Chapter 4
" hlp uz lit uz prob u"
Deanna and Data looked at each other.
"Data," Troi whispered. "Does that say what I think it does?"
Data nodded in agreement, "I believe it does Counselor." Once more Data called for Captain Picard to come to the bridge. When he received no answer he instructed, "Computer locate Captain Picard."
"Captain Picard is presently in his quarters."
Data turned and nodded at Worf. Understanding the silent implication, Worf tapped his communicator and announced. "Security to the captain's quarters. Please inform the captain he is needed on the bridge."
Data briefly hesitated, trying to decide what the next logical step should be. "Mr. Worf, prepare a return pulse in the exact opposite readings which brought their communication energy to the Enterprise. Tell them we mean them no harm. They may send an energy pulse to study our life forms."
Worf cut in, "Recommend we raise shields. We don't know what their intentions are."
"No Mr. Worf. We do not want them to think we are dangerous."
Deanna was staring intently at the screen when Data asked, "Counselor Troi, do you sense any hostility or subterfuge in their intentions?"
Deanna kept her eyes on the message but shook her head, "No Data, all I sense is pure, raw desperation."
Within seconds engineering cut in, "Data!" Geordi bellowed. "Something is happening down here. Science and tactical computer panels are glowing purple and there seems to be a pulsating energy field around all the isolinear chips."
"Are operations being interfered with Geordi?"
"No Data, but this sure is weird. Now all the computer panels are turning violet."
Just as Geordi was giving his report, Worf and Lt. McLean at Ops yelped in unison as their consoles began to change colors and transformed to a purple hue.
Data turned to Troi, his face showing the newly acquired emotion of concern. His own feelings of desperation creeping into his voice, "Counselor, again, do you detect any danger?"
"No Data, I'm still sensing the same single feeling of hopelessness. Desperate helplessness."
Data asked Worf to establish a ship wide channel so that he could address the entire Enterprise crew.
"This is Lt. Commander Data. We suspect that an alien lifeform has entered our computer system in order to probe us. Please remain calm. They mean no harm. Cease all active computer operations. I believe the suspension will only take several seconds. Bridge out."
"Commander," Worf announced his voice taking on an underlying edge of frustration. "Security has found that Captain Picard's quarters are empty!"
* * * *
Twenty minutes later, Jean-Luc was walking into the apartment of Captain James T. Kirk and marveling at the incredible reality of the program. Picard was aware that this was a holodeck representation. That reality was quickly being replaced by the actual feeling that the vehicle from which he disembarked was undeniably real. The turbolift that had just taken him to Kirk's penthouse apartment felt like it was really moving.
Kirk entered his code into the security entrance panel beside the door. A series of beeps acknowledged the correct sequence and he stood aside motioning to Picard to enter.
Jean-Luc looked around the spacious room complete with what he determined as a magnificent collection of antiques.
"Well Picard do you like pasta?"
"Yes, that's fine. May I help you?" offered Jean-Luc.
"Why don't you pull up a chair while I putter around," answered Kirk? "And while you're at it, why don't you tell me who you really are and what you are doing here."
* * * *
"Data." Geordi called alarmingly from engineering. "Something is wrong! Whoever or whatever is probing the ship is starting to cause some damage. The isolinear chips are glowing. Field temperature is threatening to cause ship wide damage."
That was all Data needed to hear, "Lt. Worf, raise shields."
"Commander," once more engineering interrupted, "We are getting an increased level of neutrino and corontil emissions from the life support systems. I am unable to divert. Switching to manual override."
Worf was studying his array of sensors and scanners and shaking his head slowly. "Commander, something is happening with the energy beams."
"Yes Mr. Worf, what exactly is taking place."
"They have ceased!"
Deanna interrupted the conversation abruptly but she was finally much calmer. Her senses had finally detected a break in the alien emissions. She was able to make some sense of the alien bombardment. "Data, the aliens weren't using that energy beam to probe the ship. That isn't an array of neutrino pulses to study us. They actually used the beam to transport to the ship."
Data nodded while his fingers flew over the display panels. "I believe we are dealing with an alien culture whose infrastructure is based on diametrically opposite energy subsystems from ours. They are similar in composition to quantum filaments. In other words, they have substance and length but almost no mass.
Instead of sending energy probes just to learn about us, the alien lifeforms themselves, have entered the main computer processing systems. They are causing an alteration in the matrix differential on the energy disbursement conduits."
