Star Trek: Reign Of Terror

Chapter XVIII: Metamorphosis

U.S.S. Yellowjacket, Location Unknown, Stardate Unknown

Debris from the Yellowjacket continued to drift outward for several seconds in a traditional blast pattern typically found after the explosion of an overloaded impulse drive. As the seconds ticked away, however, the protective force shield surrounding the artificial quantum singularity at the heart of the runabout's engine core faded away. Once that happened, the expanding cloud of wreckage and energy came to a gradual halt and - for just a fraction of an instant - an explosion was frozen in time. Then all of the still glowing fragments and residual radiation came rushing suddenly back toward the source of the singularity as its intense, fully released gravity pulled mightily at everything surrounding it.

Including the Overseer.

Time continued to pass in the aftermath of the runabout's destruction, and a swirling cloud of gravimetric energy began to form around the tiny, microscopic anomaly. The singularity's final location had been expertly targeted by Data and positioned inside the subspace rupture in space/time, allowing the gravity well to take full advantage of an environment where the regular laws of physics no longer applied... where light moved much faster than in normal space. The Overseer immediately began trying to withdraw all of its massive, extended tendrils back into the relative safety of subspace, but it immediately became clear that the quantum singularity was now firmly attached to the creature like a powerful magnet to a metal surface. The alien was a natural graviton collector, but so was the unique, artificially generated phenomenon that had once powered the Yellowjacket's engines and computer systems. The two were now locked firmly together in a massive, stellar handshake with no way to let go. It immediately became apparent that the Overseer clearly wanted no part of this new partnership, even though it found itself unable to escape from it.

The colorful, gently curving energy currents of a traditional black hole were swiftly taking shape, spiraling gradually downward toward the singularity at their center. Already, the Overseer's massive intrusion into normal space/time had dwindled noticeably. As if that wasn't dangerous enough, the creature quickly discovered that the more it tried to retreat back into subspace, the farther it pulled the singularity along with it. Data had carefully done his homework while studying and mapping the creature's presence within their universe, noting early on in his research that the Overseer always made a an easily identifiable effort to steer well clear of black holes and other higher gravity areas. By far, it preferred the smaller gravity wells found in the smaller star systems, where its massive body could easily overwhelm the suns and planets to be found there while siphoning away the gravitational energy.

Trapped and helpless, with a significant portion of its presence bleeding away with each passing minute, the Overseer panicked.

From his new vantage point within subspace, Captain Data closely observed the Overseer's reaction. The alien entity did not feel emotion in the same manner as humanoid beings, and yet - even so - its response to the unexpected release of a quantum singularity within its physical body was almost immediate. All across the universe, wherever the creature had penetrated into normal space/time, its activities suddenly ceased. All of the attention of its various components was suddenly redirected toward a new priority - toward the Yellowjacket's former location. Where only moments ago a small ship had traveled through space, there was now a powerful new stellar object in place. And it had been positioned precisely at a spot where the precious gravitons comprising the whole of the Overseer were now disappearing at an alarming rate.

For the moment, Data was relatively unconcerned by the alien's undesirable predicament. Over countless centuries, it had regularly utilized its power and stature to kill, abuse and manipulate countless other life forms across multiple universes. He therefore wanted the creature to 'feel' - at least for a time - the equivalent of abuse and uncertainty that it had been relentlessly dishing out to others. In short, the android wanted the Overseer to have a really bad experience burned into its 'memory'. He had been honest with David and did not have plans to kill the alien, but he definitely wanted to force it to confront the reality of its own fallibility. Even though it did not feel emotions in the traditional sense, Data had determined by carefully observing the entity's behavior that the creature was completely able to sense when it was in danger. It understood tactical strategy very well and knew how to use its powerful presence to kill and enslave.

No life form that challenged it had ever successfully defeated it.

Data was fully aware that politicians concerned about their own re-election and the preservation of a power base would never approve the solution that he had come up with. His solution was an unpopular, tough decision to a massive problem with no quick or easy resolution. Any government hoping to successfully confront the Overseer would have to be prepared to dedicate significant time and resources to the problem - something that most political bodies never seemed to have enough of in the first place.

