by Dalton S. Spence
Part II - Ready, Set, Go
Once again the evidence indicates that one of my crew will be travelling back in time. But unlike our previous experience, we will not be unprepared for the event. Various articles are being fabricated by the Historical Research department that Counsellor Troi may find useful. The Counsellor is in the holodeck studying the customs and social environment of 20th century New York. Lt. Cmdr. Data has been assigned to assist Dr. Bennett in uncovering more information about this extraordinary event. The only thing we can do is wait."
Deanna was beginning to get rather fustrated. "I thought this was a public transport system," she fumed, glaring at a rather frazzled bus driver.
He replied, "Sure is, lady, but you still got to pay." The other passengers of the crowded urban mass transport vehicle looked at her as if she was from another planet (which, of course, she was). She was still trying to figure out what "Exact Change" meant when, to her relief, she was interrupted by the chirping of her communicator, notifying her that the captain wanted her to report to the ready room. With a great deal of satisfaction, she commanded the computer to end program.
When Deanna entered the ready room, the captain immediately handed her a small pouch. "This contains some jewellery that can easily be sold for cash. There is also a list of the estimated prices that you can expect to get for them in the local currency, as well as a map of New York city circa 1990, and a guidebook published in the same period. Keep it with you at all times from now on."
Deanna went to her usual seat at the briefing table as the others filed in, stopping for a moment to clip the pouch to her uniform belt. To a stranger's eyes she would have appeared calm, almost serene, but Picard could tell she was hanging on by a thread. Once everyone was seated, the captain asked Data for his report.
"We have determined that the event depicted involving Counsellor Troi occurred no earlier than February 26, 1993. This is due to the picture's relative position to one shown an explosion at the World Trade Centre. This would have been important to the underground community due to the risk the resulting investigation would have posed to..." Data paused as the captain cleared his throat. Recognizing that he had digressed from the topic at hand he continued, "Yes, sir. The colored leaves at the feet the the person carrying the Counsellor support the theory that her visit to that time may have occurred in the autumn of that year. Perhaps at Halloween, when he could have taken advantage of the fact that his unusual appearance would been accepted as a costume in the world above."
"Very good, Data," interrupted a familiar, and unwelcome, voice. They all turned to see Q, strangely dressed as a king complete with ermine cape and crown, lounging against the bulkhead near the window. "I haven't even begun the game yet, and already you've solved the biggest piece of the puzzle." Noticing Picard obviously holding his anger in check, he groaned and said, "Alright Jean-Luc, say it and get it over with."
Picard exploded, "Q, What is the meaning of this outrage!"
"See, don't you feel better now? No? Well, to answer your question, I need your Counsellor to help settle a little wager." Noticing the others rising ominously from their seats, Q concluded, "Don't worry, she won't harmed, and can return to you after I'm through. That is, if she wants to. But you'll have to have to come to pick her up." Q gestured, and vanished along with Troi.
Deanna found herself sitting on what appeared at first glance to be a large stone bench. It was dark, and as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw other shapes around her, their details undefined. She could hear the sounds of a city in the distance. Noises that she had heard only minutes ago in the holodeck, of wheeled ground vehicles that had not been used for centuries. The air was tainted with the byproducts of fossil fuels. The moon, Earth's moon, came out from behind a cloud, and she saw clearly where she was for the first time.
"A graveyard," she whispered, frightened not by her location, but by the fact that she was there. She stood up, a little bit dizzy from the abrupt transition, and moved towards where she thought she saw a path. Surely it will lead out of this place, she thought. In the darkness, she didn't see the tree root that tripped her, or the name on the tombstone her head struck as she fell. There was only a brief moment of pain as she lost consciousness. She didn't hear the two voices arguing over the definition of harm. Nor did she see the two cloaked figures that approached the grave some minutes later.