One last time Data put out a summons for Captain Picard and once more there was no answer.
* * * *
Picard walked around the comfortable surroundings of Kirk's apartment. He was having a hard time keeping in mind the fact that he was part of a computer program and not actually in Kirk's apartment. How the computer even knew what these premises would look like was beyond his present reasoning. His reality was slowly altering to include this scenario. "I cannot get over the inventive complexity of this program."
"What are you always mumbling about Picard?" Kirk called from the kitchen.
"I said your home is quite beautiful. You have an amazing collection of antiques." He picked up a pair of very old gleaming spectacles and was examining them when Kirk walked into the room.
"Oh yes, those were a birthday gift from my ship's doctor many years ago."
"That would be Leonard McCoy, wouldn't it?" asked Picard.
"Yes, how did you know?"
Picard grinned, "That's history Captain. He paused, took a deep breath and continued, "You may not believe what I am about to tell you Captain Kirk, but I come from the future. Stardate 49044.3 to be exact. You and I are actually interacting as part of a holodeck computer program. I have created you in order to talk to you, and get to know you. I was hoping to acquire a little advice from you. You are a computer-generated image. This is not Earth, not San Francisco, not your time. As a matter of fact you are deceased."
Kirk listened to all of this, brows knitted together. He took a deep breath, smiled and answered, "Right and you are a crazy outworlder who thinks I'm insane enough to believe all this. Maybe you are just going to turn all this back into pumpkins and white mice."
"Would you like me to prove what I say Captain?"
"Oh sure, go ahead." Kirk said, smiling and crossing his arms. "Give it your best shot, Picard."
Jean-Luc took another deep breath and said calmly, "Computer, please retain the image of Captain Kirk but eliminate all background accouterments. Hold that image for fifteen seconds, and then recreate the background of the bridge of the Starship NCC-1701. Wait for another fifteen seconds and then once more recreate the present surroundings.
Immediately everything disappeared, save for the two captains. Kirk looked around and said nothing, but the slope of his eyebrows spoke volumes.
Momentarily the scene shifted and the two stood on Kirk's old bridge. Picard's eyes never left Kirk's face and he could see the look of astonishment that surfaced. Once more the scene changed, this time back to Kirk's apartment. When the final change had been made, Picard smiled and said, "If this is all pumpkins and white mice, then I guess I'm your fairy godmother!"
Kirk looked skeptically at Picard. "I don't think I understand. How did you do that?"
"As I told you captain, this is a holodeck. The computer can create any scenario you can imagine."
"Really? Hmm, I would imagine that in the right hands, this computer device of yours could be quite fascinating..." his eyes took on a devilish glint.
Picard cleared his throat, clasped his hands behind his back and grinned, "I guess it could, but for right now, this is the environment I needed to create so I would be able to talk to you."
"Well I'll be damned," came the reply. "So it's true, I'm just a computer image? But I feel so real."
"Yes captain, but what an image! As a young cadet I read about your life and your adventures aboard the starship Enterprise. History then told us you had died. For years it was believed that you died when an energy ribbon destroyed part of a ship you were on. Recently though we learned that within that energy ribbon was a type of quantum reality called the Nexxus. Seventy-eight years later you and I met when I too became part of that reality. Shortly thereafter, you were killed."
Kirk looked skeptically at this stranger. "You met me after I died in a quantum reality eh? What the hell is quantum reality?"
Picard's lips turned upwards into a slight smile and he blinked, momentarily trying to decide how to explain. "There is a school of thought that believes for every action there are many, many results. Each one of the outcomes of that action is in itself a reality. Hence the name, quantum reality. As a matter of fact my Chief of Security was involved in a displacement of several quantum realities and we were all very lucky to get back to our own. But with your own situation, you existed for almost eighty years in an energy ribbon as I said called, 'Nexxus'. Unfortunately when you came back with me, you were killed."
"Why did I come back with you?" Kirk asked, looking particularly cynical.
Picard's smile widened, "Oh, you were on another galaxy-saving adventure."
"Mmm. Why have you created all this?" Kirk asked, arms spread wide. Picard was so incredibly enmeshed in his fantasy, that he never heard Data's futile summons.
To him, right at this moment, James T. Kirk was genuine and he was here in Kirk's earth apartment talking to a man he had long held in esteem. For Jean-Luc, the illusion had reality, and he perceived he was part of that reality.
