By Tom Monaghan
2295
"I've got a lock on the probe, Captain," Yeager Science Officer Valance commented as he glanced up momentarily from his monitors.
"Good, commander," Captain Grin'elle Kriet responded as he stood up and walked over to the ship's sciences station. "Can you confirm its identity?"
The science officer paused in silence then turned his attention toward his commanding officer. "Confirmed, sir. It is a mark three cryoprobe."
"So, it is from the Shenandoah," the captain spoke up with a puzzled look, "After all these years? The disappearance of the Shenandoah during a survey mission in these parts twenty years ago is one of the greatest mysteries of the century. The thought of there actually being survivors is remarkable!"
"I'm attempting a scan of the contents of the probe," Commander Valance informed as Grin gave him an eager nod.
"I know for a fact Captain Dujhar would be more than interested in this find," added Commander Layne.
"How so, commander?" inquired the captain as he turned to face his executive officer.
"If you remember correctly, sir, the Shenandoah was lost with all hands only days following the destruction of the Tishisuatu."
"You don't think there could be a connection between the two?" Grin asked with subtle enthusiasm. "The Shenandoah was on a scientific mission in a completely different sector."
"I'm not making any claims," Commander Layne confessed. "However, I do find the whole situation very intriguing."
"Sirs," Commander Valance interrupted them, "I've detected a male humanoid in deep cryogenic stasis. Life signs are still good. I can't isolate his age or his identity but I can tell you that he has been surgically altered."
"How so?" the captain inquired with increased curiosity.
"The readings I'm getting are slightly unusual, sir." The science officer paused to further study his scopes then glanced back up at Grin'elle. "It seems as if a series of artificial tissues and components have been interwoven throughout his body."
After hearing his science officer's findings the captain quietly seated himself and remained motionless in the command chair. The expression on his face turned blank as a cold chill ran down his spine. He had experienced some very odd things in his time but he hadn't returned to take command of the Yeager in order to continue the trend. Quite the contrary actually. The rigidity of Starfleet was supposed to bring some order and normality back to his chaotic lifestyle. This was not in his contract. He just couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of his doubts that their current mission was going to be anything close to routine.
"That's not all, sir," Commander Valance continued as Grin'elle returned a long, hard stare. "He's Camazotian-Terran."
For a lingering moment silence reigned on the bridge of the Yeager until it was abruptly broken by Captain Grin'elle Kriet. "Page Captain Dujhar for me. I think he and I are long overdue for a little talk."
2370
"ETA with Yeager in about two hours, Captain," the pilot of the runabout Hamlin commented and his passenger sighed with relief.
"Give Captain Marshall my regards and my regrets on running a little behind schedule," the fatigued Camazotian-Terran replied. "Tell him I'm no career diplomat but I do think everything went well nonetheless."
"Aye, sir," the pilot added as the runabout accelerated to warp speed.
The stars passed by ever so eagerly as Captain Nikol'elle Al'jurhaiad-Dujhar leaned back in his seat, padd in hand, and immersed himself in his thoughts. Despite the events of the past week he felt more than certain that a newer and better relationship with the Cardassians was finally at hand. With the rebellious Black Talon sect of the Cardassian military finally defeated Nikol'elle couldn't help feeling that both the United Federation of Planets and their Cardassian neighbors could finally accept each others peaceful coexistence.
"Captain, would you like to join us this evening?"
The pilot's comments rudely interrupted the counselor's well earned rest. It wasn't such an unusual request. Nikol'elle was still a bit uncomfortable with his assignment to the Nebula Class starship and he was still rather shaken by their recent dealings with the Black Talon. Yes, he was thankful that through the peace talks being held on Deep Space Nine that war had been successfully thwarted. Still, he could not keep his mind off of other matters.
"There is no regulation barring counselors from fraternizing with pilots," the young officer informed Nikol'elle once more forcing the captain to look up from his padd. "We could always use an extra hand up here, you know."
"How difficult can it be to pilot a runabout?" the Yeager's counselor contemplated with an exaggerated laugh. "Thanks for the invitation but I'll just enjoy the ride."
"Sure thing, Captain," the pilot added as he adjusted his controls. "Operating a craft such as this is a finely honed and perfected skill. You deep thinkers simply can't comprehend the complexities involved."
"Really? Ever try advising any comprehensive diplomatic negotiations lately?" Nikol'elle replied as he adjusted his seating. "Just remember that if it wasn't for my brief yet explicit expert testimony we would probably all still be slaving over the damned particulars of the new treaty."
"So?" the pilot responded with a slight giggle. "You're not actually taking the new treaty seriously, are you?"
"And why not?" asked Captain Dujhar with a slightly miffed whimper.
"They're Cardassians! To them it's just a piece of paper. If they've got good reason to break the treaty you of all people should know they would do so in a heart beat."
Nikol'elle grumbled in reply and returned to his padd. With a series of intricate taps at the keypad he called up the files pertaining to the ancient USS Tishisuatu disaster and began to refresh his memory. Despite his participation in one of the greatest diplomatic triumphs of the century he was still obsessed by one of the greatest mysteries of all time.
"I still say you're just wasting your time," the pilot commented as he glanced back down at his readouts.
"That's why I'm the counselor and your the pilot. Now if you don't mind paying more attention to running the runabout than running your mouth..."
"You're the sunshine of my life, too, sir."
"What do you know about diplomacy anyway?" Nikol'elle questioned while still scanning the images on his padd. "I was there. You weren't. This time is different. I can feel it."
"I know enough not to trust any damned Cardassians," the pilot retorted as an eerily familiar craft bore down upon the runabout.
Before Nikol'elle could utter an appropriate response a burst of light impacted with the craft causing it to shudder violently knocking it's two occupants to the floor in the process. In front the main control panels sparked and flickered as the standard lights dimmed in favor of the red glow of the craft's emergency lights. Caught totally off guard Captain Dujhar shifted to get a better look out one of the windows of the wounded runabout.
"No...." Nikol'elle shook his head and muttered to himself in disbelief as another burst of light approached from what appeared to be a lone Cardassian vessel. A single blink later the ship vibrated from the impact of enemy fire as a tingling sensation enveloped his entire body. With the thoughts of another tragic disaster of a century ago clearly in his mind a brilliant light engulfed the runabout as it instantaneously exploded into a million unsalvageable fragments.
2275
Darkness. He could vividly see darkness. He'd seen the afterlife before and it was a much brighter place than what he currently occupied. To his right he could feel the softness of a blanket on an unmade bed which definitely agreed with him more so than say the fiery brimstone of Hades. Blinking did absolutely no good to improve his vision as he tried to focus in on any distinguishable landmarks in the general vicinity. Without any sign of a light source he would just have to rely, hopefully temporarily, on his other senses.
Voices. He could clearly hear voices. That was a good sign. It meant that there were others to help him enjoy his afterlife, which he was beginning to have his doubts if this even was the afterlife. It still seemed so much brighter that last time, he continued to think to himself. With little further hesitation he leaned on the edge of the bed toward the source of the voices in hopes of getting clearer reception.
The voices stopped abruptly and a door suddenly opened allowing welcome rays of light to highlight the various objects decorating the small room. It was definitely someone's living quarters, he guessed to himself just as the light source was partially eclipsed by the room's occupant. He didn't have the time or desire to ask such a trivial question as he instinctively dove for cover underneath some convenient bed sheets that were being used to hide some strategically placed piles of clothing.
Peaking out from the covers he was able to make out the silhouette of a humanoid female. That would explain the strategic piles of women's clothing. The silhouette turned toward him and he froze in place hoping that she would mistake him for one of her camouflaged piles of clothing instead of the inadvertent interloper he really was. If indeed this was the afterlife one he would just have to most definitely write his transcendental travel agent a glowing letter of recommendation.
Finally, after locating what she had been looking for the female shaped silhouette picked up what looked like an older style padd and bounded toward the doorway. A second silhouette briefly came into view as the two silhouettes proceeded on their way down the corridor. He leaned ever so closer to listen into the continuation of their conversation. Just as the door swished shut he could have sworn that she mentioned something that sounded like a yeoman's work was never done.
