by Dayton Ward
“It’s firing again!” Sulu warned.
“Evasive! Rahda, return fire! Target those weapons ports!”
The image on the viewscreen was once again stable, and Kirk saw the new energy discharges as the citadel unleashed a second assault at the same time Lieutenant Rahda released a barrage of phaser fire back toward the alien ship. Then the angle shifted as Sulu maneuvered the Enterprise up and away from the incoming fire, and the citadel disappeared from view. The ship shuddered from a new impact against the shields, but the effects this time were far weaker.
“Direct hit on three of the weapons ports,” said Chekov. “They look to be offline. We suffered only a minor hit to our aft shields, but the forward shields took a beating during the first strike. They’re firming back up, but the shield generators seem to be lagging.”
Sulu said, “I’ve maneuvered us well away from the citadel, sir. Do you want me to take us back?”
“Get ready,” replied Kirk. Pushing himself from his seat, he moved to grip the back of the helm officer’s chair. “Do you think you can stay ahead of it if it starts firing again?”
“I think so, sir.”
“Do whatever you have to do, but I want to keep us as close as possible to the landing party.”
Chekov turned from the science station. “Captain, I’m picking up a new reading. The citadel is venting something into the planet’s atmosphere. It has a chemical composition I’ve never seen before. There’s a large percentage of nitrogen and a few other things I recognize, but other elements don’t match anything in our records.”
“Let’s see it,” said Kirk, stepping away from Sulu and moving around the helm console to stand before the viewscreen, which now depicted the citadel hovering at the very edge of Usilde’s atmosphere. Pale white plumes emanated from numerous points across the vessel’s underside, aimed toward the planet. From the distance between the Enterprise and the citadel as inferred by the screen’s imaging sensors, Kirk noted how the compound spread and seemed to dissolve, lost amid the haze surrounding the lush green world.
“What’s it doing?” he asked.
Chekov replied, “The compound is mixing with the atmosphere, sir. So far the effects are almost miniscule, but they are there.”
Before Kirk could respond to that, Lieutenant Palmer said, “Captain, we’re being hailed by Mister Spock.”
“Put him on.”
A moment later, the science officer’s voice said over the intercom, “Captain, are you detecting the new readings from the citadel?”
“Chekov’s on it, Spock. What do you make of it?”
“It is the new compound created from the water and other resources taken from the lake. The citadel’s own refining process has added elements brought from the other universe and mixed it with the raw materials to create a new chemical agent designed to be introduced into the planet’s atmosphere. This is apparently the next step in the automated terraforming efforts put into motion by the Jatohr eighteen years ago, though I suspect this aspect of the operation will take far less time to complete.”
Turning to the science station, Kirk said, “Chekov? Can you make any sort of estimate?”
The ensign had already returned to the sensor viewer. “At the present rate of dispersal, the reservoirs aboard the citadel will be depleted within hours.”
“The actual reconfiguration of the atmosphere will take considerably more time,” added Spock. “Weeks, at least, likely longer. I am unable to be more precise without additional information.”
“I don’t understand,” said Kirk. “The Jatohr are able to breathe the same air we do. Their environmental requirements can’t be that different. And they were already making smaller changes to the atmosphere just from their efforts on the surface.” He recalled from his review of Captain Una’s mission reports that the Jatohr terraforming efforts had produced an increase in the levels of nitrogen present in Usilde’s air. She had noted her own speculations as to whether this was a byproduct of the changes being made to that area of the planet’s ecosystem or a deliberate alteration on the Jatohr’s part.
“What about the Usildar?” asked Sulu. “Are they in danger?”
“At present,” replied Spock, “I am unable to answer that question.”
Kirk said, “See what you can find out.” He had no intention of standing by while the Jatohr’s attempts to salvage whatever remained of their own civilization inflicted genocide upon the Usildar and every other living thing on the planet.
“Understood,” replied Spock.
“We’re working the problems on our end,” said Kirk. “If necessary, we’ll start targeting the ship to try and stop the spread of the compound.”
His words were answered by yet another sounding of the alert siren. The alarm indicator at the center of the helm and navigation console drew Kirk’s gaze, pulsing bright red in time to the audible warning.
“What now?”
“It’s the Vron’joQ, sir,” reported Sulu. “They’ve broken from standard orbit and are on an intercept course.”
Twenty-nine
Once more, awareness returned and Una realized she was lying prone and exposed on the barren salt plain. The rays of the twin suns beat down upon her, and she held up a hand to block their light. As before, however, she felt no heat. It was yet another byproduct of this mysterious realm. Looking toward the sky, she saw that the captivating aerial display of the bizarre energy ribbons had vanished.
What had happened? She tried to recall the events that had led to her being deposited here, but saw only chaos in her thoughts, which defied her attempts to untangle them. Then she recalled her last memories before losing consciousness—the brutal fighting between the Usildar, her former shipmates hallucinating or summoning all manner of odd or perverted memories before turning on one another, and then Sarek. Of course the ambassador had found something discernible only to him in this crazy place. He had latched on to a substantial clue as to the reality of this universe, and had somehow managed to remove himself from this realm and transport to . . . something else, but what?
