Captain Jean-Luc Picard peered down at Earth through the window of his ready room, his hand briefly brushing the side of the window frame. The idyllic blue marble rotated in harmony beneath him, seemingly unaware of the fate he and his crew had saved it from.
"A companion indeed." The Captain said softly, removing his hand from the window frame and returning to his desk. He picked up a PADD to glance over the soon-to-be finished repair schedule when the door chimed. He sighed and set it down. "Come." He commanded.
"Sir." Commander William Riker nodded and approached the desk. "I'm sorry for intruding. I know you said not to disturb you."
"No, it's fine Will." Picard gestured to the chair at the desk, which Riker promptly sat in. "I was just thinking about what one Dr. Soran said to me before his death."
"About time?" Riker squinted.
"Yes. How he said it was an enemy, then I believed it to be a companion. Look what that companion nearly cost us."
Riker placed his elbows on his knees to lean in closer to his Captain. "Maybe, but we stopped them. The Borg attempted to use time as an enemy, but like a good companion, it came through in the end."
"Indeed." Picard said and nudged his computer to the side. "Repairs are nearly complete, according to Mr. LaForge. We should be setting course for Betazed soon enough."
Riker opened his mouth, but paused before speaking. "Actually sir, Admiral Nechayev requested a meeting with you and I in 20 minutes at Starfleet Command."
Picard heaved a sigh and rubbed his forehead. That was the last name he wanted to hear right now. "Did she say what it's about?" He asked, exasperated.
"No sir. But she did mention that being unable to contact you directly was a minor inconvenience." Will smirked.
"Remind me to apologize to the Admiral for having to speak to you." Picard stood and straightened his uniform.
"No need sir. Speaking with the Admiral is always an honor." Riker said and followed his Captain to the bridge. "You have the bridge Mr. Data."
"Aye sir." The Android nodded as he kept tapping at his console. The Captain and First Officer entered the turbolift nearest to them. "Transporter Room One." Picard ordered. "Is Worf still aboard?"
"Yes sir. The Defiant is pretty beat up. He arrived just before the Admiral called. He wanted to stay at Utopia Planitia until the Defiant is ready to head back to DS9, but he said Starfleet Command suggested he post to the Enterprise for this mission. After that, I heard from Command." Riker leaned against the turbolift wall, debating on something in his head. "Permission to speak freely?" He asked before thinking it through. Picard had to smile at the request.
"Since when do you request permission to speak your mind Number One?"
"Frankly sir, I'm concerned. You've been keeping to yourself since we stopped the Borg in the past. That was three weeks ago. Are you alright?"
Picard crossed his arms and looked at the bearded Commander. Of course everybody knew he had a past with the Borg. It was that past that made Starfleet Command order the Enterprise to stay on the Neutral Zone border and nearly miss the battle. "I've been doing something that Dr. Crusher has told me not to do: replaying the past." He answered with a hint of defiance in his tone. "We had the ability to destroy the Borg, Will."
Riker tilted his chin upward, knowing where his Captain was going. "Hugh."
"Correct. We had the opportunity to rid the Federation of our most mortal enemy. We had the means to end a threat to the entire galaxy. We had the ability to stop the Borg permanently. But no, I let my conscience dictate my actions and took pity on Hugh."
Riker straightened his stance and mirrored Picard's cross-armed stance. "I remember all of us having issue with using Hugh as a weapon. It wasn't just you."
"But the final decision was placed at my feet. I could have ordered Geordi and Beverly to implant the virus and rid us of the Borg. One life, Will. Our decision to save one life nearly cost us everything. Not just Earth, but the entire history of the Federation."
"But we stopped them. You couldn't have possibly known what the Borg would do."
"Yet I knew the Borg would return." Picard said as the turbolift doors swung open. He turned to the Commander before stepping off. "I have always believed in the rights of the individual; the right to exist. But at what point does the single individual need to be placed after the whole?" He began walking down the hall, and Riker followed at his side.
"It depends on the situation, sir. Lal, for example. She was an individual. You fought for her right to exist."
"Yes, but Lal wasn't the key to ending a threat to the entire galaxy." Picard snapped as he entered the transporter room. He turned to Will when the door closed, glancing at the Ensign behind the control panel. She didn't need to hear this discussion. "I believe it's time we find out what the good Admiral wants." He smiled and stepped onto the pad. Riker forced a small nod at the Ensign and stepped onto the pad. He made a mental note to resume this conversation at a better time. "Ensign, beam us to the coordinates in Starfleet Command I sent down to you." He said to the Ensign.
