TF01 3,TIME VIRUS - Chapter 6 4,by Mark Slater Star Trek: The Next Generation -------------------------------- "Time Virus" -------------- by Mark Slater ---------------- Chapter VI ------------ First Officers's Log, Stardate 46837.8 I have just returned from the planet Gateway after leading an Away Team in an attempt to obtain more information about the Guardian. Unexpectedly, we found a survivor from the Survey Team, a Tellarite. Dr. Crusher immediately transported back to Sickbay with him. Commander LaForge and Lieutenant Worf went on to check for more survivors, but were unable to find any more and were also unable to find the bodies of the missing team members. They were, however, successful in recovering all the teams notes, reports and logs and Commanders LaForge and Data are reviewing them now. Lwaxana Troi also made an attempt to communicate with the Guardian. This attempt resulted in her collapsing from exhaustion. Counsellor Troi, who monitored her mother's attempt telepathically, was also brought back to the Enterprise suffering from exhaustion. Both are now in Sickbay undergoing tests, but Dr. Selar has informed me that both are perfectly fit and will be released as soon as the results from the final set of tests have been checked by Dr. Crusher and given the all clear. As a result, I have been unable to find out how successful Lwaxana's attempt to communicate with the Guardian was. Data, who was monitoring the Guardian during the attempt, recorded readings that indicated that something had happened to the Guardian during the attempt, but its behaviour has remained unchanged. I am now on my way to report to Captain Picard. -+-+- Riker emerged on to the Bridge and headed down the ramp towards Picard's Ready Room. Pressing the entry button, he waited to receive permission from Picard to enter. Hearing Picard shout "Come", Riker entered. "Please sit down number one. How did it go?" "Both Deanna and Mrs. Troi are exhausted from the attempt to communicate with the Guardian. I haven't yet had chance to speak to either of them, or ask Mrs. Troi how successful her attempt was, but I do know that both she and Deanna are going to be OK. Data has taken some interesting readings of the Guardian during the attempt which show that there was a response. He also has other readings that show the Guardian experiencing some sort of structural breakdown at the atomic level. Data is analysing those readings now to confirm his initial theory. He and Geordi are also analysing the information recovered from the Survey Teams reports and logs. They will report direct to you as soon as they have anything concrete." "Structural breakdown? That sounds as though things are serious. I hope Data has it wrong for once. What's the surface like?" asked Picard. "Cold and gloomy, but interesting. It reminded me of that archaeological site you took me to last year on Earth." "Interesting." said Picard, "I must have a look." Before Riker could respond to this, Dr. Crusher interrupted them. "Crusher to Picard. Could you come down to Sickbay. I have something to show you." "On my way Doctor. You have the Bridge number one." -+-+- As Picard entered Sickbay, he noticed that the diagnostic bed that the Tellarite was lying on had been covered over completely, indicating that he had died. Picard walked straight over to Crusher's office. She look up and smile, "Come in Jean-Luc, sit down." "I see the Tellarite died" "Yes, basically of chronic dehydration. I'm surprised he lasted as long as he did without water. Most species only survive 3 days, but that was not all that was wrong with him. We have found his body to be full of mutated cells, or at least that's what we first thought they were. It turns out that the cells in his body are varying in age. You can usually tell a persons age by the scanning the cells in their body. If we do this on him, then we get a result of between 6 and 138 solar years old." "What?" said Picard puzzled. "Have you identified him? How old was he?" "Yes, he was Dr. Tk'ahr'am, a Tellarite Geologist aged 35 years. He use to lecture at the Geological Institute on Marcus III and was posted to Gateway 2 years ago. I showed Data Tk'ahr'am's cell readings and he suggested that he may well have been on the edge of one of the time distortions that might have occurred on Gateway. That may explain what happened to the rest of the Survey Team. Data has sent a team of 2 Geologists and 2 of my medical personnel down to the surface to date the ruins and look for any remains of the Survey Team. I'm afraid, Tk'ahr'am didn't regain consciousness." "That's a shame, we might have been able to learn a lot from him. How's Deanna and her mother?" "Oh they're fine. I've just reviewed their last test results and was about to release them. Do you want to see them?" "Yes Doctor, I would." Crusher lead Picard to where Deanna and an impatient Lwaxana were sat on a bed. When Lwaxana saw Picard approaching, she started to protest, "Oh Jean-Luc, can't we get out of here. I hate hospitals." Picard raised his hands, "Sorry Lwaxana, Doctor Crusher is in charge here. Even I have to obey her orders when I here." "If only" said