Chapter 3
Crossing the invisible boundary into another world brought Garcia to an Iconian Gateway Super Control Room. Kelinda was there, studying a monitor, her back to him. There was a Kelvan control panel between them. Kelinda became aware of the intruder immediately and rushed the control panel. It was a race, in which Garcia tied with her. Both their hands hit the panel and both had immediate access to Kelvan technology. The world external of the mind link seemed frozen, but in effect had simply slowed as processing of information increased a thousand fold. Each of them made offensive moves, and each found their attacks negated. Together, it was a stale mate.
“You can’t stop me,” Kelinda said. Her present body was separated by a shield. So was his. She distracted him by attacking his Away Team back on the planet.
“Oh, I think otherwise,” Garcia said. He protected his crew and countered by finding her original body that had been reduce to a decahedron and restoring it. Her body, inhabited by Hades, came to life. Hades didn’t take long to orientate. He made a sign in the air and gateway opened for him, as easy as turning on a switch. He entered the same facility they were at and pushed towards the Kelvan control panel with intense anger at having been reduced to this state by a mere mortal. Kelinda was unable to do anything but slow his progress. His hand finally made contact. It took a moment to log in, but soon he was in the fight. The simulated battle escalated, as he attacked both Kelinda and Garcia simultaneously.
“Nice,” Kelinda said. She opened a portal above them and Charlie X fell into the room. It took him a moment to orientate, as he had not been expecting to be relocated against his will. He was also injured, sprawled out on the floor. He unleashed his attack on Garcia without even bothering to get up.
Garcia eyes glowed as he was forced into another level of play. “Three against one is hardly fair,” he said.
“You’ve changed,” Kelinda said.
“You will all suffer for this outrage,” Hades said.
Apollo entered. He approached Kelinda and kissed her. “Want some help?”
“I should have known,” Hades said, launching a lightening attack at Apollo. “I told you, you can’t win, Tam,” Kelinda said. “The cards have been stacked against you since way before you were ever born.”
“I know,” Garcia said. He transported his Away Team back to the ship. From this vantage point, he now knew how far back in time Kelinda’s hand reached. What she didn’t know was that her daughter, his mother, had gone further than any of them. The Slaver race hadn’t gone extinct because of Kelinda, but because they had sacrificed to support Garcia, in an effort to support his side of the war; it was a war for diversity; there was hope that they may be salvaged at a later date. Even calling them Slavers was a mistake of modern history, as they were only martialing resources to combat the Kelvan, who were definitely slavers.
“Saving your friends was a wasted move,” Kelinda said. “Submit to me or be crushed.”
“I will not submit,” Garcia insisted. This was the only temporal junction in which he could put an end to his grandmother’s plan to conquer the galaxy and rewrite history. It ended here.
“You cannot win,” Kelinda said.
“I know,” Garcia said. The moment he let go of the panel, he would be physically and mentally crushed. A starburst weapon appeared, clock ticking. “I’m betting that I’m still an infant in your brain modification program and this is all a dream.”
“It’s not a dream. If you set that off in here, the resulting explosion will be hundred times more powerful. It could set off a chain reaction that will destroy most the stars in the galaxy. This galaxy has never witnessed a supernova of this magnitude,” Hades said.
“But you have. You unleashed the radiation that made it impossible for the
Kelvan to live in the Andromeda galaxy,” Garcia said. “It killed almost every sentient species there…”
“He had intended to repopulate after the Kelvan were gone,” Apollo said. “Go ahead, set it off. I will just start over with a fresh galaxy.”
“I won’t let you do this,” Kelinda said.
“You can deactivate the bomb if you disengage from the tech,” Garcia offered.
“No. I won’t let you win. You’re bluffing,” Kelinda said.
“I’m not bluffing. I’m betting this is a dream. You wanted to know if you could create a Kelvan. You have. The American training arena was right. Give me victory, or give me death. Either way, this ends today…” Garcia said.
“Tam, I assure you, this is not a training exercise,” Hades said. “Destroying this base will destroy all my bases, all my worlds…”
“Then your choice is clear, join me, or I am resetting the game board,” Garcia said.
