As there was no outcry regarding my last disclaimer, I'm back to not owning Star Trek. (sigh) It would have been a lot more interesting for there to be an outcry. Oh well.
TexStarr: Thanks for the info regarding 'cat.' I don't speak a word of Russian (not even one), so I had to get it off a website. So any slight errors are their fault. I deny all responsibility, etc. etc.
Regarding reviews: Thank you, thank you. I am being overwhelmed with suggestions. Which is sorta good and sorta bad. Not to suggest you should stop giving them. I'll do what I can.
As you read this, you will realize our visitor from the future can't beam onto the Enterprise in front of four different people, in four different sections of the ship. Just ignore the little rational voice in your head telling you this. Thanks to Ensign Expendable for suggesting they meet someone from the future!
Part Six:
Man (Sort of) From the Future
2367: The Enterprise-D, in orbit around the Guardian of Forever. A certain member of the crew is beaming up. There is a sudden and unanticipated power surge in the transporter. Coupled with the time fluxes around the Guardian, a slight accident occurs…
2269: The Enterprise, in deep space:
A shimmering blue pillar appeared on the bridge. Kirk stood up from his command chair and faced it. The pillar slowly coalesced into a golden-skinned man wearing a yellow shirt with black shoulders, and black pants. He looked around, exhibiting no signs of any surprise.
"Who are you and how did you get on my bridge?" Kirk demanded.
The man looked at him. "You are Captain Kirk. This is the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701. Judging by instrument readouts, this is 2269, Stardate 6504.3."
"I knew all that," Kirk snapped. "I'm giving you a chance to explain yourself before I call security. I advise you to use it."
"As should be clear, I beamed aboard. How I beamed here I am uncertain. As to who I am, I am an android named Data—"
"An android!" Kirk exclaimed. "Why are you here? Wait, don't tell me! You're representing a planetary population you have taken control of!"
"Actually, I—"
"Naturally you have the best of intentions. But by controlling the population you are harming it. So you must self-destruct immediately!"
"I am not controlling a planetary population," Data said patiently. "Nor have I ever wanted to control a planetary population."
"Oh." Kirk seemed almost disappointed. "Then why are you here?"
"I simply—"
"Wait, don't tell me!" Kirk interrupted. "You're on a mission to eradicate all imperfect life in the galaxy!"
"Life—"
"Give me a couple of days and I'll figure out a mistake you've made, making you imperfect, so you'll have to self-destruct!"
Data looked at him. If he had been human, he no doubt would have been puzzled, and more than a little annoyed. As it was, he was still completely calm. "Life of any kind should be preserved, not eradicated. And I very rarely make errors."
"Well then, what is your mission?" Kirk asked in frustration.
"I do not—"
"Wait, don't tell me! You want to conquer the galaxy and protect humanity from itself! Did I mention that Harry Mudd always lies?"
"I do not know anyone named Harry Mudd and I have no intention of conquering the galaxy. I only—"
"You're after my ship! You want the Enterprise!"
"I do not want the Enterprise."
Kirk was not convinced. "That's ridiculous. Everyone wants the Enterprise."
"I do not."
The simple thought that someone didn't want his ship rendered Kirk momentarily speechless. Only momentarily, but it was enough.
"If you would allow me a moment to explain, you will se that I am not a threat," Data said quickly but calmly.
Kirk nodded mutely, still trying to bring himself to accept that someone didn't want the Enterprise.
"As I attempted to say at the onset of our conversation, I am an android named Data from 98 years, two months, one week and six days in the future. In Stardates, that is 37889.9 stardates. I am not a threat to anyone. I am here through no intent of my own. I was beaming up from the Guardian of Forever—"
Kirk had recovered his voice. "The Guardian of Forever! What were you doing there?! How do you even know about it?!"
"I am a Starfleet officer. I was a mission."
"Oh." Kirk blinked. "You're in Starfleet?"
"Yes. I was beaming up from the Guardian of Forever. I should be on the Enterprise."
"You are on the Enterprise."
"But this is the wrong Enterprise." Data looked around him. "I am rather lost."
Kirk looked confused. "So am I."
* * *
Spock was meditating in his quarters when he became aware of an odd humming noise. No, an unidentifiable humming noise, he corrected himself. Nothing could truly be described as odd. Simply different.
Spock opened his eyes. There was a shimmering blue pillar in front of him: apparently someone beaming in. Spock rose to his feet. The pillar slowly coalesced into a golden-skinned man wearing a yellow shirt with black shoulders, and black pants. He equaled Spock for expressionlessness. (A/N: Is that a word? You know what I mean…) He was not carrying a weapon, so Spock judged a 91.3% chance he was not an immediate threat. A reasonable margin to allow for questioning.
"Identify yourself," Spock said crisply.
"My name is Data. I am an android from 98 years, two months, one week and six days (37889.9 stardates) ahead in time. I assure you I am here only through a presently unexplained accident."
Spock considered this. An android from the future. On its face, the statement was absurd. Which fact, when more carefully evaluated, lent it credence. There were other more plausible and equally innocent explanations for beaming onto the Enterprise without authorization. Not many, but others. When lying, it was logical to choose the most reasonable lie. Even particularly emotional beings seemed aware of that piece of logic. Therefore, an absurd statement was more likely to be true, as it would be illogical to choose it for a lie.
