TF01 3,TIME VIRUS - Chapter 7 4,by Mark Slater Star Trek: The Next Generation -------------------------------- "Time Virus" -------------- by Mark Slater ---------------- Chapter VII ------------- Captain Log, Stardate 46838.0 The Bridge of the Enterprise resembles the after effects of a direct hit during a battle. Systems are slowly returning to normal, but I am without my Chief Engineer. At present Lieutenant Barclay is in charge of Engineering and has reported that the ship's computer executed an automatic shut down of the warp core before it too went off line. He estimates that it will take 40 minutes to overcome all the safety lockouts and restart the warp core, including bringing the main computer back online. The Enterprise herself sustained no damage and Sickbay reports only minor injures. The main cause for concern is where the ship is. As the cause of our displacement was, in all probability, a time wave, we could be anywhere at any time. My main fear is that we could have ended up in the Romulan neutral zone, and in our shape, we could put up no fight at all. -+-+- "B-Barclay to Bridge. Computers b-back on l-line sir" "Thank you Mr. Barclay. How long to warp core restart?" asked Picard. "Not l-long now s-sir. B-But I need your-r-r author-risation to override the s-safety lock o-out as Commander LaForge is n-not here." "Computer. Override warp core safety lock out. Authorisation Picard 329 Epsilon." "Authorisation Picard 329 Epsilon accepted. Warp core lockout disengaged." responded the computer. "L-Lockout disengaged confirmed sir" came Barclay, "Warp c-core restart in 10 minutes." "Fine Mr. Barclay. Picard out." Then turning to Data at Ops. "Any idea where we are yet Data?" "Not yet sir. Navigation still having problem locating our position" "Computer" said Picard, "Report on status to determine present location of Enterprise" "Ship's position undetermined. Delay in calculation of time displacement factor." "Time displacement factor?" queried Picard, puzzled. At this point Lwaxana burst on to the Bridge, "Jean-Luc, what's happened?" she demanded, "I lost all contact of Deanna!" Concerned, Picard asked, "Lost all contact? Is she dead?" "I don't know. It happened during the time the ship was being buffeted. One minute she was there, the next she wasn't. She just disappeared abruptly and..." Suddenly, Lwaxana felt a strong presence touch her mind, {Not dead. Took strength, but request answered. Help! So confused.} Seeing Mrs. Troi turning pale with a look of shock creeping across her face, Picard took hold of Lwaxana, "Are you all right?" "I'm not sure, I'm hearing voices." A look of realization dawned on her face. She turned to face Picard, "Its the Guardian!" she exclaimed. "Are you sure? But I thought you had to be in direct contact with it" "Of course I'm sure Jean-Luc" said Lwaxana indignantly. "Ok Lwaxana, calm down. What did it say?" asked Picard, and Lwaxana told Picard word for word what she had heard. "Request answered? What does that mean?" said Picard. At this point, the ships computer interrupted, "Time displacement calculated. Ships position located." Picard turned to face Ro. "Ensign?" Ro looked at her panel. "Sector 90 sir, just over 9 parsecs from Gateway sir." Then a look of utter amazement crossed her face. "This cannot be right?" she exclaimed. "What ensign? What cannot be right?" asked Picard. "Sir, according to the computer, we've travelled back in time. Over 6 billion solar years!" "I cannot accept that!" said Picard. Data looked up. "You must sir. It is correct. I have just crossed reference the ships position with our own star charts. We have travelled back in time 6.14 billion solar years." Picard sank into his chair, staring at Data. -+-+- Back on Gateway, the Away Team were trying to determine what had happened to the Enterprise. "I don't know Commander" said Geordi. "I cannot find the Enterprise anywhere. There's no sign of debris indicating an explosion, and no subspace activity, not even the Enterprise's subspace transponder signal. She may have moved to a safer orbit on the opposite side of the planet, but even then, I should still be able to pick up her transponder." "Besides Will" started Deanna. 'I've lost all contact with mother. She is just not out there and neither is the Enterprise. Even at this distance, I should still be able to sense the emotions of nearly 500 crew members. There's nothing!" "So you are both saying the Enterprise is gone. But where?" "I don't know Commander, but I would guess it does" said LaForge pointing at the Guardian. Looking at Troi, Riker asked, "Is it possible? You said you felt satisfaction from it. Did it deliberately destroy the Enterprise?" "I'm sure it responsible, but not for destroying the Enterprise. I sense no malevolence. It certainly had a reason for sending the Enterprise where it did, that I'm sure of. But where and when, I have no idea." "Could you ask it?" asked LaForge. "I could try, but it took all mothers strength even to communicate with it. I not sure I have that much strength. I am only half Betazoid. There's no knowing what would happen to me if I can in direct contact with the Guardian's mind, especially in the state it is in now. But I can at least try." "No" said Riker. "I saw how exhausted your mother was. I'm not risking you Deanna. Not while we have other alternatives." "What alternatives?" asked LaForge. "Well, for