The soft white light hit his eyes as he opened them, trying to make sense of his surroundings. A voice echoed through his head, "Careful, don't get up; you're wounded."
He ignored the warning and rose to see Doctor Crusher using one of her medical instruments on his head and said, "Your prompt response to our distress call is most appreciated. I'll need to speak to the Captain as soon as possible."
The Klingon took a moment to glance around sickbay, noting that his companions had apparently been released in order to return to duty. Beverly nodded and said, "Are you sure you're up to that?" "I am glad you show concern over the situation, but I'll need to contact Chancellor Martok and inform him of what has occurred," he explained, knowing how she would insist on the full amount of recuperation; which he could not afford at this time. "Martok?" Crusher asked in confusion, "Wasn't he captured by the Dominion and killed during your escape attempt from one of their bases a few years ago?"
Worf cocked an eyebrow at her and then said, "What is the Stardate?"
"You must've had quite the concussion… hold on," Beverly replied as she checked the computer and then said with a smile, "53021.22 and maybe now you'll agree to get some rest."
He shook his head, rising and moving to a mirror and looking over his appearance. The Klingon noted that he no longer wore the ambassador's uniform, but was now dressed in the clothes of a security officer. Worf moved to the door, ignoring any further protests that Crusher might make and decided that it was high time to speak with the Captain. Reaching the closest turbolift, he only hoped that whatever version of the Enterprise he'd been taken to had also encountered Q.
The Klingon was quite familiar with the concept of multiple realities and had experienced them before, but also found it difficult and oftentimes impossible to handle; especially when he jumped randomly from one to another.
If that does happen again, I must convince those I meet to follow the same course and everything should be fine, he thought. Reaching the bridge, he paused in surprise to see Commander Riker sitting in the Captain's chair and also wearing the uniform befitting that rank. Deanna turned to him and said, "Worf, there you are! Beverly said that you've been injured."
The Counselor rushed over, checking him for wounds and then said, "You can't try to kill yourself just to avoid that second honeymoon on Bajor you promised me." Worf narrowed his eyes as Troi frowned and said, "Don't tell me you forgot our trip?"
"I have no idea what you are referring to," he admitted. Riker rose and said, "You look a little shaken up."
"Yes and I must speak with you, Captain," Worf answered. His apparent superior smiled slightly and said, "Okay, let's go to my ready room." Worf nodded, following him in and wondering what had happened to Picard in this universe. Riker sat down and then asked, "So what took place down there? There's no sign of the rest of the away team." "Q is involved with whatever is going on, sir," Worf explained, deciding to choose his words carefully.
"Q? Doesn't he ever tire of dealing with us? I thought after Captain Picard died from his meddling; he would've lost interest in us. He needs to answer a few questions," Riker realized.
"I agree, but it would seem that once again Q wishes to test us in some way. Perhaps that is why Cardassia Prime is in such a condition," Worf explained. "You're acting odd, Worf. Don't you remember it was the Dominion which did that whenever Gul Dukat decided to take a stand against them in the end… and that's how the Vorta responded," Riker commented.
"Have you had a chance to see what is occurring around the planet, sir?" he inquired. "No, but Data commented that there were a number of other vessels out there… something I should know about?" Riker asked. "Perhaps it'd be easier if we viewed them together, since I have yet to determine what has actually occurred," Worf suggested.
His friend nodded and they walked onto the bridge again and he paused in confusion to see that Picard was now standing in front of him. Turning about, the Klingon realized that Riker was no longer with him and he discerned that he'd entered another reality. "Number One, may I ask what you were doing in my ready room?" the Captain inquired.
"Sir, I was speaking with Commander Riker… who said that you were dead," Worf explained. "Will? But he and Deanna are onboard the Titan halfway across the Alpha Quadrant," the security chief said, standing behind the Captain.
"Sir, I believe that I was in an alternate universe when I spoke to the Commander and I believe that this reality is not my own either," the Klingon explained, although his only basis for making such a claim was an uneasy feeling. "Captain, his experience would explain the other vessels surrounding us," a young woman commented from the seat Data normally occupied.
"I suppose that explains the current situation?" Picard asked, gesturing to the numerous vessels surrounding them. "I was onboard another version of the Enterprise and beamed down to Cardassia Prime along with Commander Riker and Counselor Troi. We stumbled upon one of the Orbs of the Prophets. My personal experience with them reminded me of their ability to warp space and time… perhaps that is what has happened here?" Worf suggested.
The Vulcan who sat in the seat by Picard nodded and then said, "Captain, I believe the suggestions that Commander Worf is making would be logical considering the amount of chronometric energy we've detected in the area."
"I would have to agree… but what do we do about this? It would seem that you are moving from one plane of reality to another… as I recall, this has happened to you before. We must discover what is causing this before things get out of hand," Picard decided. Worf was about to answer when he felt something hit him in the back and fell to the floor. Darkness surrounded him as he tried to rise and then he felt a hand grasp him and push him against the wall. "Captain, what should I do with the intruder?" Barclay asked, sounding quite different than usual.
