "I'll be down with some of my staff in an hour," Marrissa said. "I suggest you and Chelsea meet us in the Oval Office." "Excellent idea, Commander," the President replied. "I'll have everything prepared." ---"Why Chelsea?" Williams wondered. ---"Well, in our universe, there were some historians that thought that President Clinton was influenced heavily by his wife," Witherell explained. "Perhaps in this universe, it was his daughter." ---"Something tells me that Marissa just wants to set Wesley and her up again," V'gel replied. ---Witherell considered that. "On second thought, you're probably right, Lieutenant." "Are you sure it's wise for all of us to beam down?" Admiral Scott asked as he, Ross, Wesley, and Marrissa got up on the transporter disks. "Would you rather I beam them up here?" Marrissa asked. "Kathy can take care of the Stargazer well enough if something should happen to us. Energize." ---Witherell tapped his comm. badge. "Infinity . They're preparing to beam to the surface. Lock on to coordinates," he checked the transporter console, "347.28 by 892.18 and beam us down there." ---"Aye sir," replied Lieutenant Chris Johnson. Witherell knew that the transporter chief had been ready and waiting, because they actually beat the Stargazer's team to the surface. ---"Must be our superior transporters," Williams suggested. The four officers from the Stargazer materialized inside the Oval Office. President Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea were waiting for them, as was the away team from the Infinity. "'Morning, everyone," the President said. ---"Good morning, sir," Williams said. He received no response. "Mister President, I believe some introductions are in order," Marrissa said. "I better start with myself, since Chelsea hasn't met me. I'm Lieutenant Commander Marrissa Picard, acting commanding officer of the Stargazer. This is Rear-Admiral Montgomery Scott, my acting Chief Engineer. Lieutenant junior grade Wesley Crusher, you know. And rounding out my team is Lieutenant Ross Lochard, our Chief Tactical Officer. Gentlemen, this is President Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea. Shall we get down to business?" "Yes," Clinton said indicating that they should sit in the sofas surrounding a coffee table. After they were all seated, he began. "After you visited me last night, an aide came to me with an urgent poll on recent items which Congress was considering cutting. After your visit, I wasn't surprised to hear that NASA was at the top of the list. However, I was surprised to here that 90 Senators favored cutting it." "That is a problem. We've got to make sure it isn't cut," Marrissa said. "That was my thought as well," Clinton said. "However, changing 40 or so Senators minds hasn't been easy since the Republicans got control of the Senate and the House a couple years ago." ---"Someone obviously did it in the first place," Williams commented. "In the original history, the bill passed by one vote." "It sounds like you need some personal lobbyists," Marrissa said. "Exactly," the President responded. "I thought maybe you could help." "We can't do it alone," Marrissa said. "But maybe if we pair up with some of your people. And if we don't have any effect, you might want to consider a press conference... I've used them to my advantage in the past." ---"Be glad we missed out on that," Witherell said. "Pairing up sounds like a good idea; that way, we'd be sure that they knew where the appeal was coming from," Clinton replied. "Then I suggest you and I pair up and Wes and Chelsea do the same," Marrissa organized. "Ross will pose as a bodyguard for your wife when she does her part, not that it is very far from the truth." ---"See! See! I told you Marissa wanted to pair Wesley and Chelsea up!" V'gel exclaimed, obviously pleased with herself. "In fact, that might be a good cover for Lieutenant Crusher as well," Ross suggested. "But what cover can you use, Commander?" "Me, well I'm one of Chelsea's friends that the President agreed to show around Congress," Marrissa smiled. "Right, Chelsea?" "Sounds fine with me," Chelsea said. "Just don't make too many comments about me." "Yeah, I don't want to fall out of my cover," Marrissa said. "Before we begin, I suggest that Chelsea might be able to improve my cover, so If you don't mind I'll leave with her. Admiral, beam back to the Stargazer and relieve Kathy. She needs her rest." ---"It has been a long ten minutes," Williams commented. "All right then, we will hit Capital Hill in an hour," the President said. ---"If they're splitting up, we need to do the same," Witherell