Eden bowed her head, wishing with all her might that it was that simple. Omega’s darkness yawned before her, but through it, fragments of memories formed in her mind’s eye: Jobin’s face, bending over her bunk to gently kiss her good night; Tallar sitting beside a pond and telling her she was beautiful; Willem asking her to be his wife; Cambridge listening for hours on end as she poured out her heart’s grief; Chakotay accepting her in all her imperfections and challenging her to conquer them.
Omega was strong.
Humanity was stronger.
Turning back to B’Elanna and Seven, Eden ordered, “Start over. Forget what’s impossible. Find us what isn’t.”
“Aye, Captain,” both replied in near unison.
“Don’t bother,” a new voice came over Eden’s shoulder. Turning, Eden saw Admiral Janeway standing in the midst of a dozen humanoids, all wearing long crimson robes with high black headpieces. The voice had come from a tall woman who carried herself like a queen. Once Eden’s eyes met hers, she spoke again. “The Q have come, and we will not go gently into oblivion.”
Chapter Thirty-three
VOYAGER
Kathryn Janeway strode up to the female Q and without hesitation said, “Leave now.”
“This is not your battle,” the Q replied. As the woman spoke, the words seemed to come from all of the representatives of the Continuum now present. “She is one. We are legion. What she believes she can destroy, we can re-create, atom by atom if necessary. Hers is the power of death, but before death and beyond it, the power of life holds dominion. Nothing can erase what we have built, what we have become through billions of years of existence.”
Kathryn looked at Eden, hoping desperately that the Q were speaking the truth.
• • •
For a few brief seconds following the appearance of the Q, Afsarah Eden closed her eyes, willing one image to remain at the forefront of her consciousness. It was Chakotay’s face, after he had decided to enter Omega, certain that he would die but equally certain the sacrifice was worth it. She counted the days that had passed since she had told him of her history and the day they had sat in Galen’s sickbay listening to the Doctor’s report on her genome. She remembered that during those days, she had felt more alive than at any other time she could remember. For far too long she had shouldered her burdens alone. Chakotay had embraced the mysteries she placed before him, and fearlessly set her upon the path to unlocking them. Even in the face of death, he had not regretted that decision. She had become something unknowable, unthinkable. But he still saw the woman, the officer he had sworn fidelity to, and the human cursed with a destiny none could possibly prepare themselves to meet.
Chakotay had forgiven her in an embrace and that absolution had carried her to this moment. She had lost so many, but she could not, would not, sully his sacrifice by failing him. The humanity Janeway had spoken of was real to her because Chakotay had reflected it back to her every moment they had served together. No matter what came, she would hold his face in her mind, his eyes drawing out all that was best and true in her, his heart . . .
Until the eternal tide broke free and dragged her under.
• • •
Afsarah Eden stood facing the Q. Seven, B’Elanna, and Cambridge, clearly sensing what was to come, stood near the door to the lab, as far from her as possible.
Kathryn saw the look in Eden’s eyes and knew there was nowhere to run.
The sound of a roaring storm filled the lab.
Kathryn shouted to the Q, “You must go! You are giving her the power she requires to destroy you! Leave, now!”
An ancient male next to Kathryn fell to his knees. His body began to morph as if it were losing its molecular cohesion. All around him, the others quickly followed suit. Only the woman, her godson’s mother, stood her ground. With agonizing clarity Kathryn realized her power was probably no greater than that of her companions; she resisted because she was fighting for her son’s existence as much as her own.
In a bright flash, the female Q disappeared from her side. Kathryn fervently hoped she had heeded her warning, but another flash brought her back into existence a meter from Eden. She stood before her, proud, arrogant, and determined. The rest of the Q collapsed and crumpled onto the deck.
Kathryn searched Eden’s eyes to see if she was aware of what she was doing. Where once, dark almond-shaped orbs had hung, now bright white light streamed forth.
Q raised her right arm, holding it straight out before her, and lifted her palm, her fingers wide. For a few seconds it appeared she might prevail, until her elbow bent and she fell to her knees.