"Hold it, Lieutenant; he looks familiar…" another voice said and Worf turned to see the man who had been at tactical before sitting in the center chair in place of Captain Picard. "Have we met before?" the man asked. Worf tried hard to remember if this was the case and then nodded before replying, "Zelik Leybenzon, we met during the war with the Dominion."
The man nodded with a smile and then said, "Worf, I thought I recognized you. What are you doing here? I thought that after the Klingon Empire conquered the Cardassians, they broke all ties with the Federation."
"I wish that I could explain the situation myself… perhaps without being restrained?" he suggested. Zelik nodded, gesturing for Barclay to release him and then his old acquaintance said, "So can you tell me what's going on here?"
"There has been a rift in space and time, causing multiple universes to collide on this ship. I have already been to two other versions of the Enterprise and can assume that I will be transported to others as well," Worf answered. Data nodded from his post and commented, "Our sensors had just noted that the amount of chronometric energy surrounding our vessel is rather high, Captain. Perhaps what he says is true." "Or the Klingon is trying to spy on us… have you noticed how many vessels are out there, waiting to pounce?" Barclay asked and now Worf noticed that he was wearing the uniform of security chief.
"Maybe he is aligned with those rebels who captured Terok Nor," Reg added.
"Possibly, but if what he says is true; he won't be staying around long enough for us to detain him. But maybe we could discover whether or not these other versions of the Enterprise exist as he speculates," Leybenzon suggested and turned to Data and ordered, "We should ascertain whether his quantum signature supports his statements and monitor his position… if something unusual happens, then that will mean his words have merit. Until then, take him to the brig."
"Captain, it would be pointless to put him there if these shifts occur on a regular basis," the Vulcan sitting beside Zelik pointed out. "True, but I'm willing to bet that even if he is moving from one universe to another; it will not be apparent to us," Leybenzon said with a nod and then added, "I hope that you're telling the truth, Worf."
The Klingon replied, "More than you may know."
As Barclay motioned for him to step into the turbolift, his thoughts turned to the rest of the away team and whether or not they had survived this entire mess. As the door opened before him, Barclay turned to him and asked, "Ambassador Worf? When did you get here?" Worf noted that his escort had vanished, felt pleased that he had avoided detention and then said, "Lieutenant, who is the current Captain of the Enterprise?" "Captain Picard, sir… why do you ask?" the officer inquired nervously.
The Klingon ignored the familiar behavior of the engineer and then said, "Is there any way that I can speak to him?" "I don't see why not," Reg replied and then gestured for him to join him as he entered a turbolift. "It's really good to see you again, sir. We all became worried after we lost your signal and were starting to wonder if you'd survived," Barclay said.
"I would assume you've not heard from either of my companions yet?" Worf replied. "No and you weren't aboard until just a few seconds ago," the Lieutenant said. Nodding, Worf entered the bridge and then glanced at Cardassia Prime before turning to the Captain.
"Sir, I have a report to make on our mission," the Klingon explained. "I will expect a full account of how you managed to get here at a later time… never mind that for now, though; go ahead," Picard said with a smile.
"The away team stumbled across one of the Orbs of the Prophets and a large temporal disturbance has occurred which has placed us in the situation we are now in. I have been moving from one version of the Enterprise to another and have discovered a few similarities within them. Cardassia Prime has been destroyed in each universe and I have attempted to explain what has happened to each version of the crew that I have encountered," Worf explained.
"I'm aware of your previous experience with this phenomenon. You're certain that there are slight differences in each universe, but can you identify any here?" the Captain asked. The Klingon paused and said, "Not that I've seen. It would seem that I have successfully returned to the Enterprise-E which brought me here." For a moment, everyone was silent and then Picard stated, "You aren't home yet, Ambassador Worf. However, the presence of the craft you're speaking of does substantiate your story," Picard said.
"Then this is the Enterprise-D? How did you escape destruction on Veridian Three?" Worf guessed. "That planet was destroyed by Doctor Soran, along with the entire solar system," Data stated.
"It was a terrible loss of life… We were barely able to jump to warp before the shock wave hit," Picard said sadly. "How was it that the Enterprise-D was destroyed in your reality?" the android asked. "Soran captured Commander La Forge on his observatory and used his VISOR to find out our shield frequencies," Worf explained. "That would have been impossible here, since Geordi died several months earlier," Data told him. "What are we going to do about it?" Barclay inquired. "Captain, that Klingon Bird of Prey is locking their weapons on us," Data said urgently.
"We'll discuss this later, for now it looks like we've got a battle to handle," the Captain decided. Worf nodded, taking a seat beside Picard and hoping that with the assistance of the parallel universes, he'd be able to save the friends he had left behind and the vessel he was familiar with. However, something about all of this still bothered him. Putting his unreasoning fears in the back of his mind, the Klingon turned his attention to their current situation and the problems that it presented.