"Yes sir." She nodded and ran her hands up the panel. It was a brief second in blue, then the hall of a floor in Starfleet Command was before them. A Vulcan Lieutenant stood just off the pad. "Captain, Commander." He nodded.
"Lieutenant T'Net." Picard stepped down and shook the Lieutenant's hand. "You received a promotion since I was here last."
"Indeed. The Admirals are waiting." He gestured down the hall before walking.
"Admirals?" Commander Riker asked and followed.
"Yes sir. Admiral Paris has joined Admiral Nechayev for this meeting."
"Must be important." Riker mused and followed the Lieutenant for the short trip down the hall. The Admiral's office was at the end, overlooking San Francisco Bay. The Lieutenant used his thumb to access the small waiting area before the Admiral's office, then pushed the blue chime button near the door. "Good day Captain; Commander." He nodded and exited. The door closed behind him as the door in front of the two officers opened. Admiral Nechayev immediately stood up. "Captain Picard, Mr. Riker, come in." She invited.
"Greetings Admiral." Picard put on his best show smile and extended a hand over the desk. It was taken and he turned to the left to see Admiral Owen Paris give an approving nod.
"Jean-Luc." He said and took the Captain's hand next.
"It's been a while sir." Picard said and sat.
"Since the Maquis incident I believe." Admiral Paris answered and stood behind the desk with Nechayev. Riker sat next to his Captain and Nechayev sat. "Gentlemen, this meeting is classified." She said and placed her hands on the desk. "We have a problem with the Dominion."
"I would agree with that." Riker said.
"It's worse than most know." Paris said and clasp his hands before him. "Starfleet Intelligence estimates full warfare may break out within the next few months."
"How prepared are we?" Picard asked.
"Not enough. By a long shot, not enough. With their foothold in Cardassian space, we can't drive them out without beginning a war we could lose."
"New starships are being produced, but their shipyards are far more efficient than ours." Nechayev pulled her computer near her. "However, we have received intelligence from the Tal Shiar that has been confirmed by Command. Tell us Captain, what do you know of the Xindi Incident?"
"The Xindi incident?" Picard echoed and took a moment to remember. That was long ago, in terms of time, and the Captain's history classes in the Academy. "It was a conflict between Earth and the Xindi before the founding of the Federation. The first Enterprise helped resolve it and laid the foundation for alliances that would lead to the first charter."
"And almost half of the mission logs are still classified." Riker added.
"You're correct Commander, and with good reason." Paris nodded. "Many things happened in that region of space. A lot of it is unconfirmed, and to this day we aren't sure of everything. But one thing is for sure, according to the ship's Captain and First Officer." He nodded to Nechayev, who tapped her computer. "In 2153, Captain Archer says he and his First Officer went back in time to 2004."
"With all due respect-" Riker said, receiving a nod from Paris to continue. "Wasn't Captain Archer known for embellishing his encounters with time travel?"
"That is true, Commander. However, this was confirmed by his Vulcan First Officer, and the readings are still in Command's archives. This occurrence was legitimate." Paris said before nodding for Nechayev to continue, which she did.
"When they arrived in 2004, they found three Xindi scientists producing a bioweapon to be released on Earth. Their plan was to release the bioweapon in the past to destroy humanity's future."
"Just like the Borg attempted last month." Picard mused.
"Correct. And now, we've confirmed the Dominion may be attempting the same thing."
"What?" Riker asked, wide-eyed.
"Our listening posts in the Gamma Quadrant reported several Dominion supply ships entering the Torga System last month. A Klingon Bird-of-Prey scouting the system got close enough to rum some scans while cloaked. They had several graviton generators, multiple tachyon generators, and several dozen liters of bio-mimetic gel." Nechayev turned the computer to show the sensor results. Picard leaned forward and glanced over the material.
"The evidence is hardly conclusive." He said cautiously.
"That's what we thought." Paris said and handed Riker a padd. "Several months ago, we recovered a crashed ship from the surface of Torga Four. It took a while, but when we accessed their computers, we discovered something unsettling. When the ship crashed, it was heading to Torga Six. Apparently there is a facility underground conducting time travel experiments. According to the logs, they have sent three probes through to the past. The last one sent back an image." The Admiral gestured to the padd, which Riker looked at with Picard. It showed a faint but clear image of an old Earth Space Shuttle orbiting Earth. The image made both officers pause, glance at each other, then look up at the Admirals.