“Afsarah Eden!” Kathryn thundered, raging against Omega. “Release them! Release their power! Let them go, that’s an order!”
As quickly as the storm had risen, it subsided. The room became eerily silent as all of the Q lay in blood-red heaps on the deck. Eden stood, surrounded by a white aura. Her eyes blazed with the same pure light.
“It is too late,” Eden stated.
“You are not Omega,” Kathryn replied. “You are Afsarah Eden, the daughter of Jobin and Tallar.”
“I am Omega’s child,” Eden said.
Kathryn’s eyes fell to the still tangle of robes at Eden’s feet.
Omega’s child.
The Q’s child.
It was not too late. Suddenly, Kathryn had no doubt whatsoever about how all of this must end.
Before Kathryn could respond, Eden raised her right hand and snapped her fingers.
• • •
For what had felt like an eternity, but had, in fact, only been eight minutes, Tom Paris had sat in the bridge’s center seat, willing the warp drive to stay on line. It didn’t seem to matter how far or how fast they ran, Voyager’s new captain knew that this time, Omega would have them. It would ravage every shred of the fabric of space and time that stood between them until it claimed its prize. As Tom searched desperately for options, he prayed for a solution that did not include sacrificing another life to this thing.
The answer to his prayer came in the abrupt eruption of chaos on the bridge as the room was engulfed in several flashes of bright light. Admiral Janeway, Seven, B’Elanna, Counselor Cambridge, and Lieutenant Conlon all appeared on the bridge simultaneously. It was clear from their looks of shock and confusion that none of them had expected this abrupt change of location.
Over a series of confused exclamations, Admiral Janeway lifted her voice and ordered, “Silence, everyone.”
No one dared disobey. Gwyn turned her head to see what had happened, but Tom quickly ordered, “Ensign, attend to your station.”
She nodded mutely and glued her eyes to the flight control panel.
“Captain Paris, status?” Janeway asked with measured calm.
“We’re at warp eight-point-three. The fractures forming behind us are creating a drag on subspace that will destabilize our warp field within the next two hours,” he said, matching her tone.
Janeway nodded as she took in the other arrivals. She paused, her brow furrowing over Conlon. “Lieutenant?” she asked.
The engineer shrugged. “Three seconds ago I was monitoring warp power distribution nodes in main engineering.”
Janeway quickly said, “Route all engineering controls to the bridge station.” Conlon nodded and moved to the console beside Patel. Janeway then addressed Lieutenant Lasren. “Are any personnel left in main engineering?”
Lasren ran a quick scan and shook his head. “No . . . um . . .”
“Admiral Janeway,” Tom finished for him.
“Admiral Janeway,” Lasren echoed, though he was clearly uneasy.
“What is she doing?” said Cambridge, as he moved to stand beside Janeway.
Rather than answer, the admiral asked Lasren, “There were a dozen members of the Q Continuum in the astrometrics lab a few moments ago. Are they still there?”
Lasren again dutifully ran the requested scan and replied, “No, Admiral. I have a report from Doctor Sharak. H
e advises that twelve unknown individuals have just appeared unconscious in the sickbay.” After a brief pause, he added, “Additional reports coming in from alpha shift advising that they have been transported from their duty stations.”
Stepping out of the command well, Janeway strode to Lasren’s post. “Step down, Lieutenant,” she ordered. “I just need to see something.”
As Janeway began to work his panel, Lasren stepped back. His physical proximity to a Starfleet legend who was supposed to be dead was clearly unsettling.
Standing, Tom watched as Janeway worked.
“Every crew member stationed below Deck Eight is no longer there. All of them have been transported to various locations on Decks One through Seven.”
“Is she trying to get them to safety?” Cambridge asked.
“Who?” Kim asked.
“Captain Eden,” Cambridge replied bitterly.
The reason struck Tom like a physical blow. “Where is Captain Eden now?”
Janeway again looked at the panel and said, “Deck Eight. Battle bridge?”
