CHAPTER ELEVEN

                "Hit, port nacelle. Shields holding, but weakening," Ckekov reported.

                "Shield strength?," Riker asked.

                "Seventy-six percent of normal."

                Picard grimaced. They had arrived at Deep Space Nine almost simultaneously to the Cardassian attack force. Picard had no time to confer with the other Enterprise Captains or Sisko before the enemy engaged his ship in battle.

                Garrett had engaged two warships and was taking a beating. However, she was dishing it out as well. Both Cardassian vessels had substantial damage. The battle continued.

                Two warships were engaging the station. Pike was keeping within range of DS9, apparently trying to make use

of the station's mass and shield formation to enhance his own defenses. The original Enterprise had a nasty disrupter scar blazed across her main hull. The image shook Picard, for some reason. Like a classic woman who had been raped.

                As for his Enterprise-A, a fifth Cardassian ship had broken away from the station to engage them on arrival. The warship had just taken the first shot.

                Picard stood and walked toward the conn. "Lock all weapons on target. Full spread on my mark."

                The Cardassian was coming around, bringing her forward disrupters to bear.

                "Fire."

                Chekov's fingers flew across his board. Streams and balls of energy leapt from the Enterprise's weapon emitters, striking the warship. Picard's jaw dropped when the ship imploded.

                "We got him, Sir." Chekov exclaimed, fists clenched in victory.

                Picard walked backwards to his chair, eyes never leaving the collapsing remnants of the Cardassian.

                Riker grabbed him on the shoulder, a look of shock on his face as well, "I guess the old folktale about Kirk and

his Enterprise are true."

                Picard nodded, "Fortunately for us, Number One. Commander Uhura, raise Captains Pike and Garret and Commander Sisko. Inform them of our arrival. Commander Chekov, let's give Enterprise-C a hand, shall we."

                "Setting a course, Sir."

                "Time to impact."

                Worf didn't hesitate, "Fifteen seconds."

                Kirk gripped his seat arms. "Mr. Data, prepare to swing us into orbit as soon as we get the first glimmer of Organia's bearings."

                "Aye, Sir."

                Kirk smiled, his experience with androids had not been pleasant, but he was glad to have one at the helm today. With his computer speed, Data was their best bet for not impacting on the surface.

                Suddenly the ship buffeted hard, "Report," Kirk called.

                "The pocket's outer sleeve, as it were," Q said.

                "Status."

                Spock scanned, now thoroughly familiar with Enterprise-D's science stations. "Still no sign ... Organia, we have just entered the outer atmosphere."

                The buffeting drastically increased. The automatic red alert activated.

                "Mr. Data," Kirk yelled over the noise.

                "Orbital heading laid in, Sir. Adjusting course now. I have activated reverse thrusters and impulse engines to slow our decent."

                "Outer hull temperature up 39 degrees," La Forge reported from engineering.

                "Structural integrity field weakening," Spock said.

                "Our course is leveling," Data said. The shaking lessened, "We are in atmospheric orbit, upper stratosphere."

                "Spock," Kirk turned to his first officer.

                The Vulcan was consulting his computers, "We can maintain this orbit for approximately five hours before the strain on the shields and SIF will pose a threat to the ship."

                "Can we get any higher?"

                "Not without risking entering the pocket."

                Kirk shrugged, "Very well, we've got a job to do and very little time to accomplish it. Spock, do you have the coordinates to the Organian Council Rooms."

                "Affirmative."

                "Mr. Spock, contact Dr. Crusher and Counselor Troi. Have them meet us in the transporter room. You, Mr. Worf,

and Q with me. Mr. Data, you have the conn."

                "Aye, Sir," Data said.

                Q sidled up to Kirk, "Good choice, Mon new capitan."

                Kirk shot Q a dagger-like glance, "Don't make me regret it."

                Q shot Kirk a 'What, little old me?' look and they all entered the turbolift, to Organia.

