Title: Star Trek-Infinity: The Beginning, Part II [PG] (MISC)

Author: Charles Rando (trando@worldnet.att.net)

Series: MISC

Rating: [PG]

Part: NEW 1/2

Disclaimer: Paramount owns the characters in The Next Generation and Deep
Space Nine, and Peter David owns the Selelvian race (see his book, Strike
Zone). I'd like to think that the characters I've invented and the story
are mine. :-)

Summary: The second half of the first adventures of the starship Infinity
and its crew. I think that sentence had too many prepositional phrases in
it....

Go to part 2

Go to part 4

CHAPTER ONE

"Captain, Commander Sisko says that his runabout is ready for launch,"
Ensign Libby reported.

"Thank you, Ensign. Inform Commander Sisko that he may proceed with the
launch and that the Infinity will follow his runabout through the
wormhole," said Captain Rando. He was seated in the command chair with
Commander Witherell to his right and Admiral Daubar to his left.

"Captain, we're getting a priority one message from Starfleet
Headquarters," Remley said. As he spoke, Counselor Kassal stepped off the
rear turbolift and made her way down to the command center.

"I hope it's good news," Rando replied. He nodded towards Kassal as she sat
next to Daubar.

"Yes sir," Remley told him. "Starfleet has just heard from the Romulans.
They're behind us one hundred percent."

"Add that to the Klingons and the Cardassians, and I think we have a pretty
good hand," Witherell commented.

"We'd better... we're betting the whole house on it," Rando replied.

"I'm sure the Dominion will take us seriously," Daubar said. "I have a
feeling that this mission is going to be a complete success."

"Runabout Orinoco is launching, Captain," reported Libby, interrupting
their conversation.

"On screen," ordered Rando. A small craft could be seen rising out of
Starbase Deep Space Nine and taking a position on the opposite side of the
station from where Infinity was.

"OPS has cleared us for take-off, Captain," reported Libby.

"Well, let's get this show on the road, then. Ensign, engage thrusters.
Back us away from the station," Rando replied.

"Thrusters engaged," Marit echoed.

"Runabout is heading towards the wormhole, Captain. Five seconds until it
enters," reported Libby.

Within seconds, a flash of bright light filled the screen as the only
stable wormhole known to man opened to swallow the tiny ship. Then, as
suddenly as it opened, it closed up again.

"Ensign Marit, set course for the wormhole, ahead a quarter impulse.
Engage," Rando ordered.

Slowly, the massive starship moved in the direction of the tiny runabout.
Another bright flash of light filled the screen as the wormhole opened, and
as soon as Infinity was inside the passageway, the wormhole closed in on
itself.

"Report, Mr. Libby," ordered Rando.

"So far we haven't encountered any of the massive energy bursts that have
been reported recently. Interior wormhole conditions appear stable... wait!
Ensign, have you slowed our speed?" Libby asked.

"No I haven't," Marit answered, "but we do seem to be losing velocity." Her
usual curtness was replaced by confusion.

"We've come to a complete stop, sir," Libby reported. Outside, a loud thud
was heard and a vibration shook the ship. "Sir, we've just landed."

"Landed? Inside a wormhole?" Rando asked.

"Sir, according to the reports I've read from Commander Sisko, this is
exactly what happened to him when he and Lieutenant Dax first discovered
the wormhole," said Lieutenant Williams from his computer console at the
back of the bridge.

"Very interesting," murmured Rando. "Mr. Libby, do you detect any
atmosphere outside?"

"Yes, sir," said Libby, checking his readings. "There is a Class-M
atmosphere outside, capable of supporting humanoid life."

"Mr. Remley, Mr. Williams, Ms. V'gel, come with me. We're going to find out
what's going on out there," said Rando.

"Sir," broke in Commander Witherell, "with all due respect, there's no
telling what could be out there. And as First Officer, it is my duty to
prevent the captain from taking any unnecessary risks."

"Lieutenant Williams, you said that so far these events match what happened
to Commander Sisko?" Rando asked.

"Yes sir," Williams answered.

"And what did Sisko encounter inside the wormhole?"