To their credit, several cultures had tried unsuccessfully in the past to attack the Overseer and kill it, but - in the end - the entity's almost endless reach across the entire cosmos gave it too much of an advantage. It also had the benefit of time on its side... all it had to do was wait a few centuries until those who opposed it gave in. Most of its adversaries, in the end, chose to avoid the alien entirely and thereby delay addressing the problem. Those who could not avoid it eventually had no choice but to comply with the entity's demands and do its bidding. None of them by themselves possessed enough manpower or the technological resources necessary to successfully combat it.

Data knew this to be true, because his relentless, non-stop study of the histories documented within the Preserver archives conclusively proved it.

To a point he had intentionally abandoned Commander Ducane and Lt. Ingram aboard the Relativity, in order to pave the way for a solution that he alone would implement. Had he stayed aboard the Timeship, it would have been his responsibility to constantly provide updated reports to Starfleet Intelligence and the easily agitated members of his century's Temporal Integrity Commission. Largely composed of politicians and bureaucrats, the members of his government would have inevitably demanded additional time to more closely study the situation. And as soon as they chose the very same option that everyone else always had - to delay any decision making - the Overseer would have continued its activities in the 24th century until the timeline in the 29th century grew irreparably damaged.

Early on, the android had made up his mind that history would not repeat itself this time. He had committed himself to discovering a solution as soon as his early exploits aboard Deep Space Nine had allowed him to recognize the true source causing the temporal disruptions. And once he found that solution, Data had decisively concluded that immediate action would be warranted. Since the first starships were launched from Earth, their Captains had always been granted special powers. Out on the frontier, it was often not possible to communicate with the central government in a timely manner. During such times of crisis, Captains had always been granted the option to proceed as they saw fit. Data was acting on that precedent, knowing full well that his behavior would be thoroughly evaluated - and probably sanctioned - at a later date.

So be it.

Many of the alien governments he read about had known about the existence of the Preserver subspace network. Some of those people had even possessed access rights to make use of its resources, and yet - even with such a unique and powerful advantage - they still had all failed in their attempts to kill or quell the efforts of their immense, gravitational opponent. Upon noticing this, Data had promptly expanded his study of the subspace network itself in order to more closely evaluate its impressive array of varying capabilities. Even so, he had not found anything initially that could provide him with any additional assistance. However, on this occasion the Overseer was facing an android adversary with a relentless nature and an unmatched ability to resolve problems. Through the use of a precision copying technique that had been unavailable in the original Data's timeframe, this android's positronic memories contained the combined history of generations of his predecessors. Therefore, not only was this Captain Data an informed android, but he was also a very, very experienced one.

Data's conclusion after evaluating the Preserver network was a simple one. In its current state he considered even the subspace resources utterly incapable of handling the Overseer problem. That was why he had used his link with the hidden realm to approach its operating system and suggest a significant enhancement. His idea was an intriguing one, but had proven difficult to implement at first, specifically because the governing body responsible for allocating the network's various resources was not simply software. There were also many alien minds dwelling within the network's realm, many of whose personalities had evolved in a manner quite similar to the biological and technical Decker/V'Ger hybrid. Eventually Data had found himself with no choice but to negotiate with those powerful aliens in order to get what he wanted. That was when he remembered the network's cardinal rule - in order to receive assistance you had to in turn give something.

And this time, as things turned out, they wanted him.

All things considered, the unexpected request did not seem at all unreasonable. And after the dangerous incident in the Milky Way and subsequent battle with the infamous Sentinel, Data had to admit that it had indeed been he who had been very adamant in his repeated requests that the network put in place improved safeguards. He had emphatically pointed out that new, additional protocols were needed... guidelines that would be enforced outside the boundaries of subspace. Otherwise, he had argued, too many people with access to the hidden realm could continue choosing to utilize the powerful resources for destructive purposes. His initial request had been rejected, since the network's current operating system possessed access only to the artificial intelligence software of the Preserver computer systems. And all of those - computer minds like Briea - existed outside of subspace.