Una pushed herself to a sitting position, scanning the surrounding terrain for signs of life. As had been the case during her previous visit here, there was nothing. The salt flats remained unchanged and seemingly unimpressed by the passage of time. She was alone. Where was everyone else? What had become of her shipmates Joanna McCoy, Ambassador Sarek, and even Gorkon?
Also absent, Una noted with great thanks, was the pain in her mind. She seemed to be free from the urgent, persistent discomfort that had plagued her consciousness. All of that had faded, leaving no residual effects. How had that happened?
Captain Una, do you hear me?
“Sarek?” She jerked herself to her feet, searching for the source of the voice and realizing only after a moment that the words were not in her ears, but within her thoughts. “Ambassador? Is that you?”
Yes.
“What happened to us? Where did you go?”
I have moved into the true reality of this universe. Where you are, where I was, is but a state of altered consciousness. It is a “thoughtspace,” serving as a means of acclimating the mind of a living being until they are prepared to accept the reality of entering another dimension. Time here remains still. Nothing here is real.
Una looked around the salt flats. “So, this is an anteroom? A way station, of sorts, but only for the mind? If that’s the case, then why were Martinez and the others still here, even after all these years?”
Their minds are largely incompatible with this universe. The thoughtspace protected them from that. Though I am able to discern between it and reality, even I am under strain. Your companions remain here, as they have all this time. Unless we act, we will remain here forever.
Realization, laced with fervent hope, gripped Una. “Does that mean no one we’ve seen die here is really dead?”
That is correct. Everyone here is alive, and we can all return to our universe. To do that, I require your assistance.
“To get us back? How? What can I do?”
The disturbance we all felt earlier was caused by the introduction of a probe from our universe, sent by the Enterprise. The Jatohr deactivated it because its transmissions to our universe caused them great pain and spilled over to this realm. I believe we can reactivate the probe and use it to initiate a transfer back to our universe. To do that, we must work together, and you must join me here.
Una remained unconvinced. “And you think you can do all of that?”
My mental abilities and disciplines appear to be of great advantage here. It seems to have surprised some of the Jatohr I have encountered.
Considering her options, Una came to the conclusion that there was nothing to lose and little else she could do if she hoped to get her friends home.
“How do I get to you?”
You must will yourself beyond the thoughtspace, just as I did. The transition is somewhat unpleasant, but I will help however I am able.
The thought of finding an experience less pleasant than remaining alone in this odd, inexplicable realm almost made her laugh. “All right, Ambassador. What do I do?”
Movement across the plain, low on the horizon and almost blocked by the distant mountain range, caught her attention. A mass of individuals and small vehicles was making its way across the open terrain, heading for her. Behind it were great clouds of dust dispersed by the procession’s passage.
“Sarek, I’ve got company.” As the horde drew closer, she recognized antigrav sleds, to say nothing of the ponderous bulks of legions of Jatohr. Then her gaze fixed on one being at the center of the group.
“It’s Woryan,” she said, “and he’s got a lot of followers. What the hell are they doing all the way out here?”
Una watched as the small army drew ever closer. Overhead, flying craft of varying sizes dotted the sky. Dozens, perhaps hundreds of antigravity sleds blanketed the salt plains, each carrying individual Jatohr. Leading them all as he sat atop a battle sled festooned with weapons and ornamentation that made it seem more ceremonial than functional, was Woryan.
The enormous gastropod’s sled slowed as it approached her, allowing Una to get an unfettered look at hir. Then the sled lurched to a stop, and Woryan’s eyestalks straightened as they beheld the sight before hir.
“Hold!”
Hir voice rolled across the open ground. As the rest of hir band slowed to a stop, a pair of battle sleds broke away from the procession and glided toward Unal. Standing her ground, Una watched the sleds until they moved to flank her, hovering perhaps ten meters to either side. Forcing herself to ignore them, she directed her attention to the group’s leader.
“Hello, Woryan.” As she spoke, she held her hands away from her body, to demonstrate that she was unarmed.
“Outsider,” replied the Jatohr. “You dare to challenge me, on the verge of our salvation?”
“Of course,” she said, directing her comments to Sarek. “They’re massing for transfer to our universe.”
A logical deduction, said Sarek, his voice ever composed and calm. Captain Kirk and the Enterprise are working to rescue us. Now that they have activated the transfer-field generator, Woryan and his followers are moving to be ready when it reaches into this universe to find us.
“Can we stop them?”
I do not know. Possibly. Perhaps not. You cannot stay there, Una. You must join me here.
“It is good that you are here to see the beginning of our invasion of your worlds,” said Woryan, “just as it is a pity that you will not live to see its conclusion. Behold, creature!”
