Star Trek The Next Generation The Gift: A Star Trek SI

[Lillie Jones]

Thanks for the chapter

 

[SotF]

You forgot to tell him to visit his mum more often. That should at least be in his power and shouldn't greatly inconvenience anyone. Ah well. Beverly will have another son soon. A nice useful replacement

Click to shrink...

You know, with the timing of things there, the theory that Wesley kind of arranged things to keep his mother busy and less worried about him is something I could see being part of it.

Followed by an "Oh SHIT!" moment when he realizes the Vox thing

 

[DarkDestroyer]

Just a heads up---"Star Trek: Picard" is going to be pretty different from the series proper by the time we get to it.

 

[DarkDestroyer]

One thing after another--so yesterday I ended up slicing a bit of my head as I caught myself going up my stairs on the bottom edge of my window---it's one of those that opens up to the side and not up and down. I have a 4cm gash that is now stapled shut. I've been ordered to rest and not do very much. I'm okay considering it could've been much worse. So going to be taking a little break.

 

[AHHGKS]

IRL stuff comes first, especially health related stuff. Take care of that before thinking about QQ. Hope you get better fast without complications.

tftc!

 

[Marlow3]

Dang that sucks. Focus on convalesing and we will wait for the next installment when you are recovered.

 

[DarkDestroyer]

Paramount-SkyDance Own Star Trek. For Entertainment Purposes Only. Non-Profit.

Author's Note: I am recovering nicely. Already half finished my antibiotics. The wound is looking pretty clean all things considered. I get the staples out next Monday or Tuesday. This will probably be the last chapter before I move, roommate and I are looking at a place on Wed, and if it looks half decent, we're going to take it. Also after this chapter---things are going to deviate a little bit as we lead up to "Star Trek: Generations" (or my version of it) and then DS9. Not QUITE done with TNG yet but this is a pretty big milestone chapter.

The Day before my 49th Birthday Party. I suddenly find myself in a stark WHITE ROOM with the feintest sound, like a heart beat. Then that all too familiar swooshing sound is heard and Q appears.

"Q." I say

Q though is not wearing his Starfleet uniform, instead he is dressed in his mid 21st Century Judge Robes. If we ever see anything like this back home, we're truly fucked. I then see one of Q's courtiers appear.

"Ye shall address His Honor as such!" demands the courtier but I ignore him

"Let me guess, the Continuum doesn't want me to interfere in All Good Things...?" I ask him

"It has been determined by the Court that any such interference from Adam Christopher Young in the resumption of the Trial of Humanity, will be met with swift punishment!" The Courtier declares

"Enough of this Q. I'm not a child. I know that we're in a Continuum construct."

"You presume much." Judge Q says, speaking for the first time in his chair.

I exhale.

"I have long suspected that the recreation of the 21st Century Court Room from the Farpoint Mission was something created, so that crew's human minds would have something from history to at least relate to. They never suspected they might be in a higher plane of existence because they didn't have the knowledge that I have. I don't presume much, I KNOW, Your Honor."

He takes off his black gloves finger by finger, agonizingly slow, until both are removed. Then he snaps his fingers and appears in his White "God" Robe from Tapestry.

"Very impressive, got it in one. The Continuum has determined that the discovery of the paradox is an evolutionary milestone in humanities evolution. Your companions must come to that discovery, on their own, without help from you. That would be defeating the point of the realization." Q states

"Fair enough. But what I'm supposed to do? I'm not going to be contained here." I reply

"I have a question for you Adam, what do you think will happen to you once Picard uncovers the paradox, and realizes the significance of it? It is in theory the end of their story proper. I could send you back." Q says

"Send me home..." I muse contemplating the notion for the first time in a long time.

"Oh yes. It has been discussed. We have a bargain, the Continuum is aware of it. So are the higher beings of the cosmos, as you know now. I could snap my fingers and..."

"I have unfinished business, Q." I say simply

"Sigh. Kirk. Deep Space Nine. The Dominion. You wish to help them win the war? I understand you're desire to help Adam, but I also know you have other agendas, personal ones."

"Is that so bad?" I ask

"No. As long as your personal whims don't disrupt the larger mechanics of this universe. You are being watched, mon-ami. Constantly. As I said before, you have rocked the boat, rattled the cages. The Elders of the Universe are not---impressed with your actions. However we are---what's the human term? Babysitting you." Q says

"I don't need to be babysat. I have already assured--"

"Yes. Yes...you wouldn't do anything to harm anyone, or anything, or accidently cause the unraveling of all reality as we know it. I believe you. However there are those that don't...I am simply TELLING you, to be mindful of your decisions that you will be making in the coming years Adam. There will be consequences to your actions. Good or bad? I can't say, but be aware of what you do, mon-ami." Q warns

"I will Q. Can you at least send me on vacation, somewhere during this?" I ask

"I think that can be arranged." he snaps his finger and before I can finish this sentence I appear right before Arandis on Risa, and bump into her.

"A-Adam...w-where? How?"

"Hi Arandis. Sorry about dropping in like this, but I'm on a bit of a vacation."

"I'll prepare your estate for you."

"Thank you."


Next up: Unknown territory as I depart the Enterprise and accept...an unusual mission request.