Tom nodded. “She’s going to separate the ship.”
Now it was Janeway’s turn to stare at him in stunned silence.
“I know Eden has the power of several Q, but can we survive separation?” Janeway asked.
Tom smiled. “The Intrepid-class vessels that came after Voyager were redesigned to include saucer separation at high impulse. We were retrofitted with the same capability prior to our return to the Delta Quadrant.”
Ensign Gwyn, her voice tinted with alarm, said, “The saucer section is not going to be able to outrun these fractures on thrusters, sir. If we separate, we lose warp drive.”
“The captain knows that,” Janeway replied quickly, stepping down from ops and moving toward Tom. “She said Omega was coming for her. She must believe it’s possible for us to get the saucer section to safety, while she takes the drive section back into Omega.”
“So there’s really nothing to worry about,” Cambridge quipped as he sat in the right center chair.
“One thing at a time,” Tom ordered. “Ship-wide.”
Tom looked to Lasren, who immediately opened a ship-wide channel.
“All hands, this is Captain Paris. Move immediately to secure locations for saucer separation, and let’s keep it orderly. Red Alert.” He nodded to Lasren to close the channel.
“Lieutenant Lasren?” Janeway asked.
“Yes, Admiral,” he replied.
“Initiate a site-to-site transport for Q. He was assigned to secure quarters a while ago. Bring him here now.”
“Aye, sir.”
The transport complete, Q appeared beside Janeway.
“Let me guess,” he began. “It didn’t work?”
“Several of your people appeared in astrometrics a few minutes ago. Until that moment, Eden was still determined to find a way to seal Omega without destroying the Q. But when they came . . .” Janeway paused.
Q sighed, lowering his head. “She took their power.”
As Janeway nodded, Kim suddenly said, “Captain, long-range scanners detecting several stars going supernova.”
“Several?” Tom demanded.
“I’ve got six, no, eight,” Kim corrected himself. “They’re not close enough to pose a threat to us, but—”
“The Continuum is burning,” Q said solemnly, “again. Eden doesn’t even have to go there to finish her work.”
“It’s going to be all right,” Janeway assured him.
“For you, maybe,” Q replied.
The admiral stepped up to Paris. “Tom, be ready for an abrupt loss of warp power just prior to saucer separation. Do everything you can to keep Voyager intact.”
“Are you going somewhere?” Tom asked.
“Transport me to the battle bridge,” Janeway replied.
“Wait,” Q said suddenly.
“You’re not coming with me,” Janeway said firmly.
“Was my wife among those who came?” Q asked.
“Yes.”
“And where is she now?”
“Sickbay.”
Q nodded. “She’ll be safe there. But I am coming with you.”
“You should join her in sickbay,” Janeway said.
“No!” Q shouted, his voice ringing out harshly.
“Q,” Janeway said calmly, “I know how this ends. You do too. Don’t make this any harder on yourself than it has to be.”
“You know nothing, Kathryn,” Q replied. “I do. I have a plan, and if you care about the fate of the Q, or my son, you will take me with you. At all costs, we must avoid one thing: Eden cannot be allowed to get anywhere near him.”
“You underestimate him.”
“Never,” Q insisted.
“When he comes . . .” Janeway began.
“If she obtains his power the way she took ours, it’s over.”
The admiral studied Q in silence for a moment. “You have a plan?”
“Trust me.”
Janeway shook her head, knowing she shouldn’t. Finally, she relented, saying, “Initiate transport of myself and Q to the battle bridge.”
“Yes, Admiral,” Tom replied, nodding to Lasren.
Once Q and Janeway had left the bridge, Conlon asked, “Who were they talking about?”
When no one offered an immediate answer, Cambridge offered, “Her godson, I would imagine.”
Seven stepped down into the command well and stood beside Cambridge. He rose and offered her his seat. She demurred, but silently took his hand in hers.
Before resuming his seat, Tom exchanged a look with his wife. No words were necessary. She nodded, and hurried to the turbolift.
