Chapter Title: Globes and Maps
Chapter Synapses: Collins takes leave to find Starwind, whom, she suspects, is still alive. VonBach is hesitant about assuming command of Hyperion after being ordered to a fleet led by Admiral Nechiev. Starwind begins experiencing time shifts. (A special Hyperion event (1.5 times longer than a normal chapter))
Written by: Seraph Koji
"Attention! All crew and passengers of the USS Beaumont! Ship will be departing in thirteen minutes."
Collins strode through Starbase 216. She approached an airlock with a female Captain standing at it.
"Captain Collins?" the woman asked.
Collins nodded, "Captain Lillian Mitchell, I presume?" The woman nodded and opened the airlock while Collins continued, "Thank you for allowing me to join you on this mission."
"No problem, Captain." Mitchell replied, "I'd consider you a mission specialist. You survived a battle with the Krenim. Not to mention, you're the reason Admiral Janeway dispatched us."
Collins nodded. It was nice having Starfleet brass owe her favors. "We have a month, Captain, to find Victor Starwind."
At this point, Mitchell was leading Collins through the corridors of the Beaumont, "Why do you think he's still alive?"
"This." Collins handed Mitchell the comm. badge formerly belonging to Starwind. "It has a temporal variance of 0.3."
"0.3?" Mitchell asked, not understanding significance.
"The variance of someone phased out of space-time according to the logs of the Pegasus experiment." Collins explained, "This is our first lead, Captain. Now we chase history from here. Since this is phased, it is reasonable to conclude it was a sort of temporal copy. Meaning if we scan for the exact variance, we'll fine Victor."
"A bit optimistic." Mitchell entered the turbolift, "Mostly based on conjecture."
Collins entered as well, "Got a better idea?"
"No." Mitchell replied simply, "Bridge." The turbolift doors slid shut.
"Where am I?" Starwind looked around him. It was a dark gray room, apparently cinderblock and concrete. He wasn't dead, that was for sure. Had the Chronoton Shift worked?
Then, something Starwind never considered as a possibility chilled him. A voice he never expected to hear again called out, "Not where, Victor, but when." Abraxis approached from behind him, "Clever, using my temporal weapon to charge the particles in the air. But did you expect I would join you?"
"No." Starwind replied, reaching for a phaser he didn't have. Yes, it was taken from him on Deep Space Nine.
"As I was saying, when are you? A few years ago. Early Dominion War. You are in the Epsilon Korva sector." Abraxis explained.
Starwind's eyes grew wide as he dashed across the large subterranean room on Epsilon Korva II. On a couch against the gray wall lie an injured Andorian female. An ensign. Beside her, on the floor, sat a young Victor Starwind, a shuttle pilot. "You'll be fine, Talara." The younger Starwind assured her.
"Hey, Victor… sorry about dragging you off-course. I wasn't thinking and just wanted to prove that those new Eagle fighters can out-perform any runabout, and…" Talara winced. She was in a world of pain.
"Shhh." Starwind shushed, "Lexington will come back for us. And in the meantime, Captain Lam will protect us here."
"Bothering an old man in his retirement." Abraxis looked at the older Starwind, "Oh, don't worry, we're out of phase. We can't affect their timeline."
"Talara and I were out doing flight tests when the war reached this sector. Her fighter was destroyed, but she managed to beam over to my runabout. We slipped past Dominion portal and landed here, Epsilon Korva." The out-of-phase Starwind replied, "She was hurt, and I carried her into town. A retired Captain took us in just before the Jem'Hadar began occupying the cities. We were here for three months awaiting rescue."
"Vic? Can I ask you something?" The image shifted slightly. Young Starwind appeared more disheveled, and Talara seemed worse off. She didn't look well at all.
The disheveled Starwind ran to her side, "Yes?"
"When I die, I want you to take a vile of my blood," she suddenly winced from a sharp pain, "Take my blood bake to Andoria. To the Wall of Heroes."
"You're going to live. Captain Lam said that he knows of a doctor he can trust. He'll bring the doctor to look at you." Starwind assured her.
"Vic, I'm gonna die."
Back on Hyperion, VonBach sat in the central chair. West entered from the turbolift, "Sir?"
"We've been ordered to the Chin'Taka system by Admiral Nechiev. We're to join the third fleet under her command."
"The problem?"
"Amy, in that confounded recording, Hyperion fell under my command. As Acting Captain." VonBach sighed, "Talara is already my First Officer – Captain Collins' orders – but I want you here as my Second Officer."
West nodded and sat to VonBach's left, "Mister Ivano, are we on course for Chin'Taka?"
"Yes, ma'am." Ivano replied, not enjoying the new leadership VonBach provided.
"What is this, Abraxis?" Starwind walked through corridors of the Destiny with his Krenim guide to this odd 'afterlife'.
"Time shifts." Abraxis explained, "This is an evolution of the mind, Captain. The ability to control your placement in time. But you didn't get here on your own, so you can't control it."