Crusher, looking at Picard. "Anyway, you two can now go and get some rest. You both checkout fine." "Well, I could have told you that!" said Lwaxana indignantly. "Mother, Beverly's only doing her job. Changing the subject, Picard look at Mrs. Troi. "Lwaxana, did you manage to communicate with the Guardian?" "Why, of course Jean-Luc, I mean Captain, that's what I was here for. Mind you its was very strange. Despite having a extremely strong presence, one in which it would be easy to become lost in the Guardian is extremely confused. Kept going on about someone called Zar, who ever they are? If I had to make a judgment, I would say it's gone insane. At best, simply delirious" "I hope it's not gone insane" said Picard, "That would have serious consequences for the whole Universe. Is there anything else either of you can tell me?" "No" said Lwaxana. Deanna simple shook her head. "Fine. Thank you ladies. Now I think its time you two went off and got some rest." "As your doctor, I agree" said Crusher. "Now off to bed you two. And that's an order!" -+-+- Back in his Ready Room, about an hour later, Picard was interrupted by Data and LaForge with an analysis of the research data they had recovered from Gateway. Accompanying them were Dr. Crusher and Riker. "Captain" announced LaForge. "Data and I think we have an answer. It's sounds a bit way out, but it does seem to fit the evidence to hand, and Dr. Crusher agrees it is possible." Puzzled as to why LaForge and Data had consulted with Dr. Crusher, Picard said, "Please proceed gentlemen." Data started. "It would seem that the Guardian is experiencing some form of deterioration at an atomic level. This seems to be affecting its programming, resulting in side affects such as the time distortions we have been experiencing. My readings also indicate that their are foreign bodies within the structure of the Guardian which previous scans, provided by Admiral Naguru, do not show. I believe that it is these foreign bodies that are causing the atomic breakdown in the Guardian. To use a human analogy, the Guardian has contract the equivalent of a viral disease which would cause sickness in the human bodies. However, unlike humans, the Guardian has no defence mechanism, or immune system, and so it is unable to destroy the infestation." "Are you saying the Guardian has caught something like a cold?!" asked Riker, amazed. "Yes Commander" answered Data. "It would also fit some of the behaviour pattern we have recorded" chipped in Crusher, "Such as the confusion both Deanna and her mother have observed. This would be a classic symptom of someone in a feverish state." "Yes, but Doctor, the Guardian is a machine, how can it contract a virus?" "The Guardian is also a sentient being Captain, much like myself. I too am able to catch some forms of viral infections, but my repair system has the capability to detect and destroy the infection and repair any damage it may have caused." said Data. "Besides" added LaForge. "We do have a parallel to this. The effect on the ships computers when the Nanites that Wes created got loose in the computer core. In effect, it's the same thing that the Guardian is experiencing now." "OK" said Picard, rubbing his forehead. "Assuming your are correct, what can we do?" "Give the Guardian an immune system" answered LaForge. "What?" exclaimed Riker, in disbelief. "By using the knowledge we have with Nanites, we believe that we can create an immune system. The Guardian already has a self repair mechanism, but seems unable to identify when it has been invaded such as it has now. Personally, I find this kind of design flaw inconceivable for a civilisation that could build such a mechanism as the Guardian." said Data. "Would it be possible to create such an immune system?" asked Picard. "Yes Captain." answered Crusher. "All we basically need is to adapt the Nanite's programming, and then insert them into the Guardian where they will seek out and destroy invading organism such as foreign bodies, like we have now, or even invading programs like computer viruses." "I would need to go back down to the surface and obtain more detail readings of the Guardian, so that Dr. Crusher and I can adapt the Nanite's programming." finished Data. Looking at Picard, still with a small amount of disbelief in his face, Riker commented, "A time virus? Well, it is a plan. As far as I can see we have nothing to loose" "Then lets go to it." said Picard. "There is one more thing Captain" said Crusher. "The team Data sent down to locate the remains of the Survey Team returned twenty minutes ago. The bought back several dust samples which contained DNA that proved to belong to members of the Survey Team. These samples showed that the team died nearly eight hundred years ago. The rocks sample that they brought back also showed variations in ages such as those found in Dr. Tk'ahr'an's body. There's now no doubt that the Survey Team where caught in a time distortion that caused the to age permanently. I've recorded their deaths as being due to old age brought on by a time displacement." "At least we solved one mystery and found out what happened to the Survey Team." said Picard. -+-+- Fifteen minutes after leaving Picard's Ready Room, Data, LaForge, Deanna and Riker materialised on the surface of Gateway. Data and LaForge to carry out a more detailed survey of the Guardian with Deanna assisting by trying to ascertain any more about its emotional state. Riker was basically there to command. Although he was not really needed, by coming he had avoided any argument with Picard about coming down to explore. Riker didn't like the idea of his Captain coming down, not while the Guardian was behaving as it was. 