Chapter 4 – Revelations
"OK, now tell me what I said again."
Marina Jor's black hair was a little disheveled for she had been awoken in the middle of the night, or at least too early in the morning. It was now just after breakfast and the three were in Seven and Chakotay's quarters. Marina still held her mug of tea, although there was only a sip or two more left, while Seven and Chakotay's mugs were already empty and on the small table in front and between them.
"A sub-space higher-dimensional manifold," Chakotay replied. "Phstk said this manifold was a Hilbert space outside but just touching our three spatial dimensions." He turned to Seven and shook his head. "I'm still not exactly clear what that means."
Seven frowned, as if trying to comprehend it herself. "This is all notional of course," she finally said. "The existence of multiple universes contained within a greater multiverse is not a subject covered in the Federation scientific literature."
"A bit of an oversight, I guess," Chakotay laughed.
Seven nodded. "It appears these universes, ours included, are contained within a higher-dimensional space." Seven noticed that both Chakotay and Marina weren't quite grasping the implications of this statement. That, or it was simply too early in the morning. "Let me see if I can think of an analogy to illustrate what that means." She closed her eyes for a short time, and then nodded again.
"Okay, so imagine our universe had only two spatial dimensions instead of three. This two-dimensional universe can be contained within a higher dimensional space, namely, a three-dimensional space. It could be flat and infinite, or it could be curved, say on the surface of a sphere, and finite. Regardless of its shape, the two-dimensional universe is embedded within the higher three dimensional space.
"Inside our universe, the only directions we know about are forward and backwards and left and right. Confined to our two-dimensional universe, we have no concept of up and down, of a third spatial dimension. We wouldn't know where to point, because that dimension does not exist in our universe."
Seven looked back and forth from Chakotay to Marina, and both seemed to be with her so far.
"Now imagine there are beings like the Stewards who resided in the higher three-dimensional space. They could locate themselves completely outside our universe in this third spatial dimension. They could observe what was going on within our universe without actually being inside it. If desired, one of these Stewards could enter our universe by penetrating the surface of the sphere on which our two-dimensional universe resides. We would see something appear as if from nowhere, and disappear again as the Steward pulled back out. To us, the Steward would appear as a cross section of whatever part of it was within our universe, while the rest of the Steward's body remained outside our universe in that third dimension completely unknown to us."
Again she looked at the two of them, and they nodded understanding. Marina took a sip of her tea and then made a face and placed the mug on the table.
"Mathematically," Seven continued, "I believe the multiverse we're speaking of is a higher dimensioned example of what I just described. Instead of a two-dimensional universe embedded in a three-dimensional space, we have a three-dimensional universe such as ours embedded in the same way within an eleven dimensional Hilbert space."
"Why eleven dimensions?" Chakotay asked.
"Eleven dimensions is just the minimum number required to embed a three-dimensional space," Seven corrected.
"And so these Stewards exist in this higher dimensional space." Marina said. "A space with eleven spatial dimensions."
"As I said, there is nothing limiting the manifold to only eleven dimensions."
"Or the multiverse itself could be wrapped up and embedded into an even higher spatial dimensioned… megaverse," Marina suggested.
"That is mathematically possible, but purely conjecture," Seven replied. "There is no evidence to support that hypothesis. There is no solid evidence to support a higher dimensional space for the multiverse except Chakotay and my experiences."
"Where are these other dimensions?" Chakotay asked.
"Just as in our analogy," Seven replied. "They are here, all around us. We just don't know where to point. Our minds don't think in these higher dimensions and the physics of our universe doesn't access these higher dimensions. We're restricted to just three spatial dimensions. The Stewards appear not to have that restriction. In our analogy, it is as if they can walk about inside a three-dimensional room and can view a variety of two-dimensional universes, all of which are restricted to the surfaces of spherical balloons floating within that room."
Marina laughed. "Now there's an image for you," she remarked. "Almost like gods."
"But not just observe," Chakotay added thoughtfully. "They can somehow influence the events in the various universes. Phstk certainly had control over our consciousness and where he sent us. From one universe to the next, essentially instantaneously."
Seven frowned. "The analogy is breaking down," she said. "It's far more complicated, apparently. Marina's counterpart mentioned something about a parallel transmuted stream. The parallel universes that exist only momentarily in which Phstk hid us. The dimension of time. Apparently virtual timelines within universes are spawned and then reabsorbed. The full complexity of the multiverse could very well be staggering and beyond our comprehension. And somehow, the Stewards have control over it all."
"But not complete control," Marina reminded them. Chakotay and Seven turned to face Marina and her dark eyes sparkled. "That's why you brought me here and told me all this. Somehow my counterpart in that other universe was able to block this Phstk when he tried to take control of her speech."