said. "Lieutenant V'gel, you follow Lieutenant Lochard. Mr. Williams, track our friend Wesley. I'll handle Marissa." ****************************************************** "Well, that's something," Bayreuther said to herself as she reviewed her records. Apparantly, she had intended the question to be a thought because she jumped slightly when Lieutenant Remley asked, "What's something?" "I've been researching the history of this universe, and I've found at least one correlation between it and ours... the third world war. According to this, the Zephram Cochrane of this universe will pilot the first warp drive ship, which will attract the attention of the Vulcans... and that will lead to the formation of the Federation. But I can't see how NASA comes into it at all." Remley came over to Bayreuther's assigned station to examine her information, and then said, "Then let's see if the computer knows. Computer, run a cross-correlation check between NASA and the name 'Cochrane." "Working," the computer replied stoically. "Ephraim Cochrane, engineer at NASA between 1995 and 2047. In 2010, he married Francis Hurley, also an engineer at NASA. Twenty years later, the couple had their third son: Zefram Cochrane." Remley slapped his head in amazement. "That's brilliant! They're not taking out NASA to prevent Earth making first contact... they're taking out NASA to prevent Zefram Cochrane from ever being born!" "But in Mr. Ratliff's story, Marissa and her crew save NASA from being cut and everything is fine. Apparently, the terrorists even knew what Marissa was doing. Don't you think they would have had a back-up plan?" Remley nodded. "I think I see what you're saying. They know Marissa will save NASA, so they might go after Ephraim Cochrane or Francis Hurley themselves. If they did anything to either of them...." "The timeline would be disrupted," Bayreuther said. "The story wouldn't end the way it was supposed to." "Could that be why we're here?" Remley wondered. "Could it be simply to make sure the story has a happy ending?" "It's very possible, I guess," Bayreuther replied. "But how did we get here in the first place?" "That's easy," a voice from above said. The voice seemed to come from all around, just like J.W.'s voice usually did... except now it was higher and slightly more whiney. "We've obviously fallen through a plot loophole." "A plot loophole?" Remley repeated. "That doesn't sound like any spatial anamoly I've ever heard of." "It's simple," J.W. told him. "We're dealing with a story that unfortunately has such a large hole in the plot that the ending is left uncertain." "But why were we detecting the source of the spatial disruption on the Stargazer?" J.W. seemed to chuckle, but it came out more like a teenaged giggle. "I'm sure the Traveler would say that because Marissa didn't follow up all her options, she created the loophole." Bayreuther looked puzzled. "The Traveler?" she asked. "But the only one in this story who mentions the Traveler like that is... Wesley." "What?" J.W. asked, in the tone of someone who had just heard his name and was wondering why. Remley and Bayreuther shared a concerned look. Even the wormhole alien wasn't immune from this universe. "So then, we close up the plot loophole... and we'll be able to go back home?" Remley asked. "Strange as it seems," Bayreuther said, "it makes sense." Remley hit his comm. badge. "Captain Rando, please report to the bridge. I think we've found our solution." ****************************************************** Marrissa and President Clinton hit the Hill, with Commander Witherell in tow. They began walking from office to office courting votes. In Senator Warner of Virginia's office, they met the Senator, and quite oddly, his Democratic counterpart, Robb. "I don't know how you get by without a desk," Senator Robb said. "I mean, there is no place to do any work here." "And nothing between myself and my constituency," Warner replied. "It's a grand idea, Senator, but it won't work in the Oval Office," President Clinton said entering the room. "The door was open so I thought I'd see what you were up too." "Well, Mister President, I didn't expect to see you on the Hill today," Robb responded. "Who's your companion?" "This is Marrissa, one of Chelsea's friends," Clinton replied. "I promised to show her around the halls of government." "So that's what brings you around here," Warner said. "To see the oddest office on the Hill." "Actually I'm killing two birds, or in this case three, with one stone," the President said. "I hear you both are considering voting to eliminate funding for NASA." "Yes, I