"So who is in control?" Starwind asked.
Abraxis stopped as the Vulcan commander Vorek exited a turbolift and passed through him, "Time is."
As the turbolift began to move, it transformed in the blink of an eye to that of a Sovereign class. "Hyperion-A?" Starwind held his breath as turbolift doors slid apart again, not revealing a bridge, but a planet surface. No… it was Tycha City. He saw three women and a man, West, Winters, Talara, and Sen. Each word odd new-looking uniforms with long black jackets. They all looked much older as well. Perhaps twenty years.
"The anniversary…" Sen sighed, looking about, "It's too bad to hear about Victor."
"It was the Chronoton poisoning from the war." Talara said, a tear in her eye, "But he's with Dorian now."
"That's right." Winters gave Talara a small hug, "It must be hard for you."
Talara shook her head and stepped away from Winters "I'm happy for him. For ten years, he had to share his heart between both Dorian and I. Now he's free."
"How did Remiel handle it?" West asked.
Starwind watched the group intently, "Dorian died and I married Talara?"
"And had a child named Remiel." Abraxis added.
"This is the future?"
"One of them." Abraxis replied, "That explosion on Deep Space Nine engulfed us in a Tesseract, a like a 4-dimensional cube shifting through space-time. And this is how the future goes now. If you don't become stronger. If you don't become more than human for the briefest of moments to save Dorian Collins."
Starwind shot Abraxis a suspicious glare, "Why do you care?"
"Because, Captain, if you don't, it appears the Krenim lose the war." Abraxis replied, "I'd rather go with the uncertain future – one where I might be alive."
"So, what do I do?"
Back in normal space-time, aboard the Beaumont, the science officer ran onto the bridge, "Captain Collins! Captain Mitchell! I have a breakthrough!"
"What is it, Kenneth?" Mitchell asked Owens.
"Computer, put diagram Owens 213 on screen." The image of streaking stars was replaced by an image of DS9 surrounded by Krenim ships. "This is during the siege at Deep Space Nine. This is the moment of the explosion in Ops." The ships instantly vanished, "We detected a temporal variance of .3, just as the badge Captain Collins had. We further concluded that a Tesseract formed along the beam, engulfing Captain Starwind and Colonel Abraxis."
"You're saying Abraxis and Starwind are drifting through time, out of phase?" Mitchell asked, "How do we find him?"
"Wait for the Tesseract to appear in our time." Collins replied.
"Then what?" Mitchell asked.
Owens fielded this one, "I'm working on a way to destabilized a polytemporal tesseract."
"I would assume that's easier said than done?" Mitchell sighed, "Thank you, Lieutenant."
VonBach sat on Hyperion's bridge as the fleet cruised toward the Krenim's latest beachhead.
"Now, Joseph, it's important you listen to both Talara and I. Your impulsive nature is an asset at Tactical, but you're in the big chair." At this, VonBach gave West a look, "You've led duty shifts, but never commanded during a battle like this. You need us to keep your nature in check."
"Are you telling me this as my counselor or as my second officer?" VonBach asked.
"Both, Joe." She said, adding, "And also as your friend."
"She's right." Talara said, coming down from Operations to sit to VonBach's right, "For all we know, that impulsive nature could kill us in this battle."
"So could your advice." VonBach countered.
West interrupted, "No, we can't do this! The two of you need to work together, but more importantly, we can't second guess ourselves. We'll never accomplish anything."
"Right again." Talara sighed, "Sorry, sir."
"I… guess… I am too, Blue." VonBach sighed.
Talara smiled, then looked rather distant. West cought this immediately, "Something wrong, Talara?"
"It's Victor. He didn't have the peaches, he wasn't the best tactician, but since my first time in combat with him I knew he would be a great Captain." Talara paused as if inviting someone to ask.
VonBach took the bait, "Why?"
"Because he cared for everyone's safety. He cared for every member of the Lexington crew as if they were his closest friends, even hotshot fighter pilots he only sorta knew." Talara responded, "He made the crew his family, and protected them thusly. I'm going to miss him."
"Unlimited control of space and time and you come back here?" Abraxis sighed, appearing in the basement in Starwind's past once more.
Starwind stared at Talara and his younger self in the corner, "It's like I was drawn here." Abraxis' sigh made his skepticism clear, "Okay, well, this is hardly as easy thing to control! Why can't you alter the future?"
"Time made this your world, Victor. I'm just along for the ride. Now, focus. I like living." Abraxis responded.
"How do I find Dorian?"
"Well, it's remarkably complicated… unless matters of the heart are involved." Abraxis felt a need to clarify, so he didn't sound so… cheesy, "You see, you mind can more easily guide the Tesseract if it is following a strong emotion, like love. Or hate, for that matter. These emotions are like fuel. Your feelings become stronger and may help you unlock that chrononaut potential you have."