"Exactly," Chakotay confirmed and nodded vigorously. "I want to know how your counterpart did that, so we can perhaps replicate it and not be at the mercy of these Stewards."
Marina shook her head. "When I was a kid on Betazed, you had to constantly be on your guard and keep others out of your mind. It was something you learned at an early age. We didn't think about how. We just did it. I haven't had much need to do it in a long time. I'm not sure I'd know how to put it into words, let alone provide a physiological explanation."
"Perhaps we could have the Doctor monitor you and discover what changes are induced in your brain," Seven suggested. "It could be even related to these higher spatial dimensions."
"I suppose," Marina said. She didn't sound convinced. "We'd have to have another telepath try and read my mind or something similar to get that to work."
"What about Tuvok?" Chakotay interjected.
"Perhaps. Vulcans are a little different than most telepaths. Often times they require physical contact for their telepathy to work."
"I'm worried about getting more people involved," Seven broke in. "We've already told the Captain and she's ordered Voyager's course altered to Phstk's planet. We'll be there within the hour." She glanced out their quarters windows, and indeed they were still at warp. There was something troubling her. "The Doctor, Tuvok. I fear the more who know, the more likely our plans will be discovered by these Stewards."
"That might be impossible to avoid," Chakotay suggested. "Imagine that room of yours and a Steward examining the surface of a sphere very carefully. They might be monitoring us right now without our knowledge. Unless we figure out how to detect them, how can we know?"
Seven consulted the tricorder that was sitting on a small table between them. "I'm not registering any decrease in the subspace potential," she said. "Although, perhaps that's a signature of when Phstk transferred us to other universes and not of the Stewards themselves."
"What are you suggesting we do?" Chakotay inquired.
Seven regarded the tricorder more carefully and made a few adjustments to the settings. She then held it out in front of her. "Perhaps we should first investigate the lowering of the subspace potential my counterparts measured in the two universes you visited. It agrees with the scans I was able to make from the Borg cube in one of my own… visits to another universe."
Seven hadn't shared the details of her visits to the other universes during the time Phstk was hiding them about the multiverse. All Chakotay knew was that in at least one, she was still a Borg drone and the Borg had taken control of the entire galaxy. It had not been a pleasant experience for her. Suddenly they were interrupted by the computer.
"Commander Chakotay and Seven of Nine, please report to Holodeck Two."
Chakotay and Seven exchanged a glance. "Computer, who is making this request?" Chakotay queried. The computer simply repeated the message.
"Commander Chakotay and Seven of Nine, please report to Holodeck Two."
"Computer, who is currently on Holodeck Two?" Seven asked.
"There is no one on Holodeck Two."
"Is there a program running?"
"Affirmative."
"What is the program?"
"Holodeck file Seven of Nine alpha three, personal quarters."
Seven raised her ocular implant. "I thought I had deleted that." She turned to Chakotay and Marina and added, "A few years ago, I was conducting simulations to explore different aspects of my humanity. Social activities, friendships with the crew."
"Oh…" Chakotay said with a smile and nodded in understanding.
"Yes, I've told you about it before," Seven confirmed with an annoyed look. "Why would the program be running now?"
Chakotay stood. "Let's go take a look."
The corridors were empty as they made their way from Chakotay and Seven's quarters to Holodeck Two. As the three of them entered the holodeck, it was indeed as if they were entering someone else's quarters. The lights were dimmed and a table was set for a dinner for two. The setting was intimate with flowers in a vase and candles.
"Quarters I fashioned for myself," Seven commented. She looked around and added, "I believe I was preparing to host a dinner date." She quickly looked down and was thankful the computer hadn't replaced her outfit with the red dress she had programmed for this particular social event. The program was obviously already running, and so her Chakotay simulation wouldn't be joining them either.
Chakotay immediately noticed a dream-catcher above the bed and turned to Seven and smiled. "A gift from me, I hope," he said with a wink.
Seven smiled back and nodded.
"There's someone else here," Marina suddenly said. She stepped about the room and closed her eyes. "I can't localize it, but I can definitely sense another presence."
Seven activated her tricorder and scanned the room. "There is a slight lowering of the subspace potential."
As she spoke, a holographic image materialized in the far corner. Marina stepped back out of reflex, but Seven and Chakotay immediately recognized the figure. A holographic projection of Phstk hovered as he did when they saw him before. Slowly he drifted down and settled onto a small table.
"I am hiding in Voyager's holomatrix," the computer voice said. As the computer spoke, the hologram of Phstk 'spoke' as well in his language of hisses, clicks and whistles. "The Stewards suspect something, but are still making plans. They would not think of me placing myself fully in this universe, at least not right away. If we hurry, we will complete our task before they know and can act."