 

[DarkDestroyer]

I got the staples out this morning, and everything is looking good. The nurse cleaned the wound and re-dressed it. Said it was no big deal if the dressing came off, as that is a common occurrence for some people. The skin should reseal automatically and all the crusty bits fall off on their own. I should be fully healed from this in about two weeks.

 

[Despacitoleo]

Yay recovers

 

[Marlow3]

Happy convalescence mate. Good luck and take it easy.

 

[DarkDestroyer]

Hello Everyone.

I just realized it's been almost a month since the last post. A LOT has happened in the span of that time as July has been absolutely just swamped. I had my 3 month CT and CAT scan updates on the second thyroid nodule and I get the results on the 31st (the phone call was already booked). Had respite as my parents went away with my Aunt who was visiting from England so watched my brother for a week. The biggest news though is that I've chosen to have weight reduction surgery. I went to my family doctor to finally discuss weight loss options about my weight which has been out of control since the thyroid nodule surgery last Christmas. The Doc explained that basically due to the combination of the nodule with all my chronic conditions---I've plateaued at 290-300. I explained that in spite of exercising, dieting, and walking that I have only been able to lose water weight and not much else. He ruled out medication and threw me a curve ball saying that I was a prime candidate for weight reduction surgery. It is a 4 year wait process that includes meeting and planning with a specialist who helps plan with you and prepare you for the changes that will be occurring after the surgery---but he thinks he can cut that time in half. So that's where I am at right now. I'm excited and willing to make the changes that I need to. The last six months have been absolutely miserable. So hopefully the specialist can put together a plan that will help because I've literally struggled just to get back into the 280's since December.

My roommate and I are STILL looking for a place, but our timeline on that has increased and not so rigid as it was last month when we decided to do this.

What's all this got to do with the story? The story has been on hiatus. I'm busy re-writing the lead up to "Star Trek: Generations". I realized that there was basically too big a gap between the conclusion of TNG and Generations so you guys deserve more story and the thing I had planned...I'm able to do now so I just need the time to sit down and do this.

I don't frankly now how long the hiatus is going to be. It could be a couple of days, could be a month. I appreciate the patience and interest though! This will transition us into the DEEP SPACE NINE portion of the story.

 

[Marlow3]

Thanks for the update and good luck with the American health care system mate. Good in you for focusing on your health as well.

 

[DarkDestroyer]

Paramount-SkyDance Own Star Trek. For Entertainment Purposes Only. Non-Profit.

Risa is absolutely lovely as this time Arandis and I spend time as friends. Ro is still on Deep Space Nine as they handle the fallout from the dissolution of the Circle. Starfleet Command has officially launched an investigation into my concerns regarding Cardsassian interference. Alynna herself has been appointed the Chief Investigator. This is the first time I've been able to fully explore what Curzon left me. The estate itself is---well---luxurious as one would expect befitting the Old Man's status and accomplishments. Arandis tells me that he had it personally built and oversaw every aspect of it's construction to his specific criteria and deigns. He didn't just intent it as a vacation home, he wanted it to also function as a muti-purpose complex. He also left an incredible amount of money. So much in fact, I haven't a clue to deal with. I'm sure Jadzia inherited a lot as well---I'll have to talk to about that the next time I see her. Ro and I talk for a while and I promise her that I'm on my best behavior on Risa.

"I wouldn't do anything without you here, Laren."

"Hmmm. I'm sure you wouldn't."

I spend my 49th Birthday on Risa and the day after on the 29th of December. I get a surprise call. Vice-Admiral Sarah Cooper of Starfleet Intelligence. Alynna's second.

"Sir...this is a surprise." I greet her awkwardly as I sit down still drenched coming out of the pool. I toss my towel over my shoulders.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you Ensign. Just because Q chose to give you a vacation for cosmic means, doesn't mean we can't recall you back into immediate service."

"Uh...I just came from a swim. What can I do for you Admiral?" I ask formally

"Funny you should phrase it that way Adam, it's more of what we can do for you. I have a proposal." she replies

"Uh-oh. I know that look. What do you want Sarah? Or should I be asking what does Alynna want from me?"

"What makes you think this has anything to do with the Boss?" Sarah asks

"Admiral Cooper, please don't insult my intelligence. I know an intelligence pitch when I see one. You guys have been trying to cultivate my services since I first arrived, and my answer now is what it always has been. Absolutely not."

"Very well I will refrain from the bullshit." she drops her veneer and adopts her game face

"We want you to come work for us. You will be trained, conditioned, and handled accordingly. You are wasting that fabulous nanite enhanced body on the Enterprise. Your project at Daystrom is not going to be operative for at least another year, you'll wallow away doing mundane things on the Enterprise."

I start to consider her words. The main series has concluded. There's a large gap of non story until Scotty and his team complete the Tether. The fact is I've said no to Intel because I'm scared. It's my turn to drop the facade.

"I'm scared Sarah." I say

"We'll train the fear out of you." she replies stone faced

"Can I think about this?" I ask

"I'll give you 24 hours." she says

"What about the Enterprise?"

"Captain Picard will be informed you've been....reassigned." Cooper says

"Okay let me get back to you. Young out." I push the button and then quickly establish another comm channel to the Enterprise.

