|
|
A Rip In Time
Chapters Seven through Nine
Chapter Seven
Captain Picard stood on the bridge of the Whitestar in awe of the powerful weapons these people had. He found it astounding that people one hunderd years previous to them could have so much power.
Captain Sheridan walked up beside him and asked, "Heave to? I haven't heard that in ages."
"Yes, it's an old nautical term."
"Yes, I know." Sheridan replied with a grin. "In times of stress it must get really comical on board your ship."
"Actually." Picard began and then thought of Q and
Lwaxana Troi. Then grimaced slightly. "Yes, it does
sometimes." Then changed the subject. "You have
remarkable technology. Technology that we never dreamed of when we were in your century."
Sheridan smiled. "Well, this is the work of a combined
effort."
"And a good effort it was." Picard said cheerfully. "I'm impressed."
"Why thank you, Captain." Sheridan said still smiling.
On board the Enterprise, Lwaxana was slowly coming around in
Sickbay. Deanna sensed her mother was still stressed and was
dreaming fitfully of past memories of the Cardassian occupation of Betazed and of the friends who died horrific deaths at their hands.
Deanna gave her mother a loving mental touch and reassured her she was fine and safe aboard the Enterprise now. Lwaxana's mind became at peace again as the drugs that sedated her continued to wear out of her system.
Baron and Briana were feeling anxious about Lwaxana, but Deanna also tried to calm their worries. However, she knew Briana sensed her own worries.
The biosensors monitored her mother. They confirmed Lwaxana was dreaming and what Deanna sensed from her. Lwaxana's mind returned to the horrific events of the past and Deanna continued to mentally soothe her.
"Will Mother be alright?" Baron asked worriedly.
"Yes, Baron." Deanna reassured. "She'll be
fine."
Then Will enter Sickbay, nodded his head at Baron and Briana, then gave Deanna a loving hug. "You alright?"
"Yes." Deanna replied as she returned his hug.
"It's Mother I'm worried about."
Baron and Briana looked up with worry. "You said she would be fine!" Briana said upset.
"Beverly said she was going to be fine." Will said
reassuringly, but looked at Deanna quizzically.
"Yes, but she is having some flashback dreams as the
sedative wears off."
"I sense it too." Said Briana sadly.
"From the occupation?" Will asked Deanna.
"Yes."
Will wrapt an arm around her. "Your mother is a strong
woman. I'm sure she'll be fine."
Deanna put an arm around Will in return and said, with sadness in her voice, "I hope you're right."
Suddenly, Deanna stiffened.
"What's wrong, Imzadi?"
Confused, Deanna replied, shaking her head, "I'm not sure. I sense a chaotic presence. No, it thrives on chaos, I think."
"I sense it too." Briana said with fear in her voice. Baron also picked up on their feelings even at his young age.
"Deanna, Briana, there's no one in this room except
us." Will stated.
Deanna looked at him directly and with certainty. "Yes,
there is. It's vague, but it's here."
"Deanna, all of you have had a stressful day." Will stated. "You should go get some rest."
"You don't believe me!" She accused, then walked around the room. "There is a presence here and it's chaotic. It seems to not like my mother."
"Deanna." Will said gently.
*Picard to Riker*
"Riker here." Will answered tapping his combadge.
*We seemed to have come upon an alien ship.* Picard stated.
*Sheridan says it's the Shadows.*
"Shadows?" Will asked.
*Delenn can fill you in, but becareful.* Picard warned. *It seems they could be any where.*
"Understood."
*Picard out.*
"Deanna, if what you two are sensing and what the Captain is saying are related, I'm sorry." Will apologized and then looked at Briana.
"It's alright." Deanna replied. "I don't entirely understand myself."
Briana looked back at Will with concern, but also assured him it was alright.
"You stay with your mother. I'll be back." Will said, then kissed Deanna, and departed out of Sickbay, in search of Delenn.
Will found Delenn in Ten-Forward, staring out the window at an enormous ship. One Will became awed by when he spied it.
"Can I help you, Commander?" Delenn asked.
"Yes." Will replied. "Can you tell me more about that ship out there and it's occupants?"
"They are the Shadows." Delenn began. "Unlike
Vorlons, they believe order is formed from chaos."
