Chapter XX
"Proton decay? Are you serious, Reg?" Geordi asked. "Look at the readings yourself," Barclay suggested, calling up the relevant data. "We're talking about a process that takes billions of years. The end of the universe and all that. I'm sure this is a spurious reading," La Forge commented. "Don't you think we should report it?" his friend inquired.
"I'll bring it up at the meeting, which is scheduled to start in five minutes," he stated. "I guess I lost track of the time," his companion apologized as they walked to the turbolift. "I'm sure that the Captain will understand," Geordi replied. The doors opened onto the bridge and they crossed to the observation lounge, where everybody else was already waiting for them.
"Before we begin, this is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the starship Voyager," Picard told them, pointing towards a screen which displayed the bridge of the other vessel. "I have a plan that might enable us to travel thru the anomaly without being damaged. I'm transmitting the relevant information to you now," the woman declared. "What about our ship?" Worf put in. "The space around them was severely disturbed a few minutes ago. Approaching that region is going to be very dangerous," Data reported. "I'm not sure if this is relevant, but our sensors also detected a large amount of proton decay at the same time," La Forge added.
"What kind of phenomenon could have caused that?" Picard asked. "The only instances known to our science take place during a supernova that results in the creation of a neutron star, due to the immense gravitational pull it exerts," the android explained. "If something like that was nearby, our sensors would have detected it," the Vulcan counselor noted. "Not necessarily… those readings could be distorted by the anomaly," Janeway suggested. Geordi snapped his fingers, then said, "I've got it."
Moving to the panel, he went on, "Excuse me for a minute, Captain." He then removed the woman's image and began typing instructions into the computer. After a few minutes, a diagram showing the region around Cardassia Prime appeared.
"That looks like a wormhole," the Klingon noted. "Exactly… I've been thinking about how we've all been drawn here, so many vessels from such disparate realities. And then I remembered those ships from the Dominion, which disappeared during their voyage to Bajor. Plus, there's the Orb that was seen on the surface," the engineer explained. "Both of those are associated with the same wormhole, but that one doesn't lead here," Reg pointed out.
"You're absolutely right, I know. But creating such a stable tunnel thru higher dimensions is an incredible feat of engineering. The power required for such a project is unimaginable. We've read the reports on the Prophets and the abilities they have manifested. As I recall, their creations can even let you travel thru time. And on another occasion, an accident caused a vessel to end up in the mirror universe," Geordi went on. "So what is your theory?" Worf asked.
"The aliens that inhabit the wormhole experience time in a non-linear fashion. To them, there is no past; no present or future. If that is true, then they've been around since the universe first came into existence. But as time went on, other realities formed. By our day, there are an infinite number of them. Yet only one wormhole, thru which they can watch all the possible outcomes of any action. They would have known about this. And now, we're all here; drawn by the same thing. The source of our problems," La Forge concluded. "Does that mean you've got a plan for bringing an end to our current situation?" Picard inquired.
"If I might interrupt…" a calm voice stated and he tapped a button, causing Captain Janeway to appear once more. The woman went on, "I have something to relate which might help to clarify your engineer's theory. A few years ago, our ship encountered a field which duplicated every molecule aboard our vessel; except for the antimatter. If the wormhole was made up of something similar, then that would explain why it connects to alternate universes."
"At one point, there was a plan to use a burst of anti-protons to collapse the phenomenon," the Klingon mused. "If that had been done, it would have formed a closed loop; which would have been inaccessible to the rest of the universe," Data remarked. "Could it be possible that this event was caused in the future and is propagating backwards thru time?" the Captain suggested.
"We cannot rule that out," the Vulcan counselor noted.
" "In any case, my first officer is prepared to go to each ship and dispense the serum so that we can work together without further interference," Janeway informed them.
"Make it so," Picard directed and the transmission ended. As they all filed out, the android approached him and commented, "Geordi, I was wondering how you created the diagram which led to your theory." "It was a hunch. I had the computer map the locations of each person or thing that had been shifted out of synch since we reached Cardassia Prime," he answered. Data nodded, then turned to the nearby monitor and called up the display once more before pointing to one spot on it and asking, "What is here?"
