"There it is!" N'Kal practically leapt from his chair.
"Huh?" Jack asked, groggily. They had been watching sci-fi shows for the last nine hours, and the humans were exhausted. Teal'c and N'Kal were getting tired as well, but they managed to pay close attention to the information being revealed in the episodes.
"That's… Voyager, isn't it?" Daniel asked.
"Yes, but look at this," N'Kal turned the images back to a few moments ago. A massive vessel was firing a beam of blue energy at the starship Voyager, "On the station, Kosh told me that time could be used to stop the Borg."
"Time?" Jack looked sceptically at the Narn.
"That is the temporal incursion weapon," N'Kal explained, "It erases a target from history. All we have to do is find the Borg home world, and we can stop all this from ever happening."
"Kosh was the Vorlon from Babylon 5," Teal'c observed, "Does he have prior knowledge of the Borg?"
"Babylon 6," N'Kal corrected, "The Kosh on Babylon 5 was someone else. I'm not sure if he was ever involved with the Borg, but he is one of the First Ones. They know things. This wouldn't be the most surprising thing he's ever done."
"So, you're saying we should find this 'incursion weapon' and use it against the Borg?" Sam was understandably sceptical about trying to get help from the Krenim time ship.
"I don't think we have any other choice."
"Ishan's been gone for a long time," Daniel reminded them, "We should probably be checking with the captain anyway."
Jack walked over to the door, "They shouldn't be that hard to find on a little ship like this."
At that moment, the door wooshed open, and Ishan stepped in, "I hope you had a productive time."
"How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Forget it," Jack responded, "There's something we think you should see."
***
"Everything that happened got erased from the timeline," Chakotay explained, "So we wouldn't have any memory of it."
"Alright," Janeway took a sip of her coffee, "How are we supposed to find these Krenim?"
"They're in the Delta Quadrant," Commander Chakotay answered over the comm, "Data thinks he can use information from the show to get a good idea of where they are."
"I still can't believe it," Janeway commented, "Practically my entire time as captain was recorded for prosperity, and I didn't even know it."
"You're the lucky one," Chakotay smiled, "They say the cameras add ten pounds, and I don't think I can handle any more."
Captain Janeway smiled, "Do you think all of this is on a television somewhere? It's hard to imagine, someone out there could be watching us at any time."
"What's the old saying? All the worlds a stage."
"Even so, there are some things that are better left behind the curtain."
"The Equinox," Chakotay reasoned, "Those were dark times."
"I'm not proud of that, but it's something else. The thought of people seeing my private life really disturbes me. I'm not sure that I can describe it. One of the episodes showed me during our alliance with the Borg, when I ended up in sickbay. I felt so weak. I never wanted anyone to see me that way, and now…"
"I know what you mean," Chakotay answered quietly, "I feel like I have to constantly look over my shoulder, as though someone were stalking me. I keep wondering if someone is looking at me right now, if they can hear my thoughts. No one should have to go through that."
"I've made plenty of mistakes in my life," Janeway added, "I've gotten over most of them, but now I can't help but get angry with myself for not getting it right. It's one thing to be ashamed of something you've done, but it's something else to know that half the universe saw it."
"Now that we know, maybe there's something we can do about it," Chakotay said, trying to bring some hope into the conversation, "My father used to tell me that if I felt like I had to hide something I was doing, I probably shouldn't be doing it at all."
"I don't know about you," Janeway took another drink from the mug, "But there are plenty of things that I don't regret, that I still wouldn't want posted on a billboard for all the worlds to see."
***
"Captain," Data pressed the backlit keys on his console, "I have detected a temporal signature that is consistent with what we know of the Krenim. I believe the time ship is nearby."
"Number One, order a search pattern," Picard rose from the captain's chair, "Data, can you plot a course based on the readings?"
"The temporal signature is highly delocalized in nature. It is highly unlikely that we would be able to locate the origin with current readings."
"I may be able to help with that," Ishan offered, walking to the front of the bridge, "Data, do you mind?"
Commander Data looked back at the captain. Picard nodded, giving his approval. Quickly, Ishan took Data's place at the console while the android watched from over his shoulder.
"What are you doing?" Data asked.
"I'm trying to boost your sensor output," Ishan responded, "These devices are a little primitive, but I think I can remodulate it to the same phase variance as the time ship… there. The time ship is at course 314 mark 68."
Ishan stood, and Data returned to his station.
