Time is the Longest Distance
Chapter 2
"As if you could kill time
Without injuring eternity."
Henry David Thoreau
Jim looked at the shocked faces around the transporter room, and most especially at Bones' incredulous expression. "Gentleman, I think it would be best if we continue this conversation in my briefing room. Mr. Giotto, please escort these two there. If they have their identifications and credentials, please examine them carefully. Post two guards outside the briefing room door, and you stay inside with them. Dr. McCoy, Mr. Spock, Mr. Scott and I will be with you shortly."
"Yes, Captain." Giotto herded the two agents together and led them out of the door, the rest of security team immediately surrounding them.
When Security and the two prisoners had left the room, Jim turned to Scotty. "What did your diagnostics find out about the transporters, Scotty? Were they tampered with? How did these two get in here? How did they bypass our transporter safeguards, and more urgently, are they really from the future?
Scotty looked up from the console where he had been busily working with the circuits and his sensors, his dark eyes wide and awed. "Aye, Captain. My sensors' readouts indicate that they transported in by using some sort of highly advanced temporal transporter technology; technology far beyond what we have today, or that I can even understand. Their matter stream was broken down into subatomic particles then stored in a kind of a temporal quantum pattern buffer and there was some sort of doppler shift to bring them here to their destination in our time. The temporal transporter gave off a chroniton flux of 0.003 which totally bypassed our own transporters." He shook his head. "I cannae see yet how 'twas done, or the quantum physics equations that are needed to do it, but I'm going to study the maths of it for sure. 'Tis amazing technology, Sir." (1)
"I, too, would like to know how it was possible for them to come to our time stream from the future by means of a transporter, Mr. Scott," Spock said. "Most impressive."
"Very well, Scotty, it seems they are telling the truth. Let's go find out what this is all about. Bones, from what that Agent said, it has something to do with you."
Leonard looked totally bewildered. "Jim, what do some random future events have to so with me? I'm just an ole country doctor, how could I possibly help with, what was it that agent said, 'stopping a galactic catastrophe.' "
"You're most definitely not just an old country doctor, Bones, and I have no idea, but we're about to find out." Jim put a warm hand on the thin shoulder to usher him gently out the door. "Scotty, Spock, you're with Bones and me. I have a feeling we're going to need all of us to understand what's going on."
No one said a word inside the lift, each of them preoccupied with their own thoughts. The lift deposited them on the bridge and when they entered, Jim saw that Spock had turned over the con to Sulu. The helmsman stood to relinquish the con to Jim, but the Captain waved Sulu back down. "She's still yours for a while more, Mr. Sulu. We'll be in the briefing room interrogating the intruders. Steady as she goes, Sulu."
"Aye, Sir. Everything's really quiet out there, and in here too."
"Let's hope it stays that way, Mr. Sulu. Stay sharp."
"Yes, Captain."
The two guards were at attention in front of the door as they approached the briefing room.
"Everything quiet, gentlemen?"
"Yes, Sir. Mr. Giotto is with the prisoners. I went in to check on them a minute ago, Captain, they're just sitting there quietly. No one is talking."
Jim nodded and they entered the room.
Dulmar and Lucsly stood as the four men entered the room. Giotto nodded to Jim and moved back into a corner, his phaser still at the ready pointing at the men.
"Alright, Gentlemen, we're here and we're ready to hear what this all about. Mr. Giotto, did their credentials and ID badges tell us anything?"
"Their credentials appear to be genuine, Captain. I ran them through the main computer and scanned them, they are not forgeries. They also told me their badge insignia stand for Department of Temporal Investigation and it's also acts as their device for time travel."
"And just what is it that your department of Temporal Investigation does, Agent Dulmar?" Jim asked the red headed agent. He seemed to be the senior of the two agents.
"Captain Kirk, if I may explain. Our Department of Temporal Investigation has not yet been formed in your time, it will be founded in the year 2270, by the Federation Council in response to several incidents of what they perceived to be a cavalier use of time travel. One of those incidents being the use of The Guardian of Forever by yourselves in the year 2266, almost a year ago."
Spock opened his mouth to protest the use of the word cavalier, but Agent Dulmar held up his hand and spoke first. "I used the Federation Council's words, Commander. It does not mean I agree with the sentiment. Indeed all of our DTI agents agree that the courageous actions of you and your Captain saved the timeline on Earth from irreparable damage. It would have been catastrophic if Hitler had won World War II." He bowed his head in a slight tribute to Jim and Spock. "As a matter of fact, and providentially, as a direct consequence of your time travel, DTI agents were placed on the planet where The Guardian of Forever is located in order to guard the Guardian and prevent its further use except for an extreme emergency."
The four men were silent at this, each remembering their own part in what had happened, the utter horror and heartbreak of that mission, especially for Jim and Bones.