Joining the network had proven to be an easily achieved goal. The technology of his own time already allowed for the creation of positronic matrices capable of duplicating and sustaining his artificial intelligence. Early in the 27th century, that breakthrough had finally allowed the Federation to create an entire race of Data-Class androids. For the super-powered technology available with Preserver replicators, the duplication of Data's positronic brain was as easy to achieve as a Deep Space Nine bartender requesting a raktajino from his own, simpler system. Therefore, just prior to the destruction of the Yellowjacket, Data had made use of the Preserver replicators to create a new, hidden subspace server. The heart of its central processing unit was a positronic consciousness - a virtual replica of his own brain - and it allowed him to instantaneously transfer everything from his own mind directly into the new system. The destruction of his physical body in the subsequent explosion of the runabout was completely unimportant to him... from within the boundaries of the network he could project isomorphic images out into normal space/time or simply replicate a completely new body whenever he needed one.

Therefore, in exchange for helping him achieve his desired objectives, Data's enhancement to the Preserver network was permitted only if he included the complete transference of his positronic consciousness into a new, sophisticated mainframe. Once that conversion was complete, he began constructing a new network of communications relays that would add a completely new layer of rules and guidelines to govern the use of all network resources. Preliminary estimates indicated to Data that approximately five hundred million communications relays would be needed initially. Others could be constructed as needed, once his changes began to spread to alternate universes.

This new enhancement that he was activating and placing into immediate effect would forever be known throughout the entire computer system as the Starfleet Protocol.

For the next several hours, Data kept an isomorphic projection of his android body close enough to the destroyed Yellowjacket's quantum singularity to observe the newly formed stellar object's ongoing effects against the Overseer. A gentle nudge from one or more of the network's tractor beams allowed him to easily control his vantage point. Regardless of which position he took, it was quite obvious that the strange, unique alien composed almost entirely of gravitons was in serious trouble. Its preferred method of attack was to concentrate its gravitons into the familiar, finger-like tendrils and then use them to pound objects in its way. Against the singularity, that method of attack was a guaranteed failure.

Currently the Overseer was attempting to draw back, pulling deeper into subspace and away from the explosion point. The problem facing the creature was extremely troublesome, since the singularity simply rode along with it... deeper within the folds of subspace. Frustrated, the entity latched onto all of the local gravitons it still maintained control over and moved them farther away from the angry whirlpool spinning within its midst. But the alien quickly discovered that - regardless of which way it moved or how fast its momentum - the tiny, quantum singularity remained firmly attached to it.

And, completely unchecked, the singularity was draining away gravitons at a phenomenal rate of speed.

Data let the entity struggle for awhile longer and then opened up a subspace communications channel that he knew it could overhear. You have abused your destiny, he stated simply. Therefore you are no longer in charge of your own future. We will provide operational guidelines to you from this point forward and you will follow them. ALL of them.

"NOT ACCEPTABLE!"

As he had done previously, the Overseer responded by fiercely lashing out with its tendrils. In short order, Data's projected body was battered back and forth across the immediate area. Often the attacks in an environment completely free of gravity left him spinning end over and flying across the space immediately surrounding the subspace rupture. Each time he drifted too far, Data simply dismantled the current projection and reassembled a new one... right back where he started from. We can continue with this silly game, the android said in reply. Or we can come to some sort of agreement.

"NOT ACCEPTABLE! I WILL DESTROY YOU FOR OPPOSING ME!"

You CANNOT harm me, Data promptly informed him. What you see before you is a projection. I now exist SOLELY within the boundaries of the Preserver subspace network. If you try to block the micro-wormholes I use to interact with normal space/time, I will simply create new ones. And while you continue with your hopeless efforts to attack me, your body will continue losing mass at an astonishing rate of speed. You have made enemies of almost everyone you meet, and now we who you have oppressed could choose to simply sit back and watch you die. But we do not wish to do that, not unless you leave us no other choice.

"WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS TO ME?"

Because you tyrannize, oppress, and kill. Data watched the alien helplessly give up its attempts to move away from the singularity trap. The Overseer had discovered through repeated experiments that the more it struggled the faster it lost gravitons. Data understood its plight and - not surprisingly - the android Timeship commander was somewhat sympathic. We have spared you because of the conscious effort you have made over the years to minimize deaths, but we will no longer permit you to arbitrarily enslave and kill us. Since you have been unwilling during past conversations to negotiate diplomatically with us, we have decided to provide you with an incentive to do so.

Despite the increasing pressure it now faced, the creature managed to maintain at least some of its poise. "BY USING THIS GRAVITY WELL AGAINST ME, YOU ARE IMPOSING YOUR WILL UPON ME. YOU ARE GUILTY OF THE SAME WRONGDOING THAT YOU ACCUSE ME OF..."

A sudden spike from his emotion chip forced Data to hold back genuine anger. Hardly, he transmitted in prompt reply. We have a RIGHT to exist free of your tyranny, to negotiate with you if we choose to, or to be left completely alone if we choose not to. You have injured and killed countless beings over the years, and we have the right to defend ourselves against your greater strength. Your belief system to date has remained both static and unwavering... we have therefore decided to force you into a more accommodating behavior.

"WE?"

The Preservers have been studying you tactically for many years, the android Captain admitted. I recently joined their cause after detecting your intrusions into my galaxy... my universe. We have evaluated your weaknesses and are prepared to use them against you until you agree to a solution that resolves all of our problems, not simply yours.

"YOU CANNOT STOP ME. I HAVE TOO MUCH POWER AND MY INFLUENCE CROSSES INTO MANY REALMS."

We HAVE stopped you. We have you in our trap and will not let go.

"YOUR GRAVITY WELL IS ARTIFICIAL. I WILL SUMMON OTHERS FROM OTHER UNIVERSES TO DISMANTLE IT. THEN I WILL ATTACK YOUR NETWORK AND DESTROY YOU."

Data did not respond immediately to the Overseer's threat. He paused for a moment, allowing it to continue watching helplessly as more and more of its body continued to vanish into the depths of the powerful singularity. This network ALSO spans many realms, he reminded the creature. And, as you have already pointed out, this gravity well has been artificially constructed. Therefore I can adjust it... He did so to prove his point, using a subspace transmission to subtly alter the parameters that defined it and shrank the singularity even smaller than it already was. The rate of graviton collection increased tenfold in response to its sudden contraction.

"STOP..." the creature begged with sudden desperation. "PLEASE... STOP."

Not right away. Data had decided that a firm, committed stance would work best with a creature that so completely lacked emotion. Since it did not feel fear in the same manner that most biological beings did, the Overseer possessed no emotion for him to prey upon. That meant the lesson he was currently teaching the alien needed to be executed using a different methodology. His objective was to record in the Overseer's consciousness an extremely unpleasant memory, an experience so devastating that the creature would more fully consider the consequences of its future actions before acting out. Against this particular opponent, he could establish a dialogue and perhaps even coax it to behave respectfully toward other life forms... but only if the alien knew in advance that bad behavior on its part would promptly be punished.

"STOP..."

Without the ability to dish out consequences when the Overseer misbehaved, no negotiations could hope to succeed.

You are in no danger, the android pointed out. We will not permanently injure you.

"I DO NOT LIKE THIS EXPERIENCE AND WANT IT TO STOP... PLEASE."

Data ignored its plea... letting the entity experience the total and utter indifference it had often shown to other, smaller and helpless beings. On most occasions your body collects gravitons, so I expect that this new experience of losing them is indeed extremely unsettling. However, the totality of your mass is so great, spanning so many other realities, that there is no threat to your overall existence. Rest assured, you shall continue to exist. Indeed, in other realms I would imagine your body continues to accumulate gravitons from the various sources you have utilized over the years. We will work with you to determine specifically which of these are permissible, and which pose a threat to life forms in the vicinity. As a gesture of good will, he adjusted the singularity's parameters again and doubled its size. The flow of gravity into the whirlpool slowed considerably in response.

