[AUTHOR'S NOTE: This SOLAR WIND adventure takes place after the events chronicled in "The Apocalypse Scenario" (POWER STAR 110), "Souls in Tension" (POWER STAR 115), and "Federation's Fear" (POWER STAR 123), all of which comprised "The Deathstorm Trilogy."]
("Space: the ultimate challenge. These are the voyages of the starship SOLAR WIND. Its mission: to promote peace and understanding between the Tholian Assembly and the United Federation of Planets, to protect that peace, to be a light in the darkness in a hostile region of the galaxy, to boldly take one step further in the realm of exploration.")
(First Officer's log, stardate 49329.2. Commander Banner in temporary command. Captain Morris is on Earth to meet with the Federation Council, concerning the threat presented by the Old Ones, with whom the SOLAR WIND had a violent engagement two months ago.
On a more immediate note, we are welcoming four new officers to fill key positions aboard the SOLAR WIND. As the First Officer, and currently the acting captain of this starship, I have instructed them to meet me in my office.)
One by one, four new officers arrived and waited in the hall near Commander Gray Banner's office. When Banner arrived, Ensign Dalek Sabok greeted him calmly, but in deeply-felt words, "Commander, I am excited to receive the honor of serving aboard the SOLAR WIND."
Records Officer Lieutenant (junior grade) Anthony Van Pyre, a tall, dark-haired young man with a strange pallor, was so absorbed in the SOLAR WIND's current crew manifest he'd accessed on his PADD that he didn't greet anyone. The red yoke on his black uniform suited him so well, nobody quibbled about which department color he was really supposed to wear.
Although she said nothing about her observation, Ensign Kaleah Teydan sensed the Force emanating from Ensign Sabok, and a strictly-suppressed dark power from Lieutenant Van Pyre; she also sensed that Major Shane Geaslin, an Immortal, was ever on his guard, with his sword-hand always near his katana. He sensed the other powers also, but could not distinguish them, hence his apprehension.
With scarcely enough hesitation to reveal her "feeling around," Teydan echoed Sabok's sentiments, "I, too, feel honored to become a member of this illustrious crew."
"Thank you, Ensign," Banner responded with just a hint of a smile. "It's good to know you're looking forward to your assignment." He escorted the group into his office, then sat behind his desk, saying, "Please be seated." The First Officer gave a rehearsed speech. "The U.S.S. SOLAR WIND is honored to have Starfleet officers who have displayed excellence and dedication in their duties. The combination of all your different backgrounds, and your training in Starfleet operations, is what gives the Federation of Planets and Starfleet their strength: diversity and unity - like the Vulcan IDIC. I know you will perform your duties to the best of your exemplary abilities. Let your time aboard the SOLAR WIND inspire each one of you to be a 'Light in the Darkness.'"
The slim, reserved First Officer stood and shook hands with each of the four new officers of the SOLAR WIND.
Gray could not help shuddering slightly at shaking Van Pyre's deathly-cold, white hand, but he had never read vampire stories while growing up on Vulcan, nor did he read them these days, so he didn't make that connection known by "gothic" writers.
Banner paused and told the officers, "I'd like to talk to each one of you privately, so please wait in the lounge next door. You will be dismissed at the end of your interview. Lieutenant Van Pyre, you're first."
* * *
"Lieutenant Anthony Van Pyre, Records and Acquisitions Officer...you have obtained supplies and items which no one else was able to find; your cross-referencing system has become the standard operating procedure. I'm impressed."
Van Pyre answered, "Thank you, sir."
"You are experienced in undercover operations. Starfleet prefers to avoid situations that require them, but it's a good idea to have crewmembers experienced in covert work."
Reluctantly, Van Pyre responded, "I'll be at your disposal."
"Please send Major Geaslin in."