just don't see the benefit to the American people," Warner replied. "I think you're wrong, Senator," Clinton began. "It has provided jobs. It has provided scientific advances. And most of all, a working effective space program is a source of inspiration and encouragement to all Americans. The people need some exploration, they need something new around the corner." "We need to see someone seeking out new worlds, someone boldly going where we've never gone before," Marrissa added. "What about the cost?" Senator Robb said. "What about the cost of its loss," Clinton replied. "Millions will lose their jobs." "Not to mention the loss of inspiration," Marrissa continued. "Senators, some things seem to be easy to cut," Clinton said. "NASA is not as easy of a cut as one would think. You cut jobs, millions go on welfare, raising costs of that program. You cut the inspiration, you lose hope. And gentlemen, hope is something you don't want to lose. So, can I count on the gentlemen from Virginia to vote against any such cut?" "You have my vote, Mister President," Senator Robb replied. "Mine as well, but before you go, I want to know," Warner asked. "Are you planning on hitting all the Senators?" "No, I've got 34 now 35 on my list, as Senator Robb was on my wife's list," Clinton said. "My wife has 32 now and Chelsea has 33, the ones I thought would be easier to convince." "You've got your daughter involved?" Robb inquired. "It's a more personal visit than an aid," Clinton said. "Plus, she's good at convincing people. Just last night she convinced me to let her stay out past ten." "Remember that, John, next time we need to convince the President," Robb replied. ****************************************************** Rando stepped out of the turbolift. He began to ask, "What's new?" but then realized that his officers were involved in another strange conversation. "Well, I guess what they say is true," Lieutenant Remley was saying, "I could never be the right kind of girl for you." "You could never be my woman," Ensign Marit agreed. "Why do you play me this way?" Remley demanded. Rando cleared his throat, causing everyone on the bridge to turn their heads to the rear turbolift. He hoped Remley and Marit weren't falling under the influence of the brainwaves from the other ship, because they did sound a good deal like that married couple, the Lochards. "Anything to report?" "Commander Witherell's team has beamed to the surface with a group from the Stargazer." Remley said. "I've been attempting to reach them, but I'm having problems sorting through Earth's radio waves. I think this could be one of those strange occurances J.W. was referring to." "And not the only one, I'm sure," Rando thought. "You said that you might have figured out what was going on." "Ensign Bayreuther and I have, sir," Remley replied. "Anyway, we've discovered that Marissa and her team are successful in saving NASA from being cut. The only problem is, we don't think that's all our time traveling terrorists will attempt to do." "Lieutenant Remley ran a correlative scan," Bayreuther explained. "We discovered that, in this universe, Zefram Cochrane's parents met through NASA. We think that they were attempting to dispose of NASA to prevent Zefraim's birth, and since we know they know that won't be successful, we think they might try a more direct plan." "You think they might go after Cochrane's parents themselves?" Rando asked. "But won't Marissa and her team be able to stop them?" "Forgive me for saying so, sir, but those people over there aren't working with the best information. Remember, sir, it was their Admiral Scott who suggested that the elimination of NASA would result in first contact never occuring. And unfortunately, Marissa took his word on it without doing any other research, which wasn't a good idea. After all, he's an engineer, not a historian." "And so you think that we have to cover her bases," Rando said. "It's the only way to get the story to end the way it should," Bayreuther told him. "And, if we're right, getting the story to end the way it should will get us back home." Rando nodded. "Have you gotten through to Commander Witherell yet?" "Almost," Remley replied. "I think I've filtered out enough interference so that we should be able to get through." "Inform him of the new situation and tell him to beam back aboard," Rando ordered. "We need to come up with a plan to stop these terrorists." He brought his hand to his head as the pain from the headache returned. "I'm going to head back down to sickbay to take care of this headache," Rando said. "You're in command, Lieutenant." "Aye