Temporal Echoes: A Star Trek: The Next Generation/Voyager Crossover Fanfiction Story

Part 2:

Back with Kes and Wesley, somewhere in the Delta Quadrant...

Wesley somewhat nervously asks, "where are we? Where's Q Junior?"

Wesley finds himself lying on a table of bluish purple lightning with light red edges. His cosmic Tau Alpha C body is fully restored to normal. He is wearing his mostly blue Traveler clothes.

Kes tries to assure, "don't worry. I used my powers to make this table out of a piece of the Nekrit Expense to protect you from phasing out of any timeline. I don't think Q Junior would think to look for us here."

It turns out Kes and her cosmic lightning table are hovering in the Nekrit Expense. The Nekrit Expense is made up of mostly bluish purple nebulas and subatomic vacuum vortexes.

Kes is wearing her long sleeved dark blue shirt and matching pants.

Wesley tells her, "thank you for saving me, Kes."

Kes concludes, "you're welcome Wesley. But... Something tells me something is troubling you."

Wesley sits up. He is facing her.

Wesley implies, "it's not you at all. It's just... Heavy sigh. Maybe this isn't the right time to tell you."

They awkwardly smile.

Kes points out, "actually... If it's tied to your time at Starfleet Academy? It is the right time. The more I know of that part of your history... The easier it'll be for me to fully restore that part of history."

Kes has a USS Voyager styled cosmic mirror to her right. She has recently created it to re-watch relatively recent events at Starfleet Academy.

At the same time... She is watching these events past the subatomic level: With a wide color spectrum and a range of constantly changing particles.

Wesley considers, "well, when you say it that way... Faint chuckle. Okay. I'll tell you."

Kes turns to face him.

Kes adds, "thank you."

Wesley nervously nods a little.

Wesley solemnly divulges, "in my years in Starfleet Academy... I grew bitter. Bitter with feeling I was never good enough to Starfleet or my friends on the Enterprise. The Nova Squadron incident was not the only time I felt like this. Heavy sigh. After I finally graduated from Starfleet Academy? Heavy sigh. I was still unintentionally either overstepping or doing too little to help. That is...until the Traveler came. I thought becoming a Supervisor for Tau Alpha C would make a difference. Not just for me. But, for the entire galaxy. And what happens on my first mission under the Supervisors for Tau Alpha C? I was almost wiped out of time. Heavy sigh. I did too little again. Kes... Why the hell did the Supervisors choose me if I'm just going to keep failing at being one?"

Kes is bittersweetly smiling. She is a little teary eyed.

She somewhat cautiously puts a comforting hand on Wesley's.

Wesley smiles a little. He is teary eyed.

Kes concludes, "Wesley... I tell you this because I care about you. Don't be so hard on yourself."

With mixed feelings... Wesley tensely comments, "how can I not?!"

Kes calmly tells him, "please let me finish. I let you finish explaining."

Wesley more lightly realizes, "okay. I see your point." Kes adds, "thank you."

Kes reflects, "me and my crew on Voyager have faced much worse threats: Including the Krenim Imperium and temporal ripples tied back to them. But... In more than one timeline... I helped my crew stop the Krenim Imperium for good, and we saved most everyone in the end. We'll get through this too, Wesley."

Wesley smiles wider. The teariness in both of their eyes starts to dry up.

Wesley figures, "wow. I've heard of some of your adventures on Voyager from the people of Tau Alpha C. But... I had no idea you could travel in both time and space. Honestly... I'm surprised you're not a Supervisor yourself."

Kes blushes some on the last part.

Kes says, "that is very kind of you. Thank you." Wesley says, "you're welcome."

Kes brings up, "I'm sorry to kind of cut this conversation short. But... We have a timeline to restore: With your continued assistance."

Wesley concludes, "right. Let's get back to cosmic work."

Kes more lightly concludes, "I agree. And... Maybe later I'll tell you more about me and my adventures."

