Picard stood there in disbelief seeing Lieutenant Haverson on the main viewer, "Mr. Haverson, if you'll allow me to explain…" "No Captain, I'm afraid you are not in the position to talk. We are!" Just then Johnson walked up and punched Lieutenant Haverson in the jaw making go unconscious. "I apologize for the Lieutenant's behavior Captain Picard," Johnson says looking at the viewer in the Longsword, "We just escaped our death and are trying to get home." Picard became amused at Johnson's actions and words, "Also, my name is Staff Sergeant Avery Johnson of the UNSC, if I may say you guys just showed up in the nick of time!" Johnson adds then Picard speaks up, "If you'd like you can dock your shuttle and fighter with our ship in the meantime." Johnson nods and the feed cuts off. "Well, that was interesting Mr. Worf." Picard says sitting in his chair, "Medical Bay to Captain Picard, something has transpired with Ensign Codwell. You…you need to come see this." Doctor Crusher says cutting the line as Picard rushed to the Turbolift. "Medical Bay," Picard says hastily to the computer.
"Cortana, plot a course for their shuttle bay and let's introduce ourselves to the crew." Johnson says sitting in the co-pilot seat, "Chief the pilot's seat is all yours. You got here first." He said with respect in his voice as the Fighter and Pelican begin to move toward the shuttle bay of the Enterprise. "Chief, I am picking up Flood signs on board that ship! Either they escaped the Ring or…." Cortana pauses for a moment, "There's only the one signal. It's isolated in what appears to be their medical bay but I suggest that we deal with it before it infects the whole ship." She adds as they land in the shuttle bay and the Longsword ramp lowers down and the crew from the Pillar of Autumn walk out with the two cryopods that were ejected. "Welcome to the USS Enterprise, my name is Commander Data. Captain Picard is currently indisposed at this time. If you'll follow me, we have some of our guest quarters available to you." "Why thank you Commander…" Johnson pauses on his words, "Data sir." "AH yes! Commander Data. Thanks for the hospitality." He turns to John, "Chief, you and Cortana can take sleeping beauty over there to their medbay." The Chief nods and hefts an unconscious Haverson, "Where's your medbay?" He says to Data, "Follow me sir." Data leads the Chief to the Turbolift, "Medbay."
"Beverly, what exactly am I looking at?" Picard asks while looking at a deformed Codwell. "My guess is that the parasite has changed his physical appearance but there are also two vital signs. Both Ensign Codwell and the parasite's. Right now I just can't be certain as to what is going on." Crusher looks at the DNA structures and then the Federation database. "There is nothing in our library that can shed light on this, Jean-Luc, right now I am trying all I can to get rid of the infection." She sighs and looks at Codwell, "I honestly can't understand as to why this parasite is keeping alive. It has got to be a living hell for him." Picard stares at Codwell as the door opens and The Chief walks in with Haverson and lays him on a bed then turns to the Combat form, hand hovering over his pistol, "Wait Chief. I don't think this ship is being overrun. I think they are trying to save whoever that is. I wouldn't recommend killing him." Cortana says as Picard turns to John. "Captain Jean-Luc Picard," Picard offers the Chief his hand, "Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 sir." John takes his hand and shakes it, "Pleasure to meet you Petty Officer and welcome aboard the Enterprise." Picard turns to Codwell, "Can you tell me as to what is going on with my Ensign here?" Cortana uses John's speakers on his armor, "They are a parasitic organism known as the Flood. As you can see here this is one of their stages, The Combat form." Picard looks around the room confused then turns to the Chief, "I can tell that you are looking around for me. I am an Artificial Intelligence construct within this armor. You can call me Cortana." Picard raises an eyebrow, "Well, I guess that you and Mister Data will get along just fine then Cortana. Now please, is there some sort of cure that we can administer to Ensign Codwell here?" "I'm afraid Captain, there are only two ways that the Flood can be cured from anyone. That massive ring we destroyed is one of the cures and the other is using a weapon of some sort. There is no cure as far as we know." Picard gives a grim and sadden look while looking at Codwell. "Ensign, if there is some way that you are in there PLEASE acknowledge that you can…" Codwell and the parasite both move toward Picard and Codwell tries to mouth the words "Help me Captain" but only manages to get the "He" out of his mouth before getting hit with pain from the Infection form. Picard turns to John and Cortana, "Is there a reason that you don't possess a ship to get back to where you came from?" Picard asks curiously to their presence, "Yes sir," John says, "We used our ship to blow up the ring or else the AI of that ring would've used it to wipe out every sentient life in this galaxy." Picard nods and then rubs his chin while thinking. "Is there a way that we can help you get home? At this point our Prime Directive has been overridden since Ensign Codwell is infected with this "Flood" that you speak of."
"Actually Captain Picard, there is a way for you to help us." Haverson says sitting up on the Medbed, "There is a ship near that gas giant that we need. It could be difficult to capture because it's a few sizes too big for this ship alone…." "Lieutenant Haverson, you made a threat against me and my crew. Why exactly would I listen to you after that threat?" Picard says cutting him off then Haverson continues, "Because Captain, whether you like it or not you are in our Universe and you MUST…..GAH," Haverson falls back down unconscious as Johnson flicks his wrist in pain, "Word to the wise, NEVER listen to Office of Naval Intelligence Agents, Captain Picard. They are corrupt pieces of shit." Johnson says looking at him, "Now what he said was true. There is a ship that we need and it's a big one at that but I've had a good look at your ship and crew and I believe that with the big man here, his AI, my marine friend, myself, and your crew, we can take that ship with ease." Picard raises an eyebrow, "Really now Sergeant, please, we can go to my Ready Room and discuss this further but before we do this, please make yourselves at home and then come to the bridge. I take it if I allow your AI access to the ship that she won't do anything rash to jeopardize this ship and her crew?" "Yes sir. I will make sure that I hold your rules to the fullest of my programing." Cortana replies to Picard, "Good, then I shall see you two or four," He says including Haverson, "at 13:00 tomorrow?" "Yes sir." Both The Chief and Johnson say together.
Picard goes into the Turbolift and smirks to himself as the doors close. "Bridge." The lift beeps and begins to move. A moment later the lift opens and Picard walks to his Ready Room, "You still have the bridge Mr. Worf, just notify me if anything comes up or we engage that Fleet near the gas giant." "Yes sir." Worf says sitting back down in the Captain's chair.
"Captain's Log. Stardate 50996. The Enterprise has encountered quite the group upon entering the anomaly and emerging on the other side. Hopefully this group is as who they say they are but from what I can tell, they don't have much of the same technology as the Enterprise. Either this Universe is primitive or they are advanced enough for Warp Speed. Right now, I am authorizing the Enterprise and her crew to aid our new found friends in returning home by any means necessary. Hopefully they will find the means to help us get back to our Universe but in time we will aid them."
