Chapter X

The soft chime of the clock entered his ears as he tried to make out his surroundings. The noise grew louder and as it did, the scene before him became clearer. Pure light stretched out before him in every direction and Picard paused, trying to recall what had just happened. Will and the others had transported down to the surface of Cardassia Prime and then he'd walked onto the bridge… after that, he couldn't remember anything.

He recognized the place almost immediately; it had been upon this same blank expanse where Q had faced him when he'd offered Picard the chance to change his life. So it didn't take long for him to assume who had sent him here now. "Q!" he called out.

"Captain, I do not believe he will answer… since he has ignored my calls," a voice said and he turned to see Data walking towards him. The loud sound of the clock continued to echo around them and he said, "Mister Data, what do you see?" "I see nothing, sir; we have apparently been transported to a trans-dimensional limbo. I find the entire experience rather enlightening," the android commented.

"I'm glad that someone appreciates my talents," Q stated as he appeared beside Data and smiled slightly before walking towards him. "Why have you taken us from my ship? What game are you playing?" Picard growled.

"Unfortunately; this is all your doing, mon capitan. I told you at least two times not to continue your little mission of mercy. But did you listen to me? No, you never cease to amaze me. Just once you'd think that my eons of experience would account for something, but I suppose what has occurred afterward must lead to that which comes before," Q lamented, shaking his head in disappointment.

"What about the Enterprise?" he wondered. "Why don't you watch and find out?" Q suggested as the scene changed. "We appear to be in orbit of Cardassia Prime," Data stated, evidently confused by how this might be possible. "What sort of trick is this, Q?" Picard asked. "No tomfoolery on my part here. As dear William just ascertained, this is definitely the home world of your supposed allies. Though one that you're not familiar with," Q said with a smile.

"Did you send them there?" Picard asked. "A thousand times no! Must I again remind you that I can't interfere in this situation? Sometimes I really wonder whether you're paying attention, Jean-Luc," Q said, rolling his eyes and then pointing towards the next scene. "Look there, the noble warrior has found something. I'm amazed, he's come so far…" he paused and then asked, "I don't suppose that you recognize it?"

"No, Data; any thoughts?" he asked. "It is similar to the files Starfleet has on the Orbs of the Prophets from Bajor," Data answered. "Is that the source of our anomalies?" Picard asked. "I guess I do have to place things in simpler terms for you," Q said, sighing and then snapping his fingers.

In an instant, they were back on the bridge of the Enterprise and Picard turned to the conn officer and said, "What is going on?" For some reason, his subordinate ignored him and then he turned to the face his longtime foe and said, "What has happened?"

"Try as much as you want, Jean-Luc. They won't hear you," Q pointed out. He nodded and said, "Are we still on another plane of reality?"

"At last the light shines through; I have to admit that I was really getting worried. Basically, you should thank me for saving your skins. Now, let's see what's happened since you left," Q said and Picard turned to look at the screen. What he saw was astonishing. First were hundreds of Dominion vessels floating above the planet not far to port and he turned to the android and asked, "How many do you count, Mister Data?"

"There are at least one thousand and seventy five, Captain," he replied.

"Impressed? Keep looking," Q commented. Picard soon spotted a Klingon Bird of Prey as it closed in on them. Then to the other side of it… "That's Voyager; but they're lost in the Delta Quadrant!" he proclaimed. Q shook his head, gesturing towards another vessel which seemed to shimmer and asked, "And them?" "I'm not familiar with the design," Picard admitted.

"Of course you're not… they're from the twenty-ninth century. I know that's a little out of your league, but I do enjoy your vain attempt to guess," Q said with a smile. "What has happened, Q?" Picard asked.

"Perhaps your walking encyclopedia can explain the situation?" the entity suggested. Data replied, "From what I can tell, all of these vessels are from various times and places… including what appears to be the Enterprise-D."

Picard turned to where the android pointed and shook his head in astonishment at the older vessel which looked exactly as it had before its untimely destruction a few years back. "Any of this making any sense to you at all?" Q asked. "Did the Orb of the Prophets cause this to occur?" he asked, glaring at his old nemesis.

"The Prophets truly are marvelous designers to say the least… though sometimes I find their means of communication rather tiresome. For once you'd think they could state things in terms anyone could understand," Q commented.

