The City on the Edge of Forever

~~~~~~~~~~

"I don't like this."

Riker's concern was not only noteworthy, but expected. He'd always been resistant to any excursion that required the Captain to leave the relative safety of the Enterprise. On this occasion, there was no choice. Starfleet had specifically requested Picard's presence at the location. Considering the Captain's personal interest in archeology, his cooperation was immediate and enthusiastic.

"The planet is secure, Number One. Federation scientists have been working there for more than a century without disruption."

Shaking his head, the First Officer conceded the point. "Just don't take any learning trips from the Guardian."

"Oddly," Picard commented, "The Guardian has remained completely inactive since the occurrences of Stardate 3134.0."

Waiting for the away team to take their positions on the transporter, the Captain nodded. "Energize."

~~~~~~~~~~

Though the official designation would have given the planet's location on a star chart, it was whispered at the Academy as the Planet of the Guardian. The stories of Kirk were legendary. The reports on what had occurred, and how temporal integrity was protected, were near mythical.

The area was just as desolate as reports had indicated. The prefabricated structures of housing and laboratories were off to the side, not placed in any way that might indicate a contamination of the research site. It was apparent as the away team materialized that the work was ongoing despite the urgent request for Picard's presence.

They were approached by a hurrying woman in the official Federation science colors of khaki and blue. She was smiling broadly as she reached them, holding her hand out for the perpetual greeting. Apparently human at first glance, it was obvious from the markings at her collar that this was Doctor Emilie Fernal, the Chief Scientist on the expedition.

"Captain Picard, such an honor. We're so pleased the Enterprise was close by. The find, absolutely incredible."

"As pleased as I was to be directed to your operation, Doctor, I will admit to some confusion as to why my presence was so immediately necessary."

The scientist hesitated, looking at the persons who had accompanied Picard to the planet. Data seemed to be watching the interactions curiously, the planet around him ignored. The two others, a pair of scientists from the Enterprise's own contingent, were almost vibrating in their excitement. It was the matter of moments in which guides were secured to show the scientists around the site.

Only when they had departed out of hearing did the doctor explain. "My apologies, Captain. However, it is my understanding that only yourself and your senior staff that have the necessary clearances for what we've found."

Data cocked his head to the side, querying the reasons for a security clearance on this site. One, nonetheless, that was reserved for higher rank and command staff.

"You believe you've discovered evidence of the Stargate operation?"

The android's question seemed to take their host by surprise for a moment. Recovering quickly, she nodded and began to lead them towards the central construct of the ruined buildings. "The Stargate program began as a military operation in the late twentieth century. When it was revealed to the planet in the mid twenty-first, the outcome was horrendous."

"Religious wars," Picard murmured, looking over the site with new information. "Earth was unready for such intensive first contact situations. That the program had revealed false origins to many major religions was intensely disruptive."

"And that eventually lead to the Eugenics Wars and the collapse of most national governments."

Nodding, Picard focused his inquisitiveness on the scientist. Before he could form the question, Data was asking, "Yet, why the Captain?"

The doctor took a deep breath. "Captain Picard, you are aware that Federation medical has a DNA database containing several billion records. Of these, most are a result of surgery, or regeneration matches. The others are sourced from Starfleet itself as a result of normal operations. Of those several billion, we found less than a hundred thousand that met our criteria. Of those, yours was the most promising in regards to prominence of the gene detected and your position requiring no additional security clearances."

Shaking his head, Picard indicated, "I'm sorry, but I don't understand."

Leading them inside the protective building that had been erected around the immediate area containing the Guardian of Forever, the doctor stopped. "I'm sorry, Captain. In my enthusiasm, I fear I am explaining the situation poorly."

They stepped up to a barrier, just beyond a large stone circle glimmered with surface light. It was as if someone had taken a pool of water, stood it on its side, and caused it to shine with inner light.

"The Guardian, as described in the reports of Admiral, then Captain, Kirk, has not responded to any of our inquiries in the more than century of research that the Federation has conducted. No one, of course, has attempted to pass through the portal. This very building was constructed against recommendations regarding the integrity of the site in order to control and monitor access to something that can change the integral structure of the timeline. Our excavations have concentrated on identifying the surroundings and placing the Guardian in some kind of historical context that we can understand."

She turned away from the portal, leading them further into the building. "Once done, we were able to identify the city. It was not, as we've found, intended to be a surface dwelling. The very fabric of the planet has been so thoroughly altered that what was once a floating domain on a vast ocean became mired as that ocean disappeared."

"Doctor," Picard prodded.

