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  “This place is beautiful,” said Cruzen. Looking over her shoulder, Chen saw the security officer providing subtle protection for the away team at the back of the group. Her right hand rested on the pommel of the phaser on her right hip, and for a brief moment Chen wondered if the damned thing would even work. She and Konya had both returned their phaser rifles to the Spinrad’s locker at Worf’s order after the initial meeting with Nelidar and the others on the surface. It was not that the Klingon had come to trust their hosts, but instead had decided against providing the Sidrac easy access to a weapon of such power.

  Turning to face the away team, Nelidar said, “This is our observation room. From here, we oversee all the operations taking place throughout this entire habitat.”

  “And what exactly is it that you observe?” asked Taurik.

  “Our quantum-field experiments, primarily, but also the complex’s energy production facility, life-support, communications, and other mundane features that serve to keep us alive here.” Nelidar pointed to the banks of equipment lining the walls to either side. “What you see here is the result of many years worth of research, followed by several more years spent constructing this facility, all for the sole purpose of expanding our knowledge and understanding of the universe around us.” Lowering her arms, she clasped her hands before her. “We do explore as you do, with vessels that travel between the planets of our star system, but I suspect our efforts in that regard are less sophisticated than what you are used to encountering.”

  Worf said, “We have encountered numerous species with varying levels of technology.”

  “Then you would very likely be unimpressed with my people, Commander. For example, we have not yet achieved an ability to propel a vessel faster than light.” Nelidar smiled. “The simple fact that you are standing here tells me that you have solved this puzzle.”

  Uh-oh.

  Chen forced herself to maintain her composed expression. Had the Enterprise inadvertently violated the Prime Directive, now that she and the others had made contact with a species that had not yet achieved warp-capable space travel? Perhaps not, as Nelidar and her companions had contacted the Enterprise first. Of course, a case could be made that insufficient steps were taken to mask the starship’s presence from detection, but there was also the mitigating factor that the Sidrac had warned the ship of danger and to stay away, thereby justifying an attempt to render assistance. The permutations of a possible Prime Directive transgression were enough to make Chen’s head hurt, and she decided that someone back home would have to deal with working it all out. She and her companions had other matters demanding their attention just now.

  “So,” said Worf, “you have been experimenting with quantum energy.”

  Nelidar nodded. “Oh, yes. It has been an interest of mine since childhood. The first experiments with quantum-field generators were undertaken while I was an adolescent receiving my formative education, and I knew even then it was a field in which I wanted to work. The idea of constructing a particle accelerator was one that had been discussed by leading scientists for years, but there were concerns about the instability of building such a structure on our homeworld.” She once more extended her arms, gesturing to the room around her. “Therefore, the decision was made to build a large-scale collider here on Ushalon, the planet adjacent to our own.”

  “The underground facility,” said Chen. “The source of all the quantum fluctuations we’ve detected.”

  “Exactly. A quantum-field generator of such size and power requires a dedicated energy production and support facility, so we decided to construct the entire complex here on Ushalon, well away from our homeworld.” Nelidar’s expression softened. “The complex is powered using a fusion reactor, and while we took every conceivable safety precaution, it was not enough to alleviate the worries of politicians and those who lacked the proper science and engineering knowledge. As it happens, their concerns were not completely unfounded.”

  Taurik said, “Are the quantum shifts this planet is experiencing deliberate?”

  Offering a small, sad smile, Nelidar replied, “Yes, though we certainly exceeded our wildest expectations by a rather wide margin.”

  She indicated for them to follow her, and they moved to the room’s far end, where another open doorway waited. Beyond the portal was a smaller room, outfitted with a trio of computer consoles, work spaces, and display screens, though none of the other Sidrac were working at these stations. Moving to one of the consoles, Nelidar slid her thin hand across its dark, smooth surface and the panel illuminated to reveal a touch-sensitive interface with rows of colored controls. She tapped a violet circle and the display monitor mounted to the bulkhead above the console activated.

  “A group of our civilization’s leading scientists first postulated the theory of other dimensions that might exist in parallel to our own. It was not the first time such a notion had been offered, but usually such ideas were confined to fiction. It has only been in recent generations that the hypothesis was given any credence by our scientific community.”

  The screen depicted a two-dimensional star map. As the presentation continued, additional maps began to materialize above and below the original graphic. Then that image shrank and moved to the screen’s upper right corner before the rest of the screen was dominated by a picture of an immense metal construct surrounded by walls of unyielding rock.

  “Our particle accelerator,” explained Nelidar. “It is located deep underground and is a self-contained facility that operates autonomously in large part. Except for maintenance or repairs that require on-site work, the complex was designed to be overseen from here.”

  “It looks most impressive,” said Taurik.