* * *
After a brief talk, Banner accessed the major's file. Geaslin waited, calm as a Vulcan. "Major Shane Geaslin, Starfleet Marine. Your records show you were rescued by the starship LANGLEY, and you took the helm during a Romulan attack, which led you to join Starfleet. Your record reflects your excellence in piloting and tactical defense. The SOLAR WIND will be a force to be reckoned with, thanks to your drop ship, NAUSICAA, that's docked on her lower hull, but I hope we don't need it too often. Please send Ensign Teydan in....."
* * *
Ensign Teydan was a communications officer with the telepathy and doe-eyes of Betazoids and the spirituality and nose-ridges of Bajorans.
The First Officer said, "Your record indicates that you are highly skilled in communications technology and procedures. Growing up aboard the U.S.S. CLINTON with your father has given you a complete understanding of starship protocol."
"Yes, sir. Starfleet is my home."
"I hope you won't take this as an improper question, Ensign: has telepathy helped you in communications?"
"It isn't improper, sir. Betazoids pride themselves on the routine use of telepathy for communication at home instead of speech. I use telepathy but I respect everyone's privacy."
The First Officer nodded, "Thank you, Ensign. Please send in Ensign Sabok." Banner retrieved the next file.
* * *
"Ensign Dalek Sabok, your file is shorter than most but you have extensive experience with most Federation starship types, as well as most of the known engine models in the galaxy. You are also highly skilled in computers and their subsystems. Your supervisors commend your troubleshooting. Our chief engineer, RaJa, will appreciate your skill."
The young man from a distant galaxy in an alternate universe, smiled, saying, "I look forward to working in Engineering."
* * *
Down on deck 6, Susan Green sat at her desk in her living quarters, going over the logged events of two months ago - at least, what she was allowed to review without additional clearance.
Her attention wandered from the log. It was hard to believe another Sue Green from another universe was out there, on Earth. It seemed unreal, even though she had met her counterpart in person, here aboard the SOLAR WIND. But that Susan Green was tougher, more like a soldier. She got along better with the alternate-universe Hunter Quinn, who was a soldier instead of being the SOLAR WIND's Security Chief. Those two were on Earth with Captain Morris, coordinating Starfleet's new security measures against the Old Ones.
While she drummed her fingers just below the computer's touch-sensitive panel, Susan mused, Somehow, I always imagined that the future would be more serene and ordered than my time, but it's anything but! The 24th Century's more dangerous than the 20th Century! Life was hazardous during the Eugenics Wars, with that genetically-engineered dictator Saddam Hussein attacking other genetic supermen like Khan Noonian Singh, and Khan fighting back, King Juan Carlos bombing Quaddafi, and that creepy Colonel Green ruining my family's good name - but the Old Ones made them look like kids bickering over video games! Sue shook her head, muttering, "What am I doing here? I'm not an astronaut; I am not seeking new life or new civilizations! I just want to go home."
Suddenly, Susan asked, "Computer, does current theory or technology exist that can send a person back in time to Earth in the year 1994 A.D.?"
The computer scanned its seemingly endless records for a few seconds, then responded, "Affirmative. However, all the methods of temporal transportation on record entail grave risks; most have low probabilities of success."
The woman's heart sank; moodily, she got up and paced the floor of her quarters, whose metallic grey furnishings and flat grey panels seemed to become cold prison walls, when her dream of going back to the 20th Century faded away...but wait, the computer was saying something which her mind did not quite register at first. Susan pivoted, snapping, "Repeat that!"
"One alien technology exists which has a success rate of 99 percent."
"Oh! Computer, display all the relevant data on this terminal."
Susan was so excited and overjoyed at her find that she didn't stop to think about the one major obstacle to her plan: she had fallen in love with Commander Banner.
* * *
STARDATE 49329.2.
Captain Donald Morris met with the Federation Council. Some Council members were pale with fear, while others shouted at each other as they debated the meaning of the Old Ones' incursion.