"Mr. Young...this is a surprise. Are you ready to resume your duties after Q's little vacation?" Picard asks

"Actually sir...I've been offered another assignment. I'm contemplating taking it." I reply and I see his genuine surprised look he places down his PADD and puts his full attention to me

"I see. What is the nature of the assignment?" he asks

"I'm not at liberty to discuss that sir." I reply and the realization hits Picard immediately.

"Starfleet Intelligence has finally got their hooks into you..." he says

"Aye sir. I don't know how long this will be. I'll be back for my things and then I will have to report." I say and Picard nods

"Very well. I look forward to seeing you Ensign."

"Aye sir." I hang up

I get up and walk around a while. Use the towel to wipe my bald head. I can't believe I'm doing this. I sigh and sit back down and reopen the channel to Cooper.

"I'm in."

"That was unexpectedly fast."

"I'm trusting you Sarah." and she just nods

"You'll report back to the Enterprise, collect your things, and we'll send a ship for you to transport you back to Earth. You'll then be briefed when you arrive."

"Aye Admiral. I'll see you then."

The screen goes blank replaced with the Starfleet emblem.

This has taken an interesting turn....

 

[Marlow3]

After seeing the debacles starfleet Intel has made over TNG i am surprised he would allow himself to be under their command. The handling of the Romulans and the fact they were compromised only a few years previous with those brain bugs would make me leery of anything they had to say.
Good to have you back mate.
Thanks for the chapter.

 

[DarkDestroyer]

After seeing the debacles starfleet Intel has made over TNG i am surprised he would allow himself to be under their command. The handling of the Romulans and the fact they were compromised only a few years previous with those brain bugs would make me leery of anything they had to say.
Good to have you back mate.
Thanks for the chapter.

Click to shrink...

Things are going to get a little dark.

Not fully back yet. This the final push to find a place---both my roommate and I thought we'd long since be out of here by now, but the World Cup hijinks made things frustrating here. He has to be out by Friday. I'm okay as I haven't given my notice....but we both understand if we have to do this separately that we'll accept that. We're going to be looking hard though over the next few days.

This was just the set up chapter since I already had it done and was just holding on to it. Gonna have a proper hiatus now...but hopefully not for TOO long.

 

[Lillie Jones]

Impressive
Thanks for the chapter

 

[DarkDestroyer]

I got the call from the oncologist on Friday afternoon. Both scans were negative in terms of any new growth. The second nodule is still around the same length as it was three months around 1.4 cm. I have a TEENY cluster of them near the middle of my bottom throat upper chest but they think those will dissolve. The CAT scan showed nothing anyone was worried about so that means I've now graduated to the six month check up stage. So I'll be doing this again in March of '27. He is referring me to a colleague...I've forgotten what their title is...and doesn't appear to be imminent as I didn't immediately get a booking call from the office for it. So everything on THAT side of the body is honky dory right now.

Moving is still in flux. I am now in my final month at the house---or at least that is the intent. I am still not going to submit my notice until after we've secured a place. My roommate has moved out and is staying at one of their friends house. If I happen to find something on my own, he's fine with that but we'd both prefer to still find something together. So this is going to be on hiatus until after I move and am settled down---which means likely the fall time. I'd like to resume this to time it with Star Trek's 60th Anniversary in Sep, but we'll see.

 

[Marlow3]

Congrats on the good health news. Good luck on the move preparations!

 

[DarkDestroyer]

Paramount-SkyDance Own Star Trek. For Entertainment Purposes Only. Non-Profit.

The fog rolled across San Francisco bay, creating a near misty illusion as I entered Vice-Admiral Sarah Cooper's office. The office was---spartan---Sarah was a practical person. Highly analytical which is why Alynna had promoted her. Cooper had been in SI since she was a raw, newly graduated Cadet. She had wanted a different path than her crewmates which immediately got her flagged by the agency as a top recruit. It has paid off for her all these decades later as the second most powerful person within the division. Somehow we've established this strange rapport we have.

"Welcome home, Mr. Young. I trust your trip was uneventful." Sarah greets

"It was. You still look surprised that I'm here."

"I am. I thought you'd back out. I'm slightly impressed that you haven't."


"What do you want from me, Admiral, why am I here?"

"Your future knowledge has been, frankly wasted with what you've been doing on the Enterprise these past six years. Starfleet Intelligence, had we had our way from the start, would have recruited you and used that knowledge to enact policy changes that would have accelerated your grand plans for the galaxy ten fold. Instead---you wanted to use that to have adventures on the Enterprise. All well and good. No one knows better than you the dangers the galaxy poses. You have claimed that you want to get us ready for war, but you're not a solider, you've experienced dreadful things---yes---but you have no idea what is truly out there. I intend to remove the veil."

She punched up a holographic sphere that showed a map of the galaxy including all the hot botton galactic powers. A green dot brightens over Bajor, a tiny white dot represents Deep Space Nine, and a serious of dots near the station represent the Wormhole. Cooper then brings up profiles of former Minister Jarro Essa. Vedek Winn Adami. Li Nalas, along with Ro, and Sisko.

"You want to know why you are standing in this room now, Adam? THIS is why. Your decision to expose the Circle by sending Lieutenant Ro that data file on the Circle you had compiled was a fundamental shift in your line of thinking. Up until that point, your actions and specifically how you decided those actions were made with meticulous, calculating thinking---i.e. you were overly cautious about everything you decided to. But something changed when you chose to hit the terminal button that day. That day---you became an Intelligence asset without knowing it."