She stopped, waiting as a biological scan confirmed her identity before ushering them through a doorway. Inside, there was only one scientist, a Vulcan, who waited patiently. He seemed to be monitoring a panel that remained dark except for one blinking readout.

"Your involvement, Captain," the Doctor finally explained, "became necessary for our expedition to access crucial information. You possess a latent genetic factor that was named, rather facilely, the ATA gene. The Stargate program saw this factor as nothing more than an activator for technology they didn't understand. We've isolated it for its ability to further our knowledge of the site."

Data had quirked his head again. "Fascinating. Do you believe the Captain to be of descent from someone involved in the program?"

"Not necessarily," Fernal answered. "We've found instances of the same genetic results across multiple species and it is by no means isolated to Earth. While we don't yet have an explanation for its occurrence, we are still encouraged by the repetition."

"What is it you'd like me to do, Doctor Fernal?"

Picard's question cut to the heart of the matter. The air seemed to hush with a very expectation of result. The Doctor wiped sweaty palms on the thighs of her uniform before gesturing with an uncustomary hesitation.

"Think, Captain. As precisely and focused as you can, think 'On' at this panel."

The raised eyebrow made it obvious that Jean-Luc's awe of the site was fading before the oddities of its staff. He stepped forward nonetheless, focusing his entire concentration on the blinking panel. Oddly, as he did, the light began to blink in a different rhythm. It was not the hum and buzz of the collective, as his nightmares recalled the Borg. This was an exhausted, yet hopeful, tone that echoed his very heartbeat.

Almost resolved despite his belief in the futility of the attempt, Jean-Luc thought, 'On.'

The light blinked one final time before dying. While the Vulcan scientist showed no emotion, the complete and utter disappointment was plainly obvious on Dr. Fernal's face.

"Doctor," Picard began, "I'm sorry, but…"

He was interrupted as a holographic recording sprang fuzzily into view over the panel that was now devoid of readout. It flickered, clearing to reveal a woman. She appeared human, her clothing outdated. Her hair was dark, her mien serious. She was a leader of her people, that was obvious in the way she looked and the way her voice sounded when she began to speak.

"If you've found this recording, then welcome to Atlantis. I am Dr. Elizabeth Weir of the Atlantis Expeditionary Command. We were sent to this city by Stargate Command of Earth in the hopes that we would find the civilization our people knew as the Ancients. We did not, but the city itself proved a source of many scientific breakthroughs."

"However, our contact with Stargate Command has ceased and we've given up hope that it will resume based on reports of the situation on Earth. Complete files will follow, yet be aware that you may be in danger. A race of beings known as the Wraith have dominated this galaxy. My people are at war with this species, a war we cannot allow ourselves to lose as they consume the very lifeforce of the human race."

"We have identified a method of containing their threat, but believe it may destroy the very fabric of the Stargate system. To those who come after us, know that we made this sacrifice to protect our home planet and those who could not protect themselves. While we have identified a planet willing to shelter our surviving people, this experiment will forever end travel through the Stargates. We are grateful to those of us who stayed behind and gave their lives to protect the others."

The recording blinked out, the panel below it lighting up once more with a complicated series of information. The two scientists ignored their guests, rushing to record and preserve the data.

"Fascinating," Data murmured, taking no notice of his captain's stunned visage.

Picard stared, mouth finally curving into smug satisfaction. The existence of the Stargate program had never been denied in the historical record. Its sheer impact on the formation of Earth's technological base that led to Cochrane's warp drive was undeniable. But like most things that had spawned death and disorder, it was the forgotten echo of a past in which humanity was panicked and prone to immediate violence.

"The courage of those explorers, to have stepped through an unfathomable technology and willingly strand themselves in a distant galaxy."

Picard's musings weren't answered by either of the scientists, or even Data, as he'd expected might happen even though it was more truly an aside. It felt like something he just needed to hear himself say aloud. Instead, the voice that responded was low and just above his shoulder. Well inside the Captain's personal space, as Q tended to appear, the movement of air by formed words stirred the hair on the human's skull.

"Some brave, some stupid, all stubborn. Kindred souls, Mon Capitaine?"

A faint sigh was Picard's first response. The immediate tension that seized the muscles between his shoulder blades eased as the first screaming cry of 'threat, threat' dissolved into pure resignation.

"Another interest of yours, Q?" Jean Luc finally asked.

Data had turned to stare curiously at the pair of them. The light of knowledge that seemed to grip him whenever the entity deigned to appear was glowing in his eyes. Surely, it was some trick of the light. The construct of his positronic brain, even with the addition of a controlled emotions chip, wouldn't allow Data a glee at their interactions with the Continuum.