"What do they look like?"
"No one really knows, because they travel between, but it is said they look like, what do you call it, extremely large praying manthosises."
"Between?" Will asked.
"Between this dimension and another. In limbo."
"I see and their ship? It's unusual."
"It is made of organic material that controls the
ship." Delenn stated. "Telepaths have the ability to interfere with the functioning of the core beings, which shuts down their vessel."
Riker was now concerned. "Could these Shadows decide to harm another telepath?"
"It is possible." Delenn affirmed. "For it would cause a form a chaos."
Will became alarmed. "Riker to Sickbay!"
*Sickbay here.* Came Beverly's voice.
"I want you to keep a close watch on Mrs. Troi." Will ordered. "I'll explain later."
Unsure why, Beverly just said, *Aye, Sir.*
"Riker out." Then he turned to Delenn. "In this between state, could an empath sense them?"
"I have no idea." Delenn answered with uncertainty. "It maybe possible if a telepath can sense them."
"Thank you, Ambassador. You have been most helpful." Then Will left Ten-Forward and went back to Sickbay.
As he entered Sickbay, he desparately search for Deanna. When he spied her still at Lwaxana's side, he said, "Deanna, I'm sorry I doubted you."
Deanna now looked confused.
"It seems you and Briana maybe right." Will began.
"There maybe people called the Shadows lurking around the ship, but I can't be certain enough to go to yellow alert just yet."
"I'm certain of it." Deanna replied ominously. Her dark brown eyes seem to become even darker as she stated her certainty. "It would seem that at least one is in this room. Even in Mother's unconscious state, she can sense them."
"Do you feel she maybe in any danger?" Will asked with concern.
Deanna shook her head. "I'm not sure."
Suddenly, the ship shook and the two of them braced themselves on the edge of the biobed that Lwaxana occupied.
Riker tapped his combadge. "Bridge, report!"
*We are being attack by the alien vessel.* Informed Worf.
"I'm on my way. Riker out."
Will then attempted to rush out of Sickbay as the ship shook with every attack. He stumbled a few times on his way out of Sickbay.
Lwaxana finally opened her eyes and was now conscious, but
disoriented. She gripped the sides of the biobed to keep from being thrown off of it. Deanna held on the best she could also and tried to get to the children who were sprawled on the floor struggling to stand.
"Shields at eighty percent and holding." Will heard Worf say as he tumbled onto the Bridge from another volley of attacks. "Firing phasers."
"Hail them." Will ordered as they were hit again.
"We have already attempted to hail them and got no response. Phasers have had little effect." Worf informed. "The Whitestar and the other Menbari ships are also firing back at the enemy."
"Fire torpedoes."
Delenn stepped onto the Bridge. "No! The Telepaths! Bring the Telepaths to the Bridge!" Delenn said with urgency in her voice. "They can help without the use of the torpedos."
Will stared at her for a moment and remembered what she had told him not too long ago. "Delay that order." Will ordered. Then he tapped his combadge. "Bridge to Sickbay."
*Sickbay here.* Beverly replied as the ship rumbled from the
Shadows' weapons.
"Is Mrs. Troi able to come to the Bridge?"
*Commander, I rather keep her here for observation.*
"Observe her on the Bridge and bring Briana and Deanna with you." Will told her, then as an after thought. "And see if you can get Lyta Alexander up here, too."
*Aye, Sir.*
*Picard to Riker*
"Riker here." The Enterprise rattled at the onslaught of more attacks.
"Sensors are off-line." Worf informed.
*Have the counselor, her cousin and Mrs. Troi come to the
Bridge.* Picard ordered with static on the com link. *It seems their abilities may be of some help with this situation.*
"Already on it, Sir."
*Good!* Picard praised. *The few Menbari telepaths that are with us will also be assisting. Delenn can explain to them what needs to be done.*
"Haul breech on Deck ten." Worf informed again.
"Casualty and injury reports coming in, Sir."
"Damn!" Will thought. Then he replied to the captain. "Aye, Sir."
*Picard out.*
Will waited on the Bridge for the Telepaths that were on board to arrive on the Bridge. The Enterprise continued to shake from the bombardment of Shadow attacks.