sir," Remley replied, and continued searching through the radio waves. And as Rando left the bridge, he couldn't help but wonder why Remley wasn't the right kind of girl for Marit. ****************************************************** "Senator Kennedy, I bring a personal message from my father," Chelsea said, entering the Senior Senator from Massachusetts's office. Lieutenant Williams was right behind her. "And what does our beloved President have to say?" Senator Kennedy asked. "He's wondering why you of all people would chose to cut funding for NASA," Chelsea replied. "Because a poll that some of my constituents presented indicated that it was a program they would like cut," Kennedy replied. "Were these constituents a brown haired man in his thirties and an blond haired man in his twenties?" Chelsea asked. "The brown haired man wearing a gray suit with a orange tie. The blond a blue suit with a Spock tie?" "Yes, I believe they were," Kennedy said. "Wes, didn't we run across them in Senator Braun of Illinois's office?" Chelsea asked. "Yes, and Senator Glenn's and Senator Bradley's as well," Wes replied. ---"If you ran across them, why didn't you take them into custody before they could do any more damage?" Williams demanded. He, of course, received no answer. "Personally, Senator, I wouldn't trust any poll from them. They can't be from Illinois, Iowa, Ohio and Massachusetts," Chelsea added. "Plus, it would sound rather bad if you voted for eliminating NASA." "How so?" Senator Edward Kennedy asked. "'We chose to go to the Moon', ring a bell?" Chelsea asked. Kennedy grimaced, "You have a point. Tell the President that I won't be voting for such a measure. In fact the moment someone introduces it, they will receive a serious reply from me. I'll filibuster on that measure until I receive word that it will not pass from the President. Now, if you don't mind, I've got to prepare for the longest filibuster in the History of the United States." 220 66875 <33EE14FE.67F@worldnet.att.net> article Path: ix.netcom.com!news-peer.gsl.net!news.gsl.net!cpk-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!news.bbnplanet.com!worldnet.att.net!newsadm From: trando@worldnet.att.net Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative.all-ages,alt.startrek.creative Subject: NEW: Infinity: Traveling in Time Speeder, 4/4 [PG] (MISC) Date: Sun, 10 Aug 1997 19:22:38 +0000 Organization: AT&T WorldNet Services Lines: 360 Message-ID: <33EE14FE.67F@worldnet.att.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: 207.116.186.39 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Mozilla 2.02E (Macintosh; U; 68K) Title: Star Trek-Infinity: Traveling in Time Speeder [PG] (MISC) Author: Charles Rando (trando@worldnet.att.net), http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Corridor/9434 Series: MISC Rating: [PG] Part: NEW 4/4 Disclaimer: Paramount owns the characters in The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, and Peter David owns the Selelvian race (see his book, Strike Zone). "Time Speeder" and the original characters within are the property of Stephen Ratliff, and I extend my sincere thanks to him for allowing me to use his story. I'd like to think that the characters I've invented and the story are mine. :-) Summary: The Infinity gets sucked into a strange universe... where a teenage girl named Marissa commands a starship! When time travelers threaten the present of this universe, can the crew of the Infinity help Marissa save the timeline? And can they do it fast enough, considering that every second they spend in the other universe, they become more like the people in it? Author's note: This story is my attempt at writing a "Trials and Tribble-ations" type story, using one of the works of Mr. Stephen Ratliff. Yet again, thank you, Steven for allowing me to use your story (you did say I could, didn't you? ) CHAPTER FIVE "Remley to Witherell. Come in, Commander." The only response Lieutenant Remley received was static. It was the only thing he had heard on each of his attempts... and he realized that he was gonna need some help. "Lieutenant Remley to Neddek. Can you come to the bridge, sir? I need your help." "Aye, ah'll be there in a few minutes," Neddek replied... although his voice was distinctly... Scottish. Remley shook his head. Maybe the internal communications systems were failing as well. When Neddek arrived on the bridge, Remley found that it wasn't just his voice that had changed. "Ah'm doin' everythin' I can, Evan, but ah canna seem to clear up the signal. Ah suggest we move the ship closer and try it again there," Neddek