Chapter 4

It's been about an hour since I initially spoke with Captain Picard and we are finally landing in Enterprises hanger bay. Me and Lexa didn't really have any in depth conversations other than what we expected to happen based on what we know about Picard and his crew from the series.

Bridge Enterprise

"You have the bridge number one. Councilor, Commander Data, with me to meet our guest." Picard said as he stood up and began walking to the turbo lift. The others joining him quickly.

He was curious, this persons ship, such as it was, is obviously extremely advanced. But it's the space-time distortion that were detected that had the hairs on the back of his neck raised. He was no idiot, he could put simple puzzles together fairly quickly. The question was where or when did this person come here from and more importantly why?

"Have you had any more feelings councilor?" Picard asked the hybrid Betazoid beauty. "Just curiosity and maybe some excitement of meeting new people? It's hard to tell captain, while I don't think he is blocking his feelings, his mind seems advanced and makes it difficult to get a good read. I also feel as if his thoughts are very…. Human..? Yes that sounds right." Deanna babbled on for a few minutes trying to get her thoughts right as they walked to the hanger bays.

Puddle jumper

It had been a silent flight to the enterprise, we weren't really flying fast as we didn't want to spook anyone or show our vessels abilities in any ways though we did keep shields at enough strength to block teleportation.

Coming up upon the Enterprise, she really is a beautiful ship to behold. Being able to see it through my front view port under magnification was also a wonder to behold in person.

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As I'm making my way to the back of the ship Lexa had one more piece of advice to give me before meeting with Captain Picard it seems. And rightly so I would have to add as I want to make a decent impression. While I think the federation is extremely naive in the way they do things and I much prefer Captain Archer after he had his first few encounters with hostile aliens, he at least became realistic in what he wished the galaxy was verses reality of what the galaxy was - a very dangerous place.

Lexa of course advised me to leave behind my weapon, which while slightly horrifying, I agreed with given the circumstances.

As the ramp lowers and I look out the first thing I notice is a certain hybrid betazoid beauty, it can't be helped really, she was always the most beautiful girl on the series, usually she was wasted but the eye candy cant be denied especially in this turquoise dress that she is wearing! It should be illegal. Then I heard Picard clear his throat as I think he was becoming uncomfortable with me and her just staring at each other.

Did I ever mention that I was 6'1, 220lbs, dark brown hair, blue eyes and in fairly good shape? I wasn't always in good shape though, when I was pricked as I sat in the command chair my body began to slightly change, mostly just definition to muscle and such, I think the nanites turned what little flab I had in to muscle or something. I never asked as it was never relevant. I also know I have been thinking clearer and maybe faster not to mention I have been able to feel what people are feeling slightly. Nothing over the top just a slight empathic ability I guess? Whatever.

I had to tear my eyes from Deanna to look at Picard. "Ahh, apologies Captain. Alexander Duvall." I say as I walk towards him with my hand outstretched for a handshake which he accepts.

I couldn't tell if the captain was amused by us or dismayed but either way he recovered quickly enough and offered to begin our discussions in his conference room.

We began walking in that direction after I mentally ordered Lexa to close the ramp and seal the ship, bringing the producing nacelles back in making the ship cylindrical once more. Much to the curiosity of the others, I just shrugged.

"So, Captain, what can I do for you today other than the way I arrived here of course, you can guess how I did so I'm sure, yes?" I asked with a curious lilt.

After a moment of thought. "yes I suppose I can, somewhat anyways, narrow it down. I don't particularly think your from the future, even though your technology is certainly advanced enough to have come from such, it simply doesn't match what we know… so I will have to go with some kind of alternative version reality or dimension." He added with some thought while looking curiously at me.

I just clapped lightly. "Well done Captain and well thought out. You are of course correct, I technically come from the year 2021 in a world very different from yours. For one there were no aliens to my knowledge, no augments, no WW3…." I was saying as Deanna's jaw hits the ground as I continue. "My ship has the ability to traverse different realities, but it is a random process of where I end up… this is actually my first trip so perhaps that is fortunate for both myself and your federation..?" I tell him with a smirk at the end.

"May I ask fortunate in what way..?" He could guess but he wanted to hear the words.

"Well my dear captain, my ship is advanced, obviously.. but it does lack certain technologies that you likely take for granted such as replicators and such. My people didn't take technology in that direction for whatever reason, call it a quirk of realities maybe? I'm sure there are many things we can trade. Even if it's just using my extremely undetectable ship for short term missions as I plan to stay in this reality for a little while anyways, so I would like a good relationship with your Starfleet."

"Did I forget to mention…. That my ship can traverse the galaxy within a few days?…." I added as if an afterthought. Picard paled almost as much as Deanna as I had basically opened up myself to her senses so she could FEEL I wasn't lying with anything I said. And when Picard looked at her for confirmation she just nodded shakily.

"I will need to speak with my superiors….." Picard began before I interrupted him.

"I would have to suggest you make any communication about me or more specifically where I come from or what my ship can do in person. Your communications are almost always monitored by your enemies, even the secured ones aren't overly safe. Did I also forget that I have minor future knowledge? Here's a hint, you should make it habit to make sure who your talking to, is who you actually are talking to…" I added somewhat amused, this is still fairly early in the series maybe season 3, I no longer really care to remember.

Picard looks… somewhat disturbed I think. I feel kinda bad about it really. So I throw him a bit of a bone. "I know enough about you Captain, to at least know I like you. I won't really trust some random person within Star fleet simply because I know they aren't all completely trustworthy. Whether that's because of outside forces or because they have the mentality of 'the many over the few' can be a bit up in the air sometimes but the point stands.

I think I will only work to help your federation through you and that's only if the leadership takes precautions to make sure they aren't compromised currently or can easily be in the future. That is civilian and Star fleet." Picard grimaced at that but he was smart, he kept looking to Troi often enough and he could almost see tears in her eyes, he didn't even want to know what she was seeing or feeling.

Picard eventually resolved himself to his fate, he agreed to my terms. The only things left to decide were what I had and what the federation would trade for it. "Let us take some time and adjourn for now and meet back in a few hours, obviously I cannot commit to anything but you can make a list of what you want and what you wish to trade and we will go from there at a later date." Picard ended the meeting and Deanna escorted me to my guest quarters.

"Is it truly as bad as it feels in your mind? Some of the images I seeen, the battles, the number of casualties… would be immense.?" She asked timidly hoping I would deny it.

" I won't lie to you Deanna, it will be bad, but maybe this is a turning point? If this happens right we can save billions. Have a little faith my dear but if you ever want to talk about it you know where to find me." With that I walked into my temporary room.