"I WILL NOT COMPLY. I WILL BRING THE ZYGOPTERRANS AND DISMANTLE THIS OBJECT."

If you try, we will create MORE of them, Data promised. I have been placed in charge of a new network resource that is governed by a strict list of rules called the Starfleet Protocol. One of my new duties is to make certain that YOU behave yourself and obey our orders. If you do not, we can attack you with additional singularities wherever you exist.

"I WILL NOT COMPLY."

You WILL comply or we shall drive you away from all places where other life exists, the android sternly informed the alien. Over the years, you have used them to help you grow and flourish. You can still do that, but you must negotiate for their assistance rather than force them to assist.

"THEY DO NOT HELP UNLESS I FORCE THEM TO. I HAVE TRIED."

Some WILL, insisted Data. Many of us, including my own people, are explorers who seek out new life forms and new civilizations. WE will assist you in exchange for the chance to interact with you and learn more about how your body functions.

"YOU CANNOT HOPE TO STAND AGAINST ME. I EXIST EVERYWHERE AND POSSESS UNLIMITED RESOURCES."

We HAVE successfully confronted you, and the resources that you speak of are dwindling even as we hold this conversation.

His words proved to be a belated warning to the creature. Once it discovered that part of the reason for the conversation was to distract it, Data was not at all surprised to discover that the creature suddenly diverted its attention elsewhere. He did not mind now... his plans were already in motion and could no longer be stopped. Floating gently in subspace he waited, admiring the beautiful whirlpool taking shape around the Yellowjacket's quantum singularity.

Alternate Universe, Zygopterran Home World, Stardate Unknown

On the gateway world in his version of the Gamma Quadrant, the insectoid alien Klikek stood silently on a small rise and watched the auburn sun begin to set. He was quite pleased, having noticed that progress today had been better than usual. With each passing hour, the assembly of more and more of the hexagonal portals was completed, allowing them to be swiftly affixed to the opposing cliff faces bordering the eastern and western sides of the valley. Proudly, he watched the latest series of them power up and come on-line. The Overseer would be pleased with their progress, very pleased in fact, since he considered his Temple-to-all-places to be his number one priority. Their access to other realms increased substantially with each passing day. Surely their master would be satisfied with this latest work and the efforts of the loyal Zygots richly rewarded.

Behind him were lines of workers stationed along both sides of an assembly line. More partially finished gates lay on a slowly moving conveyor belt, and the men and women assigned to the station were kept very busy applying the finishing touches to the joints that connected the primary six metal segments of each frame together. After that, loyal slaves ran a quick check on the electronics concealed within to insure that the devices were ready to receive a software upload. Upon completion, each portal would receive specific numeric parameters that would allow it to connect with a new, unique alternate universe. These latest copies would likely be put in place at daybreak of the following morning. Indeed, Klikek decided quietly with genuine enthusiasm, it had truly been a productive day.

Abruptly a scuffle broke out nearby. Klikek used his wings to lift his slim, light body high up into the air for a better view. Hovering above one of the central work sites, he noticed that a Jem'Hadar worker had broken free of his restraints and was trying to escape. There was nowhere in the valley to run to, but the powerful aliens regularly tried to fight for their freedom anyway. It was in their nature, forcing Klikek and his fellow insectoids to maintain a careful, consistent watch over them. Almost immediately four Zygots recognized what was happening and descended from the sky, each of them grabbing onto and firmly holding one of the Jem'Hadar's limbs. Keeping him full restrained, their wings buzzed with activity as they expertly lifted the angry warrior helplessly into the air and carried him easily back to the nearest slave pen.

That was when a bright beam of white light suddenly exploded out of one of the portals along the western cliff face.