"And if there isn't?"
"You need to learn to intuit the tesseract the hard way." Abraxis simply replied.
Starwind sighed, "Forgive me, this is insane."
"Is it?" Abraxis asked, "How much of your brain do you actually use, Captain?"
"10, 15 percent, maybe." Starwind conceded.
"Imagine your potential." Abraxis smiled.
The young Starwind echoed the sentiment, "Imagine our potential, Talara." He said to his friend, who had healed somewhat, "Trapped behind enemy lines, and once you're healed, we can mount a rebellion. Captain Lam can lead us. We'll steal a Jem'Hadar ship and cruise back to Federation space. Wouldn't that be a story to tell?"
"Victor, you idealist." Talara sat up, "I'm just healing, the Captain is too old for combat, and we'd be outnumbered five thousand to one."
"I like those odds." Both Starwinds said in unison.
The out-of-Phase Starwind turned back to Abraxis, "Let's do this."
"Let's do this." Collins replied to the Science Officer, who was ready to destroy the Tesseract.
"Focus on her, Victor." Abraxis urged, "Focus on her moment of need. And allow me to help you…"
"Detecting the temporal variance… It's localizing."
"Can you feel her? Her need to be saved?"
"It's here! Captain Mitchell! It's here!"
"Dorian?" Starwind opened his eyes to see the bridge of an unfamiliar ship, with Dorian being the only familiar face, "When is this, Abraxis?"
"Stardate 57820.7." Abraxis replied, "Shortly after your absence began."
"Powering the weapon." The Tactical officer reported.
"Bring him to us." Collins ordered.
A bright light surrounded Starwind.
"This is it, Victor! This is when you must make your move! She's trying to destroy the Tesseract, but she'll wind up destroying the ship as well and giving you Chronoton poisoning. You must change this moment! Materialize and stop her!" Abraxis screamed!
Starwind ran at Collins with all his might, struggling against the light trying to consume him, "DORIIAN!"
Collins looked about her. "I heard his voice! It must be working!"
"NO!"
Too late.
There was a terrible, ghastly, noise.
There was a terrible, ghastly silence.
There was a terrible, ghastly noise.
Starwind floated alone in space. A failure. Dorian died and he was pushed farther out of phase. A liosgt shimmered and Abraxis, or something less Krenim-looking and more human than Abraxis, appeared beside him.
"We're disappointed in you, Victor." He frowned, "I told him humanity could do it, that you could do it, but it looks like he still favors Jean-Luc."
"What are you yammering about, Abraxis." Starwind asked, as both floated in space.
Abraxis sighed, "You still don't get it. I'm not Abraxis. Abraxis is dead. Died on DS9. I borrowed his identity in order to guide you. Fat lot of good that did."
"So who are you?"
"Ah, now, Victor… I can't give you all the answers. What I can say is this. Right now, VonBach is leading Hyperion on a mission which, without Dorian, will be her last. Look." Suddenly, they were on a flaming bridge of a ship falling into the Tal'Nori atmosphere.
"Brace for impact!" VonBach screamed.
And then, they were back in space.
"You have to try again. Get her to abandon her mission altogether. Then, perhaps, the Continuum will aid in your escape from this region, this Hell of Time. But YOU have to be worthy."
"OH?" Starwind almost screamed at the entity before him, "I have to be… worthy?" He was now at the top of his voice, "How the hell do I become worthy?"
"By proving humanity can become more than it is." The entity in Abraxis' place replied calmly, "And by showing the moment of higher potential we saw in Jean-Luc was not a fluke."
Starwind floated for some time later, alone with his misery. He had witnessed the death of everyone he served with, and had to undo it? How?
Abraxis said how. Stop Dorian from leaving. But how to do that? Without egging her on?
"Attention! All crew and passengers of the USS Beaumont! Ship will be departing in thirteen minutes."
Collins strode through Starbase 216. She approached an airlock with a female Captain standing at it.
"Captain Collins?" the woman asked.
Collins nodded, "Captain Lillian Mitchell, I presume?"
Here was Starwind's moment. He had to create an emergency. Something that would prevent their mission… He knew now and vansihed from the station.
"Captain Mitchell, new orders from Starfleet. Captain Collins' mission is to be postponed. You are to rendezvous with Hyperion and join her fleet." Came a voice through Mitchell's comm. badge.
"On whose order?"
"Admiral Judge of the Albatross."
Abraxis and Starwind appeared again is space, this time on Hyperion's hull.
"Well, Victor, you saved the future. Easy, wasn't it? Just adding the Beaumont to a list. Simple as that. Send them into battle together to prevent their mutual destruction. Clever boy, you are. He's even taking a keen interest in you."
"So, I'm free?"
"Not yet. The Continuum needs to evaluate your performance. You're on trial you know. Your whole species is." And with that, Abraxis vanished, leaving Starwind in his Tesseract prison.
