Author note- I am going to ignore any Stargate references to Star Trek in the series, otherwise it could get complicated, e.g. what happens if one of the Enterprise crew used to watch old Stargate episodes etc. So to stop all that, O'Neill or any of the others ever made any reference to Star Trek.
Chapter 6
After the changes made by the Other Gods as history and the future instantly changed.
Time restarted seamlessly and the Q experienced their Civil War and many other things, albeit lesser entities than they once more.
Captain Picard opened his eyes, and something trickled into them. Moving slowly to his feet riding the waves of nausea wiped the red substance trickling down his head and into his eyes…blood. The bridge seemed to be okay, and Captain Riker was attempting to stand, "Number One….Will are you okay?" The other Captain was flinching, "I think so Captain" he said and began to prod his swollen left eye wincing at the pain.
"Just bumps and bruises. Nothing a little ice and a trip to sickbay won't cure. Are you?"
"Just a little shook up….the usual" said Jean-Luc admiring the huge 'shiner' his former First Officer was acquiring.
Both surveyed the bridge, and quickly helped others to their feet. "What the hell happened?"
"That Number One, I would really like to know". People were slowly sitting down back at their stations. He watched as Captain Riker brusquely went to his former console and began to check the reports, brow furrowed in concentration. "Nothing serious Captain according to the logs, just another roller coaster of a ride"
"Some roller coaster" remarked Picard dryly. "Engineering. Are you okay Geordie?"
"Er….not too bad Captain, although we've got a whole lot of 'banged up' people down here. I feel like I've been drinking Romulan Ale for two days straight".
Jean-Luc watched Captain Riker grin at the remark, and couldn't help smile himself. "Geordie, the damage reports don't seem to be too bad. What the hell happened?"
What they couldn't see was the Chief of Engineering was rubbing his arm and looking around at his staff obviously concerned for their wellbeing. "Everything seemed to be okay one second and then Q seemed distracted".
Geordie looked slightly confused at the next statement, "If anything I'd say he went into a world of his own and was completely unresponsive to stimulus and that's' when things started to get a little bit shaky".
Jean-Luc noticed his first officer prod his black eye again face contorting in a grimace, "Are you okay Will?"
Will's face flushed. "I just feel a little bit old for one of these? If I was maybe twenty years younger" the other Captain remarked wistfully.
"Am I missing something Captain?" inquired the Chief Engineer.
"It would seem that Captain Riker has acquired a rather large black eye, and might just be feeling a little bit old"
"I know the feeling sir and I think I've got one myself", all three senior officers sharing a brief moment of mirth continued as though nothing had happened.
"As I was saying Q was unresponsive, I pocked and prodded him, nothing; not a 'dickie bird'"
"Where's Q now?"
"That's the bit I find odd".
Having heard this Will was confused and a little more sharply than he would have liked asked "Clarify chief".
"He's been taken to sickbay with quite a few nasty cuts, and what looked like a broken arm".
"How could Q be hurt?" Riker mused out loud.
"Quite" remarked Captain Picard succinctly, straightening his damn uniform again, "so called omnipotent beings shouldn't be injured that way, unless….."
Will didn't even want to contemplate the next thought as he was fairly certain both him and the Captain, I'm a Captain-now - must get used to that. "Don't say it Captain" sighed the former First Officer worriedly, shaking his head "Because I for one do not believe that Q has been 'stripped' of his powers; not again!"
"I agree sir. I find the situation highly unlikely". The other thoughts he was having were kind of intangible especially as some kind of 'Temporal Cold War' was mentioned and it just didn't make sense. "I just cannot see what the purpose of all this is".
They were interrupted by the surly Security Chief, "Sir, we're being hailed"
"This is the Earth ship, Daedelus. Please identify yourself"
Picard raised an eyebrow questioningly and looked at Worf who answered "Audio only sir. Scanning their ship"
"I don't know if I even want visual communication looking this bad sir" said Will narcissisticly glancing at his wife. "Deanna. Can you sense anything?" She seemed to concentrate very briefly, "Puzzlement and slight hostility".
This was suddenly interrupted by Worf - "Sir, sensors are picking up some kind of gravimetric subspace distortion, ten thousand kilometres away" as the view screen displayed the distortion "Any sign of danger to the Enterprise?"
Worf turned to Captain Riker, "Unknown at this time sir. The other ship either seems to be ignoring it or". Things were beeping on his panel as Worfs' fingers moved quickly pressing touch sensitive pads. "Their vessel shows recent upgrades and utilises both mass drivers and particle beams. Shields are active and weapons are armed".
This was the part he liked most, first contact. "Mr Worf, open a channel" stated the Captain.
"I am Captain Picard of the USS Enterprise. Can you transmit visually?"
"Yes, we can" came the reply. On the viewer appeared a human.
"Sir a ship has appeared from within the distortion which is now vanishing. It is approximately twice our mass and the weaponry of both ships is more or less identical. Receiving communication from that ship too"
"More or less?" inquired Riker.
"The ship appearing from the distortion does not possess mass drivers"
"Split screen" answered Picard who tugged his uniform again, attempting to straighten it. "In order for things to move more…" he paused, "smoothly. Perhaps we could continue this conversation in person? Do you wish to come aboard, or shall I come across?"
"Why don't you come across here" answered the humanoid, "We'll transport you across", he was eager to see their face when they were transported by recently installed Asgard transporters. "Not necessary we have our own. If you could give us the co-ordinates". Colonel Caldwell had also heard from Thor too, who had promised to come across. Their scans of the other ship have proved interesting, its shields were roughly equal as were the estimates of the beam weapons. His ship had been recently upgraded by the Asgard and they were just sorting out any 'kinks' in the system. The important thing was that they were making no hostile moves having learnt not to underestimate anyone or anything. "Thor has arrived sir" remarked Daniel Jackson.