The stream of glowing energy remained straight and solid for several seconds, harmlessly striking a bare spot on an unfinished area of the eastern cliff face. Then the beam lost some of its cohesion and parts of it actually began weaving back and forth, as though air currents from the light evening breeze were pushing it to and fro. Seven additional shafts of light stabbed outward from the very same portal, and each of them also gradually transformed into flexible tethers that - aside from their complete lack of color - appeared strikingly similar to the Overseer's own, easily recognizable green tendrils. Together these eight colorless versions spread out, intensely probing the cliff faces lining both sides of the valley. Three of the energy strands moved immediately over to the eastern cliff, while the other five continued to probe the portals affixed to the western side.

The origin point for all eight tendrils continued to fire outward from a single, brightly lit portal. Their opposite ends, however, swiftly located other portals that apparently satisfied whatever criteria they were searching for. Instantly they disappeared inside, lighting up the framework of each new portal in a manner very similar to the first. The metal hexagonal frame of six portals continued to glow brightly on the west, with three others similarly illuminated on the east. It's a search of some kind, Klikek thought silently to himself as he watched the events unfolding. Someone or something has found its way here and used their access to locate other gateways that lead directly to hub planets just like this one. Intrigued, the insectoid used his wings to lower his body to the ground and continued to watch the strange events taking place with utter fascination.

Each of the eight tendrils that had emerged from the first portal had selected another and connected itself directly to it. All of them continued wavering back and forth, as though susceptible to the soft breeze in the chilly evening air. Klikek would tell his friends later that this was the precise moment in time when a larger, blazing column of white energy unexpectedly exploded out of the original, source portal. Everyone watching reacted with puzzlement at first, because the energy fell - clearly influenced by the planet's gravity - behaving more like water as it ran down toward the valley floor and began to spread.

Like a sudden rush of liquid pouring out of a culvert, this newest wave of energy spilled down the side of the cliff face and continued to fill the valley below. Flowing outward in all directions - but mostly to the north and south - the energy currents moved through the ore processing stations, past the graviton generation towers, and around the massive, metal structures that housed the outpost's heaviest manufacturing equipment. Slaves and Zygots alike glanced around with shock and astonishment as the unexpected surge of energy swiftly covered the entire valley floor.

The event was a bit unsettling for Klikek, since he had worked at the manufacturing facility throughout his entire life. Only occasionally were reliable leaders like him allowed to leave the valley for any length of time, and then only during those rare instances when supplies unsuitable for their industrial replicators were needed. For the most part, he and his people had spent the majority of their lives living and working in the valley. Like adding water to a cup, the shimmering energy running non-stop from the brilliantly lit origin portal continued to saturate the entire valley while rising steadily higher around Klikek's legs.

The insectoid walked forward slightly as a test, noticing that - unlike passing through actual water - his motion in this case was not at all restricted. Whatever was happening had something to do with gravity, however, because he discovered almost immediately that his body felt noticeably lighter. He continued studying the strange phenomenon as the level of the energy swiftly rose above his head and maintained a consistent, steady climb upward. Holding out one of his forearms, he noticed a distinct, glittering white sparkle surrounding the limb. Athough these events were understandably unsettling, Klikek realized that - so far at least - the entire event had been an eerie but otherwise harmless experience.

Something is about to happen, Klikek thought ecstatically, his thoughts racing. But what?

He did not have long to wait. The young alien insectoid looked back and forth with growing anticipation, but not even his precision, compound eyes could see through the blinding, intense waves of brilliant white light that now completely irradiated the entire valley. Resisting the impulse to fly, he continued walking forward curiously. Other life forms he passed within a meter of were blurred but temporarily visible, but unlike Klikek all of them were frozen in place from sheer terror. One of his fellow Zygots cast him a wary glance and waved a tentative forelimb, but Klikek simply shrugged in response. Like the rest of them, he had no idea what was taking place. The experience was very much like standing in a fog bank, except that this was not mist. It was a translucent cloud of shimmering, twinkling colorless energy.

