written by

Michael Gray

That is not dead which can eternal lie.

And with strange aeons even death may die.

-Abdul Alhazred

-CHAPTER 1-

I flopped down onto the king-sized bed. Normally I'd unpack my clothes to help me settle into a new place, but I just didn't feel like it this time. Maybe because I knew I wasn't going to be here long.

That, and I wanted time to relax.

"Organian Dream," I called out to the computer.

"Song selection?" the male-voiced machine asked.

Attempting to choose one song from the group's collection of hits, I let out a long sigh. "Anything from Pacified War Dance."

A moment later, a voice wailed in Klingon to a Latin beat.

I lost myself in the rhythms of both the music and the patter of raindrops against the windows. I opened one of the large panes to let the aroma of moisture waft in on the rushing wind.

The room jutted out of the southwest corner on the seventy-fifth floor of the Arcadian, a has-been luxury hotel with far more history than future. My hopes for a good view vanished due to the low clouds in what I had learned was this part of the planet Purlewe's rainy season. Prior to the influx of Federation tourists at the end of the last century, a result of the warming of relations with the Klingon Empire, the rainy season lasted only two months. Along with the tourists came the necessary support industries which had in the finest capitalist tradition thrown away all care for tomorrow. Now that tomorrow had finally arrived, the rainy season went nearly year around with a few weeks break for a dreadfully cold winter.

The humid air reminded me of being at my parents' home. As a child I'd often, much to my mother's irritation, sit in her garden on days like this. Huddled under the protective canopy of the living green, I'd watch the rain fall, and sometimes I'd nap.

But these days, returning there provided nothing like the pleasant memories of childhood.

My last visit home had not been good. Mother kept pressing me to take a teaching position on Earth, but once the offer to head the Kel-j'na Archaeological Institute came, we had fallen into one argument after another.

There was an allure to remaining on Earth and being close to family, especially now that Li-Na was there. But something about Mother's prodding continued to trouble me. There was some other reason behind her desire to have me close, one I didn't yet understand.

I'd based too many decisions in my life on what felt safe. Joining Starfleet, marrying Jack. Taking the job on Kel-j'na was the riskiest thing I'd done in years and I knew it was the right choice.

I smiled. Maybe that's why I was so willing to take this mission from Temporal Investigations. Perhaps I need to take risks in other parts of my life too.

Mist floated in through the open window. It felt good on my skin. I fell onto the bed again, closing my eyes.

An insatiable yearning hovered over me like some bird of prey waiting to strike.

The warmth of skin against mine... the tight muscles as my hands glided over them... the weight atop me, pressing...

I curled up on the bed, my fingers sliding up my thigh.

When was the last time I...

Jack.

"God..." I stopped and unraveled myself, spreading out across the bed.

I hated how it seemed so much of my life began and ended with him. I feared it wouldn't be long before that turned into hate for the man himself--- the man I'd once called husband. I had to get out of his shadow... in more ways than one.

"Computer, stop music."

Only the sound of the rain pattering away outside remained.

I had a day or so before my contact from Temporal Investigations was supposed to arrive. Why not live a little while I waited?

I sat up, frowning at the room. It was far too similar to those I'd seen during my visit to nineteenth century Earth with its cast iron bed, abominable drab curtains, and wooden nightstand with an oil lamp sitting atop it. The lamp was a replica that used an electric light. Obviously, this was someone's idea for luring humans here who possessed a romantic attraction to Earth's past.

What's the point? Why try to recreate a time that no longer exists?

I pulled a set of clothes out of my luggage. "I am not spending the evening in this room."

***

"How do you like it?"

I fought back the watering of my eyes. "It's... well..."

"Painful, huh?" the husky bartender asked with a smile. "But it's a great way to get a man to come over and talk to you."

"I didn't come in here to..."

"Sure you did, sweet lady." He left me to tend to another customer.

I hated it when people read me too quickly. The last thing I wanted was to broadcast I was available. But damn it, this out of the way world seemed the perfect place to find company--- somebody who didn't know who I was, or what I'd revealed to the Galaxy about the Ancient Progenitors. For one night I wanted to forget what my life had become.

Fortunately for me, the bartender had been right about the drink.

"You're trying a Gardelanda?"

I turned to find a smiling brown-haired man taking the stool next to me.

Kind of cute.