"Some recent personal events have caused me to develop some doubts about the purpose of my life. You and I have much in common, captain. We both never married, had no children. I guess I need to know if you ever had any regrets? If you could live your life again what would you change? Would you still make the Enterprise you life's love?
Kirk turned to look out over the bay, and for several moments he was lost in his own thoughts. Turning back to Picard, his eyes began to glisten. Picard noticed it but said nothing and instead listened to what Kirk said.
"I did have a son."
"You did? I didn't know."
"My son was David Marcus. During a mission to the planet Genesis, David was butchered by a Klingon bastard."
"I've read about The Genesis Effect, but I didn't know that your son was part of that battle."
"David and his mother were part of the scientific team that developed the Genesis Device. I never knew David as he was growing up. His mother did not want me in their lives, so we never had a chance to be father and son. I wasn't able to give him my name." Almost imperceptibly he added, " I wish I had lived a different life."
Kirk sat heavily on one of the comfortable sofa chairs. "In many ways I was responsible for his death. I was so intent on rescuing my first officer that I never thought about the jeopardy I was putting David in."
"That would have been the rebirth and rescue of Spock wouldn't it?"
Kirk turned his chair, narrowed his eyes and contemplated Picard. "You know of him too?"
"Actually I met Mr. Spock a few years ago. He is currently on Romulus attempting reunification between the Vulcans and the Romulans."
At that Kirk gasped, "Reunification? Never! Is he crazy? Now I know everything you are telling me is a lie. There would never be a Romulan/Vulcan bond."
Picard nodded in understanding, "There are those who believe Spock may actually be able to bring about some kind of rebellion against the present government dogma. As an Ambassador of the Federation, he seems to wield an incredible amount of influence."
"An Ambassador?" Kirk said. "How does Sarek feel about that?"
"Ambassador Sarek died about three years ago. Unfortunately he was never able to reconcile with Spock. They battled vigorously about their opposing views of reunification."
Kirk nodded. "Sarek loved him but he was opposed to Spock entering Starfleet. I remember they had not spoken for many years. Although Sarek eventually came to accept what Spock had done and actually be proud of him, there always remained a kind of estranged relationship between the two."
Picard smiled, knowingly, "Before Sarek died I had the occasion to mind meld with him. I was able to pass Sarek's feeling about Spock on to him in a joining after Sarek's death."
The two paused and the room fell strangely quiet. Picard broke the tranquillity. "I do have one piece of news, though, that you should be pleased to hear. About a year ago, your engineering chief, Montgomery Scott, was discovered accidentally on a downed ship and was rescued by my crew."
Kirk shook his head, "You're kidding, aren't you?"
"I believe Captain Scott is continuing in his career on one of Starfleet's outposts."
"I don't believe it," chuckled Kirk. "How can he still be alive in your time?"
Picard smiled and recounted the story of the incident that led the Enterprise to rescue Scotty. "Even your Dr. McCoy is still around. He boarded the Enterprise as she was about to leave on her maiden voyage."
"My ship," exclaimed Kirk.
"No Captain, it was my ship. The Enterprise NCC-1701-D."
"D! I wish I could see it."
"I'm sorry Captain, unfortunately the ship was destroyed at the same time you were killed.
"So when I died I was aboard the Enterprise. Isn't that coincidence?"
"No Kirk you weren't. It was the same time but you and I were on the planet. The ship was destroyed by Klingons and crashed." Picard swept his arms around, "All this is part of the Enterprise, NCC-1701E."
"Did you say, 'E'?" Kirk gasped.
Picard nodded, "though if you tried to leave this holodeck you would cease to be. Your image can only exist here."
"Are you sure? Is there no way out?" asked Kirk, hands unfolded.
"It is a matter converting system where solid matter is converted into moveable images, but this is only possible here on the holodeck."
* * * *
In a corner of the room completely unseen and unheard by the two men were a pair of shimmering outlines.
The male looked down at his counterpart, "Maybe you should reconsider this little conspiracy of yours. The way Kirk goes though ships, maybe we should inform Starfleet to start building NCC-1701 F!"
Although there was no solidity to the two figures, the female lifted her foot and proceeded to kick him in the shin. He lifted his hands, and snapped his fingers noiselessly and they both disappeared.
* * * *
"Sir!" bellowed Worf, "we are losing integrity in all computer-controlled systems. Life-support has been diminished by 39.5%. Several decks are reporting increasing loss of environmental support."
