CHAPTER TWO: A STORM IS COMING

SHIP LOG: ...Reparations are under way and we will enter the New-Rakis system any moments now... Before the captain could continue is entry the ship was out of Warp.

The planet New-Rakis offer one disconcerting looks to the Enterprise crew. A desert planet. Worse than Vulcan worse than anything human were known to live or even survive on. Peoples are living here.Thought all who were looking at the main viewsreen. "Mr. Worf, are we in the right system?" Picard manages to ask. "We are Captain!" Responded Worf hardly believing it himself. Then Worf added. "Captain we are hail." "Put it on!" Order the Captain. On the viewscreen appears a man with an intense stare. His eyes are all blue, no withe at all. It would be quite intimidating but for the smile with temper the look of the whole face. "Welcome to New-Rakis... I am Miles Teg and you are?" Ask the man. "Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Enterprise is Duncan Idaho ready for transport?" "Well am afraid Idaho would not be there for at least five hours." "Why is that so?" "He decided to take a maker instead of an orny. The moments the man gets here we will contact you. For now can I invite you and your senior officers over for diner in two hours?" "We can't teleport anything right now. We must use a shutllecraft if you could provide us landing information." "Of course Captain." "See you in two hours, administrator Teg Picard out!" The Captain was about to exit the bridge when

LT. Crusher said. "Captain I need a minute of your time sir." The Captain thought. (Why not now?) "Come with me Mr. Crusher."

They entered the turbolift. "What wrong Wes? You look like you just got very bad news." "You may say that Captain. When we entered the system, the Enterprise received an information package from admiral Carson." "What kind of package?" Ask Picard. "It a DELTA BLUE sir." "Computer stops and locks this turbolift."

"Captain you might want to wait for me to leave the turbolift." "Nonsense it a blue package. I am authorized to share the damn thing with my senior officer!" "My point is sir that I am not a senior officer." "As of now you are, now shut up and read the bad new with me." Crusher was shock at the news then he say testing is new rank. "Computer run information package Carson 001... The Computer executed the order, to the surprise of Wesley Crusher. After two minutes of tense quiet reading Crusher broke the silence. "Well this is something very interesting Captain." "No kidding refugee from a parallel universe!" "That a first. Captain we never contacted friendly folk from a parallel universe before?" "No, every contact with people from a parallel universe has always been hostile contact. It is almost like a cardinal rule." "The story they tell is pretty hard to believe." "Human civilization spanning on more than three galaxies don't appear on the sensor on a daily basis." "A 200,000-year's older civilization that knows only human as sentient being is one big pill to swallow." Crusher chuckled then laughed. "What so funny about all this?" Demanded the Captain. "There is the possibility we might have been the victims of a prank." "Carson would never..." Started Picard Before he could finish is sentence Crusher said "But Q would!" Picard face turned white like death at that name. The infamous Q had tormented them so often and in so many way! The captain was ashamed he did not think of Q. Picard after a moment said very loudly and very angry! "Q show yourself damn it!" And with a flash of light Q was there.

"HA! Mon capitaine you summon me!" "I will ask you just once Q, did you do this?" Q lock faces with the captain and says. "I may enjoy a good harmless joke from time to time but not this time." "So your not behind this any chances it one of your family member acting out again Q?" Ask Crusher. "No, these people are what they say they are and a lot more!" Said Q then after a moment of silence Q decides to give the captain a warning of what is to come. "Jean-Luc this is a dangerous time for the Federation you will need all the friends you can have."

"What do you mean by Dangerous Time Q?" Ask Picard fearing the worst and being very right about it.

"The Borg is coming your way in force!" No other words could have shaken Picard that deeply. "Where?" Ask the Captain. "How many ship?" Said Crusher simultaneously. "The question that you should ask is when, and the answer is in nine months. I cannot tell you where because the Borg is targeting the entire alpha quadrant But I can tell you the collective will be using many Cubes." "How many?" Ask Picard looking pale like death! "Ten the Borg is sending ten Cubes! My friend I am so sorry!"

"Are you saying we cannot win this time Q?" Asked Crusher. "Ten Cubes kid! You had a hard time surviving one. Your chances are near zero unless you get some help." Finished Q.

"Are you suggesting you could help us Q?" Ask Picard with some hope in the eyes. "I just give you warning of what is coming Captain. The Q continuum had ruled that I cannot do anything about this, but Idaho can help you." Responded Q. "Q you been very helpful, is there anything else you can tell us?" Demand Picard with more respect that he ever had for Q. "There is something you should tell Duncan Idaho. (When Leto son of Paul created the GHOLA program he was seeing as far as today. The Borg is like the thinking machine of the Butlerian Jihad!)" "Aside from that if you want a prediction for what would happen I can give you one." Said Q. "Please do so." Demanded Crusher before Picard could say anything.

"All right here we go. (When all hope is lost the one who is many would make his stand and is voice would shatter the mind of even the Borg.)" With is usual flash Q was gone.

Crusher and Picard remain silent for a few minutes.

Picard was the one to recover first. "Well it no prank!" Said Picard. "For all his faults' Q never makes any joke about... Well them!" Admitted Crusher. "Mr. Crusher on my order you have now the rank of Commander!" "Captain it is two ranks more than mine, are you sure?"

"More than sure in two weeks Worf is taking command of a new ship you will be my new Number One!"

"Captain I am way too young Starfleet would never approve of this." "Starfleet asked for Worf but they can give me no experienced officer to take is place so the Admiralty gives me free choice. They would approve even if some of them choke on the news." What they did not say out loud, was that if Crusher screw-up in is new job both their careers were over. Crusher will end in some starbase in the middle of nowhere. Picard would be 'promoted' to admiral and put in a desk job. Both men know this but did not care at all! The Borg was coming there way! Nothing else really matters anymore.

"Captain we must inform Starfleet of what we just learn." "First thing firsts. Computer unlocks turbolift and change destination to deck five! Commander Crusher you will form an away team." The Commander asks what the mission of the away team will be. The Captain reply was simple. "Bring me Duncan Idaho ASAP."

END OF CHAPTER TWO