"Commander." Delenn began. "I realize that Bester is in the Brig, but he could be of use to us, right now, if he would be willing to assist."
"Sir, the Brig has had a haul breech." Worf informed as the ship rocked from another attack. "No report yet from the officers on duty there."
"Well, Ambassador." Will began. "It looks like we may not be able to offer him the opportunity to redeem himself just yet. If he's still alive."
Delenn gave no response, but concern for the people in the Brig was written all over her face. She wondered if any of them survived the haul breech.
Chapter Eight
Will Riker looked at the viewscreen on the Bridge, as several smaller ships emerged from the large ominous ship simutaniously. He watched in awe as the mother ship of the smaller ships sliced a Minbari ship in half and completely destroyed it. "The original ship just appeared out of no where and started attacking at will and now it has sent out more ships." Will thought as the Enterprise shook from the ripple effect the explosion of the Minbari ship caused.
He had no idea what the reason was for the attack, for they had done nothing to the ship. It just attacked out of now where. Much like a cloaked ship appears out of now where, but this was different and he had no clue as to why.
The Enterprise shook once more from a near miss fired by the Shadows. "Continue evasive manuvers." Will ordered.
The Trois walked onto the Bridge and gasped at the site of the hugh black ship. It had ten tenticles sticking out of it. Five on each side of it, as though it were a spider with two extra legs. Lwaxana and Deanna sensed life at the core of the ship. They had no clue what it was, but they knew it was life.
Guinan watched from her view port of her quarters as she held on tightly to the nearest object that was stable. She knew what the ship was and to this day it still struck terror in her as much as the Borg ever did. The only difference between the two, was these people believed chaos caused people to better themselves instead of assimulating them.
She stumbled over to the comm in the wall of her cabin as the ship trembled again. "Guinan to Bridge."
"Bridge here." Will replied wondering what was on Guinan's mind as he grasped the arm of his chair.
*You do know that ship out there can be almost as bad as the Borg?*
Will took another look at the ship that was double in size of the Enterprise. Finally, he responded to Guinan. "We're getting information on it now."
The Enterprised rumbled from another near by ship's explosion. The third ship hit in this battle and each ship that was sliced in two, exploded with a ripple effect that barely kept them on their course of evading the monsterous ship.
*Well, good.* Guinan replied. *Because if you don't, we won't be going back to our time. It's main source of power is at it's core, but I would not recommend aiming your phasers on it's core. It'll only return fire and destroy us.*
"Noted." Will said as another trimmer rolled through the ship. "Is that all, Guinan?"
*Is Ambassador Troi recovered?*
"Yes, she is." Will replied puzzled.
*Good, because you're going to need her.* Guinan said mysteriously. *Guinan out.*
Will stood and turned to Ambassador Delenn. "Can you tell me what you need with telepathes and why we shouldn't be firing back on this ship?"
Delenn bowed her head slightly. "Yes, they need to direct their attention to the core of the Shadow ship. It is their source of power. Telepaths' abilities have a way of shutting down this power source."
"It's a lifeform." Deanna announced.
"Yes." Said Delenn. "They use organic sources for their ships."
"Our abilities won't harm the lifeform at the center of the ship, will they?" Deanna asked.
"No, just shut them down for us to get away." Delenn informed.
Frustrated, Will inquired, "Because it's a lifeform that is attacking us we can't attack back?"
"It's weapons, as you see, are far more powerful than what any of us have." Delenn replied. "To fire on it will only slightly slow it down. In the end, it will also fire at this ship and destroy it as it has our ships."
"And what are we to do?" Lwaxana asked as the ship shook. This time from an attack from one of the smaller ships the enemy ship released. Will grabbed his mother-in-law to brace her, but it only broke her fall as she landed on top of him.
"Haul breech on deck eighteen." Will heard as he helped Lwaxana to her feet. "Shields down to seventy percent."
"It cut through our shields and gave us a hull breech?" Will inquired to himself.
"They know we have telepaths on board. Concentrate on the lifeform at the core of the Shadow ships." Delenn ordered. "Center your thoughts on the core of each ship and they will shut down."
Lwaxana, Deanna, Briana, and Lyta all concentrated. Delenn continued explaining what would happen next. "The Shadows will try and fire back on this ship, but Captain Sheridan will back you by firing his weapons. Now is also the chance for you to fire, also."
