Prologue

This scene opens shortly after Picard has dinner with Shinzon.


The door to Picard's ready room swished open. Q was sitting in his chair.

"Q! What are you doing here? Get off my ship" Picard was visibly agitated.

"Ahhh Jean Luc. I am here to solve your problem."

"I can handle my own problems. Get off my ship now!" The dinner had not gone as well as he had hoped. The boy was so much like himself at that age, yet disturbingly different.

"tsk tsk tsk … you wound me Jean Luc."

"I mean it Q! I don't have time for this and I don't want or need your help!" Picard was losing his composure.

"I am sorry captain but you do need me."

Q snapped his fingers. He and Picard were now on the Scimitar mere seconds before its destruction. The scene before them was frozen in time. As they approached the two men pinned against the railing Picard's heart sank. It was definitely a life or death situation.

"How do you feel now Jean Luc? Is this the finale you have imagined? This will be your future and THEIR end." Q pointed dramatically to Shinzon then Data. "But maybe that is what you want? Maybe this is what you've planned for all along? Maybe the universe just isn't big enough for two Picard egos?"

He was stunned at the site before him. The boy was impaled on a long rod. It appeared that he had agonizingly pulled himself along the full length of the rod and at that frozen moment in time had a death grip about his neck. Certain death awaited the boy he still fought to achieve his goal. Shinzon would see them both dead. The Captain shook the tragedy from his thoughts and returned his gaze to Q.

"I believe in fate Q! Return me to my ship NOW!"

"I only want to give you an option Jean Luc. Say the word and this entire nightmare can begin again with new players and new choices. Given the chance would you not want a chance at possible peace?"

Picard hesitated. Q certainly had a flare for the dramatic. He had to at least give him that. "Come, come Jean Luc … a new set of circumstances to alter this dismal ending? Or if you prefer we can watch as the next few seconds unfold. You will live my dear captain but the boy and your manbot over there will cease to exist."

Picard mentally ran through his options. He had not foreseen his clone being killed and if what Q said was true he would be taking Data with him. Yes he felt unnerved when he learned of Shinzon's existence but he didn't wish him dead. The Praetor had his same potential just not his upbringing. He needed time, time to think this through. Time Q was not about to give him. Was Q distorting the truth? They had played this game before. Would this be a definite future or only probable?

"When does this happen and why?" Picard absently wondered out loud.

"So you DO find my offer intriguing then mon Capitan?" Q arched an eyebrow and smiled arrogantly.

"Q!" Picard's temper was at the boiling point. "Just answer me! When does this happen and why? Are there any certainties that this won't happen again no matter how many times it is replayed?" Picard searched for a way out. Siding with Q was going to get him nothing but trouble. How many Prime Directives and Laws of Time was he breaking by even thinking about changing what had already happened? Or had it? This could be another Q game. He waited patiently for Q's response.

"If you do NOT let me change these events it WILL happen again my dear Jean Luc." Q began to head down the stairs. "Are you a betting man or are you ready to let this scenario play out? Make a decision now Jean Luc. I am quickly losing interest."

Picard didn't see any other option. If Q was involved he had to play the game or all would lose. "Alright Q! Damn it! Change the events!"

"Are you sure Jean Luc? It could mean dire consequences for others. Are you prepared to accept the responsibility of such a decision?"

"Q!" Picard exhaled an exacerbated sigh. "Yes YES! Just do it!" He turned from the death scene frozen before him and found he was alone in his ready room. Checking the clock he noticed it was now 3 days before his away team first encountered the Praetor. Q had sent him back in time with his memory of future events in tact.


Chapter One

Sammy sat in the high backed seat pretending to be asleep but she was actually going over the events of the past 72 hours in her head. Just 4 hours ago she had become Princess Samantha Belinimarani of Alpha Tokari and now she was on a ship headed for that system. She had been sold into marriage by her step mother, married off to a gorgeous Prince. While that part wasn't so bad she had recently learned that her new husband already had 6 wives. Why did he need another? How many more would he want? She didn't quite fancy being part of a harem.

Sammy had always imagined being deeply in love with her husband on their wedding night. She didn't love the prince. She didn't even know him! The conversations they'd shared consisted of a mere 87 words. She didn't want to be here. Anywhere but here! Maybe in time she would accept her lot in life but today she felt trapped and her mind frantically sought escape.

The familiar sound of her father's snoring made her feel at ease. Her father was unaware of the circumstances that led to her wedding. He had blessed her marriage to the prince and walked her down the aisle to 'give her away'. It was the first time since her mother died that she had seen him sincerely happy. She wouldn't argue the truth with him, not today.

The cold harsh reality was that her step mother had spent her family into the poor house. This marriage would keep her father alive long enough for Sammy to come up with a plan to get him away from the viper. She didn't want to think what would have happened to her father if she had not agreed to this marriage. Once again her mind wondered off to plots of escape. Nothing was going to work. There was no clear path to freedom. No one was going to save her.

The Prince's star cruiser tossed violently. Sammy's eyes flew open as several men materialized before her. The intruders had guns. This couldn't be a good thing. Her mind shifted and she began to allow for uncertainties in her escape plans for her and her father.

The leader disappeared into the cockpit and slit the pilot's throat. He returned to the main cabin and leaned against the bulkhead. He wiped the blood stained knife on his pant leg and began picking his nails with the blade. Casually he asked, "Who would like to be next?" Occasionally he raised his head to scan the passengers for volunteers. When it appeared no one was going to volunteer he sheathed his knife and joined his men in front of Sammy for a chat.

The passengers were silent.

Besides her Prince, there were his servants, his parents, two of his favorite wives, a few children, his grandmother, the ship engineer, her servant and her father to choose from. Her step mother and two step brothers who would have made the perfect volunteers in her mind had stayed behind to spend the Prince's money no doubt. Who would be killed next and why? This was insanity! What did these psychopaths want?

Sammy stood and took 2 cautious steps towards the leader whose back was currently to her. "What do you want?" She sounded much more confident than she felt.

The man was a good 7 feet tall, with ridges on his forehead and pointy elf-like ears. She had never seen his species before. He looked casually over his shoulder at her.

"You have something we need and I am here to take it." He reached for a small device and began pointing it at the passengers in the cabin. He was scanning them for something? These were no two-bit pirates. They were men in military dress and utterly ruthless. They wanted something but what was it?

She reached up and removed the jeweled tiara from her head and handed it to him. He laughed and tossed the head piece to his second in command then turned back to her. She was going to be the last scanned. Sammy felt a twinge of fear as he stepped closer to her and took another reading. The lecherous grin that followed made her feel sick to her stomach. He bent and whispered in her ear. "We are here for you my darling."

"Shit!" Was all she could muster as she stumbled backward trying to put some distance between them. Without taking a step he reached out a long arm and circled her waist. He pulled her back and off her feet to his chest as if she were a small child. His well muscled arm was squeezing the air from her lungs. He flipped open a communicator with his free hand and spoke harshly. "Two to beam back. Now!"

Swirling lights engulfed her and soon she was materializing on board another ship. As she was disappearing she heard pandemonium break out on the prince's ship and her father yell for her. He was silenced mid-sentence but was it the transporter losing contact with that ship or had he been hurt? Her heart beat faster as her fears for her father's safety escalated. He was her only living blood relative. She loved him dearly. She couldn't lose him.