"Sisko reported that he encountered alien beings inside the wormhole that
did not exist in time. Sisko learned a great deal from these aliens, and in
turn taught them a good deal about us," Williams said.

"And Sisko made it back safely?"

"Lieutenant Dax said he returned even better than he had left. It was as if
a huge burden had been lifted off his shoulder," Lieutenant V'gel
interjected.

"Sorry, Commander, but I don't think these wormhole aliens present a great
risk. This time, I get to lead the away team. You can command the next
one," Rando said, smiling.

"Thank you, Captain," said Witherell, his posture perfect, "I'll wait until
then."

"Well, for now you have the bridge. Don't leave without us," said Rando,
walking towards the turbolift with the three officers behind him. They
entered the lift and Witherell could hear the captain say, "Transporter
room one." just as the doors closed.

******************************************************

"Energize," ordered Captain Rando. Lieutenant Johnson's fingers moved
quickly over the transporter controls, and within an instant the four
officers on the transporter pad felt the soft hum of the transporter around
them.

Seconds later, the officers found themselves standing outside the ship.
Oddly enough, the Infinity was actually perched on a large cliff face as
easily as a shuttlecraft would, even though it was not equipped with
landing struts like the new Intrepid -class starships. The officers walked
about three meters from the ship, scanning the surrounding area with their
tricorders.

"Well, Mr. Williams?" asked Rando.

"Readings are the same as when Commander Sisko and Lieutenant Dax first
explored the wormhole," reported Williams. "If I recall Commander Sisko's
report correctly, Lieutenant Dax was transported inside some kind of energy
matrix which returned her to Deep Space Nine. It was after Dax had left
that Sisko made first contact with the wormhole aliens."

Rando looked up at the clouds moving in on this fake world and then turned
to V'gel. "Lieutenant, do we know of any other way to get in contact with
these beings?"

The Trill thought for a moment and then replied, "There has so far been
only one reported meeting with the wormhole aliens, and that was Sisko's.
They came for him; we can only assume they'll come for us as well."

"Captain!" shouted Remley, who had been standing about four meters from the
group.

"What is it, Mr. Remley?" Rando asked, and then saw what Remley had seen.
The world around them was being enveloped by a sea of white, and it was
moving towards them.

"I can get no specific readings, Captain," said Lieutenant Williams, "but I
don't think we should hang around."

"Neither do I, Lieutenant. Rando to Infinity . Four to beam up." The
officers waited for the soft hum of the transporter to save them, but none
came. "Rando to Infinity . Do you read?" Rando prompted again, but without
response.

"Captain, I estimate we have ten seconds before we are consumed," said
Lieutenant Williams.

"All right, everyone join hands. We might be forced to go through this
thing, but we're not going to get separated while it happens," said Rando.

The officers quickly joined hands and squeezed together as tightly as they
could, but to no avail. Within seconds, the whiteness had enveloped them.

******************************************************

"Witherell to away team. Do you read?" prompted Commander Witherell again.

"Still no response, sir," said Lieutenant Libby.

"Witherell to transporter room. Can you get a lock on the away team?"
Witherell asked.

"No sir," came the voice of Lieutenant Johnson. "They've vanished into thin
air."

"Come up to the bridge immediately, chief," ordered Witherell. "I want you
to be up here in case anything happens and we can get them back."

"Aye sir. I'm on my way," Johnson replied.

"Commander, I've just regained control of the helm," reported Ensign Marit.

"Good," sighed Witherell with relief. "Now we can get out of here as soon
as we get the away team back."

"Begging the Commander's pardon," said Admiral Daubar, rising up from her
seat next to the command chair, "but don't you think that we should attempt
to make our getaway now? We do still have our mission to accomplish."

"Begging your pardon, Admiral," replied Witherell, staring directly into
Daubar's eyes, "but I am not going to leave the Captain and three other
senior officers inside a wormhole. Besides, without Captain Rando, our
mission to the Dominion might not have any chance of success. A Starfleet
ship making a threat without its Captain onboard? The Dominion might see
that as a sign of weakness."

