Q & A - Keith R. A. DeCandido [69]
Commander Madden asked, “Sir? Why that?”
“If I’m right, Number One”—and thanks to Data, I know I am, Picard thought—”we’ve gone into a different universe.”
Kadohata reported, “You’re right, sir. Each ship has a different quantum signature.”
“Many of them are the same,” Hedril said. “I’m picking up a lot of thought patterns that are…familiar. But different.” She shook her head, almost as if coming out of a daze. “It’s very disorienting, Captain.”
Picard put a comforting hand on the Cairn counselor’s arm, then turned to Kadohata. “Find the Enterprise that matches that of the subatomic matter.”
From behind him at tactical, Worf said, “Captain, one of the ships is firing! The vessel’s identification indicates that it is Klingon, sir.”
Urgently, Kadohata added, “Sir, they’re firing on the ship that’s local to this universe!”
Picard ordered, “Full impulse, Perim! Put us between the two ships!”
“Aye, sir, full impulse.” The Enterprise moved into the line of fire.
On the U. S. S. Enterprise, Christine Vale said from the tactical station, “Sir, that Enterprise is taking a pounding. Two of the other Enterprises are moving in to assist.” Picard noted that Vale’s tone was such that she expected their Enterprise to do the same. In the meantime, he was running some scans of his own, based on what he remembered from a nine-year-old log report by Worf.
Thomas Halloway and Data were flanking Vale at tactical. The captain shook his head. “We’re not getting involved in local territorial disputes, Lieutenant.”
“Captain,” Data said, “I do not believe this dispute is ‘local.’ Based on Lieutenant Commander Picard’s analysis, none of these vessels are native to the same universe.”
“Excuse me, sir,” Picard said, his analysis complete, “but one of them is.”
Halloway turned an unkind gaze on Picard. The captain didn’t appreciate junior officers interrupting the senior staff.
Undaunted, Picard continued. “Sir, I believe the best way to collapse the fissure and return us all to our proper places is to use a broad-spectrum warp field.”
Data considered. “That course of action stands an excellent chance of success.”
“Yes,” Picard said urgently, “but only if the Enterprise native to this universe does it.”
Looking at the captain, Data said, “That would ensure the best chance of success, Captain.”
“Find the Enterprise that’s native, and—” Halloway said.
“We have, sir,” Picard said. “It’s the one being fired upon.”
Vale added, “And their shields are down to twenty percent.”
“All right, all right,” Halloway said, “but I’d better damn well not have cause to regret this, Mister Picard.”
“You won’t, sir.”
Halloway ordered, “Full impulse, Mister Branson. Put us in the fight.”
“Aye, sir, full impulse.”
On the U. S. Enterprise, Picard turned to his CO. “Captain, I believe the ship being fired on is the one native to this universe—they must be saved, as they’re the only ones who can close the rift!”
Kadohata turned around. “Sir, with all due respect, we don’t know that. Parallel universe theory is just that—we don’t have any raw data to support—”
Ignoring the second officer, Picard said to the young man next to him, “Captain—Wes—I know that this is true!”
Picard couldn’t help it. Even though he saw the face of his commanding officer, all he could see was the young man who walked onto his bridge sixteen years earlier. Here and now, he was Picard’s superior, and he had to trust that their bond was strong.
The smile finally grew on Wesley’s face. “I’ve always trusted you before, Jean-Luc. Tasha, raise shields, ready phasers and photon torpedoes.”
From the tactical station, Lieutenant Commander Tasha Yar said, “Aye, sir.”
“Full impulse, Laren. Put us between the two ships.”
On the I. S. S. Enterprise, Picard dared not join the battle. There was nothing to be gained, and a scientific explanation of the need to preserve this universe’s Enterprise would