Stardate: 70116:0325
Title: Deja vu, Part 2
Author: Maxine Jenna
Time: After "The Sins of the Son, Part Two"
Scene: USS Relentless


As they came closer to the Regula-class orbital complex they could see it reflected their own universe's prior to its decommissioning many years before.

The main section of the complex resembled the classic Regula structure but the 'purpose adaptable' section was a much larger cylindrical unit than the usual type, and another podded, branched 'main section' was then repeated at the top.

It was, as Regula-class units went, a little unorthodox. However, from the historical records Maxine had found that over 3000 people had been based at the original Starbase 9. This far from the core of the Federation the occupants of the starbase had been easily corrupted, and hence the reason for its replacement, in their own universe at least.

Maxine wondered if the same elements of corruption still existed in this universe. Although the major turning point for this universe was the loss of the Bajoran wormhole to the Dominion during the war, Maxine couldn't help but wonder if some other chain of events had caused that to happen. During her historical search she had found that the original Starbase 9 had been decommissioned prior to 2352, and yet this one stood before them.

Obviously, the existence of this station had, somehow and in part at least, led to the loss of the Dominion War.

Maxine couldn't help but feeling the niggling feeling of deja vu running through her mind once again.

~

The Relentless, too large to fit inside, lay berthed alongside the station. When initially questioned about their mission, Captain Khavok had simply played along, remaining truthful where possible; it was true that the freighter had been destroyed, and it was true that they had rescued most of the cargo. Other things were maybe not quite so true, but his conscience was not unsettled by some simple, and necessary, lies.

The bridge crew, however, was obviously a little worried about being found out as this universe had so far sprung one too many surprises on them. The crew of Starbase 9 seemed otherwise preoccupied though and missed the out-of-place ablative armor generators and other subtle enhancements.

~

"Cargo transfer is to commence as soon as possible, Captain," the administration clerk stated.

Captain Khavok was uneasy about turning the Omega bomb over to this universe's Starfleet. He, Abigail, Kal and Maxine had all agreed that the device needed to be destroyed, but the problem came from 'how?'. In the act of destroying the weapon they could in fact destroy themselves and a large section of subspace, the very act they hoped to avoid.

"I will need to see your administrator and go through the paperwork with him, signing-off on this...," the clerk explained.

"We'll take care of it," Alex interrupted. He needed to stall for some more time for Kal and Maxine to figure out exactly what to do. Time was most certainly not on their side. 

"We are having some issues at the moment with damage obtained from the battle," he lied convincingly. "The cargo that was retrieved is of the utmost importance, but we need to assess its status prior to any transfer can happen."

The young clerk opened his mouth to speak but the Captain carried on, ignoring him.

"Rest assured that you will get each item of cargo as we check it. Dismissed, Ensign."

Alex could see the clerk wanting to argue - his eyes gave everything away – but thinking better of it before opening his mouth. Simply giving the Captain a curt snap to attention the young ensign almost parade marched out of the room.

~

Maxine and Kal had met back up after reviewing the original analysis of the device and were headed down to the cargo bay when the Captain found them.

"I've brought you a little more time, but if we don't figure it out soon we will have to leave, which may cause even more problems," he explained.

As the three of them walked down the corridor they passed many people, most of them refugees or crew rescued from the destroyed freighter and now being housed in some of the other cargo bays and holodecks.

One face walked by, no more or less noticeable than the rest, but Maxine's feeling of deja vu twinged once more. Turning to find the familiar face in an unfamiliar universe she had already lost him in the sea of people...

[Medical Emergency, Holodeck One. Security and Medical personnel report immediately.]

Kal, the Captain and Maxine exchanged looks, the former continuing on to the cargo bay, the latter two changing course to the aforementioned holodeck.


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Lt. Maxine Jenna
Chief Science Officer
USS Relentless
NCC-11966
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