"Hail them," Picard ordered.
"Who are you?" The Krenim captain asked.
"I am Captain Jean Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise, speaking on behalf of the United Federation of Planets. We have an urgent matter we wish to discuss with you."
"Urgent? I hope you realise that 'urgent' is a relative term."
"Have you had contact with the Borg?" Picard asked in response.
"Everyone has, in some way."
"We require your assistance to stop them."
"They destroyed the entire Krenim Imperium, except for this ship. Don't you think that I've wanted to destroy them. Scanning you ship tells me that your temporal technology is very limited. You don't have any idea of the calculations needed to wipe out the collective."
"Your temporal weapon is the only one which may still be effective against them," Picard emplored, "Will you join us?"
"I can understand why you need my help, but I fail to see what you would constribute."
"We have a target for your incursion device," Picard responded, "If you erase it, all of this will have never happened."
"The Borg homeworld, I suppose," The as yet unidentified Krenim commander smirked, "Don't you think I've tried that? The Romulans used a protomatter device to destroy that system already. It would take me centuries to erase enough of the particles to effect the Borg. By then, they will have adapted to my temporal shielding technology and assimilated everyone on this ship."
"No, there is another target, in another dimension. We have the ability to take you there."
The alien paused, "Alright Captain, I'll see if this works. We had better move quickly though, a Borg Cube is on an intercept course. It will be in your sensor range shortly."
"We will open a vortex into the other dimension," Picard explained, "Follow us in."
"Captain," Data added, "The Borg have dropped out of warp at a distance of one hundred fifty thousand kilometers, well within firing range."
"They're firing something at the temporal warship," Hirs stated.
"They've knocked out the temporal shields somehow," The Krenim officer stated over the still-active comm, "They have us in a tractor beam."
"Mr. Hirs," Picard turned quickly to his weapons officer, "Fire all weapons at the Borg cube. Attempt to cut off the tractor beam. Data, open a vortex and prepare to take us in at my mark."
"Direct hit," Hirs stated, "Weapons had no effect."
"They're beaming drones in. We can't--"
"We have lost communication with the Krenim," Data pointed out needlessly.
"Tell the fleet to go through the vortex," Picard ordered, "Can we beam the survivors off the Krenim ship."
"A Borg dampening field is permeating the area," Data responded, "Transporters, shields, and long range sensors are offline."
"Bridge to engineering. Geordi, can you compensate for the dampening field?"
"We're trying, but it doesn't look good," LaForge responded, "We've never seen anything like this before."
Picard paused, trying to think of another way to escape, "We must not allow the Borg to assimilate the temporal warship. Lock all weapons on that vessel, and fire."
"The time ship has been destroyed," Hirs stated.
"Engage," Picard ordered.
"The Borg are not in persuit," Data informed them as the Enterprise fled through the vortex.
***
N'Kal rested his head on his hand, "There must be a way. Can't we try again, in a timeline that's similar to this one?"
"Due to limitations in the vortex technology, there must be a significant difference between timelines in order to travel from one to the other," Data responded, "We will not be able to locate the Krenim vessel again."
"Maybe there is another time weapon that we could use," N'Kal suggested, "What about the Guardian on the Edge of Forever?"
"The Guardian has already been captured by the Borg. Although it has almost certainly resisted assimilation, I doubt we will be able to retrieve it."
"Wait, what about the deflector dish?" Sam asked, "After you helped Cochrane make his warp flight, you used the dish to travel through time."
"An intriguing possibility," Data's eyes seemed to brighten as he considered, "We ran numerous scans of the Krenim vessel during the encounter. If we fire a chronometric pulse at the precise temporal modulation, it may be possible to turn the deflector dish into an incursion device."
"It sounds like a good idea to me," Ishan nodded.
"I will suggest it to the captain immediately," Data said, leaving the SG team, Ishan, and N'Kal in the spacious quarters that they had been given.
***
Two days later, everything was in place. Voyager, the Defiant, and any other vessels that could be spared were sent to alternate timelines to report back after the Enterprise carried out its temporal incursion. Luckily, the Borg had spread themselves extremely thin. In order to assimilate as many places as possible, they had left few defenses behind for their territory. There was little chance of any of them encountering a Borg vessel.
"We're approaching the planet," Hirs informed them, as the Federation task force glided swiftly through liquid space.
The tension of the bridge was suddenly broken by a brilliant flash from Riker's chair.
