7
The magic is strong
Through it friends are found
Friends are lost
Old enemy returns
A new one comes
Are they ready to face the strong?
-The second prophecy of Dawn
Buffy and Willow sat in the conference room staring at Admiral McQueen. Angel and Spike stood by the large window while Picard went over the sensor readings. "The two of you shouldn't be here," McQueen said, "This meeting is for command level officers only." Angel stared at the mirror that entirely failed to hold his image, "I have authorized them," he said before turning to face the others, "This concerns them." McQueen looked at the provisional officer with a sever look of doubt on his face, "Fine. What are the facts?"
Picard punched up the image of a molecule on the table's holographic display, "The Omega Directive is in effect, but we have complications." McQueen looked at the group, "What kind of complications exactly?" Angel sat down, "Its natural not man made." The admiral scoffed, "Omega does not exist naturally, and it's too unstable to be of any real use." Willow stood up to lean closer to the hologram, "I know this," she said, "When I was traveling through dimensions; it's the stuff the acts as a barrier between them, and it's the base of magical energy." Now it was Angel's turn to look surprised, "And when it's generated artificially it cannot achieve stability because it's missing the proper core." Willow nodded, if this stuff is bleeding in our dimension it's going to cause problems though. Too much magical energy can destabilize and collapse large areas, ala closing the Sunnydale hellmouth permanently."
"That bloody hurt," Spike said with a slight shiver. Buffy rolled her eyes, "Considering that it killed you I'm not surprised."
Picard sat up, "Are you saying that the Sunnydale crater which destroyed an entire town was caused by too much magic?" Willow nodded, "I worked some pretty powerful mojo and that amulet Spike had poured pure magical energy that was powered by the sun right into a dimensional rift." With a nod Picard looked back at Angel, "So where is the disturbance?"
Angel displayed two space charts, "We got two readings, but they appear to be connected through some type of spatial fold. "Oh goodie," Spike said with a groan. McQueen pulled up another reading, "This is a transwarp signature. It appears to have a Borg signature." Buffy gasped, "The mechanical woman." McQueen nodded, "And from what we can figure out it's heading towards this reading here." Picard frowned, "We can't let the Borg reach their destination."
Picard stared at the readings with a grim look, "We need more ships. A transwarp reading of that magnitude could indicate multiple vessels."
(Q Continuum)
With a flash Q appeared in a recreation of an old earth hotel. With a huff of disdain he sat on the circular sofa that sat in the middle of the old lobby. "You really are far too sentimental," he said loudly. A woman walked down the stairs wearing a flowing white gown, "You offered me my own place in the continuum, and now you mock me for what I choose to do with it." Q looked up at his female counterpart, "You wound me Q." In an instant she was directly in front of him with a finger pressed against his lips, "Not here. I'm not Q here." Q shrugged before removing her finger, "I'm here to talk you out of this ridiculous plan of yours."
She cast him a sweet smile before walking over to the lobby desk, "I made this because it is where I was most happy. It's where I felt at home. I never thanked you for it. The Powers that Be were never as generous." Q smiled and leaned back on the sofa, "The 'Powers' are amateurs. They may have a few dimensions under their belt, but the Continuum spans all of creation." She nodded, "And it's every bit as wondrous and amazing as you made it out to be." Finally Q stood up, "Then why risk it all on this gamble?" She smiled, "Because they're my friends. Besides you told me one of the fundamental aspects of 'Q'ness' is knowing when to and when not to take action. I know what's at risk. I know the cost, but I'm going through with it. If all goes well I'll be home in time for dinner."
"If it doesn't go well you'll be dead or worse... human."
"The time draws near", she said as she snapped her fingers and three more figures inhabited the room. "My friends, it looks like you're going to get one last Hoorah."
"This is ridiculous!" Buffy yelled at Angel who visibly flinched from behind his desk, "You give me a group of people to train to fight demons and vampires, and then send me away when the first blip appears on the radar." Angel sighed, "Buffy, its Faith's job to train them and yours to supervise. That's why you're a higher rank. I need you on this just in case things go south."
