"Extraordinary! Unbelievable,
in fact!" Pike sat back in his chair and rubbed his chin thoughtfully,
trying to digest everything he'd just been told. He and the *Ronin's* upper
staff were gathered in the briefing room, and had just finished listening to
Kira, Tyran and Benton's report on everything they'd experienced during their
wild trip through time and space.
In answer to Pike's incredulity, Tyran remarked, "We can hardly believe
it ourselves, sir, in spite of the fact that we lived it."
"Which is more than you can say for all the rest of us," commented
Pike, not without some amusement creeping into his voice despite the seriousness
of the topic. "According to your report, we were all horribly killed by
the Kelvans in the other timeline and they were well on their way to conquering
the Milky Way."
"Yes sir," said Kira.
Ming Wang broke in at this point. "What I find most fascinating is the
fact that we all paradoxically remember *both* timelines.... at least up to
the point where we died in the other one." -- that said with his own bit
of humor, despite the seriousness of the topic.
"Thank Q for that," said Tyran.
"Did Q give any explanation for why he felt the need to interfere? Why
he altered reality to give us two sets of memories?" asked Pike.
"No sir," lied Tyran, "not really. Just some vague comments on
how the Q had an interest in the history of the Maffei galaxy, or some such
meaningless nonsense." He was careful not to reveal any of the secrets
about Kira Markos Q had told him.
"Mmm. Well, all right," said Pike. "In that case, excellent work,
gentlemen. You saved the human race."
"Thank you, sir," said Tyran and Kira in unison.
"Meeting adjourned," said Pike, rising from his seat. The other officers
stood as well and began filing out, most of them shaking Kira and Nige's hands
as they passed by them. Pike was sure there'd be a few grand parties on the
ship later on and for the next few days in celebration of their victory against
impossible odds. He had other things to do though. "Lieutenant Benton,
remain for a moment, would you?"
The brooding Kelvan stopped just short of the door, the last in line to exit,
and turned back towards Pike. When everyone else had left except for himself,
Pike and Yeoman Piper, and the door had closed, he said, "Admiral?"
The Admiral considered the enigmatic officer for a few moments, then said, "You
were quiet through most of the debriefing. Anything you'd like to add now that
there are no prying ears to listen?"
"No sir," said Benton. "My role in what transpired in the discontinued
timeline was a peripheral one at best."
"And...?" Pike had a feeling there was something more to Benton's
reticence to talk about his experiences.
Benton looked decidedly uncomfortable. It was clear he'd almost rather resign
from Starfleet than tell Pike any more, but finally offered an explanation.
"Spending time with my own people wasn't easy, Admiral," he said.
"Don't forget that I myself am from a parallel universe -- one in which
the Kelvans succeeded in overrunning this Galaxy. They destroyed the ship I
was serving on, the *USS Virgo*, and killed Captain Maruu and most of the rest
of the crew, and there was nothing I could do about it.
"They'd enslaved the human race and a dozen others who proved useful, and
simply killed off the species that proved troublesome or unsuitable for their
purposes. Humans, Vulcans, Romulans, Gorn -- all slaves. Klingons, Andorians,
Nausicaans, Bajorans, Miradorn -- simply don't exist anymore in my universe,
and there was nothing I could do." At this point, Benton's voice grew hard
and cold. "I swore an oath that I would get revenge for all the suffering
they'd caused. That I'd find a way to defeat them. To drive them from the Galaxy
once and for all. To kill every last one of them with my bare hands if I had
to!" His face was contorted into a feral snarl and he practically shouted
that last.
Behind Pike, Jamie Piper took a fearful step back, away from Benton's Jekyl-and-Hyde
transformation. Pike though, just let him vent his rage. The worst of it seemed
to be over already -- Benton's rage, while volatile, was quickly spent -- his
visage had relaxed again. He was saying....
"But now I was thrust in and among these Kelvans -- the *original* Kelvans
in their home galaxy -- and they were completely different. They were just...
normal people, you know what I mean?" He looked to Pike for affirmation.
"I found I was unable to hate them, and became *ashamed* of the feelings
I'd been harboring for my distant kin. The Kelvans I came to know actually risked
their own lives to help repair the core of their galaxy."
Benton ran out of steam at this point, and sank into the nearest chair, emotionally
exhausted. During this last part of Benton's exposition, Yeoman Piper had stepped
back up to where she'd stationed herself right beside Pike's seat. Unconsciously
she placed her hand on Pike's shoulder -- she would *never* have dared such
a maneuver consciously -- and sighed. "Oh, the poor man...."
Pike didn't seem to mind. Instead, he took a deep breath and addressed the man
across the table. "Benton.... Tell me again, will you? Why did you come
to this universe? Wasn't it to discover a way to defeat the Kelvan invaders
in your universe?"
Benton raised his head and looked at the Admiral, his interest peaked.
Pike adjusted his posture in his chair and collected his thoughts. He leaned
forward and folded his hands on the tabletop, then said, "Well, Lieutenant
Benton.... It seems to me that you've *found* the solution to your problem."
"Sir?"
"Well, I'm sure the Iconians exist in your universe."
Benton nodded.
"It seems to me that the solution to one universe's problem is also the
solution to another's...."
"I understand, sir. Unfortunately, it was Commander Kira Markos who performed
the crucial deeds.
"And there's no Kira Markos in your universe?"
Benton turned away from Pike and delved into his memories. "I *have* heard
the name before, from my universe," he said. "Although I'm not sure
he's alive anymore."
"Well, then I suggest it's a starting point at least," said Pike.
"I assume you have a method of returning to your own universe...."
At that, Benton actually cracked a genuine smile. "Yes sir. I have connections
in Section 31...."