"An inventive plan, Picard," Q smiled, "Although you don't get all the credit for once."
"We have no time for this, Q," Picard responded angrily.
"You have no idea how right you are," Q's eyes were even more devilish than normal, "Did Tatoo tell you what I talked to Kathy about?"
"Commander Chakotay told us that you had threatened to wipe all life out of existence."
"Well, time's just about up. Already, the Borg have begun attacking Douwd territory. Soon, one of the Douwd will be weak enough to be captured, and the assimilation process can begin. Once he falls, there is no turning back. The end of history is at hand, Picard. Are you prepared to meet the end that your human religions warned you about? It's fate, armaggeddon, call it what you will, but you can't stop it."
"We are not ready to die yet," Picard stood up and walked toward the viewscreen. An image of Species 8475's homeworld loomed before him.
"You have until the count of three to put everything right again," Q looked at Picard, his face appearing as though he would show no remorse for the action he was preparing to take, "Good luck."
"We're within range of the planet," Hirs stated.
"Raise temporal shielding," Riker ordered.
"One," Q began counting.
"Fire," Picard ordered, his face as stern as iron.
"Direct hit," Hirs observed, "Temporal incursion wave is spreading throughout the sector."
"Two," Q raised his arm as to snap his fingers for the last time.
The wave front ripped across space time, altering the multiverse. Species 8475 had never existed, and the lives of people throughout innumerable timelines in innumerable universes would not be the same. And yet…
…History refused to change.
"Status report," Picard requested urgently.
"I am detecting residual Borg power signatures. Reports from our vessels in alternate timelines indicate that the Borg are still active."
"What went wrong?" Captain Picard demanded.
"Oh the arrogance," Q smirked, "You really believed that the Borg didn't have temporal shields of their own."
"Mr. LaForge," Picard tapped his comm badge, "We have to find some way to overcome temporal shielding. Can you modify the incursion device to do so?"
"Need I remind you that time has run out?" Q still bore a smug look on his face in spite of it all, "A valient effort, Mon Capitan, but it was too little too late. I hope you enjoyed existance while it lasted."
"Just a moment," Picard took a step towards Q.
"No second chances this time," Q spoke quickly, "Three!"
"Huh?" Jack asked, groggily. They had been watching sci-fi shows for the last nine hours, and the humans were exhausted. Teal'c and N'Kal were getting tired as well, but they managed to pay close attention to the information being revealed in the episodes.
"That's… Voyager, isn't it?" Daniel asked.
"Yes, but look at this," N'Kal turned the images back to a few moments ago. A massive vessel was firing a beam of blue energy at the starship Voyager, "On the station, Kosh told me that time could be used to stop the Borg."
"Time?" Jack looked sceptically at the Narn.
"That is the temporal incursion weapon," N'Kal explained, "It erases a target from history. All we have to do is find the Borg home world, and we can stop all this from ever happening."
"Kosh was the Vorlon from Babylon 5," Teal'c observed, "Does he have prior knowledge of the Borg?"
"Babylon 6," N'Kal corrected, "The Kosh on Babylon 5 was someone else. I'm not sure if he was ever involved with the Borg, but he is one of the First Ones. They know things. This wouldn't be the most surprising thing he's ever done."
"So, you're saying we should find this 'incursion weapon' and use it against the Borg?" Sam was understandably sceptical about trying to get help from the Krenim time ship.
"I don't think we have any other choice."
"Ishan's been gone for a long time," Daniel reminded them, "We should probably be checking with the captain anyway."
Jack walked over to the door, "They shouldn't be that hard to find on a little ship like this."
At that moment, the door wooshed open, and Ishan stepped in, "I hope you had a productive time."
"How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Forget it," Jack responded, "There's something we think you should see."
***
"Everything that happened got erased from the timeline," Chakotay explained, "So we wouldn't have any memory of it."
"Alright," Janeway took a sip of her coffee, "How are we supposed to find these Krenim?"
"They're in the Delta Quadrant," Commander Chakotay answered over the comm, "Data thinks he can use information from the show to get a good idea of where they are."
"I still can't believe it," Janeway commented, "Practically my entire time as captain was recorded for prosperity, and I didn't even know it."
"You're the lucky one," Chakotay smiled, "They say the cameras add ten pounds, and I don't think I can handle any more."