For a lengthy moment Nikol'elle continued to remain in hiding beneath the bed sheets until he had convinced himself that the silhouette had decided to stay away for a while longer. Fishing through his pockets he pulled out his penlight and activated it. It was adequate enough for him to find his way over to a lamp and with eager anticipation he turned it on. In astonishment he took a deep breath as he found himself in the middle of a junior officer's suite on an old Constitution Class starship.
"What in the hell," he muttered to himself as he sat on the edge of the bed and picked up a framed picture from the shelf on his immediate right. It was the picture of a Cadet First Class of the Diobe-Llation Insystem Patrol Academy. The cold shiver down his spine told him that there was no mistaking it. Those eyes and that pose was more familiar than he cared to think about at the moment. No matter how inconceivable it may have seemed he was, indeed, looking at a holograph of himself.
He shook his head and put the picture back on the shelf. "This cannot be happening," he tried to convince himself as he scanned the room for other interesting artifacts.
"I refuse to believe any of this nonsense," he continued to comment as he walked slowly along a near bookshelf and studied the various trinkets and decorative items in front of him. Picking up an intricately painted sculpture he grinned and laughed to himself. It was all too familiar to him. The sculpture was one of the few items he had inherited from his mother after she had left him at the age of five in the care of the Kriet family on Camazotz. He had given it to his love as a token of his devotion following the news of her transfer.
Nikol'elle put the sculpture back on the shelf and shook his head. He swore to himself that he would never come to this place ever in his lifetime. It was a sad place, a tragic place, yet in despite of his checkered past he still felt that this place was a sacred place. These people were all ghosts to him now and this ship a painful yet faded memory. However, here he was now an unwilling member of the ill-fated Tishisuatu crew in the very room that Ensign Lyza Allard had called home those last few days of her life.
"This is not right," he exclaimed to himself as he sat back down on the bed to recollect his thoughts. In curiosity he leaned over to the clock on the shelf and checked the time and date. Another cold chill ran down his spine as he gulped in terrified uncertainty. Like it or not Captain Tylos Dujhar, Ensign Lyza Allard, and the rest of the crew of the Tishisuatu had only a couple hours of life left to live.
"This is big trouble," Nikol'elle observed with a whisper as he fought back an urge to foster his growing sense of panic. "It's very simple," he continued trying to calm himself down, "I haven't done anything to alter the course of history and all I have to do is program in the right coordinates to get back to Deep Space Nine and I can forget that this ever happened."
With a tap at the keypad on his wrist he hoped to bring the control device to his bodily wired Ultrainfinidrive to life. Instead, he stared at the blank display screen with subdued horror. Where there should have been illuminated red characters showing his spacial-temporal location and those of his destination he saw nothing. It was just a blank screen. He tapped furiously at the device desperately hoping that it would suddenly reactivate itself but it was no use. The display screen still remained blank.
"Dammit!" he exclaimed as he removed the wrist control in a panic and fiddled with the cover on the back side of the device.
"This is not a good time for this kind of shit to be happening," he continued to mutter as he inspected the inner workings of the controller. "Papa doesn't want to become one with the Universe. At least not just yet."
Finally convinced that there was nothing that he could do about the damage at present he reassembled the controller and strapped it back onto his wrist. Even if he could find anything that could remotely be used to fix the drive he still had no idea what components were actually damaged. Without having the right diagnostic equipment available just isolating the problem alone would take days. He didn't have the days to spare. He had a handful of minutes and they were continuing to slip away. He had to find another way out of his current trap.
Nikol'elle had established a firm set of regulations over the use during his travels and exploits. The first and foremost directive he had established was noninterference. He had promised himself that he would never again be the catalyst for a grand catastrophe as immense and unforgivable as the Federation Civil War. It was his own selfishness and lack of foresight that had lead to that terrible epoch in his personal history. Although he was the only one who remembered it, to him it was just as real as the ship he now occupied. No matter what the circumstances, even if his death or the deaths of his loved ones were imminent, he could never again let himself blatantly alter the course of history.
Despite his feelings on the subject he couldn't help but think that the only way out of his current situation was to prevent the Tishisuatu from entering the Neutral Zone. He was human, too, after all and a human's survival instinct was just as unpredictable as it was uncontrollable. Not to mention that he had lived over a century with the pain and loss of not only his father but also his one true love he now was granted a most unexpected opportunity to prevent it all from happening in the first place.
But first things first. The uniform he now wore was highly anachronistic for a Starfleet vessel of the 2270's. As he began a thorough search of Lyza's quarters for the first time in his life he found himself hoping that she had been unfaithful to him. There was no way he was going to wear one of her uniforms. At least in public. Besides, she wasn't his size. Upset by his lack of success in finding any male uniform tops amid the stacks of clothes on the floor he immediately launched into an in-depth search of her clothes drawers.
Following a brief delay while searching through her undergarments Nikol'elle sighed and then raced over to her closet. In one of the corners he caught sight of a snatch of yellow fabric and his eyes lit up. Pulling the item out from under another concealed pile of off-duty formal wear he held a male command jersey up to the lamp light and smiled. It was his father's. At least she had decided to keep things in the family, he thought as he pulled out his pocket knife to do a little surgery on the shirt. He might not have been able to get away with being the captain but playing a lieutenant shouldn't be that much of a strain on him.
Satisfied with his makeshift tailoring Nikol'elle pocketed his pocket knife and removed his uniform jacket and shirt. After stuffing them in the drawer with Lyza's undergarments he smiled and donned his father's surgically altered uniform top. He caught his reflection in a nearby mirror and adjusted his uniform until he was convinced he could pass for a fit and proper Starfleet officer. Remembering the circumstances he was currently under he turned off the lamp and headed toward the door. It swished open for him and with mixed feelings of caution and confidence he headed toward the turbolift.
The corridors of the Tishisuatu were disturbingly vacant Nikol'elle noted as he stopped and waited for the turbolift doors to open. He tried to convince himself that he had to inform his father of the futility of their mission. Didn't he realize that he was sailing into the middle of a trap? Didn't he care that he would be unable to fulfill is parting promise to him about bringing Lyza safely home? Didn't he know that he would be sending over four hundred innocent officers and crew to their deaths?
The doors to the lift swished open and Nikol'elle stepped in as he shuddered at the very thought of the very near future of this very ship. The lift doors closed and he pushed those painful thoughts from his mind. He concentrated on doing what he felt should have been done long ago and that fate had seemingly appointed him to accomplish. Deep down inside he was convinced that the Tishisuatu had to be spared. Lyza had to become his wife. His father had to take command of the Starbase on Camazotz. His "brother", Ty'elle Dujhar, had to become executive officer of the old Yeager. Fate had given him a glance of what should have been all those years ago and fate had provided him with the very means to finally make things right. Now it was up to him to carry through with fate's master plan.
However fate had other plans. Just as soon as the first red alert klaxon sounded and the red glare of the emergency lights filled the interior of the turbolift Nikol'elle could feel the rumble of disruptor fire impacting against the hull of the ship. Moments later the lift stopped moving. This was no time to panic, Nikol'elle informed himself as the ship shuddered in response to the impact of another series of disruptor fire. So much for fulfilling fate's master plan he thought as his survival instincts kicked into high gear. He knew all too well what was only moments away, as did probably most of the crew by now. He wasn't supposed to be on board in the first place. Now it was up to him to prevent history from being altered by becoming a casualty along with the rest of the Tishisuatu crew.
Finally putting his knowledge of the ancient Constitution Class to practical use he pried open a service panel and inspected it's contents. Thanks to his intensive training in those hilariously obsolete training modules back at Starfleet Academy he hopefully still harbored some of that reluctantly acquired knowledge that he now needed to help him escape. With a bang of his hand against his head to reactivate those long dormant memories he dove into the web of wires and nodes in front of him. Seconds later the doors to the lift cracked open a finger's width. Not taking his small victory lightly he raced over to the doors and began prying them further apart.