"Well I feel that the situation warrants our continuance of the current
mission," said Daubar, staring back at Witherell. "And if you're worried
that you won't be able to handle the Jem'Hadar, I'll take command of the
ship and do it myself."

"And take all the credit for yourself," Witherell thought, momentarily
being distracted by the arrival of Lieutenant Johnson. "Admiral Daubar,
when Captain Rando beamed off the ship, he left me in command of the
Infinity . And as of right now, I will continue to honor that request. Now
if you don't mind," said Witherell, pointing her to her seat. "And if you
take this any further, Admiral," Witherell projected telepathically to her,
"I'll reveal your real reasons for wanting to leave the Captain behind. I
can read you like an open book, Admiral."

Admiral Daubar started to reply but decided against it. She turned away and
took her seat. Commander Witherell turned back to the viewscreen.

Slight smiles spread across the faces of Commander Witherell and Ensign
Marit.

******************************************************

"They are corporeal," said Lieutenant Dax, looking closely at the four
officers.

"Yes," said Commander Witherell, "they are the ones we seek. The ones
called humans ."

Captain Rando looked around him. He and his other officers appeared to be
standing inside Quark's bar back on Deep Space Nine. The patrons of the bar
were studying them but saying nothing.

"We have been trying to understand the concept of a linear existence," said
Dax.

"We have concluded that the best way to understand this concept is to send
one of us to your universe," said Witherell.

"One of you," said Rando. "One of the wormhole aliens?"

"That is what you refer to us, yes," answered Commander Kassal.

"We will create a... body for the one that will go with you. The one will
be able to interact with you and live as you do," said Dax.

"We will send you back to your ship along with the one," said Witherell.
"He will be our... emissary, as the Sisko was for you."

"Are you certain that one of your kind will be able to survive in our
universe?" Rando asked.

"The one will adapt," replied Kassal. "In a form such as yours, the one
will have powers close to what you call omnipotent."

"The one will be able to do whatever is necessary to survive," said Dax.

"It is time," said Witherell.

"Wait!" said Rando. "There's so much we have to ask you, so much we could
learn from you!"

But within an instant, the aliens were gone, as was Quark's bar. The
whiteness faded into darkness, and the four officers lost consciousness.

CHAPTER TWO

"Commander, I have a lock on them," reported Lieutenant Johnson from the
back of the bridge.

"It's about time," thought Witherell. "Beam them aboard, Mr. Johnson."

"Sir, I'm picking up another lifeform out there. It's humanoid," reported
Johnson.

"Beam them all to sickbay," ordered Witherell. "Put the unknown lifeform in
a stasis field."

"Aye sir," replied Johnson.

"Bridge to Sickbay," said Witherell, opening the channel to the sickbay.

"Sickbay here, Commander," said the voice of Doctor Calabretta.

"Doctor, we're beaming the Captain's away team directly to sickbay. Be
prepared to treat them for whatever damage they may have incurred. We're
also beaming you a humanoid lifeform that our sensors picked up outside the
ship. It'll be arriving in a stasis field; I want you to take a close look
at it," Witherell ordered.

"Aye sir. We'll turn it inside and out," said Calabretta.

"Energize, Mr. Johnson," commanded Witherell.

With the flick of a few fingers, Johnson's job was done. Doctor Calabretta
replied a few seconds later, "We've got 'em, sir. I'll keep you informed of
our progress. As for the lifeform, well I really think it's something you
should see for yourself."

"I'll be right down there, Doctor," Witherell said. "Are you sure the away
team will be all right?"

"I can't detect any injuries of any kind, Commander. They appear to be
fine. Sickbay out."

Witherell flashed a look of "I told you so" to Admiral Daubar before
turning to Ensign Marit. "Do we still have control of our propulsion
systems, Ensign?" he asked.

"Aye sir. Everything is up and running," Marit replied.

"Then by all means, take us out of the wormhole, Ensign," Witherell
ordered.

"With pleasure, Commander," replied Marit, her fingers moving quickly
across her control pad. Within seconds, the ship was headed out of the
wormhole.

