Chapter 48
USS Enterprise
"You'll beam into what we've identified as the detention area on board the Contagion, and use the barrier discs to shield you from any weapons fire," Riker said pointing to one such object that Data was holding. "Shoot to stun when fired upon, but if you find the Captain under guard, use whatever means you need to to retrieve him."
"Understood sir."
"Once you've reached him, signal Geordi and he will beam you both back immediately. As we've discussed, if the Captain can't be located in the detention area, I want you to beam back immediately and we will re-assess our plans."
"Yes sir," Data said, dropping the metallic disc back into his pack along with the others.
"Very good then," Riker said, stepping away from the transporter pad. "Good luck Data."
Data nodded. "Energize."
IMS Contagion
After M had talked for awhile about his adventures among the Enterprise crew, Picard, who had been listening silently, seemed to lose interest, and got up and walked away.
After a few moments, he said, "If Jack wants the Enterprise so badly, then perhaps I will bring it to him. He will see his plot almost realized right before I end his miserable life." And then I will take the ship for myself.
M slid back against the wall, starting to wish he had a medic. Picard, meanwhile, oblivious to M's pain, stood staring out the cell door blankly, as the security guard stood nearby looking bored. If he had been listening to the two men talk, he was doing a good job of appearing as though he wasn't. Picard didn't seem to care if the guard had heard anything interesting or not.
"I've got a sure way of getting you on board," said M. "The shuttle I came in on...and this," he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small shiny object. Picard squinted, peering down at the item in M's outstretched palm.
"What is it?"
"It's the Lesser Picard's communicator. It's also a homing device and a universal translator...if you ever needed that kind of thing. The Admiral's guards scanned me, but I guess they didn't care about this once they realized it wasn't lethal." He tossed the communicator badge to Picard who caught it in mid-air. Picard's naturally suspicious expression faded, as M continued. "Put that on once you're in the shuttle, and they will be able to identify it as the Lesser Picard's as you approach. On board the shuttle is a scientific device they call a tricorder. The code for the door override is in there, if for some reason they catch on."
"They are likely to be suspicious of the two lifeforms on board," said Picard.
M moved his head slightly to look up at Picard with confusion. "Two?"
Picard smiled, still staring out the door. "No doubt they will believe that the Lesser Picard is returning with you as his prisoner," he murmured sounding amused at the thought.
Asshole. M started to laugh, and then stopped when he realized how much that hurt. He was also starting to get really confused. "So, don't you want to know any more details?"
"No," said Picard. "I'll manage."
"Yeah...but you're going to need a lot more preparation if you want to pull off the look...that tattoo has got to go. And the beard, although it's a nice look. The shuttle replicator can make you one of their uniforms, but-"
"Clearly you misunderstand my intent," Picard said sharply. "You are mistaken if you think that I intend to masquerade as my Lesser version, and try and fool Picard's crew into thinking I am him."
"You mean, you're just planning on busting in and taking over the ship?"
"Yes."
"Not to question your abilities, but-"
"I suggest you stop speaking before I eliminate you from my plans altogether."
"I thought these were our plans," insisted M.
"And being the imitation Jack qualifies you for what? Besides, a mercenary in your universe is ...perhaps the equivalent of a nanny in mine."
"I'll convince the Admiral that Jack's alive and out there somewhere. She'll want to track him down, won't she?"
"Possibly...as long as doing so does not conflict with her own plans. And then what?"
"I'll make contact with Jack."
"How?"
"I'll find a way. And then I'll notify you as to his location."
"Fine." Picard nodded, but seemed distracted now. "But I need something more from you, to make this deal worthwhile."
M groaned inwardly. "What?"
"Having my good twin present on Beverly's ship is at best irritating, especially where I will be absent. I know Beverly, and she is probably fascinated by the prospect of playing doctor with him. However, should anything happen between them, I will be dismayed to say the least."
"And you expect me to do what..."
"Ensure that nothing serious happens between them."
"And if I fail to do that, while imprisoned? Everything they do is beyond my control!"
"I thought you were smart, Faux Jack. Bring the situation within your control, and ensure that nothing happens between them while I'm gone, or I will kill you, which will mean of course that the deal is off," he promised.
"Okay, okay," M agreed, not having any choice in the matter. "Um...what do you think the Admiral will do, when she sees you're not here, and that I'm not dead?" And how exactly does he plan on getting out of this cell?
"Well...that sounds like a question you should answer for yourself. I recommend that you do so before she arrives, as she has a quick temper, to be sure, and therefore you will have to think quickly. And don't think I haven't considered paying her a visit in her quarters before I leave to tell her myself. But not even the prospect of another taste of her will make me risk death at Beverly's hands right now. I have to be patient, and steadfast to re-gain her allegiance the correct way."
He suddenly snapped his fingers and beckoned the guard. The man hesitated, before approaching.
"What do you want?"
Picard held up the communicator badge between his fingers. "You see this? This spy here was imprisoned by Admiral Crusher, but not before this piece of contraband escaped your attention."
The guard paled. "Oh. What would I need to do for you to make this issue go away?" The guard asked slowly.
"Issue?"
"I didn't know what else to call it."
Picard smiled. "Activate the proximity alarm in access tunnel J-M4...or the next time the Admiral comes here, which will be soon, I guarantee... I'll report your ineptitude."
