Chapter 17

"Are you sure you're feeling well enough to accompany us over there, Patrick?"

Commander Obi nodded at Riker and Doctor Crusher and smiled weakly. His head was killing him and his arm was very sore, but he was glad to be alive. "Aye sir."

"Energize," Riker said and the interior of the Aldrin's transporter room was replaced by dark but ornate furnishings of a Daimon's ship. Of course, the Daimon in command, Daimon Bok was missing. He'd traveled into the past to kill Captain Picard, and Beverly and Will planned to follow him. Riker pulled his phaser and quickly surveyed their surroundings.

A Ferengi who was even smaller than was typical, stood surrounded by armed guards, looking very pleased with himself. But Riker was in no mood to bargain.

"I see no latinum bars," accused the small Ferengi self-importantly.

"You're lucky to be seeing anything at all," Riker said. "Your ship attacked an innocent Starfleet vessel—"

"And then you attacked my ship," the little Ferengi interrupted. "I am a Grand Daimon now…and this female is hardly innocent!"

"And you are hardly grand, Kad," remarked Beverly calmly. "In fact, you are the smallest, most pathetic creature I believe I have ever seen."

He squinted and twitched, letting out a slow hiss.


The Enterprise shuttle bay was eerily quiet. Picard had quickly overcome his strange experience in having been rejected by his former ship—a ship that no longer recognized him. As he spoke, he attempted to keep his voice strong. "It's a good sign that we were able to get aboard," he said, checking his phaser. "But from here on in, we should expect trouble. Now, Mary, if you feel safer you may stay here, but-" he turned and was shocked to find that the old woman was now standing up, holding a large phaser rifle in her hands.

"I'm coming with you," she said firmly.

Worf took an involuntary step backward. "Do you even know how to use that weapon?" he demanded.

She shrugged. Picard raised an eyebrow and gently pushed the barrel of the rifle away from the direction his knee where it was currently pointing. "Mr. Worf, please give Mary a quick but thorough weapons tutorial before we proceed," he said warily.

"Aye sir."


When they reached the bridge, Picard turned to Worf. "You served with Captain Jellico…you all did, didn't you? If he's in there, on the bridge, he'll recognize you, won't he? Won't he?"

Worf remained silent, just looking down at him. "Stop trying to protect me Worf!"

"Sir…as I have tried to tell you…after you disappeared that day in Hawaii everything began to change. Traces of you and your influence began to disappear. Only those of us who knew you and who served along with you remembered you, Captain. After Commander Riker was promoted to Captain, it became even clearer that all of us who had served on board the Enterprise were now out of place. According to the records some of us served with Captain Jellico on board the Enterprise."

Picard frowned. "Do you remember serving with Captain Jellico?"

"I have memories of serving with both you and Captain Jellico," Worf said. "It is as though I have lived two lives..."

"And yet you have not been phasing in and out of existence as I have," he observed.

"No sir."

"Very well," he said after a moment. "Let's proceed," he said tightly.