One thing he was certain of was that the turbolift was currently parked between decks. What he wasn't certain of was which decks or how he was going to open the outer lift doors. The other thing he was certain of, as the vibrations from continued disruptor fire jogged his memory, was that if he didn't come up with something quick he wouldn't have to worry about how he was going to fix his Infinidrive so that he could return to his true time.
Fortunately, as he squatted down to the floor in thought, the latest salvo spared him for the moment. The ship rumbled again causing the main lights to flicker on for a moment. In that instant the normal shipboard systems briefly came to life including the outer lift doors which cracked open. It wasn't for long but it was long enough. Amid the red glow of the reactivated emergency lights Nikol'elle scrambled to the outer doors and proceeded to force them open as well.
The ship rumbled and heaved about him as he squeezed through the open lift doors into the chaos of one of the upper decks of the secondary hull. Crewmembers were clamoring all about as the vessel continued to vibrate and the emergency lights flickered on and off. Suddenly the voice of Captain Tylos Dujhar boomed throughout the corridor ordering his crew to abandon ship. To Nikol'elle it seemed so artificial. To him it felt like he was living in a dream but the bodies that brushed past him and the constant impact of disruptor fire kept reminding him that it was all too real.
"Which way to the shuttle bay?" he asked impatiently of a frantic crewman who promptly pointed down a bustling corridor than disappeared from sight. Wasting no time Nikol'elle ran down the corridor dodging personnel along the way stopping only once to help a disoriented enlisted man to his feet.
"Thanks, lieutenant," the petty officer responded as Nikol'elle reassuringly patted him on the back.
"Stick with me, kid," Nikol'elle commented as the two continued on their way to the hangar bay. "Ca, er, Lieutenant Nikol'elle Al'jurhaiad's the name and survival's my game."
The young crewman let out a muffled laughed. "Petty Officer Jack Bailey. Hangar's down this way, sir."
"Yeah, right," the Camazotian counselor bluffed as the two proceeded down another corridor. Nikol'elle noticed his new friends growing apprehension. "What a mission, eh? Something to tell the grandkids."
The petty officer continued in silence. Just ahead of them now was the shuttle bay where a sizable crowd had gathered. One of the shuttles was in the process of loading up with the injured. Fighting his survival instincts Nikol'elle patted Petty Officer Bailey on the shoulder and pointed toward the shuttle. He looked back with a confident smile on his pale, sweat soaked face.
"You help out here," Nikol'elle told the petty officer as he headed over to the crowd surrounding the other shuttle looking for Lyza in the process. "I'll be assisting over here, got that?"
Bailey nodded and began helping his fellow crewmembers up into the shuttle while Nikol'elle attempted the same at the other shuttle. In the breaks in the crowd he studied the faces of every female crewmember he could find hoping to make contact with those unforgettably bright brown eyes he once admired when he was very much younger than he was now. The situation seemed so desperate as he assisted with the evacuation of the crew of a vessel he swore he would commemorate in his every thought and deed. He had always hoped that there could be survivors, no matter how often he was informed otherwise, and now here he was helping to make the dearest of his dreams a bona fide reality.
With the first shuttle loaded up the hangar doors slipped open and the vessel rumbled to life. In the starscape beyond the hangar bay a lone Klingon cruiser floated past as the shuttle Al'Remokqctakqc soon joined it amid the continual bursts of disruptor and phaser fire. Petty Officer Bailey raced over just in time to assist the Nikol'elle and the other five remaining crewmembers to prep the shuttle Diobe-Llation for launch. Moments later it, too, joined it's sister vessel among the stars.
Nikol'elle sighed in relief only to be reminded that now they had their own survival to look after. A lieutenant commander in a torn support services uniform waved to both Bailey and Nikol'elle to join them in the lone remaining travel pod. With little hesitation the two complied. After Bailey was helped up into the vehicle Nikol'elle followed suit and, in turn, instinctively turned to assist the next crewmember and was struck motionless by the sight before him. The young, female ensign in a special services uniform extended her arm. He hesitated at first but offered his hand and for the first time in over a century they touched.
Nikol'elle shifted himself to conceal his face in the dim lighting of the travel pod but her facial features were remarkably highlighted in the red glow of the shuttle bay emergency lights. For a second their eyes met and, to Nikol'elle, it felt as if the memories of a hundred years was suddenly washed away. How he had longed to be by her side again and how ironic that meeting would finally unfold. He would have never in a million years believed that it would be in the same travel pod in which she would escape from the fiery hell of the dying heavy cruiser Tishisuatu.
Still, despite his feelings he felt it necessary to conceal his true identity. After helping the ensign aboard he diverted his attention away from her hoping, ever so reluctantly, that their brief encounter would soon be forgotten. The lieutenant commander, the highest ranking officer among them according to their uniforms, finished his inspection of the craft and sealed the hatch behind them.
"I suggest we all buckle up and prepare for one helluva ride," he suggested as he took his place in the pilot's seat as the co-pilot activated the ship's impulse engines.
As the craft slipped out of the hangar into the vast expanse of space Nikol'elle could clearly see the immense damage inflicted on the Tishisuatu. Most of the primary hull was missing and large, black gouges spewing fire and debris specked the secondary hull like some ungodly disease. Off in the distance a photorp connected with one of the attacking cruisers and it exploded in a brief yet brilliant flash of light. The occupants of the travel pod collectively shared an encouraging cheer. Nikol'elle could see Lyza's expression out of the corner of his eye. She was hypnotized by the calamity of celestial combat.
Nikol'elle crossed his fingers hoping that, just this once, history would repeat itself. He could feel the rumble of the engines powering up to warp speed as he witnessed the Diobe-Llation wander into the line of fire between the Tishisuatu and another Klingon cruiser. A stray disruptor bolt brushed pass. The pod shuddered in it's wake causing Ensign Allard to lose her balance. In her effort to regain her footing she stumbled into the unsuspecting arms of Nikol'elle who had been preoccupied by the spectacle unfolding outside his window.
Instinctively he caught her fall and for the moment their eyes met once again. He couldn't help himself. He just had to search for anything in those deep brown eyes that would remind her of who he really was. Fortunately, his search was cut short as a flash outside caught their attention. They observed in horror as the Diobe-Llation began to tumble out of control in a collision course toward the Tishisuatu. The sight was too much for her. He could sense the shock and fatigue building to a furious boil within her. Amid the swirling stars as the travel pod accelerated to warp speed Lyza Allard smiled briefly then collapsed in exhaustion into the waiting arms of Nikol'elle Al'jurhaiad-Dujhar.
2295
"Ty'elle," Captain Kriet spoke up as he offered a drink to his Chief of Communications then sat back down at his desk. "Is there something you would like to tell me?"
"Honestly, Grin," Captain Ty'elle Dujhar responded as he nervously scanned the details of his commanding officer's ready room. "You know me! I am just as in the dark on this as you are."
"I'm serious, Ty'elle. I have to know. The stability of this time frame is at stake."
Ty'elle just remained seated and shook his head. "No. I did not use my Infinidrive. I haven't touched the thing since, since...."
"Since when, Ty'elle?" Grin'elle asked with deep concern. "Last week? Twenty years ago? When?"
"Dammit, Grin! You know the answer to that. Why do you keep bringing up those memories?"
"Because, like it or not," Captain Kriet replied, "you're a time traveler just like me. It's in your blood. It's a very real part of you and that's what concerns me right now."
Again, Ty'elle shook his head. "I'm no time traveler and you know it. Maybe that, that person down in sick bay was a part of me once. That's not my fault. I wasn't the one that lost control! I'm not the one that disobeyed all the fundamental laws of time travel!"
"You are still a time traveler nonetheless," Grin'elle corrected him. "You still possess the means."
"But I've never given in! I promised myself that I never would and you have to believe me when I say that I have faithfully kept my promise. I have nothing to do with this."
"That still doesn't explain the body we have in sickbay," Grin mentioned with a puzzled look on his face. "What would your alternate self be doing on the Shenandoah? Can you imagine the temporal trouble he's already caused?"
"All I can say is that he must have had a good reason," Ty'elle replied. "He wouldn't intentionally set out to deliberately alter history. We both learned that lesson the hard way."
Grin gave him a long, hard stare.