"They've gone back to the 20th Century." Picard whispered.
"How do we stop them?" Riker asked, perching on the end of his chair.
"That is up to you." Nechayev said and turned the computer back to her. "The repairs to the Enterprise are complete. Your orders are to go through the Bajoran wormhole, travel to the Torga system, and stop their experiments. If you can gather intelligence, do it. But destroying the base is the priority."
Picard put two fingers to his lips in thought. This could lead to an escalation of hostilities between Starfleet and the Dominion. It could lead to war. But one question was more on his mind. "If I may ask Admiral, why the Enterprise? Other starships are close to Bajor, and other crews have more experience dealing with the Dominion."
"Believe me Captain, you were not our first choice for this assignment." Nechayev smiled in a way that made Picard ill. "If the Defiant were in serviceable shape, we would get it back to Deep Space Nine and set this assignment on Captain Sisko, but he has his hands full at the moment. Also, your crew has invaluable experience dealing with time travel. Your 18th Century encounter with the Devidians, your personal experience stopping the mad doctor with Captain Kirk, and your most recent venture to the past to stop the Borg. Other crews may have more knowledge of the Dominion, but you are a master of the Temporal Prime Directive."
"No argument there." Riker gave a sarcastic smirk. Admiral Nechayev looked at Admiral Paris, who handed Picard a padd.
"Your orders, in writing." He said. "They also temporarily assign Commander Worf to the Enterprise. He was part of the mission where we found the Dominion ship, and he knows their tactics. If all goes well, you have permission to leave him on DS9 to resume his duties there one your mission is complete."
"Understood Admiral." Picard said as he and Riker stood. "Before we depart, how much leeway is given to completing the mission?
"Captain." Nechayev smirked again. "You are ordered to complete this assignment by any means necessary. The Dominion will not be allowed to go back in time to Earth. Also, only your senior staff need to know the details of this mission."
"Agreed." Picard nodded before shaking both Admirals' hands. "The Enterprise will depart immediately."
"Good luck Jean-Luc." Admiral Paris said and clasp Picard's hand in both of his.
"Thank you Admiral." Picard nodded and left the room with Riker. He waited until they were out of the waiting area to speak. "This one doesn't bode well, Will."
"I agree. But it will be good to have Worf back on the bridge." Riker answered.
"Yes it will." Picard said. They both stepped onto the transporter pad again and were encased in blue light.
The Enterprise-E slid through space at warp eight, but the senior staff were nestled comfortably in the conference room. Captain Picard had just finished presenting the mission and their orders, and didn't need to wait long for opinions.
"I knew the Dominion was using that system. It made no sense for a Jem'Hadar ship to be that far away from their space; especially with a Founder onboard." Commander Worf said loudly.
"What actually happened?" Doctor Beverly Crusher asked, leaning away from the booming Klingon.
"We were conducting a survey of Torga Four and their cormaline deposits. I was with Captain Sisko and the away team when a Jem'Hadar ship crashed near us. After several days and failed negotiations with a Vorta, we found a Changeling hiding in the ship. It couldn't hold its shape and perished. The Jem'Hadar killed themselves for allowing their god to die, the Vorta vanished, and we waited several more days for the Defiant to retrieve us and the ship." Worf answered.
"No knowledge of why they crashed?" Geordi LaForge asked.
"No." Worf shook his head. "I should have insisted we take the Defiant. The Gamma Quadrant is not safe."
"That's why I'm glad you're here Mr. Worf." Picard said, leaning on the table. "We've never gone through the wormhole, and having somebody with your experience will be very helpful. In the meantime, Geordi, I want you and Mr. Worf to go over the scans that were taken of the ships. Data, you're going to make calculations for our return to our time, just in case we get stuck like last time. Beverly, you're going to find out what the Dominion could possibly produce with these supplies."
"With all that bio-mimetic gel, they could produce countless biogenic weapons." The Doctor shook her head in disgust.
"That is why they cannot be allowed to travel back in time. All other concerns are secondary. Dismissed."
The Enterprise dropped out of warp near the edge of the Bajoran system. They had travelled at high warp for several days to reach the mouth of the wormhole as quickly as possible, but there was one last stop to make before heading through. Captain Picard stood in Transporter Room Three as Commander Worf entered. "You asked for me sir?"
