Worlds Without End, Part XXIX

Somehow Luke had wound up on an escape pod. He looked about and saw that he was alone, and a quick peak outside revealed that there was nothing out there, anywhere... just the distant stars. No planet, no ships, just complete and total isolation. He took a slow, deep breath to steady his nerves as he dropped back onto the seat. He could face this... he had to face this. What was the alternative? To just stop altogether?

Luke was shocked as a woman suddenly slipped onto his lap, and he recognized it as the Borg woman -Seven of Nine. She was dressed in a slinky, low-cut dress; she smiled seductively at him and leaned up close, blowing a kiss just inches from his face. She reached back and her long hair tumbled around her shoulders, and she shook it out. She giggled; it was warm and sexual, and she changed her position so she sat astride his legs. Then she sang for him; it was a rich and beautiful soprano, perfectly on key, precise in every sound. "Puff the Magic Dragon lived by the sea, and frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honalee." She gave Luke a kiss on his lips, full and warm. "And little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff," she continued, drawing the word "loved" out with a visible use of her tongue. "She brought him strings and ceiling wax... and other fancy stuff." She put her hands behind her head, twisted and arched her back so that her breasts were in front of his face.

A lightsaber emerged from her chest, and Luke jerked back so hard his head hit the wall of the pod. Seven of Nine looked down at it for a few seconds, then her head lolled about and she fell over. Standing behind her was the drone with the red hair -if she had had red hair in her Borg state; beyond was the entire Collective. "You will be assimilated," she insisted, switching off the lightsaber. "Resistance is futile." Luke got shakily to his feet and stepped over the corpse. With each step she became more and more human, until she was in his arms. "Embrace perfection," she said, and kissed him.

"Don't do this." Luke broke off the kiss and turned back. Seven of Nine was on her feet, her wound still visible but seemingly oblivious to it. "Please, Luke," she begged.

"Your biological distinctiveness will be added to our own," the Borg declared.

There were tears in her eyes. "You know it's wrong!" she insisted.

"A narrow vision. You will become one with the Borg."

Seven of Nine was trembling slightly, her mouth open, eyes red, cheeks shining with tears, a look of grief and despair on her face. She seemed to be staring into Luke's soul. "I love you," she said like a sad, final goodbye.

"Your life as it has been is over. From this time forward you will service us."

Before he could see any more he was yanked back to reality; a Cardassian was gently slapping him on the cheek and saying his name. "Are you all right?" he asked.

Luke's mind was still under inertia from the Force meditation. "Who are you?"

"Elim Garak," he explained.

"How'd you get in here? The door was locked."

"Yes, 'was.' I'm very sorry to interrupt whatever it was you were doing but this is very, very urgent. Are you all right?" he repeated.

"Yes," Luke said, pulling himself up and trying to put the vision temporarily out of his mind. "What's wrong?"

"I've been informed that the Empire is deploying a battlestation called a Death Star in their attack on my homeworld of Cardassia," Garak explained. "And that this Death Star has a weapon capable of demolishing an entire planet."

"I heard," Luke said grimly. "And I'm truly sorry... I wish there was something we could do."

"But I was told that you personally managed to destroy one of these Death Stars before," Garak said. "If you've done it once, surely you can do it again."

"The plans for the new station show that the critical flaw has been removed," Luke said. "We're searching for a new one, but until then, there's nothing we can do. I'm sorry, I wish with all my being I could help you, but there's nothing."

Outside Garak was very controlled but underneath there was substantial fear and desperation. "I've heard you have great powers," Garak said, like a man prepared to sell his soul.

"I have some talents," Luke said. "But destroying a giant battlestation isn't one of them. Believe me that if there were any way, no matter what the cost, for me to stop that thing, I would do it in a heartbeat. But I'm as helpless as you are, Mr. Garak."

Garak's struggle was starting to become more difficult. "My people have suffered a great deal in recent years," he said. "The Maquis, the Klingons, the Dominion... we have struggled to recover again and again. I don't know if we have the strength to recover from this."

Luke felt impotent in the face of Garak's grief. "What's your New Alliance security clearance?" Luke asked.

"Level One," Garak said.

"See Leia Organa, present your credentials; she'll give you the Death Star plans, or direct you to someone who's working on the project. If you can find a weakness, Mr. Garak, tell me, and I'll do it. No matter what the personal risks I promise I'll try."

"Thank you, Mr. Skywalker," Garak said. "If Cardassia falls... I'm not sure what desperation may drive my people to do."

On the other side of the galaxy, the battle for Cardassia was already under way, and Voyager was right in the middle of it. The bridge shook as another blast from a Keldon struck. "Direct hit, Deck 9!" Ens. Kim yelled over the din.