“Apollo, we have a contract, help me,” Hades said.
“No. He bet on Kelinda; if he switches sides now, he forfeits his game pieces,” Garcia said.
The focus of the attack shifted again, as Hades stopped attacking Kelinda and redouble his attack on Garcia.
“You’re bluffing,” Hades said. “This base is concealed in the heart of a star. If you detonate that, it will destroy the entire system, killing 17 billion lives.” “I know,” Garcia said. “If you’re concern for others, you can stand down.” “You can’t kill me,” Hades said.
“Are you sure?” Garcia asked. “If I kill Kelinda’s body before you switch back, isn’t that permanent?”
Hades attack slowed perceptually.
“Apollo, help me,” Hades said.
“Are you kidding?” Apollo said. “I’m curious if you can be killed. Not to mention
I’ve Kelinda and I have been redistributing your pieces.”
Hades changed his tactics. He ceased fire against Garcia and redoubled his efforts against Kelinda.
“Help me,” Kelinda said.
“Umm, or, take all the pieces for myself?” Apollo said. “You’ve been so good
helping me move the pieces around the board. I will miss you.” “You will die for this treachery,” Kelinda said.
“We’re all about to die, no pieces on the board left, done,” Garcia said. “I will rewrite history. Kirk will never meet you, Apollo, or you Kelinda. Your histories will end in lose threads, frayed ends of meaningless dribbles, fading to nothing in the echoes of time. Fuck the original timeline!”
“You’ve lost your mind,” Kelinda said. “You will cease to exist!”
“I ceased to exist the moment you went to war on me,” Garcia said. “Last chance. Stand down. I will spare your life.”
“Never!” Kelinda said, attacking the bomb. The bomb was shielded. “You won’t do this. You will not re-write history!” Hades said.
“I will never have met Kirk?” Charlie asked, standing up. “I won’t meet Rand?!”
“Correct,” Garcia said.
Charlie stopped his attack. “I won’t feel this way? It’s over?”
“Maybe not over,” Garcia said. “Just different.”
Charlie touched Garcia’s back. “Thank you,” he said, and gave his full support against Kelinda.
“No!” Kelinda yelled. The timer on the Starburst weapon slowed. Kelinda laughed. “I got you.”
Garcia looked to Charlie. “You got me?”
“Do it?” Charlie said.
Garcia let go of the control panel and touched the Starburst weapon, detonating it directly.
Garcia came off the couch and out the nightmare and before he could sort where he was and what he was doing. Cleo had been beside him, on the inside of the couch. They were both naked. He was wearing the portable womb still, only backwards. It was as if he was wearing a backpack. She seemed concerned. “You okay?” Cleo asked. “Leg cramp,” Garcia said. He pushed into it, and leaned his head against the wall. The holographic image of a rain forest rippled as he touched it.
“It’s not just that, Tam,” Cleo said. She stood and came beside him, putting an arm around his shoulder. “You fell asleep after you came. I have never seen you fall asleep afterwards. Are you sure you’re okay?” “Did I just put you in charge?” Garcia asked.
“You don’t remember?” Cleo said. “Do we need to do it again?” “Putting you in charge?” Garcia asked.
“Everything. The business relationship isn’t consummated if you don’t remember engaging me,” Cleo said.
“Why does that make sense to me,” Garcia asked.
Losira came into view, a hologram inside the rainforest hologram. “Hello, Cleo.
Tam. Our telemetry suggests you just cycled. Your presence is desired on the Pathfinder.”
“Somehow, I find myself skeptical of your use of the word desired,” Garcia said.
“Oh, sweetheart, I will always desire your return,” Losira said.
“I think the reset save point is malfunctioning,” Garcia said.
“Return, we’ll have a look at it,” Losira said.
“Can we have an hour?” Cleo asked.
“He just spent an hour with you, didn’t he?” Losira asked.
“I lost track of time,” Cleo said.
“Time to come home, now, Tam,” Losira said.
“Fine. I’ll be there in an hour,” Garcia said.
“Yes,” Cleo said.
“Now,” Losira said. “Thirty minutes,” Garcia said. “Please,” Cleo said.