"What exactly could the Stewards do to us?" Chakotay asked.
"Anything they wanted," Phstk replied. The bluntness of the computer voice made the statement all the more chilling. "But they will hesitate. I have already run the probabilities. My absence and your knowledge of the Stewards deviate this universe and timeline minutely. After the fact, they will likely do nothing and let this universe unfold and merge as projected, for its destiny is already sealed."
"Merge?" Seven asked surprised. "Explain."
"I cannot give you an explanation of things you cannot understand."
"Humor us," Chakotay said, and moved over to a chair near the table where Phstk had settled. Seven and Marina did the same.
Phstk's body pulsed green, although this was not translated by the computer. Some of his tentacles twitched. "This universe and others are tied together at a fundamental level," Phstk began. "There are events that have taken place, are taking place, and will take place in this universe that will dictate events that have taken place, are taking place, and will take place in the others. Your species and others believe that time travel is possible, but of course it is not, it is simply the linking together of universes within the multiverse through one of the orthogonal dimensions of time."
"There have been several instances I'm aware of involving time travel," Seven objected.
"Nothing more than complex interactions between, within, and throughout the universes in the multiverse," Phstk countered. "Your Relativity experiences are a prime example of this. In a minor way, the Federation timeships of the past, present and future have access to some of the higher dimensional space of the manifold, just as Q does, and so have a small measure of control."
"What of the merging of universes?"
"There are certain instances that must have a probability of unity, for some things that will take place in this universe influence things that have already taken place in another due to the apparent travel through a dimension of time. This universe is destined to merge with another of these to become one. The probability of this event as calculated by the Stewards is unity. There is nothing that can stop it."
"What happens when the universes merge?" Marina asked. She didn't much like the sound of that.
"The universes merge," Phstk stated without irony.
"I mean, what happens to everything within the universes?" Marina clarified.
"They merge. They become one and the same thing. They combine. It happens all the time. As you are aware, parallel transmuted streams diverge and merge seamlessly. Locally or for a universe as a whole."
"Universes as a whole," Chakotay repeated. "What of the different timelines. Which becomes the true history of the merged universes?"
"Both," Phstk replied. "At the End of Times, all universes within the multiverse will merge and there will be a single universe and consciousness. All histories will be true. It is the End State the Stewards are helping to usher in. Everything the Stewards have done, are doing, and will do seek to accomplish this goal."
Something Marina had thought earlier came back to her. "If the Stewards are in this higher dimensional manifold that oversee many universes in a multiverse," she started. "Is there an even higher dimensional manifold above that where our multiverse might be just one of many multiverses?"
The holographic image of Phstk flashed bright red and then quickly changed to a very deep shade of brown. Obviously the question struck a chord. "It is unknown," he finally answered, and although still the voice of the computer, you could imagine he was whispering. "It is unknowable. In the Early Days, the Steward Hierarchy searched for these dimensions, but found nothing. The Hierarchy now believes they do not exist."
"I don't know," Marina said. "There's a lot I would have thought didn't exist before this morning. I'm a bit overwhelmed."
Phstk's coloring brightened slightly. The eyes at the end of two of his stalks regarded the three humans in turn. "I don't have proof. But I do believe in the higher dimensions." It was as if he was confessing.
"Phstk, can we prevent the Stewards from influencing and controlling us?" Seven asked.
"I don't think so," Phstk answered. "But you won't have to. When I am gone from the manifold completely and they see the probabilities unaffected, they will forget about you. And hopefully, they will forget about me."
"What are we to do when we arrive at your planet?" Chakotay asked. "I expect we're quite close now. Our Captain knows about you and is willing to help."
"Captain Kathryn Janeway," Phstk mused. "She is at the center of the nexus event that links these universes and merges them. Not for many years in this universe, but it has already happened in the others."
Before they could ask him further about this enigmatic statement, Captain Janeway came on over the comm.
"Janeway to Chakotay."
"Go ahead Captain."
"We're in sensor range of the planet. Harry has conducted scans throughout the atmosphere. We've detected no life."
The four in the holodeck exchanged concerned looks.
"Perhaps our scans can't detect Phstk's species," Chakotay suggested, forgetting about trying to keep knowledge of Phstk a secret from the rest of the crew.
"Sir," Harry Kim came on. "The Captain instructed me to search for carbon-based hydrogen-methane breathers. There's no mistake. I'll keep monitoring as we enter orbit, but there are no life forms, sentient or otherwise, that match that description in the atmosphere of this planet."
Seven, Marina, and Chakotay turned again to face the hologram of Phstk. The alien's tentacles hung limp and in the dim light his skin color was nearly black.
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Author's Note: Thank you scifiromance, Alaster Boneman, and The Cheshire Cheese for your reviews.