Chapter 17

Less than a week later, Vicki Ann Guinan were getting a shuttle to Alpha Centauri, where
they would meet their ride to Time Planet. When they arrived, they were greeted by a
Romulan. Vicki Ann immediately thought that something was wrong. Romulans didn't have
warp drive at this point. That meant that either the ship was stolen or they were being
deceived. She listened to the man's thoughts and decided the latter. She turned to warn
Guinan, but Guinan already knew.

"We've changed our mind. We don't want to go after all."

The Romulan smiled. "No refunds, no exchanges. You're going on a trip whether you like it
or not, humans."

Vicki Ann didn't even try to tell him that she was only half human and that Guinan wasn't
at all. She figured he wouldn't listen to her anyway. She cursed the fact that phasers
hadn't been invented yet. The Romulan went to grab her and she tried to kick him but was
prevented from doing so. Apparently, a prelude to the disruptor had been invented.

"Get in," ordered the Romulan.

Vicki Ann and Guinan obeyed.

The Romulan closed the door to their small compartment and went to the pilot's seat. It
was then when Vicki Ann realized when exactly she was. She had ended up just before the
war with the Romulans. And she and Guinan had just become the first prisoners of war.

"So, how did you meet Q?" Vicki Ann asked Guinan, after they'd been in captivity for a few
days.

"My father sent him to bring me home."

"He didn't do a very good job, did he?"

Guinan smiled and then became serious. "He fell for me. He decided to stay. He managed
to talk my father into letting me stay a little longer. Unfortunately, when the time came, I
still wouldn't leave. I finally managed to persuade my father into letting me decide when I
leave."

"Why were you and Q arguing?"

"He wanted me rekindle our relationship."

"And obviously you don't want that."

"No. He was jealous, controlling and hot-tempered."

Vicki Ann smiled. "That sounds like my Q."

Guinan looked at her quizzically.

"Q and I were involved for awhile and eventually became very good friends."

"I can't imagine anyone being friends with him."

"It's difficult, but when you can read his mind, it's not that bad. He can't hide from me. He
can't fool me."

"That would have its advantages."

"Although now it does present its disadvantages."

"For instance?"

"Besides making Julian jealous? Well, his wife doesn't like it much. That and he knows when
I'm lying. Which I do fairly often. I'm not a liar, mind you. Just about my feelings."

"I see." She glanced around. "Well, since we'll be here for a while, why don't you tell me
about Julian?"

Vicki Ann smiled. "I love him very much. I don't we haven't been together that long, but I
feel as if we're fated to be together. Things were crazy at first, but after he helped me
get through some rough times, I realized that he was the one for me. He's absolutely
wonderful, Guinan. He's the ideal doctor. No one would dare be afraid of him. Not even the
children are afraid of him. And he's brilliant, of course. We're so much alike too." She
blushed slightly. "I'm rambling a bit here, aren't I?"

"It's okay."

"It's just that I'm nervous and I want to get home."

"I understand. I don't exactly want to be a prisoner myself."

"What I want to know is why they've kidnaped us. We didn't do anything and the war
hasn't even started yet."

"That's a very good question."

A few hours later, the door to their room opened and Vicki Ann and Guinan were greeted
by their captain. He smiled at them.

"Come. We've arrived at Romulus. It's time for your trial," he said.

"What trial? What have we done?" Vicki Ann asked.

"You are terrorists. You were involved in the attack on the capital."

"We did no such thing!"

"Do not lie! We have witnesses! Come." He pointed his weapon at them. "Now!"

Guinan and Vicki Ann followed him. After the captain conferred with a few others while
they were closely guarded, they were led into a prison cell.

"I thought you said we were going to our trial."

"That was a joke. There are no trials here. All criminals are punished immediately. Except in
rare circumstances such as yours."

"What circumstances would those be?"

"The Praetor must attend all executions and he is unavoidably delayed. Therefore, you will
be detained until he arrives."

A few days later, the Praetor came to Vicki Ann and Guinan's cell. "Hello, welcome to
Romulus. I hope you've enjoyed your stay."

"It's lovely here. In fact, I think it would be a good idea for you to start having tour
groups here. Just advertise it as 'out of the ordinary.' People will love it," Vicki Ann replied.

"Watch yourself, that mouth could get you in trouble," replied the Praetor.

"Big deal. I'm already being executed for a crime I didn't commit."

"It is time," said the Praetor to his men.

The assigned executioner turned to his leader. "How do you wish them to die?"

"How about we do to them what they did to our people at the capital?"

"Excellent. We'll take them to one of the underground mining caverns and place the bomb
in there."

"Very well then. Take them to the mines."

"I think I liked our cell better," Vicki Ann muttered as she and Guinan sat in the cavern
that would soon be their grave. As the execution party left, she realized that this was not
a game. She and Guinan were going to die in a matter of minutes. "No, no, no," she
whispered as she curled herself up into a ball on the ground. Then, with determination, she
sat up and screamed, "NO! I can't die like this! Not here! Not now! Not when I've just
found my family! Not when I've just found Julian! NO!" She stood and looked up at the
ceiling. "Q," she whispered. "I know you're far away, but if you can hear me, please help
me! I don't care if this is the damned prophecy! I will not die like this!"