Dulmar cleared his throat and continued. "However, yours was not the only time incursion incident, there have been others, I'm afraid. Unfortunately, since the Guardian incident, our agents have had to intervene several times to correct the timeline. I'm sorry, but I cannot be more specific in describing those incidents. Needless to say, I can happily report that thanks to our agents, we have thus far been very fortunate and Federation history has not been changed or disrupted in spite of these incursions. To continue," Agent Dulmar said. "Our department is tasked with ensuring that time travel events which occur under Federation jurisdiction are handled within the guidelines established by the Council to prevent contamination of the timeline." He stopped speaking, waiting for a comment for questions. When none were forthcoming, he continued. "And now that you know something about us and our department's responsibilities, we come to our current mission and the reason which has brought us here to your timeline and to your ship."
"Finally," muttered Leonard.
"Captain, I think we should sit down for the telling of this tale," Scotty announced. "No reason to stand here being uncomfortable, is there, Sir?"
"No reason at all. Take a seat, Gentlemen."
Everyone scrambled around the large briefing table to sit down.
Jim glanced at Giotto, giving him a wordless order. Stay alert.
Giotto gave him a tiny nod and came forward to stand quietly behind the agents.
"Please proceed, with your story, Agent Dulmar."
"I think Agent Lucsly will tell it better than I can, Captain. He has been closely monitoring this time line for several months now. Gariff?"
Agent Lucsly nodded and cleared his throat looking intently at them. "As you can imagine, Captain the information I am going to share with you is highly classified. Knowledge of a future timeline by outsiders is something we try to avoid at all costs. It is imperative that no one in this room speak of it ever. Is that clear? I have your word?"
Jim glanced around at his most trusted officers. "Of course, Agent Lucsly. You have my word, none of us will speak of what you tell us. I trust everyone here completely and absolutely."
"Very well, Sir, I accept your word. Now then. In the year 2365, 98 years from now, the Enterprise D will be captained by an officer named Jean Luc Picard."
Scotty's eyes gleamed suddenly at the knowledge that a hundred years from now, there would still be another beautiful lady, named Enterprise. His eyes met Jim's in perfect understanding.
"In that year, a new and lethal entity will appear in a far distant part of the Alpha quadrant, a totally unexplored area, they will become known as The Borg. They appeared very briefly in a prior timeline, but they did not disturb the present and future timeline at that time. The Borg are a vast collection of "drones", cybernetic organisms linked in a hive mind called "the Collective" or "the Hive". What they do is co-opt the technology and knowledge of other species as they travel through the galaxy. The Borg come to the Collective through the process of "assimilation. They transform individual beings into drones by force, injecting microscopic nanoprobes into their bodies and surgically augmenting them with cybernetic components. The Borg's ultimate goal is to "achieve perfection".
Here Agent Lucsly drew a small instrument from his vest. Giotto sprang forward. "It's only a holographic projector, Commander. There is no need for alarm." He handed it to Jim who palmed it, looked it over, nodded and handed it back. Agent Lucsly tuned it on, and there projected above the table was a picture of a Borg Cube.
"This is their ship," Lucsly said as the men stared at it in fascination.
"We've been calling it a cube due to its shape. It has amazing capabilities, they include long range transporters, high warp and transwarp capabilities." He looked at Scotty. "You don't know those equations yet, Mr. Scott," he commented. "They also have self-regeneration properties, multiple-redundant systems, adaptability to assaults, tractor and cutting beams and a type of missle weaponry. Different types and sizes of Cubes have been observed in the timeline, as well have as a different shape we call a Borg Sphere. These are launched from a Cube in similar fashion to an escape pod."
"Fascinating," Spock murmured.
"'Tis unbelievable," Scotty said, his voice awed.
The holograph switched to show the image of a being. "This, gentlemen, is a Borg, a cybernetic being which was once a humanoid, but was absorbed into the collective to become a drone, and part of the hive mind. They no longer have any autonomy." Lucsly sighed. "The Borg are commanded by the Borg Queen." He brought up a holograph of what was obviously a female being. "The Borg Queen is the focal point within the Borg collective consciousness and a unique drone within the collective. We know she originated from Species 125. Her function, as far as we can ascertain, is to bring "order into chaos". She refers to herself as "we" and "I" interchangeably. From what we have observed of the Queen's dialogue, it suggests she is an expression of the Borg Collective's overall intelligence. She seems to be the one who explicitly directs, commands, and even overrides the Collective."