Wesley more lightly states, "yeah. I'd definitely like to get to know you better."

They both smile wide to each other.

Meanwhile, in the Badlands...

Tom Paris is steering a Starfleet shuttle around and over some blue and orange plasma storms.

Q Junior points out, "Tom... We both have the powers of Q. You don't have to press buttons on a console."

Tom Paris lightly comments, "and what fun would that be?"

He is sitting at the Helm of the shuttle.

Q Junior just annoyedly rolls his eyes. He walks to the back of the shuttle.

A kind of familiar voice says, "oh don't mind him Nick. He's just not into adventure and art as we are."

Richenda Masterson, also known as Ricky, is sitting in Tom Paris's lap. She has a arm around his side.

They both smirk wide to each other.

Tom Paris concludes, "you're absolutely right. And please: Call me Tom."

Ricky adds, "Tommy rolls off the tongue too."

They both chuckle.

Tom Paris spins the Starfleet shuttle past some more plasma storms.

Then... He steers the Starfleet shuttle to the edge of a plasma fissure.

Q Junior uses his Q powers to look outside the shuttle from all angles.

Q Junior reports, "that's the fissure we need Tom. Yeah. Looking good. I'm going to slow time around the shuttle long enough to get our secret weapon subatomic particles out of there. You and our friends here keep a eye out for any Q trying to stop us."

Q Junior has brought along three Starfleet academy students who are acquaintances and fans of Tom Paris. Their names are Brunolf Katajavuori, Odile Launay, and Charlie Day. Q Junior used the powers of the Q to turn them into Starfleet security officers. They're patrolling the back of the shuttle as part of Q Junior's deal with them.

Tom Paris kind of sarcastically says, "aye, Captain Junior. What kind of name is Q Junior anyway?"

Almost everyone laughs.

Q Junior figures, "that's funny. I've been thinking a lot of what else I'd like to be called. But, Captain Junior? I like the sound of that. Sets me apart from the other Q without a Q attached."

Tom Paris whispers to Ricky, "yeah. Not a lot of IQ for him either."

Ricky laughs hard.

Q Junior suspiciously asks, "what was that?"

Tom Paris insists, "nothing. Just... Laughing about some forged paintings in France."

Q Junior looks a little amused. Tom Paris and Ricky look more amused.

Q Junior slows time around the plasma fissure. He uses his Q powers to phase out of the shuttle.

And... He dives into the plasma fissure to grab some near blindingly white subatomic particles.

Tom Paris and Ricky pull each other closer.

Ricky checks, "you won't keep me away from Paris too long? I mean, I love you're finally making up for lost time for us. But, I do have a interplanetary art exchange program to think about."

Tom Paris assures, "baby, I have all the powers and time in the universe. I'll get you back to Paris when you're ready."

They smirk wide to each other.

They're about to kiss.

Suddenly... Tom Paris sees the door to the shuttle airlock quickly open and close.

Tom Paris realizes, "damnit. We may have a Q stowaway. I'll check it out. With the powers of other Q? It's safer if everyone else stays here. I'll be right back, Ricky. I promise."

Soon... Tom Paris is walking into the airlock.

Sounding stunned... He asks, "Sandrine?! What are you doing here?"

A kind of familiar voice tells him, "how do you know your powers didn't bring me here? You did stop by my bar to ask Ricky to come, and I couldn't help but overhear you."

Sandrine is standing in the airlock. She's wearing a silk red and purple swirled dress with stars on it.

Tom Paris awkwardly smiles wide.

He tries to argue, "no, no. You can't be real. You'd be a little more confrontational with Ricky over me if you..."

Sandrine all too lightly suggests, "usually, yes. But... Your powers can stop time and make the time. Equal time in pockets of time of your creation. What Ricky doesn't know won't hurt her. Get the point, dear?"

She has her hands wrapped around his neck.

Tom Paris all too lightly goes, "oh, what the hell? Let's do it."

