Rick's variable bluish-greenish-grayish eyes scanned around Engineering. It was the modified pulse cannon. That was what he had to be careful about. And Tamsin Porter was standing right by it, all the way in the back of the crowd. He strolled over, playing it cool, as Wesley and Geordi continued to lecture about the Cookie. He murmured to her, "Excuse me." He looked her up and down, despite the fact that he'd promised Carmen he would behave. "You look bored. Want to get a drink after?"

"What?" She shuffled a little away from him and mumbled the word "creep" under her breath.

Rick had Augment-style enhancements designed to make his job as a time traveler go better and more smoothly. So he definitely heard her. He moved over, positioning himself between Yi'Imspi and the modified pulse cannon. He tried the same line on her – what the hell. He had already propositioned Dana during more than one of the temporal iterations. And sometimes she had even been interested. If sex could keep Yi'Imspi's hands off the modified pulse cannon – and on something else – then that could work. It was a tactic he had not tried yet but he figured it wasn't a bad idea all in all.

The Calafan turned to him. "I am busy."

"C'mon, this isn't exactly fascinating."

"I've got things to do," she whispered.

"So do I. And I've got people to do, too."

"I believe the human expression is, 'Go to hell'."

He shrugged. Getting her angry at him was another plausible tactic. He was getting desperate with all of the iterations and was more than willing to throw anything against the wall, hoping it would finally stick this time.

=/\=

"Now, when we engage the engines," Wes said, "we get a humming sound and then everything springs to life." He flipped a switch and, as expected, a humming sound filled the air. "And it'll get hot in here really soon. With retracted nacelles, there's no place to vent the heat into space, like a more traditional ship does. But don't worry about the heat. The Cookie pipes it all back in. So we heat up cabins that way, and also run everything from replicators to the holodeck. This means the engine is exceptionally efficient in that we don't need other power sources to handle those other power needs. It also makes the ship lighter. As a result, we don't need to refuel as often as other ships our size."

He flipped a switch and the humming noise stopped. Immediately, the area started to cool down – and a good thing, as Mack could feel she was starting to sweat and saw Marty was, too. "Since we're not going anywhere, it doesn't make sense to keep the engines on."

"Excuse me," Yi'Imspi said from the back. "But there are a lot of things back here. What do they all do?"

Daniya glanced at Mack who glanced at Marty. It was obvious – whatever she was referring to was the very thing Rick said she shouldn't touch.

"I reserve the right to keep some of my stuff private," Mack called out.

"Suit yourself," Yi'Imspi sniffed, and Mack got the distinct impression the Calafan was annoyed that they were cramping her style.

But it was true in a way – except it wasn't Yi'Imspi's style that was cramped. It was Mack's. And, she figured, Rick's as well.

"Coach," Tag said, "I don't want to hear about anything you don't want to tell me. But I gotta say, I don't think we've really been told anything yet."

"You're right," she said, "you haven't."

Rick batted a little at his left earlobe so Carmen could listen in. "I take it we're close?" she whispered.

"Uh-huh," he murmured.

"Did you say something?" asked Tamsin.

"No, no, nothing. So, Coach MacKenzie, what do you want to say?"

Mack's eyes widened. What the hell could she talk about without giving away the store? "This ship was built by a Gorn inventor. And he made a ton of things that are unique. Some of them work, and some of them don't, or they probably don't work properly. And Yi'Imspi?"

"Yes?"

"You're standing near one of them."

=/\=

It all happened so fast that Mack barely registered anything. Yi'Imspi turned to grab a device with a name Mack didn't know but she was sure Rick did. Mack and Rick both moved to intercept, with Marty and Tag coming around from either side.

But it was Tamsin who was closest, and it was she who stayed Yi'Imspi's hand. "Just what do you think you're doing?" she snarled.

Yi'Imspi hauled off and smacked Tamsin across the face, hard, using the back of her wrist. The smaller women yelped and crumpled and Majira rushed over to tend to her. Marty and Rick got to Yi'Imspi next, and then Tag. Tag and Marty held her arms as Rick said, "Whoever you're working for, you need to call them and tell them that it's all over."

"What are you talking about?"

"People don't just come to a ship like this and mess with the equipment unless they mean to steal it. And they sure as hell don't go smacking Starfleet officers in the jaw," Mack snarled.

"She deserved it. And so do all of you. You're weak, all of you!"

"But this isn't the universe where a sign of weakness is a problem," Mack said. "Yeah, you're wondering how I know that. I read the book. I know about the Mirror's Five Signs of Weakness."

Geordi and Wes came over and stood behind her. "Are you working for the Terrans?" asked Mike Daniels, a few steps behind them.

"What's it to you?"

Something clicked in Mack's head. The attack on Tamsin – although she herself had occasionally fantasized about shutting her up – was something oddly familiar. And then it all came back to her – it was just like what a guard at Canamar had done to her, years before. The bent wrist smack was a highly stylized move, meant to keep fingers away from, potentially, sharp teeth. "That's a prison guard move," she said. "So you either are or were one – maybe at Gemara? Or at the very least, you trained with them."

