CHAPTER EIGHT
"Ask it the right question, or else. I didn't nick-name it the Blabberer of Forever for nothing," Q smiled, and shot Worf, who still held him, a menacing glance, "I hope you're enjoying that arm while you can, Klingon."
Looming before the six men was one of the most ominous encounters in Federation history, the Guardian of Forever. Kirk swallowed unconsciously. "Let's get on with it."
Spock nodded, "Guardian, this is Spock from the Federation Starship Enterprise. Do you remember us?"
"I RECOGNIZE THREE WHO STAND BEFORE ME. TWO FROM TRAVEL AND ONE FROM THE BEGINNING." The voice seemed to emanate from everywhere at once.
The officers turned and looked at Q.
Q smiled and pulled himself free from Worf. "See, see. Didn't believe me, did you? Well, from now on I certainly
expect..."
"Guardian," Kirk said cutting Q off. "Can you show us the history of my home planet?"
"BEHOLD"
The center of the vortex filled with mist and phantom images appeared. Images of a molten world, suddenly cooling. Reds gave way to blues. The smallest of creatures became the largest.
Q yawned, "Seen it, been there."
"Quiet, Q." Picard said, his eyes however remained transfixed to the center of the time vortex.
"Analysis, Data," Riker said in a whisper.
"We are seeing the birth of Earth. Moving through the ages of history. Jurassic, Cretaceous, Triassic ages."
"Dinosaurs," Riker said.
"Correct, Sir. We are now moving beyond into the Paleolithic era. Old Earth calendar, approximately 500,000
B.C."
"Amazing," Picard said.
"Spock," Kirk said looking at his science officer, concentrating on his tricorder. "Does this jive with your
original Guardian recordings?"
"Yes, Sir."
Picard turned to his science officer, "Data, does the Guardian's images match actual Earth history."
"Yes, Sir."
Kirk and Picard glanced at each other and then returned their gazes to the Guardian. Images of cave drawings and early humanity.
"Neolithic Age," Data said. "7,000 B.C."
Suddenly a flash appeared and filled the center of the vortex, forcing everyone except Data and Q to shield their
eyes. When they were able to look again, the Guardian was inactive.
"THE HISTORY OF YOUR WORLD HAS PLAYED ITS COURSE."
"What?," Riker and Kirk said together.
"Guardian," Spock said taking a step forward. "This is not correct. You say you remember us from traveling before. We traveled in an era much later than the one just concluded."
"HISTORY HAS BEEN RESTORED. THE PLANET EARTH'S HISTORY IS AS IT WAS BEFORE."
Kirk smiled for a moment until he realized that the situation was not good. The Guardian actually thought that Earth history was supposed to end with the Neolithic Age. Somehow, the entity that had destroyed humanity had also affected the Guardian. "Suggestions," he said turning to the others.
"We must try to restore history," Picard replied. "And this seems to be our best option."
"The Guardian appears to have been altered along with the universe around us," Spock said. "It doesn't seem to have a recollection of the previous history. However, whatever occurred apparently did so in Earth's Neolithic Period."
"We have to stop it," Riker said.
"Oh, right," Q replied. "Let's just go get our phasers, tricorders, and universal translators and get the entity that took out the continuum and destroyed humanity. Good idea, Riker."
"I don't see another choice," Picard said.
"Neither do I," Kirk said.
"There is the question of where to travel," Data said. "Assuming the entity was on Earth during the Neolithic Period, how do we get close enough to encounter it?"
Spock nodded. "We have to assume that even in its altered state, time still retains the equivalency of a river, with eddies and backwash. The same flow that pulled the entity from our time to Neolithic Earth will bring us there as well."
"Everyone ready," Kirk asked.
"No," Q said. Worf squeezed his shoulder. "Uhh ... Yes."
"Stand by." Kirk turned back to the vortex. "Guardian, Can you show us Earth's history again?"
"BEHOLD."
"They're definitely coming."
"Very well, Mr. O'Brien," Sisko said from behind his desk in the office above Ops. "How long do we have?"
"Twenty hours until the Cardies bring their weapons to bear."
"Send a signal recalling the Rio Grande, and get me Captains Pike and Garrett."
"Yes, Sir."
O'Brien left the office. And suddenly an image filled Sisko's mind: Jennifer's lifeless body beneath the rubble of their quarters on the U.S.S. Saratoga, minutes before the Borg destroyed her and the majority of Starfleet at Wolf 359. A hopeless battle.
Captain Pike sat in his command chair looking at the split screen images of Benjamin Sisko and Rachel Garrett. "I disagree with recalling the runabout. We have twenty hours. Let's use them."
"I will not have my crew returning in the middle of a firefight with the Cardassians," Sisko said.
"Our crews, Commander. I have my Number One and science officer down there as well. They just landed on Bajor. We need to give them time to accomplish something."
Garrett was nodding. "If they can do any good we need to give them the chance."
Sisko's face hardened. "Very well, but I want them back in our protection before the attack force arrives."
Pike smirked, "I don't think anyone would disagree with that." 'Even though a twenty-fourth century runabout may be nearly as well equipped as my Enterprise in this battle,' he thought.
"The Vedek Assembly complex is due north, 1000 meters." Kira said glancing at her tricorder.
The crew disembarked from the Rio Grande onto the lush ground. Number One analyzed her tricorder readings, "Major, didn't you say the assembly consisted of 112 members?"
"Yes."
"The tricorder's life indicators show..."