"The bartender warned me, but it was the only drink on the menu I hadn't heard of before."

He nodded and set his own glass filled with a strange orange concoction down in front of him. "If you're looking for new experiences..."

Uh oh... too fast. Maybe not so cute after all.

"You ought to go tour the Telipinu Forest on the main continent."

"Yeah?" Okay, that's better. Cute again. "You been there?"

"Last week," he said, taking a sip from his glass then casting a glance my way. "They let you spend the night. Very spooky, but fun."

"I'm not one for spooky." I'd had enough of that in my life.

He smiled. "Then how about the Nuska Waterfall? It's only a few kilometers away, and I hear the luminescence of the water is especially beautiful at night."

"Maybe," I said with a grin.

"I'm Daryl." He offered his hand.

I took it. "Mei."

"It fits you."

"My parents obviously thought so."

We spent the next twenty minutes talking about nothing and everything. There was a moment where the uncertainty in my mind got the better of me, but I recovered quickly. No, I'm going to enjoy myself tonight. No expectations beyond that.

We left the bar together, and made our way to the waterfall Daryl had mentioned.

At the edge of town, light from the water didn't have to compete with any artificial illumination. The swirling colors reminded me of several nebulae I'd seen in my travels. But this seemed almost alive, making me feel the same.

Daryl put his arm around me as we stood silently, watching the glowing water tumble down the five hundred foot height to the river below.

I wanted to be the one to make the first move, so I turned to him.

"This is very nice."

He smiled as I leaned forward, our lips about to touch.

"Mei... how do you feel about the people on Falanis Seven who committed suicide?"

What?!

"Knowing that your research on the Ancient Progenitors obviously played a part in their decision to kill themselves and their children, don't you feel some sense of responsibility, Dr. Lau?"

I pushed him away, feeling as I were falling. I wanted to wake from this nightmare. "Who the hell are you?"

"Daryl Stands, Federation News Service." He pulled out a camera unit and pointed it my direction. "Is this little vacation an attempt to get away from the controversy, or a reward for yourself, the dead be damned?"

I stepped away, almost pushing myself over the railing to the waterfall. "You... you're a reporter?!"

"Yes. Now..."

"Go to hell!"

I turned and ran.

How could I have been so stupid!

"This is your chance to tell your side of this ever growing controversy, Dr. Lau," he shouted as he followed me back to a busy street.

I searched for an approaching taxi, but none was in sight. I decided to keep running. I had to get back to my hotel room.

"Dr. Lau won't you tell the public..."

I finally recognized where I was--- only a few blocks more and I'd be away from this pest.

That's the last time I trust any man who's cute!

"Don't the people of the Federation have a right to... Hey, do you mind? Stop! Don't..."

I'd been running so hard, it took me a few seconds to realize it, but finally my consciousness registered that his voice was no longer following me. I couldn't believe he'd just give up, so I stopped and looked back. There was the occasional pedestrian, but Daryl Stands was no longer in pursuit.

"Good." I resumed my previous route at a slow walk instead of the dead run of before.

I was so wrapped up in critiquing my actions of the past hour, I passed my hotel without realizing it until three blocks later.

"Get your head out of your ass, Mei." I was about to start back when I noticed a museum ahead. Not only was it a good place to hide, but I might actually enjoy myself. The evening wouldn't be a complete loss.

***

The artwork of the early Purlewian culture was interesting, but I found it hard to focus more than part of my attention on it. I kept expecting that fool Stands to show up again.

God, I have to quit living my life this way.

The room I entered had a sign indicating it had relics from twenty thousand years in the planet's past. Several ten foot tall, bronze statues lined the walls of the large room.

I stopped at one of the statues and laughed. The plaque standing next to it said it was Latul, the winged god of the sky. But the physiology was unmistakably that of a Skorr. I didn't usually show this kind of open disrespect for the beliefs of another culture, but the idea the Skorr had visited this world and influenced the religious beliefs struck me as painfully funny in light of Janus Osmand's religious crusade and his association with the Skorr.

I guess history really does repeat itself... well sort of.

"What do you find so humorous?"

I swallowed my laughter and spun around to face the source of that deep voice. A handsome, human looking man stood, frowning.

My god...

I couldn't catch my breath. My knees seemed ready to give out.