La Forge examined it, realizing that his friend was right. "Maybe you and I should check it out," he suggested. "I will ask Captain Picard," his comrade decided, stepping over to speak with their superior. While he waited, Geordi strode over to Worf; who was glowering at the viewscreen. "You seem to be troubled," he said.
"According to the calculations I ran earlier, something should have happened by now. I don't understand. A warrior should not have to wait like this," the Klingon intoned. "Yeah, except you're an Ambassador now," La Forge reminded him. "Perhaps that will change once I complete this mission. I told Martok that diplomacy did not suit me. Captain Picard might be willing to permit me to resume my post," his friend replied. "Whatever makes you happy," he stated. Data had finished his conversation and Geordi saw that Captain Picard was following him. "I approve of your plan, on one condition. I'm making a request to Captain Janeway, to have her first officer deliver this serum to us first so you can conduct your investigation. Once you've used it, then the mission may proceed. He'll be landing in the hangar bay in a few minutes," his superior informed him.
Walking with the turbolift, he barely heard his friend call out the appropriate deck before they started moving. "I guess this means it's almost time to say goodbye," La Forge remarked.
"Do not worry about me, Geordi. I miss you, but I will be all right," Data told him. He nodded as the transport stopped and they stepped out. The two friends soon entered the cavernous chamber, where one of the sleek shuttles carried by the smaller ship was just settling to the floor. The ramp lowered, revealing a tall man with a tattoo over one eye; festooned with a belt that held vials. "Will your concoction work on an android?" he asked. "I don't see why not… you must be Commander Data," the stranger said to his friend.
"It is an honor to meet you as well, Chakotay. I have read the reports we received from your Emergency Medical Hologram," his companion responded. "Yes, well this is not exactly the way I planned to come home. If we get out of this, I hope Voyager is able to remain in the Alpha Quadrant," Chakotay declared, giving Data an injection as well.
"What about our shuttle?" Geordi put in. "A few modifications are all it needs," their visitor stated, gesturing them inside where the android examined a screen for a few moments before nodding and saying, "We will let you continue your work, Commander."
They strode to their own vessel, where he quickly altered the ship under the skillful direction of his friend. A short time later, they lifted off and sailed into a lower orbit of the planet. Just above them, he could see the glistening Orb that Worf had reported. But the point his companion was directing them to was below that, in what appeared to be empty space.
The shuttle came to a halt and Data began performing scans of the surrounding area. They had been sitting there for about five minutes when their vessel lurched suddenly. "What is going on?" La Forge asked. "We are experiencing ripples in the fabric of reality. Our shielding is absorbing them, but I am not sure how long we can withstand the pressure," Data reported. Just then, the cockpit was filled with a thick blue mist and when it cleared he saw a strange man in a white jumpsuit standing behind them. In his hand was clutched a thin, silver object that he aimed at Data. There was a hum, then the android smiled serenely while the intruder directed, "Take us to Voyager."
"Who are you? How did you get here?" Geordi demanded even as his friend obeyed the stranger's instructions. "It wasn't easy, that I can assure you. Let us just say that I represent an agency which is interested in the continued welfare of not only the Federation; but all life in this galaxy. But we must hurry. I have an appointment to keep," the man said.
"Why are we going to Voyager?" La Forge insisted. "If you must know, there is someone aboard who can help me with my mission. More to the point, they have access to the resources I will need before the next shift. If you don't believe me, you can ask Daniels once we arrive," the intruder told them. "He's going to be there too? Are you working together?" he wondered.
"Only indirectly… you must understand that there are times when certain people require a specific thing to motivate them in order for other events to take place. You've already witnessed that aboard the Enterprise-D," the stranger pointed out. "I suppose you're right… so what is going to happen once we reach our destination?" Geordi asked. "It is quite simple really. You will assist Daniels in his efforts to create an Omega molecule," the man answered. "What is that?" he retorted.
"The Captain of Voyager can explain… and do not mention me to her," his visitor insisted. "Believe me, she wouldn't listen to me even if I did," La Forge responded.