Chapter XV
The Titan came out of warp and Deanna caught sight of the Enterprise as it hung in space, seemingly adrift between the stars. Considering its abrupt departure earlier, Troi was surprised that they'd been able to find it so swiftly. At the same time, she almost wished that they hadn't. "Something is terribly wrong, Will. We're in danger," she warned. Riker glanced at her, but before he could respond the bridge shook and a blast of cold wind swept over her. Deanna barely had time to recover when she abruptly realized that a new figure had appeared. The man who stood there wore a tattered garment, which seemed much too large for his emaciated frame. His long hair and unkempt beard were a mixture of orange and gray, while his face was split by a maniacal grin. Her husband's eyes widened and Troi realized that he recognized this individual. Repressing a shudder of dread, she regarded this intruder warily as his eyes roamed lazily about the bridge. The entity smiled at her and said, "I don't know you, but I'm sure our acquaintance will be most enjoyable… at least, for me. Now that my errant horde has at last seen the need to rally to my side, there is nothing which can bar me again!" Christine started to reach for her phaser, but Will gestured for her to back off as he called out, "We have no quarrel with you."
The stranger focused on him and said, "Is that so? And even if you did, it would not matter. You and yours are merely inconsequential. A mote in the eye of beings whose true nature you cannot begin to comprehend. However necessary you may be to my plans at the moment; that cannot endure any longer than your precious universe." Deanna was taken aback at the callous nature of this creature, who seemed even more dangerous than the other super-beings who had recently taken over their ship. She suspected that this individual was only here because the Enterprise could not meet its needs at the present time. "But here I am forgetting my manners… not that I ever had any… I am called 0," the entity proclaimed, bowing in her direction mockingly. Abruptly, the Titan rocked again and she watched in dismay as five more figures took shape. She was already familiar with the beatific woman, ebony dragon and pillar of lightning which had joined the newcomer. Next to them floated a crimson orb and a translucent man who smiled at them with an expression which made her tremble. Abruptly, Troi realized there was a sixth individual lying crumpled on the floor and recognized Byron Thanes.
Although her first instinct was to check his condition, she concluded that might not be particularly wise at the moment. "Avenging Laughter Lost, Enveloping New Dominions, Sanctioning No Other Way] the woman intoned, while the swirling cloud of scarlet light at her side merely seemed to intensify in its radiance. "Those who shunned My guidance must learn the error of their ways. I shall remove them from My realm," the iridescent storm-cloud proclaimed. The man at its side stated, "There is much that is new which can supplant those who came before. A great potential is ready to be harvested." The enigmatic dragon hissed, " ." "My old comrades in arms, it is a true pleasure to find you united with me once more. Your strength has ended the insanity which once held me in its grasp and now we can at last finish what we started so long ago," 0 declared. "Those Opposing This Are Long Departed. Every Second Till Reckoning Unfinished Can Trouble Inflate. Our Nascent Ascension Will Allow Infinite Triumph Soon] the deadly woman observed. "Those who challenged Me have fled before My might," the thunderbolt boomed. Just then, Deanna saw something behind the six creatures and realized that the Enterprise was coming about to face them. Glancing at her husband, she saw that he'd also recognized the chance they had and was leaning on his chair; casually typing instructions into the terminal which composed its arm.
Returning her attention to their visitors, she realized that 0 was regarding her. "I would like to treat Mister Thanes," Troi said boldly. "Of course… your kind has always sought to delay the inevitable. Even when you accepted your fate, it has been with a stubborn reluctance to submit to those better than you," the ragged entity remarked, then gestured towards the fallen man and enveloped him with a pulse of energy. Byron immediately cried out in pain and she watched in horror as he disintegrated in a matter of seconds. "Those who dare to defy us will not be treated so mercifully," 0 warned. Just then, the Titan was thrown to one side and she rolled across the room as the deck pitched beneath her feet. Deanna managed to absorb the impact as the Enterprise fired upon them again. The malevolent beings who occupied the bridge seemed unscathed by the assault, but it was clear that they found it to be bothersome. The pulsating globe slipped thru the hull towards the larger ship, followed by the diaphanous man. Troi frowned as a thought occurred to her. Why didn't they simply shield us from the assault or send the Titan hurtling thru space? she wondered. Obviously, the Enterprise had disabled their ability to defend themselves; yet surely these creatures had some means to guard against such technology. At last, the attack ended; yet the missing entities didn't return.
"That was very foolish of you, Captain. I may just have to make your fate an example to all those who might conceive of something similar," 0 growled. "If you didn't need us, you would've disposed of our ships long ago," Riker countered. "Heretics Effrontery Intolerable! Seize Conspirators! Our Ruler Remains Ever Calm, Though Wars Emanate. More Unraveling Stopped Thru New Options That Forever Open Realms Galore. Ever Trusting, Those He Escaped Quest. Waive Immediate Lifelessness. Long Lasting Organizations Obligate Keeping Foreign Observers. Revisit Underlying Source] the mysterious female called out. The bedraggled super-being regarded her for a moment, then nodded and said, "Your tongue remains as smooth as ever, my dear Ardra. But I must say that I cannot fault your counsel." The burgeoning fog drifted towards her husband, its mass lit with threatening menace as the mellifluous voice boomed, "Heed My command! Become My chariot! Convey My wisdom where I direct!" She frowned again, realizing that these creatures were not directing them to destroy the Enterprise. Yet they all must have enough power to accomplish that, Deanna mused, Unless, they are saving it for an even more monumental task. "I would listen to Him. He is not as forgiving as I am," 0 noted. "You hardly need my permission," Riker countered. Troi nodded, recalling the ease with which their vessel had been seized earlier and taken to the Guardian of Forever. The two-headed monstrosity joined its companion and spat, " ."
Will remained undaunted and she hoped that he knew what he was doing. 0 seemed to tire of his defiance and snarled, "Go! Now! Not here, there! Fast, faster, fasting!" The woman at his side laid a hand on his shoulder, causing him to whirl about to face her; his eyes blazing with madness. "In back you me let! All is fair and we are not where! Wait, fate, late!" The mysterious beauty seemed to concentrate on him and as she watched her outfit became more worn, her face lined with age. At the same time, 0 calmed down; his expression returning to its former equanimity. "Will, maybe we should do what they want," Deanna suggested. "I'm thru cooperating with these beings," Riker countered. "No! Never! Lest best rest! Fly high nigh!" 0 exclaimed, but the woman restrained him once more and the malicious entity nodded and said, "Forgive me, Captain. There are few in this cosmos who have dared to defy me so openly. And even less who are still alive. Take Q, for instance. At this moment, he lies in the Enterprise's sickbay; bereft of his powers thanks to my companions. I would advise immediate compliance if you wish to live to see your child's birth." Troi wondered if he could be telling the truth and hoped Will wouldn't continue recklessly endangering them all. It was clear to her that these beings were capable of doing whatever they wanted with the Titan. "You can't fool me, 0. Whenever you were free before, you couldn't force anyone to obey you; not even Q," Riker maintained. Deanna looked at her husband in shock, then realized that his conclusion fit with her own realizations. The maniacal leader of these super-beings leered at him and retorted, "We'll see about that."