I frown.

"Let me continue. After the Circle had been dismantled, Jaro and Winn's activities were exposed and shut down...and Li Nalas was asked to step up to help his people once again, to end the legend, and be a real inspiration---your little beautiful mind went to places it was forced to go, the bigger picture, Mr. Young. You began to suspect a...conspiracy. Not just any conspiracy, perhaps the biggest conspiracy facing our generation and the one before it---why we chose to do nothing to help the Bajorans. From your conversations with our erstwhile boss, you learned of her attempts to warn Starfleet Command---the evidence she and her slain partner attempted to provide---and were told to ignore, the Prime Directive was invoked and younger Lt. Nechavyev was quieted. But now she's running around on an investigation that has even the slightest possible chance of being true to see if there are moles planed deep within the foundation of the organization sworn to protect the Federation. All of that is Intelligence operative thinking, Adam. I've read your psyche profile. I have read ALL the reports on you from your colleagues. You've been doing Intel work this entire time and not known it. THAT is why you're here today. That is why we want to use you." Cooper explained.

The Sphere changed to a profile of me. The reprogrammed Borg nanites running through my blood stream. Giving me status as an "above advanced human". Cooper flashes that shark teeth smile of hers and I shiver slightly.

"These---separate you from everyone else. They regenerated your foot, have healed your broken, chronic ailed body, and created something that has been wallowing around. They give you an edge Adam. You need to take advantage of this. The others see what happened as a tragedy that happened that needs to be overcome, we see you for what you truly could become. A living weapon. Accelerated healing. Enhanced reflexes. We're going to refocus you into forged steel, Mr. Young."


Ignoring Sarah's recruitment push I instead respond differently.

"On Risa, I revealed that I scared. You told me you would train the fear out of me. I'm ready to begin." I say with arms relaxed behind my back.

Cooper tapped a small control on her desk. Instantly, the high-arched windows overlooking San Francisco Bay shattered into raw, cascading blocks of green light. The sleek mahogany desk, the secure terminals, and the pristine Starfleet Headquarters walls dissolved into thin air. The simulation rezzed into existence around them with dizzying speed, replacing the office with a dark, rain-slicked alien metropolis underbelly. Neon signs in broken Orion language buzzed overhead, casting long, erratic shadows across a damp, debris-strewn alleyway. I immediately become alert.

"Meet your handler and prepare to defend yourself, recruit." Cooper orders

I stagger back slightly, my boots splashing in a pool of holo generated water. A figure emerged wearing an all black tactical jumpsuit...a figure with striking blonde hair I immediately recognized.

"Ishara?!!"

Ishara didn't respond though, closing the distance between us with a speed I hadn't anticipated. She lunges forward with a brutal, snapping kick aimed right at my sternum. I throw up my arms in a double cross block, absorbing the impact, but the sheer force of her momentum skidded my boots across the wet pavement. Ishara didn't give me a second to breathe. She pivoted seamlessly on her heel, using the recoil of the block to whip a backfist directly at my jaw. I ducked under the strike, the rushing wind of her fist whistling past my ear. I stepped into her guard, attempting to utilize standard Starfleet security grappling techniques to lock her arm. But Ishara wasn't a standard Starfleet opponent. She was raised in the lawless pits, and gang wars of Turkana IV. She countered by driving her forehead straight into Adam's nose.

"Fuck..." I breathe out winded

White-hot pain flashed across me , but as blood began to trickle from me nose, the reprogrammed nanites swarmed the injury, numbing the pain receptors and instantly sealing the ruptured capillaries. Beverly and Data had programmed them to instantly begin regenerating any ailment or injury they detected upon it occurring. I catch Ishara by the vest before she could disengage, twisting my hips to execute a heavy, battlefield hip-throw. Ishara slammed into the rain-slicked ground with a heavy thud, but she rolled backward with the impact, sweeping her leg in a wide, vicious arc. Her boot caught Adam behind the ankle, taking his legs out from under me.

I hit the pavement hard, rolling instinctively to avoid a lethal, descending heel-drop that cracked the simulated concrete where his head had been a fraction of a second prior. He sprang back to his feet, slipping into a tight, low tactical stance. I start panting, and wipe the blood from my face.

"Not bad old man." Ishara flashes that grin at me

"What...the...hell...Ishara?"!!" I exclaim

She relaxes her pose while explaining her journey.

"I wasn't fitting in, in spite of your gracious encouragement," Ishara replied, stepping back to roll out her shoulders. "I needed focus. My experiences and time on Turkana... overwhelmed me at times. I was a pain in the arse to my professors. This got word back to SI—they recruited me and... well... I feel at home at last."

She dropped back into a low brawling stance, a cold, challenging glimmer in her eyes. "Now I have to deal with you. What was Lieutenant Morani doing with you on the Enterprise? Doing kid fighting sessions? You're good, but you're lazy. I know you don't want to hurt anyone, but you're not on the Enterprise anymore, recruit—we go again. Push yourself, trainee."


"Alright...round two it is." I say and then kick into Batman mode.