"Return fire," Janeway yelled. Three quantum torpedoes launched from the ship and slammed into the Cardassian cruiser, blossoming into massive explosions that visibly rocked the ship. She pushed slightly at the Doctor, who was trying to heal a four-inch laceration on her forehead.

"Hold still!" he ordered, and was promptly knocked off his feet by another hit. Nearby, an overloaded conduit caused a damage control console to explode, showering the deck with debris.

Janeway righted herself, a look of bitterness on her bloodied face. "Time to end this. Fire all weapons," she ordered.

Phasers and torpedoes lanced out at the ship, tearing it apart. Within seconds it was completely vaporized. "Status," she called.

"Shields at 28%," Tuvok replied, "We've suffered some damage to our outer hull."

"Captain," Paris called, "Admiral Praji is calling for the final assault. We're to rendezvous at Cardassia Prime."

Chakotay hit his comm badge while the Doctor went to work on some of the more serious injuries on the bridge. "Chakotay to Engineering. B'Elanna, we need your people to work on getting more power to the shields. If they fought this hard here, who knows what they'll do once what get to Cardassia."

"I'm on it, commander."

Voyager slipped into hyperspace along with fifty Imperial warships and another thirty Federation vessels. Minutes went by, and then they found themselves at Cardassia Prime itself. As expected, a large force of Cardassian warships had formed a defensive perimeter around their homeworld. The crew had learned that a similar event had occurred at the end of the Dominion War while they were gone - hopefully they would meet with the same success.

"The admiral wants us to hold position here," Paris told Capt. Janeway, turning slightly in his chair.

"How're those shields, Tuvok," Chakotay asked, his voice filled with a concerned tension.

"34%," the Vulcan replied.

"I hope that's enough," Janeway said, trying not to squirm as the Doctor ran a dermal regenerator over her scalp.

"Captain," Tuvok said, "there is a broadcast on all frequencies from Adm. Praji."

"Let's hear it," said Chakotay.

They listened as the voice of the admiral echoed throughout the room. "Cardassians, you are beaten. The Emperor has instructed me personally to give you one last opportunity to surrender without further loss of life."

"Let's hope they take it," Janeway said, turning briefly to Chakotay before the Doctor grabbed her chin and yanked it straight.

"Hold still," he chastised her, "unless you'd prefer a six-inch eyebrow."

"This is your last warning. Surrender immediately, or suffer the consequences."

"Well, there's your Imperial diplomacy for you," Paris remarked from the helm. After less than a minute, the Cardassians gave their reply.

"We will not suffer subjugation again," the voice said with venom. "Not while there is still breath in our bodies. If you want our world... come and take it!"

"Stand by for attack," Janeway said.

"Captain," Kim called from his station, "there's another ship coming out of hyperspace. Spherical.... eight hundred kilometers in diameter?"

"I think you mean 'meters'," Chakotay replied, not looking.

"Negative," Tuvok replied, "sensor readings confirm the vessel is two hundred seventy million cubic kilometers."

Janeway stood up, unable to believe it. "On screen," she said. The image showed a new moon rising over Cardassia. "Magnify," she whispered. The image changed to a close up image of a near-perfect sphere, unlike anything nature ever intended. An opening was running along its circumference, and one of the halves had a gigantic indentation in the surface, a concave formation over a hundred kilometers across at least.

"Please tell me that's on our side," the Doctor said, breaking the silence that had filled the bridge.

Kim tapped some of the panels in reply. "Definitely Imperial," he confirmed. "Hyperdrive system, turbolaser emplacements, ray and particle shield generators."

"What's that- that dish-shaped area?" Chakotay asked.

"I don't know," Janeway said, stepping closer to the monster on the viewscreen. "But I have the feeling we're about to find out."

"Is everything ready, commander?" the Emperor asked.

"Yes, your highness," Moff Jerjerrod replied, looking over the final simulation results. "Our fleet is in position, we have a firing solution."

"Good," the Emperor said, the word oozing from his throat. He walked up to the image and offered a most unpleasant smile. "Fire."

Immediately the sound of beeps and levers and buttons filled the various parts of the Death Star as the ultimate weapon of the Empire, the reason this station was even built, was prepared. And a single, chilling command echoed throughout its corridors.

"Commence primary ignition."

"I'm reading an energy build up in the, the ship," Kim said. "Five thousand terrajoules....fifty thousand....fifty million?" he said with complete unbelief. "It's off the scale!"