Amidst the shouting Spike entered the office only to see Buffy leave a large dent in the wall with her fist. "Why is it I'm never here to see Admiral Forehead get his pride wounded?" Angel rolled his eyes, "Spike, is your ship ready?" Spike preformed a mock salute, "Aye sir, the Rapture as ready to depart as soon as Picard moves the Enterprise's oversized arse out of the way." Buffy eyed the case that spike was carrying, "What's that?"
Spike smirked as he sat the case on the desk and opened it, "It's something we've kept in storage for ya love." Buffy stepped over and gasped as she grabbed the contents. "It's my scythe", she said as she twirled the ancient weapon listening to the hum it made as it sliced the air. "And you've kept it so shiny."
Angel grabbed a padd and handed it to Spike, "For the duration of this mission I'm assigning Lieutenant Commander Summers as your first officer."
"That's bollocks Angel!"
"And I'm accompanying you."
Spike cast an apologetic look at Buffy before turning around, "Let's go, but don't touch anything."
Picard was returning to the Enterprise to prepare to disembark. He had to admit to himself that a large part of him wanted to put this circus behind him, but if the Borg were in fact coming then they would need every able bodied person they could get.
"Um captain", a female voice broke him from his thoughts. Picard turned around to find Willow shyly trying to get his attention. "Yes Lt. Rosenberg, How can I help you?" Willow straightened up, "I was just wondering if I could go with you." Picard felt shock at the request but hid it well, "I'm not so sure that's a good idea. We're going into a very dangerous situation. One we may not come back from." To his surprise Willow did not shrink back at all, "That's OK, I can't tell you how many times I wasn't sure I would live to see another day back in Sunnydale." In that moment Picard did not see a boast or a young woman trying to make her sound more qualified than she really was. He saw someone who was simply stating a fact and offering to put her life on the line to accomplish a greater good; something he would expect from his crew, but not from a temporally displaced girl.
"Fine, maybe you can lend a hand. I'll have Mister Data bring you up to speed on the ships systems."
Willow smiled and stood at attention, "Aye sir."
Buffy sat in her chair on the bridge watching the activity. Spike had made it abundantly clear that while Angel's orders stood and his last first officer was on his way to a command of his own Buffy was not qualified for the role. It was a sentiment she did not disagree with. Buffy had no problems being a leader and she wasn't stupid, but she was over three centuries out of touch with the rest of the galaxy. Still she used the computer display as best she could figure to study up on what they were looking for.
Once the ship had gone to warp she leaned over to Spike who sat in his chair in full captain mode, "So what do we do when we get there?" She saw his lip curl ever so slightly, "Well Slayer we hope it's not a big bad, and if it is we blow it out of the stars before it can do any real damage." The blonde nodded just as alarm bells started going off.
(Q Contimuum)
Q jumped as his female counterpart suddenly looked blankly into space. Slowly she began to smile and turned back to the other inhabitants of the room. "The time has come. Remember, Tell the Slayer nothing of what I've told you. She'll find out at the right time." The room was bathed in a swirling green light and Q found himself to be alone in this made up hotel."
"What the bloody hell is going on?" Spike shouted as the red alert klaxon blared in his ear. "Unknown energy signature on an intercept course", replied the Ops officer who pulled it up on the main viewer. "No way," Buffy said quietly from her chair. A few moments later the green ball of energy punched through the hull and onto the bridge. It held stationary for a moment before diving right at the slayer. As the swirling green energy connected with Buffy the entire bridge was bathed in a blinding green light causing the entire bridge crew to lose consciousness.