Chapter Thirty-four
VOYAGER
Icheb suddenly found himself standing in the middle of a very busy hallway on what appeared to be a starship. Everyone passing him, in both directions, moved double-quick. Every face reflected the same tense concentration as crimson Red Alert lights flashed.
“This way,” Q said, directing his steps toward a nearby door.
“Where are we?” Icheb asked, as he hurried to keep up with Q.
“You don’t recognize your old home?” Q asked.
“This is Voyager?” Icheb demanded, startled. Looking about, he realized that the hall was familiar, but it was reminiscent of many other starships. “We’re in the Delta Quadrant?” he continued.
“Your universe is a lot smaller now,” Q replied.
“The ship is at Red Alert. What’s happening?” Icheb asked as Q reached a door and opened it without asking to enter.
They immediately faced a stern and intimidating Klingon woman holding a bat’leth before her. Ignoring her, Q replied, “The short version is, the fleet commander is a hybrid life-form, now bent on destroying the Q Continuum. If she’s not very careful, she’ll also destroy Voyager in the process.”
Icheb searched his memory of his letters from Seven. “Captain Eden?”
Q nodded, then addressed the Klingon, “Please stand aside.”
Instead the woman raised her bat’leth, preparing to strike.
“Computer, end program,” Q ordered, but to his surprise, the Klingon remained.
“ You are not authorized to suspend this program,” the computer advised him.
“Sure I am,” Q said wearily, raising a hand, at which the Klingon flashed out of existence.
Q then passed through the darkened quarters toward a bedroom. As Icheb followed he asked, “You’ve come to kill Captain Eden?”
Q shook his head. “Not exactly.”
“Then who?” Icheb said, stopping short as he caught sight of a small figure sleeping soundly in the middle of the room’s large bed. “Q, she’s just a baby!” Icheb whispered harshly.
Q turned to him in shocked bemusement. “I know,” he replied, quietly. He sat on the bed beside the still figure. Icheb moved to stand beside him, and drew in a sharp breath as he realized who the child was: Miral Paris.
Q raised his hand, a
nd Icheb immediately grabbed it. “What are you doing?”
“I’d like to know the same thing,” a cold voice came from behind them. Icheb saw B’Elanna holding a phaser aimed squarely at Q. Consternation crossed her face as she recognized Q’s companion. “Icheb?” she asked, amazed.
“Hello, Commander,” Icheb replied, smiling.
“What the . . . ?” B’Elanna asked, as Q used the momentary distraction to place the hand that Icheb had freed on Miral’s forehead. A small flash of white light accompanied the gentle caress.
“Sleep well,” Q said softly, then rose to face B’Elanna Torres.
Icheb’s heart began to pound furiously. It was impossible to imagine that Q had brought him here to witness the callous murder of a child.
B’Elanna didn’t hesitate. Immediately, she rushed to Miral and picked her up in her arms. Icheb’s heart stilled, until Miral moved fitfully in the tight embrace, rearranging herself in her mother’s arms.
“Q?” B’Elanna said, finally recognizing Icheb’s companion.
“It’s good to see you again, Commander,” Q replied.
“What have you done to her?”
“Being a messiah isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” Q replied. “I’ve just spared her that. Unless you object?”
Gratitude mingled with terror and awe shone on B’Elanna’s face as she held Miral even tighter. “Of course not.”
Q nodded. “Then if you’ll excuse me?”
Icheb placed a hand on Q’s arm. “It’s all right. The next few minutes will be a little rough, but I think I’m ready now,” Q said to him.
“I don’t understand,” Icheb replied.
Q considered him with compassion. “You will,” he finally said. “I’ve wasted a lot of the life that was given to me. That was a mistake. But I didn’t want to waste all of it. You came here with me just because I asked. You’re a good friend, probably better than I deserved. And if all goes well, this little girl will have an incredibly bright future ahead of her. It’s not everything I might have done. But it’s something.”
Icheb felt the blood draining from his face as he realized whose life Q meant to take.
Star Trek: Voyager - 041 - The Eternal Tide Page 37