There was a brief pause. The four telepaths concentrated on the lifeform and shutting it down.
Delenn continued. "The telepaths on our ships will be doing the same thing."
"Prepare torpedos." Will ordered.
As Delenn had told them, the Shadow ship tried to fire back. Will held his breath as he watched the ship try to power up, but as fast as it did, it shut down. It was completely and totally floating helplessly in space.
"Fire!" Will finally ordered. Combined with the weapon on board the White Star the ship exploded.
"Now, concentrate on the smaller ships." Delenn told the telepaths and Deanna as the smaller ships started to attack the Enterprise.
The ship rocked from the power of the smaller Shadow ships' weapons. "Haul breech on decks sixteen through twenty." The tactical officer informed. "Shields down to forty percent. Casualty and injury reports coming in and evacuation is under way of those decks."
"Fire torpede as those ships shut down." Will ordered. The ships computer was giving out warnings and the red alert light was flashing brightly.
One by one the ships started shutting down and were immobilized. The White Star fired on various ships, as did the Enterprise. Will studied the Shadow ships as they shut down, thinking, "They're almost like sitting ducks, but there must be a reason for all this instead of just running as they shut down."
Finally, there were two Shadow ships left. The White Star continued on course back to Babylon five at full speed and the Enterprised followed as they fired back at the ominous ships. Finally, both Shadow ships shutdown from the telepaths attempt to stop them in their tracks.
Will stood and face Delenn. "Can you tell me anymore about these Shadows?"
"If you're talking about their technology." Delenn began. "They too are not from our time. They are the first ones and have been around since the begining."
Will felt he understood even less than he did before. He decided to move on to his other question. "Do we need to worry about these Shadows attacking Betazed?"
"No, they prefer to avoid telepathic races because it shuts down their ships."
Will now felt he just asked a question that had an obvious answer. Finally, he turned to the person at the con. "As soon as we get clearance to dock at B5, let's get repairs underway."
"Aye, Sir."
"We would be more than happy to have our people assist you with any repairs you have to make." Delenn offered.
Will was about to tell Delenn he did not think they had the technology to help them make the proper reapairs. Then, he thought to himself, "They've surprised us with other things. It wouldn't be a surprise if they could help with repairs."
"We would be grateful for any assistance you can give us." Will finally answered.
"It's the least we can do." Delenn assured him.
On the White Star Picard was in awe of the people they had encountered in this timeline. He was not sure how much they had broken the Prime Directive at this point, but he was begining to think that they had learned more from these people than they could learn from them.
"Sir." Data's voice entered his thoughts and brought Picard back to the present situation.
"Yes, Data."
"I just received information from Commander Riker." Data informed. "Due to current events, our attempt to return home will be delayed."
"Understood." Picard was anxious to find out how extensive the damage to the Enterprise was and how long repairs would take. He dreaded the thought of staying here too much longer, but realized there was not much that could be done. They had been through two battles in one day without time to make any repairs in between.
Sheridan offerred the same assistance as Delenn did. Picard thank him for the offer and wondered again about the Prime Directive. "If we let them help," He thought to himself. "Would we be breaking the Prime Directive, especially if it appears they maybe more advanced than we are? Then again, are they really more advanced or do they have different technology then we do?"
Finally, he came to the conclusion, that if they were to get back to their time, they would need all the help they could get. The only question left was how they were going to get back home and with Betazed in tow.
Chapter Nine
An
ominous cloud descended down on a planet and surrounded it.
Ravishing it of all life and left the planet barren. Raping the very essence of exsistance from all that inhabited the planet.
There was no time to call for help and the screams of the people went unheard. Even the animals' cries of fear and dread were void of sound. The cloud raped the land of all life that grew in the soil. Nothing was left but horrific silence.
Then thousands of missles, from the cloud, plundered into the ground and exploded. Robbing the planet of it's very own life by tearing it apart gradually. After all the missles exploded there was not even a molecule of the planet left.
After the foreboding structure finished killing the planet and it's inhabitants, it moved on to another planet that was on it's path. It continued to repeat the same process with every planet it violated, leaving nothing but empty space of where an orb of life once revolved around a large star.