I closed my eyes for a fraction of a second, retreating into a highly structured mind palace. In that mental space, the training halls of the Enterprise-D materialized. I saw Lieutenant Morani's fluid, defensive Aikido stances. He saw Worf's brutal, uncompromising Mok'bara katas. I tore down the rigid barriers dividing the styles, fusing them into a singular, predatory flow designed for the gutter. I then opened my eyes and do Neo and Morpheus hand gesture to Ishara.

"Let's dance."
Ishara was already in mid-air, driving a flying knee toward my jaw. Must register that as a favourite move of hers. Adam didn't block. He pivoted under her trajectory with the low, sweeping grace of a Klingon martial artist, letting her momentum carry her past me. As she landed, I stepped into her blind spot, launching a brutal elbow strike that cracked hard against her tactical shoulder plate.

Ishara grunted, spinning instantly with a lethal capoeira-style kick aimed at my temple. I slipped the blow by millimeters, my mind palace calculating her recovery time in real-time.I caught her extended leg, using her own Turkana momentum to drive her backward into a pile of simulated cargo crates. The wood shattered with a deafening crack. Ishara bounced back out of the wreckage like a cornered wildcat. She lunged with a blinding flurry of straight punches, her fists moving in a blur of street-fighting fury. I shifted into a tight, textbook Boxing guard, tucking my chin. I absorbed three heavy blows to my forearms, parried a fourth, and then exploded forward. I then drove a vicious palm-strike directly into her sternum—a technique Worf had taught me to shatter an opponent's center of gravity.


The impact knocked the wind from Ishara's lungs, sending her skidding five feet across the wet pavement. She dropped to one knee, clutching her chest, gasping for air as the rain poured over her face.

I stood over her, my breathing heavy, my hands raised in a low, adaptive stance that belonged to no specific academy handbook. For the first time, I wasn't holding back out of fear of hurting someone. I was fighting to survive. I then turn to face Admiral Cooper.

"End program." She orders

"IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT?!" I roar with my Batman voice.

"It is a start." She says and leaves the two of us in the holdodeck.

A new, different, beginning has begun.

 

[Lillie Jones]

Thanks for the chapter

 

[DarkDestroyer]

I found a new place today, and took it! So now moving can officially begin. It's technically not available until Sep 1st, but I explained my current situation to the landlord and that I'm planning on leaving under duress, so he mentioned he'll see how he can accommodate that. I do not have a lot of personal effects, so it's an easy move, my friend is going to be helping me, and I can stay at my parents until I am able to assume control of the room. But everything is finally looking up.

 

[Marlow3]

Thanks for the chapter and congrats on the place.
Training arc with a timeskip and then on to James Bonding around the quadrant i guess? Looking forward to it.

 

[DarkDestroyer]

Thanks for the chapter and congrats on the place.
Training arc with a timeskip and then on to James Bonding around the quadrant i guess? Looking forward to it.

Click to shrink...

That's essentially the plan. I called an audible for this but essentially this is to give SI Adam something to do while he waits for the Tether project at Daystrom to be ready for him prior to the events of Generations. I figured I'd fold two different plots into one (the Cardassian conspiracy) to make it easy for my self.

Hopefully am looking to return to this around Star Trek Day!!!


New place is secured now. I just have to wait until the end of the month to take possession, so I'll be moving into my parents temp for the remainder of the month. I'm looking to leave this shit hole on the weekend now. Things have moved quick, fast, and in a hurry.

 

[DarkDestroyer]

The move went very well. My friend and I were in and out in two car trips. I went back for room inspection today and actually got my deposit back. So I can relax a little bit now until I am able to take possession of the new room on the 1st.

 

[Marlow3]

Congrats on the deposit return. It is always a trial getting it back. Oh and congrats on moving

 

[DarkDestroyer]

Hello Everyone.

First of all the second move into my new place from my parents went extremely well. We were done within three hours. I'm about 90 percent unpacked. The room is much bigger than I thought...it's probably another two or three foot than the room I just left last month. My roommate couldn't be more nicer or generous. Has said if there's literally anything that I need, including appliances he will get it for me, I just have to ask.

The biggest thing that has happened though this past weekend is I've experienced a hell of a transformation. Long story short---I've had a year and a half's worth of neck torque and chronic conditions undone in three consecutive physio sessions over the course of three weeks. The last two weeks has seen the effect of that take hold as I've been literally almost a 100 percent uncoiled in a weekend. On Thursday morning I experienced something I've never felt before that resembled my original Vertigo incident from six years ago---a total neurological systematic overload that lasted about a half hour, and a full two hours to recover from. I would not wish that on anyone. I've felt like I'm in that gene sequencer from "The Fifth Element" as my body literally has remade itself in a fly.

I've lost at least a pant size. Re-straightened and am in the "settling" phase of the re-structure. Tomorrow is when I'm supposed to able to resuming normal activities. I feel like a completely different person. It has been mentally and physically exhausting and my physio is in for a huge surprise when he sees me at the end of next week. We weren't expecting this to happen this fast---but the last two sessions he did serious adjustments that were the key---and my body was able to do the rest.

I am happy. I am content for the first time in years....and am a near clean slate.

What does this mean for this? It means I'll be resuming this in a week or so. I've also started two more stories that I will be posting at the end of the year. A TOS one that busts up the timeline---it's the most aggressive I've ever been---and what was originally meant to be my VERY first SI six years ago----"AdamLock" which is probably my most different take on my universe of SI's.

