All Good Things__ - Michael Jan Friedman [54]
“It is, in essence,” amended Data, “an eruption of anti-time.” The captain looked at him. “Anti-time?”
“Yes, sir,” confirmed the android. “It is a relatively new concept ill temporal mechanics. The relationship of anti-time to normal time is analogous to the relationship of antimatter to normal matter.” Picard mulled that over. “All right,” he said. “Go on.” “Anti-time,” Data explained, “would possess the ex-act opposite characteristics of normal time—operating in some kind of temporal reversion we do not fully understand.”
The captain was beginning to catch on. “You’re saying that the anomaly is the result of time and anti-time coming together in the same place.”
“That is correct, sir. Something has ruptured the barrier between time and anti-time in the Devron sys-tem. I believe this rupture is sending out waves of temporal energy which are disrupting the normal flow of time.”
The android turned to gaze at Geordi. “It is possible that the DNA molecules in Geordi’s optic nerves are not regenerating themselves… but simply reverting to their original state.”
If Data was right…
“You mean his eyes are getting younger?” asked Pi-card.
The android nodded. “For all intents and purposes, yes.”
The captain considered the implications. “So the temporal anomaly has certain rejuvenating effects. It certainly doesn’t sound like the destruction of humanity.” “No,” Beverly confirmed. “It doesn’t.”
Picard scowled. “Mr. Data… any idea what could have caused this rupture between time and anti-time?”
Data looked confused. “Anti-time, sir?”
Abruptly, Picard realized that the android was sitting at ops, not at a terminal in sickbay. He gathered that he had returned to the past.
This was an opportunity, then. Moving quickly to Data’s console, he began entering information as quickly as he could. The othersmTasha, Worf, O’Brien, and Troi—were no doubt watching from their stations, wondering what in blazes the captain was up to. “I believe,” he explained to the android, “that if we modify the deflector to send out an inverse tachyon pulse, you’ll find that the anomaly is a rupture between time and anti-time.”
Data regarded him. “That is a fascinating hypothesis, sir. Where did you encounterre”
“It would take too long to explain,” Picard told him. “Begin the modifications and send out the pulse. And once you’ve done that, start working on a theory as to what could have caused this rupture.” The android didn’t question his motives. “Aye, sir.” As Data began to comply with his orders, the captain took in the image of the anomaly on the viewscreen. In case he had forgotten, he was reminded of how much larger it was here in the past than in the present. “Mr. O’Brien,” he said. “How big is the anomaly?” It took only a moment or two for O’Brien to come up with the answer. “Approximately four hundred million kilometers in diameter, sir.”
Picard shook his head, wishing he had a better grasp of what was going on. “I still don’t understand why it’s larger here …. “
O’Brien shot him a puzzled look. Obviously, he didn’t have any idea what his commanding officer was talking about. Still, he gave no sign of wanting to pursue the matter. “Captain…”
Picard whirled at the sound of Worf’s voice. The Klingon was reacting to something he saw on his aft console.
“There are five Terellian transport ships holding position in the Devron system, sir.”
“We’re being hailed by the lead ship,” added Tasha. “Their pitot’s name is Androna.”
“On screen,” instructed the captain.
In the next instant, the viewscreen filled with the image of a Terellian. “Enterprise, “he said, smiling. “You are a welcome sight. We’ve been receiving threats from the Romulan Empire ever since we entered the Neutral Zone. I’m glad to see you’re here to protect us.”
Picard frowned. “Why have you come here?”
Androna’s expression became even brighter. “Once
we heard about the Light… about the power it has to
heal illness, to rejuvenate the elderly… we hadto come
here.”
The captain sighed. Judging by the looks on his officers’ faces, they were rather confused.