"Preparing to drop shields again to enable transport sir" stated one of his officers.
"If they make any hostile actions, raise shields immediately" ordered Colonel Caldwell. Without any further comment the he stood and followed Dr Jackson, waiting for the others to arrive.
"Is it me, or does this feel weird?" asked Sam.
"A little" said Thor, "I have scanned their ship just as you have done but we do not recognise the configuration"
"It is interesting that the power core is ship an anti-matter. Their shield and weapon systems appear to be more versatile than ours" answered Sam crossing her legs and trying to get comfortable, "according to projected estimates".
Caldwell face creased in confusion. "How so?"
"It seems that according to our scans it would be relatively easy to reconfigure either if required"
Thor seemed to be concentrating, "It would certainly imply that they have done so in the past" he commented.
"I agree with Thor" said Colonel Samantha Carter.
All of a sudden two outlines shimmered into existence, their forms coalesced. Both wore dark uniforms with purple fabric around the shoulders and the neck. One was human, the other was not. The bald one, the Captain spoke.
"Allow me to introduce myself once again, I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise, this is my Chief of Security, commander Worf".
Colonel Caldwell pointed at object sticking out of Worfs' pocket "Is that some weapon?" he asked.
"It is a phaser" he replied gruffly yet informatively. Both Sam and Daniel looked at each other, and obviously thought they had found somebody about as talkative as Teal'c.
"Most interesting" interrupted Thor tapping some keys on his chair, "you used matter transportation without travelling through the intervening space" remarked the Asgardian glibly. "How"
"Really" exclaimed Sam, "that's supposed to be impossible"
"How else would you do it?" inquired Worf outspokenly, looking back at the blonde woman expecting another question, reminds him of Jadzia in some ways.
"The de-materialised person must travel through the intervening space somehow, or have you found a way of circumventing that?" continued Sam who was completely in her element.
"I think what you're referring to are our early attempts in transporter technology where the person was dematerialised and sent through normal space" said Jean-Luc beginning his oration. "This was proved to be rather ineffective and needlessly dangerous. In 2119 further research was carried out and the pattern was eventually sent through subspace and in 2121 the first transporters were put into operation onboard starships"
"What year is it where you come from?"
"2379" answered Picard who tugged his uniform straight again.
"I also notice that you obviously have old United States emblems on, how is it you managed to locate such advanced technology in such a short space of time?"
"Through use of a Stargaate" answered Daniel automatically.
"I am unfamiliar with that term" responded Picard.
"It's a wormhole between two points, but I'm sure Sam can explain it better than me"
"Basically a Stargate is a device made a particular metal called Naquadah. One is placed at the point of origin and at the destination and it allows the creation of a stable wormhole between these two points. It is designed for transport for ground personal" said Sam.
"Although we have found bigger, much bigger" remarked Daniel sourly.
They watched the Captain sigh for a minute and look at them all in turn. "If you scan us you'll find we have a different quantum signature thus indicating that we are currently from another timeline"
"What's the 24th Century like?" inquired Daniel.
"We have peace, removed starvation and poverty. Mapped the Alpha Quadrant and just begun to explore the Delta Quadrant of the galaxy. It is a grand time indeed. But there is so much to learn and see" said the Captain about to go into a monologue.
"Wow" said Daniel and was interrupted by Thor.
"How did you stop starvation?"
"We used the replicator" answered Worf laconically and noticed as they all stiffened at the word – knew the Captain had noticed, he'd never miss anything so obvious. "I am sorry if the word causes you discomfort" Captain Picard smoothed and took a breath and continued. "By using energy in its basic state it allows the creation of matter in a pre-defined pattern, i.e. food, similar to transporters in many ways". He realised that he was being bombastic and sighed.
"Interesting" stated Thor. "What else have you accomplished?"
"I am quite happy to make our records available to you if you wish"
"Thank you" answered Thor.
"So how did you get here?" asked Daniel conversationally
"Not of our volition. We were pushed into coming here by an entity we know as the Q" Picard remarked and knew Riker would not have been so generous with this statement and would have probably added words like malicious, untrustworthy, and innumerable others.
"Really" remarked Colonel Caldwell who until now had been deathly silent.
"It would seem that he has put us on trial" said Sam who looked at Daniel expectantly. "Not that we really know what it means" remarked Daniel.
"A few years ago" began Jean-Luc.
"More than a few years ago" interrupted Worf, realising his error. He stopped when the Captain 'threw' him a stern look. "Sorry sir" apologised the Klingon as the Captain began again. "Almost ten years ago he did the same to us and recently told us that the 'trial never ends'; then just to see if we could comprehend the nature of time threatened the whole Alpha Quadrant with destruction. He did this by creating an anti-time anomaly that started in the future and got bigger in the past"
"That is quite impossible" stated Thor.
Jean-Luc smiled disarmingly. "That was exactly what Q wanted us to do, understand the paradox"
"Did you?" whispered Thor.
"But that wasn't the end to it, Q sent me to three different periods of my life; when the Enterprise first launched, about three years ago and almost thirty years in the future. His aim to see if we use the data accumulated over three different time periods and prevent our destruction" finished Jean-Luc looking over each of their faces, recalling the events with pride and horror - but then Q was seemed unfathomable at the best of times.
"If what you're saying is true" said Daniel holding up a finger to prevent interruption. "That was, is beyond even the Ancients to do that" he remarked authoritatively, having been one, twice.
