CHAPTER FIFTEEN

                "Jim."

                The serenity of unconsciousness shattered around the Captain. Dizziness and nausea replaced the peace. Kirk struggled to identify the voice, it seemed like eons since he heard anything. "...Bones?"

                McCoy stood up, away from his friend. "He'll be alright, thank goodness." He mentally thanked Dr. Bashir for keeping a well-stocked infirmary on Deep Space Nine, since most of the crews of each Enterprise were beamed aboard the station after the conscious Captains deemed DS9 the sturdiest place to be after the evil Ayelborne's sudden reappearance.

                "That is agreeable, since we will need him for our endeavor," Ayelborne said.

                "I am still unclear as to what this endeavor will accomplish," Jean-Luc Picard said. He stood over Kirk, brow furrowed with concern.

                Q shook his head, "You know, Jean-Luc. Sometimes you can be so daft. Oh, well. Believe it or not, Ayelborne and I agree that you will be required as well."

                "Bones...," Kirk said weakly, trying to push himself onto his elbows.

                "Now, Jim. Be careful. You're not ready to be going after bad guys quite yet."

                "Bad guys... Ayelborne."

                Spock stepped into his Captain's view, "The 'evil' Ayelborne is contained for the moment, Sir. You can take a few minutes to recuperate."

                "Recuperate from what?"

                Picard stepped forward, "The Organian council members caught our opponent by surprise when they suddenly separated from Q. However, the ensuing conflict was engaged just beyond Enterprise-D's shield perimeter. The ship was moderately damaged and you were knocked unconscious."

                Kirk sat up completely and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He now could see everyone in the room, standing toward the back of the infirmary were Scotty, Uhura, and Chekov. They smiled at Kirk. Kirk nodded back, then looked at Picard. "Casualties?"

                "Surprisingly minimal," Picard said. "And the ship is under repair. LaForge says she will be fully operational within hours."

                "Scotty," Kirk said.

                "Sair," the engineer replied stepping forward.

                "Please assist Commander LaForge."

                "Aye, Sair. It's good to have you back, Captain."

                Kirk nodded and slowly stood up. Picard grabbed his arm to steady him. "She's a fine ship," Kirk smiled, "And a good crew."

                Picard nodded, "I was about to say the same thing to you."

                "Can we stop the mutual admiration society, please." Q grimaced. "In case anyone's forgotten, we've still got a lot

of work to do."

                Kirk and Picard, arm over arm, looked at the entity. "Lead the way," Kirk said.

                "Indeed," Picard replied.

                Q opened and closed his mouth in shock. "Well, it's about time."

                The four captains, Sisko, Ayelborne, Trefayne, and Q sat in DS9's observation lounge.

                "Where is the other Ayelborne?," Kirk asked.

                Trefayne nodded, "Perhaps you should explain it to the Captain, my friend."

                "Very well," Ayelborne laced his fingers in front of his chest and took a deep breath. "My other self is trapped, temporarily to be sure, in a pocket similar to the one around Organia."

                Kirk hesitated for a moment, "I see. But as soon as he realizes its a pocket..."

                Ayelborne nodded, "He will do what he can to break free."

                Q nodded, "Which will be tougher than he thinks."

                Picard looked at his nemesis, "Explain."

                Q smiled, "Well, in a justifiable twist of fate, we've put a kibosh on his powers."

                Ayelborne nodded, "Q speaks the truth but only temporarily. His powers will gradually return in the pocket and instantly return if he leaves."

                Kirk nodded, "And where do we come in?"

                Ayelborne looked gravely at the Captain, "Ayelborne is not easily duped for long. He will realize he is in a pocket and escape, unless the pocket is fortified. That we must do."

                Pike looked confused, "How could he possibly escape without any powers."

                Trefayne spoke up, "Remember his powers will slowly return, therefore the pocket must be powerful enough to hold him for all time. We will be using our inherent energies to strengthen it. If Ayelborne senses our endeavor, he will be able to turn those energies back and break free."

                Sisko, "And then we'll be back to square one."

                Kirk stood up, "Which is why you need Picard and me. To keep Ayelborne occupied why you strengthen his prison."