"Yes Mr. Worf." Picard stepped forward. "I thought you'd like to be here for this. Starfleet Command has assigned us another crewman for this journey."
"Sir?" The Klingon asked. Captain Picard tapped his combadge. "Mr. Data?"
"The runabout is off our port bow sir." Data's voice answered.
"Excellent." Picard nodded to the ensign behind the transporter console. She ran her hands up the console and the transporter activated.
"Bloody hell." An Irish accent mumbled.
"Chief." Worf said loudly.
"Mr. O'Brien." Picard stepped forward to shake his former crewmember's hand. "Welcome aboard the Enterprise-E."
"Thank you sir. I must say she's a sight to behold. Commander." The Chief shook Worf's hand. "We've missed you on DS9."
"And I have missed my duties there. How are things?" Worf asked.
"Nothing out of the usual. Jadzia did want me to relay to you how displeased she is that you aren't back yet." The Chief gave a beaming grin as Worf gave a discontented look.
"Jadzia?" Picard asked Worf, who sighed. "A friend."
"Bha!" O'Brien laughed and walked out of the transporter room with the two commanding officers. "How's the Defiant?"
"Much better." Worf answered.
"Glad to hear. When do I get to know why Starfleet's temporarily put me back on the Enterprise?"
"Mr. Worf will brief you as he takes you to your quarters. I wish we had time to catch up, but as usual-" Picard sighed and shook O'Brien's hand again.
"Duty calls, eh?" The Chief smiled. "It's good to be back; even to see the new Enterprise."
"Hopefully you and Geordi can find some time to talk about her. But for now, Mr. Worf, take the Chief to guest quarters. I'll be on the bridge."
"Yes sir." Worf said and walked off with the Chief, who slapped the Klingon on the back. "So, Quark says you owe him latnium?"
The bridge had been quiet for several minutes. It had taken three days to reach the Torga system, and the ship had just dropped out of warp on the edge of the system. They had encountered no Dominion ships en route, and it was oddly quiet. Captain Picard had ordered the ship to drop out of warp behind the farthest planet and immediately go into low power mode to reduce their sensor signature. "Report Data."
"We are in grey mode sir. There is no Jem'Hadar activity in this system. The nearest vessel is a Karemma transport approximately 2.3 light-years away, travelling at warp six away from the system."
"The Karemma are traders and part of the Dominion. They may have offloaded supplies to the research facility." Worf offered from the tactical post.
"Any readings from Torga Four?" Riker asked.
"Very faint tachyon particles. The planet appears to have a small encampment on the surface." Data reported.
"The planet was uninhabited when we were last here." Worf said.
"What sort of encampment?" Picard asked.
`"Difficult to say at this distance sir." Data offered. "However, I am not detecting any high resolution scanning equipment. I believe we can approach the planet at a distance."
"Make it so helm. Half impulse. Mr. Worf, make sure-" Picard was cut off by an alarm from Data's console. "Report."
"I am reading a surge of tachyons approximately 530,000 kilometers away from the planet." Data's hands flew over the console to get more readings. Riker turned his small display to examine the readings for himself.
"It's similar to the technique used by the Borg. I'd say they're sending another probe through."
Picard stood and slowly stood in the middle of the bridge, staring at the faint tear in space. "Is the portal active?" He asked.
"It appears to be functional sir." Data reported. "I'm reading a small vessel ascending from the surface."
"Onscreen." The screen displayed a Jem'Hadar fighter heading up from the surface.
"A Jem'Hadar ship." Worf growled.
"Lifesigns?" Riker asked.
"I am reading signs of life, but it is not possible to get an exact reading from this distance and our current power levels." Data answered.
Picard sighed, going through the scenarios in his head. They were either scanning the aperture of the portal for research, or they were heading back in time. "We can't risk exposing ourselves yet. Can we get closer?" He asked.
"A single Jem'Hadar fighter is no threat to the Enterprise." Worf boasted.
"But they can warn the settlement below and get reinforcements. I'm not eager for a fight with backup three days away." Riker said and looked at the screen.
"The ship is emitting tachyon radiation. Curious." Data said, turning to Captain Picard. "Sir, I believe they are entering the portal."
"Damn it." Riker hissed and stood quickly, going over to Picard. "Did we arrive in time to see them go back, like the Borg?"