Willow sat quietly on the bridge of the Enterprise while Data explained the sensor array to her. As much as this new world fascinated her she found her head swimming from the complex description that the android gave for everything he showed her. "Hold please", she said as she stood up to stretch her legs. Noticing the fact that Data was staring at her she felt a bit of nervousness arise, "I'm a little tired", she said meekly. "I see," Data said, "In my experience Humans and other humanoid species often times require brief cessations of learning activities in order to assimilate the information they…"
"That's enough Mister Data," Picard said from behind them, "I don't expect the Lieutenant to gain three hundred years of knowledge in a few hours." Picard smiled inwardly as Willow mouthed a silent thanks for his intervention. As intelligent as she was, and he made a mental note that she was quite intelligent; she was unable to keep up with Data.
"Captain, sensors detect an incoming vessel," Worf stated from his station. "Can you identify it Mister Worf?" Picard asked. Worf looked at his reading, "U.S.S. Voyager NCC-74656." Picard nodded, "They must be delivering our expert." Willow noted from the viewer that this new ship looked a lot like Spike's, "Intrepid class?" she asked Data. "Affirmative, the Federation Starship Voyager has recently returned from the Delta Quadrant where it was marooned seventy thousand light years from earth. What should have been a seventy-five year journey only took them seven." Riker looked at them, "I don't think now isn't the time for a history lesson Data. Take your station."
Data nodded and left Willow at the aft console to assume his familiar post. "Voyager is hailing," Worf stated. "On screen," Picard replied. Moments later Willow noticed the viewer change to the bridge of the other ship, and sitting in the captain chair was a man with Native American heritage sporting a tattoo on his forehead. "Captain Picard," The man said with a friendly yet suspicious smile, "It's always a pleasure." Picard straightened his uniform, "Yes it is Captain Chakotay. I assume you have a passenger to transfer."
Chakotay's expression darkened, "I do, but I'm always hesitant to send my people on Borg related missions." Picard nodded in understanding, "Believe me Captain I understand your position, and few people are as familiar with the Borg as I am. Seven of Nine is one such person." Chakotay stared back at him, "I don't suppose you can tell me what is going on?" Picard shook his head, "I'm afraid not, but maybe there is a way you could be of some assistance."
"Bollocks", Spike muttered as he forced himself up off the deck, "What the bloody hell was that?" He heard a groan from Buffy as she began to stir, "Well that was new." A moment later the murmurs of the rest of the bridge crew began rising until one said, "Intruder alert," and drew his phaser pointing it at four people who were not there previously. "I can assure you that we mean no harm," Buffy heard a familiar British voice say. "Giles!" she shouted. She looked at the newcomers as they began getting up off the deck. She couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Giles, a two eyed Xander, Cordelia, and Dawn.
"I have three questions," Spike said taking in the sight of the unannounced visitors, "How are you all alive, How did you get out here, and what the bloody hell are you doing on my ship?"
"We're on a ship?" Xander asked, "It looks like something out of sci-fi."
"Identify yourselves!" the ensign holding the phaser ordered.
"Please," Giles spoke up after raising his hand, "We're not a threat. There's no need for weapons." The ensign pointed his weapon straight at Giles, "Four people drop out of nowhere, and I'm just expected to believe you?" Finally Spike shook loose from his shock, "Stand down ensign." Xander chuckled, "So we're on a weird sciency ship and Spike's in charge. Here I though the nuclear bombs would be the end of everything." Spike shook his head, "Afraid not mate. Earth lives on, but you died when one landed on San Diego." Xander's eyes shot to Spike, "Well that explains why I remember that bright flash, but I feel forty years younger." Cordelia stood up, "You are. I didn't need a seventy year old, one eyed Xander."
Spike looked around and saw his bridge crew staring at the arrivals, "As much as I'm sure we're putting on a great show, I think we should move this to the conference room." He looked over at his communications officer, "Please summon the admiral pet."
They filed into the conference room and Xander stood slack jawed when he saw space out of the large window, "We're in space!" he exclaimed, "Spike's the captain of a space ship!" Spike shook his head, "Welcome to the late twenty-fourth century mate."