That's what we all have to look forward to! Hope all are well, and SI Adam's SI adventures are about to resume shortly!

 

[Marlow3]

Congrats on the rapid recovery and glad to hear you are on a more even keel.

 

[DarkDestroyer]

Paramount-SkyDance Own Star Trek. For Entertainment Purposes Only. Non-Profit.

It had been two weeks since I walked into Sarah's holographic test and was blind sided with Ishara as my handler. Two weeks undergoing a modified Intelligence boot camp, filled with all the spy trope training you could imagine. A crash course in how not to conduct yourself in public when doing bad things. Little tricks. I wanted to talk to Ishara, ask her so many questions but she was perfect for this assignment, this job, and Intelligence knew it. The upbringing and training from Turkanka IV, combined with her recent Academy experience made her the perfect person for them. I had saved her from one hellish nightmare only for Starfleet to place her into another one....but I admit that is just my own personal bias forming my opinion here. Ishara has been an exceptional teacher.

I step foot into Admiral Sarah Cooper's REAL San Francisco office located on Level One of Starfleet Headquarters. Alynna's office is down the hall. I stand at ease. Cooper is sitting relaxed at her chair reading a report. She looks up.

"Ensign."

"Admiral...you have me for precisely five months and two odd weeks before I need to report to Daystrom. I haven't read a single report, had a briefing or mission from Yar or yourself during that time. I get that I'm undergoing training---but you didn't bring me all this way to train, or to physically push my body. What. Am. I. Doing here, Sarah?" I ask

"You are here Ensign Young, because the original timeline you knew has started to break thanks to your machinations. You can deny that all you want to but the facts speak for themselves. At the beginning recommending and developing the Borg Virus in an attempt to in theory wipe them out, attempting to iron out the Defiant's original technical issues, your not so subtle moving of pieces into their proper places. Most recently the decision to send Sisko your knowledge on how to dismantle the Circle and Jarro. I happen to know you have ongoing agendas, there will be consequences and ripples from those as well."

She pauses.

"So what are you doing here? The Cardassians are in full blown panic mode since you made Alynna aware of your little conspiracy theory. They've gone uncharacteristically silent since the withdraw from Bajor. We know based your threat assessment report that will not last and Dukat will take advantage of this situation and rise into a position of power. You aren't here to be a standard field op. We recruited you to be our premier Anomaly Specialist. When fractures happen---even in a five month period gap, you'll be dropped in to help fix it." She taps a button.

I blink. This can't possibly be real. I muse.

A holographic interface was activated showing the USS Hathaway---yes THAT Hathaway.

"Two days ago, a deep space monitoring station near the Badlands picked up an unique subspace signature, one belonging to the USS Hathaway, the same ship that was used in the War Games that Starfleet had ordered and then foolishly abandoned a few years ago. The problem is that the ship is currently decommissioned and reported confirmed at it's docking bay at Qualor II." Cooper reports

"You suspect the Maquis?" I ask still questioning this

"We believe that the Maquis have plans to steal the Hathaway and either repurpose it for their own means as part of their mothballed fleet. You and Ishara will report to Deep Space Nine to meet with our---" I cut off her now

"Sarah...please. The Maquis have been dead in the water for the last few months since Ro chose to not betray the Federation and remain with Starfleet, and before you continue to argue with me about this---Cal Hudson, Chakotay, the other cells---yes they have competent people running their organization, but Ro was the key. The Old Man knew what was doing when he played up his sympathies for Laren, he knew she would be the perfect person that would galvanize their people and train them...and she did. But now that has been butterflied, the Maquis are reduced to a squabbling, unorganized, fringe group, that hopefully will remain nothing more than a footnote in history---rather than the cohesive, effective fighting force Ro would turn them into." I reply folding my arms and Cooper laughs

"Damn it. I told Alynna you wouldn't take the bait. She insisted on the scenario anyway. She wanted to see if your meta-knowledge made you arrogant enough to believe an operational anomaly blindly, or if your analytical instincts would hold up under pressure."

I sigh.

"Admiral Cooper. Enough. With. The Games. What mission...do you have for me?" I switch into the annoyed Batman voice

Cooper drops her face and punches in a sequence and up comes Deep Space Nine. There are several profiles.

"The Cardassian Union as I mentioned are in freefall. Your little conspiracy theory regarding possible Starfleet moles and cooperation in order to preserve the status quo on Bajor haas made their Central Command even more paranoid than ever. The Obsidian Order has been probing---looking for you, and can't find anything thanks to our efforts. They have gone so far as to request an off the record Diplomatic Summit on Deep Space Nine. We're going put you straight into their line of fire, they most likely will dispatch Dukat for the psychological effect it will have on you...yours and Ishara's mission will be to provide Sisko and his team with support, and to determine their TRUE motives."


"This seems odd even for Central Command. Why not just have the Order extract me? Any organization could have at any time despite how careful we've been to monitor and limit my travel?" I replied

"Exactly...but you've made them paranoid, and people generally speaking do stupid things when they're spooked. They want to find out what you know. I know this is----unique but we need to know what they DO or don't know, sending you straight to them will accomplish that and knowing your delightful personality, you no doubt will take a few shots at Dukat provoking him---but don't YOU do anything stupid Adam. We're here to avoid war, not cause one." Cooper finishes

"Aye sir."

