The captain nodded. "Parallel universes. Statistically, since there are finite combinations in which particles can react physically, there will be infinite such universes as ours. A former crew mate of ours had some hard experience with that theory--he went from parallel universe to parallel universe until he was finally able to find his way home."
Spock nodded. "As have I. How often these alternative time tracks will appear is another matter. There could be, and most likely would be, trillions upon trillions of 'universes' completely unlike our own before one would be similar enough that the same events would occur."
Silently, Picard looked at the alien computer console a long moment, then asked the question he'd only now
considered. "In how many other universes will I make this same mistake?"
"An infinite number," Spock replied.
"So not only have I destroyed this universe, but others." The captain's voice was bitter, and he didn't mind if his crew knew it. His crew--they went about their jobs, La Forge still working in engineering, Riker coordinating damage control on various decks, Crusher treating wounded... life went on for them. And outside outside the sphere it did not.
"If I may, sir," Spock said, "those would be other Pi cards, in other universes."
Finally risen from his seat at the science station, Data stepped down to the lower bridge. "With respect, Ambassador, we cannot be assured of that. I have been studying the data from the alien console and a fear has been realized. The dimensional scans that have been taking place were not merely universe-wide, but existence-wide. All universes, preceding and proceeding, were being examined by the sphere. By ending those processes prematurely, we may have hastened the end of not merely our universe, but all of them.
"Existence itself is being reset. Within their respective time periods, all universes will revert to mono- blocs, essentially rebooting every universe and starting it over."
"Every universe?" Picard shook his head, not wanting to believe it. "All of them?"
"At least those I have been able to scan, sir."
Picard marveled at the thought: All that had happened in his universe would eventually play out again
in some other universe, and perhaps in an infinite number of others as long as matter energy existed.
More riveting still was the notion that other Picards would make the same mistake he had--his fate was not only to take the blame for ending his own universe, but infinite others.
"How could I have done this?" Mouth agape, the captain of the Enterprise grappled with the concept of not something as simple as the death of himself, his crew, his ship, or a planet, a people, a race, or even a galaxy, or a universe .. . no, those were all too small to describe the burden on his shoulders. He'd decided the fate of the universe, and in doing so, ended it for untold numbers of beings across time.
He couldn't let it end, not all things, everywhere. He couldn't let infinite universes die as he survived. "There must be a way to undo this," Picard almost growled. "A process is taking place--it can be stopped." Rising, he looked at Spock and Data and even Folan, and pointed to the alien kiosk in the center of his bridge. "Find it."
Chapter Twenty-one
U.5.5. Enterprise, NCC 17D1E Romulan space Caltiskan system
Now there are those in some cultures who sit in prison cells and await their own deaths as decreed by law, sometimes for just reasons, and sometimes not. When not, their burden must be heavy and ponderous, suffocating and overwhelming. Such was Picard's now. Not because he awaited his own end, but because he awaited the end of every being he could imagine, and an infinite number he could not.
Pulling the captain's thoughts back to the bridge, Data tapped Picard's shoulder. "Captain? We know more now."
Only allowing himself the slightest scrap of hope, Picard looked up from his command chair. "Tell me we can stop this, Data."
The android nodded. "Yes, sir. Ambassador Spock and I believe the process con be stopped from within the sphere, but because this sphere is the source of the problem, our galaxy may be sacrificed nonetheless. The hyper accelerated contraction of the "Big Crunch' has begun."
Pushing himself up, Picard gripped Data's shoulders. "But the universe, and all reality will be safe?"
Nodding as if Picard had asked if they were still serving prime rib in the mess hall, Data replied, "We believe so, sir."
What had he done? How had the death of an entire galaxy become a beacon of hope in Picard's mind?
Tense, all his muscles taut with both hope and horror, Picard demanded to know how. "What must we do?"
Spock stepped forward from the science station. "We need to initiate an end to the sphere itself, Captain. By sending the sphere prematurely into its journey to the next incarnation of the universe, before the "Big Crunch' has completed, it will lack the power necessary to survive the voyage. It will no longer be able to complete the hyper contraction it's begun."
"What about galaxies already destroyed?" Picard demanded. "What about other changes? Are you telling me no one will notice the universe has been moved a little to the right?"
"No galaxies have yet been destroyed," Spock explained. "However it is likely the dead zones have permeated it completely by now."
"So, what about us?" Chamberlain asked.
Making a half turn to him, Spock replied. "With the sphere gone, Enterprise will be in her own galaxy again ... in the center of a large dead zone."
Out of even her scientific league, Folan had long ago relegated herself to the seat next to Picard's command chair. She spoke up now, her voice weak with fatigue. "But we could stay where we are, could we not? If we do nothing, we merely watch the birth of a new universe?"
"Yes," Data said. "But the old one would still die."
"Everyone will be dead," Folan said. "Everyone we knew--"
"Everyone in our galaxy," Data said. "But not everyone in our universe."
His chest heavy, a sorrowful pressure gripping his heart, Picard knew what he must do. His only regret was that the solution had been found too late to help his own galaxy and the trillions upon trillions who would die without power. His life was forfeit, perhaps with his galaxy's, but in that act he might save the bulk of existence itself.