Guinan went over to her and put her arm around Vicki Ann comfortingly.

Then, there was a flash of light and Vicki Ann sighed with relief that her prayers had been
answered.

"I know I'm not your Q, but I can get your out of here."

"What's your price?" Guinan asked.

"None. My mother would have wanted me to do this."

Vicki Ann went up to Q and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you."

"You're very welcome, but if you don't mind, I don't want to be here when this bomb goes
off."

Vicki Ann stepped away.. "Go ahead. Work your magic."

Q snapped his fingers and disappeared, just before the caverns were reduced to a pile of
rubble.

"Those men weren't telling the truth," Vicki Ann took Guinan after Q had transported them
away from Romulus and to Time Planet.

"I could tell, but I didn't know what the truth was."

"The Praetor was newly moved into that position. The attack on the capital killed the
previous one and this one took his place. That's why he had the bomb placed in the
capital building. When he was asked to find the culprits, he named human terrorists. Then
he had one of his men attempt to find some scapegoats that would be punished for the
crime. That's where we came in."

"Very clever. Too bad he missed one thing."

"What's that?"

"He didn't count on your connections."

Vicki Ann turned to Q. "You have to tell someone on Earth about the Praetor."

"Why?"

"Because that's how history goes. A human uncovers the conspiracy and Earth takes
action for the execution of two of their citizens. That's how the war starts."

"If you say so."

"Thank you for bringing me here."

"You're welcome."

"See you in about two hundred and fifty years." She turned to Guinan and embraced her.
"I'll see you in about the same time. Thank you for you help. And I will remember to say
hello to everyone for you."

Guinan smiled. "You're more than welcome. I'm very glad we met. Both times. Have a good
trip."

Vicki Ann was about to walk through the Guardian when a bolt of lightning struck the
ground in front of her. The impact shook the ground and Vicki Ann lost her balance and fell
into the Guardian at the wrong moment.

There

Security Officer Deanna Troi looked over the shoulder of Commander Riker. They were
tracking the scenes being displayed at the Guardian of Forever. They had been alerted to
a scene involving Victorianna Leonard of the alternate universe. She had been shot and
was thrown in the Guardian. Troi had requested that they track the Guardian and alert her
when and image showing Victorianna appeared.

Riker turned around and smiled slightly at Troi, who returned the mischievous smile. "What
are you plans once we find the image? Are you going to send someone in after her?"

"Possibly. I haven't decided what she is worth to us yet."

"I can imagine she would be worth a lot to her captain, but as for Starfleet, they would
consider her indispensable."

"I'm not so sure about that. From what I hear, Victorianna has a lot of friends in high
places that would do anything to keep her alive."

"Do you think that's true? After all, she is just a Starfleet Doctor with pilot training, isn't
she?"

"Looks can be deceiving, Riker. It had better be true, otherwise, Victorianna might find
herself in an undesirable situation."

Vicki Ann landed on the same planet she had been on. "What the hell?" It was different,
somehow. Maybe it was nothing. The buildings that were supposed to be there were
there. The forcefield was there. Nothing seemed different. Nothing except for a small
camera that she couldn't see. A camera that watched to see who entered and exited the
Guardian.

"Commander Riker! Someone has emerged from the Guardian!" a Lieutenant shouted from
across the room.

Riker and Troi sprinted over to the station to see the image. Sure enough, on the screen
was an image of Vicki Ann emerging from the Guardian. Troi turned to Riker. "You are to
wear one of the replicated uniforms and beam to the surface. You will attempt to convince
her that you are the Commander Riker from her time. Tell her that the Enterprise has come
for her. Understood?"

Riker nodded.

Riker transported to the planet. When he saw Vicki Ann he smiled his best fake smile. "Are
you all right? We've been waiting for you to come out. You've been in there for over a
week!"

She gave him a strange look, but smiled back. "Thank goodness you're here. You won't
believe what I found out about Q."

"Really? That juicy, huh?"

Vicki Ann felt something tugging at the barriers that surrounded her mind. Curiosity got the
best of her, so she slowly let them down. She sensed something from Riker, like he was
hiding something from her. She opened them up the rest of the way. She had to force
herself not to cry out. He was filled with jealousy and rage. What could have happened
while she was gone to make him change like that? She tried to read his thoughts. For a
moment, she heard them. I wonder what Troi is going to do with her? Drill her for
information? Hold her for ransom? Or kill her like Q had originally wanted? It would be a
shame to waste someone with her powers. She may be useful. Perhaps she would be
willing to bargain for her life and perform a few small favors for us. Maybe corrupt that
immaculate soul of hers.

Then, the door slammed shut on her. It was almost as if Riker or someone else had
slammed the door shut. But Riker didn't have the power to do that. The only one who
could was. . . . Deanna. Something is wrong, Vicki Ann thought to herself. This isn't my
timeline.

Riker tapped his comm badge. "Riker to Enterprise. Two to beam up." They shimmered and
disappeared.