"Let's not wait Number One. Red alert!" Picard ordered, going back to his seat. The lights dimmed and the red alert pulses began. Picard tapped a button on the edge of his chair. "Mr. LaForge, I need everything we've got to the impulse engines now, without delay."
"On it Captain!" LaForge answered.
"Helm, intercept that ship." Picard gripped his seat as the Enterprise hummed back to life.
"Worf, keep an eye out for any signals being broadcast from the surface." Riker said, looking at his display.
"Aye sir."
"Three minutes to intercept." Helm reported.
"The craft will enter the rift in two minutes, 34 seconds sir." Data offered, slight trepidation in his android voice.
"Mr. LaForge I need more speed!" Picard snapped.
"Fusion reactors at 93% capacity. I'm giving you more Captain I just need a moment!" Geordi answered. A few seconds ticked by that felt like minutes. "Fusion reactors at 97%. Impulse is as hot as she can get sir."
"Time to intercept: Two minutes, 24 seconds sir." Helm announced.
"The vessel will be inside the portal 9 seconds before us sir." Data countered.
"Can we do a warp burst?" Riker offered.
"Negative sir. We would overshoot the target by 19,000 kilometers. We are too close." Data answered. Picard strained his eyes on the ship, attempting to pull it back with his vision. "Suggestions?"
"We will be in weapons range in time to destroy the craft." Worf offered.
"No." Picard answered immediately. "We want to see where they are going. Also, destroying the ship may send debris into the past. We don't know how far back they are going."
"The vessel has seen us sir. They are going to full thrusters." Data said, his voice elevated. Picard tapped the end of his armrest again. "Mr. LaForge?"
"I figured you would ask Captain. I'm bringing the backup fusion reactors online now." Geordi answered.
"Good man." Riker smirked briefly. The Enterprise continued hurtling through the system toward the tear. Data's console blared again.
"The vessel is 20 seconds from the apature. We are 26 seconds away."
"Tractor beam!" Picard jumped out of his seat. Worf quickly tapped his console before letting out a snarl. "Tachyon radiation is interfering with the emitters. I do not have time to compensate."
"The ship is entering the rift." Data said.
"Didn't we just do this?" Riker sighed.
"Follow them helm. Let's see what they're up to." Picard quickly went back to his seat. The Enterprise hit the rift and barely shuddered. A green flash happened on the screen, and the blackness of space took over the screen. Data began tapping at his workstation, then Earth appeared.
"Damn." Riker muttered. Picard stood slowly, straightening his uniform. "Position?" He asked, knowing the answer.
"Earth, sir." Data answered with hesitation.
"Time?"
"A moment, sir." Data answered. Picard looked at Riker. "Will?" His first officer was looking at the console on his seat. Suddenly his jaw squared and he stood. "No Luna colony, no Mars colonies, no com traffic." He reported grimly. Picard's mouth dropped slightly as he turned to look at Earth. How bad was this situation? "Data?!" He snapped.
"A moment sir. According to atmospheric readings and stellar positioning, we are approximately in the beginning months of 2034."
"World War Three." Riker huffed and crossed his arms. The turbolift opened and Chief O'Brien stepped out. Picard looked at him and gestured toward an empty console along the wall. "We need to know where the Jem'Hadar ship is." He ordered as O'Brien sat at his new station.
"Curious." Data said in a tone that was never good. "There should be heavy radioactive isotopes in the atmosphere from the use of nuclear weapons. I am reading none."
"What?" Riker asked, incredulous . He went over and glanced at Data's console. "That's impossible Data. 200 million people should be dead from nuclear radiation at this point."
"I am aware sir. However, there are no radioactive isotopes in the atmosphere, no radiation, no impact sites, nothing. It is as if the war is not taking place."
"Uh oh." O'Brien said out loud, making Picard turn to him. "Chief?"
"Sorry sir. I was looking at the scans of Earth, and I've seen this before. A couple years ago, Captain Sisko, Doctor Bashir and Dax got stuck in 2024. Even then, with a tricorder, I could pick up old radio waves from the surface. I'm not reading any at all here."
Picard turned back to the screen and sighed. Something had gone terribly wrong. At least with the Borg, the solution was immediately in front of them. These questions had no answers, except one. "Mr. Data, lifesigns?"