President Jaresh-Inyo pounded his gavel. Although they sounded anything but gentle now, he commanded, "Order, gentlebeings, we must have order in these proceedings!" His hairless grey countenance pinkened with annoyance. When the Council members finally quieted themselves, he went on, "I call upon Captain Donald Morris to report on the SOLAR WIND's encounter with the Old Ones. Captain?"
After a few taps on his PADD, Morris related the course of events step by step, from the bombing of Starbase 624, to the Tholian insurrectionists' attack on the ship, which led to his decision to take the runabout EUPHRATES to the Tholian homeworld to appeal to the Tholian Assembly, but being waylaid by the artificial spacial rift which pulled the EUPHRATES into the Old Ones' reality.
The first inquiry came from Sedak of Vulcan. "Captain Morris, are these the same 'Old Ones' to whom Captain James T. Kirk referred in his logs, stardate 2712.4 and stardate 3018.2?"
"Yes, Sedak, they were those Old Ones."
Ambassador Heather Robinson of Earth asked, "Do you expect the Old Ones to attack us again?"
"Hunter Quinn of the Old Ones' reality has warned us to expect further attacks. They are an aggressive, warlike race."
The ambassador of Tellar growled her question, "What is our state of battle-readiness?"
Morris assured them, "The Tholians and the security team headed by Lt. Commander Shanoch in that sector are more than adequate for the immediate future."
Admiral Mark Robertson said, "A contingency plan will be put in place in case such a thing happens again."
"Yes, I heartily agree with that assessment, sir," Morris said, nodding as he went on, "We will have greater success in the defense of the Federation when we are prepared for any further incursions by the Old Ones. We have a greater advantage now, with three freedom fighters who came from that other dimension, who will advise us as to the best defenses against their conquerers. The Federation and its allies have advantages that Hunter Quinn's people lacked: their worlds were already defeated, depleted, and demoralized; the Federation and its allies have better resources and our united forces have greater determination to preserve our freedom." Morris felt a little like Winston Churchill addressing the nation.
Counselor Breend radiated serenity, to exert a calming influence upon those on the Federation Council, who were shaken about the turn of events. Gradually, the Federation Council members settled down and began to talk things through and formulate agreements among their respective worlds, to face the danger with a united front.
In a hushed aside, while his superiors talked among themselves, Captain Morris told his wife, "I'm sorry I've brought you to Earth, dear; you're getting a bigger workload than you'd have on a starbase, or aboard the SOLAR WIND."
"I had to come, Donald; you couldn't get through this without me. A trip through Hell would be a vacation so long as you're with me, beloved."
"I wouldn't call this Hell, Breend. Believe me, the Old Ones' world fits the description much more accurately. And I would never drag our baby or her mother through Hell."
Finally, President Jaresh-Inyo adjourned the proceedings for the day. The Council rose, while informal discussions began among individuals.
Admiral Mark Robertson approached Donald and Breend. "I'd like you to come see Commander Radlinski and me at my place in San Francisco," he said before hurrying after the President.
* * *
That evening, Donald and Breend Morris (who Don affectionately called Brenda) called at the Admiral's bayside home. Robertson was cordial as he escorted his guests into his family's apartment. They paused to gaze out of the window/wall, appreciating the splendor of the Golden Gate Bridge rising from the fog of the bay in muted shades of yellow-orange, blue, and gray.
As they turned from the window and made themselves comfortable on the sleek, neutrally-toned sofa (alongside Commander Angela Radlinski), Robertson's wife Katherine served hot, comforting drinks to warm them from the chilly Bay weather.
"You really stirred up the Federation Council with your report on the Old Ones, Don," the Admiral remarked. "I haven't seen the Council that upset since the Dominion threatened Earth. I do hope that your alternate Susan Green, Hunter Quinn, and Harry Kim can really help the Federation defend our universe from the Old Ones."
* * *
(Medical log, stardate 49329.8. CMO L'Aura recording.
More and more interesting physical types come to my attention as the United Federation of Planets grows. The humanoid form may seem limited to some, but a physician is privileged to see Nature's infinite variations on a theme. To quote my favorite Vulcan, it's "fascinating!"