"A lesson you need to learn as well," he said with a shake of his head. The super-being glared at him for a moment and then returned them to orbiting above the planet and said, "As you must've already discerned, this is not the Cardassia Prime you're so familiar with. And in this reality, the Orb was onboard a vessel which struck the surface during battle. Apparently, the Vorta never unlocked its powers. Your little team of miscreants stumbled upon it and here we are. Nice job on your part," Q said with a smile. "In the Captain's defense, you did have ample time to reveal to us your motives during this voyage and yet refused to do so," Data spoke up.

"Did I?" Q said, sounding forgetful and then said, "But then again, would you have listened to me?"

"I did what I thought would work best. Besides, you've often wanted us to test the limits of our knowledge. Perhaps this would prove that we have the capacity to grow… as you put it," Picard stated.

"I can see that you've really learned how to apply my counsel; albeit far too late, Jean-Luc. After all, even if you do fail; what's a universe or two down the tubes? Very well, a test it shall be and we'll begin with stop number one," Q said, snapping his fingers and he felt his body strike the cold metallic floor of some vessel. Picard rose with Data's help and then looked around at their surroundings.

A group of Cardassians turned to them, no doubt surprised by their arrival and the one in the forefront stated, "What do we have here? I don't believe that I have the pleasure of your acquaintance, Captain…" "I am Jean-Luc Picard, of the starship Enterprise. This is Lieutenant Commander Data," he answered, wondering how they were going to be treated.

"Ah, I've heard of you. But I was under the impression that your vessel had been posted in the heart of the Federation. So how is it that I find you here, invading my ship and placing several of your craft in orbit of my home? Really, Captain; this is most disconcerting," their host remarked. "We have been dispatched to negotiate a peace treaty with your government," Data informed him.

"Giving up already? I can hardly blame you, given the unanticipated arrival of a Dominion fleet in our skies. I must say, I find the lack of faith that my allies have in me to be disturbing," the Cardassian said. Picard frowned, something their host's face and manner reminding him of the files Starfleet had dispensed a few years back.

"Pardon me, but would I be correct in identifying you as Gul Dukat?" the android inquired. "As much as I might be in stating that you are enemies of my people, who have decimated my world thru means which are unknown to me and now wish to finish the process. I must congratulate on a job well done. How did you manage it?" the Cardassian leader asked.

"We're not responsible for the catastrophe. We have reason to believe that our vessels are experiencing temporal anomalies," he began, then one of the guards hit him with his weapon and he only retained his footing with Data's help.

"Captain, please… don't lie to me, it doesn't become you. Three vessels from the Federation are present and they will be held accountable for what has occurred. Since you have had the misfortune of attempting to deceive me, I'm afraid that I have no choice but to turn you over to the tender mercies of the Dominion," Dukat advised, gesturing for the guards to take them away.

Knowing that the android knew better than to resist such superior firepower, Picard allowed himself to be led from the bridge. From the look of the corridors and the reddish glow emitting from the lights, he concluded that this vessel must be the Klingon Bird of Prey they had discerned during their time with Q. "Data, he's from the past; isn't he?" he whispered.

His companion nodded, speaking in flawless French which Picard understood quite well, [This vessel was used by Gul Dukat during his campaign to free the Cardassians from the Dominion, which culminated in his alliance with them. I identified it from the reports filed by Captain Sisko at the time.]

They soon reached their destination and he recognized the stark and utilitarian chamber as their equivalent of a transporter room. Standing on the pad, he watched as the levers were thrown and the interior of the vessel disappeared to be replaced by an even more daunting prospect. Standing in front of them was a group of Jem'Hadar, flanking a lone Vorta who smiled in the obsequious manner they all seemed to have and remarked, "Captain Picard, an honor to meet you at last."

"I could have done without it," he replied, wondering if Q had abandoned them or had some purpose for allowing this to go on.

"I must say, I am somewhat perplexed by what is going on. Perhaps you could enlighten me. A few minutes ago, my troops and I were directed to proceed thru the wormhole and bolster our defenses in the Alpha Quadrant. I am uncertain how we have arrived here, or why we cannot contact the Founders. Can you enlighten me on these subjects?"

He glanced at Data, who obviously knew just where these vessels must have originated. Picard only hoped that he could be persuasive enough that this individual would listen to him, before the situation became even more difficult to grasp.