He had a sharp-featured face that projected a calm confidence, but there was an impish joy in his eyes which drew me in, making me feel as if I were drowning.

After what seemed an eternity, I forced myself to breathe. "Uh, nothing really. I just..."

"The religion of Latul is still practiced by some on Purlewe. It wouldn't do to have them find a tourist mocking him."

"You're right." I did my best to appear serious.

The man smiled. "But his resemblance to the Skorr is rather amazing, isn't it?"

The combination of his plummy voice and my attraction to him made it impossible to avoid relaxing. A chuckle escaped me. "I take it they haven't noticed the connection?"

"They're quite aware of it, especially after they got access to certain Skorr historical records documenting the exploits of General Latul. But knowing your god isn't real doesn't necessarily keep you from worshiping him. Faith endures."

It was my turn to frown. "More like stupidity."

"We all need something to believe in."

I'd seen his style of black suit before, but couldn't place it. "Do I know you?"

"We have not met before, Dr. Lau."

"Look, if you're another reporter, I have nothing to say about..."

"Mr. Stands won't be troubling you again. But running into a reporter certainly has made my job considerably more difficult." He looked behind him, as if checking for something. "Now, as we have business to attend to."

He reached for my arm, but I stepped back.

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

His eyes narrowed. "I am Carlos Lorente. I was told you would be expecting me."

At least that part of the mystery was solved. "Yes, but before I go anywhere, I have a few questions."

"This is neither the time or place to answer them. Pervalt should have told you all you needed to know."

"I know this is an archaeological mission, but that's not good enough."

"It will have to be enough for now."

"I'm not going to blindly follow Temporal Investigation's orders."

He looked about the room again. "Please keep your voice down, Dr. Lau."

"Then tell me what this mission is about."

"I was told I would have your complete cooperation." He stepped forward. "I was also told the release of your friend Robin Nelson hinges on that cooperation."

He called my bluff. But I wasn't about to let him know that. "My name wasn't pulled out of a hat. There's some reason your organization wants me specifically to go to this world you've found."

"It isn't us, Dr. Lau."

"Really."

"We were told to bring you."

"By who?" I asked.

"The Ancient Progenitors."

***

Two hours later, with my travel bag slung over my shoulder, I hurried along the landing platforms at the edge of the city. I'd found it hard not to keep checking behind me despite Lorente's assurances that reporter had been dealt with. Whatever it was they'd done, I hoped it had been at least mildly painful.

Oh my god, what if they killed him?

No. Killing a news reporter would only draw more attention, something Temporal Investigations wouldn't risk.

Fog had been rolling in off the sea beyond the landing platforms since I'd entered this part of town. That, combined with the enveloping cool night, made me uneasy about being there.

Finally I located landing platform ninety-four and passed through its narrow entrance. Inside I found a berthed Cardassian vessel.

"You've got to be kidding me," I whispered, reacting to the state of disrepair in the worn patchwork hull.

Lorente stood at the ship's boarding ramp, waving me over.

"You've booked passage with the Cardassians?"

"No," he said. "They're too unreliable these days."

"Based on the condition of its exterior, I'd say the same thing about this ship."

I followed him into the bowels of the vessel. Considering the exterior, I was surprised at how well kept the inside was. Lorente stopped at an intersecting corridor, pointing to the end.

"Your quarters are there in room seven. Get unpacked and meet me in the briefing room on the deck below this one."

"But..."

"I'll answer what questions I can then."

He turned and left. After nearly a minute of standing there, I realized I'd been watching him even after he'd disappeared around a corner.

"At least he's not cute," I murmured, spinning about and entering my quarters. I let my luggage fall to the deck.

But he is handsome as hell.

I investigated the small living space, not at all impressed with Cardassian aesthetic sensibilities. The color scheme made my eyes ache, but the lighting made me nervous, as if something were hiding in a corner, waiting to leap out.

I put my things away as quickly as I could, partly so I could get to the briefing room and whatever answers Lorente might be willing to part with, but also to distract me from thoughts about the man himself.

"You may want a man in your life, Mei, but a Temporal Investigator is the wrong place to look."

Was there ever a right place?

I set my now empty suitcase in the darkest corner just to assure myself nothing else would be there.

Considering the last two men I almost had sex with, I think a six month wait is in order before thinking of anyone else.

I paused a second.