Oddly, only the female scientist turned. The Vulcan was far too consumed in his readings to spare any attention. Particularly since they had no idea how long the data would last, considering the age of its power source. She gaped for a moment at the new arrival.

His dark hair had begun to silver slightly at the temples. The name Q identified him immediately. However, it did nothing to truly diagnose the curiosity of the experience. If the entity didn't age, why show such a human sign of the condition? If the Continuum didn't care for the petty troubles of humanity, why did he so frequently appear in the uniforms of their times?

"How could I accurately judge your species without fully observing them, Jean Luc?"

Picard had turned his head slightly. It placed him far too close for the appropriate impatient glare so he took a quick half-step away. Now, with his ability to cross his arms restored, he felt more secure in the usual parental scolding tone he sought relief in when around Q.

"A concern that I believe has already been resolved. Why are you here?"

"You wound me, Mon Capitaine."

The captain of the Enterprise bit the inside of his own lip. Q did not just pout at him. Even if the entity had, he had a mercurial being present at a highly controlled research site. This was simply intolerable.

"Perhaps I simply wish to share in your joy of discovery of such a pivotal organization in humanity's growth. Knowing that you, Jean-Luc Picard, possess the correct genetic sequence to finally reveal their lost expedition… Ce Magnifique!"

Data's head quirked to the side slightly. "Livingston revealed," he stated in a simple non sequitur.

Picard turned his head to stare questioningly at his officer.

Without further prompting, Data explained, "Q's response is verbatim from a holo-novel."

The smirk wouldn't be suppressed as Jean-Luc turned back to the entity. If he'd thought Q was pouting before, there was simply no denying that fact now. Finally, the familiar form simply shrugged.

"Colonel Frank Simmons," Doctor Fernal exclaimed in the momentary silence that had fallen. Her eyes were wide, the shock evident. Her hand appeared to be shaking as she pulled a tricorder from her coat's pocket and began to query information. "I don't know how it is possible… The photographic records must be corrupted."

Picard's jaw tensed as he fought to keep from grinding his teeth. He had a very strong suspicion that the data wasn't corrupt. The resemblance was likely no coincidence.

"Q," he warned.

Q preened in response, straightening the lines of his Star Fleet uniform. It bore, of course, a captain's pips. He'd never missed an opportunity to appear at least equal to Picard's rank though frequently preferred to exceed it.

"I happen to be accustomed to this form," he explained with an offhand sniff. "At least among humanity," was the conclusion. His eyes skipped over the scientists to pause a moment on the console still transmitting its information.

"As I'm certain you could not resist the urge to meddle with such a 'pivotal organization'," Picard threw Q's own words back at him.

"I prefer to think of myself as a peaceful explorer."

Picard's growing scowl led directly into his rebuttal. "As my own experiences would attest, you are not peaceful."

Q perked up, his mood shifting quickly. He smiled with pleasure, almost proud. His stance moved from relaxed banter into pending action.

Data, reading the possibilities, warned, "Captain…"

"You flatter me, Mon Capitaine."

"Flattery was not my intention, Q. How can humanity expect to develop with your meddling touch? Must you place your fingers in each event like a naughty schoolboy faced with a banquet of fresh pies?"

Doctor Fernal abandoned her query of a suspicious recollection to watch the play of words with widening eyes. It was disturbing that her concern seemed to be echoed by the android.

"Captain, I don't believe…"

But Data never had the chance to finish his warning. Q closed the already small distance between himself and Captain Picard. Using the slight advantage of height, he loomed over the unintimidated visage.