"What's happening?" Janeway asked, staring at the ship. Suddenly, ten beams of green light appeared and focused on a single point in the center of the dish. An eleventh leapt through it from the very center and launched into the Cardassian homeworld. In the blink of an eye the beam was gone - as was the planet. They watched in shock as the entire world exploded.

"Good God," Janeway said, watching the devastation.

Chakotay stepped up behind her. "God had nothing to do with that thing."

"Debris is approaching," Tuvok said.

Janeway and Chakotay whirled. "We're a hundred thousand kilometers away!" Janeway exclaimed. "How could...." She trailed off as she saw the rocks coming. "Shields. All power to shields. Take it from life support if you have to."

The ship was bumped around by a few smaller particles, then a large asteroid struck, putting them into a spin that threatened to overwhelm the inertial dampeners. Finally, the maelstrom of rock subsided, and the crew slowly returned to its feet.

"I take it back," the Doctor said. "I don't think I want that on my side after all."

"Better on ours than on theirs," Kim said.

"Perfect," the Doctor muttered. "Should I fight for or against the mass murderers?"

Captain Picard sat stock still, his patience strained to the limits. He exchanged a brief look with Seven of Nine, who was no doubt accustomed to the irritation of human ignorance. He watched as the officers of Starfleet Command flipped through the report he and Seven had prepared days ago, and had been waiting anxiously to present for immediate discussion. Once again, the wheels of bureaucracy ground slowly. Finally, Admiral Parks closed the folder and looked at the other officers present.

"This is a very serious accusation," he said, looking at Picard and Seven with obvious concern. "Do you have any further evidence of this?"

"The evidence you have should be enough to convince you of the truth," Picard replied. "The Empire has fooled us all. They've been attempting to subvert control of the Federation, and are murdering innocent lives to do it."

"Yes, so you've alleged," Parks replied coolly. "As I said, very serious charges. However, the evidence you do have is circumstantial at best."

"Admiral, it's as plain as day what's happening," Picard said.

"I'm sorry," said Admiral Wallace, "I see theories, I see guesses. What I don't see is hard evidence."

"The data you have should be sufficient," Seven said, "and the conclusions are obvious."

"Perhaps you lack scientific objectivity," Wallace replied.

"Perhaps you lack scientific understanding," Seven retorted, her voice remaining even.

Wallace was slightly taken aback by the insult, but quickly rallied. "Or perhaps a Borg spy is trying to trick us into dividing the Federation and the Empire."

Picard had had enough and stood up. "It's bad enough that you will hold back Commander Data from his rightful position-"

"Jean-luc," Parks said trying to stop him, but Picard refused.

"-but now when unpleasant news arrives you'll only see the fact that the messenger happens to be a Borg!"

"Sit - down," Parks said sharply.

Picard slowly took his seat. "I know that this isn't what you want to hear," he said slowly. "I know because I felt the same way. But we cannot-"

"What we cannot do," Parks said, "is embrace wild theories as evidence, especially about our closest ally in the midst of what has become the largest war in human history."

"Then look for evidence," Picard said. "You'll see the unfortunate truth."

"Naturally," Wallace said. "It would only be prudent. As soon as the war is over we'll begin a formal investigation." Picard gaped. "Our resources are committed, captain. We will have to wait until this can be investigated in due course. Thank you both for bringing this to our attention. You're dismissed."

"Continuing the war would be a poor strategic decision," Seven commented in the hall as they left the meeting. "The Cardassians and Romulans could be a potential ally, should the Empire attempt to annex the Federation by force."

"Naturally," Picard said, his mood dark from this setback. They entered the turbolift. "Main level," he said.

"Then why would Starfleet wish to continue a war that could be to their own detriment?"

"Because sometimes we cannot see the things we don't wish to," Picard said. "And I'm afraid I have to include myself in that list."

"When the facts came forward," Seven said, "you were visibly distraught, but you did not deny them."

"I should have listened to Will," he said. The doors opened and the two stepped out. As they did they were greeted by the cries of an angry mob. Picard and Seven turned and saw hundreds of misshapen and angry people, screaming at them. Picard was taken aback for a moment and then quickly recognized this place. "Oh no. Not now."

"Captain," Seven remarked, visibly agitated, "what's going on?"

Suddenly a booming voice filled the chambers, overwhelming the screaming crowds, prompting them to quiet down. "This is the way the world ends. This is the way the world ends." Seven and Picard turned and saw the oddly-clad figure on a throne descending towards them. "This is the way the world ends," he said, a few laughs from the crowd being heard at his approach.

Picard gritted his teeth and looked at the figure with absolute malice. "Q."

"Not with a bang," Q smiled, "but a whimper." And the room filled with his echoing laughter.

Go To Part XXX
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