said after he had tried unsuccessfully to contact Commander Witherell and the away team. "With the ship out of phase with this universe, we won't have to worry about being seen," Remley replied. "Ensign Marit, move us into a lower orbit." "Lower orbit, aye," Marit said. "Let's try it again." Remley opened the communications channel again. "Remley to Witherell. Can you hear me, Commander?" There was a brief burst of static, and then, "Witherell here." "Ah knew it'd work!" Neddek exclaimed. Remley glanced at the Vulcan. He certainly was acting strange. "Commander, there's been a change of plans," Remley reported. "Is the rest of the away team there?" "Negative," Witherell replied. "We had to split up when Marissa's team did." Remley sighed. Why couldn't things be easier? "We need to get you all back on the ship. Can you gather them up, sir?" "Can do, Lieutenant. I'll contact you when we're together. Witherell out." "Ah'm gonna go back to Engineering," Neddek announced. "Ah gotta problem with the warp flux capicitators... they're overloadin' and fallin' apart at the seams!" As he entered the turbolift, Rando stepped out. "What was that all about?" Rando asked. "I think Neddek was merging with Admiral Scott," Remley explained. "So much for his attempted return to logic." "I'm certain everything will work out when we get back to our universe," Rando said smugly, sitting in his command chair. "It always does when I'm in command." Marit turned to look questionly at Remley. Remley could only shrug. "Rando, I'm not sure I want to be stuck in this computer any more," J.W. spoke up. "I want to go down to Earth and see Chelsea." "Hurry up, Commander," Remley begged. "Please hurry." As if on cue, Remley noticed a comm. signal. "Witherell to Infinity. I've gathered the away team." "Prepare to beam up, sir," Remley told him. "The faster we act, the sooner we get to go home." ****************************************************** "According to the end of the story, Marissa and her team locate the terrorists in room 104 of the 'Quality Inn' in Washington," Bayreuther reported. "By this point in the timeline, they know what Marissa and her team are doing, so they're probably ready to start plan B." "But how do we stop them?" Williams asked. "We're still too out of phase to effect this universe in anyway." "And we're almost too in phase with this universe to do anything either," Remley added, looking at Captain Rando. He definitely did not look right. "I say we lock phasers on this 'Quality Inn' and blow it off the face of the Earth," he suggested, sipping his strawberry juice. No one really paid attention. "If only one of us could become completely in phase with this universe, and have enough control to actually effect events here," V'gel said, "we might be able to do something." "But from what I've seen over the last few hours, it would have to be someone with extreme mental control," Counselor Kassal interjected. "Even Commander Neddek has fallen victim to the synchronization." "Ach, there's nothin' wrong with me, lassie," Neddek told her. "Extreme mental control, eh?" Commander Witherell repeated. "Well, not to brag or anything, but I think that would be me." "It could be dangerous, sir," Williams protested. "I mean, you're linked with the leader of the terrorists. What if you can't maintain control?" Witherell sighed. "I don't know, Phil. But I have to try. Otherwise, not only will the Infinity be lost, but also the future of this timeline. We simply cannot allow these terrorists to murder Cochrane's parents. Either of them." Remley turned to Rando. "Sir, the decision is yours. What do you say?" "We could inscribe 'We were beaten by a bunch of kids' into their starship," Rando suggested. Remley looked to Calabretta. "I'm sorry, sir," the Doctor said, moving behind the captain, "but I'm afraid you've become unfit for duty. If you'd come with me to sickbay?" "Unfit for duty? Me?" Rando demanded. "Just because I'm fifteen doesn't mean I'm unfit for duty! I got the highest score on the Kobayashi Maru!" He jumped out of his chair, poured his strawberry juice on Calabretta's head, and attempted to escape from the room. A phaser shot from Remley stopped him from getting too far. "Take him to sickbay, Doctor," Witherell ordered. "Let's hope he feels better when he wakes up. Now, we need something that will bring me into synch with this universe completely. Any ideas?" Silence immediately followed Witherell's question, but then Lieutenant Williams suddenly exclaimed, "A subspace bubble!" Witherell shook his head. "I'm not sure I follow," he said. "If we were able