Well, no need to be overly hard on myself, three months.

I headed for to the door.

Two months is good. Yeah, that'll work.

***

I stared at the holographic image floating in the middle of the table.

"Where did you get this?"

Lorente poured himself a glass of water from the pitcher next to him. "It was found by the Ravenscroft expedition on Hel'yra."

"Not possible. I would have heard about it."

"It was found a few days before the planet was destroyed, before they'd had a chance to translate it."

I read the inscription again on the holographic stone. It was unmistakably the Ancient Progenitor language, but what it said made no sense. "On this world our greatest secrets will be revealed."

"That was intriguing enough," Lorente said. "But if it had only been that, the matter would have gone to the Archaeological Council."

I continued translating, "But only if..." I looked at Lorente. "You know, there's no way I can believe this."

"I would think the fact Temporal Investigations is involved would be enough to convince you that at least we believe it."

"What you believe is your own problem."

"The Federation President was convinced as well."

I grinned. "And you trust a politician?"

Lorente's stern visage revealed a smile. "Well..."

I returned to reading. "But only if Mei-Wan accompanies you." I sat back in my chair. "The phonetic approach to the letters that make up my name could be a mistake. It may be a word we've never run across in their language before, something referring to some piece of technology, a certain kind of shield, or..."

"We had considered that, but if you read on, you'll see why we don't think so."

"Only she has the knowledge to open the path before you. Only she can make it possible for us to live once again through you."

This was crazy.

"Okay, I'll admit it does appear to be referring to a person."

"Do you have any idea what that last part means?" Lorente asked.

"The Ancient Progenitors were obsessed with humanoid life continuing after they all died on Hel'yra. It's just more of their semi-religious zeal."

"But what could they have meant about living through us?" he asked. "Do you think it means we will find the full extent of their technology on this world they've told us to go to?"

"If so, given the small examples of their technology I've already seen, I doubt we'll understand it anytime in the near future."

Lorente smiled. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Please."

He poured me a glass of water. "So what other questions do you have?"

I took a sip from the glass. "Why a Cardassian vessel?"

He spread his arms out onto the table. "After the war, the Cardassian government needed funds to rebuild, and given a large fleet which no one, especially the Bajorans, was happy to see them keep, they made the choice to sell a large portion of it to anyone with money. Some smaller governments bought them, as well as traders and merchants who liked the idea of projecting a tougher image."

"I can't wait to see how the consequences of that bit of expediency will unfold on the galactic stage."

"The Cardassians had lost their Dominion support. They had little choice but to disarm given the talk of revenge brewing. Now they enjoy Federation protection."

I didn't really care. My curiosity had been answered, and deepened. "How long before we arrive?"

"Two weeks. Until then, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the information we have on this rock we're going to."

I smiled. "Why Mr. Lorente, you sound as if you're not excited about this mission."

He returned my smile. "Not at all, Dr. Lau. I'm always excited by technology treasure hunts."

"But you don't think we'll find anything?"

"After five billion years, I expect all we'll find is the carcass of a world that was long ago picked clean of whatever marvels were once housed there."

"Fortunately, we archaeologists usually manage to find something interesting even when everything's been removed from a site."

"For the sake of the explanation I'll have to make to my superiors, I certainly hope you do so on this world."

***

Over the next fourteen days, I stayed mostly in my quarters reading the dossier on BR-59301, what little there was of it. The planet, a title earned only due to its size, was barren; no life, no atmosphere, and an average temperature of two hundred below. The white dwarf it orbited provided just enough energy to keep liquid hydrogen from freezing. A probe had already mapped the planet, and fortunately had discovered some sort of structure beneath the surface. An advance team had arrived three months ago to prepare a set of labs and living space.

I spent the rest of my time catching up on preparations for the Archaeological Institute I'd be running on Kel-j'na after this mission. There were a lot of small details to take care of, and the more I could get off my plate now, the fewer I'd have to deal with once I got back.

Lorente's team didn't speak much around me, even in the mess hall. I half suspected they'd been ordered not to. Lorente refused to discuss the mission any further, instead asking me about my experiences in Starfleet the few times we ate together. I couldn't tell if he was seeking information, or was genuinely interested.

Another couple of months and it wouldn't matter. I'd be back to my life, and he'd be back to doing whatever he did.

-GO TO CHAPTER 2-