The routine examinations, emergencies, and other duties of a Chief Medical Officer keep me busy. The SOLAR WIND's crew is very health-and-safety-conscious, but the occasional disaster or military encounter requires my medical attention.
The SOLAR WIND has recently acquired additional crewmembers necessitating more Starfleet-regulation medical examinations, as well as the inclusion of the new crewmembers' respective medical histories in my computer files. I'm waiting for notification from the Captain and crewmembers in question.)
Doctor L'Aura needed a break from her duties, so she logged out of Sickbay and headed for the lounge called "The Escape Pod." When she passed a tall, dark-haired officer wearing a command-red uniform and a sickly pallor, her medical instincts demanded action. She turned and called, "Excuse me, Lieutenant..."
He stopped and acknowledged her. "Yes? Can I help you?" He hadn't even noticed the short doctor until now; like most tall people, he looked right over her head. She would be a midget on Gallifrey.
"I'm Chief Medical Officer L'Aura. And you are..?"
"Lieutenant Anthony Van Pyre, Chief Records and Acquisitions Officer."
"Oh, yes. Well--according to my records, Lieutenant, you haven't received your regulation physical examination yet. I really must emphasize it, particularly when I suspect an illness."
That alerted the R & A Officer that he had to conceal his supernatural ailment from the ship's medical staff. He didn't know what L'Aura might do if she discovered that he was a half-Gallifreyan vampire, but he didn't want to find out the hard way. Quickly, he replied, "I'm sorry, Doctor, but invasive medical examinations are against my religion. I had an exam before I came aboard. You only need to check my records." (He knew his records would be in the SOLAR WIND's computer files because he had forged and uploaded those records himself.)
"Hmm. Well, I don't disregard your religious convictions, but I hope you don't suffer any injuries that require an examination."
Van Pyre shrugged. "I'm sorry, Doctor, but I'm supposed to report to Commander Banner right now. May I be dismissed?"
"Oh, yes, of course, you're dismissed."
* * *
Van Pyre met Banner to discuss the acquisition of supplies at Deep Space Thirty. When the R & A Officer left, Banner proceeded with the next responsibility on his agenda.
Tholian Ambassador Thurit was on his way home from a Federation meeting. The Ambassador was a hot, crystalline mass enclosed in his protective environmental armor. It was time to escort the Ambassador to the runabout that would return him to Tholia.
The comm unit on Commander Banner's desk terminal chirped for attention, so he acknowledged it. "Commander Banner here."
In a Tholian's chiming chorus-voice, Thurit virtually ordered, "I require Commander Banner to pilot my transport."
Banner agreed to do so, to avoid a diplomatic incident with the notoriously protocol-obsessed Tholian Assembly; besides, honoring another world's ambassador was standard operating procedure. Banner replied, with a pasted-on smile, "Ambassador Thurit, I will be honored to pilot the runabout."
When the Tholian signed off, Gray sighed. Hmm. Now he needed a co-pilot. Susan Green had experience with Tholians, and a trip like this would give him a little time to get to know a certain psychologist better. Banner's smile became genuine as he contacted Susan by way of his commbadge.
* * *
The receiver of Banner's call also smiled as she responded, "Can you tell me more about this trip over lunch, Commander?"
"Okay, Susan. I'll meet you there in ten minutes."
The table in Susan's quarters was set for two, and Susan was ordering their lunch from the replicator when Gray Banner came to her door. They sat down across from each other and talked about the trip. "This is a short voyage," the commander told his pretty lady friend. "It will take about two days at maximum warp for a runabout, so pack for four days. The Ambassador will stay in one of the cabins, enclosed in a special environmental unit, equipped with a commbadge so he can communicate with us, so you can monitor his condition."
"Oh, joy, but the shoe is on the other foot now. I remember when I was the one enclosed in a special environment, but I was more isolated from the Tholians - they didn't have commbadges or translators. Not that they're the most sociable companions for humans."