"With all that he's been through?" Captain Dujhar continued. "We do have a lot in common, Grin."
"Suppose you're right and he has good reasons and that he had no choice. What was he doing twenty years ago? What is he doing here now and what do you suppose we do about it?"
Ty'elle glanced out at the passing starscape for the moment then returned his attention to his commanding officer. "You and I know we're not going to do anything."
"Under the circumstances I think you're right," agreed Grin'elle as Ty'elle stood up at attention. "I'll let you know when he's regained consciousness. Then we can give him a thorough questioning."
"I recommend we keep his identity a secret for now," Ty'elle suggested. "There's no need in alarming the crew."
With an approving nod from Grin'elle Captain Dujhar turned about and paced back out onto the bridge leaving Captain Kriet alone to contemplate further options.
2275
Nikol'elle stood in silence and stared at the wreckage of the shuttle pod in front of him. At least it wasn't a total loss, he thought to himself. They had all somehow managed to survive intact which was the important thing. He was only bothered by the fact that they were abandoned on a desolate planet with no immediate chance of escape. He didn't even want to fathom the possibility that the Klingons could have tracked them to System T-1/2897.
"Looks like a fine mess," Petty Officer Bailey commented as he caught Nikol'elle's attention.
"How's the arm?" Nikol'elle questioned as the two sat down on a nearby rock.
"It's seen better days," he replied. "Doc says it's only a minor fracture and that it should heal with little permanent damage."
"That's good to hear."
"Nikol'elle?" The voice of the lieutenant commander boomed behind him and he turned to take notice. "It is Nikol'elle, right?"
The Camazotian counselor nodded.
"Bailey, would you mind helping out the others salvage equipment from the pod?"
"Not at all, commander," the petty officer responded as he got up to join the other survivors.
The lieutenant commander waited until the young enlisted man was out of hearing distance before he sat down beside Nikol'elle. "It is all right if I can join you?"
"Sure," the counselor approved with a nervous nodded. "Is anything the matter?"
"Could be," he stated introducing himself. "Lieutenant Commander Stephan Erickson, Damage Control."
"Lieutenant Nikol'elle Al'jurhaiad, Helmsman."
"Ah. A bridge officer."
Nikol'elle silently stared off into the distance.
"It's funny, Nikol'elle," the officer continued with a skeptical tone of voice, "but I just don't recognize you."
"The Tishisuatu's a big ship, sir."
"That she is," he agreed. "However, none of the crew seems to recognize you. Do you have an explanation?"
"Should I?" Nikol'elle asked with noticeable annoyance at the commander's inquiry. "I was new on board. Transferred over during the stopover at Starbase Twelve."
"Really?" The officer eyed him and grinned. "I haven't heard of any transfers. As a member of the ship's senior staff I would have heard something."
"So this time you were left out of the loop," Nikol'elle continued to bluff. "My orders came directly from the Admiralty Board."
"I'm sure they did." Erickson laughed the leaned over closer to him and continued in a whisper. "Who are you really, Lieutenant Nikol'elle Al'jurhaiad?"
"Captain Nikol'elle Al'jurhaiad, Starfleet Intelligence," the Camazotian answered with a confident glare hoping he would fall for his story. "I was sent to monitor the crew's efficiency during our rendezvous with renegade Klingon community in the Triangle. Feel better now?"
"Good one, sir," the commander admitted with a vicious grin. "So we were on a covert mission."
Nikol'elle nodded in reply. "The Captain was working in cooperation with the Intelligence Division of Starfleet Command so I wouldn't expect any rescue teams any time soon. They've more than likely listed all of us as missing in action by now."
"Okay, Captain, so how do you expect us to get off this planet?"
Nikol'elle thought for a moment. "Not much chance of that happening in our immediate future. I suggest rigging up the communications array to transmit a distress signal toward Federation space and hope for the best."
"We can't do that! The signal will lead the Klingons straight to us."
"Do you have any better suggestions?" Nikol'elle requested in impatience. "I don't know about you are the rest of the crew but I'd much rather face the Klingons than certain death on this barren world."
"Think about that for a sec," Erickson added. "You're an intelligence operative. If the Klingons find you we're all as good as dead."
"What if they don't find out? You're the only one who knows my true identity. As far as the rest are concerned I'm one of the ship's helmsmen."
The commander gazed at the group of survivors gathered around the shuttle pod and shook his head. "If you think setting up the communications array is for the best then I'm for it."
"Good," Nikol'elle responded with a reassuring smile. "Then I suggest we get started."
2370
"What do you mean the Hamlin's been destroyed?!?" Captain Marshall fumed at the latest news from the Bajor System.
"It's been confirmed, sir," continued the wavering voice over the Yeager's communications link with Deep Space Nine. "It is a regrettable incident and you have my condolences on the loss of your counselor."
"Commander, I just can't believe that following the successful conclusion of the most comprehensive diplomatic negotiations with the Cardassian Union that they would do such a thing! It's totally absurd. Do you realize what kind of a strain this is going to put on the Federation Council?"
"We've already been in contact with Gul Bardan of Central Command and he assures us that it was not one of his vessels. My hunch is that it was a calculated raid conducted by a single Black Talon ship."
Captain Marshall sighed aloud then continued. "The Black Talon! Dammit, Ben, I thought we already dealt with them."
"It seems that the problem is a little more extensive than we first realized. If it is any consolation the Cardassian Central Command is fully aware of the problem and they are willing to lend assistance. They're just as interested in stopping them as we are."
"That's not going to do Counselor Dujhar any good," Captain Marshall lamented. "He was an invaluable officer."
"Again, I must express my deepest sympathies," the station commander commented. "If you want me to contact the Captain's next of kin..."
"There's no need, Commander. There are no next of kin."
"Unfortunate," the Commander replied hesitantly. "I'll keep you informed if we find out anything further."
"Thanks, Ben," the Captain sighed as the communications link went silent. With a rub of his chin he seated himself in the command chair and thought to himself for the moment. The two men knew all too well the pain involved with the loss of fellow crewmembers. Both had seen first hand the carnage at Wolf 359 and had survived. The Captain now hoped that he could rely on the survival instincts of his counterpart at Deep Space Nine for help with his immediate loss. "Helm, plot a course for the Bajor System. I think that there's more at work here than we all realize."
2275
"Is the Ensign doing well, doctor?" Nikol'elle asked as he approached the makeshift encampment. In the distance he could see her body flinch for a moment then lapse back into a restful position.
"She's sedated but I think that she can handle a visit," the medical officer responded as he accompanied the counselor over to her side. "I hear you and the commander have been able to reactivate the communications link. Any response yet?"
"No," the Camazotian responded regrettably. "It could take some time. Tensions are mounting in the Triangle. To be honest I'm a little concerned."
"Me, too," the medic acknowledged. "I hear the Klingons don't take prisoners."
"I wouldn't get worked up over that just yet," Nikol'elle tried to reassure him. "They could very well be our saviors."
The medic grumbled as Nikol'elle kneeled down at Lyza's side. The doctor kept his distance. Of all the survivors Lyza Allard got the worst of it. The medic had assured him that it wasn't anything serious. She had suffered a mild concussion but she would get over it. At least her affliction would have healed a bit before Patty Officer Bailey's broken arm.
"Be gentle now," the medic informed him as Nikol'elle rested a comforting hand at her shoulder. "She's a bit disoriented. An effect of the sedative."
"Lyza?" Nikol'elle asked in a concerned whisper. The woman stirred and she shifted herself to get a better look at him. With wide yet dazed brown eyes she gazed up in wonderment at the individual kneeling beside he. She attempted a slight smile and he smiled back.
"Doc says you're okay, just a bit woozy."
Lyza's smile briefly grew wider and she blinked. "Doc knows his stuff," she whispered with a raspy voice.
"It's a good thing. For all of us."
She continued to stare into his eyes. "I can't help but, you seem so, who are you?"
"A concerned friend," Nikol'elle replied as he patted reassuringly at her shoulder. "Lieutenant Nikol'elle Al'jurhaiad, helmsman for hire."
She laughed and Nikol'elle smiled again. "You're Camazotian," Lyza noted with glowing eyes. "That's why you seem so familiar."