With a snap of his fingers? He and Sandrine appear in a pocket of time in Chez Sandrine.

Sandrine concludes, "oh, how lovely for us to circle back here."

Sandrine and Tom Paris chuckle.

A sign is in front of Chez Sandrine that says "closed for repairs".

More chuckles are heard from inside Chez Sandrine.

The mischievous Q twistedly remarks to himself, "it was so easy for a woman to lead Tom Paris away. So typical for a Starfleet graduate like himself."

He's standing across the street from Chez Sandrine.

With a snap of his fingers? The mischievous Q disguises himself as Tom Paris.

Then... He vanishes from France.

The mischievous Q appears on the shuttle. He's still looking like Tom Paris.

He lies, "there was a Q stowaway. But, I stopped him before he could ground this shuttle to a pulp. Ricky... Why don't we take our little adventure somewhere more private? Like the airlock?"

Ricky lightly goes, "I love it! Don't take long this time. "Captain Junior" will be back any second."

She and mischievous Q smirk wide to each other.

Ricky rushes into the airlock.

Suddenly... All the lights of the shuttle are turned into a angry flock of birds.

Q Junior incredulously calls out, "what the...?!"

He just came back to the shuttle.

In the dark... The flock of birds charges for him, Ricky, and the three Starfleet security officers.

Ricky closes the airlock door to shield herself from the angry birds. She's breathing hard. She makes a nervous face.

With a snap of his fingers? Q Junior restores the lights on the shuttle.

The flock of birds has disappeared. Three phasers have dropped on the floor. All three Starfleet security officers are tied up in rope.

With a snap of his fingers? Mischievous Q changes back to his true form.

Q Junior looks wide eyed in shock.

He cries out, "you've been my father this whole time?!"

Mischievous Q looks amused. Yet, he dismissively waves his hand.

He kind of lightly remarks, "oh please Junior. We're not Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. Too dark for me. No, no. Me and your mother just lured out your little friend Tom to take you both down."

Q Junior coldly declares, "not if I take you down first! !"

And... He opens his clenched fists to throw the Badlands subatomic particles at mischievous Q.

With a snap of his fingers? Mischievous Q catches them all by slowing time around them.

But... Just then... Q Junior tackles mischievous Q hard into the windshield of the shuttle.

The windshield shatters in glass pieces.

Q Junior and mischievous Q are exchanging fists weightlessly in the Badlands.

The generated gravity on the shuttle goes out...dropping the Badlands subatomic particles down hard.

Several plasma storms explode from the burning down shuttle. A sealed but drifting airlock is floating in space with a screaming Ricky inside.

Mischievous Q looks wide eyed in shock at this.

With a snap of his fingers? Q Junior vanishes from sight before mischievous Q can start looking for him again.

As he vanishes?

Q Junior angrily declares, "this is not over, father! ! My revolution will overthrow the Q Continuum for the greater good of all children! You can't stop us all! !"

With mixed feelings... Mischievous Q mutters to himself, "ohh ****. If me and my wife Q don't hurry to clean up this space-time mess? The fallout from those subatomic particles will wipe away any mortal from time and space that comes near it: Even years later, when Chakotay's crew and Captain Janeway's crew come near here and they all go missing in the Delta Quadrant. Heaven knows I especially can't let that happen!"

With a snap of his fingers? Mischievous Q goes back to Sandrine's.

Around then, back at Sandrine's...

With a snap of her fingers? Lady Q changes back from the form of Sandrine to her true form.

Tom Paris is lying unconscious on the floor of Chez Sandrine.

Mischievous Q has just hurriedly run inside. He looks nervous as hell.

As soon as Lady Q saw this? She knocked out Tom Paris before he can say anything.

Lady Q asks in concern, "Q... What happened?! I haven't seen you this nervous before."

She and mischievous Q look teary eyed.