"Now, now...We will be on a diplomatic mission, Susan, we have to respect our prospective passenger," the commander chided his co-pilot. "We will meet Ambassador Thurit and two security officers at 1500 hours today. That gives you two whole hours to pack."
"Oh, you are so generous! I only have three outfits on this ship, so I'll take all of them and my toothbrush. I'll have Nurse Cullens take care of my kittens, since they know her so well anyway. Oh, and I'll have to cancel an appointment with Doctor L'Aura."
* * *
Banner and Susan met Ambassador Thurit in Shuttlebay 1 on deck 17 at 1450 hours. Security Officers John Deere Lemon and his wife Sue Christian provided an honor guard while the Chief Medical Officer ran the last check on the Tholian's environmental suit and assisted her as the ambassador boarded the SHANNON.
Finally, Banner and Susan boarded the SHANNON, took their places on its small flight deck, and ran the pre-launch checks. Their commbadges chirped and the calm voice of the Security Chief called, "Lieutenant Commander Quinn to Commander Banner and Ms. Green, good luck. See you in four days."
* * *
Quinn relaxed in the Captain's Chair, attentively listening to the various reports from Ops, Engineering, etc. Ensign Itram rounded the figure for the runabout's engine efficiency, but Quinn only shook his head and gently reproved him, "Let's have the whole accurate figure, Ensign." The young man chewed his lower lip in mild chagrin, but he obeyed.
* * *
The computer at the commander's station ran the pre-launch check, going through the list of warp nacelles, navigational computer function, helm control functions, steering thrusters, slowing thrusters, integral shielding, ablative armor, defensive shielding, weapons, and so forth. When the computer gave the green light for launch, Banner contacted the crewman on duty at the hangar deck, who opened the shuttlebay doors, then the commander piloted the runabout SHANNON out and away from the SOLAR WIND - which had dropped out of warp to drop the runabout. There were rainbow streaks of light in space as both ships went into warp.
* * *
Shortly after the runabout disappeared from the aft sensors, Itram announced, "Incoming communication from Starfleet, sir."
"Put it on the main screen, Ensign."
Admiral Adjutant Randolph addressed the SOLAR WIND. After some official preliminaries, he reported, "Several ships have been attacked near the Tholian border and some have been lost. The attacking ships match the description of Chakuun privateers, suspected of piracy and destruction with the intent to salvage equipment. You are ordered to change course to locate and apprehend these aggressors. Starfleet out."
The lieutenant commander sighed, "Man, I hope we don't get too far away to help if the SHANNON needs us. These coordinates are almost on the other end of the Tholian border from the SHANNON."
* * *
"I'm setting the course for Tholia now," Banner told Susan, tapping the appropriate controls.
Susan nodded, then checked on the Ambassador, asking, "Ambassador Thurit, are you experiencing any discomfort?"
Predictably, Thurit replied, "Refrain from unnecessary verbal contact; petty humanoid social niceties have no relevance to me."
Susan closed the channel to the Tholian's cabin and made a mocking "stuck up face," which Gray imitated for her, making Susan laugh and forget the emotional sting of being snubbed.
"Don't let him get to you," Gray assured Susan. "He's socially inept. Hmm, it's already time to contact the ship." He spoke to the computer, "Open subspace channel to the SOLAR WIND."
"SOLAR WIND here, Commander Hunter Quinn in command. How are things aboard the SHANNON? Have you encountered anything unusual?"
"No, the SHANNON has not encountered any difficulty so far. We will keep you posted on our progress. Commander Banner out."
"He sounded worried," Susan noted. "I wonder why?"
"Well, he is commanding the SOLAR WIND. That is a demanding task. Commander Banner to Ambassador Thurit, we have established contact with the SOLAR WIND. All is proceeding as planned."
Thurit responded, "That is to be expected. It is unnecessary to relate an obvious state of being. Ambassador Thurit out."