"I agree" remarked the little Asgard. "Such a being would prove to be a grave threat"
"I wish it were impossible but Q seems to be able to break any or all physical laws when he" said Picard who paused briefly, "when he chooses to".
"Unfortunately we can do little about it other than tolerate his antics as best we can"
"How?" asked the archaeologist incredulous.
"Usually with a grimace"
Later when Picard and Worf were back on their ships; the little Asgardian was on his, reading the files detailing the exploits of the Federation. Although he wasn't actually reading and more a case of downloading it as they did with their personalities.
"What happened Captain?" asked the first officer after seeing the Captain. He certainly did not look happy.
"It would appear Q is eager to repeat some his performances here", Captain Riker looked on impassively trying to recollect all of Q's tests, trials and games and found it very hard to distinguish between one or any other. "There's been so many which one specifically?"
"It would seem that Q has also put humanity here on trial too"
"Why on Earth would he do that? There is no apparent reason" inquired Riker with a look of incredulity on his face.
"I agree Number One"
"I think we should pay Q a visit"
"That Will is a very good idea"
In sickbay Q still seemed to be unconscious; "Beverley can you bring him around?"
She cringed. "Are you sure Captain? I for one I don't relish being turned into a dog again"
"He certainly has a lot of explaining to do" stated Riker quite firmly.
"And a lot to answer for"
Bracing for the worst. "What has he done this time?"
"Put humanity here on trial, it's just too damn reminiscent of what he did to us" answered Riker angrily.
"I for one wouldn't want anyone to go through what we did".
Beverley administered the stimulant to wake Q and they were not surprised when nothing happened. In frustration Riker shook him by the shoulders. "Q! Wake up. We're not standing for your tricks anymore".
Yet there was still no response. "Q. I think this little sleigh ride is done with. Time to stop feigning whatever it is you are doing. You really are not fooling anyone"
Slowly Q began to awake. "Hi there Mon Capitan. How are things?" asked the omnipotent cheerily stretching out the once broken arm.
"Why have you put humanity here on trial?"
"Why not? You humans work so much better under pressure"
"What is this supposed to accomplish Q? No one is laughing" whispered Picard in a very calm voice. The omnipotent just rolled his eyes in exasperation and sat up and very calmly thought about how to explain it to a dullard. "You're not supposed to laugh. You're here to learn and maybe expand a little bit quicker than the Federation currently is"
"I thought you said that the Continuum thought we were expanding too fast?" baited Riker.
"Who said anything about the Continuum this time? Perhaps more forward movement is called for"
"Why would we want to do that?" inquired Riker. "We're in no hurry"
"Maybe I am" said Q which stopped everyone in their tracks. He could see that the humans were now taking in his comments more seriously. He needed them to reach Gorsach, preferably before things went really wrong. "Q?" asked Riker more calmly this time. "What is going on?"
"What you're doing here will change the balance of power in your galaxy"
"We're not after power Q. We've proved that" scolded Riker.
"The information you retrieve may very well end your Temporal Cold Wars, for good. It will certainly make things easier for the Q too"
"In what way?" asked Jean-Luc, who was not expecting an answer; all were surprised when he did.
"We may be omnipotent Mon Capitan but not omniscient and these changes are affecting the Q in ways we are just beginning to notice", waiting for them all to look reasonably chastised enough. "If you understood the scope of the changes you wouldn't say that. For example Captain Archer of the original Enterprise made multiple visits to Earth in the past to prevent temporal manipulations"
"That's old history"
"Is it" sneered Q. "Chronologically that only happened yesterday"
"How is that possible?" asked Crusher and Riker in synchronisation.
"Wait. Are you saying Q that these events are so recent in your timeframe and in theory shouldn't have happened at all?"
"I knew there was a reason I hung around Captain"
"Wait that's not enough"
"It's all you're going to get for now" answered Q, "you have a call waiting" he replied and walked out of sickbay. Almost immediately Worfs voice was audible through his badge. "Captain we are receiving a call from the Asgard ship"
"I'll be there shortly" said the Captain who strode down the corridor next to his former first office. "Do you believe Q?"
"I'm not sure Captain"
"Will something about the temporal side of things makes me uneasy" he said as both got into the turbolift.
"Bridge" said Riker to the turbolift. "I guess we'll find out". The doors opened and both stepped onto the bridge.
"On screen"
"Captain" said Thor. "I have spoken to my government and we would like to request your help". Perhaps this was the 'call' which Q referred to? Pulling his uniform one more time observed the diminutive alien, "Of course, what can we do for you?"
"We are a race of clones but this was not always so. Our genetic material is beginning to degenerate and were are experiencing problems when our personalities were downloaded into the newer models"
"Interesting form of immortality" remarked Riker.
"As such we are unable to correct the problem and I saw in your files that you had solved similar such problems"
"I'll put Doctor Crusher on it right away. Can you transfer any files across to us with your data on?" asked Captain Picard.
"I would like to aid your Doctor in this if I may?"
"I'm sure she would welcome the company. We'll beam you across shortly"
"Thank you Captain" said the Supreme Commander of the Asgard race.
Elsewhere Adria was planning as the other Ori had been destroyed. Their ships were getting ready to enter the Gate and they would begin their subjugation of the galaxy belonging to the Ancients. Then once all worshipped with her increased vitality received would allow her to caste down the Ancients from existence.
Thor and Doctor Crusher were busy in Sickbay while the SG-1 team had requested a tour of the Enterprise. "This is remarkable" said an awed Samantha Carter. "It…." She began searching for words. "It just reminds me of an Asgardian vessel in many ways"
"In what way Colonel?" inquired Captain Riker, gesturing with his arm for her party to lead the way.