"Make it so."
U.S.5. Enterprise, NEC 17D1D Romulan space Caltiskan system
Now
"What about us?" Tasha Yar asked.
Angling toward her, Spock replied. "With the
sphere gone, the Enterprise will be in her own galaxy again, and we will perish in the massive power desert."
Out of even his scientific league, T'sart had long ago relegated himself to the seat next to Picard's command chair. He spoke up now, his voice weak from exhaustion. "We could stay where we are, however? If we simply do not act, will we not see the birth of a new universe?"
"Yes," Spock replied. "But the current one would nevertheless perish."
"Everyone is dead," T'sart lamented. "My wife... my family ..."
"Yes, perhaps they are," Picard admitted, raking his fingers through his wet mop of hair. "But others in our universe, and countless others, are not."
Captain John L. Picard would not allow the destruction of existence to rest on his shoulders. He was a hero, and he would be to the end.
"Mr. Spock, do it."
U.5.5. Constitution, NCC-41863 Federated Worlds space Caltiskan system
Now
"What about us?" Tobin asked. Swinging on his heel, Lore replied. "With the sphere gone, we'll be in our galaxy again." The android shook
his head. "Sadly, we'll all perish in the dead zone that remains."
Worf, son of Ja'rod, pounded at his tactical board. "This is insanity! We could stay where we are and live forever! Captain, I implore you, do not make this choice. All we know is already lifeless."
"Yes, it is," Picard barked. "But others in our universe, and countless others, are not."
Captain Robert Picard of the U.S.S. Constitution would not allow the destruction of
existence to rest on his shoulders. He would not be remembered as the man who destroyed the universe.
"Mr. Lore, do what we must."
U.S.S. Enterprise. NCC 1701E Romulan space Caltiskan system
Now
"Spock? Data?" Picard turned toward them, Folan close at his side. "Nothing happened." On the forward viewer, the Caltiskan star shone brightly, the black hole opposite it still a dark cavity in space.
"Something has happened, Captain," Spock reported, bent over the scanners. "The sphere is gone."
"And," Data added, "there seems to be no sign the sphere was here." He glanced back to where the kiosk had been. "None at all."
"Captain," Chamberlain called excitedly. "Multiphasic
transmissions on all subspace bands! Starfleet, sir! I can hear Starfleet!"
"The dead zones? Gone?" Picard looked to Data.
"Apparently, sir."
"A dream?" Folan asked, touching her face to see if she was still alive. "Is this all a dream?" She chuckled nervously.
She was losing herself, Picard thought. He took her by the shoulders and shook her once. "SubCommander, listen. Listen!"
"What?" she said. "This is all insane!"
He set her down in the command chair and marched to Spock and Data. "Confirm and explain," he ordered.
"I cannot," Spock said, "except to suggest that my calculations were too limited. I assumed you'd be acting alone. Statistically I should have known I was mistaken."
"Whom else was I acting with, Mr. Spock?" Picard demanded. "I did think I was the only one here."
"Here, indeed. But not now."
The captain crossed his arms. "Mr. Spock, speak plainly."
Spock looked to Data, giving Picard the annoying impression that they'd decided the android was more used to explaining the more difficult scientific concepts to Picard and so should take the lead.
"Yes, by all means, Mr. Data," Picard said sarcastically. "Do help your addle-minded captain."
"Of course, sir," Data deadpanned. "While you
acted to save existence at the loss of our galaxy, another Captain Picard, or other-named counterpart, under similar circumstances did the same. At the loss of his galaxy, he acted to save our universe."
"Of course," the captain whispered.
"I don't understand," Folan murmured. "This makes no sense. We were supposed to die."
"We did not," Data said matter-of-factly. "In an infinite number of both preceding and proceeding incarnations of the universe, Captain, the same brave act saved every other universe. Every Picard's loss was negated by all the others."
"I'd considered," Spock said, "but not included in probability outcomes, this very important piece of the puzzle--that these same events were taking place in similar universes throughout existence."
A regretful cast to his expression, Data said, "I did not think of it either, sir. But I concur that the existence of an infinite number of situations like this, with your counterparts all acting similarly, changed the outcome for all the others. Including ourselves."
Feeling an odd mix of relief and foolishness, Picard slumped against one of the guard rails that separated the command deck from the upper bridge. "I just barely saved all I knew ... and I can't even claim I did that alone."
Spock nodded. "I cannot help but agree. But if I may, Captain, you have also saved more than you knew. Unlike any Starfleet vessel before us, we have learned
that existence is not finite, but a constant... and expansive and still mostly unknown."
"Truly," Picard murmured, "the final frontier." "No," Spock said, drawing Picard with his voice to glance up and see the slightest smile tug at the Vulcan's lips. "If there is one thing we have learned, it is that nothing is final."
Epilogue
U.S.S. Exeter, NCC-26531
Alpha Quadrant unexplored sector
Section 3
Now they'd shut down the bridge days ago--or maybe it was weeks--and now Captain James Venes's command consisted of sickbay, engineering, two cargo bays, and the few corridors and hatchways that connected them. The crew had food rations to last, and plenty of water, but it was heat and light he most worried about.