                "That is correct," Ayelborne said. "We will transport you into the pocket and then begin reinforcing it."

                Pike stood, "Why only Kirk and Picard?"

                Q, "I'll field this one. Because the Organians are familiar with Kirk's abilities and I volunteered Jean-Luc. Don't worry, Pike. You'll have plenty to do."

                Ayelborne, "Moments before we finish with the pocket, the Captains will need to be transported out. We will be too occupied to do so, therefore we surmise that interlinking the transporter systems on the four ships and the station and diverting all power to them should generate enough to ...how do you say ...beam ...Kirk and Picard out of the pocket."

                Garrett, "There will only be enough energy for two transporter signals?"

                Q, "Yes. Yes. Sorry you get to miss the fun."

                Ayelborne, "It will require a very delicate balance of timing and energy for the transport to be successful."

                Picard, "When do we leave?"

                Ayelborne, "As soon as possible."

                Kirk, "Let's do it."

                Miles O'Brien wiped his brow, standing up from the splayed system components laid out across the deck. "This is going to be very tight, Sirs. To do what the Organians request will require nearly every once of power we can generate by all our systems combined, from all sources."

                Sisko nodded, and stepped toward the console of Enterprise-D's transporter room, where all the commanding officers had convened, "Can you do it, Chief?"

                "It will require the coordinated efforts of the Enterprises' engineering staffs, but I think its possible."

                "Good," Picard said.

                "How long until we can leave?," Kirk asked.

                O'Brien looked at the floor, "As soon as I can put this back together. Fifteen minutes."

                The Captains and first officers of the Enterprises, along with Sisko and Kira stood in the observation lounge behind Enterprise-D's bridge. Kirk stared at the visage out the large viewports. The Starships Enterprise and Enterprise-A were clearly visible. 'My whole life,' he thought. 'All that I am.' Suddenly another thought, 'Is there nothing more?' The question Spock posed from the refurbished 1701's sickbay, the wonderings of V'ger as it strove to identify itself.

                'Is there nothing more?,' Kirk thought. 'My god, we were on our way to be decommissioned before Ayelborne and Q interfered.  And if we succeed in restoring history? Where does that leave me?'

                "Captain," Picard called, breaking through Kirk's revelry. "We don't have much time."

                "Of course," Kirk said. "Captain Pike, as elder statesman of our group will you please make the declaration."

                Pike stood, "Thank you, Captain Kirk. In the event that the mission about to be undertaken by Captain James T. Kirk and Captain Jean-Luc Picard fails, it is declared on this date, New Stardate 44001.1, that Captain Rachel Garrett, Commander Benjamin Sisko, Captain Spock, Commander William Riker and I will adopt the Constitution to our present timeline and thereby reestablish the United Federation of Planets. The Starships Enterprise will be the foundation of the new Starfleet, with Deep Space Nine to be recommisioned Starbase One. It will be our first priority to ask Bajor and Organia to join the UFP. Defenses will be created against our Cardassian neighbors and space exploration will begin anew with the purpose of finding a way of one day restoring the timeline."

                "A tall order," Riker said.

                "But a sense of purpose and identity," Picard countered.

                "We must put the Declaration to official vote," Kirk said.

                Each name called by Captain Spock, each reply, "Agreed."

                Pike nodded, "Then by unanimous vote of command level personnel, I hearby officially establish the United Federation of Planets in our present timeline."

                "Good luck, Captains," Garrett said.

                "To us all," Kirk replied.

                "We are ready," Ayelborne said.

                Kirk noticed that his eyes were glazed over, as were the four other Organians who stood together in the empty promenade of Deep Space Nine. Q leaned against a wall, but even he seemed transfixed by the Organians' actions.

                Picard glanced at Kirk. Kirk at Picard. They each felt their utility belts. Phaser, tricorder, and Kirk had his communicator. Picard's was of course built into his insignia pin.

                The two captains nodded to each other. Then Kirk turned to Ayelborne. "Go ahead."

                Kirk's senses exploded and everything he knew was gone.

                Moments later, Sisko's voice carried over the station's speakers, "Red Alert!"