"As soon as we exit the wormhole, Ensign, bring us to a full stop. I don't
want to proceed until Captain Rando is able to go on," said Witherell.

"And what if he's not?" asked Daubar.

"Then we'll just have to consider other options," said Witherell. "I'm
heading down to sickbay to check on the away team." He looked at Daubar.
"Mr. Johnson, you have the bridge until I get back."

"Aye sir," said Lieutenant Johnson, coming down from the back of the bridge
to the command chairs. As he sat down, Admiral Daubar stood up and headed
for the turbolift. She was gone before anyone could say anything.

"Well," said Lieutenant Johnson, staring at the closed turbolift doors,
"that's one way to sure up a promotion, Commander."

Commander Witherell simply smiled as he headed for the turbolift.

******************************************************

"Are you certain he's going to be all right?" Counselor Kassal asked.

"He suffered no permanent injuries, Counselor," Doctor McDonald replied.
"In fact, he suffered no partial injuries either. He wasn't affected at all
by his experience in the wormhole."

"Thank the Gods," sighed Kassal.

"You seem to be overly concerned about his condition," said McDonald. "More
so than anyone else in the crew."

"Just a second, who's the counselor?" Kassal asked her, her eyebrow arched
in curiosity.

"I've been programmed with hundreds of Starfleet's best doctors, including
its best psychologists, so I would have to say, we both are," Doctor
McDonald replied.

"I guess you've got me there," said Kassal. "I guess I am a little bit more
concerned about him than the rest of the crew. We met in Starfleet Academy;
I was a second-year cadet, and he was in his last year. We became...
romantically involved, but then he graduated and received his first posting
on the U.S.S. Clinton . For a little while, he was on my ship, the U.S.S.
Mahler, to lead an away mission. But he was injured in a simulation and he
didn't go. After he returned to the Clinton, we kept in constant contact
for a few weeks, but then he suddenly stopped writing. I still have no idea
what happened. Then, a few weeks ago, I got a request to serve as a ship's
counselor here. I'm hoping that we'll be able to become friends again. And
who could refuse a request to serve on a ship like this?"

"Well Counselor, you seem to have a healthy attitude towards your
situation. All I can do is wish you luck in your endeavors," said McDonald.

A swish of the sickbay door announced that someone had come in. Counselor
Kassal turned to find it was Commander Witherell.

"Counselor," greeted Witherell. "Doctor McDonald, how are they?"

"Right now they're sleeping comfortably," McDonald replied. "They should be
awake soon. None of them suffered any injuries from the experience outside
in the wormhole, as I just told the Counselor. They were simply rendered
unconscious."

"Good. I just had a big confrontation with the Admiral on the bridge. Thank
goodness it wasn't all in naught," Witherell said.

"Commander," came the voice of Doctor Calabretta. "Thank you for responding
so quickly. I really think you want to see this."

"You keep on saying that, Doctor. What is it?" Witherell asked.

"Follow me," said Calabretta, leading him into one of sickbay's private
rooms. Laying on a bed in the middle of the room was a humanoid male. He
was medium built, but a little on the stoutly side. He had black hair,
although parts of it was graying. The biobed's restraints hid the rest of
his body.

"So what is it, Doctor?" Witherell asked as they stared at the strange
humanoid lifeform on the sickbay bed.

"To tell you the truth, Commander, I'm not really sure," replied
Calabretta, checking over the lifeform's vital signs again. "It's outwardly
appearance is human, but it's brainwave emissions are anything but."

"Hmm," murmured Witherell. "Oh, Doctor, I believe that your other patients
have just woken up."

Before Calabretta could ask how the Commander would know such a thing,
Doctor McDonald called from the next room.

"Doctor?"

"Yes, Doctor?" Calabretta answered.

"Captain Rando and the others are awake," said McDonald.

"All of them?" asked Calabretta.

"Yes sir. They all seemed to regain consciousness at the exact same
moment."

"Thank you, Doctor. Tell them I'll be right there to do an examination,"
ordered Calabretta.

"Aye sir," replied McDonald, walking back into the other room.

"Well, Commander, the stasis field seems to be holding him, so I think
it'll be safe to leave him alone for a few minutes," said Calabretta.