to create a small subspace bubble, just large enough to fit around the Commander, he could adjust its quantum flux from the inside... enough to bring himself into synch with this universe." "What about the device itself?" Remley asked. "What will happen to it?" Williams shook his head, indicating he had no clear answer. "It could either fade out of existence, become something else entirely... or, if we're lucky, it will maintain it's quantum integrity. We'll be able to use it to bring Commander Witherell back." "Don't talk about me like I'm already gone, Phil," Witherell said with a smile. "If I'm not mistaken, it sounds like there is a good chance I might not come back." Williams nodded. "Unfortunately, sir," he replied. "Then, worse comes to worse, you all get to say a lot of kind words about me at my funeral," Witherell remarked. "Let's do it." ****************************************************** "We've run into a stumbling block," Lyam said to his companion. "Senator Kennedy is filibustering." "I'll see if I can arrange for it to be broken then," the companion said. "Go, and while you're at it, get rid of the Spock tie," Lyam said. "Why? It's a good cover," the companion responded. "No one would ever suspect someone with a Spock tie of hating Starfleet." Lyam groaned. After about ten minutes of waiting alone, Lyam received a visitor... although it was one he couldn't see. Commander Witherell beamed down just a few meters away from him, still too out of phase to be noticed. On his wrist, he wore a small device that Lieutenant Williams and Commander Neddek had developed... a device to create the subspace bubble Witherell would need to complete his mission. The Infinity had tracked both men from their hotel room this morning, the third morning Marissa and her crew had been working to save NASA. If only they had thought to cover all their bases, he wouldn't need to be risking himself like this... but that's what Starfleet was all about. And even though he was linked to a Starfleet-hating terrorist, he didn't mind one bit. This was the best opportunity for Witherell to complete the synchronization, now that the two men were apart. Witherell knew that his companion would come back soon... thanks to Marissa and her crew's efforts, there wouldn't be enough votes in the Senate to end the filibuster... and so he had to act fast. He turned on the device, activating the small subspace bubble and began adjusting the controls on the device. As he became more in synch with the other universe... with Lyam... he could hear Lyam's thoughts becoming more and more clear, more and more compelling. He felt every atom in his body moving towards Lyam... and then he disappeared. "It worked," Witherell thought from inside Lyam's body. Even though Lyam was originally from this universe, Witherell had the stronger mind. There would be no problem controlling the terrorist, but there might be a problem... he checked his wrist. The device was still there, and Witherell noticed that he hadn't brought himself completely in phase with this universe. And because of that, the chances of his survival increased tremendously. "It's no use," Lyam's companion in the Spock tie said. The man obviously looked dejected, fearing that he had failed his leader. "Then we'll have to switch to the back-up plan," Witherell said, hoping that they had been right in assuming these terrorists HAD a back-up plan. Then he realized, he was saying what Lyam would have said. The other man nodded. "Cochrane's father lives in a small town in Virginia. It won't take us long to get there." "I'll go down there myself," Witherell said. "I want you to stay here and keep an eye on our friends. Remember, the bill only failed by one vote in the original history... and that was a tie-breaker from the Vice-President. If you can get just one Senator to change his or her mind... there'll be no tie breaker... and we'll win." "But, Lyam, I've already talked to the Senators who would be most likely to support us but aren't! It's hopeless!" "You know our way is the right way, John," Witherell said. "We will succeed." He held out his hand. "Now, give me the keys." John complied, and Witherell told him, "Good luck." John nodded and walked off again, leaving Witherell alone one more time. Now all Witherell had to do was keep himself hidden for a day, return to the hotel room reporting success, and then he'd be able to return to his ship... and hopefully return home. CHAPTER SEVEN Captain's Log August 3, 1996 Lieutenant Marrissa Picard recording The vote to cancel the funding of NASA failed today by the narrowest of