And then, as quickly as the alien energy had appeared, the brightly lit cloud of glittering particles suddenly vanished without a trace. And as it did so, Klikek's mind whirled from sudden shock and puzzlement. All of the active portals that he and his people had worked so hard to firmly and meticulously attach to the sides of both cliff faces had disappeared. And along with them all of the manufacturing equipment spanning the entire valley floor had also vanished.

Everything they needed to continue working was gone.

Klikek and his people stood there quietly for a moment in stunned disbelief, surveying the dark, somewhat rocky soil comprising the surface area of a valley that had so suddenly been emptied of everything except life. None of them had much time to stare, however, because the suddenly released slaves immediately began to rise up and attack their masters. Many of the Zygopterrans were caught by surprise at the unexpected violence, and dozens of them were hauled to the ground in a surge of angrily swarming bodies. Klikek and many others managed to use their wings and fly to a safe height, but it was quite clear that there was nowhere to go. Ships, equipment, even the mostly wooden buildings and fences that had been used to house people... all of it had vanished into thin air!

Memories surfaced in Klikek's mind, and he wondered idly if this event could possibly have anything to do with the small vessel of aliens that he had recently led to the planet. That incident hadn't even been a week ago, he thought with astonishment. How could so much change in so short a time?

Preserver Subspace Realm, Location Unknown, Stardate Unknown

It took Data only minutes to complete the remaining phase of his transition project. His objectives in accessing the gateway portal to Klikek's home world were two: he wanted to first identify additional portals that led to other hubs and then flood the valley completely with a high-powered anti-graviton field. The android's consciousness now possessed almost unlimited access to the Preserver's subspace resources; he always kept his promises and had thereby established a very powerful bond of trust with the high ranking members who traditionally managed the network's operating system. Their invitation to join them had been virtually irresistible, since it had the added benefit of allowing him to deliver a powerful blow against the Overseer.

Identifying portals leading to other hubs proved to be a simple task... they were electronically tagged with a special code so that those who worked on the portals could easily locate them. A quick scan using energy probes allowed Data to connect an anti-graviton tendril to all eight of them. Then he simply flooded the entire valley with anti-gravitons, saturating it so completely that the Overseer could not possibly watch what took place next. Although Klikek had not been able to observe what was happening on the other eight gateway worlds, they too were also bombarded with a protective energy shield. And once all of the portals and equipment on all nine planets were properly obscured, Data used the network's massive transporter system to beam everything into subspace.

That quickly, the Overseer's entire gateway system linking universes together had been totally confiscated. All of the portals were currently concealed at new locations within subspace and unavailable to anyone without direct authorization. Data had connected them to the Preserver network with a pre-written software link and all of the portals were now just another unique part of its massive resource collection. The android's new responsibilities as a network administrator had been carefully defined to include the ongoing management and oversight of all portal operations. However, anyone wishing to use the technology to move between realms would have to first seek permission from the network's operating system... from Data.

Once the anti-graviton fields on all nine planets faded, it didn't take the Overseer long to discover that his technology was missing. Skilled in tactical strategy, the massive alien graviton being swiftly launched countless tendrils into subspace, searching relentlessly for pieces of the enemy Preserver network and his missing technology. As the creature continued its search through layer after layer of subspace, Data once again sent a short transmission toward the swirling quantum singularity at the Yellowjacket's last known location and shrank it down to a size that was infinitesimal. Still caught in its grip, the Overseer's graviton loss surged to an unbelievable rate of speed.

Immediately the alien retracted its tendrils and halted its attack on subspace. "STOP."

You are familiar with the new rules that I have presented to you, stated Data. Obey them and you will be allowed to thrive. Disobey and we shall continue to punish you.

"THIS IS NOT A FAIR SETTLEMENT... I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO COMPLY."

You have forced others to comply for countless centuries, retorted the android. Without a direct incentive to obey us, you have repeatedly demonstrated that you will act selfishly... without regard for other life forms.

"I WILL OBEY," the creature promised. "PLEASE RETURN MY TEMPLE-TO-ALL-PLACES."