This evil structure made it's course closer and closer to Babylon Five with every planet it destroyed. Life was of no value to it and it took life without giving anything back to the Universe. It had no feeling and no conscious, but yet an even more senister creature was behind this huge structure's distructive acts against the cosmos.
Picard entered Engineering and addressed Geordi LaForge.
"Mr. LaForge, how are repairs coming along."
"Very slowly, Sir. We need to repair more conduits than
first thought. I also need to have more nanoprobes and nanites. The sad thing is, not many that were used in the ship's system survived the trip through the rift."
"Can you replicate them?" Picard asked, knowing it
sounded like a stupid question.
"In theory I could replicate anything, but in reality it wouldn't be the same."
"Yes, I realized that after I asked the question."
Picard said, mentally kicking himself.
"We also need lithium crystal, which this place doesn't seem to have."
Picard sighed with frustration and pushed his nonexistant hair back with his hand. "Do the best you can, in the meantime, have you learned more about their Jump Gates."
"Yes, I have and I'm regret to say the Jump Gates won't get us to where we need to be. At least not with Betazed. The only option is to wait for the rift to reopen."
"Which could take years." Picard replied.
"Or maybe never."
"Is it possible, that if we were able to follow a Shadow ship through a rift they open that we could get back with Betazed in tow to our time?"
Geordi frowned and tilted his head to oneside and back. "In theory, but that's only if they are going anywhere near our time."
Picard was getting very frustrated with the situation. "Mr. LaForge, I want a solution and I want it as soon as possible. I don't want anymore theories or guesses or anything else."
"Yes, Captain." Geordi said with concern for his
Captain's display of emotion. "I'll do the best I can."
Picard realized he was not in control of his feelings and drew in a deep breath to calm himself. "Mr. LaForge, I didn't mean to cause you more anxiety about the repairs and getting us home. It's just I'm just as anxious to get home as anyone else here."
"I understand Captain. We all are. It's only natural."
Picard nodded his head. "All I really ask is that you do the best you can and expect nothing less of those who assist you in this matter."
"I always try to do my best."
"Yes you do and I'm proud to have a fine chief of
engineering."
"Thank you, Sir."
*Sheridan to Captain Picard.*
"Now what!" Picard exclaimed as he reached up to tap his combadge.
*We have a serious situation that I really feel you should beam down, as you say, to my office.*
"Can it wait?"
*No, Sir. This is a matter of life and death. More death than life, I'm afraid.*
"I'm on my way. Picard out." Then he turned to LaForge. "Remind me not to give new friends a communicator to contact us."
Geordi looked at him confused. "Alright, Sir. I will."
"I do hope this is not going to be more exciting than when we took on those Shadows." Picard said as he turned and exited Engineering to head for the Transportor Room.
Geordi chuckled slightly and said, "Never a dull moment
around this place."
A light shimmered in Sheridan's office and then Picard appeared. Sheridan stared for a moment then spoke. "I don't think I could ever get use to this beaming in and out of places, even if I am expecting it."
"Yes, I guess it would take some getting use to."
Picard replied.
"Well, I'm glad you could make it even so." He said taking a seat and gesturing for Picard to take one.
"Yes. So, what is it that is so important?" Picard
asked as he sat down in a chair.
"We have a Shadow Planet Killer heading for Betazed."
"A what?"
"A Planet Killer. It destroys planets without anything left to prove the exsistance that a planet was there at one
time."
Picard looked a little confused. "This Planet Killer. How does it destroy a planet?"
"Well, it's a hugh superstructure that's like a cloud with missles. It desend down on a planet and. Well, let me show you." Sheridan rose and searched for a video taping of the most recent sighting. He then displayed it on his screen for Picard to see. "Sorry, but the vid can't be cleared up any more than this. It can disable vital ship systems also. This is what we managed to retrieve from a disabled ship."
Picard saw the cloud descend down on a planet. Then he saw
thousands upon thousands of missle like objects bore down onto the planet surface. With in a brief period of time the planet exploded and was nothing but dust.
"What the hell!" Picared exclaimed in shock.
Sheridan sat back down in his chair when the tape ended.