"Yes, I know, I know!" Kira called out.
"...considerably less," she finished.
Dax frowned and looked at her friend, then called back to the group. "Red alert everyone. Let's stay on our toes."
Spock raised an eyebrow and fell into step behind his commanding officer. Everyone had their phasers drawn. The procession headed north into the unknown.
"Once more unto the breach, dear friends...," Kirk said as the team leaped through the Guardian.
The winds changed, the ground changed, the sound changed.
Out of nowhere, "Henry V. Act Three, Scene One," an android and a Vulcan said in unison on Earth in 7,000 B.C.
"Is everyone okay?," Picard asked.
"Please, Daddy? Can we do it again?," Q replied.
"Tricorder," Kirk said.
Data and Spock didn't need to be told. They were busy with their devices.
"At least we skipped that period where everything smells like sulfur, Whew." Q said, crinkling his nose.
Spock and Data conferred momentarily and then Spock turned to the group. "All readings seem to indicate we are in the Neolithic Era of Earth History."
"Something's coming," Q said a bit nervously. "Phasers ready."
Picard shot a look at him. Then glanced at the science officers. "Anything?"
Data looked at his tricorder. "An animal lifeform, I believe it's..."
"A dog," Kirk said as a large dog, very similar to a gray wolf, came into view, tail wagging As it approached the party it lowered its head. "Seems friendly enough."
"At this time in history," Data said. "Humans began domesticating animals, including canines."
Picard moved toward it when it suddenly barked and turned back the way it came, turning its head toward the group and then started walking quickly away from them.
"Come on," Picard said and followed after the animal, with the others close behind.
Q started to complain, but shut up when Worf growled at him.
"Too bad they never learned how to domesticate on the Klingon Homeworld."
The once-beautiful Vedek Gardens were overgrown with weeds. It pained Kira to see it like this. She was nearly tempted to get down on her hands and knees and begin to clean the place up. But, there was more important things to accomplish.
"Life forms are emanating from the building beyond," Spock said pointing to the monastery beyond the growth.
Kira swallowed. "Let's go." She moved forward accompanied by the security officers and Spock.
Number One touched Dax's arm. "Lieutenant, a word please."
"Of course."
"Major Kira obviously has close personal feelings toward this place. Do you think she can handle herself if events continue to take a bad turn?"
"Commander," Dax replied. "Kira Nerys has been fighting for her life and the lives of her fellow Bajorans since she was 12 years old. Granted she is devoutly religious and therefore has strong ties to the Vedek Assembly and what they stand for, but have no doubts. She will do her job to restore Bajor, the Federation, and the universe, if possible."
"If she incurs such loyalty in one who has lived as long and seen as much as you have, Dax, I will trust her, too." Number One pointed toward the building. "Shall we go?"
The monastery was in shambles. Stained glass windows were smashed. Rubble was strewn everywhere. Kira trudged through it, face steeled ahead, all business. "Life forms?"
"The next room," Spock replied.
Just then, a painful groan emerged from the indicated doorway. Kira's heart clenched and she ran into the room.
A man knelt on the floor, head down, facing a charred painting of one of the Tears of the Prophets. He mumbled to himself.
Kira walked up next to him, unwilling to interfere with his prayers. Then, the man looked up at her. Kira's heart
fell further. "Vedek ... Vedek Bareil?"
A shadow of confusion crossed the man's face. His voice was weak and cracked, "Do I know you, child?"
'May the Prophets help me,' she thought. "My name is Kira Nerys. I am ... a freedom fighter. These people are my associates."
The man who she respected, who meant so much to her religiously and otherwise looked up at her hauntingly. Fear touched his eyes, "Run, Kira. All of you. Save yourselves before he returns. Hurry."
The dog lead the team to a young woman, trapped beneath a fallen tree. The animal went to her, licking her hand. She stirred and reached weakly for the dog's snout. Then, she caught glimpse of the six strangers and snarled, terror in her eyes.
"We must get that tree off her," Riker said.
Data and Spock were there immediately, lifting the broken trunk off the frightened primitive, ignoring the crying and snarling.
"You really couldn't communicate too well at this point in history," Q said to no one in particular. "Thank goodness you had the animals to help."
The women, once freed struggled to her feet and started limping away as quickly as possible, looking back a few times with fear and horror in her eyes. The dog followed.
"What could have frightened her so much?," Riker said.
"Ever look at Worf?," Q asked.
Riker nodded.
Picard smirked, "Yes, of course. How soon we forget?"
Q turned suddenly, a look crossed his face like none Picard had seen before, "Or maybe not..."
Kira reached down and took Bareil by the arm. "You are coming with us."
The Vedek struggled against her grasp, "No, please, child. I am sworn to protect the Monastery."
Confusion crossed the Major's face, "Who did this?"
Suddenly her communicator beeped, "Kira here."
"Major, this is Lieutenant Long. I think you and the others better get out..." Static and silence.
"Too late," Bareil cried.
Kira, Dax, Spock and Number One ran to the security officers' location.
They were greeted by a bearded, gray-haired, elderly humanoid in flowing, black robes. His black eyes were wild with mania.
They were greeted by hideous laughter.
Q's voice shook. "Who are you?"
The others turned to see a bearded, gray-haired, elderly humanoid in flowing, black robes. His black eyes were wild with mania.
The others heard his hideous laughter.
Kirk and Spock stepped forward.
The Captain's mouth went dry. "Ayelborne."