That, and the boredom, Venes thought as he rubbed an irritation from his eye. Morale was low ... hundreds of people waiting to die, their ship already a mostly cold husk. Batteries for life-support would only last
another few days. He knew it... and so did they. The captain was supposed to go down with his ship--the crew was not.
Chemical thrusters had served only to get them nowhere slowly, and they had burned out days ago. Escape pods, useless for extended travel as there was nowhere to go, had been cannibalized for battery packs and foodstuffs.
All that done, what was left to them? Counting the hours.
Venes had thought of everything he could ... and it wasn't enough. So it felt as if he'd done nothing--a thought he'd probably take to his grave.
And then the lights flashed on. He looked one way, then another as power thrummed within the veins of the starship, up the bulkheads, and through to her soul. People stood slowly, in awe of their vessel around them, squinting into the new light. Venes reached for his com badge and had to strain to hear his chief engineer --the crew in the cargo bay, and throughout the ship, were cheering.
"Alvaro?"
"I have no idea why, sir."
"Everything's back?" Venes stepped into the corridor, unsure of exactly where he was going.
"Full power is available," Ortiz said, chuckling with incredulity and glee.
The captain shook his head, smiled, and marched forward with renewed purpose. "Get the rest of the ship back online and have the senior officers meet me on the bridge."
"Aye, sir."
"Good work, Mr. Ortiz," Venes said.
"Yes, sir. Not mine, but maybe someone's."
U.S.S. Voyager, NCC-74656 Unexplored sector Delta Quadrant
Now
"Captain?" Torres pulled herself from under the access panel and stared up at the warp core as it seemed to awaken itself. She scurried over to one of the status consoles.
"I see it," Janeway said.
Thirty hours of battery power had been stretched, painfully, into five days. And now, just as the ship was growing cold, as the air was running out... "We're back?" Torres saw the power levels, not just creeping up on all screens, but leaping up.
"We're back!" Janeway said.
From a computer station toward the doors that opened into the corridor, Seven of Nine looked at Chakotay next to her, then Janeway. "So are the Borg. I hear them."
The captain nodded and strode toward the door. "Alert the crew," she ordered Chakotay. "Get the bridge back online, as well as the Doctor." She shook her head ruefully. What had kept them trapped with the Borg ship could also be their doom if they didn't warm their engines before their enemy warmed their own. "As
soon as we can, have Paris get us out of here. Maximum warp." Treading up the already warming corridor, Janeway thought to herself that they'd cheated death again, and could continue their voyage home.
Klingon Warship Qulric Romulan space Caltiskan system
Now
"Sir, it is definitely a dead zone. There is no escape." The Qulric science officer offered Parl a padd of data.
Angrily, Parl waved it away. "There must be an escape! Picard has not reported back--we must help him."
Governor Kalor was on Enterprise. His oldest friend, his blood brother ... he could not be dead. He must not be dead. Parl would not let that happen. They'd been at each other's weddings, seen each other's children grow and become warriors ... and seen their home colony destroyed at the hands of T'sart's evil spatial traps. Parl had felt enough loss, and would tolerate no more.
"I don't care what it takes," he said. "I don't care who I must kill, but I want this ship at full power! Now!"
And so they did. Instantly. Parl wheeled toward the viewscreen, ordering it on. Shimmering to view, a picturesque starscape--
no more spatial distortion--and in the distance, Enterprise.
"Can we hail them?" Parl pivoted toward the communications officer.
"We can hail anyone, sir," the man said, tapping at his console. "We have full subspace communications. I am reading Romulan, Federation Starfleet, Klingon Defense Force Command, and civilian channels, all open and very active."
Parl nodded once. "Hail the Enterprise," he said, and lowered himself in the command chair.
"They are hailing us, sir. Governor Kalor wishes to speak with you."
Pushing out a relieved sigh, Parl motioned for the connection to be put on the main viewer. "It would seem the galaxy is walking from its sleep."
Three weeks later
Familiar sand crunching under his feet, Deanna on his arm, Riker thought he'd never see Folan again, let alone the street beneath him. "I must say I'm impressed. Treaty notwithstanding, I wouldn't have thought this visit politically possible."
The Romulan commander nodded. "For some it is a new era, Mr. Riker."
"And for you?" Deanna asked, squinting slightly in the bright evening sun as it angled over the trees.
"Things are..." Folan hesitated, and Riker wondered if she was uncomfortable with the changes in her life, such as the new rank, or simply was uncomfortable as to how much she should say. "Things are going well," she said finally.
"There have been rumors about T'sart." Riker kicked a stone along the path and watched it skitter up the walk.
Folan nodded, and not dispassionately. She wanted to talk about this. "As you know, most of the major Alpha Quadrant governments have vied for his extradition. But now the matter is moot," she paused dramatically. "The transport that was taking him from the homeworld to the penal holding colony ... inexplicably exploded soon after leaving port." She smiled, just a touch. "Of course, a full investigation has begun."
Star Trek - TNG - 63 - Maximum Warp, Book Two Page 15