margins. However, the votes against were all cast at the end of the balloting, after the 51 votes necessary to guarantee its failure were recorded. It is my belief that those votes against NASA was what lead to those senators losing re-election in 1998 and 2000. In other news, I believe we have found where the time travelers from the Eagle are hiding to await their ship's return. I believe that they checked into the Quality Inn, Capital Hill, under the names James T. Kirk, and Jean-Luc Picard. My opinion concerning the two is based on the fact we have traced the signal of a subspace transceiver originating in their room. I'm afraid 'Jean-Luc Picard' is about to get a visit from his daughter. Getting them onboard should be easy... President Clinton has had his Attorney General issue warrants for their arrests for bribing a member of Congress. (You really shouldn't pass money to a Senator in front of a C-Span camera.) My security team has been empowered to serve those warrants with the understanding that they will be tried for the charge when we return to the 24th century, although such a charge is the least of their worries. Lieutenant Ross Lochard was readying his away team. "Remember gentlemen, our job is to apprehend the suspects and return them to the Stargazer," he began. "We must avoid all potential of temporal interference. We will be beaming down a block away behind a trash bin. Upon our capture of the suspects, we will get in a van which the President is providing and be beamed up. Any questions?" As no questions were evident, Ross and his six security men, all that were aboard at the time, were beamed down. They materialized behind the dumpster beside a building on New Jersey Avenue. The security team in their FBI uniforms proceeded orderly to the Quality Inn, Capital Hill. At the Desk in the lobby, Ross said, "Lieutenant Ross Lochard, FBI. I was wondering if misters James T. Kirk, and Jean-Luc Picard are in?" "Mister Picard just picked up his mail, I believe Mister Kirk was with him," the manager replied. "Is he in some sort of trouble?" "Actually, yes," Ross replied. "I'm here to arrest them for bribing a Congressman. Could you take me to their room?" "Room 104 is this way, gentlemen," the manager said. They approached the room and knocked on the door, "Open up. FBI." Ross said. The door opened. Lyam Sympton was sitting on the bed. His companion, had opened the door and backed up to lean against the wall. "Misters Kirk and Picard I presume?" "That's our names, don't wear them out," Lyam, also known as Picard, said. "You both are under arrest for bribing a member of Congress," Ross began, "You have the right to remain silent, anything you say, can and will be used against you. You have the right to an attorney, if you can not afford one, one will be provided for you ..." After finishing the reading of the prisoner's rights, Ross and his team brought the two handcuffed prisoners to the van parked outside. The five other security officers crowded into the back of the ten-person van, and Ross joined the driver in the front. Lyam's companion said as the van began moving, "I can't believe we got caught." "At least it's not Starfleet," Lyam said. "Don't be so sure 'Mister Picard,'" Ross said. "You are about to be beamed aboard the Stargazer to meet your 'daughter.'" "Ross, I hate to inform you but there's been a change of plans," the driver, Wesley Crusher, said as the van turned down Constitution Avenue. "What changed?" Ross asked. "Marrissa thinks we need to cover our tracks more," Wesley said. "So President Clinton just donated this van to Starfleet." "How?" As Wes turned and entered the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge, he explained, "We are about to go overboard." The van sped up and shot through a gap in the rail which had been removed for repair earlier in the morning. The van fell into the Potomac and began sinking. Fortunately, the inside was waterproof and when they landed on the bottom of the river, one of the Stargazer's cargo transporters engaged and brought the whole van aboard. When they had fully materialized, they discovered that Marrissa was waiting for them. "Lyam Sympton... or should I call you father?" she began. "As a representative of Starfleet, which is charged with preventing temporal violations, I am hereby charging you with such a violation. In addition, you are charged with stealing a Starfleet vessel and, if you are the Captain of that vessel, a speeding ticket has also been issued. "Who are you to charge me?" Lyam asked. "You are just a little girl." "I'm Lieutenant Commander Marrissa Amber