LASTING PERFECTION

Prologue

The USS Enterprise entered through the temporal vortex. In front of them was Earth, but Earth of the past. Data let the computer calculate that it was April 2nd, 2063. They realized the Borg had come to stop first contact. The sphere was in sight, it was firing on the Earth.

"Data, quantum torpedoes. Fire." Captain Jean-Luc Picard said. Data fired the torpedoes. 3 of them approached the Borg sphere, but it moved just at the last second. Only 1 of the 3 torpedoes hit the ship. The torpedo punched a hole into the sphere big enough to cause it to stop firing on the Earth and hang there adrift. They waited a moment.

"Again, fire torpedoes" The Captain repeated after a short time when the sphere did not appear to be destroyed.

"I am unable Captain. Something is interfering with my controls. I am getting a message about a signal transmitted to the sphere. Somebody is communicating with it." Data said. Picard looked curiously.

"Is it coming from Earth?" He asked. Fear struck Picard, if the humans down on Earth have discovered the sphere Earths future can be in grave trouble.

"No Captain, it appears to be coming... From the Enterprise." Data said and looked back at the Captain. Picard thought for a second.

"It's the Borg, they have transported onto the Enterprise. Data, lock out the central computer." Picard said swiftly. Data did as he was told. From his console he quickly typed in a few dozen commands a second.

"I have been able to encrypt the central computer. It is not likely they will be able to break it. We have lost control of the weapons though. We can not finish off the sphere." Data replied.

"Captain, look. The sphere." Commander Riker said as he walked towards the screen. Picard and the others looked as well. The sphere was moving away. Debris still broke of it, about 30 percent of the ship was destroyed and they saw tiny explosions all over it.

"It is going to warp. Quickly, scan the vessel." Picard said. As he said it the sphere went to warp.

"Scanning was successful. Captain, we do still have control of the engines. Should we pursue?" Data asked.

"Negative. Tell me about the sphere, how badly was the damage?" Picard asked. Data looked for a few moments then looked back at the Captain again.

"It as suffered severe damage throughout the ship. Most systems have failed and about half of the drones are dead. I don't think it can hold together for much longer Captain. Its 2063, there is nothing out there. It will be destroyed before it can find somewhere to repair itself." Data analyzed. Picard thought for a moment.

"We need to get control back of the ship and transport to Earth, to see what kind of damage they have done so we can repair it. We have to make sure First Contact happens. Plus, we need to get rid of the Borg warp trail. If the Vulcans discover it the consequences will be unrepairable. Quickly Data." The Captain replied. There was too much to be done. No time to worry about a lost sphere, they thought. It will have to travel at least 90 light-years to find a system that can help them repair their damage, before that time it will already be too late as Data calculated the sphere would be destroyed after travelling15 light-years, if it kept that warp speed. No, dealing with the problems on board the Enterprise is top priority now, the sphere is no longer a threat.

Sphere 187, going Warp 3. Somewhere in 2134, Earth time.

Anomaly detected. Grid 7 dash 1. Dropping out of warp. System human designation Epsilon Indi. 1 habitable world, intelligent life detected. Second planet from the star. Species: Human. Planet too far to reach.

Grid 7 dash 5 Sector 7 anomaly registered. Setting course. Approaching for scan. Scanning incomplete. Scanning incomplete. Scanning incomplete. Distance to anomaly 3 AU. Warp drive approaching critical state. life support deactivated, reverting all power to impulse engines. closing. anomaly artificial, human. attempt... Warp core breached... Total destruction in 3, 2, 1..