Mischievous Q kind of cryptically plans out, "I'll explain later. Right now... We have a big space-time mess to clean up. We have to cover up from the space-time continuum that Tom Paris ever got Q powers, or this new Q civil war is going to get worse for all of us! Trust me, darling. It's the only way we have a chance left to win this Q civil war."

He puts kind of comforting hands on hers.

Lady Q looks stunned.

After a bit... She slowly nods.

Mischievous Q faintly smiles.

Not long after, at the Starfleet facility on Caldik Prime...

Tom Paris is in a corridor, slowly walking to a shuttle bay.

He doesn't have Q powers anymore. He's just been discharged from Starfleet.

He is teary eyed.

But... He wipes the teariness away with his hand.

And... He's thinking to himself:

It almost seems like a car on nightmare fuel. But...

Heavy sigh.

It isn't. It's my new reality now.

When the infamous Q came around the bar? When everything started spinning around me? I knew too well the Q Continuum sent him to stop me...with help from a lady Q friend of his disguised as Sandrine.

There may be more than that going on. But... Who gives a damn about my life now?! Captain Junior didn't even try to help me out.

Maybe the Maquis: Because now I'm actually thinking of joining them.

Faint chuckle.

When I woke up? My father, Admiral Paris, with a Starfleet ship in the Badlands catches me trying to make off with samples of the Badlands.

And... Three crewmembers clearly paid the price for my ambition.

Hard sniffle!

I tried to snap my fingers to make it all go away.

But... That's when I realized the Q Continuum took my powers away.

And... With how they changed time and space around my life... Who would ever believe I had Q powers?

Wesley may believe it. But, I pushed him away past and present. The hell he would want to still be my friend after what I did.

The hell my father would believe me. He never would. Why the hell would I expect anyone else in my life to?!

Heavy sigh. Hard sniffle.

Maybe it wasn't just ambition with a cloud over me. Another big part of why I tried to cover up my mistake.

Before I lost my powers... Before time and space changed around me...

I could swear I heard three Starfleet Academy students and Ricky screaming.

The only thing I'm thankful for is Ricky and Sandrine are still alive and well in Paris. They probably both don't remember any of my recent adventures, which is for the best.

Damn you Q, Starfleet, Q Junior... Damn everyone else including me! ! !

Tom Paris's life would, years later, change for the better as part of Captain Janeway's crew on the USS Voyager. He just doesn't know yet that his life will change for the better for him.

Not long after, back in a certain area in the Nekrit Expense...

Kes and Wesley look wide eyed in shock toward Kes's cosmic mirror.

Kes thinks out loud, "I... I don't understand. We calculated this timeline down to the subatomic level. We were going to restore Nick Locarno back to the way he was and place him back in time right after Q Junior fired his Q rays at you and Captain Picard. And yet..."

Wesley deduces, "...we got a split timeline. The only question left is: Why?"

In Kes's cosmic mirror... There are two red, blue, and purple ribboned cosmic tree branches that are beginning to burn in lava like swirls.

From the cosmic lava like swirls... Bubbles of space-time tears show two new timelines.

One set of space-time tears shows a live satellite feed of two shuttles exploding while Nova Squadron try to practice a Kolvoord Starburst maneuver, of two stone slabs with the names Nick Locarno and Joshua Albert across them...and Jean Hajar slowly walking out of Starfleet Academy after getting expelled for trying to cover up the Kolvoord Starburst maneuver.

The second set of space-time tears shows a new planet forming called Locarno...after a genesis wave incident with Nick Locarno and a Starfleet officer named Beckett Mariner fighting over a Genesis Device and a Nova Fleet of Nick's design.

Suddenly... Lady Q and Q appear in front of Wesley and Kes.

Lady Q and mischievous Q both look shaken.

Before Wesley or Kes can say something? Lady Q says something first.

Lady Q solemnly hints, "we know why. But..."

Mischievous Q solemnly suggests, "you're really not going to like where this road goes."