"Your technology could be very helpful to us against the Ori" added Mitchell hopefully. Teal'c who had been walking behind quite silently nodded and affirmative, "I agree" he said.
Riker who had been waiting for just such a comment, both Captains had briefly discussed it earlier at any rate.
"That might be a problem" he replied and stopped abruptly. "Starfleet has a tenet and it is one of the most important we live by, it's called the 'Prime Directive'". They all turned to look at him as his com bade beeped, tapping it he answered. "Riker here"
"Captain would you join me in my Ready Room in five minutes?" requested the voice of Captain Picard.
"Of course sir" acknowledged Riker. Turning back to his guests Captain Riker answered the unasked question. "The Prime Directive" he began
"Is that sorta like not helping the savages while was bash each other the heads with rocks?" inquired Mitchell a little irreverently.
Riker smiled at the analogy. "Not at all its purpose is twofold. It allows you to govern your society as you see fit and prevents us from interfering in the affairs of other cultures or imposing our ideals" he said informatively. "so it protects us as much as it does you". They turned another corner and arrived at Engineering. "I believe this is what you wanted to see Colonel" remarked Riker. "If you will excuse me" he said. "I have an appointment with the Captain" and off he went.
"I thought he was a Captain too" said Mitchell.
"He is" said Daniel pulling a face, "He served on this ship and Captain Picard was; is in charge even though he's got a promotion".
It was Mitchell who groaned and Samantha looked at the floor. "Er…..why do I feel stupid like I've been lecturing the wrong person?"
"Probably because you have Daniel Jackson" suggested Teal'c helpfully sneaking in a crafty smile.
Riker was sitting with Picard in his Ready Room. "Well Number…." He said, and stopped himself just in time. "I'm sorry. Will what do you think of our guests?"
Casting a wane smile, Riker said, "Interesting, it's almost like looking back into the past. They have all of our tenacity and drive without the guiding influences or wisdom we've learnt in the centuries". Jean-Luc smiled too agreeing with the assessment. "In fact they've already asked about acquiring technology".
Captain Picard looked up sharply. "Really?"
"They mentioned something about the Ori and the Goa'uld. What with showing our guests around I've not had the opportunity to fully read the reports"
"They make quite fascinating reading Will" he said deciding to divert the subject briefly and walked to the replicator. "Will?"
"Tea please Captain". Two Earl Greys appeared in cups and Jean-Luc handed one cup to his former First Officer.
"Will now that you're a Captain it wouldn't hurt for you to find a slight eccentricity" remarked Picard nodding his head towards his mug. "This is mine".
Rubbing where his beard used to be thoughtfully, he smiled good naturedly, "I just might". He closed his eyes and let the smell of the tea permeate through his nasal passages. "What about Thor?"
"After reading most of our history he seemed only too eager to reciprocate" said Picard taking a sip. "In fact we've only just finished downloading his files and they seem to share many of ideals and beliefs"
"Sometimes Jean-Luc I find it remarkable. In our own universe we have the likes of the Klingons, Romulans and Cardassians who are on our backdoor step so to speak. They do not really appreciate our ideals and we travel to another universe to encounter others like us. I can sort of see why Q might find some kind of perverse pleasure in it".
Picard smiled at Will. "Was I being a little bombastic Jean-Luc?"
"A little, call it Captains prerogative"
Colonel Samantha Carter was helping Geordie in Engineering. He found it highly odd that someone from three hundred years ago aiding in the installation of the Asgardian drive system was ahead of anything the Federation had. So grateful was Thor for their help he had insisted, refusing to no as answer.
Secretly he was looking forward to beating Voyager as the fastest ship on record again, although in truth the NCC1701-D still held that honour courtesy of the Traveller and probably would for quite a while. Geordie genuflected that it would be good to have an alternative to Warp drive which in its current incarnation was causing subspace disruption.
"Captain" said La Forge. "We're ready"
"Okay" said Picard. "Engage". Geordie watched the consoles in Engineering and pressed the button to initiate the new superluminal drive. On the Bridge they saw the gravimetric distortion ahead and using impulse entered the anomaly. After ten seconds Jean-Luc's came over the intercom system. "Okay Geordie, disengage and let's see how far we've come" he said and within moments another vortex appeared before them and the ship emerged into normal space.
"Con. Give me co-ordinates" Commanded Captain Riker. "How far did we travel?"
"According to the star charts approximately one thousand light years"
Riker was incredulous and his face showed surprise. "One thousand light years, that's some drive" whistled Riker enthusiastically.
"Another anomaly appearing off to port, it's the Asgard and Earth ship arriving". The crew went about daily routine checking for any signs of damage or wear and tear upon the new Enterprise. Alarms went wild all over as three battleships appeared. "They match the vessel specification given by the Asgard as Ori battleships. Their weapons and shields are raised and commencing attack formation" reported Worf from Tactical.
"Try to hail then Commander" said Riker. "Maybe they might be friendly" he remarked as the ship shook from weapons fire. "Guess not" Will grouched and continued to 'fill in' as First Office until they returned to Federation space.
"Evasive manoeuvres Beta 7"
"Fire a spread of Quantum Torpedoes. See if that doesn't slow them down"
Thor matched the Enterprise, unsurprised when their Quantum Torpedoes impacted with the Ori shields followed by Phaser fire while his own ship followed suit. Scanners told him the Daedelus was taking a pounding and his ship turned trying to protect the recently upgraded Earth ship. The brief time he spent with Doctor Crusher might well mean the Asgard as race did not have to die, their medical database vast full of interspecies interaction. The implications were profound, plus he had the urge to explore Federation space and in his opinion they'd seen Earth as a representation of the Ancients and hoped they would be again. Only they had looked in the wrong universe as worry griped him diminutive frame whether the people of this Earth were fully ready for all their technology. The huge Asgard vessel shook again as it took blasts from two Ori battleships.
