A/N: We don't own any of the shows expanded upon in the following story.
Chapter 4
Jean Luc Picard, his son, Janus, and Daniel Jackson were seated comfortably in the living area of the Admiral's quarters at Deep Space Nine. They were discussing many things, including the three hundred thousand years that the Q had been unable to use their powers.
"Time was moving at different speeds all over the multiverse. In our particular galaxy, it was moving at a different rate than it did in a galaxy billions of lightyears from here," Janus was saying.
"Billions of lightyears is purely arbitrary then, Janus," Picard stated as he poured himself another cup of Earl Grey. "If time is fluctuating, the speed of light will as well."
"I suppose that is true," Janus replied. "But my point is this, Father: the lack of paranormal happenings on Earth, in the last five or six hundred years, directly correlates with the three hundred thousand year jump of the Iconians."
"That's rubbish, and you know it. The positions of stellar objects do not support your claim."
"No, they don't," Janus said. "However, look at the Mayan calendar. They were watching the stars, and they gave up, because things no longer made sense. Everything changed, from their perspective, so they stopped making their calendar at December 21st, 2012."
"So you're saying that is why people, in the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries said that the Mayans predicted the end of the world?"
"They didn't predict anything, Father. They just couldn't figure it out." Janus got a wicked grin on his face as he continued. "The people in the late nineteen hundreds and early two thousands just assumed that there was something going on that they didn't understand." He chuckled and shook his head. "There was, but the Mayans didn't understand either." At the look on his father's face, Janus immediately stopped laughing and looked at his feet.
"Actually, it makes a sort of twisted sense," Jackson commented.
"You don't actually believe him, do you?" Picard asked.
"Well, there was certainly a downward spiral of paranormal occurrences in your history. My people skipped over that time, so we didn't notice it, but from what I've read, science outweighed everything on your Earth. The Q were unable to use a good portion of our powers during this time. I lived through it, but only in the sphere. Merlin, Janus, Jack and Sam, Teal'c, and many others did as well. Those in the continuum were trapped there. I can understand humans becoming convinced that there weren't beings like us.
"That is true," Picard said, "but we did accept different types of people. We met the Organians and the Q, once we were spacefaring. My great-grandfather even dealt with Trelane."
"According to what I've read, he also met the Greek god Apollo," Daniel commented.
"That is strange," Janus said. "From what I saw in the past, Apollo was a Goa'uld."
"I would have to ask him to be certain, but the being Great-Grandfather described didn't seem to be Goa'uld."
"No," Daniel agreed. "Which leads to the question, 'what was he?'"
In Prometheus' sickbay…
Amelia Earhart awoke with a start. She looked around her at the strange room. Instinctively, she knew she was in a hospital, but it was like none she had ever seen. The last thing she remembered was her compass starting to go crazy and a bright light approaching from the south of her plane.
A balding man approached her bed and commented, "I see you're awake. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. Who are you?" she asked, suspiciously.
"I'm the doctor," he told her.
"You're the doctor, or my doctor?"
"Both, I suppose," he said, somewhat surprised.
"I see," she said, "And do you have a name, Doctor?" she asked, smiling.
He seemed taken aback by her question. "I've never needed one," he answered matter-of-factly. "I'm a hologram, programmed to be an emergency medical officer. I have no other purpose, so why would I need a name?"
"What's a hologram?" she asked.
He picked up a medical tricorder and ran it over her body. "A hologram," he lectured, "is a three dimensional image, created by light."
"You're obviously more than light," she said as she touched his arm. "You're able to pick things up, and I can touch you."
"I am given form by converging force fields from the holo-emitters in this sickbay," he explained.
"I see," she said, lying to keep him talking, but at that moment, a woman walked into the room.
"Doctor McKay," he said to her in greeting.
"Hello, Doctor," the new woman said. "I've run the tests on her tissues. There seems to be no complications from her period in stasis." She turned to Amelia and introduced herself. "Hello. I'm Doctor Jennifer McKay. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Earhart."
Amelia smiled. "Can I get up? I feel like I've been sleeping for days. I need to stretch."