"Kindred souls, indeed," he murmured. The almost silent snap of his fingers followed immediately after.

~~~~~~~~~~

Picard froze, his mind racing as he stared across the room before him. It was a military base in the old Earth style, gunmetal walls and stairs, outdated technology. But what truly held his gaze was the shimmering pool of water that stood upright within a carved ring.

He had to swallow twice before he could form the question. "Q… Is that the Stargate?"

"Doctor Weir, you have a go."

Neither the words nor the voice were what Picard had been expecting. He was not ashamed to acknowledge, at least privately, that he jumped slightly as the response startled him. Turning, it was obvious that the two men standing near to his right had not, could not, see him. They stared forward, out over a room in which the woman he'd just seen in the recording was speaking to her people.

"This is the Atlantis expedition," Picard observed to himself.

"Hmm, yes, they're just about to go through," Q answered, finally appearing.

Oddly, this time Jean-Luc didn't jump. He had, in a way, been expecting the entity at any moment. But the awe for what he was seeing couldn't last beneath the reality of his position.

"Why did you bring me here?"

An arm appeared, gesturing past Picard's side. The hand was outstretched, pointing at the men and women now passing through the gate in an orderly fashion.

"You have no idea how frequently your own struggles have repeated throughout the history of your short-lived species. Those," the finger emphasized the word. "Those are your ancestors, Jean-Luc."

The atmosphere seemed charged, different somehow from every encounter that had previously occurred. Reluctant to disturb this odd sensation, Picard still knew he had to ask.

"Why are you showing me this, Q?"

Instead of demanding, it came out in a soft utterance that truly reflected his awe at this moment. Those people were like him. Persons who had signed up knowing they would boldly go where no one had gone before.

"It is impossible to express how deeply entwined the fate of the Continuum is with the beings from this insignificant planet."

"Q?" Picard questioned at the almost melancholy tone of voice. He turned in place. Oddly, it seemed as if he caught the eye of the man in spectacles as he spoke with his companion. A trick of timing, surely, as the person certainly couldn't observe them and made no outward reaction.

Q's attention wasn't on the room where the Stargate still shimmered, it was focused securely on Picard's face. The entity was reading every nuance of his features, perhaps even the very thoughts that flowed through his head.

In an instant, the openness was shuttered. Q was back to his usual mask of arrogance and disdain. "This is hardly the time for me to teach you the true nature of the universe, Mon Capitaine."

Despite the brush-off, the words seemed faintly regretful. Then again, Jean-Luc reminded himself that anthropomorphizing a Q could be as useless as doing so to a dolphin. The human factor simply did not apply.

Or did it?

Picard hadn't noticed when the older of the pair that had occupied the room left it for the space observed below. He did notice when the bespectacled man turned to face Q and himself and began to speak.

"I know you're there. Oma?" he questioned hopefully. Then, in a more serious tone, "I have not broken the rules. They know nothing of what I remember. I still don't agree that whole charade was even necessary. And, okay, Atlantis happened a little sooner with some extra people. But Sheppard had to go."

With what Picard would swear was an eyeroll, Q turned from him to face the other man. Muttering to himself, "He'll simply go on like this for absolute days…" the entity presumably made at least himself visible.

"Dr. Jackson," he began with icy impatience, "As always, what an absolute pleasure."

The man, now identified, drew back slightly as he blinked in surprise. "Colonel Simm.. er uh, Q… I can't say I was expecting you."

Q waved away the concern with a slight flip of the wrist. "Not my concern, truly."

Dr. Jackson's gaze shifted, focusing on Picard. At least it answered the question of whether they were both visible. "New student?" he asked with an edge of desperate curiosity.

"Hardly."

Q's voice practically dripped with his sarcastic intent. Jackson looked away from Picard with a distracted, "Oh?"

He repeated the noise, a touch of color flushing across his cheekbones. "Ooh."

"If you are quite finished, Dr. Jackson?" Q inquired testily.

Not waiting to see if he was or was not, Q raised his hand imperiously for his signature snap.

~~~~~~~~~~

Data was still processing his captain's disappearance when the man in question flashed back into existence. He was turned, his body held differently than when he'd vanished, but he was at least back.

"Sir?" the android inquired carefully. It was a matter of consideration to give his human commanding officer time to orient himself. Q, at least, did not seem to be present.

"It's fine, Data," Picard finally answered. His hands moved in a nervous habit to straighten the lines of a uniform years outdated. "Q simply wanted to show me the beginnings of the Atlantis expedition."

Doctor Fernal's mouth was working in mute astonishment. She finally managed, "Captain, I…"

"Doctor," Picard interrupted, stern exhaustion already appearing on his face. "I will compile a complete report for you. Later."

"Sir?" Data asked, uncertain.

"We are returning to the ship," the Captain stated. He turned, inquiring with a veneer of patience, "If I have fulfilled the task for which I was ordered here?"

The doctor's certifying nod was the only thing for which Picard waited. As soon as he received it, he had turned and exited the room. The complex disappeared quickly behind the pair, Data following his captain silently for now.

"Sir, did something disturbing occur?" Data finally asked.

Picard paused, surveying the battered and broken planetary surface. It made so much more sense now, the ruins themselves and the ground they lay upon.

"Encounters with Q are always disturbing, Commander Data," Picard answered enigmatically. He followed it with a quick declaration of, "I believe the crewmen can continue their tour for now. See that they return safely."