Captain Janeway smiled, "Do you think all of this is on a television somewhere? It's hard to imagine, someone out there could be watching us at any time."
"What's the old saying? All the worlds a stage."
"Even so, there are some things that are better left behind the curtain."
"The Equinox," Chakotay reasoned, "Those were dark times."
"I'm not proud of that, but it's something else. The thought of people seeing my private life really disturbes me. I'm not sure that I can describe it. One of the episodes showed me during our alliance with the Borg, when I ended up in sickbay. I felt so weak. I never wanted anyone to see me that way, and now…"
"I know what you mean," Chakotay answered quietly, "I feel like I have to constantly look over my shoulder, as though someone were stalking me. I keep wondering if someone is looking at me right now, if they can hear my thoughts. No one should have to go through that."
"I've made plenty of mistakes in my life," Janeway added, "I've gotten over most of them, but now I can't help but get angry with myself for not getting it right. It's one thing to be ashamed of something you've done, but it's something else to know that half the universe saw it."
"Now that we know, maybe there's something we can do about it," Chakotay said, trying to bring some hope into the conversation, "My father used to tell me that if I felt like I had to hide something I was doing, I probably shouldn't be doing it at all."
"I don't know about you," Janeway took another drink from the mug, "But there are plenty of things that I don't regret, that I still wouldn't want posted on a billboard for all the worlds to see."
***
"Captain," Data pressed the backlit keys on his console, "I have detected a temporal signature that is consistent with what we know of the Krenim. I believe the time ship is nearby."
"Number One, order a search pattern," Picard rose from the captain's chair, "Data, can you plot a course based on the readings?"
"The temporal signature is highly delocalized in nature. It is highly unlikely that we would be able to locate the origin with current readings."
"I may be able to help with that," Ishan offered, walking to the front of the bridge, "Data, do you mind?"
Commander Data looked back at the captain. Picard nodded, giving his approval. Quickly, Ishan took Data's place at the console while the android watched from over his shoulder.
"What are you doing?" Data asked.
"I'm trying to boost your sensor output," Ishan responded, "These devices are a little primitive, but I think I can remodulate it to the same phase variance as the time ship… there. The time ship is at course 314 mark 68."
Ishan stood, and Data returned to his station.
"Hail them," Picard ordered.
"Who are you?" The Krenim captain asked.
"I am Captain Jean Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise, speaking on behalf of the United Federation of Planets. We have an urgent matter we wish to discuss with you."
"Urgent? I hope you realise that 'urgent' is a relative term."
"Have you had contact with the Borg?" Picard asked in response.
"Everyone has, in some way."
"We require your assistance to stop them."
"They destroyed the entire Krenim Imperium, except for this ship. Don't you think that I've wanted to destroy them. Scanning you ship tells me that your temporal technology is very limited. You don't have any idea of the calculations needed to wipe out the collective."
"Your temporal weapon is the only one which may still be effective against them," Picard emplored, "Will you join us?"
"I can understand why you need my help, but I fail to see what you would constribute."
"We have a target for your incursion device," Picard responded, "If you erase it, all of this will have never happened."
"The Borg homeworld, I suppose," The as yet unidentified Krenim commander smirked, "Don't you think I've tried that? The Romulans used a protomatter device to destroy that system already. It would take me centuries to erase enough of the particles to effect the Borg. By then, they will have adapted to my temporal shielding technology and assimilated everyone on this ship."
"No, there is another target, in another dimension. We have the ability to take you there."
The alien paused, "Alright Captain, I'll see if this works. We had better move quickly though, a Borg Cube is on an intercept course. It will be in your sensor range shortly."
"We will open a vortex into the other dimension," Picard explained, "Follow us in."
"Captain," Data added, "The Borg have dropped out of warp at a distance of one hundred fifty thousand kilometers, well within firing range."
"They're firing something at the temporal warship," Hirs stated.
"They've knocked out the temporal shields somehow," The Krenim officer stated over the still-active comm, "They have us in a tractor beam."
"Mr. Hirs," Picard turned quickly to his weapons officer, "Fire all weapons at the Borg cube. Attempt to cut off the tractor beam. Data, open a vortex and prepare to take us in at my mark."
"Direct hit," Hirs stated, "Weapons had no effect."
"They're beaming drones in. We can't--"
"We have lost communication with the Krenim," Data pointed out needlessly.
"Tell the fleet to go through the vortex," Picard ordered, "Can we beam the survivors off the Krenim ship."