McKay glanced at the Doctor and said, "I'm fine with it. What do you think?"
"As long as you have an escort, you can leave sickbay. But if you start to feel the least bit unusual, I want you back here immediately."
"Deal," Earhart said and swung her feet off the edge of the bed.
On Galactica...
Tuvok and Lawson were sitting in the council chambers, listening to Commander Adama tell of the journey they had made and the battles they had fought.
"When we left our star system, we found that the cylons were tracking us. Somehow, every thirty three minutes, they would appear and attack. For over two hundred fifty jumps, they followed, and we weren't sure how they were doing it. Finally, we realized that they were tracking one of our ships. We weren't sure how, but they placed some nuclear devices aboard it. We had to destroy the Olympic Carrier to save the rest of our people. There had been over thirteen hundred people aboard that ship.
"Once we were able to jump without being followed, we started thinking long term. The first thing we needed to do was procure enough food and water for the people. Much of the food that we had was contaminated, and we found that our water wasn't much better. Then, a saboteur set off some explosives in Galactica's water tanks.
"We sent out patrols, to search for supplies. We found a planet that would work for replenishing much of what we needed. Its surface was covered with ice, and the ice checked out as being almost pure water. Then we realized that we were being directed there. There was an old communication system there that had been adapted into a weapon, and we lost a couple of vipers and raptors to it.
"We sent some warriors down to take out the weapon," Adama said, "and they were able to. There was a cylon garrison on the planet. We used criminals who had been sentenced to forced labor to get the water."
"You use criminals as forced labor?" Tuvok asked. It was something that the Klingons did, and even though the Vulcan had grown up on Ida, with their warrior society in close proximity, he found it distasteful.
"It is not something we're proud of, Mr. Tuvok," the commander admitted. "However, some of them received points towards their release. Some were even placed on probation after the job."
Lawson nodded sympathetically. "I can understand your predicament." He turned to the Vulcan and explained. "As prisoners, they would be a drain on society, especially one as small as the Colonies had become. If they could gain points, and eventually be free, they could become productive."
"I understand the concept, Mr. Lawson," the Vulcan said with a raised eyebrow. "However, my understanding is not indicative of my approval." To Adama he said, "However, I agree that your options were limited. Please continue."
Adama gave a small smile, then went on.
"Things went pretty well until my son-in-law went missing."
"Your son-in-law?" Tuvok asked.
"Yes. Kara's brother, Karl. I believe your man, Doctor McKay, said he knows him?"
"Yes," Tuvok agreed, "I have not personally had the pleasure."
Adama laughed and commented, "When you get the opportunity, you'll remember it forever. Karl can be a very interesting person."
"How did Karl go missing?" Andy wanted to know.
"He was on patrol with another of our pilots, Boomer, in a couple of experimental vipers. They had rudimentary jump capability, and were helping to extend the range of our scanning when they came upon an old cylon raider. We're not sure how it got there, because we didn't detect a base star anywhere in the vicinity. Karl's ship was hit by a blast from the cylons. It did something to his jump drive, and he disappeared. The raider was right on his tail and it followed. We searched for any sign of him for as long as we dared to stay in one place. Eventually, we had to leave. My daughter, Sharon, Karl's wife, was heartbroken."
"Intriguing," Tuvok said, one eyebrow raising. "I would speculate that the power from the cylon weapons must have caused an instability in Karl's jump drive, sending him a considerable distance from where he was hit. When Enterprise found him, he was in what we refer to as the gamma quadrant." He paused for a moment, then asked Adama, "I am curious. How far can you travel in a single jump from your drive?"
"In theory, there isn't a limit to the distance," the commander explained. "You need to be careful about where you jump to. You need empty space."
"To appear in the path of an asteroid, or inside a star would mess up a person's day, I expect," Andy quipped.
"That's not the only problem, Mr. Lawson," Adama explained. "We jump around whatever is present where we appear. So if we jump into a gas cloud, we enclose some of the gas. We can poison everybody on the ship that way."
Andy nodded his head as he thought about the consequences of such a jump. "I can see how that would be a problem."
