Future's End

By John Richards

© John Richards 1-14-2011

Based on Star Trek the next Generation created by Gene Roddenberry, and Star Trek First Contact Written by Rick Berman, Brannon Braga & Ronald D. Moore.

Three brilliant blue flares streak across the infinite background of space. Burning as bright as any star, they move ever closer towards their destiny and that fate of the future itself. Moving in unison, the trio of bright lights can be seen by many.

In an instant the lights slam into the hull of a small missile like vessel. With the impact, the hopes and dreams of countless billions are snuffed out like the flame of a matchstick exposed to wind.

The vessel explodes in a brilliant display of light and color, sending shards of itself in all direction.

An older bald man, weary from hours of battling nightmares made flesh, watches in horror the obliteration of not only his friends, but the future itself. Trying to keep his composure after witnessing such a heinous act, he looks toward the man that was once his friend and third officer.

"Data, what have you done" queries the bald man with a solemn tone. With a quirky satisfied smile the android Data, now partially covered in human skin replies "Picard I once told you that the Borg were my true calling, they believed in me even when father disowned me like an unwanted pet". The shear mention of his father brings emotions of hatred and spite to the androids face. "Lore" Picard states in disbelief and a level of anger seldom seen from a man of such composure. Lore's smile grows as he sees the acceptance of failure in Picard's face.

A woman clad in skin tight black body suit and pale, mottled skin moves towards lore for an embrace. The dark woman address Picard "You see Locutus, in Lore I have found a far better counterpart than you could ever have been. One who accepts the Borg, and can bring us and you closer to perfection than we have been able to alone." The woman looks to her new found counterpart "who would have known that inside this Starfleet puppet lays the end of your race and the dominance of the Borg; and you were kind enough to bring him to me."

Picard now realized that his actions in coming to face the Borg against orders have doomed not only his world, but the entire Alpha Quadrant. Alone on this mighty starship, his crew hoping to escape destruction fled to the planet below. Stuck in the year 2063, nearly three hundred years before his time, he knows no species in this entire half of the galaxy can stop them if they succeed in assimilating earth at this time. Picard must find a way to carry out his original plan of rupturing the warp plasma coolant tank. The to his plan key maybe Lore, if he can find out how and when he replaced Data, maybe he can distract him and the Borg Queen long enough to find a way to fracture the tank.

"Lore" Picard questions? "I saw you dismantled and shipped off to Galor IV, how did you escape and why come here to impersonate Data"? "Oh Picard"! Lore retorts. "I never escaped, and I certainly would never want to impersonate someone as dull as my dear brother. Ever since you stranded me in space I have never felt comfortable unless I had an escape plan in place. I guess you could say it is the one thing I have in common with my father". Picard listens intently while scanning the room for something he could use to break the coolant tank. "Before you found Data and I, at our new Borg headquarters I had already installed a dormant copy of myself hidden inside his ventral processor. I knew that if something went wrong Data would have been recovered by you. Maybe during one of his maintenance or repair jobs you Starfleet types may inadvertently activate me; lucky for me the Borg did it first.

Lore obviously pleased with the outcome looks to his new queen "Together we will reshape your history and see the Borg reach across this entire galaxy." Picard trying not to look at the Hyperspanner laying near the coolant tank takes visual accounts of the room and Borg positions. As he looks around the room his eyes land on a view screen showing earth below. "Lore, if you are only a program inside data then Data must still be in there. Surely something of him must still exist and he would not let you set one foot down there." Lore moves towards a nearby control panel and monitor; his queen with him. His reply not quite what Captain Picard was hoping to hear, "Oh Picard, you simply don't understand", Lore states with his usual grimace. Lore begins entering commands into the console, as his cybernetic consort moves to another panel full of Borg modifications. "My dear Picard", Lore explains, "This is now my body, I don't just occupy his. You may rest easy knowing that Data is not gone, he is still here just........" Lore freezes mid-sentence. An odd cock of Lore's head and his face goes from his now typical satisfied grin to an emotionless almost solemn demeanor. "Captain" Lore states. Picard attempting to take advantage of Lore & the Queens distraction moves to grab the hyperspanner to execute his plan. Upon hearing the more familiar tone of his friend Data Picard turns for an instant to confirm Data's presence. Not willing to sacrifice all of humanity for the possible resurgence of his third officer's personality Picard continues on his task.

Picard attempting to breach containment of the plasma coolant storage tank moves across the engineering deck with his hyperspanner in hand. His momentary pause allowed two Borg drones to move into his path. The face of a young Ensign Macario Gonzalez (whom served his senior staff dinner in the captain's mess not two days ago) stares back at him with cold dead eyes. Without hesitation Picard brings the tool to bear upon former Ensign Gonzalez's temple. The blow, forceful enough to knock the body into the second Borg drone, momentarily throwing it off balance provides Picard the need time to get passed them to strike the tank. Picard in a downward slashing motion attempts to end the Borg threat and at least preserving the rest of the alpha quadrant from devastation.

With Picard's swing coming down upon the coolant tank, he knows his live and the lives of all Borg in the area will cease. With the demise of the Queen and key Borg in this area the rest of the Borg throughout the ship will no longer be connected and will self destruct. Picard knows this for he was once the counterpart as Lore has become. Unlike the Borg whom requires their biological side to function, Lore will remain operational after exposure to the coolant. Lore will be damaged and alone on this mighty starship but at least he will not be able to help the Borg assimilate the Alpha Quadrant. With any luck the Enterprise crew will realize the ship was not destroyed and stop Lore before he is able to wreak more havoc on an unprepared 21st century with 24th century technology. That is if Data is not successful with the apparent internal struggle for control.

As Picard Blow is about to make contact the tool strikes a field of green light and ricochet's the tool away from the tank. Picard's heavy swing causes him to lose balance and topples to the floor. Lore/Data turning from his frozen position moves toward the Captain. Picard sitting up on the floor looking up at Lore/Data says nothing as he attempts to figure out who is in control. Lore/Data looks down at the fallen Captain wide eyed and with an almost puzzled look himself. Lore/Data's look turns in the direction the Queen was at near her command terminal at the far side of the room. Lore/Data addressing the Queen "You see I told you he would go for it, you are so predictable Picard". As Lore's smirk returns Picard knows that the entire chain of events was merely a ploy.

The Borg Queen moves close to address Picard, "Locutus, it is such a shame you left us. Now you will watch as we bring perfection to your planet". The doors to engineering open as dozens of Borg drones enter. Picard's arm is grabbed and he is forced to his feet. Picard looks to see the face of his captor and is taken off guard to see under the Borg implants, and facial disfiguration, what was once the face of a mighty and proud Klingon warrior that served as his tactical officer for many years.

THE END