He returned to the holo of a single Borg and continued. "Borgs usually only have one eye, which is really a very sophisticated ocular implant. It allows them to see beyond the human visual spectrum. The implant projects a red laser beam, which different Borg use for various tasks, including disabling those they want to assimilate. They also usually have one arm replaced with a prosthetic one, which has a variety of multipurpose tools in place of a humanoid hand. Since different drones have slightly different roles, the arm may be specialized for medical purposes, or weaponized for tactical usage. As you can see, their skin is white, with a "slick" look to it, and with their veins showing. We have seen that the Borg drones have the ability to survive in the vacuum of space which means they have no need for environmental or hazmat suits. This is a huge advantage in a battle."
Lucsly, turned to his partner. "Marion?"
Marion Dulmar took up the narrative. "When we first became aware of the Borg, they were more interested in assimilating technology than people. That soon changed. As they became more powerful, they began to roam the universe assimilating starships, planets, and entire societies to collect new technology. Some races they deemed to be technologically inferior and not worth assimilating, however we soon began to see that they started to assimilate the children of a conquered race and place them in maturation chambers, to quickly and fully grow them into mature drones that could be used, thus enlarging their number rapidly. Assimilation is mostly done by the use of nanoprobes implanted into bodies. Some drones are genderless, but some have gender, we don't know why this happens. The Borg have already assimilated millions of lifeforms by using these nanoprobes."
"Children!" Exclaimed the horrified Scotty. "'Tis an abomination!"
"It is, Mr. Scott," Agent Dulmar agreed, somberly.
"So this is what awaits humanity in the future?" Jim asked quietly. "Assimilation into this collective."
"Yes, if Dr. McCoy does not intervene."
"Me?" McCoy asked, startled. "What could I possibly do against these monsters?"
"In examining the Borg timeline when it crossed into the human timeline, we discovered that the then Captain of the Enterprise, encountered them in the year 2365. He was captured and assimilated into the Borg collective."
"What?" Jim interjected. "But..."
Agent Lucsly held out his hand. "Wait, Captain. There's more."
Agent Dulmar continued. "After he was captured and assimilated, the Command crew of the Enterprise D undertook a rescue mission and retrieved the Captain. The CMO of the ship was able to remove the implants and nanoprobes and retrieved Captain Picard's body and mind. With the help of the Android Data, they were able to defeat the Borg Queen, thus defeating the collective and they destroyed the main cube. They now had no direction. It was that which saved the galaxy and the Federation."
"Well, now, that's a relief," Scotty said.
"It would seem so, Mr. Scott. However, in the year 2345, something happened in the timeline which prevented these events from happening in the year 2365, which brings us to why we're here."
"What happened, and again how am I in this?" Bones asked.
Another holographic projection came up. "This is the linear chart of your female descendants, Dr. McCoy, from the present, starting with you, through to the next 98 years."
Dr. Leonard McCoy
Dr. Joanna McCoy-DeSoto
Dr. Leonora McCoy Ritter
Dr. Savanna McCoy Russell
Dr. Eleanora Susanna McCoy Howard
Dr. Beverly McCoy Howard Crusher CMO of the Enterprise D
Everyone's eyes were riveted on the names. "They all kept my name," said the dazed Leonard.
"Yes. You were remembered as a highly revered physician and ancestor, Dr. McCoy. It was done to honor your memory. As you can see all your female descendants are physicians, even Beverly Crusher. It was she, as the CMO on the Enterprise D who saved Captain Picard, and through her actions saved the Federation. However our second look as we monitored that timeline, showed that something drastic had changed. The CMO who was on the Enterprise D was not Dr. Crusher and was not skilled enough to do save Captain Picard and he died. Thus with Captain Picard dead, he, the Command crew, and Mr. Data could not defeat the Borg Queen, and the collective systematically entered Federation space and assimilated every species in the Federation Worlds. Not even all the combined efforts of the entire Federation, even with the combined powerful assistance of the Romulans, the Klingons, the Benzets, Zakdorians, and the Cardassians, were enough to defeat them. The entire quadrant fell to the Borg."
Jim cleared his suddenly clogged throat. "What happened? Why didn't she become a doctor like the rest of her female ancestors."
"As near as we can ascertain, something momentous happened when she was ten years old, that changed her mind, and thus changed the timeline. We have not been able to discern what that was in order to intervene. Prior to that time, she had made up her mind to become a doctor, and even at age ten, from what we can discern from our records, she was quite definite about her career choice, becoming a doctor. Then sometime between November 21 and December 3, something happened to change her mind. It was after that time our records indicate that she decided she would study engineering."
"Engineering!" Exclaimed the outraged voice of Leonard. Jim hid a smile at the outrage.
Dulmar nodded. "Engineering. That's the choice she made, and that's the choice that changed future history. But all is not lost, Gentlemen. That is why we have come to your time so that future history can be fixed, so all that should be, that was, will be again."
"And how is that going to happen?" Spock, who had been silent up to now, asked.