"The USS Thunderbird is standing by to escort you and Ishara to Deep Space Nine. You will avoid speaking to Ro or Dax about this mission if they ask you? Do you understand Mr. Young?"

"I accept the mission, Admiral."

"Good. Dismissed. There are no exploding messages."

"Thank Rao for that. We'll be in touch, sir."

She watches me go.

 

[DarkDestroyer]

Paramount and SkyDance Own Star Trek. For Entertainment Purposes Only. Non-Profit.

Author's Note: Greetings everyone! I am back! On the final two days of my structural reconfiguration (literally). This process of uncoiling from my neck hump is nearly complete, I also have Physio on Thursday evening so going to be re-assessed and have a new plan formulated. What is this arc? Something I completely made up based on wanting to deal with the Cardassian Plot I cooked up. We're freestyling a bit here folks so hope you like it! Trying to give more of what you guys want without compromising the story entirely! We might go off the rails---but I hope not.

The iconic office was thick with tension. This was never the way I wanted to meet Commander Benjamin Sisko. Both Ishara and I stood at attention. Lieutenant Ro Laren stood off to Sisko's right side, while Jadzia was to his left. The shadow of Wolf 359 was now prominent as I hear the attack of the Cube on the Saratoga. My own inner cry...NO! Sisko and I stare at each other. He puts down the PADD he was reading. He has fully been briefed on this mission and our parts in it.


"Mr. Young..." Sisko says almost growling. I force myself to look at the man. My favourite Captain.


"Sir."


"You find yourself at the centrepoint of a situation growing out of control. One in which you have helped to expose with your---theory."


"Yes sir. We've been ordered to provide support to you and your senior staff, and to figure out the Cardassians' intention with this meeting. You read Admiral Cooper's briefing?" I asked


"I have." Sisko then turns to look out his viewpoint.


"My Executive Officer, Science Officer, and Operations Chief have all vouched for your character, and O'Brien personally couched for Ensign Yar's. I happen to take their opinions very seriously as you must already know. For now I will...push aside my own personal opinion so that we can get to work, and talk about what happened later. Is that acceptable?" Sisko says as he turns back around.


"Yes sir."


"Lt. Ro...escort our guests to their quarters, and brief them on what they need to know about who the Cardassians are sending to this little party."


"Aye sir."
The heavy doors to the Commander's office hissed shut behind us as Laren led the way down the upper level towards the turbolift. The ambient hum of Ops was buzzing with activity, but the professional mask she wore only barely hid the whirlwind of emotions running underneath. We stepped into the turbolift, and the doors sealed us in with a pneumatic hiss.


"Habitat Ring, Level 2," Laren ordered the computer. The lift dropped with the characteristic heavy thud of Cardassian machinery.
The second the lift was out of public view, she turned around, leaning her back against the bulkhead. Her sharp Bajoran features relaxed, but her eyes locked onto mine with a fierce, burning intensity. She looked down at my Starfleet Intelligence tactical black uniform, then over at Ishara, before looking back at me.


"Starfleet Intelligence tactical black. Really, Adam?" Laren said, her voice dropping its strict military tone. "Last time we talked on subspace, you were stuck on Risa, and now you're wearing the spook uniform. You didn't tell me you were being deployed here."


"I wasn't permitted to contact anyone, Laren. I'm sorry," I said, stepping closer to her, wanting nothing more than to break protocol and pull her into my arms. "It is so good to see you."


"Is it?" Laren raised an eyebrow, though a genuine softness broke through her guarded demeanor. "Because when Sisko told me Adam Christopher Young was arriving on a high-clearance SI transport, my heart stopped. And then I find out you brought her as your handler."

She shifted her gaze to Ishara, her expression analytical. Laren knew the whole history—she knew exactly how I had used my meta-knowledge years ago during the Enterprise encounter to completely rewrite Ishara's fate, saving her from breaking the crew's trust and setting her on a completely different path. After that, Ishara had spent years training at Starfleet Academy, only transitioning into full-time Starfleet Intelligence work about a year ago.

Ishara didn't flinch under the look. She offered Laren a polite, respectful nod. "Lieutenant. Chief O'Brien speaks highly of you. And Adam speaks of you constantly. I'm glad to finally meet the woman who kept him grounded after he left Earth."


Laren let out a short, cynical breath—the classic Ro laugh—but the tension in her shoulders visibly lessened. "Yeah, well, someone had to keep his head straight. O'Brien speaks highly of you too, Yar. Said you nearly tore the Academy apart before SI formally recruited you."


"The professors lacked imagination," Ishara replied smoothly.

The turbolift ground to a halt and the doors slid open to the dimly lit corridor of the Habitat Ring. Laren led us down the hall, her hand subtly brushing against mine as we walked.

"The Cardassian delegation is arriving at 06:00 hours tomorrow," Laren briefed us, her voice turning sharp and tactical again. "Central Command is sending Gul Evek to lead the talks."


Evek. The hardline Central Command officer who would eventually hound the Maquis. "Evek isn't a diplomat," I noted, my voice dropping. "He's a butcher with a uniform. If he's leading the talks, this isn't a peace summit. It's a distraction."