Picard, acting Captain of the USS Stargazer," Marrissa said. "Lieutenant, take them to the brig and report to the bridge." After Lyam and his companion were dropped off in the brig, John turned angrily to his companion. "I thought you said you were successful?" he demanded. "It certainly doesn't look that way!" Lyam, still under the control of Witherell, laughed. "Of course I was successful! Which makes our victory even sweeter! They think they've won! But when we get back to the twenty-fourth century... they'll see how wrong they were! On second thought, since Starfleet never existed, they won't see how wrong they were!" John appeared to relax slightly. "You had me worried there for a while. I thought you were lying." "I would never betray our cause," Witherell said, activating the device on his wrist. The small subspace bubble formed around him again, even though John didn't notice. As he brought himself back into synch with his own universe, he said, "I would never betray Starfleet." "What?!" John shouted, lunging at Lyam. The now out-of-phase Witherell stepped out of the way and tapped his comm. badge. "Witherell to Infinity . Mission is a success. One to beam up." And as the brig faded from his view, Witherell saw John attempting to enact revenge from Lyam for the failed mission. ****************************************************** "Report," Witherell ordered as he stepped onto the bridge. "The plot loophole has opened in front of us, sir," Williams reported. "J.W., er, Wesley, says that we can use it to get home." "The Traveller said so," J.W. announced. "Ensign Marit, set course for that distortion, full impulse," Witherell ordered. "From what I've seen, we don't want a Wesley Crusher on our ship. Engage!" "Sir," Lieutenant Remley started, "I was monitoring your... 'arrest' through the Stargazer's communications channels. Why would a man from four hundred years in the future want to check his mail?" "The hotel manager told me I had something in my mailbox, so I took it," Witherell explained. "I don't know what exactly it was. All it said was, 'You may have already won one million dollars.'" "I really can't wait to get back to our own universe and our own time," Remley mused, as the ship entered the subspace rift. "Although the music wasn't bad." ****************************************************** Captain Rando stepped onto the bridge. Everything looked normal... everything felt normal... but he couldn't be sure. "What's our status, Commander?" he asked. "We've returned to our universe, just a few seconds after we were removed from it," Witherell said. "Doctor Calabretta reports that everyone is returning to normal, even J.W., although Commander Neddek still has a bit of a Scottish twang. How do you feel, sir?" "Much better," Rando replied, sitting in his command chair. "Marissa Picard is a very self-assured young lady... at times a bit too self-assured. I'm sure she's an effective commander in her own universe... but I'd rather just be me." He sighed. "It's really interesting, when you think about it. For all that time, we were somehow involved in just a work of fiction, written by someone in the twentieth century... but it was a universe as real as this one." "Makes you wonder what our true nature is, doesn't it?" Witherell asked. "Are we actually real or just a figment of someone's imagination?" Rando nodded. "The thought that we could be fiction too. It's ironic, don't you think?" "A little too ironic," Witherell replied. "Yeah, I really do think." "It's like raaaiiin, on your wedding day! It's a free riiide... when you've already paid!" Lieutenant Remley sang from his tactical station. "It's the good adviiiice... that you just didn't take!" Ensign Marit added. And then Remley joined her. "And who would have thought it figuures?" Rando blinked twice, rubbed his temples, and walked over to the bridge replicator. "Strawberry juice," he ordered. When he realized the bridge crew was staring at him, he turned to face them with a smile. "Just kidding," he said. He disposed of the juice and left for his ready room, where he ordered a tall, cold glass of water and sipped it at his desk. "I will say one thing about this whole incident," J.W.'s voice boomed through the comm. system. "It's given me a much better outlook on human existence." Rando leaned back in his chair slightly. "So, J.W., what do you think of us now?" he asked. There was a slight pause before J.W. replied, "I never want to encounter Wesley Crusher again for as long as I exist. Or Marissa." And somewhere across the Quadrant, Marissa Flores came home after another day at school.