Star Trek: The Forever Variations (2/4) - "Forever Came Today" (Next Generation)
FOREVER CAME TODAY
By Bill Livingston
After a frantic search, punctuated by frustration on one side and panicked delirium on the other, the three of them had been re-united. It was a happy occasion, but one as full of questions as it was relief: "How did you get here?" "How did *I* get here?" "Have all the effects worn off?" "How long have you been looking for me?" "Do you remember anything you did?"
Then the captain turned - and saw doom approaching.
"Edith!" Picard whispered, almost choking on the word. She didn't see the danger hurtling toward her, the iron monster that would snuff out her existence.
He started forward, every instinct telling him to save her.
"Captain!" Data's preternaturally controlled voice brought him back to agonizing reality. The actions of this extraordinary woman, this believer in all that he held dear, would result in the unwitting condemnation of the world to a totalitarian horror.
But he loved her - he loved her so much, it hurt!
Then he felt Riker begin to surge past him, and he knew there was no time left at all. He had to act.
With a sob, he threw himself in front of Riker. There was the screech of tires, and he watched, horrified, as the vehicle caught Edith Keeler and threw her onto the pavement.
The snap of her neck was like the sound of his heart breaking.
He could hear the blood pounding in his ears. Riker's breath came in great ragged gasps. "Captain!" he exclaimed. "You - you stopped me! I could have saved her! And you stopped me!"
"Commander," Data said softly. "The captain did what had to be done."
"Surprisingly, he did indeed, Mr. Data," came a familiar (and unwelcome) voice.
"Q!" Riker snarled. He looked around to find Q behind him, clad in period 1930's clothing with an inappropriately smug expression on his face. "What the hell was this all about?!"
"Just a little test, Commander," he allowed. "Jean-Luc and the rest of you clots are always going on and on about how love is the most powerful force in the universe. I just wanted to see what Mon Capitane valued more - true love, or the continued existence and well-being of an entire timeline full of sentient beings."
Data cocked his head and frowned. "I admit to understanding very little about human emotion, Q. Even so, this strikes me as a particularly cruel and unfeeling 'test'."
"You're quite right, Data, it is," Q replied with asperity. "But on the other hand, I believe you'll find that the universe has very little regard for the feelings of others. Sometimes unpleasant choices have to be made - and I have to admit, Jean-Luc, you certainly made a tough one!"
Picard, who had been silently watching the crowd gather around the accident scene, apparently unaware of what was transpiring, suddenly rushed Q, pinning him savagely against a nearby wall.
"This is all a game to you, isn't it?!" he snarled, sounding very much unlike himself. "You play with the lives of us 'lesser creatures', unmindful of anything we experience! You act like some superior headmaster, trying to impress your lessons on humanity as though we're dull, unruly schoolboys, when in reality, you're nothing more than a sadistic, uncaring bully!! Are you satisfied with the outcome of this particular test, Q?!? Was Edith Keeler's senseless death instructive enough, meaningful enough to gratify you? Was it?!? WAS IT?!!?"
Riker and Data looked on in shock, not daring to speak or even barely to breathe.
Q's initial look of surprise had faded to annoyance. "I could discorporeate you for that, Picard," he said. Then, just as suddenly, Q's face registered something the captain could barely stand to see - unalloyed pity. "But under the circumstances," he added quietly, "I believe I shall let it pass. And for what it's worth, Jean-Luc - I am indeed sorry for you loss. Until we meet again." With that, Q snapped his fingers...
...And the three officers found themselves back on the bridge of the Enterprise, clad in their regular Fleet uniforms. Confusion was written on the faces of the bridge crew - except for Deanna, who wore an expression of shock and horror as the powerful turmoil of emotions in Picard crashed over her.
"Captain?" a surprised Worf exclaimed. "Commanders? How did you return here? You beamed down to the surface less than a minute ago."
"Status?" Riker asked quietly.
Worf checked the sensors. "Sir, I cannot explain it, but - confirmed. All anomalous chroniton readings have ceased."
Smoothly, Data took his seat. He turned to the captain. "Sir, what are your orders?"
For a long moment, Picard said nothing. Then, with a voice heavy with misery, he simply said, "Set course away from this planet. Starbase 121. Denobula. The Klingon Empire. Anywhere."
Data said nothing, but merely turned to the console. "Course to Starbase 121 plotted and laid in."
"Engage," he said softly, "And get us the hell away from this God-forsaken place!"