a start, there's enough food and water here to last the three of us several years. The provisions store was undamaged by the incident that killed the Survey Team. Secondly, there must be a subspace radio here. If we call Starfleet, they could have a ship here within a week to pick us up." "Uh, Commander. It will be longer than a week. The provision store may have been undamaged, the subspace radio certain was not." said Geordi. "That was one of the things Worf and I discovered on our search for survivors." "Can it be fixed Geordi?" "I would say not, but I'll try." "Good Geordi. Even if you cannot fix it, we will be declared overdue in two weeks time and then they will send a rescue ship." `I hope' Riker thought to himself. "Now, I think we'd better go and find ourselves some warmer clothing and see if we can get the heaters in those shelters working. It will be night here soon and I hate to think how cold it will get here when that star disappears completely." -+-+- On the Enterprise, a thought suddenly dawned on Data. Looking at Picard, who was still sitting in his chair, trying to take in that his ship had travelled back over 6 billion years, Data said, "Captain, I think I know why we are here. It is my fault" "Your fault Data?" "Yes sir. Just before you called me back to the ship, I commented to Commander Riker that I could do with a copy of the blueprints for the Guardian, but that they certainly only existed at the time of the Guardians creation, so I expressed a wish to go back to that time. The Guardian must have been aware of my comment, and interpreting it as a request, tried to fulfil it. Hence we are here." "You cannot be serious Data" responded Picard. "It would seem to fit the confused message Mrs. Troi received." "And what of Deanna?" asked Lwaxana. "The chances are, that she, and the rest of the Away Team are still back on Gateway. In the future." answer Data. This was all too much for Lwaxana, and still feeling exhausted from her earlier contact with the Guardian, she passed out. "Lwaxana!" exclaimed Picard, and then, "Medical emergency. Dr. Crusher to the Bridge!" A few moments later, Crusher emerged from the TurboLift, on to the Bridge. Rushing done the ramp, she crouched at Lwaxana's side. Scanner her, Crusher shook her head. "She'll be all right. She is just exhausted. I told her to stay in her quarters and get some rest." Producing a hypo, Crusher placed it against Lwaxana's neck and a hissing sound could be heard. Lwaxana came too. "Oh my" she whispered, "What happened?" "You passed out" said Crusher. "I thought I told you to get some rest." "I'm sorry Doctor" said Lwaxana sheepishly, "But I had urgent information for Jean-Luc" Helping Lwaxana up, Picard and Crusher sat her in Deanna's usual chair. At this point Barclay's voice came over the speaker. "B-Barclay to B-Bridge. Full power restored sir." "Thank you Mr. Barclay. Picard out. Well gentlemen, any suggestions?" "Sir, may I suggest that we head back to Gateway and continue with our plan as we discussed earlier" suggested Data. "After all, we have returned to the time when the Guardian was constructed, there we will have all the information we need to complete our mission successfully. Besides, inserting the Nanites at this time may mean that we would undo all the disruption that have occurred to date as a result of the Guardians infection." "That's fine Data" said Crusher, "But how do we get back?" "Hopefully, if we are successful, all this will never have occurred" answered Data. "It seems we have no other alternative" said Picard, then turning to Ro, "Ensign Ro, plot a course for Gateway" "Aye sir" "Sir, I have one more suggestion" said Data. "As we are in effect tampering with the original design of the Guardian. I recommend that we keep our presence secret from the inhabitants of Gateway." "Are you suggesting using the cloaking device Data?" "Yes sir" "Picard to Engineering. Mr. Barclay, what is the status of the cloaking device?" "T-The c-c-loaking device sir?" "Yes Mr. Barclay, the cloaking device" "Well, we haven't properly tested the new circuits we installed at Starbase 104, but it should work OK. However, due to the power drain on the system, I would recommend that we don't travel any faster than warp 2 sir." "Fine then Mr. Barclay, prepare to engage the cloaking device. Picard out." Then looking at Worf, "What is the status of the sensors Mr. Worf?" "Short range senors are working at 89% efficiency, Long range only at 65%. Both are improving as the ship's computer runs successive diagnostic sweeps. At present, no other ships have been detected." "Good" responded Picard. "Keep me advised of any ship contact Mr. Worf. Ensign Ro. Have you plotted our course to Gateway?" "Yes sir, course plotted and laid in" Sitting, Picard ordered, "Mr. Worf, engage cloaking device." "Aye sir. Cloaking device engaged, ship now cloaked." "Ensign Ro, Engage course, ahead warp factor 2." "Aye sir, course engaged. Speed warp 2" responded Ro. Then looking at Data, Picard asked, "ETA to Gateway?" "6 hours present speed sir" "In that case," said Picard rising, "You have the Bridge Mr. Data. Dr. Crusher and I will escort Mrs. Troi to her quarters." Lwaxana looked as though she was about to protest, but seeing the look of determination on both Crusher's and Picard's faces, she decide that discretion was the better part of valour. To be continued.......