From: aa811@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Terri M. Librande)
Newsgroups: alt.ql.creative
Subject: "No Escape From Reality--Part 1
Date: 23 Mar 1993 22:45:26 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
Message-Id: <1oo3u6$8u9@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>
Nntp-Posting-Host: thor.ins.cwru.edu
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This is written in the Next Gen universe, and QL is the crux.
As always, I welcome comments and suggestions.  This piece is currently
unpublished.

"No Escape From Reality"

Terri Librande

"Captains log, Stardate 1108.93.  We are in orbit above what is only known
as the Time Planet.  In recent weeks, the fields of time displacement, and
subsequent disappearances of ships, and now even the home planet of Earth
being affected by the fields; earthquakes, atmopheric changes, such as
snow falling in tropic regions.  Starfleet has ordered the Enterprise to
check out the Guardian, theorizing it is in fact, the center of Time itself."

Sighing, Picard turned off the recorder.  He had elected to lead the landing
party himself, a rarity, leaving his subordinate in Number One's absence
to balance the ship in it's precarious orbit.  Waves of time displacement 
buffetted the craft in periodic fluxes, tossing the ship in odd moments and
causing general havoc with the navigation.

The landing party beamed down to the coordinates and stood in awe at the
sight before them.  The Guardian of Forever, one of the deepest secrets the
Federation kept, and they were among the priveleged few to actually view it.

Data was the first to make a move, taking his tricorder and analyzing the
images playing across the odd oval shaped doorway.  The framework had long
since fallen around it, leaving the balanced time picture; hazy and moving
too quickly for the human eye to follow.

WELCOME.  It was the Voice, the one told of only in highly classified 
documents and secret Federation staff meetings.

Captain Picard stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with his
science officer.  "We are from the ENTERPRISE," he stated.

"ENTERPRISE. BUT NOT FROM THE TIME BEFORE.  There was a pause, as if 
reflecting on it's own records of the past.  YOU ARE PICARD, CAPTAIN
OF THE VESSEL THAT ORBITS THIS PLANET.  I KNOW YOUR MISSION, AND OF THE
TIME DISPLACEMENT.  THIS PORTAL IS NOT THE CAUSE, BUT I CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE.
THE FOCUS IS IN THE EARTH'S PAST.  MY PORTAL IS A DOORWAY TO WHAT YOU SEEK.

"Earth." He glanced at the rest of the landing party.  Worf, frowning 
slightly the sight of a speaking portal, and Data, always alert, curious,
recording every bit of information that sped across the Guardian.

OBSERVE. THIS IS YOUR HISTORY, PICARD.  EARTH, FROM BEGINNINGS TO PRESENT.
The ancient voice sounded quite pleased with itself.

"Amazing, Captain!"  Data enthused. "The tricorder is able to record all
of this, even at the speed it's being played.  Something on the order of 
200 years every second."

"Can you slow down the centuries?" Picard questioned, addressing the 
portal.

IT IS AS YOU SEE.  THERE IS NO WAY TO CHANGE THE SPEED AT WHICH THE
CENTURIES PASS.

"It's only been a few minutes, Captain," Data said, glancing up from the
remarkable pictures flashing before him.  With his advanced android 
assimilation, he managed to analyze the images with more speed than the
tricorder he could pass that advanced technology onto it.  "We are well
into the 18th century and speeding through the 19th.  In just a few
seconds we will be up to our own time."

Suddenly the images before them, blurred and strange, wavered.  For a 
moment, the oval cleared, then resequenced. Picard frowned.  "Guardian,
is there a problem?"

THE STRANGE ENERGY, THE TIME DISPLACEMENT IS FOCUSED, CAUSING A DIFFICULTY,
ALTERING THE TIME/SPACE VORTEX.  I AM CORRECTING...

Without warning, a man tumbled from the oval, falling to the ground, still
as death, wearing a white jumpsuit that clung to his body like a second
skin.  The unexpected stranger's eyes went wide for a moment, as if stunned,
then closing, losing consciousness as he fell back to the ground.

Worf approached, hand on his phaser, Picard close behind.  "Status," the
Captain snapped, directed at Data.

Data knelt by the still form, scanning the newcomer with his tricorder.
"Human, Captain.  I do not believe he is damaged, but I think it would
be advisable to have Dr. Crusher stand by."

HE IS FROM THE PAST.

"Is he from Earth?" Picard queried, joining Data by the still form.

YES, BUT NOT FROM YOUR TIME. THE PAST.  HE HAS TRAVELLED.  AND ARRIVED.
THAT IS ALL I CAN TELL YOU.  HE IS HERE TO SERVE A PURPOSE, BUT IN TIME,
MUST BE RETURNED.

Touching his hand to his communicator, Picard sent the word.  "Four to 
beam up.  Medical team, stand by."

Part 2 to follow....

-- 
"Girls who have glasses have lots & lots of energy!" Al--Single Drop of Rain
Terri Librande aa811@cleveland.Freenet.edu--Assistant Sysop
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Sig--Go SCIFI