  Nelidar said, “It is the culmination of many years’ work, and the knowledge we gained from its use has been wondrous. Insights into the origins of the universe, the limits of the physical laws that govern that universe, and how or if other universes exist in parallel to our own.” She shook her head, and Chen saw the Sidrac’s obvious passion. “It is my life’s work, and it never fails to astonish me.” Refocusing her attention on the away team, she said, “It occurs to me that perhaps I am speaking of things with which you are already quite familiar.”

  “Your theories are not unfounded,” said Worf. “We have had our own encounters with other dimensions and parallel universes.” The Klingon paused, and Chen heard a mild grunt of annoyance. “Such experiences have proven . . . troublesome at times, but we also have a large scientific community who feels that studying these dimensions offers us greater insight into our own. Based on personal experience . . . I have my doubts.”

  Nelidar laughed at that. “We must seem like children to you.”

  “Not at all,” said Chen. “It’s one of our strongest beliefs that every civilization must proceed at its own pace, acquiring knowledge and developing technology as it best suits their needs and desires.”

  Hey. You almost sounded like a contact specialist just then.

  “Unless one acquires knowledge and then develops technology without first considering the wisdom of doing so.” Turning back to the console, Nelidar touched another control, and the image on the screen shifted to depict a squat, cylindrical object standing on a metal platform that in turn rested on a rocky plain. The device was supported by a quartet of spindly legs and had a trio of large globes affixed to its top. It reminded Chen of the history texts she had read as a child and later at the Academy, which had pictures of unmanned probes and landing craft created by humans and other species during their earliest days of space exploration.

  “After the first experiments with the quantum-field generator provided compelling evidence of other dimensions,” said Nelidar, “attention turned toward seeing if there might be a way to reach across the barriers separating those realities from our own. With the belief that each dimension possesses its own unique and identifiable quantum signature, it was though
t that replicating that signature using the field generator and channeling the resulting energies could create a connection between our reality and the targeted dimension.” She pointed to the screen. “Probes like this one were constructed with the idea that they could record information from the other dimension and return it to us, either as transmitted data or else when the probe itself was retrieved.”

  Cruzen, who had been standing near the doorway—perhaps, Chen decided, so that she might guard the away team’s rear—said, “Obviously you succeeded.”

  “Not at first,” countered Nelidar. “We conducted three tests, all of which ended with the probe being destroyed, but even those failures provided us with information that then was used to refine the quantum-field process. That was what made our fourth attempt a success.”

  On the screen was footage of the probe standing on its platform, then being enveloped within a sphere of bright white glow that obscured the device. When the light vanished, the probe was gone.

  Nelidar said, “We started receiving telemetry from the test drone almost immediately. It had arrived within a nebula, and the probe’s onboard cameras were able to take pictures of it as well as the star patterns as they appeared from its perspective, and when we decoded the transmissions with those images we observed that they were completely different from the stars visible from our own world. That was our first indication that movement between realities was not simply a matter of transitioning between dimensions while occupying a fixed point in space. Once we verified the quantum signature that was different from the one consistent with our dimension, we knew without doubt that our experiment had succeeded. However, we reserved our celebrations until after a second test was completed, with another probe being sent to an altogether different dimension.” Once more, the Sidrac’s enthusiasm seemed on the verge of getting the best of her. “That was when we realized the enormity of what we had done.”

  “NGC 8541,” said Taurik. “The nebula we were exploring when we found this planet.”

  Nelidar replied, “Yes, exactly. The second probe also arrived in a nebula, albeit one composed of different gases and other properties. However, there were sufficient similarities between the two nebulas that we began to theorize that such spatial phenomena harbor characteristics that lend themselves to what we had begun to call ‘dimensional transference.’ In order to prove that, we expanded our testing until we successfully sent a total of five test probes, each to its own destination and able to verify its target dimension’s unique quantum signature. All five probes arrived within a different nebula or similar interstellar cloud.”

  “Intriguing,” said Taurik. “There have been several hypotheses formed that cover similar ground, and we have encountered more than one spatial phenomenon possessing similar properties that facilitated dimensional and even temporal transition.”

  “Temporal transition?” Nelidar’s eyes widened. “That is astounding, though I suspect that if your scientists are like ours, they caution against such research for fear that we might somehow corrupt our history and alter the course of our future.” She shook her head. “It sounds like so much fantasy to me.”

  Chen exchanged looks with Worf and Taurik, but said nothing on that topic. Instead, she asked, “So, you had several successful tests, but I’m guessing this planet being one of the test objects wasn’t part of the plan.”

  “You are correct, Lieutenant.”

  Another graphic materialized on the screen in response to Nelidar’s command, depicting five star maps, each with a yellow circle marking a different location.

  “Our knowledge of the probes’ positions within their respective dimensions was limited, but it was enough for us to continue with new experiments. Using these five points as coordinates, we constructed a series of more robust drones for transfer to the other dimensions. Fitted with special communications equipment, they act as beacons, transmitting signals from their position back to us.”

  “You created a network,” said Worf.