Buffy followed them into the conference room still too shocked to speak. Her own thoughts drowning out Xander's chatter and Giles' trying to understand. "Buffy," Dawn said shyly as she approached her sister and wrapped her arms around her. "Buffy, it's really us." Buffy snapped back to reality in her sister's embrace, "Dawn," she said quietly as she returned the hug.
With a swish the doors opened and Angel stormed into the room, "Spike, what the hell is going… on?" He stared at the other occupants in the room before his eyes landed on one particular female, "Cordelia." She looked at the man she loved before running to him and pressing her lips to his. Once they separated Angel swallowed hard as he stared at the second woman he loved, "I thought you went to join the Powers." Cordelia smiled, "I did until a better offer came along."
"Am I the only on wigging here?" Buffy interjected, "I mean as great as it is to see all of you; aren't you all dead, and since when did Cordy kiss Angel?" They all nodded, but it was Cordelia who spoke, "I brought them to help, and trust me you're going to need them. As for the kissing; I've been waiting to do that since 2004. " She then snapped her fingers and an envelope appeared on the conference table, "That's not right," Cordelia stated as she opened the envelope and read the contents."
The council has decreed that this is to be your final initiation. Seeing as you brought these mortals to this plane you will remain as their overseer. You will perform this task as you have made them; a flesh and blood mortal.
"Well that just sucks," she said as she crumpled the piece of paper, "Q is going to love his I told you so rant."
"You're with the Q?" Angel asked.
"Um, what are 'Q' besides a letter of the alphabet?" Buffy asked.
"They're a bunch of sodding gods, or at least they like to think so," Spike said sarcastically. Buffy raised an eyebrow, "They're a race of omnipotent beings," Angel corrected as he looked at Cordelia, "And dealing with them tends to be more trouble than it's worth."
"Hey watch it soul boy! I may be with the Q, but I'm still me," Cordelia snapped back
"Sir, we are detecting an energy signature consistent with a Borg transwarp aperture," Data said from his station, "It would appear that we will be facing them sooner than he anticipated." Picard straightened his uniform as he stood up from his chair to verify the readings, "Picard to Chakotay, I hope you're ready. We have less time than we thought."
A few moments later a massive cube appeared directly in from of the Enterprise and enveloped in in a tractor beam. Immediately the Enterprise began firing only to have the massive cube's shields absorb any damage.
Chakotay sat in his chair watching the fruitless attempt by the Enterprise to damage the Borg. "Sir, the Enterprise has signaled. It's in position," Lt. Kim said from his tactical station. Chakotay nodded, "Engage the deflector." In an instant the dish on the front of Voyager's star drive section lit up and a bright blue beam shot through space right in between the nacelles on the massive sovereign class vessel.
"Captain the pulse is ready," Data stated from his console. Picard nodded, "Bridge to Lt. Rosenberg, we're ready." Willow took a deep breath as the order came through. She had been in deflector control since this scheme was cooked up, "Goddess help me," she muttered to herself as she placed her hands out in front of her. Using every bit of focus she could muster and the energy from Voyager's beam she charged the Enterprise deflector with as much magical energy as she could. Suddenly the entire ship gave off a blue glow as a massive beam shot out of the Enterprise and hit the center of the cube. There was a brief smile on Willow's face before everything went dark. "Oh shit," she said sitting in the now dark room.
Picard sat anxiously in his chair as the emergency lights flickered to life. "Report," he ordered. Data worked at his console, "Main power will be restored shortly. Short range sensors detect no trace of the Borg vessel." Picard leaned forward, "Picard to Lt. Rosenberg. I thought the plan was to disable them not us." "Yes sir, they're not going anywhere for a while," came Willow's reply. "Then where the devil are they?"
"They're stuck in between dimensions. They'll escape, but it'll take them at least a week."
"Acknowledged," he said, "Report to the bridge."
A/N: Sorry for the long delay. Job issues and months without internet access, but all seems largely resolved now.
