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-
- Finally, at long last, the book is done. (Actually, it was finished a
- couple of weeks ago, but I'm just finding the time to post the thing.)
- Following this last chapter, in a seperate post, is an author's note (hushed
- silence, but then what other kind of silence is there?) telling about various
- things that some people (including me) found unclear.
-
-
-
- CHAPTER 16
- Captain's Log, Supplemental:
- We have returned to our own time and Mister Data
- assures me that the Xin ship has been destroyed and also
- that we have had no noticeable impact on our own past. I
- only hope that he is correct and that our interference has
- not caused some difficulty that will come back to haunt us
- in the future.
- As far as Commander LaForge's defeat of the Borg,
- he reports that such a weapon is not now, nor ever has
- been physically possible. I feel that Q planted the idea
- in his head and then allowed the weapon to be implemented.
- Data and Worf have explained to me why they stole
- the Stardrive Section, and I believe them, even if no one
- except them has any memory of the events leading up to it.
- I have also dropped all charges against Worf for refusing
- to fire on the Klingon ships, citing as my reason that
- he was displaced in time, and as such, may have reverted
- to the behavior of Klingons at that time.
- We are currently proceeding to Starbase
- Andreievitch for repairs and debriefing.
-
- Picard looked up from his computer terminal, feeling
- a tingle at the base of his skull, as if he were being
- watched.
- "Come on out, Q. I know you're here."
- "Indeed, Captain. I'm everywhere," said Q, as he
- appeared, now wearing the uniform of a Starfleet Fleet
- Admiral. "You've done remarkably well, Jean-Luc, but
- remember, I can always come back."
- "I think not, Q. You see, the Borg know of you now.
- They know of the Continuum and your powers. They'll find a
- way to adapt, Q. Then they will come looking for you and
- maybe you will be absorbed into the Borg."
- Q, a look of terror on his face, pleaded, "No! It
- can't be true. I don't look at all good in plastic and steel.
- You've got to help me."
- "No, Q. It is because of you that the Borg know of
- us. It seems fitting that they know of you for the same
- reason."
- "Alright then, if you're not going to help, I'll just
- have to have my fellow Q help me."
- "If they don't kick you out before you get a chance
- to explain it to them," Picard retorted ominously.
- "What do you know, Picard? Now it's my turn to give
- out bad news. You remember that Borg ship at Wolf-359C.
- Well, it wasn't destroyed. Heavily damaged, perhaps, but
- not destroyed. It will be fully repaired in little more
- than a year, but don't think of warning anyone. Your
- memory is now blocked. You have the knowledge but are
- unable to give it to anyone in any form.
- "Ariva derci, Jean-Luc." Q vanished from sight.
- In 10-Forward, Geordi and Data were discussing their
- experiences in the past.
- "Now I understand some of the things Admiral McCoy
- said to me when he was aboard. We were in orbit over Farpoint
- Station, and he said that he had lobbied heavily for the
- construction of the Galaxy Class series of starships. He
- also said that he had a vague memory of you and I, but did
- not know from where."
- Geordi turned to look intently at Data, the subdued
- light glinting off his VISOR. "You don't mean--"
- "Yes, Geordi, the amnesia program did not work. Out
- of all his shipmates, he is the only one who remembers us."
- "And he never said a word, keeping it to himself for
- over eighty years. Unbelievable," whispered Geordi, in awe.
- "I shall have to meet with him again and discuss our
- experiences on the Enterprise and the," Data faltered,
- "Enterprise," he finished.
- Geordi turned back to his drink, thinking ahead to
- the shore leave that they had once again been promised and
- knowing that something would come up to keep them from
- getting it.
- And on Wolf-359C, the vague outline of a cube
- dragged itself free from the hardened rock encasing it.
- It was by no means repaired yet, but a signal had been
- received. Another Borg ship was on it's way to Federation
- space, and this ship wanted to be ready.
- A year, perhaps, was a good estimate. After 79 years
- of repairs, what was one more, when the heart of the
- Federation lay open to it?
-
-
-
-
- Well, there you have it...
- Enjoy, and let me know what you think of the thing, now that it's finished...
- P.S. E-mail me for any missing parts that you need.
-
- --
- ** " (Quantum Leap) If at first you don't succeed, Leap, Leap again!
- "Will you stop STARING at me!" - Homer J. Simpson
- Doug Geiger - geiger@klaatu.cs.canisius.edu
- Semi-Official Net.Nozzle on Rec.Arts.TV (EXCELLENT.Dude #B-) ??????
-