  Again, Nelidar smiled. “Exactly. Each beacon’s signal is detected by the quantum-field generator, allowing for the precise transition of objects. In two cases, we programmed the probes to maneuver away from the nebulae in which they arrived, and we were still able to maintain signal clarity. So, while the nebulae themselves seemed helpful with the transition process, they are not essential, at least not while we maintain contact with the beacon itself.”

  Cruzen said, “Like a transporter lock.” Then, as though realizing she may have offered hints about a technology the Sidrac did not possess, the security officer hastily added, “Or a targeting fix?”

  Nice save, Kirsten.

  “That is an apt comparison,” said Nelidar. “There definitely are similarities to a weapons targeting system, though our intentions were far less martial in nature. It was our intention to use the five beacons as the first stage in a test network, to see whether an object could be shifted between each of the dimensions, first in sequence and then based on generating a specific quantum signature. Our initial tests were successful, with our test drone moving between different beacons in the network, crossing back and forth from one dimension to another.” She paused, and Chen again noted the obvious pride Nelidar had taken from what she and her colleagues had accomplished.

  Nelidar continued, “That was when our problems began. During one of our experiments, a malfunction in the energy distribution center of the generator’s support complex triggered a massive power feedback. This produced a tremendous surge of energy that overloaded the generator’s control system, and the resulting outpouring of quantum energy was enough to shift Ushalon itself through the rift we had opened. It required some time for us to realize what had happened, but finding the beacon in that other dimension removed all doubt.”

  “And now you are unable to control the dimensional shifts,” said Taurik.

  “Correct, Commander.” With apparent hesitation, Nelidar reached for the console and pressed another lighted indicator, and a new computer-generated graphic appeared on the screen. Now it depicted what Chen took to be Ushalon as the planet moved in random fashion and at sporadic intervals between each of the five beacons still displayed on the schematic.

  “The power surge created another problem,” said Nelidar, “in that it somehow shifted the field generator itself with the rest of the planetoid. We can see it, and we can detect its energy readings, but we cannot access it directly, and neither can we interface with the support facility’s control processes. It is as though an invisible barrier now exists between us.”

  Taurik said, “That would explain the continual quantum fluctuations and the difficulties I have experienced when attempting to scan the field generator.”

  “And without an ability to control the process or reach the underground complex,” said Chen, “you can’t stop the shifts.”

  “Not since the accident,” said Nelidar. For a moment, she closed her eyes. “Eighty-two cycles. The shifts occur at irregular intervals, so we do not know how long we will remain in any one dimension, or even which one is our next destination. Our attempts to predict the shifts have been futile.”

  Taurik held up his tricorder. “Using the information from the computer simulation, I have determined that the accident occurred approximately one hundred twenty-six days ago.”

  “Four months?” Cruzen shook her head. “Damn.”

  “The generator continues to draw energy,” said Nelidar. “We have made attempts to interrupt the power flow, but even that has proved unsuccessful. We can study the readings and make calculations based on our data, but we are unable to attempt to alter or stop the process. So long as that continues, Ushalon and everything on it will simply keep shifting between the five dimensions.”

  “At least until there is some kind of mechanical malfunction,” said Taurik, “though I am reluctant to consider the ramifications of such an event.”

  With
a grim smile, Nelidar replied, “Nor are we.”

  “Can’t you evacuate the planet?” asked Cruzen. Still standing near the doorway, the lieutenant gestured toward the computer screen. “Surely you have some kind of spacecraft that would let you leave if necessary.”

  Nelidar said, “There are twenty-four of us here, and we do have sufficient craft to transport our entire team away from Ushalon, but where would we go? While the planet moves within the network established by our beacons, none of those probes is in our own dimension.” She held out her arms. “This planet was always intended to be the anchor point for the network. We cannot even launch a new probe with the hopes of sending it to our dimension, because we are unable to access the field generator and target the proper quantum signature.” She shook her head, and for the first time Chen heard defeat in the Sidrac’s voice. “We are trapped here, forever.”

  “Perhaps not,” said Worf. The Klingon stepped forward. “If we were able to make contact with our ship, our people may very well be able to render assistance.” He indicated Taurik. “We have some very talented engineers and scientists among our crew.”

  “He’s right,” said Chen. “Maybe our finding you makes this your lucky day.” She could not wait to hear what Commander La Forge thought of this.

  Nelidar said, “You are the first who have attempted to make contact with us, but we know our presence in other dimensions has not gone unnoticed.”

  10

  ELSEWHERE

  Earth Year 2266

  Sarith was tiring of this particular game.

  She paced what deck was available within the confines of the Bloodied Talon’s bridge. Like the rest of the combat vessel Sarith commanded, the control room was designed for function and durability, not comfort. There were few luxuries to be found aboard even this, one of the Romulan Empire’s most advanced warships. This only served to heighten Sarith’s feelings of restlessness, given the distinct lack of activity or anything of interest currently taking place aboard the ship or—so far as she could tell—anywhere else in the known universe.