Colonel Caldwell watched the Enterprise make manoeuvres he only dreamed his ship was capable of. Consoles exploded around him.
"Maintain fire on the nearest Ori vessel, see if we can weaken its shields" he shouted.
"Shields are down to fifty percent" Sam shouted back.
"We cannot maintain this kind of pounding Colonel"
"I know that Mitchell" griped Caldwell. "Prepare to retreat. Signal the Enterprise and the Asgard"
"Shields down to eighty percent and holding" groused Worf at Tactical fingers almost a blur on the controls trying to maintain targets. His fingers hit another control as the multiple Phaser blasts stabbed into the darkness striking the shields of an Ori vessel. "The shields of the nearest Ori ship are down to ten percent" he said as several Science consoles exploded, briefly and covered his face to avoid shrapnel.
"Concentrate all fire on that ship Mister Worf" barked Riker. "Tell the Dedaelus and the Asgard to do the same"
"Incoming transmission, the Dedaelus is about to retreat"
"Damn!" cursed Jean-Luc.
"Perhaps we should do the same if this continues?" suggested Riker.
"Sir the Asgard ship is firing"
"Fire" said Jean-Luc. Worf obeyed the order of a senior officer, fingers active on the pad.
Just as the Dedaelus was about to enter subspace the light of an Ori vessel exploding caused all three a slight amount of relief. "Pull us back from the brink. Engage the Ori" ordered Caldwell changing his previous command, amazed an Ori vessel had been destroyed. "Let's give the Enterprise and Asgard some cover fire" Woops of joy came from the bridge.
"Give 'em hell" shouted Mitchell supportively. Once more the Dedaelus was back in the fight.
Adria was absolutely furious. In fact she was angry enough to lay waste to a nearby habited planet, if they were near one that is. A flash of light appeared and a figure appeared. "Who are you?" she asked, waves of power emanating from her. The dark haired human seemed to be brushing dust of his black uniform with blue shoulder lapels. Eventually the waves of power stopped. "Aaaaah good" said the human. "Wondered whether you'd stop that, I was getting rather bored" he remarked jovially. He wandered around looking at the soldiers, yet ignoring both. Some raised weapons and pointed them in his direction. "That's it. Stand proud man!" he barked. "Don't you find the colours rather drab?" inquired the mystery man.
"Who are you?" shouted Adria hoping her tones of authority would work. He just went to a console and pressed a few buttons. One member tried to stop him and vanished into thin air. "Where is he?" she inquired.
"Mmmmmm……the best way to explain it to your limited intellect would be….gone"
"Not acceptable" she shouted and tried to extend her powers into the beings mind.
He wagged his finger at her. "Tut…tut" he said. "That just isn't nice". She got more infuriated and attempted to throw him across the room using telekinesis. Nothing happened. A Prior approached and attempted to aid Adria using his mental skills. "Mistress Orici let me" insisted the Prior eager to show his devoutness. The being just clicked his fingers and the Prior was transmuted into a beetle; which he then stamped on. "Perhaps that is clear enough for you?" Adria took a step back appalled by the ease with which this being overpowered her; an Orici and a Prior. "What? Who are you?" she stammered.
"Guess you're a ship down" said Q. "Picard and his band of merry men are getting the better of you" stated the omnipotent smiling at his own joke.
"You will fall before the might of the Ori" she pronounced.
"You mean those overblown clowns some of which became Prophets of Bajor? Not bloody likely" said Q. "No don't bother trying to understand" announced Q. "It's all about timelines". Adria really did not understand and hoped that maybe if she passed the information onto the Ori they could decipher it. "Look it's like this" said Q using tones which he used to address a child. He was trying to ponder how to explain it to an imbecile.
"You see the Vorlons wanted to impose their own version of reality where they retain guardianship of the Galaxy" began Q noticing Adria was about to interrupt and raised a hand to silence her. "Sadly all blissfully unaware that Time is like water and all the possible timelines would come to pass anyway. All rather sad really" he said. "Lots of wasted effort on many sides". Adria thought this mysterious being had inadvertently let something slip.
"No the Vorlons won't help you" said Q helpfully. "Frankly I'm amazed they haven't wiped out your fleet already. They don't like others messing in their backyard". She watched the being obviously not a human showing knowledge even the Ori didn't possess. "Mistress a ship has appeared from some kind of subspace anomaly"
"Oooops spoke too soon" said Q. "That's the Vorlons and they don't look happy. Now's the time to run" suggested the omnipotent helpfully.
"Engage hyperspace" ordered Adria.
An amber coloured anomaly appeared and a ship sped through. "Sir that ship matches no known specifications although the sensors show that the technology does bare similarities to Species 8472" said Worf.
"What would they be doing here?" inquired Riker worriedly.
"Hailing frequencies Mister Worf". All watched in horror as the vessel opened fire on the Ori vessel, destroying it utterly, one shot. Within moments another amber anomaly opened up and it was gone. "What the hell is going on?"
They had followed the Asgard and the Dedaelus back to Earth. The days had been busy with repairing damages.
Picard was sitting in his Ready Room looking at the information gained from Thor. Apparently the conduit that brought them here was still active which meant they could return at any time; but that was a two way street he thought.
Back on Earth Colonel Caldwell was awaiting orders from General Langdry and whether he was to return to Atlantis.