In response to his apparent command, another pair of battle sleds rose from the amassed Jatohr. Trailing behind them were thick, metallic cables, and as the sleds lifted toward the sky the cables became taut. Their far ends were attached to the opposing corners of a massive, opalescent arch-shaped portal. Within moments, the portal stood upright, towering high and wide enough to provide passage for any craft or being in the assemblage.
“So,” said Una, “this is what Anadac told me about. It’s your answer for transferring to my universe.”
Woryan shifted his bulk on the battle sled. “It may not be as noble in purpose as what Eljor created, but it will serve our needs well enough. Now we no longer need to wait for rescue. Instead, we will seize the opportunity as it is presented to us. When your people activate the Transfer Key, we will be ready, and there will be no stopping us.”
Studying the construct, Una noted that it was fitted together from a number of components linked together to provide strength and support for the entire arch now that it was assembled. Even across the distance separating them, she felt its power.
“It’s basically an antenna,” she said. “It draws energy from the transfer-field generator that’s channeled over here, but redirects it to you rather than whatever the Transfer Key is targeting.”
“Impressive, creature,” replied Woryan. “Perhaps I should spare your life, so that you can watch the power we now wield.”
Una shook her head. “I don’t think so.” She could not see how such a device would even function here, being a manifestation of the thoughtspace. How would Woryan react when hir great plan unraveled before hir very eyes?
Let’s find out.
Clearing her mind just as she had done with the wall in the prison cell, Una visualized the arch before her and tried to imagine its internal workings. Where would its power source reside? The base, she decided. It was squat and flared out to each side of the arch itself. What would happen if that piece just . . . ?
Una nearly laughed aloud when the arch’s base disappeared, leaving the rest of the construct to tumble forward. Jatohr soldiers scattered in all directions, trying to avoid being caught beneath it as it crashed to the ground, kicking plumes of dust into the air.
“The insolence!” Woryan’s amplified voice filled the air as s/he gestured wildly toward hir soldiers. “Seize her!”
“Sarek,” said Una, “if you can help get me away from here, now would be a good time.”
You must focus on me, Una. Concentrate on finding me.
She ignored the sounds of Jatohr soldiers gliding across the open ground toward her. Forcing away all those distractions, she honed in on Sarek’s voice, listening as the Vulcan guided her.
Leave the thoughtspace, Una. Come to me.
An odd sensation played across her skin, and Una opened her eyes in time to see the approaching Jatohr soldiers along with everything around her fading from her vision.
Una plunged into pale white nothingness.
* * *
The light faded, replaced by unending blackness, though she sensed she was not alone. It took but a moment to focus on the familiarity of the other presence.
“Sarek?”
In response to her query, the darkness ebbed, and Una’s vision filled with uncounted forms suspended motionless within a vast, gray void. Looking down, she saw nothing. There was no perception of depth or height, but instead only the gray, though she also was surrounded by a mass of multicolored filaments, each pulsing with energy as they twisted, twirled, and intertwined with one another. It was as she had seen in the sky before chaos erupted. Some of the beings in her midst appeared to be generating still more of the filaments, casting them upon unseen currents to traverse the void around her.
“Una, you are safe.”
She heard Sarek’s voice, but he was nowhere to be seen. She searched among the indistinct beings gathered here, but there was no sign of the Vulcan.
“Where are we?”
“The reality of this universe,” replied the ambassador, “and not the visions we all were experiencing within the thoughtspace. We exist outside time and the physical laws that govern our own un
iverse. At least, that is how I understand it. I am still learning.”
Gripped by concern, Una said, “I hear you, but I cannot see you.”
“I am elsewhere, suspended as everyone you now see. Here, we connect and communicate not physically, but rather consciously. We share each other’s intellects and thoughts, along with our dreams and ideas.”
“And our emotions and nightmares,” Una countered.
Sarek replied, “For some, it can be an overwhelming experience. I regret that we do not have time to fully explore this place, but ultimately we are incompatible with this universe. We can exist here for a short time, though it strains our mental faculties and our ability to reason. Each individual’s reaction is different. You and I appear better able to face the challenges we find here, but others are not so fortunate.”
“You mean Martinez.”
“Yes, and my advisor, Beel Zeroh. Their minds are still active, but they have entered a protected state in order to prevent further damage. If they are to survive, we must return with them to our universe.”
Una did not pretend to understand everything Sarek was telling her, but she had no reason to distrust the Vulcan. “What do we do?”
“You must reach out with your mind. It requires total focus, and we must combine our own energies toward a joint purpose.”
“The probe,” said Una. “I remember now. It came here from our universe.”
Sarek replied, “Yes. It is the key. Together, we must all find it and restore its power so that it can communicate with the Enterprise. I have already seen its components and protocols. Once activated, its will send a signal back to our universe and provide a path home.”
“How can you be sure?”
“I trust in my son, Captain. Before we can proceed to the probe, we must find the others. Our minds must all join as one, if we are to leave this place together. I have already found Beel Zeroh, but I feel you are better able to collect your former shipmates.”
