T'ran, Our Reality
Stephen opened his eyes. He saw himself dressed in a red robe and tied to a stake on one end of a large chasm. They seemed to be on what used to be an open field. The sky was blood red. The ground was barren. In front of him was an immense hole connected to the field by four bridges of rock at each of the cardinal points. In the middle of the chasm was an island of rock in the chasm.
There was a child standing there. The child looked directly into Stephen's eyes, causing them to feel a slight burning pain. Then, the child pointed to the other end of the chasm. On a similar stake, and wearing a red robe, Dana Maruu was tied. She seemed to be yelling something, but he couldn't hear her.
Suddenly, her voice came in crisply. Stephen knew that Kalmar was trying to help. "They've got Jovani!"
"Jovani? How did he get here?"
"We had a few seconds together." She stopped and looked down. "He's not doing all that well. He told me that Jovo had given him specifications for a transconnecting pod. He used it to get to T'rais space."
"Why would Jovo do that?!"
"I don't know, but he did. He could be in league with Kosst." She paused. "Oh. And I've got bad news."
Stephen and Dana Kosst began to walked through the bridges opposite them toward the altar-like rock in the center.
Stephen sighed heavily. "There's two of them."
The child began to speak in a demonic voice. "We are ready to begin." Pharox began to float over the two Kossts as they met in the middle and began to undress each other. Pharox then held up the Quantum Mirror. He let it go and watched it float up a few feet as it began to glow white. A beam from the sky shot down and went through the Quantum Mirror, Pharox and the now nude and mating Kossts. Pharox screamed as his energy-based form was disassembled and condensed into the ray of light. It went down into the two Kossts.
Stephen Kosst soon walked away from the ray of light and began to dress once more. Dana Kosst, however, stayed. Suddenly, she began to scream. She writhed and convulsed in pain until her abdomen seemed to explode. Out of it came a horrific dragon with three heads. It continued to grow until it was about the size of a three story building.
Kosst laughed as he walked away slowly. "Meet the all-new and improved Pharox. In this form, he will rule over all that is, was, and will be."
A red mist emerged on the side of the chasm opposite Kosst. When it was gone, a Jovani in a red robe and tied to a stake appeared.
"Behold your God, and bow before him!"
The chains tying the three down dropped and they all fell in a genuflecting position.
Pharox growled and lit the heavens aflame with his breath.
Earthdate: March 22, 2384
Location: Asteroid QX346, Alternate Universe "Beta"
Kat looked ahead and saw the Danube. Jovo was here. So was her daughter. He faced Coran. "So?"
Coran looked at a small device on his necklace. "Yes, he is here."
Kat looked at her screen. "I'm getting seven life signs. Two of them weak." The screen beeped. "Make that six life signs." Kat's eyes widened. "I'm reading dark matter discharges. Who would carry a weapon like that?"
Coran stepped behind Kat. "Someone who expects to go up against a god."
Kat quickly armed herself and headed for the transporter. "Coran, you're coming with me."
Coran stepped up to the transporter. Immediately, the two were transported to the asteroid. As far as they could see were bodies of kelthrihyde harvesters working with the Syndicate, dead.
Kat was in shock. "How could he do this?"
Coran grimly replied, "He isn't the same man you fell in love with."
Kat glanced at him angrily. "Thanks to you."
Kat and Coran walked through the plantation. Along the way, Coran saw an oddly-shaped weapon. He picked it up without Kat's knowledge and walked on. The two entered a walkway. Soon, Kat heard a familiar voice. "Jovo! Please don't hurt her!"
Kat began to run down the hall. "Laurissa!!!"
Earthdate: November 30, 2384
Location: Nirkno Flagship NCS Xillinne, Our Reality
The entire T'rais armada lay in wait in orbit around T'ran. The ray of light that had shot out from the sky had begun to form an ion cloud above the planet.
Suddenly, three explosions knocked out a great deal of the T'rais armada, sending the rest into chaos.
The Nirkno captain raised his arm. "The Zeer bombs have been deployed. The T'rais are disoriented! Now! Attack! Cover all sides! Let none of them escape!"
Geoon stepped forward. "What about Captain Maruu?"
"Your captain will be rescued once we have opened a path to the surface."
"Good," said Lazarus as he punched his open hand's palm with his right fist. "I can't wait to see some action."
Location: T'ran
Stephen tried to move, but couldn't. "Kalmar, please help us."
~I have done all I can. I have been forbidden to interfere.~
Stephen looked up. "Great."
Suddenly, he saw two small ships flying close to the ground. The ships were a lighter color than the T'rais vessels. They veered off in opposite directions and attacked two outposts surrounding the chasm.
Stephen Kosst and the T'rais around him covered their heads as the explosions shook the earth. Pharox was distracted for a moment.
Stephen quickly yelled, "Now!" Dana and Stephen attacked the T'rais behind them. Stephen took the T'rais's laser sword and used it to slice him in two. Dana knocked the T'rais behind her and took his automatic projectile weapon. She used it to take out several T'rais that were coming at her.
Stephen tried to attack Pharox with his sword. Pharox looked at Stephen, his eyes glowed red, and Stephen went flying back 20 feet. Pharox looked right into Stephen's eyes and shot out a blast of red flame. Stephen jumped out of the way just in time, singeing only a small portion of his back.