The guard looked ill, but moved to the wall, perhaps confused as to why Captain Picard would want to do such a thing. He tapped the wall panel, before dropping his hand and looking to Picard for approval. In the distance, a blaring alarm could now be heard.
Picard smiled again, just as quick footsteps sounded from down the corridor. The guard hardly had a chance to turn his head, when a slim figure came sprinting swiftly out of nowhere.
Not slowing, Yar put her knee in the guard's back, and grabbed him around the head, twisting quickly with a snap. It was the easiest death she could offer. She grabbed him beneath the armpits and walked his body over to the wall, slapping his lifeless palm against the door lock. The force field dropped, and Picard stepped out smoothly. He quickly tapped in a security code and the field reappeared, while M looked on in shock.
"Natasha," Picard said, surveying his tactical officer with fatherly approval.
"You called, sir?" Yar was dirty and beat up, but she also appeared happier than he had ever seen her.
He gripped her arms affectionately. "Sneaking about in the passageways has done wonders for your mood."
Yar laughed, which he didn't think he'd seen before either. She stepped over the unfortunate guard and handed Picard a black backpack she'd had slung over one shoulder. He opened it, and found a number of weapons, limited rations, a small med kit, handheld agonizers and a portable field generator, among other things. "Where did you find all of this?" he asked in surprise.
She shrugged modestly. "I just gathered enough for you to carry, Captain...wherever it is that you're going."
"You're coming with me, Natasha. We're going to the Lesser Enterprise."
"Sir!"
He squeezed her arm. "I need you with me. Navigating their strange culture may be difficult for us both...but once we have their ship under our control it will all be worth it. The Enterprise was destined to be mine in any universe."
"Aye sir."
Picard and Yar began to walk away when M shouted out frantically. "Wait! How do I know you won't screw me over?"
Picard turned his head with an insulted expression. "Do I look like a man who would break his word?"
M opened his mouth to reply, but found no suitable response, especially with Yar staring at him so fiercely. "But, how much should I tell her about Jack...and everything else?"
"You're the expert manipulator," said Picard. "Use your judgment. But there is one message you can deliver for me. Tell her...tell her I'm still the better man."
Suddenly an alarm began an ear-piercing wail, and the computer issued a warning. Intruder alert...unauthorized transport. Intruder alert...
"Perfect timing," said Picard, happy for the distraction. "Goodbye Faux Jack."
20 parsecs away on the ISS Stargazer
"What you're talking about is treason." Geordi sat back in a chair and looked around the table. Wesley Crusher, a semi-mutilated Jack Crusher, and a fat guy from the Lesser Universe. Not confidence inspiring. At least, not at first glance.
"Oh, all of a sudden, you're a patriot."
"It's not about being a patriot, Wes, it's about loyalty. Something you apparently know nothing about."
"That's because I was raised to consider those things as weak."
"Well," Geordi said, hooking his thumb in Jack's direction. "Blame your daddy for giving you those issues...not me."
Jack remained expressionless. Geordi had already learned that he was given to fits of insane laughter and aggressive behavior, seemed highly intelligent, and then at other times he seemed to simply zone out, staring sometimes literally into space. Someone is responsible for messing him up real bad. Damaged goods.
"Look," said Wesley. "Data left you behind when he became Emperor. He left us all behind. Do you honestly think you mean anything to him?"
Geordi sighed. "Even if you were right about that...why would I get involved in your little plan?"
"You've seen the Borg up close. Do you think we stand a chance as a civilization as long as they're in control?"
Geordi kept his expression neutral, but he could recall seeing Data sitting on that throne, surrounded by a maze of wires. Data wasn't running anything now, he was just a pawn for the Borg. And if Data could be subdued and made inconsequential, then so could every Terran in the Empire. "Honestly...no."
"Then are you going to help us or not?" Wesley nearly shouted in Laforge's face.
"If I give you my stored information, Wesley, what are you going to do with it?"
"Well, based on the schematics, we'll figure out a way to sever his head without shutting down his core operating functions."
"And what specifically are you going to do with Data's severed head?"
Wesley glanced nervously at his father. "Dad?"
Jack shook his head slowly. "I can't tell you everything."
Wesley slammed his fist on the table in frustration, and Geordi got up with a laugh, walking away.
When he turned back around he said, "I don't think you really have any kind of plan at all, Jack. What you've got is a mental imbalance of some kind...which believe me, I understand is not uncommon in our society. And Wesley, you seem to really want to be part of something big, so much so that you're willing to overlook the details. But I'm not giving either of you the information you want until you actually tell me something!"
Wesley glared at Jack. "Well?"
Jack glanced momentarily at Pots, who shrugged. "We're going to bring Data's head to Romulus."
"What?" Wesley and Geordi said at the same time.
"Only the Romulans know how to stop the Borg," said Jack quietly.
"But we wiped out the Romulans years ago! They don't exist anymore."
"Oh yes they do," Jack said in a resigned voice. He slowly rolled up his sleeve to reveal a dark tattoo of an ominous hawk-like creature on his inner forearm. It held in its talons a planet that looked very much like Terra. "And eventually like me, you'll give them your allegiance...either willingly, or not."
