Disclamers:Star Trek and its characters (Picard, Worf, Data, Q, etc) are owned by Paramount Pictures.
To Three From One
by
A.J. Marks
Part 3
Ray let his statement hang in the stunned silence around the room. He knew that everyone in the room had heard of the old earth legend of the lost continent of Atlantis. He also thought that they would believe that he was crazy.
“You are aware that Atlantis does not exist.” Data pointed out to Ray. “There are no earth records of Atlantis ever existing.”
“Yes I am aware that there are no known records, because we made sure to destroy most artifacts and correct historical records of Atlantis.” Ray replied.
“Why would you try and do that?” Riker asked. “It would seem that you would be proud of Atlantis and its civilization.”
“We are, but for so long mankind was not ready for its technology, and be the time you finally were, no one really cared anymore. So wee just let it remain a legend, but there are still some artifacts that remain hidden and under guard because you are still not ready.”
“You keep mentioning we and us?” Picard asked.
“I wasn’t alone in being a third generation soldier, there were many who were created, and there are still about a hundred of us left.”
“Captain Picard, we are approaching earth and the Admiralty wants to know why we are here.” A voice from the bridge said over the communication.
“Captain do not tell them the real reason, it may seem odd but I have my reasons.”
“Then what do I tell them?” Picard asked Ray.
“Tell them that Q is playing another one of his games, I think that they’ll believe you.” Ray replied.
The meeting broke up and most of the occupants left the room except for Ray and Data.
“I do not understand why you continue to keep hiking Atlantis?” Data asked him.
“Because Data, the Borg is one of the least dangerous crimes that my civilization committed during our war. If everything came out into the open, then everything that mankind has worked for since would fall.” Ray replied as he walked over to the comm. system and activated it. Shortly another person answered and the two conversed in a language that Data did not understand. After his conversation Ray walked out of the room leaving Data to ponder what Ray had said.
“They seemed to be understanding, but they are edgy that Q is involved.” Ray heard Picard saying to Riker.
“I’ll need some space in the shuttle bay for a ship, captain Picard.” Ray said. “Its essential for the mission.”
“”Will is there room?” Picard asked Riker.
“I believe that there is captain.” He replied.
“Ok you have permission.” Picard told Ray.
Riker left the bridge with Ray to let Picard know when the ship was on board and they could leave.
“I’m having a hard time believing this.” Picard said. “Atlantis never existed!”
“Captain, Lt. Conner said something to me while we were alone. He said that if word got out that Atlantis existed than mankind would fall. He also spike with someone on the planet in a language that I was unfamiliar with.” Data said, ‘I don’t think that he is lying.”
“Neither do I captain.” Councilor Troy said, “I sense no attempt to deceive, but he hasn’t answered the whole question. I don’t think that he would answer the entire question anyway.”
“Captain!” Riker’s voice said over the comm.
“Go ahead number one.” Picard said.
“The ship has just docked, we can leave anytime.”
“Acknowledged Will, Picard out.” Picard replied as he turned toward the bridge crew. “Ensign, lay in a course for Star base 12, warp factor seven, engage.”
Riker had watched the small craft dock on board the Enterprise and he was not sure what to think of it. It had an aerodynamic look to it. His attention was diverted to the argument that had erupted between Ray and the pilot of the ship.
Riker could not tell what the argument was about because the language they were using was unknown to the translator.
“It was my decision and I made it.” Ray was saying. “I know the consequences more than you know!”
“You still should have notified us so we could make a decision.” The pilot said.
“Do not worry, I will take care of the loose ends, including Q and Data.” Ray said.
“When the rest hear about this&ldots;”
“It will be over and it won’t matter.” Ray interrupted him.
“But&ldots;”
“This discussion is over!” Ray said, “Now we must rest for the battle ahead.”
“Very well, sir!”
Riker was not able to understand the words, but he did understand the commanding tone that Ray’s voice had taken on at the end of the argument. He wondered what type of rank Ray held. Ray turned toward Riker.
“We will need to rest for our battle with the Borg, if the captain needs to get in touch with me I will be in my quarters.”
“Do you need for someone to notify you when we enter the system?” Riker asked.
“That would be most kind, yes we would.” Ray replied as he and the pilot left the shuttle bay.
Riker walked onto the bridge a few minutes later. Captain Picard was sitting in the Captain’s chair. Q was still on the bridge and looked like he was thinking.
“I’m not sure El captain.” Q said to Picard. “I was born with these powers and my parents are dead. We are forbidden to interfere with our past, for obvious reasons of course.”