"I guess you have been duly reprimanded," Susan remarked to Gray.
"Yes, who would have thought a being with a body temperature of 275 degrees Centigrade could be so COLD?" The two humans snickered and made the "stuck up" faces at each other again.
* * *
Two days later, Banner was beginning to record the mission log, saying, "Stardate 49330.6. The SHANNON has traversed 58% of the distance to Tholia...," when Susan pointed out a flashing readout on the long-range sensors.
The Commander nodded and continued the report, "Long range sensors indicate a vessel 520 meters in length, approaching the SHANNON at Warp 7, 1,000 meters and closing. At 10X magnification, I have identified the ship as a Chakuun vessel. Certain factions of the Chakuun have been suspected of piracy and illegal salvaging. Log out."
No sooner than the Starfleet commander closed the mission log, the Chakuun ship closed the distance to 400 meters. The Chakuun commander opened a hailing frequency on an audiovisual channel (revealing a strangely minotaur-like crew with protective metal suits) and proudly announced himself in drawling Standard, "I am Commander E'Kiir of the ULARI. Surrender your vessel or be destroyed."
"This is Commander Gray Banner of the USS SOLAR WIND, in command of the runabout SHANNON. What is the purpose of this unprovoked attack?"
Commander E'Kiir examined his hoovelike appendage and responded, "You have violated Chakuun space lanes. The penalty is confiscation of your vehicle and equipment. The high value of your equipment will be sufficient to cover parole for all the trespassers aboard the offending vessel. Stand by to be boarded or you will be destroyed."
"The Chakuun do not have any legal claims over any portion of space here; this space belongs to the Tholian Assembly, of whom we have a representative aboard this very moment. If you attack this vessel, Starfleet will retaliate and curtail your operations and the Tholian Assembly will also retaliate for your attack on its ambassador."
But rather than backing down, the ULARI fired weapons on the SHANNON. "Red Alert," the First Officer snapped, "Red Alert! Shields up, evasive maneuvers!" This activated the runabout's defensive computer program, changing from white illumination to red lights, raising defensive shields, activating defensive navigation programs and arming all available weaponry on battle-ready status.
Banner executed brilliant maneuvers to evade the larger vehicle (which looked like a hideous, gigantic dragonfly) but the Chakuun weapons had superior targeting ability and hit the runabout's shields, and the ULARI's phasers were unexpectedly powerful, because when these weapons hit the runabout's ablative shields, the shields were damaged, endangering hull integrity. The pirate ship appeared to be defeating them faster than Banner had expected. Gray boosted integral shielding, then told Susan, "Deploy the log buoy and send a distress signal to the SOLAR WIND."
Gamely, Susan tried, but she shook her head and reported, very "Starfleet," "Commander, the subspace radio is damaged."
"Acknowledged." Gray sighed. "Susan, we are in real trouble now. I hope you understand that we will have to do whatever we can now to survive. I'll try to find a suitable class M planet to land on."
"I understand, Gray. At least we have each other."
Their commbadges were working just fine: now Thurit complained about the delay, saying, "This diversion is unacceptable. Proceed to Tholia without further delay."
Clearing her throat to conceal an inappropriate, nervous laugh, Susan informed the Tholian, "This delay is unavoidable. We are under attack and this runabout has been damaged." Thurit made no reply.
Gray thought about the irony in the fact that the race the Tholians once enslaved as shock troops was the race that was causing the delay now.
After a search with the long-range sensors for a nearby star system with a Class M planet to land on, Banner reported, "I've located the only planet we can reach in the SHANNON's present condition. It's Arminius II, a forbidden planet. I'm sure Starfleet will consider the extenuating circumstances of our violation of the orders to stay away from it."
Susan just had to ask, "Why is this planet forbidden?"
"According to previous planet surveys, ancient Iconian technologies still exist on this world, which was once part of their empire. The Iconians built the Guardian of Forever and other temporal-spatial portals, so it is vitally important to protect them from those who would tamper with history to alter all of time." As he said this, Gray silently wondered if Doctor L'Aura's Gallifreyan relatives, the Time Lords, knew about the Iconians. He did not notice a certain gleam in Susan Green's eyes.