And with that, Jean-Luc Picard retreated to his Ready Room.
By Bill Livingston
After a frantic search, punctuated by frustration on one side and panicked delirium on the other, the three of them had been re-united. It was a happy occasion, but one as full of questions as it was relief: "How did you get here?" "How did *I* get here?" "Have all the effects worn off?" "How long have you been looking for me?" "Do you remember anything you did?"
Then the captain turned - and saw doom approaching.
"Edith!" Picard whispered, almost choking on the word. She didn't see the danger hurtling toward her, the iron monster that would snuff out her existence.
He started forward, every instinct telling him to save her.
"Captain!" Data's preternaturally controlled voice brought him back to agonizing reality. The actions of this extraordinary woman, this believer in all that he held dear, would result in the unwitting condemnation of the world to a totalitarian horror.
But he loved her - he loved her so much, it hurt!
Then he felt Riker begin to surge past him, and he knew there was no time left at all. He had to act.
With a sob, he threw himself in front of Riker. There was the screech of tires, and he watched, horrified, as the vehicle caught Edith Keeler and threw her onto the pavement.
The snap of her neck was like the sound of his heart breaking.
He could hear the blood pounding in his ears. Riker's breath came in great ragged gasps. "Captain!" he exclaimed. "You - you stopped me! I could have saved her! And you stopped me!"
"Commander," Data said softly. "The captain did what had to be done."
"Surprisingly, he did indeed, Mr. Data," came a familiar (and unwelcome) voice.
"Q!" Riker snarled. He looked around to find Q behind him, clad in period 1930's clothing with an inappropriately smug expression on his face. "What the hell was this all about?!"
"Just a little test, Commander," he allowed. "Jean-Luc and the rest of you clots are always going on and on about how love is the most powerful force in the universe. I just wanted to see what Mon Capitane valued more - true love, or the continued existence and well-being of an entire timeline full of sentient beings."
Data cocked his head and frowned. "I admit to understanding very little about human emotion, Q. Even so, this strikes me as a particularly cruel and unfeeling 'test'."
"You're quite right, Data, it is," Q replied with asperity. "But on the other hand, I believe you'll find that the universe has very little regard for the feelings of others. Sometimes unpleasant choices have to be made - and I have to admit, Jean-Luc, you certainly made a tough one!"
Picard, who had been silently watching the crowd gather around the accident scene, apparently unaware of what was transpiring, suddenly rushed Q, pinning him savagely against a nearby wall.
"This is all a game to you, isn't it?!" he snarled, sounding very much unlike himself. "You play with the lives of us 'lesser creatures', unmindful of anything we experience! You act like some superior headmaster, trying to impress your lessons on humanity as though we're dull, unruly schoolboys, when in reality, you're nothing more than a sadistic, uncaring bully!! Are you satisfied with the outcome of this particular test, Q?!? Was Edith Keeler's senseless death instructive enough, meaningful enough to gratify you? Was it?!? WAS IT?!!?"
Riker and Data looked on in shock, not daring to speak or even barely to breathe.
Q's initial look of surprise had faded to annoyance. "I could discorporeate you for that, Picard," he said. Then, just as suddenly, Q's face registered something the captain could barely stand to see - unalloyed pity. "But under the circumstances," he added quietly, "I believe I shall let it pass. And for what it's worth, Jean-Luc - I am indeed sorry for you loss. Until we meet again." With that, Q snapped his fingers...
...And the three officers found themselves back on the bridge of the Enterprise, clad in their regular Fleet uniforms. Confusion was written on the faces of the bridge crew - except for Deanna, who wore an expression of shock and horror as the powerful turmoil of emotions in Picard crashed over her.
"Captain?" a surprised Worf exclaimed. "Commanders? How did you return here? You beamed down to the surface less than a minute ago."
"Status?" Riker asked quietly.
Worf checked the sensors. "Sir, I cannot explain it, but - confirmed. All anomalous chroniton readings have ceased."
Smoothly, Data took his seat. He turned to the captain. "Sir, what are your orders?"
For a long moment, Picard said nothing. Then, with a voice heavy with misery, he simply said, "Set course away from this planet. Starbase 121. Denobula. The Klingon Empire. Anywhere."
Data said nothing, but merely turned to the console. "Course to Starbase 121 plotted and laid in."
"Engage," he said softly, "And get us the hell away from this God-forsaken place!"
And with that, Jean-Luc Picard retreated to his Ready Room.