"Lifesigns approximately… 2.4 billion." The air on the bridge went thick. Picard took a step forward in disbelief. Even with the war, there should have been at least 7 billion lifesigns. "Two billion?" He whispered, staring at Earth on the screen. He barely heard the turbolift doors hiss.
"Captain?" Counselor Deanna Troi asked softly.
"What is it Deanna?" Riker asked, stepping toward her.
"Will, something is very wrong."
"We have noticed!" Worf belted.
"No, I mean there is something seriously wrong. I'm being overwhelmed with terror and pain. It's nearly unbearable. The population is in great turmoil." The Counselor walked over to Worf's station and put a bracing hand on it.
"Data, analyze the lifesigns." Picard ordered.
"Curious. While the lifesigns are human, approximately 63% are heavily distorted. A small percentage is reading as barely human." Data looked up at Picard. "I have a hypothesis."
"Go on." Picard prodded.
"The Jem'Hadar vessel entered the rift seconds before we did. Since we did not enter the rift at the exact same time, they may have arrived before us, completed their mission, and we arrived years after their success."
Picard brought a hand up to cup his chin. He knew Data was right, and he had no idea how to fix this. Riker came up next to Picard. "Sir?" He asked.
"I'm open to suggestions, Will." The Captain said without moving his eyes from the screen.
"If Data is right, we need to find out when then Jem'Hadar went back and stop them."
"Agreed. But do we know when they went back?" Picard looked at Data for the answer, and he jerked his head once to the left.
"There are no vessels in range sir."
"I suggest we scan the surface for any signs of a craft or alien lifesigns that should not be there." Worf spoke up.
"Good idea Commander. Mr. Data, make it so."
"Yes sir. Such a precise scan of the entire surface will take several minutes." Data turned and began working. Picard and Riker went back to their respective seats and looked at Counselor Troi, who had managed to sit in the seat to the right of Picard.
"The people down there are miserable; trapped. I'm sensing fear, hopelessness, and loss. It's as if the population is under a blanket of suffering."
"The entire population?" Riker asked.
"I believe so. Most are in terrible pain."
"Hurry up with that scan Mr. Data." Picard prodded before turning back to Troi. "Do you believe it's safe to beam down?"
"I'm not sure." She admitted. Picard tapped his console. "Doctor Crusher to the bridge, on the double. Data?" He stood and looked at the android.
"Yes sir. I am detecting duranium fragments and deuterium residue on the floor of the Pacific Ocean. It is approximately 24 kilometers off the coast of Fiji. According to these readings, it could be the remains of the Jem'Hadar ship. Oceanic decay indicates it has been there for approximately 22 years."
"Since 2012?" Riker asked. "That doesn't mean they didn't take their actions before or after the ship crashed."
"We all know where the answers lie." Picard sighed and stood. "Will, Data, Counselor, Chief, you're with me. Mr. Worf, you're in command of the Enterprise. Continue working on finding out more evidence of when this may have happened."
"Aye sir." Worf nodded as Dr. Crusher came onto the bridge. "You called, Jean-Luc?"
"Yes Doctor." He went over to the aft display with her and those summoned in his party. "We haven't detected anything that would be hazardous to our health down there. I wanted to be sure." The Doctor and Data spent a moment at the console, going over the sensor readings.
"I'm not seeing anything specific Captain, but I'm reading several small pockets of what look like fungus growths. We should avoid those areas, but for the most part, it's Earth's atmosphere." Crusher answered.
"Good. Let's get to the transporter room." Picard said and headed toward the turbolift. "Computer, Mid-21st Century clothing, again."
The landing party assembled in transporter room three in their 21st Century attire. Each had hand phasers and a tricorder, and Dr. Crusher made sure to bring a medkit with her. Picard was the last to arrive, and he went to the transporter console with Data and Chief O'Brien. "We need a reasonable place to beam down." He said, going over a topography map.
"I was giving that some thought sir." O'Brien said and tapped a few buttons. "We don't want to get too close to civilization, but close enough to get answers. I'm reading some faint power readings here in North America. And by faint, I mean very faint. They appear to be coming from a power plant on this river"
"I concur with the chief." Data nodded." A beam-in point approximately three kilometers away is recommended."
"Make it so." Picard nodded and stepped onto the padd, looking at the team first. "Remember, this is not the Earth we know. We need answers people." He turned and nodded to the operator. "Energize."
The transporter room vanished, and the team materialized in some very green woods. There was the far away sound of birds, and a sound of a rodent running away, but there was mostly silence.