"Oh?" Nikol'elle asked as he adjusted his footing.
"I know someone on Camazotz," Lyza commented with a blissful expression. "He's at the Insystem Patrol Academy. His name is Ty'elle Al'lakcqen-Dujhar. Do you know him?"
"Camazotz is a big planet," he reminded her, "but, yes, I know him. You could say we're very close."
She gave him a perplexed look.
"The Notginshav Outpost," Nikol'elle fabricated for her benefit. "I was stationed at the outpost."
"So was I!" Lyza exclaimed as Nikol'elle suddenly began to feel that his story was about to unravel on him. "I was in operations. And you?"
"Engineering."
"So's Ty'elle. He's studying to be an engineer," she corrected as her face took on strange glow. "It's amazing how much you two seem to have in common. I feel so at ease like I was talking to him or the Captain."
Suddenly her vibrant glow transformed into an unsettling frown. Sensing her anxiety he held her closer to him and she accepted him for a moment. Seconds later she pulled away and turned back over onto her side.
"I think you'd better go," she stated as she pulled up her covers. "It's been nice talking with you, Nikol'elle."
There was no time for a response as Lieutenant Commander Stephan Erickson approached and escorted Nikol'elle away.
"Commander, what is it?" inquired the Camazotian noting the Commander's nervousness.
"We've picked up a ship in orbit," Erickson informed him in a low voice hoping the others were out of hearing range.
"Is it ours?"
The Commander shook his head. "It's Klingon. I suggest we secure the camp and issue phasers to all personnel."
Nikol'elle continued to look back in dismay. "Why are you asking me? You're their leader."
"You out rank me, sir," the Commander replied.
"Fine," Nikol'elle accepted. He was in no mood for an argument if he was willing to follow a complete stranger then he deserved the consequences. "Make it so but I don't want any trouble. If the Klingons want to take us prisoner then so be it."
Erickson nodded and headed back to the others as Nikol'elle cornered the doctor. "Look after her," he commanded and an instant later he raced to catch up with the Commander.
Erickson supervised the distribution of weapons to the survivors while Nikol'elle told them to use force only as a last resort. Moments later a dozen images materialized within the encampment. They were unmistakably Klingon. Upon materializing two of the intruders grabbed the doctor while a third bent down to take a good look at Lyza. Looking up he motioned the others to secure the encampment. All but Petty Officer Bailey were rounded up. Lost in the commotion the young enlisted man opting to hide behind a nearby clump of bushes.
"She's a fine one, eh?" Lyza's captor asked triumphantly to the other Klingons as he forced her to her feet.
The surly crowd cheered their success and directed the collected survivors into the well guarded clearing. Nikol'elle at first refused but was forced to comply at phaser point. His main concern now was ensuring the continued safety and survival of the survivors, especially Lyza Allard. Fighting an urge to storm the chief Klingon he stewed in his thoughts of violent retribution. Noticing Nikol'elle's reactions Lyza's captor leaned in close to her. She tried to resist but in her current state of delirium there was little she could do.
"So, you seem to have an admirer amongst us," the Klingon captor informed her as he held her tightly to him. "That's so sweet. Too bad. He'll just have to wait until I'm through with you."
Nikol'elle's feelings began to reach an insurmountable boil and Lyza's captor could clearly sense his disapproval. Still, the counselor continued to observe in silence allowing only a single tear to roll down his reddened cheek.
"Is it true what they say about human women?" The chief Klingon inquired with an evil grin inciting his fellow Klingons into a controlled frenzy.
The Klingons growled with triumph as a handful of the unoccupied captors commenced an impromptu inspection of the damaged travel pod. Petty Officer Bailey continued to witness the scene from hiding with phaser firmly in hand. The disgusted expression on Nikol'elle's face betrayed his true feelings for Lyza Allard and the young enlisted man sensed his torment. Not able to control his raging feelings of vengeance the Petty Officer sprang from the bushes in a blaze of phaser fire.
Caught off guard the Klingon landing party seized the remaining captives and opened fire on the enraged enlisted man. Nikol'elle and Stephan Erickson shouted for the others to stay calm and remain passive. Within seconds the incident was over and the motionless body of Petty Officer Bailey now rested in a rising cloud of dust in front of the bushes had only emerged from moments before.
In disgust the lead Klingon thrust the ailing female toward the others and spat at the ground. With a terse command the entire landing party gathered with drawn disruptors around the six remaining survivors. One of the captors with a black box in hand approached the lead Klingon and gave it to him. With an approving nod from the lead Klingon the lone captor returned to the others. The lead Klingon passed the box off to his lieutenant then pulled Nikol'elle out from the crowd and pointed his disruptor at his temple.
"Any more insubordination from among you and I start taking lives!" The lead Klingon shouted aloud and the other Klingons cheered wildly. The lead Klingon continued to address Nikol'elle in a whisper. "It looks as if this sad rabble considers you to be their leader. If you wish them no harm I suggest you tell them to obey my every directive."
Nikol'elle gulped and motioned for the remaining survivors to keep calm. "I think I speak for all of us that we wish to leave here alive. I then suggest all of us to stay calm and listen to our guests. If we go peacefully we will not be harmed."
"We must all act fast," the chief Klingon added. "A squadron of renegades are headed this way and we're in no condition for another fight."
Reluctantly, the others complied and were lead to the center of the encampment. There the lead Klingon uttered a brief command to beam up the group into his communicator. For an instant Nikol'elle glanced over to the limp body resting in front of the bushes and sighed. Moments later the entire party was consumed by individual bursts of light and then disappeared.
2295
Nikol'elle woke up. His head was still spinning but he was able to successfully sit up and survey his surroundings. He was in a guest suite on board a Federation starship. He hesitated then sat up on the edge of the bed. He noted that he was still wearing the uniform he picked up on the Tishisuatu. After a quick check to make sure everything was still intact he sighed and tried to stand up. Failing the first time he caught his breath and tried once more. Finally successful he thought about walking over to the computer terminal but instead his legs gave out and he collapsed back on the bed. It had been twenty years since he moved a muscle. Now it was payback time. Fortunately he didn't have to dwell on his condition for much longer.
With the ring of his door chime Nikol'elle averted his attention from himself to his visitor. "Come in," he spoke up with a little difficulty. It appeared that not just his muscles needed rehabilitation.
"Doctor Brackett informed me that you had regained consciousness," Captain Kriet mentioned as the door to Nikol'elle's suite swished open. Nikol'elle offered his friend a seat and Grin'elle promptly seated himself at his side. "So how are you feeling today?"
"Sluggish actually," Nikol'elle replied. "But that should wear off with time. I'm not exactly used to cryogenic stasis."
"Yes, I can understand that," Grin'elle agreed with him.
"I'm just glad to be back on the Yeager. Any Yeager."
"Well, this sure is a surprise for us," Grin'elle confessed.
"I'm sure you're wondering what I'm doing here."
Captain Kriet nodded. "The thought had crossed my mind."
"That's why I'm imploring to you as a fellow time traveler," Nikol'elle begged then paused briefly. "I wish I could tell you but I can't. At least not yet."
"When can you tell me?"
"I don't know," Nikol'elle answered with a shake of his head. "All I can say is that I need your help and Ty'elle's help. My Infinidrive is damaged and in need of repairs. It's the only way I can get back to the future."
"The future?" inquired Grin'elle. "What's going on in the future?"
"Again, I'd love to tell you all about it but I just can't. You do understand?"
Captain Kriet gave him an odd look but briefly nodded. "Still, from one time traveler to another, you do have my full interest in the situation."
"I'm sure that if you really wanted to know what I've been up to you would have found out by now," Nikol'elle commented. "If I know you like I always have I've got this feeling you really don't want to know what I'm up to. If I can guess correctly you just want me to pack my things and go."
"Look, Ty'elle..."
"I like to call myself Nikol'elle now. It helps to prevent confusion in most cases."
"Nikol'elle," Grin hesitated, "Whatever you're calling yourself, it doesn't matter to me. You're a temporal aberration in this timeframe. I should be content with you running all about the multiverse doing as you please but there is such a thing as tact."
