Chapter 23


"You know the worst thing about it, Geordi? I keep wondering what will happen to the baby. If the timeline changes will my little sister or brother still be around? I couldn't live with myself if I was to cause something like that to happen. How could I face Mom?"

LaForge put a reassuring hand on Wesley's shoulder. "You keep thinking about the problem, Wes. But try to remember this isn't just your responsibility to figure this out. We're all in this together."

Wesley nodded and looked at his friend. "I know."

LaForge attempted an encouraging smile. "So, while you ponder the mysteries of time and space, we're reprogramming CASU—"

"For what reason?" Wes asked. There was a tone to his voice and a seriousness in his expression that challenged Geordi to state a real purpose for his project, not just to provide a clever way to distract Wesley for a few hours.

"Data thinks-and I agree, that we've retrieved enough of the neutralizer data from the runabout's files to re-create one. But more interestingly, we'd like to try and fuse the neutralizer technology with CASU's programming."

Wesley looked surprised but intrigued. "CASU is able to fly, right?"

"Sure, and it can deploy weapons as well. So what would you say if we had a neutralizer that could fly, take direction from us remotely and could even attack a Malkatan convoy using the neutralizer to make the enemy's weapons obsolete?"

"I'd say that would be pretty bad-ass," conceded Wesley with a slow grin.

"You know that's exactly what I said to Data, and he just looked at me."


2355 Maxia

"Drop the weapons and put your hands up slowly," said a high pitched voice behind them. Apparently the universal translator built into his combadge couldn't make voices sound more attractive.

Riker sighed and glanced behind him before complying. Shit. There were six Ferengi, well-armed. Well, at least they had made it up to the bridge. The one with the girlish voice shoved a disruptor in his back and then pushed Beverly. "Easy!" Riker protested. He dropped his phaser and nodded for Beverly to do the same.

"By the gods of profit, they are hideous," said one of the Ferengi.

"And huge too. What are they?" asked another.

"Is this a female?" said one, fingering a strand of Beverly's hair. "Why does she wear clothing? How perverted!"

The leader eyed Kad, moving around to the front and noting the restraints that bound Kad to Riker. "And who are you, you little piece of tree dwelling scree dung?"

"Kad he knows you so well," Riker murmured.

Kad pointed up at Riker with his free hand. "He is an evil hairy giant of an alien who has taken me prisoner, and this female is of the most brazen type. Not only is she also a giant, but she is constantly insulting me, and as you can see, she wears clothing—have you ever seen such depravity? I demand that you shoot them at once!"

The lead Ferengi sneered. "I asked you who you are, not for the long version of your life story! Now I know for a fact that you don't belong on board this ship, Ferengi or no. And I can assure you that we will shoot these aliens, and you as well unless Brom can make a profit by keeping you around."

"Take us to Brom," Beverly said suddenly. She had been quietly sizing up the situation. "We have a proposition for him. Very profitable," she added casually.

Kad sputtered next to her, but the lead Ferengi slapped him across the face. "You stain the name of your clan by falling in league with these creatures," he mocked Kad. "My name is Bero," he said looking at Beverly. "Where I come from females do not involve themselves in profitable endeavors, because they are too stupid to do so. But I can see that your alien ways will make you of interest to my commander. So yes…we will go and see Brom."


The bridge of Brom's ship was a flurry of activity as they were pushed onto it. For the moment the unexpected visitors went unnoticed, because all eyes were on the front view screen.

Riker and Beverly watched with barely contained agitation as the view screen filled with a grey and battered looking Starfleet vessel, equipped with four nacelles.

Riker, despite their predicament, broke into a broad grin. "I can't believe I am here and seeing this in person," he said, looking over at Beverly. But his smile faded as he saw that her eyes while also fixed on the view screen were filled with tears. Of course she had seen the Stargazer many times before Bok had brought it back to the Enterprise three years ago. She had seen it, set foot on it; even lived on it for a brief time.

"Heading?" Brom demanded.

"They're headed directly for us on an intercept course," his weapons master reported.

"Raise our shields. And when they get in range, fire at will," Brom said waving his hand lazily.

"No!" Beverly suddenly shouted. All eyes turned to regard her. Brom nearly fell out of his chair, but Bok's reaction at seeing not only Beverly but Kad, sent him over the edge.

"Kill them!" he screamed, rushing them, but Bero stepped in front of the visitors leveling his disruptor at Bok's chest.

"Not yet," said Bero. "Not until we hear what deal they are offering," he said. "Now sit back down."

Suddenly the ship shook violently. "They are firing on us!"

"An unprovoked attack!" Bok shouted. "Now you see your Picard is not noble...he is treacherous in action!" Bok yelled at Riker and Beverly as though now vindicated. Riker grabbed Beverly, supporting her and they quickly made their way to a place to sit. They gripped the railing, still fixated on the events unfolding on the screen.

"Fire!" screamed Brom.

"They increased speed and then slowed, sir," said the weapons master.

"What is he doing? Are they retreating?" Brom asked no one in particular.

The stargazer had slowed, and suddenly spun 180 degrees in a peculiar move so that the nacelles were now pointing toward them.

Shouts erupted on the bridge. "They are escaping!"

"It's from right out of one of my Academy textbooks," Riker murmured, now gaping at the screen. Uh oh. The starship which had hesitated, suddenly put on a burst of speed, flying backwards, now firing from its aft phaser banks at them. The deck shook underneath them again.

"Evasive maneuvers!" Brom and Bok screamed at the same time.

"Get out of his way, Picard is a lunatic," Brom shouted, as the Stargazer shot overhead, just clearing the hull of the Ferengi marauder.

"He's coming around for another pass."

Riker gripped Beverly's hand and he saw she had shut her eyes and was biting her bottom lip. We are on the wrong damn ship, he thought just before things got much worse.