From engineering came sounds of confusion. "Bridge, engineering reporting loss of power, warp engines off line, power to the shields gone. Engine core matrix has been reconfigured and levels of corontil and bendalithim are about to go off the scale."
"Geordi," Data calmly instructed, "Prepare for total shipwide shutdown on my mark. Also, prepare to send a level 2.3 random series of neutrino pulses through the isolinear chips. Based on the little we know about the makeup of the alien infrastructure, I believe that this course should very quickly cause our new friends to seek an exit. You will then transport the composite alien energy to an enclosed containment field in shuttlebay three. The three sequences should be no longer than .0043 seconds apart."
"Commander, it's going to take time to set it all up."
"Exactly how long, Geordi?"
"I estimate we should be ready in approximately 6.5 minutes."
In a last desperate attempt, Data once more instructed the computer to locate Picard. Once again it could not.
"Geordi, are you prepared?" Data asked while pulling himself a little higher. He lifted his chin, and set it to a defiant angle. His neural net was working at full capacity, justifying each action he was considering.
"We're ready Data."
"Prepare for sequence on my mark....activate now!"
* * * *
Kirk and Picard spoke of kings and things and starships named Enterprise.
After much talking, some great Italian food and a bottle of aged wine even Picard could appreciate, he stood readying to leave, when he noticed the enclosing images of Kirk's apartment beginning to glow a strange violet.
"Computer." He called. The program seems to be deteriorating. What is happening?"
"P-R-O-G-R-A-M I-S D-E-T-E-R-I-O-R-A-T-I-N-G," the computer began answering in a slow slurring voice.
Kirk grabbed Picard in a furtive bear hug. "Picard don't let this end. Please don't let this end."
"Computer, transport me out of here now!"
As the computer fought with its alien intruders, its circuits screaming in agony, pathways becoming suddenly blocked, it desperately tried to respond. And respond it did, but not the way Picard expected.
The image of Picard grew translucent, while Kirk's stayed solid. Picard's voice grew muffled while Kirk's grew stronger.
Kirk became aware of a tingling shooting through his body, his consciousness fighting to stay whole. Feeling his lungs ready to burst, he gasped for air only then realizing he had been holding his breath. He felt a change in atmosphere, and solidity beneath his feet.
Kirk looked around and found that he was standing in a dim, warm corridor. He stood there enveloped in a complex wave of fear and elation.
"Where the hell am I?" screamed Kirk, his hands clenched into tight fists.
"Y-O-U A-R-E O-N deck 10," the computer answered. Its synthesized voice becoming more normal at the end of the answer.
"Deck ten of what?" he demanded scanning his surroundings.
"Deck ten of the Federation Starship NCC-1701E," answered the computer.
Kirk lifted his hand to cover his mouth in sudden cognizance of what had taken place and he whispered, "The Enterprise! How do I get to the bridge?" Reaching out he pressed his palm against the smooth surface of the wall.
"Follow the indicators on wall access panel," the computer instructed while lighting the way for Kirk.
* * * *
Twinkling stardust drifted slowly down in the deserted corridor. Luminescence solidifying rapidly into two alien patterns.
"Oh good. Good job ma Cherié. This should be interesting. Any more captains running around and we'll have to sell tickets," one said to the other.
The diminutive murky shadow turned to face the other. "I know this one. I never had the chance to take my leave of him before his time ran out. Now I will be able to say goodbye, but not before they are both ready to return to where they belong.
The male looked down at the female. "What is this? Are you telling me all this is about you saying goodbye to some elderly, pontifical, self-important human? Give me a break. I'm not going to take part in this, this prank. If you've brought me here to stroke your fragile depraved ego, you're crazy and I refuse to take part." The male drew himself up to full height, and crossed his arms in front of him.
She looked down in a contemplative stance and absently smoothed the folds of her dress. She thought about the reasons behind her scheme. Was this arrogant being talking more truth then she would care to admit? Her resolve kicked in and she knew she must go ahead with her plans. "This one has a lot to do for us. Are you ready, you wretched excuse for a humanoid?"
The male narrowed his eyes and a faint trace of maliciousness creeping into his voice, "watch what you are saying. Be careful ma Cherié. Don't tempt me to snap my fingers and send you into oblivion."
She looked up and frowned. "You don't scare me. You're not the only one who can snap their fingers." She turned away from his irksome scrutiny of her being and once more vanished with only the fine vapor sparkling as it fell to the ground.
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