'He can wait until we have cured the Guardian' thought Riker. He then chuckled at the idea of curing the Guardian, envisaging Dr. Crusher coming down with a giant hypo-spray and injecting the stone monolith. Data and LaForge immediately started scanning the Guardian, Data for a more detailed structure analysis, and LaForge scanning for any indication of what power source the Guardian used. After about five minutes, Riker meandered over, "How's it going gentlemen?" "It would be most useful if we had a blueprint of the original design of the Guardian" said Data. "That would be all the information we need to reprogram the Nanites. I wish we could go back to the time the Guardian was built. At least then, we would find such a document." At that moment, Picard's voice came through the air. "Picard to Data. We are showing some signs of variation in the time wave emissions from Gateway. I need you up here in case we need to make an quick maneuvers to avoid them." "On my way sir" replied Data. Hitting his own combadge, Riker said, "Do you wish us all to return sir?" "No number one. Better not to risk you all in transit, just in case one of these waves hits us. I only need Data for the time being." Data moved to one side, then hitting his combadge, "Data to Enterprise. One to beam up." As Data disappeared, a violent tremor hit Gateway, throwing the Away Team to the ground. Back on the Enterprise, as Data materialised on the Transporter Pad, the Red Alert klaxxon was sounding. Nodding to the Transporter technician, Data rushed out the door of the Transporter Room and headed for the nearest Turbolift. As the doors of the lift closed behind him, Data ordered, "Bridge." The last thing Data remembered was the Turbolift doors opening giving him access to the Bridge. Then all hell broke lose and Data was thrown across the Bridge, making contact with the bulkhead with such an impact that his positronic brain decided to shutdown to prevent any damage, and darkness engulfed Data. -+-+- As Data's positronic brain started to re-engage itself, and Data slowly regained consciousness, he noticed that only the emergency lights were on. He also noticed that most of the Bridge crew were unconscious, only Worf was now coming too. Rising and checking to see that Worf was OK, Data the rushed down to check on Picard. A moan from his captain showed that he was still alive. As Picard started to come too, the ship's systems also started to come back to life. Seeing that Picard, and the rest of the Bridge crew, were all right, Data decided that his next job was to check on the ship's status. Making his way over to the Engineering Panel, Data turned to Worf. "Mr. Worf, please help me compile a damage report" "Aye sir, reports coming in from most decks now sir. No major damage reported." "What happened?" asked Picard, groggily. "I do not know yet sir" said Data. "Mr. Worf and I are compiling a damage report now." "Data!. You made it back then?" "Yes Captain, I did." "Mr. Worf. What's out location?" "Unknown sir. All sensors are off line at the moment." "Can we get a picture so we can at least see where we are?" "I'm trying now sir" responded Worf, "Systems slow coming back on line." Then the main screen came back to life. The entire Bridge crew stared at the screen in stunned surprise. The planet was gone! -+-+- Back on the surface of Gateway, the Away Team started to pick themselves up as the tremors subsided. "Is everyone all right?" checked Riker. "That was one hell of an earthquake" commented LaForge, searching for his visor, which had come loose and fallen off during the tremors. Finding it, he put it back on and grab the tricorder. Checking the readings, he whistled. "That measured 4.6 on the Richter Scale, the epicentre was...." his voice trailed off. LaForge looked up at Riker, "The epicentre was the Guardian!" "The Enterprise!" started Riker. "They said they were experiencing changes in the time wave emissions. Could they be connected?" "Could be" answer LaForge. Riker hit his combadge. "Riker to Enterprise" (beat) "Riker to Enterprise" then looking at LaForge, "Geordi?" Geordi looked at his tricorder. "Its GONE!" he exclaimed. "Destroyed?" asked Riker in feeling a sudden attack of fear. "No. I don't think so. I'm not picking up any trace of debris. The Enterprise has just vanished!" "Will?" said Deanna, "I'm sensing something different from the Guardian. It's still confused, but I now registering a sense of satisfaction. Immense satisfaction." Riker looked at her, his unspoken question clear in his eyes. Did it cause the Enterprise to vanish on purpose? To be continued......