Further, there was nothing in the statement that Spock knew for a fact could not be true. There were at least two known ways to deliberately travel into the past. He himself had employed both. Doubtless other ways existed as well.
The fact of an android was also plausible. Robotic technology had existed in the Federation worlds since before its establishment. While androids such as the one apparently before him were presently well beyond Federation technology it was not an unreasonable—generous, but not unreasonable—estimate that they may arrive at that point by 98 years in the future.
The concept of time travel would also account for the beaming in. The Enterprise was currently at Warp 3.2, with shields up. Transportation under such circumstances was not possible with modern Federation transporters. Future technology, combined with the effects of time travel, could explain the successful transportation.
Time travel would also account for the insignia on Data's chest. It was clearly of Starfleet origin, but not of a design Spock had ever seen. And he was certain he knew all of Starfleet's insignias. Being from the future was a capable, albeit complicated, explanation.
However, this was only theory. Under the circumstances, obtaining proof was the logical and necessary next step.
All of this evaluation took Spock about five seconds. He then took the required two steps to his desk and picked up his tricorder. "I am going to scan you," Spock explained. "Do not move."
"As you wish, although movement should not interfere with your tricorder's ability to scan."
Spock checked the tricorder's readings. The odds of Data truly being from the future rose dramatically. His tricorder showed that Data was indeed a highly advanced robotic creation. Also, his machinery seemed to have direct connections to known Federation technology, yet was well beyond anything being built today.
"Do your tricorder readings tell you anything?" Data asked politely.
"Yes. They suggest that there is an 84.3% chance of your being exactly what you say you are."
"Interesting," Data commented. "Going by what you presently know of me, I would have estimated an 85.1% chance myself."
* * *
McCoy was checking the settings on one of the biobeds in Sickbay when he became aware of an odd humming noise behind him. He turned and found himself confronted by a shimmering blue pillar. It coalesced into a golden-skinned man wearing a yellow shirt with black shoulders, and black pants.
Damn, McCoy thought. Here I am alone in Sickbay, unarmed with the comm unit across the room, and an intruder picks now to beam in. He finally decided that, under the circumstances, a bluff couldn't possibly hurt. If you acted like you had control, maybe the other guy would cave.
McCoy raised a hand near the biobed controls. "One move," he warned, "and I'll have alarms going off all over this ship."
The man did not seem impressed, with good reason. "That is a biobed. It is not equipped with an alarm system, as you should be aware, Dr. McCoy."
Okaaay. That didn't work, McCoy concluded. Now what? I'm a doctor, not a security guard. I don't have the training for this!
The intruder was studying him. "Judging by your facial expressions, you seem to be experiencing concern. There is no cause for that. I am not intending harm to this ship. I am only here by accident."
"Oh," was all McCoy could think of to say. "So…who are you anyway?"
"My name is Data. I am an android from the future."
"Oh." Once again he was at a loss for words.
"You may want to verify that statement with the biobed sensors," Data suggested.
"Oh…right." McCoy tapped a few controls, and checked the readouts. His eyebrows shot upwards. The read outs did indeed support Data's statement. They registered some things about him, but absolutely refused to identify other things. Which did point to future technology.
McCoy tried to assimilate this. He was apparently facing an android from the future who had accidentally beamed into his Sickbay. What does a person say to that?
"So…how far into the future did you say you were from?" he asked finally.
"I haven't said," Data answered.
There was a pause.
"And…will you tell me how far into the future you're from?"
"Certainly. 98 years, two months, one week and six days. Or, alternately, 37889.9 stardates."
"98 years, two months, one week and six days," McCoy echoed.
"Approximately speaking," Data clarified.
"Approximately…" McCoy sunk onto one edge of the bed and stared at Data. "Good lord. It's a mechanical Spock!" he said in mock horror.
Data seemed mildly puzzled. "I am not comprehending your terminology. Please elaborate."
"Never mind. Tell me, though, are there many androids like you in your time?"
"Actually, I am quite rare."
"Well thank heavens for that!"
* * *
Chekov was walking down a non-descript corridor. A shimmering blue pillar appeared before him: someone transporting in. Chekov drew his phaser and held it ready in one hand. His other hand hovered near the comm unit, ready to sound an intruder alert if necessary. The pillar coalesced into a golden-skinned man wearing a yellow shirt with black shoulders, and black pants. He looked around, showing no signs of surprise.
"Don't move!" Chekov ordered. "Who are you?"
The man didn't move. "My name is Data. I am an android from the future. I am here only by accident and do not pose a threat."
Chekov frowned. "An android from the future? Why should I believe you?"
"I am not programmed to lie," Data said simply.
This satisfied Chekov somewhat. He lowered the phaser, but kept it in hand. "An android from the future…will you answer a question about the future?"
"As long as it does not endanger the timeline."
"Wery well," Chekov agreed. "Tell me: are you a Russian inwention?"
Data blinked. "According to what I know of him, Dr. Soong was not Russian."
"Oh," Chekov said, disappointed. "Too bad."
It was eventually considered verified that Data was indeed an android from the future. The question, of course, was what to do with him. Stay tuned!
Next chapter: Continuing the adventures of Data on the Enterprise. Focuses primarily on Spock and McCoy. No doubt you can guess what they're discussing…