"We want to send Dr. McCoy into the future to interact with the young Beverly Crusher during those pivotal days and somehow change her mind back to her first choice of becoming a Doctor. It is our belief that appearing in her young life as a long lost direct descendent of her revered ancestor, Dr. Leonard McCoy, you will be able to influence the child and she will revise her career choice."
Leonard looked aghast. "How the hell am I supposed to do that?" He locked panicked blue eyes on Jim. "Jim...!"
Jim put a consoling hand on his arm and looked sternly at the two agents. "There's absolutely no way I'm letting Bones travel to the future to do this alone," he told them.
"We don't expect him to, Captain. The fate of the Alpha quadrant is too heavy a burden to place on the shoulders of any one man. You will go with the doctor to assist him, council him, to be his companion in his new "persona". We also will travel with you. You must understand, we can do nothing overt to assist you, that is not our role, and we are constrained by our oath as Agents, but we can offer council and suggestions to help you in your mission."
Agent Lucsly spoke up. "There are some issues that must be addressed prior to the mission. First and foremost a plan, a cover story, must be conceived that will not arise suspicion when you approach and have any interaction with the child, Beverly, and her family. Secondly, your appearance must be somewhat modified. Even 100 years from now, your faces are very well known, very easily recognized. I can tell you this. Your ship's exploration, your battles, your missions, the faces of you and your crew are in every Starfleet and Federation history book, Captain. Let me assure that if you are successful in your mission, nothing will change. You will return here to your time line, with the memories of what you've done, but no time will have passed for the three of you. You will be returned to the moment you left here. The changes in the time line that will occur will take place in Beverly's, and later, in Jean Luc Picard's timeline and will not affect your own. We will monitor your actions very closely, you need not fear doing something untoward to disrupt the time line further. All that remains now is for you, Dr. McCoy, to decide if you will undertake this mission. We can do no more until you have made your decision."
Lucsly sighed tiredly. "Captain, if we may. Time travel is very tiring, both physically and psychologically. We train for this of course, but we've been time traveling more often than is recommended. Is there some place my colleague and I could rest while you and your officers discuss this and make your decision?"
Jim looked at the two men. They did look exhausted and he and his officers, and most especially Bones, needed to talk about all of this. "Yes of course, Agent Lucsly. Commander Giotto, please escort Agents Dulmar and Lucsly to guest quarters. Have a Security team posted at the door and have the mess prepare a meal for them. Do either of you need any sort of medical attention?" He asked the two men.
"No, thank, you Captain. Rest is what we desperately need."
"Very well, we'll reconvene back here at 1700 hours. If we have any further questions for you, we'll address them to you after you rest. "
The briefing room door opened and they watched Giotto, with phaser still in hand, gather up his men as the door closed behind them.
Jim turned to Bones, worry etched on his face. "Are you alright, Bones? This all has to be overwhelming for you."
Leonard nodded. "It's too much to take in, Jim. That one of my descendants has the fate of the Alpha quadrant in her hands. I can't help but think what if it would be Joanna?"
"In a way it is Miss Joanna, Dr. McCoy. It is she who begins the line of the female physicians in your family. In a way, it all rests on her."
Jim threw Spock a fierce glare. Bones was stressed enough already, there was no need to add to his distress by throwing Joanna in his face.
"Yeah, I get that Spock." Leonard glared. "But it's not directly in her tiny hands. I'm thinkin' of the child, Beverly Crusher, not even realizin' she holds the fate of the whole Alpha quadrant in her little hands. Jim, seems like I have no choice but to do what I can to help my great, great, great, granddaughter, don't you think so?"
"Knowing you, Bones, I didn't think you'd do anything else but try to fix things. I'll be with you every step of the way."
"I know you will, Jimmy. Don't really think I'd even attempt it without you." He gave Jim a wan, affectionate smile.
"Now we just have to think up a good cover story for ourselves and how we can change our appearance so we're not recognized." Jim gave his officers a pleased smile. "Imagine that. We're in the history books, gentlemen. Scotty," he turned to the other lover of the Enterprise. "Our beautiful lady and the officers who sailed on her are in the history books."
"'Course she is, Sirr. Our bonny ship could naught be anything but famous, Captain."
"Let's adjourn the briefing for now. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm hungry. I'm ready for coffee and a snack. We can continue this a bit later. It's a lot to take in, and I think, you need a little time to process all this Bones."
"You got that right, Jim. My brain is overloaded with way too much information, and a restorative cup of coffee wouldn't go amiss. I could sure use a break right now."
Spock opened his mouth to comment, but a glare from Jim stopped him.
Leonard didn't notice as he stood and stretched his muscles. Jim put a gentle hand on the tense arm. "Then let's take one."
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(1) made up transporter techno babble here.