About twenty minutes later, the runabout SHANNON reached the orbit of Arminius II. Working quickly with a grim expression, the Commander told his two traveling companions, "Brace yourselves for a very rough landing: the stabilizers and thrusters were damaged by the Chakuun weapons." The landing was rough; the SHANNON bounced over uneven topography and architectual remnants, until friction and inertial dampeners slowed it.
The human passengers were fortunate they had worn the safety straps and protective force fields, but they were still knocked out by their vehicle's repeated impacts with the stony surface. A few minutes later, the two humans regained consciousness. First, they made sure they were not seriously injured, then they slowly began to move about. Then Susan went to check on Thurit in his cabin.
The Tholian ambassador had quickly fastened his environmental unit to the deck with clamps, but the violent landing had wrenched him loose; the unit was damaged. Susan surprised herself by shedding more tears over Thurit than she had expected, as she activated her commbadge and reported, "Ambassador Thurit is dead; his environment was breached. The energy that comprised most of his being was lost."
They observed a moment of silence before they started survival tactics.
The first step in survival was to survey the conditions which they had to work with. A 360-degree scan revealed the dusty gray, quasi-Hellenic columns of an Iconian civilization's ruins and a certain Guardian-like time gateway.
As they approached the roughly circular upright stone, Susan asked Gray, "What on Earth is that?!"
But Gray did not answer her, the object did, in a deep baritone, metallic voice, "I AM THE GUARDIAN OF FOREVER."
"Then there is more than one Guardian of Forever, is that right?" Banner inquired.
"YES AND NO." Like the Guardian of Forever which Captain James T. Kirk encountered, this one also gave enigmatic answers.
"Can you display our history, too?"
The mysterious artifact answered by presenting a visual history lesson of Earth's past from cavemen to starship commanders, with a segment which Susan recognized as the history of Bay City, Michigan. She chuckled at the sight of a certain notorious street lined with saloons during the nineteenth century, and sighed at the legendary, spectacular fireworks displays she had seen in her own lifetime there, as they sparkled in the center of the ancient time portal. Then it offered, "YOU MAY STEP THROUGH AND EXPERIENCE ANY TIME YOU WISH TO SEE."
Banner replied, "Thank you, Guardian, but we must consider your offer very carefully." While Susan still watched the portal, Gray saw the yearning homesickness in her tear-glittered eyes. "Come, Susan, it's getting cold. We should eat something and get some sleep before we make any major decisions."
A darker night fell as they turned and walked back to the SHANNON.
* * *
The wind moaned around the runabout that night, as Gray and Susan shared a picnic lunch Susan had replicated before the attack. As they lounged on one of the bunks, Banner asked Susan, "How did you get the idea to make these things?" He nibbled on a salad, then pulled a piece of tomato off a shish-kebab and tasted it.
"Well, I have noticed one thing about life in your 24th century," Susan replied, "anytime your ships are attacked, the replicators are the first things to malfunction. Your ships get attacked a lot. And those emergency rations are nasty! I decided to be prepared with some good food to eat. Would you like some oxtail stew? This champagne is from a good year, and I love these hollow-stemmed glasses; you can see the little bubbles rising to the surface." She looped her arm around Gray's arm and sipped at her glass. Smiling, they gazed into one another's eyes, then sipped their champagne together.
"You think of everything, Suze, this is beautiful. What's the occasion?"
"I'm sorry to spoil everything," Susan stalled. "But I - this was kind of a farewell dinner. Remember when Doctor L'Aura kidded me about hiding in corners and clicking my heels, saying, 'There's no place like home, there's no place like home,' like Dorothy in Oz? Well, when we found that Iconian Guardian here, it was like having Dorothy's ruby slippers appearing on my feet. I realized that I want to go home so much, I can't face going back to the ship and yet I can't bear to leave you. I don't know what to do."