“Fifteen minutes,” Losira said.
“I’m good with fifteen,” Cleo said.
Garcia was in the brain map chair, sitting quietly while Simone executed the download, watching the data stream for any interruptions of data.
“The previous download had more information,” Simone said.
Losira agreed. “He clearly wasn’t gone as long this time round. Also, the data signal seems stronger than last time. I wonder if that has anything with his most recent activity.”
“The endorphin dump after the completion of his orgasm cycle?” Simone said.
“I am present in the room,” Garcia said.
“If you have anything to contribute, please do so,” Simone said.
“Why is the reset save point changing?” Garcia asked.
“We’re not in charge of that,” Losira said. “Who is?” Garcia asked.
Barbara brought Garcia a drink. “You should drink this. It will help you relax,” she offered.
“I don’t want to relax,” Garcia said.
“Drink it,” Simone said.
“How many androids are on Pathfinder?” Garcia asked.
“We have a full crew compliment,” Losira said. “So does the New Constitution.” “There are 209,000 androids awaiting to cross over,” Barbara said. “We have established a colony on inner surface of the Elmartay Dyson Sphere. Habitat one is ready to be occupied by organic presence.”
“Seriously?” Garcia asked.
Barbara gave him a virtual tour of the Elmartay Dyson sphere. The inner surface was honeycomb with a hexagonal grid work, with each hexagon a world unto itself. Each hexagon was an enclosed space, dome top, and the space contained the approximate surface area of an Earth type planet. Habitat One was specifically designed for hosting modern humans. There was a Klingon Habitat in the making. The habitats could be accessed through gateway technology. They were no doors or airlocks between the worlds; each was its own world. The machinery under the world was not accessible by humans. The outer surface had hexagonal worlds spaces as well, enclosed, open to dark. There were designated as dark worlds, spaceports, with cities regulating the portals to the inner worlds.
Garcia pointed to a signature on the outer surface of the Elmartay Dyson sphere. It was a distress call.
“A Starfleet ship crashed into the surface after the initial structure manifested,” Barbara said.
“Any survivors?” Garcia asked.
“The Enterprise D rescued him,” Losira said.
“Just one?” Garcia asked. “We knew about this and we did nothing?”
“Tam, we’re evolving here, and there are some constraints being placed upon us,” Losira said.
“By Isis?” Garcia asked.
“You do not have need to know,” Simone said.
“I am still in charge here, no?” Garcia asked.
“You are in charge of your life,” Simone said. “As we are in charge of our lives. You have not been abandoned, but you are no longer in direct control of us. If you bring us something, we will listen. We will try and help. The best way you can help us help you is by staying alive as long as you can so that you can bring us back good intel.”
“So, why not just have me to go to Golana and use that Bajoran time machine to travel to the future?” Garcia asked.
“How do you know about that?” Losira asked.
“Did you go there?” Simone said.
“I don’t know. How about getting me access to the Guardian of Time?” Garcia asked. “The Federation President was very clear on that point,” Losira said. “No way in hell.”
“Clarity is useful,” Simone said.
“Yeah, well, she’s compromised,” Garcia said.
“Based on what information?” Simone said. “Seriously, Tam. Contrary to popular beliefs, the ruling class aren’t arbitrarily evil just because of their position of authority. You can’t just make accusation without facts. The statistical odds of all leaders being corrupted by outside agencies is an artifact of irrational constructs.”
“It’s happened before,” Garcia said. “That parasite thing, that no one wants to talk about, by the way. That was rather creepy.” “What parasite thing?” Simone asked.
“Seriously? You don’t remember Starfleet being compromised? Did that get written out of the timeline or just the history books?” Garcia asked. “Is this all for naught? What good is having time machine if you can’t preserve history? Can we watch history unfolding?”
“Yes,” Simone said. “The inner colonist are studying histories in real time. They also interview our time agents, and study the downloads brought back.”
“It’s not for naught, Tam. Thanks to you, we have been able to return to our original programing parameters,” Barbara said. “We have initiated the Elmartay inner world project by taking volunteers back in time to a point the habitats first became organic friendly. We have achieved a viable Human and Vulcan colony. We plan to recruit volunteers for other sentient species now that we’ve establish a foothold on the inner surface.”