Q had been busy for days, but like anything else time was relative – to the rest of the universe no time had actually passed. He was trying to understand what had gone wrong earlier in Engineering, on what was a seemingly simple voyage into another universe. He watched himself watching himself time and again, relieving the moment - almost and it was as if he was distracted, no catatonic somehow but that was impossible. Very strange the last time a Q had been catatonic had been almost 2 billion years ago when they had aided the Ancients during the Million Year War.
Several cubes arrived at an uninhabited planet and began to scan the surrounding area.
They heard someone slap their forehead and turned to look at the sound. Q sat on the chair mournfully. "You just don't get it do you?" he said seriously. Picard didn't bother to turn around and despite years of trying just could not forget the voice not sure if that was a boon or regret. "The 21st Century is when every changes" explained Q eloquently. "An Earth agency called Torchwood knew that; the Time Lords had been engineering your future for decades unfortunately they didn't count on the Q preventing their plans"
"Who are the Time Lords?" piped Daniel.
"I have never heard of them either" remarked Thor.
"What plans?" asked Picard.
"I wouldn't worry about them they're dead" he spat venomously. "Well all but two anyway" said Q flippantly. He watched each of them intently and hoped they were going to understand. Noticing Jean-Luc was about to repeat the question he diverted the topic quickly. "What is the single most important event in Federation history?" he asked turning to both starship captains.
"Zephram Cochrane's first warp flight"
"Yes! Yes" scolded Q irritably. "Before that"
"What are you getting at?" asked Picard gently - "The Third World War?"
"Exactly!" shouted Q triumphantly standing to address the others. "It's all about timelines crossing into and becoming one another"
"Are you saying that this could still happen here?"
Q stood there dumfounded his favourite little pet was finally on his way to understanding and did the only reasonable thing; he clapped "Bravisimo. Yes Jean-Luc that is exactly what I'm saying"
"Don't we get a say in this?" asked Daniel. "I mean what if we prevent it?"
"Then it won't happen and the timeline will progress normally" admonished Q.
"Do you know what will happen?"
"Yes Colonel Mitchell I do know what happens in your future, but if I told you that would ruin the surprise" lied the Omnipotent who knew things were about to rapidly begin to change. Mitchell sat there aghast at the information and observed Samantha Carter wrinkling her brow trying to puzzle things through. He raised a hand. "I have a question" he remarked. "What if the war happens?"
"Then you'll all die" sneered Q. "Perhaps the reason for the war is more important and a greater concern?"
"Alright Q astound me" said Riker equally sarcastically leaning back in his chair.
Q shook his head sadly. "An AI called SkyNet is put online by the military which then wipes out humanity deciding it is superfluous as it is able to create upgrades without You" said Q pointing at all of the humans present. "This leads to several other branches. If you fail to stop SkyNet within twenty years it creates a virtual reality many years later called the Matrix where humans are used as power sources" said Q looking to make sure he had every ones attention. "The second branch in the timeline is where the AI is stopped, as in destroyed" continued Q, "This creates the third branch the possibility of your future" said Q gesturing at Picard; "or" he said "The fourth is the future that humankind to nearly get exterminated by the Mimbari and Babylon 5 is built to create peace"
"We've never heard of the Mimbari" said Riker.
"Wait a minute" shouted Daniel triumphantly. "That means they must exist here and now" reasoned Daniel. "And in their universe" he said gesturing at Riker.
"For an ape archaeologist you really are quite intelligent" said Q. "Picard you really do have a lot in common with Daniel here other than hairline"
"Er….thank you I think" interrupted Daniel
"We've never heard of SkyNet or the Mimbari" said Samantha
"We don't have any AI's that powerful let alone then"
"There are some inconsistencies here" said Picard. Q sometimes wondered why he bothered, I mean really hoping they would understand was like trying to…….he was trying to find an apt metaphor. Oh yes teach a Klingon to write or a Goa'uld to give up its god complex. Stupid mortals. Q looked at Riker. "You were more intelligent with the beard" he quipped. "About twenty years after the war the Klingons attempted to wipe out the Mimbari and they had a border dispute with the Romulans over it; so both exterminated the Mimbari as a compromise. The Mimbari weren't too pleased about it and put up quite a fight". Taking a rather unnecessary breath he continued.
"The Vorlons were going to intervene but their nemesis was not far away and they had no choice but to retreat to avoid another premature war"
Silence descended on the room. Maybe they were beginning to understand; all of them. This set Q thinking about another conundrum. Some being had erected it a temporal barrier one hundred millennia in the Federation's future and all the Q had tried to breach it without success. A theory was that one of their future selves had done so but it didn't smell Q; another theory was that they had, the Federation to prevent Q intervention. He, Q, had been selected to live in linear time in the hopes of being able to enter what they had called the 'Great Temporal Barrier' along with the native. Q was ever hopeful. All it got him so far were 18 billion years of boredom. They were continuing to discuss the situation and he couldn't be bothered to listen anymore, mainly because something a little more urgent crossed his awareness. Well several things actually. One the Preservers were watching a potential catastrophe unfold and so was the first living being in the universe – Lorien. The 'catastrophe was that the Borg had reached the planet that Stargate command called P3R-272.
Q had very little choice but to listen or they would make his life hell.
"It's your fault" lambasted one of the Preservers.
"I quite agree" scolded Lorien. "Your quest to advance the Federation faster than it should is quite……futile" he said choosing just the right word. Q did the human equivalent of extreme embarrassment and went red in the face; this unforeseen energy outburst caused the nearby planet of Centauri Prime to be fried by gamma radiation giving all the inhabitants a slight tan.