"Fascinating." Data said quietly and took out his tricorder. Picard glanced around and inhaled, noticing how clean the air smelt. It didn't smell this clean when they had visited 2063 a month earlier.
"It's so green." Chief O'Brien said and stepped a few feet away.
"It's peaceful. The nature hides the grief surrounding it." Counselor Troi said, but still managed a smile. Data walked in front of her with his tricorder. "Anything yet?" She asked the Commander.
"Negative Counselor." His tricorder beeped, and he pointed it behind them. "I'm reading lifesigns approaching rapidly. They are human, but heavily distorted." His head twitched to the left, his android hearing picking up sounds before human ears. "Captain, judging from their approach, I would assume they are hostile."
"Phasers on stun." Picard ordered, the team drawing their weapons. They could soon hear what Data heard: anguished, hellish groans, and distinct clicking noises.
"What the hell are they?" O'Brien whispered.
"They are in agony." Troi answered, a hand clutching her phaser. The sounds got closer, and the figures appeared from the mist. One stumbled about 30 feet in front of them. He was human, but hunched over. His eyes were red, moaning loudly, clothes tattered. Another stumbled next to him, barely clothed, and grotesque growths emerging from its head. It lurched forward, clicking.
"God Almighty." Riker whispered in horror. Another agonized human came out and stared at the away team. It howled and ran at them, the other two following.
"Stop! We're here to help you!" Picard called, raising his phaser. They did not heed his calls, and he fired. Data and O'Brien followed suit. The two moaning humans fell, but the one with growths from the head stumbled back. It screeched, flailed its arms and charged. Dr. Crusher and Data fired, and it fell onto its back, shrieking in pain. Riker took a step forward and fired, silencing the creature. The silence returned. Not even the birds were chirping now.
"What have they done?" O'Brien asked out loud. Captain Picard blinked for a moment before looking at the Doctor. "Beverly, scan it carefully. Number one, Data, cover her." They moved to obey the command, and Picard went over to the Counselor. "What are you getting?" He asked.
"They are alive Captain. They're trapped inside their bodies. Whatever happened to them has stuck them in their bodies." She answered. Picard gestured for the Chief to stay near the Counselor. He nodded and moved over to her while the Captain went to the Doctor, who was scanning the mutated human. "What is it?"
"Something I never thought I'd see." Crusher sighed and closed her tricorder. "I need a more detailed analysis, but this fungus growing from his head is natural."
"Natural?" Riker echoed.
"Yes. It's a cordyceps fungus."
"Cordyceps?" Picard asked Data, who tilted his head to access his memory banks.
"Cordyceps: a genus of ascomycete fungi that includes approximately 408 species. They are endoparasitoids, parasitic mainly on insects and other arthropods. They are considered entomopathogenic fungi; with a select few being parasitic on other fungi."
"So they prey on other fungus and insects. Any record of the fungus preying on humans?" Picard asked.
"No." Dr. Crusher answered for Data. She stood and looked at the Captain. "Jean-Luc, there is no way this fungus could naturally affect humans. It would need millennia to naturally evolve to even infect a dog or cat.
"Agreed." Data nodded. "The fungus exists on Earth as we know it, preying on small insects. I have no indication of any mental function beyond that of a basic insect being impaired by this virus."
Picard turned away and looked around the forest. All of his experience and training immediately clicked, and he quickly stamped down the anger inside. "They modified a fungus that already existed on Earth to attack its population." He said with grudging awe.
"A fair hypothesis sir." Data nodded.
"Jean-Luc, in order to cure this, I would need-"
"A cure?" Picard snapped and whipped toward her. "I'm not looking for a cure Doctor. I'm looking for a point of origin and stopping this from happening. Most of Earth has been wiped out. That means Zefram Cochrane won't be making his warp flight in thirty years."
"And our future is gone." O'Brien added.
"Precisely Chief. We need to-" A branch cracked, and the team turned quickly. There stood a man with a long rifle. He was wearing a blue jacket and looked aged beyond his years. The rifle was pointed at Counselor Troi, who didn't move. Another branch cracked and a larger, older man came out with what the team knew as a shotgun, aimed at Chief O'Brien. Behind the man jumped a small girl with auburn hair. She was no older than 15, and had a pistol aimed at Picard's chest. She tilted her head and stared at him.
"Who the fuck are you guys?"