Then, with a tap to his commbadge, "Picard to Enterprise. One to beam up."

~~~~~~~~~~

It was hours later that Picard emerged from his ready room. He crossed the bridge without comment, taking the Captain's chair as Riker vacated it for him. The first officer shared a questioning glance with Troi, who simply shook her head slightly for now.

"I am fine, Number One."

The quelling tone told Riker that he'd been caught out. In these circumstances, it was generally better to fess up.

"I see that, Sir. No return visits, I hope?"

After the briefing he'd received about what had happened on the planet, Riker had waited on near tenterhooks for a return of Q. That he hadn't was a blessing.

"Not yet," Picard answered with an oddly regretful foreboding.

"Sir?" Riker began to question, but Picard had already turned to address the relief officer at the science station.

"Have the crewmen returned to the ship?"

"Yes, sir."

Facing forward once more, the captain directed the ensign at the station in front of him. "Starbase Eckhart, Warp Four."

"At your command, Sir."

"Engage."

The command crew breathed a silent but thankful sigh of relief as the ship went under way. They should have known that it had all been far too simple.

"See! What did I tell you?"

The smugly gloating tone came from the side of the bridge. Unrecognized, it was almost hesitant as all heads swiveled to find out who had spoken. At first glance, it was clear that the only person who could have declared themselves right was the human looking man on the right. He stood, arms crossed over his chest, garbed in an old Earth style. The human looking man next to him was clothed similarly, his hands slung in his jeans pockets as he near pouted.

"Okay, I admit it. I should have believed you when you said Roddenberry was one of us."

The man with the crossed arms dropped them, gesturing with one while he tapped the fingers of the other hand against his leg. "Well, not one of us, exactly… More like one of you, though since you're one of us, it's a very fine point."

But the other man had lost any attention he might have been paying to his companion. He stepped towards the viewscreen as if drawn magnetically to its surface. "How fast are we going?" he breathed out in rapt fascination.

"Omniscient," the other man singsonged.

Chastened, the man replied, "Right. Sorry, Rodney."

Picard had stood, overcoming the shock of the new arrivals. "I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard…"

He was cut off as the first man flapped a hand in his direction. "Yes, yes, of the Starship Enterprise. Really, you need new lines."

Completely ignoring the captain, the man referred to as Rodney drifted over to stare at the science console. His envious gaze was enough to make the ensign nervous and she shifted slightly to avoid him. He, of course, didn't notice. Taking advantage of the space, he leaned closer.

Picard, though, was unimpressed. "I demand to know who you are and what you're doing on my ship."

"Look, John! They named a conductor coil after Zeppo!"

John rolled his eyes as he turned around. "Zelenka. Omniscient, remember?"

Rodney was completely ignoring John again, not even having taken notice that Picard had spoken. John, though, had actually grasped human manners at one time.

"Forgive us, Captain. A mild disagreement about Starfleet has now been settled."

"Then you will be leaving," Picard insisted.

"Yeah, right on that," John said, glancing around. "What was your name again? Jean-Luc Picard?"

At Picard's confused glance to his senior staff and nod, John ground out between gritted teeth, "Rodney!"

"What?! You would not believe the advances they've made since I last looked in on warp technology… Why you want to spend all our time watching early flight developments when you could be dealing with something many times faster then the speed of light, I don't…"

"Rodney, shut up."

The figure now hogging the science console and tapping his way through the directories looked up. "Huh? What?"

"The Enterprise?"

"Yes, so? Flagship, special occasion, remember? It's been nine thousand, seven hundred, and fourteen years subjective to the exact second since you agreed to ascend."

John looked like a patient man. He appeared even more so as he tried to reason with his companion, over top of the increasingly vexed Starfleet officers. "Rodney… If a Q had appeared before I agreed… What would you have done?"

The curiosity disappeared from the other entity's face as it hardened into lines of resolute conviction. "Destroyed them."

"Then why are we on the bridge of Captain Picard's ship?"

Rodney blinked, remarking absently. "It's okay. I timed this right. He's already…" Then, stopping, he looked more closely at the Captain. "Shit!"

John just sighed.

"Damnit, I thought I had the timing right! How was I supposed to know we were early?"

"Omniscient?" John asked with a smirk.

Rodney stepped away from the console, hurrying down to join John. He nodded stiffly at the senior staff, actually bowing slightly to Picard. "Our sincere apologies, Captain. Apparently, our arrival was early and most precipitous. It shall not be repeated until your negotiations are complete."

"Rodney."

This time, the name was clearly in a warning tone of voice. The entity addressed as such simply rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers.

Just that quickly, the pair was gone from the bridge. Picard sighed, turning to face his confused crew.

"Sir?" Commander Riker asked. "What just happened?"

Resuming his seat, Picard replied, "I wish I knew, Number One."

finis

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