No, Data countered. If you want to move between universes and explore, you are free to do so as long as you do not interfere with life forms already living there. However we will no longer permit you to move life forms from one realm to another. Your days of coercion, manipulation and murder have ended.

"I WILL COMPLY," the creature promised. "BUT ONLY UNTIL I FIND A WAY TO DEFEAT YOU."

The next time we detect mischief on your part, additional quantum singularities will be generated, Data informed the Overseer. We will place them in universes and locations of our choosing, and additional such stellar objects will be added until you back down. You already have ONE gravity well attached to you. Once the new ones we add are in place, we will NOT dismantle them... no matter how sorry you tell us you are. His words were delivered electronically, but Data made certain he placed special emphasis on each. Therefore I strongly urge you to abandon all further attempts at subterfuge... it will only transform this fledgling relationship of ours into an adversarial one.

"MY INFLUENCE SPANS COUNTLESS REALMS."

As does the influence of this network, Data reminded his opponent. With the addition of your portal gateways, we can utilize them to conduct periodic, random checks on your behavior. Attempts to sabotage this network or harm any life forms will be promptly punished.

"I CAN TAKE HOSTAGES AND USE THEM TO FORCE YOU TO COMPLY."

Data paused for a brief time to allow the Overseer to think very carefully about that last statement. We cannot prevent you from taking hostages, he admitted. However, be aware that we will create one new singularity for each life form you interfere with. And once we add new gravity wells into your body, they will NOT be deactivated. The more you disobey, the more of them there will be.

This time it was the creature that remained silent for a time. "MUST I AVOID THE LIFE FORMS ENTIRELY?" it asked finally. "I HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH MANY OF THEM... THEY WOULD MISS ME AND I THEM."

For the first time, Data realized that he was making real progress and felt the slightest tinge of positronic amusement. I would hope that you can transition to a more... diplomatic... relationship with the various life forms around you, he replied courteously. Many of them have been abruptly freed from your long-term enslavement and will need guidance in the days ahead as they move back toward cultures of their own choosing. I would also like to note that the Preserver archives, along with the history of my own race, contain many documents with proven strategies for interacting positively with other life forms.

"MAY I HAVE ACCESS TO THIS KNOWLEDGE?"

Certainly. Data accessed the information he had prepared in advance and transmitted a release code to the Overseer. Even as the entity continued its conversation with him, the status indicators within his new home clearly showed that the alien creature was accessing the link. The rate of speed at which it processed information was astonishing. It was plainly obvious that the Overseer also knew how to make full use of the faster-than-light advantages found within the depths of subspace.

"THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH?" the alien asked him, after a time.

Only if BOTH of us comply with the terms of our agreement, Data responded courteously. There are many life forms that will now be free of your enslavement. We require your assistance if we are to contact them all and begin educating them about new ways to live their lives. You can play a role in helping them transition to a new way of life, and in return they can assist you in locating areas of space that are safe for you to live.

"I LIKE THIS IDEA. YOU TRUST ME NOW?"

Trust is earned, Data told the Overseer. You must earn our trust over time, by behaving in a responsible manner.

Were he human, the android would have sighed with exhaustion and relief. But he was Data, so he simply moved along to the next item on his agenda... deciding how best to approach Commander Ducane aboard the Relativity and provide him with a full update regarding the recent, irreversible decisions he had made. He knew that Ducane would back him on this matter, but Starfleet Intelligence probably would not. Nor, he speculated, would the easily angered members of the Temporal Integrity Commission. He already knew, however, that the Preservers approved of his solution. They would never have granted him the access rights of a full-time administrator if they had any doubts regarding his ability to manage his parts of the network.

After centuries of delay and avoidance, Data had been the one who finally stepped forward with a decision on the matter of what to do about the Overseer. He had presented and efficiently executed a solution that would require a long-term presence on his part. Now he simply had to deal with the long-term consequences of those actions.

On that matter, he was extremely optimistic.