Unscrupulous

Chapter 14

Chekov was not at all surprised when he learned that Kang was telling the truth. Also, the reason that Starfleet Command didn't inform the Enterprise of their plans to destroy Romulus with the doomsday machine was that they didn't want the Romulans to get wind of it and wanted it to be a surprise attack. The Federation had agreed that it was in Starfleet's best interests to share cloaking technology with the Klingons. He learned as well that in this time line, his people were not at war with the Klingons, but only with the Romulans because of their unprovoked attacks on neutral zone outposts.* He also found it somewhat gratifying that his captain had not taken the Romulan version of the cloaking device in vain. However, what he found disturbing was that there was no kind of treaty made with the Romulans or anyone else. That meant that Starfleet was having to rely on their advanced technologies to stay ahead of hostile species.

The doomsday machine was a powerful weapon to be sure, but Pavel was concerned that someone might come up with something even more destructive. However, he did not see how anyone could in the foreseeable future. Even the Borg could be defeated with the newly repaired planet killer. He paused as he left Riley's quarters, wondering if some far-off Delta quadrant alien species had actually constructed the doomsday machine for that purpose, only to have the device get away from them and create a deadly path of destruction for hundreds of years before its arrival in the Alpha quadrant. The thought intrigued him and it was entirely possible. He had been unsuccessful in an attempt to talk Kirk out of using General Order 24 and the repaired doomsday machine against the Romulans.

Riley had to leave the Enterprise in a conventional manner so as not to arouse suspicion. He took the shuttle Copernicus on his journey to the nearest Federation star base that had a secret underground base for MIB agents to use to transport anywhere they needed to go. He docked the shuttle and stayed for a time in a bar, pretending to be just another Starfleet officer on shore leave. He was certain that nobody there suspected him of being anything other than what he appeared to be: a Starfleet officer on furlough. Quietly under the cover of night, he left the bar, stepped into a subway entrance and into a secret transporter alcove, cleverly disguised as an old fashioned toll booth. He activated the hidden transporter controls and vanished in a blue mist.

He materialized in Seven's vault a few seconds later. The supervisor greeted him courteously.

"Welcome to the twentieth century, Mr. Riley."

"Thank you, sir." Riley then noticed the face of a familiar attractive young blonde woman. She was standing behind Seven's ebony office desk, smartly dressed in a Jacqueline Kennedy-style pink suit dress with a matching pill box hat. He bowed in her direction and she smiled benignly. "Hello again, young lady. Nice to see you again, 258."

"Yes, she is a new agent. Since your last visit here, Pavel and her have become very good friends. Miss Lincoln will be accompanying you into the future."

"I see. Miss Lincoln, my dear, you will have to lose the hat. Not many women in the twenty-first century wear stuff like that. Even though you look very nice..."

"I would look out of place." She finished softly.

"Correct, Miss Lincoln." Seven added gently. "You should also lose the gloves. That fad will soon die out."

The men watched as she complied, placing her gloves in her little purse that was hanging on her wrist and the hat on Seven's desk, next to the little green sensor cube. She then smiled as she spoke again.

"The year 1974 was kind of groovy. How far will we go this time?"

"You and Mr. Riley will be going to the year 2020, over a half a century from now. By the way, you did very well in 1974, Miss Lincoln. I'm glad that that Bester creep didn't kill you."

"Me too, sir. He very nearly succeeded. If it hadn't have been for Mr. Quinn, I would have been a goner. I just hope I won't be encountering any others like him...or any more giant bugs." She shuttered and glanced in Riley's direction and he nodded in agreement.***

"I'm sure you won't, Miss Lincoln." Riley said cordially. "Captain Christopher is not a violent person and certainly is no telepath."

Seven had a startled look on his face.

"Not all Q's are as nice as your friend, Roberta. Riley, how do you know about that?"

"Chekov told me about his doppelganger when he was recovering from his brain injury on Star Base 515 after Scotty left."**

"Oh, yes, of course. Riley, if you are not successful at returning the stolen items, then Miss Lincoln will have to turn on her charms to help get them back."

"Sir...why me? Is he a dirty old man? Certainly there are more qualified people to accompany Mr. Riley. What about Pavel?"

"Pavel is busy with his navigation duties on board the Enterprise. Christopher is more like a sexy senior citizen." Seven joked with a smile. "Besides, you need the experience. Are you afraid that something might happen to you?"

"Frankly yes, sir. My last few experiences with time travel, chasing after madmen and going to other planets were pretty scary."

"Don't worry, Miss Lincoln. Riley will act as a chaperone. Also, you won't be going to another planet." Riley nodded with amusement and she blushed. "Good luck you two. You are going to need it. He probably won't give up the items without a fight."

Seven watched as they both stepped into the vault, Riley letting Roberta enter it first. As they dematerialized, Seven smiled ever so slightly as Roberta closed her eyes with a little trepidation, still not used to transporting in this manner.

Christopher was not overly surprised to see Miss Lincoln and Mr. Riley suddenly materialize right in front of him as he was watching the news on TV. He had been expecting them to appear, for the Q had paid him another visit, telling him that they were coming to retrieve the stolen items from the future. He did not wish to give them up, but when he learned about how history had been altered, and even though it meant that his descendant would not have the easy life of a wealthy heiress, he gave them what he thought was the box. Thinking their mission had been accomplished, they went back to Seven's apartment, only to find out that the stolen items had been replaced by toy replicas.

Thirty years went by after that. Colonel Sean Jeffrey Christopher, Jr. was en route to Saturn, unaware that in the ship's cargo hold, a familiar little silver box had appeared among the supplies needed for the trip in a flash of light, compliments of the Q.

* "Balance of Terror"

** "The Bester of Both Worlds"

*** "Unlucky Seven"