Noticing what had been happening, Kosst screamed, "Get them!"
Ten T'rais moved on them as a second wave of Nirkno attack vessels attacked the remaining T'rais forces on the field.
The crew of the USS Luminance and a group of 100 Nirkno marines transported to the surface. They surprised the T'rais and began to attack. T'rais began to drop like flies.
Geoon, behind an overturned table, fired at two T'rais, taking each down. A T'rais in his blind spot took aim but fell over after a phaser rifle blast hit him twice in the chest.
Lazarus looked at Geoon with a smile. Geoon waved thanks...
... as a barrage of bullets hit Lazarus in the gut. Geoon turned violently and killed the T'rais that had shot Lazarus. Geoon quickly went to Lazarus's aid. "Lt. Narin! Doctor!"
Cara ran to Lazarus. "He's severely wounded."
"Really?" Geoon said sarcastically. "I couldn't tell!"
Cara ignored the comment. "Oh no." She looked up after reading her scans. "Kox is dead."
"What?"
"His symbiote." She paused. "Hold on." She tapped her comm badge. "Lt. Narin to Xillinne. Please prep Tara for transplantation."
"Tara?!"
Cara looked gravely into Geoon's eyes. "He has a chance, but I need you to help me."
"Anything."
"Xillinne, three to beam up."
They transported out as the Nirkno continued fighting.
Earthdate: March 22, 2384
Location: Asteroid QX346, Alternate Universe "Beta"
Kat entered a room in the far end of a poorly lit corridor. She saw a body in the corner nearest her; his head appeared to have been ripped off. Laurissa pushed herself into a corner. Jovo held Kara's neck against the wall.
"Larussa!"
Laurissa saw her mother immediately and ran to her. "Mommy! Make him stop!" she sobbed uncontrollably.
Kat looked at Jovo. "What have you done?!" she demanded, almost choked with tears.
"What I had to. And now I take care of this problem."
"What problem? We're safe. Everything is done."
Jovo turned momentarily. "This is not over! This woman calls herself a guardian. She allowed Laurissa to be taken. Now she will pay the ultimate price for her neglect."
Swiftly, Coran pulled out the dark matter weapon he had picked up. He aimed it at Jovo and fired. Jovo moved out of the way, and the blast hit the wall, causing a large portion of the wall to disappear. Jovo screamed as he shot a blast of energy out of his hand at Coran that caused the Bajoran to explode. Blood sprayed everywhere.
Kat and Laurissa fell to the floor with the blast. Kat landed next to the weapon and grabbed it, keeping watch of Jovo as he seemed oblivious to the fact that he had just killed someone else.
Earthdate: November 30, 2384
Location: NCS Xillinne, Our Reality
The cloud above T'ran began to glow brighter. It began to shoot lightning from it. One of the lightning bolts hit the Xillinne. The ship shook.
For a second, Jennifer Antilles turned to see Borg walking around Enginnering. They looked around as if lost, then faded out.
Jennifer looked at Xorij. "What the hell was that?!"
Location: T'ran
Stephen and Dana, having dispatched the T'rais, ran to help Jovani up. He was in pain, but his wound would heal.
A Nirkno beamed down right next to them. "Captain Maruu. I am here to extract you. I apologize that your crew could not come; they are currently engaging the--"
Lightning bolts from space began to crash around the chasm. One lightning bolt hit the sky above them and created a vortex from which golden creatures that looked like flying sting rays flew out and faded away. Another bolt hit a T'rais compound in the distance. In its place appeared Human building with zwastikas painted on the sides.
Location: Atlantic Ocean, Earth
A family of three were sailing when a snake about five meters in diameter rose out of the ocean and started to screech. It quickly jumped out of the water and landed back in, swimming off in a fury.
The father held his frightened children. "What was that?!"
Location: Betazed
Species 8472 ships suddenly appeared and began to attack the surface of the planet.
Location: SB901
A Zerg fleet moved past the station. Kit looked at the officers around her. "What in the hell are those?!"
The crew were too busy paying attention to the small electric mice jumping over all the equipment. One mouse jumped in front of Michael Kalvin's console. It smiled sweetly, whispered, "Pikachu," and sent bolts of electricity through him, throwing him back against a fellow officer.
Butterflies six feet long flew down the Promenade of the station as people jumped out of the way.
Turtles spraying people with water from their mouths followed suit.
Location: San Francisco, Earth
Admiral Ross fired his phaser at the oncoming Klingons. He took cover behind a bulkhead as the officers with him provided a defensive line.
Ross opened his comm line. "Zultok! Are you there?!"
[Yes, sir! What's going on?!]
"I don't know! You're the only admiral I can reach! The Klingons are attacking Starfleet Command!"
[You've got to be joking! We're fighting off the Romulans! The north side of the Academy are battling the Gorn!]
"The who?!?!"
Location: T'ran
Kosst laughed as Pharox growled in euphoria.
Kosst screamed. "It has begun! The dimensions and realities will all bleed into each other until all Creation has been consumed! Order will become Chaos! Light; Dark! Life; Death!"
Stephen, Dana, Jovani, and the Nirkno cavalry looked around as the world around them continued to morph and shift unchecked.