"You're just jealous that you're still bound to your Starfleet duties," Nikol'elle guessed. "If it makes you feel any better so am I. That's why I have to fix the Infinidrive and get back to the future."
"Why should I help you?" Grin asked in a skeptical voice. "How do I know that you haven't gone and messed up the timestream again?"
"You're a time traveler! You would have noticed a change if I had altered past events."
"Answer my question. Why should I help you?"
"Grin," Nikol'elle answered, "because it wasn't my fault."
"Oh, so now it's not your fault!" Grin fumed in response. "I guess you're going to tell me that none of it was ever your fault."
"I'm not saying that," Nikol'elle defended himself as he shifted closer to him. "Honestly, Grin. It was not my fault. If you must know the ship I was traveling in was attacked. It was a natural survival instinct. I had no time to react so the Infinidrive reacted for me and I was time-shifted into the past. That's all I can say about it."
"I just don't know about that, Nikol'elle," Grin'elle confessed and Nikol'elle could sense his uncertainty.
"By doing nothing you will have helped me alter history," Nikol'elle informed him. "You know I don't belong here. Please, I just want to go home. Help me to fix the Infinidrive and I'll tell you more about it."
"Okay," Grin'elle agreed, "but we don't have much time. We are scheduled for a rendezvous at Starbase Twelve in three days."
"I should be gone by then. Besides," Nikol'elle added, "Ty'elle would probably be interested in some of my findings."
2275
"Two hundred years," Nikol'elle muttered to himself. "You would think that I should be comfortable with hanging out in jail cells by now."
"Nikol'elle," Lieutenant Commander Erickson commented on the observation of his fellow cellmate, "two days and you would think that I should be used to your voice. But I'm not."
Nikol'elle chuckled. "Let's just say that I'm used to situations like this. They have an odd way of working themselves out. I've never once questioned why."
The two noticed the others were taken full advantage of their captivity to catch up on some much needed rest. Nikol'elle thought that they all had the right idea but no matter how hard he tried he just could not manage it himself. Rest seemed so foreign to him now. He felt accustomed to the action and the unpredictability of the untamed universe. His time spent in the Fleet had spoiled him. He was allowing himself to grow soft and he hated himself for it.
"What are you thinking, Nikol'elle?" Stephen asked as he shuffled over and sat down beside him.
"I'm thinking of a way to get out of this cell."
"I wouldn't think about that too hard," spoke up the lone Klingon guard. "How about us making out a deal?"
In surprise Nikol'elle and Stephan Erickson glanced at each other with disbelief and then back at their captor.
"I'm serious. My name is K'totk," the Klingon whispered as the other two approached closer to him. "I'm with the Klingon States. We've been able to recruit supporters within the ranks and we are now prepared to take the ship."
"So?" asked Stephan skeptically. "What's it to us?"
"You help with the mutiny and we'll give you safe passage back to the Federation. It's the least we could do for you helping our cause."
The two Starfleet officers continued to stare back in disbelief.
"We know your ship was meant to rendezvous with our leaders at Jur-Zal Three. The loss of your vessel was an unfortunate blow to the cause but let us make it up to you now."
"But how?" Nikol'elle asked. "There are only six of us."
"Six of you, yes," the Klingon agreed. "But the supporters we have among the crew are much greater."
"How can we believe you? This might be a trap," Stephan pointed out.
"It very well could be but would you rather spend the rest of your lives in a Klingon penal colony?"
The two simultaneously shook their heads.
"Well then," the Klingon continued as he got up to unlock the jail cell, "I think we can get started. I know for a fact that the science vessel Shenandoah picked up your distress signal from the planet. When we finally take over the ship we can rendezvous with them. Sound okay to you?"
"Why are you doing this?" Nikol'elle finally inquired as Stephan proceeded to rouse the others.
"You've got to do what's right," the Klingon replied as he began supplying disruptors to the survivors.
Lyza looked up and gave Nikol'elle a nervous glance. "What's this all about, Nik?"
"We're taking over the ship," he answered as they proceeded over to the doorway.
The Klingon glared back at them. "Quiet back there or we'll miss the signal."
"What signal?" asked the doctor just as the ship rocked from an internal explosion.
"That signal," the Klingon answered as the door to the brig thrust open.
Outside in the corridor all hell had broken loose. Disruptor fire and smoke filled the hallway as the red emergency lights turned on. Wasting no time their Klingon guide motioned them in the direction of the bridge as they dodged and returned fire in the process. Stephan was grazed on the arm by a stray disruptor shot but signaled that he was okay. The group soon made it to a stairwell and their guide motioned them to join him. In moments they all were scrambling on their way to the bridge.
Upon the bridge a battle was raging for possession of the facility. Reports were coming in that the renegades had taken control of both engineering and the medical facilities and that reinforcements were being dispatched to the bridge. The crew loyal to their Captain raised a gallant defense but their ambitious adversary was proving to be victorious. A dozen fallen warriors littered the decks of the bridge when K'totk and his entourage burst onto the bridge to inflict the final blow to the Captain's attempt to retain control of his vessel.
"Captain Kargus!" exclaimed K'totk as his followers rounded up the Captain's remaining supporters. "You filth of the Empire! Your trail of treachery and dishonor sickens me! I spit on your ancestors grave! In the name of all free Klingons I condemn you and your vile lot to death!" With a careful aim and a steady shot K'totk then carried out his sentence by firing the fatal shot on the Captain. He breathed his last right before he came to a rest beside his command chair.
"The ship is ours!" K'totk declared as he motioned for the captives to be removed from the bridge. The triumphant renegades shared in a hearty victory cry before they set about the business of fixing the damage and removing the casualties. Nikol'elle, Stephan, Lyza and Doc huddled together giving thanks that, despite the loss of two of their fellow crewmates during the takeover, they were still alive.
"Set a new course for Jur-Zal," K'totk commanded as he excused himself from the celebrations of his comrades to check up on his supporters from the Federation. "Hail the Federation ship Shenandoah and inform them that we have rescued Starfleet personnel we wish to return to them."
"It's been a rough, long road," commented Stephan Erickson, "but it sure feels good to finally be heading home again."
"You all may be Earthers," K'totk added, "but on this day you fought like Klingons!"
"Sir!" exclaimed the bridge tactician. "Cruiser bearing down mark two twenty-five point nine seven."
"What is this?" K'totk inquired as he turned his attention toward the forward viewscreen. "Can you confirm their identity?"
"They've been dispatched by the High Command," the tactician noted as he glanced up from his displays.
"On whose order?"
"Captain Kargus," the tactician replied to his inquiry. "Shall I change course and retaliate, sir?"
"No!" K'totk ordered as he settled himself down in the command chair. "Continue on course to Jur-Zal. It's vital that we make it back to the States."
"Cruiser continuing to close," the tactician continued with his report, "powering up disruptors."
"Power to shields and disruptors!" K'totk commanded. "If we must fight we will fight! We've beaten them once. We will again!"
"Cruiser is firing."
"Return fire!" K'totk ordered with a clenched fist in the air.
The ship vibrated as the disruptor shot grazed off the bulkhead of the ship. K'totk motioned for his tactician to return fire. Not wanting to be left out Nikol'elle and the remaining Tishisuatu survivors manned the empty stations around the bridged. Nikol'elle admitted to himself that he really didn't know all that much about Klingon shipboard systems but they all looked the same to him anyway no matter who built them.
"Direct hit on the cruiser," the tactician reported. "Cruiser is maintaining speed."
The vessel rocked again from the impact of disruptor fire. The cruiser was gaining on them and Nikol'elle crossed his fingers for luck. He may have been a time traveler but even seasoned time travelers had learned the advantages of being lucky. If they were ever to return to Federation space and if he was ever to return to his rightful time he knew that he was going to have to rely on more than his fair share of luck.
"Direct hit decks five and six."
"Incoming message from the Federation science vessel Shenandoah," the crewman manning the communications station informed them as another disruptor impact jolted most of them from their seats. "They confirm our distress signal and they are diverting their course to rendezvous."