"What are you worried about" blathered Q. "It's not like the Alterans were that advanced"
"The Asgard believe it may contain infinite knowledge" mocked the Preserver.
"Oh and you're going to believe a bunch of small grey children who can't cure their own reproductive problem. Give me strength" moaned Q. The omnipotent preened himself slightly like a Peacock. "We all know" said Q "that the Asgardian belief about the database is such a bunch doodah"
"That's as maybe Q but it is irresponsible to allow the Borg access"
"Doesn't that depend on which Borg it is?" asked Q and departed.
Picard used to spend a lot of time in his Ready Room, alone but since all the senior staff had started to play poker and in effect interact a little more they had become a family. It is sad thought Picard that two were departing to the Titan and another and begun on the great journey as he called it. They were on their way towards the 'Supergate' with the Dedaelus and the Asgard ship while he pondered the Vorlons in the Astrometrics Lab.
"What about over there" suggested Samantha and Daniel in unison.
"This is like looking for a needle in a haystack"
"It would help if we knew who or what the Vorlons were" said Daniel.
"That's the problem" stated Sam. "We just have no idea". It was then Sam and Jean-Luc saw a look in Daniel's eyes. One that Data got often when an idea occurred to him. "Oh no" cautioned Sam. "No way it's just too dangerous"
"What is it?" inquired Jean-Luc gently. "If you have an idea why don't you share and let us discuss the risks".
"The Ancient Database on P3R-272"
"What does it do?"
Daniel looked at Jean-Luc and yet couldn't stop himself getting slightly flustered. "It downloads their entire database into your mind, sometimes with dangerous results" The senior officers were gathered in the Conference Lounge with SG-1 and Thor.
"It seems Daniel has had the idea of using the Ancient Database to find information about the Vorlons" said Picard straightening his uniform. "But there are dangers"
"It could kill whomever tries it by overloading their synapses" said Sam.
"Perhaps an intermediary then?" suggests Riker.
"I agree. Is it possible to build a device to access this database and search for the information we need"
"And to download as much as possible" reminded Mitchell ever searching to attain greater technology for Earth.
"Exactly" replied Geordie who then pressed another couple of buttons on his PADD.
"As long as we get equal share on the spoils" said Mitchell.
"We wouldn't keep anything from you" reassured Thor. "After everything you've done in this galaxy and for us".
"I've also found something out about these new drives courtesy of Thor and the Asgard"
Both Riker and Picard sat up quickly. "Good news?"
"Absolutely" enthused the Chief of Engineering. "I think this data could be the missing link for both Slipstream and Transwarp drive and with a bit of time, say maybe a few years, I might figure it out myself"
Picard smiled and leant forward. "Would it be possible to outfit a shuttlecraft to travel the conduit and inform the Federation of our intentions?"
"I've been over some of the reports from Geordie and I believe the answer is yes Captain" replied Riker.
"Good make it so"
Q who was growing extremely bored and materialised a nail file and began a bit of cuticle hygiene.
The time to the planet could not pass quick enough for any of them, Q included. He watched discreetly from the Ether. Geordie was busy with Sam and Thor building an interface for the Ancient Device. Time for then ticked incredibly slowly as each addition and subsequent simulation failed.
"If only Data were here" uttered the Chief of Engineering reflexively. "We could interface him directly"
Pure genius thought Q. Data and with a wave of his hand he appeared.
Data appeared in a Q flash unharmed and undamaged. "Captain this is Engineering; I think you need to come here right away"
"Is there a problem" inquired Riker urgently.
"Data's back and I think we know who is responsible" responded Geordie, to which Picard looked around sharply.
"On our way"
Data looked around and observed the shocked faces. The last he remembered was the explosion aboard Shinzon's vessel which should have destroyed him; but here he was.
Q returned to Picards' universe at the exact moment he left and watched the results of his handiwork. He saw the Federation grow faster than he would have ever thought possible; using the technology of the Ancients not one but two universes joined in an endeavour to expand beyond the stars.
The Temporal Accords and Directives came in, all within Jean-Luc's life time for like the Vorlons the Ancients possessed limited immortality by using anti-agathics in the form of nanites. In theory by 2479 the Federation would be in the Delta Quadrant but they were already expanding across the whole galaxy. It took very little time for them to reach the Andromeda and find the remains of the Galactic Empire which had either fallen into ruin or left the galaxy due to the extremely high radiation levels - like the Kelvin had a century ago in Kirk's time.
In ten thousand years they were spread across a dozen galaxies and began to find the remains of the Gallifreyan civilisation; the unfortunate result of another war – the Time War which had shocked the Q and the Eternals, the results of the war sent ripples across the universe to the very beginning and end of time itself.
Before Q knew it a hundred millennia had past and he was through the Great Temporal Barrier. It was as he expected the universe very similar to before no real changes except…..what is this? Q saw that the Preservers, Metrons, Organians, Dowud, Loriens people were all gone. Impossible! He sent a message to the Continuum who immediately investigated. The only reports came back is that they had gone; but no one knew where.
Standing in one of the higher dimensions another appeared next to him. It was a human of average height and build, hair was in serious need of a good comb, not that it would have done you much good. "We've been waiting a long time for you" he said in a voice full of melody and amusement.
Q reached out with his senses and found the being ordinary and yet something about him. "Who are you?"
He smiled, "I am the human kind god made manifest". This caused Q to burst out laughing. Unable to resist, "I suppose this is where you smite me or something?"
