Stardate: 70624:1700
Title: The End is Now (Part 2)
Author: Three of Thirteen 'Sparky'
Time: After “The End is Now (Part 1)”
Scene: USS Horizon Bridge


"Captain, the beams are starting to cease firing on the planet. The effects are still going to cause the planet to be destroyed, but we have been given more time to evacuate."

"Understood. Deadilus to Autumn."

[Go ahead.]

"You have been given a slight reprieve. How much time do you need to finish a full evacuation?"

[Sir, we are currently en-route to the Loyalty. I cannot explain right now, but Ensign Cochran seems to think that there may be an alternative to the Waverider.]

"Understood. You have 25 minutes before things get critical. Deadilus out."

The Captain pressed a few buttons on the arm of the chair.

"Deadilus to Engineering. What is the status of the transporters?"

[Still not functioning... wait, there is something happening... Watch out, it is going to blow!!!]

There was a sudden sound of an explosion in the background and the moans of a few of the crew before the communications continued.

[Sir, the device just exploded. I have three personnel injured, but nothing severe. We still don't have any access to the transporters though.]

"Perform a cold start of the system."

[Sir? That won't work.]

"Just do it."

[Aye, Sir.] There was a momentary pause. [It worked. How did you know to do that?]

"I'll explain later. Get the transporters online and begin to beam everyone up."

Another momentary silence followed as commotion filled the Engineering section.

[Captain, the Security crew stationed here are reporting that several groups of evacuees have just been beamed into the Horizon's Gateway. They are still doing a head count but I cannot detect Ensign Cochran onboard.]

"Understood. Continue working on the transporters - we may still need them. Bridge out."

Pressing a similar set of buttons to before, the Captain closed one link and established another.

"Horizon to Cochran."

A short pause ensued before Benjamin responded.

[Cochran here, Sir. Apologies for not informing everyone of the plan but there was no time to explain.]

"How many are left to beam up?" The Captain queried.

[None, Sir...] Cochran was obviously running back to the Waverider as he spoke, a cough emanating from his chest as the dusty atmosphere took its toll. [It took a few trips, but that's everyone accounted for.]

"Ensign Sparky has brought us a little more time, but in the next 20 minutes things are going to get rough..."

[Understood, Sir. Cochran out.] 


~ 20 minutes later ~

"Sir, the Waverider is on its way back," Ensign Khalid reported from the Tactical station.

"Helm, plot a course out of here. Be prepared to initiate as soon as the shuttle has docked."

"Aye, Sir."


=/\= Virtual World =/\=

*You may have helped get your friends off of the planet, but they will never escape. You will all die here.*

*No, it is you who must die,* came the combined voices of the new entity and Three. *You were created to monitor and evaluate this planet. You broke from that programming and made yourself a god to them. You trapped the crew of the Loyalty in your matrix, and now you have attempted to do the same with the Horizon. We are here to remove your threat to life. You are flawed and must be destroyed.*

*No, you cannot destroy me. I am a god - gods can not be destroyed,* came the frantic response of the Sphere.

*We shall see...*


=/\= Horizon Bridge =/\=

"Sir, there is a massive build-up of energy being focused at the ship."

Before anything could be done there was a bright flash and then there was nothing.

"Report."

"We appear to be outside the sphere. The Waverider is docking as we speak."

"And the location of Ensign Sparky?"

"He is not onboard."

With the sphere's explosion imminent, the Horizon moved to a safe distance. Within moments the sphere they had just left exploded, the shockwave radiating out towards them before suddenly pulling back in on itself.

"Captain, we are picking up an energy beam coming from one of the other spheres," Ensign Ralari reported from the Science station.

No sooner had Feyd finished his report than there was another bright flash and standing on the Bridge was Sparky.

"We are sorry for the harm that was caused to you and the planet's inhabitants," came a voice that was not Sparky's, sounding more like a combination of several voices.

"Who are you? What have you done with Ensign Sparky?" Asked the Captain.

"We have not harmed him. He is the only one of your crew able to handle our thoughts. The beings you call the Borg operate much like we do in as far as being a collective of minds. The sphere you were pulled into was once among us, but long ago broke away. We had attempted to re-enter him to correct the situation but, until you arrived, we had no way to enter into its systems."

"You still have not told me who you are," Scott pointed out.

"No, we haven't," responded the beings inhabiting Sparky, even grinning a little at the look on the Captain's face.

"Your species and those that inhabit this region of space are not ready to meet us. When we feel you are ready we will contact you, but do not return before then. You may leave a beacon behind if you wish to warn others, otherwise we will simply redirect them away from us. Farewell."

With that, Three collapsed to the deck.


===========================
Ensign "Sparky" / Three of Thirteen
Tactical Officer
USS Horizon 
NCC-72400
===========================