"A Borg dampening field is permeating the area," Data responded, "Transporters, shields, and long range sensors are offline."
"Bridge to engineering. Geordi, can you compensate for the dampening field?"
"We're trying, but it doesn't look good," LaForge responded, "We've never seen anything like this before."
Picard paused, trying to think of another way to escape, "We must not allow the Borg to assimilate the temporal warship. Lock all weapons on that vessel, and fire."
"The time ship has been destroyed," Hirs stated.
"Engage," Picard ordered.
"The Borg are not in persuit," Data informed them as the Enterprise fled through the vortex.
***
N'Kal rested his head on his hand, "There must be a way. Can't we try again, in a timeline that's similar to this one?"
"Due to limitations in the vortex technology, there must be a significant difference between timelines in order to travel from one to the other," Data responded, "We will not be able to locate the Krenim vessel again."
"Maybe there is another time weapon that we could use," N'Kal suggested, "What about the Guardian on the Edge of Forever?"
"The Guardian has already been captured by the Borg. Although it has almost certainly resisted assimilation, I doubt we will be able to retrieve it."
"Wait, what about the deflector dish?" Sam asked, "After you helped Cochrane make his warp flight, you used the dish to travel through time."
"An intriguing possibility," Data's eyes seemed to brighten as he considered, "We ran numerous scans of the Krenim vessel during the encounter. If we fire a chronometric pulse at the precise temporal modulation, it may be possible to turn the deflector dish into an incursion device."
"It sounds like a good idea to me," Ishan nodded.
"I will suggest it to the captain immediately," Data said, leaving the SG team, Ishan, and N'Kal in the spacious quarters that they had been given.
***
Two days later, everything was in place. Voyager, the Defiant, and any other vessels that could be spared were sent to alternate timelines to report back after the Enterprise carried out its temporal incursion. Luckily, the Borg had spread themselves extremely thin. In order to assimilate as many places as possible, they had left few defenses behind for their territory. There was little chance of any of them encountering a Borg vessel.
"We're approaching the planet," Hirs informed them, as the Federation task force glided swiftly through liquid space.
The tension of the bridge was suddenly broken by a brilliant flash from Riker's chair.
"An inventive plan, Picard," Q smiled, "Although you don't get all the credit for once."
"We have no time for this, Q," Picard responded angrily.
"You have no idea how right you are," Q's eyes were even more devilish than normal, "Did Tatoo tell you what I talked to Kathy about?"
"Commander Chakotay told us that you had threatened to wipe all life out of existence."
"Well, time's just about up. Already, the Borg have begun attacking Douwd territory. Soon, one of the Douwd will be weak enough to be captured, and the assimilation process can begin. Once he falls, there is no turning back. The end of history is at hand, Picard. Are you prepared to meet the end that your human religions warned you about? It's fate, armaggeddon, call it what you will, but you can't stop it."
"We are not ready to die yet," Picard stood up and walked toward the viewscreen. An image of Species 8475's homeworld loomed before him.
"You have until the count of three to put everything right again," Q looked at Picard, his face appearing as though he would show no remorse for the action he was preparing to take, "Good luck."
"We're within range of the planet," Hirs stated.
"Raise temporal shielding," Riker ordered.
"One," Q began counting.
"Fire," Picard ordered, his face as stern as iron.
"Direct hit," Hirs observed, "Temporal incursion wave is spreading throughout the sector."
"Two," Q raised his arm as to snap his fingers for the last time.
The wave front ripped across space time, altering the multiverse. Species 8475 had never existed, and the lives of people throughout innumerable timelines in innumerable universes would not be the same. And yet…
…History refused to change.
"Status report," Picard requested urgently.
"I am detecting residual Borg power signatures. Reports from our vessels in alternate timelines indicate that the Borg are still active."
"What went wrong?" Captain Picard demanded.
"Oh the arrogance," Q smirked, "You really believed that the Borg didn't have temporal shields of their own."
"Mr. LaForge," Picard tapped his comm badge, "We have to find some way to overcome temporal shielding. Can you modify the incursion device to do so?"
"Need I remind you that time has run out?" Q still bore a smug look on his face in spite of it all, "A valient effort, Mon Capitan, but it was too little too late. I hope you enjoyed existance while it lasted."
"Just a moment," Picard took a step towards Q.
"No second chances this time," Q spoke quickly, "Three!"