"So," Tuvok observed, "If Karl's appearance in the gamma quadrant was because of an instability in his ftl drive, then it would seem that both he and Cy were lucky to be alive."
"Cy?" Adama asked.
"The cylon Karl repaired from the bodies of the three aboard the raider," Andy explained.
"Karl repaired one of the toasters?" Adama asked.
Tuvok raised an eyebrow. He glanced at Andy who had both of his raised.
"I understand that you don't like the cylons," Tuvok said carefully, "especially after the destruction of your home worlds. Might I offer a different perspective, however?"
Adama fixed the Vulcan with a hard stare which clearly said he didn't wish for any new points of view, but Tuvok went on. "One Romulan destroyed nearly all of my race. He did so, by creating a singularity in the heart of my planet. Only those who were not on my world at the time were spared. I do not harbor ill will towards all Romulans. To do so would be illogical. Cy, the cylon Karl repaired, saved his life on many occasions."
"Cy and Karl are still friends," Andy explained. "Karl has sort of taken Cy under his wing, because he looks so mechanical."
"That's the way all robots should look," Adama said, his voice tinged with anger. "That way you know who you can trust."
"Commander," Lawson said quietly, "I'm an android."
Adama's eyes turned to the executive officer of Equinox and they were cold. "What did you say?" he asked, dangerously.
"And I've used my abilities to protect people my whole life. I'm even seen as…."
"Get off my ship," Adama cut him off coldly.
"I'm even seen as…" Andy tried again.
"I said, get off my ship!" the voice was now raised.
"This is illogical," Tuvok argued, but Andy held up a hand and stopped him.
"It's ok, Tuvok," the android told him as he rose to his feet. "I understand fear, and I respect it."
"I'm not afraid of you," Adama said as Andy started to walk away.
Lawson stopped and turned, looking over his shoulder at the commander of the battlestar. "Really?" he asked. "Then how come you're fine with me until you find out that I'm an android, then you order me off your ship?"
"Having good sense does not mean I'm afraid."
"Good sense," Tuvok countered, "would indicate that you not break off relations with the Federation until you examine the situation more completely."
Adama shook his head, "I'm not breaking off relations with the Federation."
"The Federation has many citizens who are artificial in their creation. Not only do we have Mr. Lawson, but Voyager's doctor is a hologram. Several people in the Federation have bodies that have been manufactured for them because their old one died, and their mind has been downloaded into a new one. If you decide that those people are not to your liking, then you most certainly will be breaking those relations off," Tuvok explained, standing. "We had hoped when we met you, that you were different than the Kazon. They attacked us without provocation - without knowing us. You do not attack, but dislike some of our people without knowing them."
"Sit down," Adama said, looking at the table.
Tuvok had taken a step away from the table, and now he stopped. "I beg your pardon," he said, turning his head slightly, but refusing to meet the commander's gaze.
"I said sit down," Adama repeated. Then, "Both of you."
Tuvok turned and looked carefully at the commander.
Adama took off his glasses and polished the lenses as he spoke. "Since the cylons attacked, I've been the absolute authority in our military. If I don't like what someone is doing, I don't have to take it." He put his glasses on and looked up at them. "No one has told me for quite some time that I'm being an ass quite as eloquently as you just did, Mr. Tuvok."
Tuvok and Andy slowly moved back to the table and resumed their seats. Adama looked carefully at Andy and said, "If it's fear, Mr. Lawson, it's a healthy fear that keeps me alert to the dangers we've had to live with because of the cylons." He glanced at Tuvok, who nodded gravely, then back at Andy. "I apologize for my kneejerk reaction."
Andy studied Adama's face for a few moments, then slowly, he resumed his customary smile. "I understand, Commander Adama. Apology accepted."
Adama sat for a few moments, unsure how to respond to the forgiveness of an android. Finally, he grimaced and nodded.
On Prometheus…
Laura Adama was sitting in the captain's mess with John Evansville, Janeway and a couple of newly arrived ambassadors from the Federation. One was Nefreyu of the Nox, and the other was Kevin Riley of the Federation. The two had developed a friendship and had formed an indispensable team.