"Inform them that we are under attack by ships of the Klingon Empire," K'totk ordered as he watched another disruptor shot approach closer on the forward view screen.
"I didn't sign up for this kind of abuse," Doc mentioned as he continued to check on the injured members of the bridge crew.
"How far away is the Shenandoah?" K'totk inquired as he turned his attention from the view screen to his tactician.
"They'll be within range in about three minutes," the tactician replied.
"Adjusting course to compensate," reported the helmsman.
"Shields down fifty percent," the tactician added as K'totk thumped at his chair in disgust.
"I refuse to be beaten!" he exclaimed as he rose from his chair to face his bridge crew. "We haven't come this far to be defeated! Our cause is just and right! We must prevail!"
Again the ship shuddered from the impact of disruptor fire.
"Shields down to thirty percent. We're losing power to weapons."
"Dammit!" Exclaimed K'totk. "Divert power to shields."
"Shenandoah within range."
"Inform them of our condition," ordered K'totk as he seated himself to recollect his thoughts.
"Communications are breaking up, sir."
"What do you mean communications are breaking up?" inquired Captain Gherman to his communications officer.
"Just as I said, sir. We've lost audio contact with the renegade Klingon vessel."
"Give me a condition of the ship and crew," the captain ordered as his science officer took a quick scan of his readouts.
"Ship's power is failing," he reported. "Shields are down to fifteen percent. I'm detecting fifteen life signs."
"Should we power up the shields, Captain?"
"Not yet," Captain Gherman responded as he turned back to his science officer. "Recommendations on beaming them out?"
"The sooner the better. One minute until the hostile cruiser is within range."
"Let's do it then," ordered the Captain. "Lock on life signs and beam them out."
"Aye, sir. Beaming now."
"Report," the Captain commanded.
"Procedure complete, sir. We've successfully transferred twelve. Four humans and eight Klingons."
"Good! Full power to shields. Prep photorps. Fire on my mark."
In the center of the main viewscreen a brilliant fireball erupted and expanded causing the bridge crew to avert their eyes. When the screen cleared two more cruisers had materialized to join their wounded sister vessel against the Shenandoah.
"Evasive maneuvers! All hands to battle stations! Fire at will!" Captain Gherman ordered to his crew as the first disruptor shots impacted against the ship. "Let's get the hell out of here."
"If it's not one damn battle it's another!" exclaimed Nikol'elle as he bounded off the transporter pad and lent a hand to help Lyza down as well.
"Are we ever going to get back to Federation space?" inquired Lyza as she searched for answers in Nikol'elle's eyes.
"I don't know," Nikol'elle replied as the transporter room shuddered about them. "I just don't know anymore."
Once more the ship rocked violently as Lyza and Nikol'elle grabbed hold of each other for support. For a brief moment time stood still as the two officers enjoyed their embrace amid the clamor and confusion of the transporter room under battle conditions.
"We'd better vacate," Nikol'elle suggested to Lyza as he tried to head for the door but she prevented him from doing so.
"What for?" she asked in a daze. She seemed utterly overwhelmed by recent events. Nikol'elle only felt that her reaction was totally understandable. For the past couple days her existence consisted of close escapes, exploding ships, heated combat and very real uncertainties. If he hadn't been exposed to such conditions on a regular basis over the past two hundred years he would have felt the same way. To be totally honest he felt the same way anyway.
"We must carry on!" he exclaimed not wanting to startle her but the very fact that at any moment the ship could be destroyed only added a sense of urgency to their current situation. "We have to get out of here. A science vessel like this isn't supposed to last long under our conditions."
"Where are we going to go? To the hangar deck again?"
"Too risky," Nikol'elle informed her. "There's more than one vessel out there. You can tell by the frequency of the shots so we haven't got much time. Also the shuttles are too large. They'd make for great targets."
"What other options are there?" Lyza inquired with impatience as the ship continued to vibrate from the continual disruptor impacts.
"The probe launchers," Nikol'elle answered trying to comfort her as he lead her out into the corridor. "I don't have time to explain."
"The others!" Lyza exclaimed as she kept looking back over her shoulder despite the continual shuddering. "We need to get the others!"
"There's no time, Lyza. Believe me I'd like to have them come along but they'll just have to fend for themselves."
Minutes later the two had found their way down to the probe launching bays just as the Captain had given the order to abandon ship. Searching around for the right probes Nikol'elle disappeared into a store room leaving Lyza all alone. In a panic Lyza began searching for him with no success. Moments later Nikol'elle reappeared with two probes. Overwhelmed with both fear and joy Lyza wrapped herself around him almost knocking him against the bulkhead.
"What's this?" Nikol'elle asked as he looked down at her with concern.
"Who are you!?" Lyza questioned with wide, demanding eyes.
"You know who I am," Nikol'elle replied as he pointed over to the probes. "Now get in there."
"No! Not until you tell me who you really are."
"We haven't got time for this, Lyza. Now get in the cryoprobe."
Lyza refused to budge despite their immediate need for urgency. The ship lurched once more flinging Lyza once more into Nikol'elle's arms.
"Please," Lyza begged of him, "I need to know."
Nikol'elle hesitated then gave her a supportive hug. "As I said you already know who I am."
Lyza looked up and their eyes met once more. "Ty'elle?"
Nikol'elle smiled and Lyza smiled in return. "We haven't got much time left."
"Then we'd better load these babies and get the hell out of here," Lyza suggested with a wink.
After placing the two probes on the loading ramps Nikol'elle dashed over to the control panels and activated the probe launcher's auto launch sequences. With a confident smile he then escorted Lyza over to her cryoprobe and helped her get in.
"To be honest I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing," Nikol'elle admitted but Lyza continued to smile reassuringly.
"I'm so glad we could be together one last time," she commented as they looked into each others eyes one last time. The ship shuddered once more. Lyza, sensing the time slipping away, leaned closer to Nikol'elle and his heat soared. For a brief moment in hell the two enjoyed one final parting kiss.
"So am I. We will be together again someday," Nikol'elle reassured he as he closed the lid on her cryoprobe and proceeded to settle himself into his own probe. "That's a promise."
The seconds continued to count down as Nikol'elle could feel a numbing sensation overwhelming his entire body. At first he felt anxious and doubtful but he countered them by thinking of Lyza. Finally, he welcomed the strange yet comforting sensations he now experienced both physically and emotionally. It had been decades since he felt anything quite like it and he smiled to himself. He found himself slipping into a blissful unconsciousness as the life support system of the mark three cryogenic stasis probe took full control of his bodily functions.
With one last jolt the Shenandoah released two unscheduled probes then exploded in a magnificent burst of light.
2295
"That's why we have to go back," Nikol'elle continued to explain as he rose from his chair. "The second probe must be found."
Ty'elle Dujhar stared up at his alternate self in disbelief. "Repairing the Infinidrive is one thing but this?"
"I know it sounds amazing but you have to believe it was not my fault."
"This is incredible!" Ty'elle exclaimed as he get up and walked over to Nikol'elle, "So Lyza is out there somewhere."
"I would believe so," Nikol'elle stated as he turned to view the passing starfield outside the window. "Our locations were very close and we were sent on the same trajectories. If my probe wasn't disturbed until now there should be no reason why hers should have been."
Ty'elle just continued to stand and shake his head. "You know I visited the planet recently."
"I'm aware of that," Nikol'elle responded with a nod. "If I had known I was one of the survivors of the disaster I would have let you know about it."
"To think that all this has happened because of an accident," Ty'elle stated with fascination. "To just imagine that the Infinidrive would develop a primitive intelligence. That it would be able to sense danger and react to it."
"Believe me," Nikol'elle added, "it surprised the hell out of me, too."
"But," Ty'elle inquired hesitating in thought for a moment, "by helping out Lyza weren't you also altering the timeline?"
Nikol'elle shook his head. "I'm not entirely certain but from what I've seen while I've been here it would suggest that little if anything at all was altered."
"You come from the future, right?" Ty'elle pointed out.
Nikol'elle nodded in agreement.
"Wouldn't you have found out by now if we do find Lyza's probe or not?"
Nikol'elle was caught off guard by Ty'elle's inquiry. "I suppose that you're expecting the truth."