"The Shadows built this distructive weapon. We don't have a lot of information about this weapon. Therefore, we can't stop it, change it's course or anything. Betazed maybe doomed."
"Do you have any idea what it is made of? How it functions? Or anything?"
"Well, the cloud you see is particles that are presumed to be nano-technology."
Picard's eyes widen. "Borg!"
"What?"
Picard shook his head to bring himself to the present. "It's group of people from our time that use nano-technology."
"I understand. Guess some things are the same."
Picard nodded. "I have a theory on how we maybe able to help stop this thing. It maybe tricky, but I want to run it by my crew before I give you any details of my plan."
"Don't take too long, Jean-Luc, or you may not have a planet Betazed to take back home with you."
Picard nodded as he stood to depart. "Um, could you send a copy of this recording to the Enterprise? I would like to share as much information as I can with my crew, so we might be able to find a solution."
"Of course. I'll send it over immediately."
"Thank you." Then Picard tapped his communicator.
"Enterprise. One to beam up."
*Aye, Sir.*
"If we need more information, we'll be in touch."
Sheridan nodded as he watched Picard shimmer out of his office with intrigue.
Once back on the Enterprise, Picard tapped his communicator and said, "All senior officers, please report to the observation lounge immediately."
He jumped off the transporter padd, nodded to the transportor officer and exited the transporter room. As he walked down the corridor, he thought to himself, "I do hope the downloading of information on this Planet Killer doesn't take very long."
Picard finally arrived at the observation lounge. Once inside he waited for all his senior officers to arrive before starting the briefing.
Troi and Riker were the last to arrive and take their seats. When they were seated, Picard began to inform them of the details of the new development.
"It seems we are not quite down with the Shadows. They have a distructive weapon called a Planet Killer and it's heading straight for Betazed."
RIker and Deanna looked at Picard with alarm. "A what?" They said in unison.
"A Planet Killer. Data, will you please pull up the file Sheridan sent over to us?"
"Aye, Sir." Data rose and pulled the video of the
ominous superstructure up for all to view.
Picard informed all of them what Sheridan had told him about the Planet Killer. "Mr. LaForge, is there anyway we could use our nanites and nanoprobes to combat this ship that Sheridan's people presume is driven by nano-technology?"
"Theoritically, yes. If we succeed though, we maybe looking at a war of nanos." Geordi replied. "I'm not sure if it will work as it does in theory."
"Couldn't we program our nanos to attack these nanos?" Riker asked.
Data tilted his head slightly and back up again. "It could be possible, but it may take some time."
"Time that we don't have." Picard reminded them.
"Well, we can't just sit here and let this, this thing
destroy Betazed!" Deanna said with worry and fear.
Picard nodded. "I understand your concern for your people, Counselor. We will try everything we can not to let that happen."
"Well, couldn't Betazed end up moving out of it's path
before this Planet Killer arrives?" Beverly asked.
"This thing seeks out planets to distroy. When it reaches anywhere near Betazed, it will find it and destroy it." Picard informed.
"This would be a good day to die." Worf began. "If we were in our own time and place. These people must not die here. We must figure out how to protect them from this monstrosity."
"Mr. LaForge, how are repairs coming along?" Picard inquired.
"About as well as can be expected with the lack of some
supplies."
Picard nodded. "I need you and Data to work together on
figuring out how to manipulate our nanites into attacking and preventing this Planet Killer from attacking Betazed."
"Aye, Sir." Data and Geordi replied in unison.
"Meanwhile, I want you, Number One to work with Mr. Worf on figuring out another tactical strategy if this plan doesn't work."
"Yes, Sir." Said Worf and Will.
"Counselor, try and keep your people on board as calm as possible." Picard ordered. "Nothing personal, but I really don't need your mother on my Bridge disrupting the crew of their duties in this matter."
Deanna was very upset herself, but she knew she had to help her family on board stay calm. She nodded her accent, unable to get the words out of her mouth. Her fear of the impending doom to her home world strangled her voice into silence.
Picard looked at his counselor and wondered just how well she was coping. If she could handle her assignment or not. He was hoping he did not have to assign someone else to perform this duty.
"Meeting adjourned."
Everyone departed to do their various assignments in order to stop this Planet Killer before it could attack Betazed.