"I know of a group that trains with the same techniques as prison guards," Picard said. "And it's a certain group whose existence is officially a secret yet it is a part of the Federation charter all the same."

This time it was M'Belle who came over. "So you and I have the same training. Are you working directly for Admiral Caul?"

Crita gawked and finally managed to squeak out, "M'Belle! What, what is going on?"

"I was sent here to protect this ship and its treaty-testing inventions," M'Belle said. "Looks like Admiral Janeway's fears were not for nothing."

Rick blinked a few times. M'Belle hadn't been a rival Section 31 agent in any of the other iterations. He could hear tapping as Carmen frantically checked. "I've got nothing," she finally admitted. "But that's perhaps to be expected. It would explain the original hist'ry's near-immediate transfer of power after this incident."

Rick finally blurted out, "Heads are gonna roll over this."

"Is that a prediction, or a time traveler's inside scoop?" asked Yi'Imspi. "Yes, yes, I know all about him. Audrey Niffenegger – did you honestly think no one would look up the meaning of your ship's name?"

"Understood."

Marty glanced over at Picard and Geordi. "You're using other technology, too, aren't you?"

"I have no idea what you mean," Yi'Imspi seemed to be playing dumb. "I just get the tech for whoever wants it. I don't care about using it."

Tamsin was better and she scrambled to her feet. For once, the overly peppy annoyance was laser-focused and all business. "I don't think so. Whatever you're doing, it's not for just one thing. It couldn't be. You've got too much at stake."

Yi'Imspi glanced from face to face. The Calafan was clearly trying to play it cool. The only thing betraying any nerves was a slight flash of a silvery arm – she was sweating just a touch, and it made the silver sparkle even more.

It was Picard who took control of the situation. "Have you a brig?" he asked Mack.

"No, I mean, not unless you count a hockey penalty box."

"Then we'll use the one on the Enterprise-E."

"What charge?" Yi'Imspi snarled.

"Espionage."

=/\=

The unwieldy huge group shuffled out of the Cookie, with Tag and now Cilla holding Yi'Imspi's arms. It seemed as if everyone was going to visit the brig. The captain turned to the assembly. "This can't be public," he announced. "I realize it's all rather fascinating and perhaps a bit juicy. But I have to severely limit the number of persons who can be further involved. Mr. Crusher, if you could please take the other athletes, perhaps to Ten Forward?"

"Yes, sir," Wesley said, corralling Xo and the others. M'Belle hung back and he nodded at her. It was obvious she would be in the group to stay and hear what was really going on.

At the brig, Yi'Imspi was tossed in. Crita said, "I know I don't have enough clearance for this. You need to curtail the people who see anymore, yes? So, I assume I should leave, and also Tag and Cilla. Anyone else?"

"It should be us as well," Majira said, nodding at Daniya, who nodded back.

There was an Ensign at the brig and she called for someone to cover for her and then she took them out, perhaps also to Ten Forward.

Picard looked at those who remained – M'Belle, Mike and Rick Daniels, Tamsin Porter, his first officer, Dana MacKenzie, and Geordi LaForge. "I think this will suffice. Ensign," he called out to the replacement guard, "this meeting is highest level confidentiality."

"I understand, sir," he replied.

The nine of them stood in front of the brig. "What does the Mirror government want with radiation band cycling?" Picard asked, point-blank.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I think you do," Picard replied.

"Captain, if I may," Rick interjected. "I don't have all the facts but there isn't much of a Mirror government right now. At least, there's no more Terran Empire."

Yi'Imspi blinked a few times. Mike seized the moment. "You want them to come back. But, but why? My understanding from the book is it was a dictatorship."

"What book?" asked Tamsin.

"Our ancestor wrote a book. I'll send it to you," Marty said.

"Oh, well, thanks." For once, she didn't bat her eyelashes and over the top flirt at his slightest attention. She just sounded distracted, focused far more on the prisoner than on any socializing.

"Power and chaos," Mack muttered. "You're working for them because you expect to get some power – or at least a hefty paycheck."

"That's an old story then," M'Belle said. "People have been greedy and power hungry since time immemorial."

"What I don't get," Tamsin said, "is that you're from this side. It's obvious. So, what does that other side have that draws you to it?"

"Not me," Yi'Imspi said. "But you – all of you, but the captain and that guard over there and the Caitian – you all have Mirror blood. And once the portal is open – truly and completely open – then every single one of you will cross over. You belong in the Mirror. It will call to you."

"Our percentages are tiny. Martin's is 20.9914518. Mine is 20.9999946," Geordi said, reading off his PADD. "Mike's is 20.9999632. Dana's is 20.9942753. Tamsin's is 20.9999388. Commander Madden is the only one who comes close at all, and he's several generations removed. We belong here, not there. Nothing's going to call to us louder than our own universe, the 21 centimeter band one."