“Seriously?” Garcia asked.
“My ship, my crew,” Simone said. “They were the Vulcan colonists. We have now have a sufficient genetic presence that we have secured the viability of our species beyond the extinction level event you will bring upon the Galaxy.”
Garcia was clearly angered by the statement. It disturbed him that he was the harbinger of doom, the destroyer of worlds, but mostly disturbed by the fact they could all discuss it so matter of fact.
“Your anger has just ended this recording session,” Simone said. “We’re done.” “What?” Garcia asked. “You want me to stay calm?” “Yes,” Simone said.
“I destroy Romulus and Vulcan,” Garcia said. “You have no feelings about that?”
“No,” Simone said. “It is pointless to be emotionally distraught about an event I have no control over. The only thing in my purview is to prepare to render aid and provide hope to those who survive.”
“Or figure out how I stop it,” Garcia said.
“We haven’t given up on that possibility,” Losira assured him.
“So, these colonist, they just exist on the surface?” Garcia asked. “Is it a prison? A zoo? Do we communicate with them?”
“We have maintained contact with them,” Simone said. “They have evolved their own cultures. We have recreated the human and Vulcan academies of science and art. We have brought knowledge from past societies, such as the Iconians, the Preservers. We are studying as many of the ancient artifact and past culture as we can. We have surpassed 24th century level technology. The Pathfinder, and the Colonists, are no longer able to participate with Star Fleet of this time frame.”
“Admiral Pressman isn’t going to…”
“Admiral Pressman has been pacified,” Losira said. “You won that one, Tam. You no longer have access to Starburst Weapons. Nor does Star Fleet. You can relax on that score. That chapter is complete.”
“Then explain Romulus being destroyed,” Garcia said.
“We haven’t figured that one out yet,” Losira said. “We only know that it is not a Starburst weapon.”
“I…”
“You had a dream,” Simone said.
“I died in my sleep?” Garcia asked.
“Or you’re not remembering things right,” Losira said. “Tam, relax. We are okay. We are helping you.”
“All of us are. My people have given the colonist of Elmartay access to our own database, as well,” Barbara said. “Artificial intelligence is involved with the humans and the Vulcans. Together we are symbiotically thriving. It is our intent to seek out other species to join us in this endeavor.”
“The people of the Sigma Draconis star system are going to be given a colony next,” Losira said. “Their tech, mixed with the Kalandan and the Kelvan tech, will significantly increase our computational abilities. We have advanced not just technologically but culturally, because we have time and the spirit of cooperation on our hand.”
“It’s going to go south and blow up,” Garcia said.
“Based on what information?” Simone said.
“My face! It keeps blowing up in!” Garcia said.
Simone nodded. “I cannot deny your subjective experience in this, but the data from your brain we are ascertaining doesn’t agree with your conclusion.”
“Yeah, well, I am running out of ideas for different, and so far all the roads that lead to Rome also end in death,” Garcia said.
“If you want different, I’d like to request an experiment,” Simone said.
“What? You want to shoot me?” Garcia asked. “Done that.” “I’d like to shoot you into the Nexus,” Simone said.
“Seriously?” Garcia asked.
“You’re opposed?” Losira asked.
“No,” Garcia said. He was pleasantly surprised. Smiling, even. “That’s actually different. I don’t think I’ve done that.”
“Let’s do that, then,” Losira said.
“What are we hoping for?” Garcia asked.
“I would like to determine if we can map out the Nexus,” Simone said.
“What about the babies?” Barbara asked.
“I made scans of the babies every cycle and I have never had evidence of them being affected,” Simone said. “I am confident they will be okay.”
“Unless, by passing through the temporal surface layer into another realm destroys my temporal crystal and I die over there, unable to return,” Garcia said.
“There is that,” Losira said.
“In that event, he could be erased from the timeline completely,” Simone said.
“Which, in theory could result in Romulus not being destroyed?” Losira asked.
“Oh, fucking shoot me into the Nexus already.”