"Hardly" answered the being smiling back. "Let me explain" began the god and Q recognising a monologue when it was about to begin – Picard did it often enough, so he did the only thing possible, got comfy. "Every god that expounds compassion and love are all aspects of Me"
"That sounds familiar" said Q remembering the 'One' who had been imprisoned long ago and had started Monotheism on Earth and many worlds. He sat and thought about it for a moment. "Perhaps" he mused. "But that doesn't answer my question"
Face impassive, "I hadn't quite finished" interrupted the deity. "Many cultures were right for I am triune in nature. One intellect, one part empathy and one part void which binds"
"I can be empathic" said Q, "I just chose not to be"
He walked and in doing so covered light years speeding across the comsos. "But there are still some mysteries beyond even the Q"
"Such as?" retorted Q. "Nothing is beyond us" exclaimed the omnipotent proudly puffing out his chest.
"If only that were true" the god expounded. "Have not the Q have observed light departing the dead? Yet for thousands of years after you sought to uncover the mystery, many initially believed it to be souls but your early testing revealed it held no personality and you were unable to probe anymore". If he had synapses they would be firing wildly as the Q think across temporal and dimensional zones all at once. "There's no such thing as souls" said Q sadly. "A minor bend in space time nothing more" continued the omnipotent glibly. "As the energy departs the organism at death it disperses across the known dimensions"
"You are correct there are no souls, we are all temporary and frail and once we are gone we are truly gone" said the god. "But that is what makes the Q imperative to my plan, don't you see?" cried the being in frustration.
"All beings from the smallest amoeba to the very largest; the energy contains all their knowledge and experience"
The revelation hit Q like a black hole between the eyes and that had a tendency to smart. It was all starting to make a perverted kind of sense and it grated on his nerves that Picard had been right all those years ago about humanity and the Federation about evolving into something beyond the Q. In frustration he kicked a star sending it spinning off into space at superluminal velocities.
"Was that really necessary?" It seemed impossible, that it was his fault somehow for interfering in their development. Damn! He cursed himself. Q the Trickster, Q the Rebeller, Q the Seeker. Q the Prat.
"Don't put yourself down Q". The being gestured and a table and chairs appeared. "Would it soften the blow for you to know we gathered the lost lives of al the Q including Quinn?" he consoled. He looked up visibly shocked.
"Really!" he exclaimed without meaning to.
The revelations coming hard and fast now, they would have far reaching impact on the Continuum in the years to come. Not only did all beings survive death in some way but so too did the Q. Maybe there was no personality and by definition no consciousness but…….gathering the remains after death across all of time. Such an undertaking was far beyond the Q, not just one but all of them. It made what he did kind of pointless and superfluous.
"I'm sorry for this next comment". The being looked at the omnipotent a face full of sadness. "I have only enough power to gather the dead from within what is now Federation Space; no farther. My aim is to gather it from across the whole universe; past and future". Q tried to work his simulacrums mouth and it failed several times. Unfortunately it had the side effect of making Q look like he was having either a stroke or epileptic fit as his face twitched uncontrollably.
Once the mouth did work he had trouble forming a coherent sentence.
"But…but…but"
"Something is gathering the kernels at death across the whole cosmos and it isn't Me. There is no other". The god watched the Federation ships explore dimensions and galaxies at speeds that would have seemed impossible without the Traveller.
"Thus I need the Q to empower me sufficiently to evolve and thus become able to do so, or risk one hell of a temporal paradox. Will you and the Q help me?" inquired the being worriedly. "Touch my hand Q, experience the unity just briefly" he pleaded and held out a hand. "It will be momentary, inside me are Loriens' people the Organians; all those you had found missing".
Q reached out a hand and experienced the sensation and pulled his hand back at superluminal velocities. Then ran as fast as his metaphorical legs would carry him; across the cosmos to the safety of the Continuum. Eyes turned at his arrival and without stopping went to the home of Mrs Q and their now grown up son. He sat down dumfounded and it wasn't long before every Q in the Continuum was drumming on his door; wanting to know what had happened. He spoke to both his mate and son briefly and he couldn't cope with a Q discussion with the others right now. Neither he not his mate knew what to do; both had forgotten q junior was fully Q.
One thing he would never do is to give up his individuality – it was quite frankly abhorrent to the Q Continuum. That was why they had developed differently to the Organians who had a Collective consciousness of sorts. The Q treasured their 'self' too much. Could it be? He thought. He ruminated a second, the whole reason for the Civil War had been boredom, seen everything and done everything. "Nothing new", he could almost hear Quinn saying those words again. That was why the Q had become stagnant, lack of growth, unwillingness to expand and maybe give up self? The concept was staggering. No please he thought and realised it had become a form of prayer.
"Dad, Mom don't you get it" he cried. "If that god is love, you both had a love of change, testing the limits of not just other species but of the Continuum itself"
"What are you saying?" his mother inquired.
"You both loved each other and your love of change and need to end the war and I am the result. Mom, dad love is change". Both adult Q's looked at their son and if they had been human blood would drained from their faces. The family looked at one another and saw the god standing besides them. "Your decision has been reached?"
"Yes it has, time for us to evolve" said Q resignedly, a tremble in his voice showing the obvious fear and trepidation.
"What about them?" Mrs Q inquired, meaning the Continuum.
The god smiled. "Why do not think they stopped knocking on the door, I let them see everything transpiring in here and they are afraid just as you are"
"Shall we begin?" asked Q tears rolling down his cheeks and grabbing the hand of his wife and son - waiting for whatever was about to happen.
The Q evolved and changed; and by taking on their uniqueness, power and knowledge the god changed and become the Final Mind.
A lone galaxy that was completely uninhabited exploded and their effort began.
Somewhere deep beyond their perception the entity called Nyarlathotep laughed uncontrollably and knew his manipulation of the Q had turned out okay.
The End.