Member
Festive
Half Pint
Cyberlad
Hound55
HeMandaddy
Melissa
Supermaxx
Sep
Ezekiel
swordmasc _ 
"Tea. Earl Grey. Hot." The distinguished older man ordered, standing with arms tucked behind his back in front of the replicator inside of his current accommodations. Outside the large bay window, the Enterprise-E was undergoing repairs from its battle with the Scimitar. The Sovereign-Class ship had taken heavy damage following the battle, resulting in being towed back to dry dock by a pair of tugs. Behind the vessel, the blackness of space threatened to engulf both the ship and the station. A void full of distant stars, teeming with strange new worlds, new life and new civilizations. "Hello, Jean-Luc." "Can a man not enjoy his tea in peace, Q?" Captain Picard replied, turning to face the human form of the extra-dimensional being. "You've had quite the week, mon Capitane. Look at the state of your ship and poor Data. I do express my deepest condolences, old friend." "Q," Picard replied, turning to take a seat on the nearby sofa. "Common courtesy would indicate those are reasons to leave one alone. I don't have any desire to participate in one of your escapades." |     ____________|01.01 GUESS Q?__________|       _________  ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ |
"Sometimes Jean-Luc," Q replied with a devious smile. "An escapade is exactly what one needs. There's nothing helpful about moping around these dark quarters. I happen to know of a situation that could use your expertise." "Q, I beg of you. Leave me be." Picard protested, "The only situation that I need to tend to at this exact moment is ensuring that I enjoy this beverage before it cools. I am thoroughly embroiled in negotiations with the Romulans. I don't need you to take me halfway across the Delta Quadrant or in 2023 San Fransico." "Oddly specific mon Capitane, but no, perhaps another time." "Q, please leave me be." "Don't worry, Jean-Luc," Q smiled, "When all is said and done. You won't remember a thing." As Q snapped his fingers, Picard was blinded by a flash of light, his eyes adjusting to find himself on the bridge of an unfamiliar starship. The klaxon blared, sounding an alarm as the ship dropped out of warp, coming alongside a pair of massive vessels. Both were of unfamiliar makes, not belonging to any species that the Captain had come across during his years in Starfleet. "Helm!" Picard ordered, "Evasive maneuvers!" The woman seated at the helm looked around frantically at the unfamiliar ship. Her eyes were wide at the new helm and foreign interfaces. She spun around to look at the Captain, the uniform he wore was significantly different from the solid-coloured shirts of the Enterprise Lieutenant Erica Ortegas had been on only moments before. "Where am I?" Ortegas asked. "It would appear as though we have been transported onto an unknown starship in an unknown time. Based on the interface before me, it would appear to be a logical update to the LCARS used on the Enterprise. I would wager this vessel is from approximately thirty years into the future." Picard's eyes were drawn to the familiar voice sitting at the Ops station. "Data..." "Speak for yourself," Ortegas replied, "But it is somewhat familiar." She added, maneuvering the ship away from the massive alien craft. "Picard." A stern voice came from behind the Captain as he turned to see a blonde woman approaching him. He recognized the cybernetics on her face as Borg implants. Picard knew her face, but it took him a second to place her before he remembered her being among Admiral Janeway's crew when they returned from the Delta Quadrant. "Seven." Picard exclaimed. "Why are you on my bridge? Where's Rios?" She asked. "You know this ship then?" Picard replied. "You're standing on the U.S.S. Stargazer." "This is not the Stargazer," Picard replied incredulously. "NCC-82893. It's a legacy of your old command." Seven replied. "Which explains why Q chose it." Picard mused aloud, "Judging by the bridge crew, Q has also hand-selected several members from across every generation of Starfleet." "That appears to be a logical conclusion." An older voice interjected as Picard and Seven turned to see a wizened Vulcan enter the bridge. "Ambassador Spock." Picard explained, "I'm sorry you've been brought into this." "I find the situation to be entirely fascinating, Captain." Spock replied, "Although, I am particularly puzzled about exactly where we are." "Commander," Picard turned towards Data. He was exactly as he remembered, although this version of Data was yet to give his life in exchange for the Captain's. Were they in danger of breaking the rules of time travel should they share information about the future or was Q being honest when he said they wouldn't remember any of this once it was resolved? "Are you able to determine our location?" "Sir, I am not recognizing any of the stars on this readout, whenever we are, it's in a galaxy far, far away." "Tactical, take us to Yellow Alert," Picard ordered. "Right away, Sir." Another familiar voice caused Picard to turn towards a white-haired Worf. "Mr. Worf," Picard almost smiled upon seeing his friend. "You got old." "It would appear so," Worf replied. "Commander," Picard started, addressing Seven before turning to Spock, "Ambassador, I believe Q has transported us here to solve a puzzle, potentially of his own creation. I'd suggest we pull together the senior officers and convene for a plan to proceed." "In the meantime, perhaps we should," Seven replied, pausing. "Fly casually to integrate with the fleet." "Lieutenant-" Picard started, looking towards Ortegas. "Erica Ortegas, sir. You want me to fly casually?" "Make it so."  |