"Him; he's got a shorter band," Yi'Imspi pointed at Rick.

"20.4275300," he said, reciting from his Augment-enhanced near-perfect memory. "But that doesn't prove squat. And before you start spinning theories and nonsense, my extra Mirror blood doesn't come from Terrans – it comes from copper Calafan ancestry." Extra – but his base was from Douglas Jay Hayes Beckett all the same. Rick figured no one needed to know that.

"So, you truly are a time traveler," she said. "I'm sure your tech would fetch a fine price."

"You're hardly in a position to talk prices," Mack said. "And Geordi's right. The Mirror would have to be exceptionally strong to attract people with such small percentages. Mike in particular – he's not going to go waltzing over to the other side based on one ancestor from, what, eight generations ago?"

"Something like that," Mike said. "It's not going to work. But hey, even if it did, you're in jail, in case you hadn't noticed."

"They'll free me once they know what I've got."

"Don't be so sure," Mack said. "I was in stir for almost two decades – and I was innocent! No one here is going to hand you the keys."

"Wrap this up," Carmen whispered in Rick's ear. "The timeline's restored and you know she can't do anything. Chances are over 93% that she lives and dies in prison – and takes Caul with her. You can let it go."

"Look," Rick said, "I don't think you're going to be doing much beyond rotting in a prison cell, Yi'Imspi. Just be glad you live in a time after your people outlawed potassium injections."

"What do they do?" asked M'Belle.

"They make you stop dreaming," said the prisoner. "It's a form of torture, specific to Calafans because we depend on our dream states. At least the last time it happened was with a vixen named Polloria."

"She's mentioned in the book," Mike blurted out.

"You're more intimately connected than you think," said the Calafan.

"What I want to know," said Picard, "is what M'Belle here was getting at. Who are you working for on this side?"

"Why should I tell you anything?"

"Maybe you'd have a chance to get out – eventually," Mack pointed out. "Or maybe at least you could get some protection while in the can. Because lemme tell ya, being female in Canamar means you're on the menu every single night. And if they send you to Gemara or Rura Penthe, you gotta figure that's even worse." She approached the cell. "You wouldn't want the scars I've got. Hell, I don't even wish them on the likes of you. And I trusted you. If anyone should be feeling betrayed, it should be me."

"Oh, screw your feelings."

"You seem to really not be interested in leniency," Marty said, approaching. "You could be at least protected from rape. Otherwise, it's going to be open season. And I don't wish that on you, either." And in semi-public, for the first time since they'd been far younger, he took Mack's hand.

"I have nothing to say to you," Yi'Imspi sniffed.

There was a communicator chirp and they all looked around. But it wasn't for any of the people outside the cell. Instead, it was the prisoner's communicator pin, which was currently on the guard's desk. "I'll be answering this now," he announced. "Speaker," he said, hitting the pin, an act that turned up the volume. "Who's calling?"

"Who are you?"

Picard seized the opportunity, recognizing the voice immediately. "Admiral Caul! There have been some developments!"

"I see. And what about the person who owns this communicator; are they alive?"

"Why, yes, and they're in my brig, which is where I suspect you should be as well. Tell me – or, rather, us, Admiral – tell us what you were going to do with an ionization diffuser and a modified pulse cannon? The former is a clear violation of the Treaty of Algeron when used in connection with the latter. I don't imagine being the head of the Section will let you off the hook for such an egregious violation and betrayal of the trust of our treaty partners."

"I've done nothing wrong."

"I beg to differ," Marty said.

"Who's that?"

"I'm Commander Martin Madden of the Enterprise-E. I was told specifically by Captain Picard, who was relaying what Admiral Nechayev told him, that Federation connections to ionization diffusers would be seen as treaty violations. This is why I became part-owner of my cousin's team but not of her ship. Trying to covertly steal that tech and to also steal a modified weapon built by that same inventor is far too coincidental for any judge or jury to consider being anything but a deliberate act to gain the means to perfect cloaking technology. That's a clear violation of the treaty. At the flag officer level, you know they can't just let you do that. The biggest head that's going to roll is yours."

"Captain Picard, what are you going to do about this?" Caul was livid.

"I'm going to stand by my first officer's statement. Commander Madden is a fine officer and he is uniquely qualified to speak to this matter. And none of this even gets into radiation band cycling. Tell me, Admiral, what were you doing it for?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"There's a lot of that going around," Geordi said. "Yi'Imspi? Care to comment? Your mentor here is in the process of disavowing all knowledge of you and your actions. You'd better speak up before she completely throws you to the wolves."

"The band cycling," Yi'Imspi said, "you knew about it, Admiral. When I told you what ex-Emperor Charlie Six was looking to do, you told me you supported it. You said you could use it."

"Who are you going to believe – her, or me? She'll do anything to save her miserable silver skin!"

"Captain," I'm ready to talk – really talk."

"You'd best come here if you want any say in the matter," Picard said.

"I'll, I'll be on the next ship. Should take me a day or so. Caul out."