"If we can't trust ourself who can we trust?"
"To be totally honest, Ty'elle, you never told me if she was ever found," Nikol'elle answered giving him a long, hard stare hoping that he would grasp the full meaning of his words. "And you never will."
"Nik," Ty'elle responded, "I don't think I understand."
"No, my brother, I think you do understand," Nikol'elle corrected him as he glanced back out at the passing stars. "Let's just say that despite our coexistence we've grown apart in our later years."
"Lyza, alive, in a cryogenic stasis probe," Ty'elle muttered to himself trying to get used to the idea. "It still sounds far fetched but I'll inform the Captain. Meanwhile, feel free to use the facilities."
"Once again," Nikol'elle added, "you and Grin'elle have my deepest thanks."
Ty'elle paused midway toward the door then turned about to face Nikol'elle. "If what you say is true then you've got my thanks as well." With a smile Ty'elle continued on his way and the door swished open.
"Oh," Nikol'elle added before Ty'elle left the room, "You wouldn't mind letting be borrow some civilian clothing, would you? I'm feeling a bit anachronistic today."
Ty'elle returned a friendly nod and walked out into the corridor leaving Nikol'elle alone to work on his drive in silence.
"So there was a second cryoprobe launched from the Shenandoah," Captain Kriet responded to the latest news from his communications officer. "You know we only have twenty-four hours to search for it."
"Twenty-four hours should be all that we need," Ty'elle assured him. "If what Nikol'elle has said is true can you think of the consequences?"
"Yes, I can," Grin'elle replied leaned in closer to Ty'elle, "but can you?"
Ty'elle found himself lost in thought at his commanding officer's comment. "I only know that she is alive and well in a probe somewhere out there."
"But think about that, Ty'elle," Grin stated as he turned to look at the forward viewscreen. "But are you ready to see her again? Will she be ready to see you again?"
"After all these years?" Ty'elle responded enthusiastically. "I've been waiting half my life for this opportunity!"
"Ty'elle," the Captain informed him, "if we do find her she'll still be twenty-five."
"Grin, you should be the last person in this universe concerned about the age difference."
"It's deeper than that, Ty'elle," he continued. "She's still living in the seventies. There are twenty years of progress and memories separating you two. Are you sure you still want to do this?"
"It's not for me to decide," Ty'elle answered. "I promised her that no matter the circumstances I would bring her home again."
Grin gave him a reassuring nod then turned his attention to his helmsman. "Commander, plot a course for Jur-Zal and proceed at warp five."
"Aye, sir," she replied as Ty'elle got up to check on Nikol'elle's progress.
"Would you believe that it was nothing more than just a dead battery?"
Ty'elle shook his head.
"I wouldn't have either but it was," Nikol'elle continued his assessment. "It must have drained following that initial emergency time shift."
"So what did you do about it?"
"I contacted Ensign Smithers and he supplied me with an extended life tricorder battery," Nikol'elle replied with a smile. "He says the Captain ordered tons of 'em."
"No," Ty'elle corrected. "I meant while you were back then."
"What could I do? I had no idea what the problem was and it was only a matter of minutes until the ship was scheduled to blow up. Besides, these batteries hadn't been designed yet so it's not like I could do something even if I knew it was only a dead battery."
"Oh," Ty'elle responded with nod, "I'm sure you would have come up with something."
"I thought I did pretty well considering the situation," Nikol'elle commented confidently.
"That you did. In case you're wondering we haven't been able to detect the second probe yet but Grin says that we'll keep up the search 'til the very end."
"Well then," Nikol'elle mentioned as he glanced once more out at the stationary starscape, "I'll be leaving you to your work."
"Aren't you at all interested if we find her?"
Nikol'elle gave his alternate self another hard stare. "That's just it. I'm not supposed to find out. Remember what I told you."
"But she was just as part of your life as mine," Ty'elle informed him as Nikol'elle returned his attention back to the stars.
"Look, Ty'elle, I did my part. Now it's up to you to do yours."
"But this is Lyza we're talking about," Ty'elle pleaded.
"I know," Nikol'elle agreed glancing back at Ty'elle, "but if there is one thing I have learned from those two hundred years worth of memories it's that she will always mean more to you than she does to me."
Ty'elle returned a puzzled look.
"I know you don't understand but you also haven't experienced most of what I have. It's not a pretty multiverse and I haven't exactly been kind to it either. Still, despite all the hell there is a little paradise for us all. Lyza may be your paradise but, despite how much I do care for her, she's no longer mine."
The two shared a brief silent moment together.
"Now when you find her you take care of her and take care of yourself," Nikol'elle mentioned as he gave Ty'elle a pat on the shoulder. "I'll be back soon enough."
"When?" Ty'elle inquired. "When will you be back or is that a secret, too?"
Nikol'elle thought for a moment. "How does 2343 sound to you?"
"I don't know," Ty'elle replied with a puzzled expression. "How should it sound?"
"See you around, Admiral," Nikol'elle stated with a smile as he disappeared leaving Ty'elle alone to contemplate the future.
2370
In an empty cargo hold on Deep Space Nine the shape of a time traveler took solid form. With a shake of his head the figure then took in a quick scan of his surroundings. After confirming that he had arrived at his destination all in one piece Nikol'elle headed for the doorway and stepped out into an desolate corridor.
"Sorry for the interruption, Commander," Captain Marshall commented as he glanced up at his bridge crew, "but we felt it necessary to make a personal visit."
"That's quite all right, Captain," the voice from the communications link continued. "Your ship's presence at the station is reassuring considering the recent incident with the Black Talon. I hope that you and your crew enjoy your stay."
"Yes," the Captain agreed, "I believe that the crew could use a little R & R but I hope that your services don't completely spoil them."
The voice over the comm-link chuckled. "And that coming from the captain of a Nebula Class Starship."
"You wouldn't believe the hardships we go through," Captain Marshall added with a laugh. "We'll be docking shortly. See you then. Marshall out."
"We're cleared for mooring," reported the helmsman as the captain gave her an encouraging nod.
"Proceed," he ordered, "but don't get your hopes up. Remember, business before pleasure."
"Captain!" Exclaimed the bridge communications officer. "I've got a low clearance message coming in from the station."
"Identify," Captain Marshal commanded.
"It's from Counselor Dujhar."
"What?!?" The Captain's full attention was now directed to the communications officer. "Can you confirm that?"
"That's what the speaker claims, sir. Shall I patch it through?"
"Yes, by all means," Captain Marshall responded as he approached the communications station.
"Yeager, please respond," came a muffled voice the comm-link. "Yeager, this is Captain Nikol'elle Al'jurhaiad-Dujhar. Please respond..."
"Counselor," the Captain spoke up in surprise, "is that you?"
"It is," the voice replied with an audibly heavy sigh.
"How?" inquired the Captain. "Weren't you on the Hamlin?"
"Apparently the Black Talon thought so or they wouldn't have targeted the runabout."
"Explain," the Captain instructed.
"The Black Talon knows I've been involved with the negotiations," Nikol'elle replied. "I've received numerous anonymous death threats over the course of the talks. I was worried."
"So you sought shelter at the station?"
"It's a long story, Captain," Nikol'elle paused to collect his thoughts. "I felt that it would be better for me to stay behind until you dropped by to pick me up personally."
"You had us all worried," the Captain barked with an unsettling expression. "Why did you not inform the authorities about all this?"
"I had no time," Nikol'elle explained. "As I said it's a long story."
Silence.
"Can I come back now?"
"After what you've put us all through?" Captain Marshall let out a long sigh and shook his head. "I'll have to get back to you on that one. In the mean time I suggest that you enjoy your stay on the station for a little while longer."
"Aye, sir, and thanks. " Nikol'elle responded with a smile to himself. "It feels good to be home again."
* * *
NOTE: This story comes after a story tentatively called "The Mark of The Talon" which deals more directly with the Black Talon and the events leading up to the renewed negotiations between the Federation and the Cardassian Union held at Deep Space Nine. When I learn more about the crew of Yeager 6 then I'll probably sit down and write the story. If I can gather the courage to do so.