"That's exactly what Sisko thinks," Laren said. She stopped outside a hexagonal door and punched in the override code, stepping back to let us enter the quarters. "Evek is bringing a heavy security detachment, including a team of Guls from the Obsidian Order's peripheral staff. They claim it's for data verification, but Jadzia's sensors have already picked up unusual subspace static bleeding from their flagship's forward shields."


She stepped into the doorway, leaning against the frame as she looked directly at me. The professional barrier dropped entirely, leaving only the woman I loved staring back at me.

"You two are sharing these quarters for security purposes—Sisko's orders. Keep your heads down until the morning briefing," Laren instructed. Her eyes softened, drilling into mine with deep concern. "


We step inside of the quarters—I pull Laren inside look down both hallways and tap a small device and then toss it onto the near by couch. I kiss Laren passionately, she returns the kiss...then breaks the hold.


"This room is now communications sealed. Does any of this makes sense to you Laren? You said Sisko thinks it is a distraction tactic...Cooper thinks they want me---because I punched a hole in their conspiracy? We expected Dukat....they send Evek? What is going on?" Ishara goes into the bedroom for a few seconds.

Laren leaned her back against the sealed door, her chest rising and falling softly as she tried to catch her breath. She looked down at the anti-surveillance scrambler pulsing silently on the couch, then back up at me, her brow furrowed in deep, concentrated thought.

"Nothing about this is lining up with the patterns you gave us, Adam," she said, her voice dropping to a low, intense whisper. "When you broke the conspiracy around the Circle and exposed Jaro, it sent a shockwave straight through Cardassian Central Command. They realized Starfleet was suddenly three steps ahead of them. Cooper is right about one thing—they are terrified of the ghost in our machine. They want to know who is feeding us this data."

She paced a few steps into the room, her boots silent on the Cardassian floor panels. "We were entirely prepared for Dukat. Sisko had his strategy mapped out based on Dukat's usual posturing, his vanity, his political ambitions. But Evek? Evek is Central Command's blunt instrument. He doesn't negotiate, he doesn't play subtle political games, and he certainly doesn't head up diplomatic delegations unless there's a heavy military mandate behind it."

Laren looked into my eyes, her fingers tightening slightly against my vest. "If Evek is here instead of Dukat, it means Cardassia has stopped trying to outmaneuver us politically. They're trying to blind us. If your meta-intel doesn't have a playbook for Evek launching a pre-emptive strike with a prototype weapon in 2370... we are flying entirely blind tomorrow morning."


Ishara steps back out.

"If this is a play to distract and ensnare you---it won't work. The Cardassians are operating on the assumption you are still aboard the Enterprise, this is why Cooper wanted you at SI----to protect you while they figure out who it is disrupting their operations," Yar says sitting down beside me.
I sit down on the couch.


"None of this makes sense though. They could have had the Order kidnap me years ago...I know I poked holes, that was the intention---this is---erratic. Even for them. Have any of you spoken with Garak? What's his take on this?"

"Garak has been uncharacteristically quiet," Laren replied, her eyes narrowing as she mentally pulled up the station's security logs. "Which, as you know, usually means he knows exactly what's going on and is waiting to see how the cards fall. Sisko had Bashir subtly prod him yesterday morning when he went in for a wardrobe fitting. Garak spun some elaborate story about the seasonal textile shortages on Cardassia Prime, but right before Julian left, he dropped a very specific piece of advice."

"Let me guess," I sighed, rubbing my temples ried to process Garak's layered metaphors. "Something about the weave of a uniform?"

"Exactly," Laren said. "He told Julian that when the military starts prioritizing the thickness of a thread over the elegance of the cut, the tailor should pack up his shears. He was talking about Central Command overtaking the Obsidian Order's influence on this specific summit. If the military is running the show and pushing the Order to the peripheral staff, it means the Order didn't design this trap. Evek did. And the Order might actually be blind to what he's planning to do with that subspace weapon."

"What is this supposed weapon? A bluff? They're not supposed to have anything like that right now." I reply confused still
"If Central Command is acting independently of the Order, it explains the erratic behavior, Adam. The Order plays a long, cold game of chess. But a hardline Gul like Evek? He operates on raw military pressure. He doesn't want to kidnap you to study you; he wants to create a tactical blackout so massive that whatever ghost is feeding Starfleet data becomes entirely irrelevant."

"This is sounding too convoluted for them. It must be an Obsidian Order operation. Evek is doing this because he's forced to." I reply

She turned back to face me, her arms crossed over her tactical rig. "They don't know you're in this room. They think they're blinding Sisko. We use that to our advantage." Ro states

Laren steps back toward the hexagonal door, tapping the manual control panel to lower the communication scramble field. "I'll see you both at 05:30 on the upper level. Don't be late."

I turn to Ishara.

""This is more heavy than I suspect the Admiralty even thinks, Ishara. They want me, badly. There are too many random variables in play. They Have orchestrated this meeting to attempt to not extract me but distract and potentially pull information from me—as you said—they were probably expecting me to be on the Enterprise, and Jean-Luc to be here—sending Evek was genius on their part—we've counterbalanced things a bit. We need to be cautious."

"You need to be cautious." she pokes me in the chest.

"I will be---we need to figure out what is going on here though. Because I have a feeling it's going to escalate out of control quick, fast, and in a hurry if we don't."

 

[Marlow3]

What a tangle and it is cool that the butterfly's become more.obvious now. Thanks for the chapter