"I'm sorry I don't really have an ambassador to negotiate with you," the president of the colonies told the two. "The only treaty we've made with any other group is with the people of Jord."
"That's not a problem, Madam President," Riley told her. "We're happy to discuss things with you. It's wonderful that we have found two groups of humanity to have these conversations with."
As the conference progressed, both Evansville and Adama expressed a desire to work with the Federation, but there was some confusion on how the ambassadors had gotten to Jord.
"There are some members of the Federation who have the ability to cross vast sections of space very quickly," Nefreyu explained.
"Negotiations like this usually contain a bit of give and take between the sides," Riley said, carefully steering the conversation from their mode of travel. They had actually been brought by Daniel Jackson, who was chatting with the McKays. Explaining that some of their people had enough power to snap their fingers and rid the universe of cylons was not something they wanted to do at the moment. Especially when one of those powerful beings was a cylon.
"I honestly don't know what we have to offer," Evansville said. "It appears as though your technology is superior to ours. Our medical skills certainly don't compare."
"We do not trade only in scientific knowledge," Nefreyu told the Jordian leader. "There is more in the universe than science. Some members of the Federation trade minerals, food stuffs… even art."
"We do have lots of agricultural lands, and our art is truly wonderful."
Riley watched as Laura Adama nodded her head in agreement. "There, you see?" he said smiling.
"Our 'art' is war," the colonial president said gravely. "We've become very good at it because we've had to."
"That is understood," the Nox said, "however, from what I have heard from Captain Janeway and Chakotay, the engines on your battlestars are remarkable. A marriage of the sensors we have and your engines would make an impressive combination."
"I thought there was more to the universe than science?" Laura commented.
"Madam President," Nefreyu said with a small smile, "I do not propose that we should get your engines and you get nothing. I am offering our sensors to you. This is a situation where we would both ultimately have the same technology."
"What you are suggesting is intriguing," the president told him, "however, I will not give that technology without my husband's consent. We decided long ago that he would make the military decisions. I have to admit that I don't understand all that he says and does in that regard, but he's managed to get us here safely, so I'm not arguing the point."
Riley felt like groaning. If it was up to a military man, the chance of Nefreyu's suggestion coming to pass was not good. He put a smile on his face, however, and nodded.
The alpha quadrant…
Starfleet command…
Jean Luc Picard sat in his great-grandfather's office. He and Admiral Kirk were discussing the situation in the delta quadrant.
"So you're saying," Kirk said, "that in the prime universe, Voyager was a ship commanded by Kathryn Janeway, and it disappeared into the delta quadrant sometime after Equinox did."
"That is correct, Sir," Picard answered. "Retrieving both ships would be no great difficulty right now, except for the allies they have made for the Federation."
"I agree that we should leave them in place for now as our liaison with the Colonials," Kirk affirmed.
"That was my thought." He paused for a moment then asked, "Are you assigning the delta quadrant to an airwing?"
"Why?" Kirk asked. "Prometheus and Equinox are both in your wing. I see no reason to reassign them. Besides, Chakotay is a good commander, capable of handling things out there. Riley and Nefreyu are good diplomats. They'll represent us very well."
"I have no doubt of that," Picard said.
"And we can retrieve them any time we wish," Kirk added.
"What do you mean by that?" Picard asked.
"Any of the Q could retrieve them from the delta quadrant at any time," the admiral explained.
"We could," Picard agreed, "however, I am not sure that would be the best use of our power, Great-Grandfather."
"No," Kirk said. "I suppose it wouldn't be."
Before Picard could respond, there was a flash of light and Daniel Jackson appeared in a chair beside Picard. "Sorry I'm late," he said.
"Thank you for coming, Dr. Jackson," Kirk told him.
"Not a problem, Sir," Jackson responded. "I was kind of in the area, so..."
Kirk nodded. He knew that Jackson had come back to tell Vala and his children about Galactica and her fleet in orbit of Jord. Not that it was a secret, especially to Jackson's family. Ca Ra's younger self was on board the mighty vessel. "So, what do your children think of the Colonials being found?" Kirk asked.