                "We're ....ing ....ood ...fight," The crackle from the ship-to-ship pierced Enterprise-A's bridge. Garrett was an excellent tactician, it seemed. Of the two warships engaging her, one was apparently crippled, while the other continued to blast away at the near-crippled Enterprise-C.

                Picard paced the bridge, "Lock phasers on the active Cardassian. Commander Uhura, signal Captain Garrett. Tell her she's got pleasant company now."

                Uhura smiled and turned to her station.

                Riker looked over Chekov's shoulder, "Cardassian in range... now."

                "Confirmed," Chekov responded, "Phasers locked."

                "Fire," Picard ordered.

                Again, beams of death leapt from the starship, chopping into the Cardassian.

                The Castle rose from the mist, just as Kirk remembered. The coordinates were the same as years ago. Before, people wearing robes and sandals walking the dirt street they materialized on, oblivious to the technology witnessed. The elderly man approached the party, "Welcome..." Now.

                Kirk stared at the old man.

                "You!," Q barked as he lunged.

                The heat of explosion burned the back of Picard's neck. The Cardassian had successfully returned fire. The lieutenant at the burning science station was down. Riker leapt to assist. "Medical emergency, to the bridge," Number One declared.

                "On my way," McCoy replied.

                "Status," Picard asked.

                Chekov's hands flew. "Shields penetrated, main connection struts. Latching integrity system damaged."

                Picard thought back to his academy days. Enterprise-A had the ability for saucer separation, although he couldn't remember when -- if -- it was ever used. But, at least it presented another option. "Engineering, firm up the shields. Priority one."

                "I'm doin' all I c'n for ya'. She's packin' quite a wallop," Scott responded over the intercom.

                "Shields firming," Chekov reported as McCoy entered the bridge.

                "It's time to hit back," Riker said as he stepped down to give the doctor space to work.

                "I concur," Picard replied as he stepped toward the main viewer again. The Cardassian swung back into their crosshairs. "Fire!"

                Worf had Q by the throat. "Do not struggle!," The Klingon growled, "If you know what's good for you."

                Ayelborne ignored this, turning to face Kirk and Spock. "Your presence is a surprise, Captain. I thought we had

asked to be left alone at our last encounter."

                Kirk winced, "Circumstances warranted our return."

                "Indeed," Ayelborne replied. "Curious. Perhaps, then, we should adjourn to the council room." He swung his arm

toward the castle.

                "It's a trap!," Q gurgled through Worf's clenched grasp. "Damn you, Klingon." Q jabbed Worf in the ribs ... hard. The Klingon surprisingly stumbled back, releasing the entity.

                Crusher turned to tend Worf, who clutched his chest.

                Troi grabbed Q's wrist, "I sense no deception, Q."

                Q smiled, "You are way out of your league, Counselor."

                Crusher turned to Q, "Two of Worf's ribs are cracked."

                "Serves him right," the entity replied.

                "Enough!," Kirk called out. "Doctor, tend to him. Q, explain yourself."

                "He was being a brute..."

                "No," Kirk stepped menacingly toward Q. "About the 'trap'."

                Ayelborne stood by, face unwavering, as Q began, "He is Ayelborne. He tried to stop us too many times, now we are standing here defenseless. Isn't it obvious, Kirk? he has us right where he wants us."

                "I disagree," Spock finally spoke.

                "Oh, really."

                "Yes, Q. As you said, this planet is locked in a temporal pocket..."

                Ayelborne gasped suddenly, "Temporal pocket, you know of such things?"

                Kirk stepped forward, "Organia is locked within one right now."

                "Impossible. We would know... Come, to the council. I must speak with Trefayne." And he turned and started walking.

                Q grabbed Kirk's arm, "You're making a big mistake, Kirk. Strike him down, now."

                "Assuming I could, which I won't, where'd that leave us, Q? Still no Earth, still no continuum. Besides, I believe you're wrong."

                Kirk and the party started following the Organian.

                "Isn't this fun...," Q said as he followed Kirk, with Worf behind him. "Can't take a little ribbing, Microbrain...?"