S t a r d a t e : C r o s s r o a d s
(An Odyssey Through Space and Time)
Summary: An experimental Romulan weapon fractures history into two separate timelines--each with its own version of the Voyager. Star Trek past, present, and future must work together to preserve the time line--but whose version of history is the right one?
"This is Subcommander Kathryn Janeway of the Romulan Star Empire Warbird Voyager."--Janeway
"Impressive title. I have no idea what it means, but it sounds very impressive ."--Neelix
Disclaimer: Kirk, Janeway, and the gang belong to Paramount, not to mention the ships, the entire universe, etc. Any character you haven't seen on TV or in a novel is mine, as are the alternate realities and the temporal anomaly. This isn't canon, of course. (You've probably read thousands of these; you know the deal.)
Notice: This story is so mild a Bolian wouldn't even get indigestion. However, it does include two female (marginally--a drone and a hologram) involved in a romantic relationship and even producing offspring. (Sorry, no sex, just a Borg maturation chamber). Call it PG-13.
BY ORDER OF THE SURGEON GENERAL
Warning: The following work of fiction utilizes the following literary devices: the RESET BUTTON™, the MYSTERIOUS TEMPORAL ANOMALY™, and TECHNOBABBLE™. Anyone with an adverse physical reaction to these literary devices should not read this story. (Seriously, the use of the RESET BUTTON™ allows the author to write a meaningful and insightful fic, explore the endless possibilities of TREK, and avoid conflicting with Paramount-sponsored canon. Besides, an idiot can see it coming from light- years away--Romulans do not run Starfleet. The MYSTERIOUS TEMPORAL ANOMALY™ is I think, pretty cool, although Janeway is still recovering from her headache--and the doctor is still recovering from Janeway. Any TREK fan worth his/her/its salt has seen a hundred of them. As for the TECHNOBABBLE™, even I don't understand some of the science--but believe me, it makes sense. Unless I made a mistake--which I very might have. I'm only human.) RESET BUTTON™, MYSTERIOUS TEMPORAL ANOMALY™, and TECHNOBABBLE™ are not registered trademarks of Paramount, although they might just as well be.
"The Probe," Sector 001
Stardate 8390 (alternate)
Commanded by its makers to search out similar forms of life, and communicate with it, the probe scoured the galaxy, journeying from system to system. One planet, designated as 04756 in the probe's classification system but known to others as Earth, had such a species: a primitive, cetaceous, water-dwelling species. The probe had communicated with them, and left, to search for other species. Now it had returned, and was ready to begin the discourse anew. It spoke; it received no response. Perhaps the life forms had not heard it. It increased the power of its carrier wave and started again. Still no response. It spoke louder and louder, until it finally decided to give up and go on with its odyssey.
By then, Earth was destroyed.