“Their ship doesn’t register on the tri-corder or any other instrument I tried.” Riker said. “The readings kept telling me nothing was there, but I could feel it with my hands. The metal was like nothing I’ve ever felt. The strange thing was it almost felt alive.”
“Interesting!” Q said as he vanished from the bridge.
“I wish he would leave us alone.” Riker said to the captain.
“So do I number one.” Picard said.
“Ray this is dangerous. You have broken the treaty.” Ray’s guest said.
“I know Jason, but it was already null and void.” Ray replied.
“What do you mean?”
“The Continuum introduced the Enterprise to the Borg and the Enterprise fired upon them, thereby negating the treaty.”
Jason sat down on the couch in a bit of disbelief.
“They did that?”
“Yes!”
“Damn Ray, won’t we need backup.”
“I don’t think so, the Borg have probably forgetting all about us.”
“Yeah, but we never really beat the Borg totally.”
“Jason, its time we lived up to our expectations, what we were suppose to do in the first place.” Ray said as he laid down on the bed. “We might as well get some rest.”
Several hours later the Enterprise was only an hour away from the star base.
“Captain!” Warf said.
“Go ahead Warf.” Picard replied.
“We are receiving several emergency transmissions. It appears that the Borg are doing a full-scale assault. Scanners count at least five Borg ships entering Federation space.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes captain.”
Picard stood there as the weight of what was being told to him settled on his shoulders. “How long till we can intercept the closest one?” He asked.
“Ten minutes at the current speed.” Data replied.
Ray and his guest walked onto the bridge.
“What’s the situation captain?” Ray asked.
“A full scale invasion has begun.” Picard replied. “We’ll intercept them in about ten minutes.”
“Let’s go!” Ray said looking at Jason as the left the bridge.
“What do you think, captain?” Riker asked.
“I don’t know, 2,000 year old technology may not work, Will.”
“That’s what I was thinking.” Riker replied.
“You know I can always help.” Q said as he appeared on the bridge.
“I thought you left.” Riker said to Q.
“No one ever cares about me.” Q said sarcastically.
“We have arrived captain.”
On the screen they could see one Borg cube ship and the remains of the Federation star base 12 that had been cut apart.
“Lt. Conner we’re here, what do you want us to do?” Picard asked.
“Keep the Enterprise out of the way, we’ll handle things from here on out.” Ray replied.
“Pushy isn’t he?” Q said.
“Shut up Q!” Riker said.
“Data keep the Borg ship in range of our weapons and Worf be ready to fire.” Picard said.
They watched as the small vessel went to engage the Borg. The Borg fired and hit Ray’s ship but it appeared to not notice it.
“Their shield’s are holding captain.” Worf said.
The Borg weapon remained engaged for several minutes when something weird began to happen. Inside the green cutting beam a smaller red beam started toward the Borg ship from Ray’s ship.
“Captain, the Borg are attempting to disengage but seem unable to.” Data said.
They watched as the red beam closed in on the Borg ship.
“Captain the other Borg ships have changed course and are headed this way.” Worf said.
“Councilor, do you sense anything.” Picard asked.
“No captain, there appears to be something blocking me.” Troy said.
The red beam now hit the Borg ship and for a while nothing happened. Then suddenly the Borg ship exploded.
“Captain, the approaching Borg ships have also exploded.” Worf said.
Picard sat down wondering what just happened.
A half an hour later Ray sat in the meeting room with Data, Picard, Worf, Troy, Jordie, and doctor Crusher with Q standing at the window. Jason had left with the ship headed to a secluded planet.
“What happened?” Picard asked.
“We ended the war once and for all.” Ray replied.
“You destroyed them all?” Beverly asked.
“Maybe, I don’t really know for sure.” Ray said. “As for you two!” He said pointing at Q and Picard, “Family should treat each other better.”
They both started to protest.
“Save it!” Ray said cutting them both off. “ Q is my nephew, you mother was my younger sister, Xztel, and Picard, is a descendent of my older sister Mabxel.”
Q and Picard stared at each other as everyone except Ray looked on. They failed to notice Ray starting to glow. Within a few seconds it engulfed the entire ship. When it faded Q and Picard were still looking at each other, but Ray was no longer in the room.
“Get off my ship Q!” Picard said.
“You need to lighten up captain.” Q said as he left.
“Does anyone have any idea as to what race that ship belonged to?” Picard asked.
“Captain, they might be an ancient race, or the Borg creators who have returned.” Data said.
“In short we don’t know captain.” Riker said.
The meeting broke up and the crew walked out onto the bridge. Picard sat down in the captain’s chair.
“Ensign, set course for Deep Space 9, Warp 6, and engage.”
The end.
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