This announcement seemed to coat Gray's heart in ice, but he remembered an ancient saying to the effect that if you really love someone, you will give them the freedom to leave when they need to. He comforted her. "You don't have to make the decision tonight. Maybe you will think more clearly after a good night's sleep. Let's clean this up, and turn in, all right, Suze?"
Gray's reaction amazed Susan, but she nodded wordlessly, agreeing.
* * *
The SHANNON's computer woke them eight hours later. While Gray worked on repairing the damaged runabout, Susan approached the time portal amid the Iconian ruins. She wondered whether the machine-being could pinpoint the time and place where she belonged. Then she took a deep breath and addressed the Guardian, "I am Susan Green and I was accidentally brought to this time through a temporal anomaly by a wormhole, so can I return to my own home in my own time, 1994, by going through this portal?" She felt like a contestant on JEOPARDY when she had to phrase her story as a question.
The deep, metallic voice replied, "GO THROUGH THE PORTAL AND YOUR LIFE WILL CONTINUE AS IT WAS."
While Susan was approaching the Guardian, the computer warned, "Chakuun shuttles have landed...90 kilometers from this site at coordinates 38.78." Banner scanned their surroundings and was alarmed by Susan's absence from the runabout. She was near the Iconian artifact and the Chakuun pirates were stalking her. Charging up his phaser, Banner hurried to Sue's rescue, aiming only to warn the Chakuun off at first then stunning one of them, but they kept coming.
The only real retreat was through the portal. Susan motioned Gray to come; he decided to follow her. He was close behind Susan when she took a running jump and vanished into the foggy portal, but one of the Chakuun crewmen barred his way and shot at the strange artifact, destroying the portal of metallic stone that had stood among the ruins for thousands of years.
There was no time at this moment for the magnitude of this loss to sink into Gray's mind; he was fighting for his life against this foe. Just when he thought he was losing, Gray felt the grip of the transporter effect as the SOLAR WIND beamed him off the planet.
* * *
Aboard the starship SOLAR WIND, Gray Banner slumped in a chair in his quarters, while Lt. Commander Hunter Quinn leaned forward in a chair across from him, telling him, "Sir, this is just one of those things that cannot be helped. I suspected that the Chakuun pirates were skulking around Arminius II, but Starfleet Security had not indicated that the Chakuun had improved their weapons technology enough to be a threat to a runabout with phasers and ablative shielding, and I sure didn't think a runabout would be an attractive thing for pirates. Man! It's a good thing we came along when we did. It took quantum torpedoes to stop their ships. Oh, I'm sure you'll be glad to know that Captain Morris is back from the conference on Earth. He's pretty optimistic that we can stop any further incursions by the Old Ones, but there are rumors of trouble from the Dominion in the Beta Quadrant. Oh, and don't worry, Starfleet won't press charges in regards to your visit to Arminius II, or Ambassador Thurit's death."
Gray hardly heard him...he was thinking about Susan.
* * *
When Susan jumped through the timegate, everything looked wavy to her, like looking through the sides of a swirled glass pop bottle, then, suddenly, she was back home in her apartment, where it all began.
Assuming that Gray Banner was right behind her, Susan said to him, "My walls are still 'Seafoam' green, my sofa and chair are still beige, my kitchen is still little, and Bay City, Michigan, is still busy...My cats are coming to see me and they're purring up a storm!"
She turned to tell Gray, "Oh dear, my stereo is a smoking heap of electronic parts!" but Gray wasn't there. Her heart sank like a stone in water, as she realized that something had prevented him from coming with her. She was alone again, except for her two cats. Susan sighed, "Oh, well...there's still no place like home."
As she thought of Gray, so alone in the 24th Century, she began crying, remembering something she read once - it was an ancient blessing of the 18th Egyptian Dynasty.
"God be between you and harm in all the empty places you walk."
THE END