"Actually," Daniel explained, "with Ca Ra and Li being there, it's not really a surprise. However, for me, it's sort of surreal. I hadn't seen any of these people since long before the colonies were destroyed. Whether they'd recognize me is debatable."
"I'm certain," Picard said, "that the humanoid cylon models would recognize you, Daniel. The rest of the Q have taken the time to review the history of the colonies. It's quite fascinating."
Daniel nodded in agreement. "I agree that the history is interesting. I have searched the beginnings of the cylons as well." He looked at both Kirk and Picard in turn and asked, "Have any other Q done this?"
"To my knowledge," Kirk said, "No, they haven't."
"What did you find, Daniel," Picard asked, intrigued.
Before Daniel could respond, there was a knock at the door. "Come in," Kirk called. The First and Janus entered at his invitation.
"I felt that I should be present for this conversation," Spock explained. "If you have no objections, Jim?" he asked his friend.
"I was just curious about what Dr. Jackson had to say," Janus quipped.
"No objections from me," Kirk said.
"Nor from me," Picard agreed.
Spock looked to Jackson for final agreement and in response, Daniel smiled and waved his hand and two more chairs appeared in the room. "Thank you, Doctor Jackson," the Vulcan inclined his head.
"The cylons were created by a man named Daniel Greystone, about seventy-five years ago," Daniel began. "Actually, I was given the name, Daniel, in his honor."
"How did they go from mechanical bodies to organic?" Picard asked.
"The cylons met up with five people from the Federation," Daniel explained. "These people had perfected a process by which they were resurrected if they died."
"We don't have anyone with that type of technology," Kirk objected.
"Pardon me, Sir," Janus corrected, "but yes, we do."
Kirk turned to his great-great grandson with a perturbed look on his face. "Explain," he said.
"It's actually based somewhat on the Iconian body printing technology. Look into the past to Eureka. Look at what was done with a group of people called the NPCs. They were computer programs that were placed into artificial, organic bodies."
"The only thing these five people needed to come up with, was a way to continually make backups of their minds, even across great distances in space," Daniel continued.
"Distances wouldn't be a problem at all," Picard was beginning to realize where Daniel was going. "The Iconians can communicate instantaneously across any distance with the super ZPMs."
"That would be one way," Jackson affirmed. "The final five, as the group from the Federation was called, didn't give the cylons SZPM technology, but they adapted what they knew of wormholes and when they made their own resurrected bodies, they installed a photologic processor into the brain, which had a transmitter as well as the receiver. This allowed them to literally link to a centralized computer core. Every new memory… Every new thought would be transmitted to that core, and if their body died, well…" Jackson paused for a moment, then continued. "A new one would simply be printed around the processor, then their consciousness uploaded."
"And that's what you are?" Kirk asked, somewhat taken aback.
"No, I'm a Q," Jackson said with a chuckle. "Actually, eventually, the processor was replaced by an organic analog, leaving the cylons able to be printed completely. There was no more building around a piece of silicon and diamond in their heads."
"But you started out that way?" Kirk pressed.
"No. The final five had worked around the processor to the organic version by the time I was built."
"You have the DNA of the original cylon model of Daniel," Picard said. "Is that organic structure still in your brain?"
"I suppose it is," was the reply.
"And would it function without your knowledge?" Picard asked.
Daniel realized what Picard was getting at. "As you know, Jean Luc, Q are not infallible. If I was paying attention to the organic processor, I would know. However, if I wasn't…" He let the thought trail off.
"Do the cylons know everything about us?" Kirk asked.
Spock spoke up. "The cylons have every reason to think that Daniel Jackson is dead. He was vaporized by John Cavill many years ago, and for some reason, they didn't resurrect him."
"Apparently, Cavil had some pull there," Jackson agreed.
"Precisely," Spock said. "It would be logical to shut down the connection to our friend and utilize that computer space for other things."
"I agree that it would be the most logical course," Picard agreed, "but I think it would be prudent to be sure."
Rather than reply audibly, Spock merely inclined his head in an affirmative. Then, he closed his eyes and began to search.