"Then let's go see how the Captain and the others are doing," said
Witherell. "I told you so," he whispered to Calabretta as the walked into
the main sickbay.

"Captain," replied Calabretta. "How are you feeling?"

"I feel like I just caught up on a week's worth of sleep," replied Rando,
attempting to sit up. He lost his balance slightly and Counselor Kassal,
who was standing beside him, quickly helped him regain it. "I'm ready to
return to the bridge."

"If you don't mind, Captain, I'd like to be the one who decides that," said
Calabretta.

"Captain," said Lieutenant V'gel from a few beds over. "I am extremely
confused. When Commander Sisko first met the wormhole aliens, they did not
return him to his world unconscious."

"Perhaps it had something to do with their 'emissary'," replied Rando.

"Emissary?" asked Kassal, looking puzzled.

"While we were in the outside the ship, we encountered the same wormhole
aliens that Commander Sisko encountered during his first mission at DS9,"
replied Rando. "The aliens informed us that they were going to dispatch one
of their own as an emissary into our existence."

"That would explain the other humanoid we beamed aboard," said Calabretta.
"His brain waves aren't human because he's not human."

"Other lifeform?" asked Rando. "What other lifeform?"

The instant Rando asked his question, Sickbay came alive with activity.

"Commander, I have got to talk to you," said Ensign Marit. "Admiral Daubar
is driving me out of my mind."

"When we finally re-established our lock on you, we discovered another
lifeform outside of the ship. We've beamed it into sickbay in a stasis
field," replied Calabretta to the Captain.

"Ensign, this is not the time nor the place," said Witherell to Marit. "The
Captain has just regained consciousness, and we still have to decide what
to do with our 'guest'."

"It's so nice that you haven't forgotten me," said a deep, dramatic voice
from the room holding the alien. "I was beginning to get so bored." The
alien walked, or strutted, out of the side room and into the sickbay.

"By the prophets!" whispered Ensign Marit. "The J'amel Wryks!"

******************************************************

"According to the old Bajoran language, 'J'amel Wryks' means 'first
visitor'," reported Lieutenant V'gel. "But perhaps Kynten can explain it
better than I can."

"Yes sir," said Ensign Marit, looking around at the dozen other officers in
the conference room. She usually wouldn't have been so shy to speak her
mind. She would have told them what they wanted to hear, but in a tone of
voice that asked why they hadn't been aware of what she was telling them
before. But this situation was different for some reason. "There was an
ancient Bajoran prophecy that shortly after the Temple of Light was
discovered, the prophets would send one of their own to our world. This one
would be the first visitor of the prophets, or the 'J'amel Wryks'."

"But how did you know that the man in sickbay was one of the wormhole
aliens?" asked Calabretta.

"I recognized the man in sickbay as one of the prophets ," Marit spat out,
"when he... well, I'm not really sure how I knew. I just did. Like he had
put the thought into my head."

"The wormhole aliens did say that their emissary would have near omnipotent
powers," said Lieutenant Williams. "Telepathy would most likely be
included."

"Which brings us to another question," said Rando. "Mr. Remley, was is the
status of security for the alien?"

"So far he hasn't attempted to do anything hostile towards the ship or any
of its crew, but just to be safe, I've assigned five of my men to watch
sickbay at all times. Although it seems that he's only interested in
reading about our history and... eating," said Remley.

"Eating?" asked Rando.

"Yes sir," replied Remley. "He has a strong affinity for chocolate chip
cookies."

"Well, as long as we keep him happy, he shouldn't be a problem," said
Rando. "Now, we still have our mission with the Jem'Hadar to accomplish."

"Admiral Daubar is still stewing over that," muttered Witherell.

"Yes, Commander, I read your report, and I must agree with the Admiral on
one point: this mission must be completed. If you are ever forced to pick
between my life and the success of this mission, you will pick the latter,"
said Rando.

"Aye sir," said Witherell, his back straightening.

"Not that Mr. Remley, Mr. Williams, Ms. V'gel and I don't appreciate what
you did for us, Commander. We all owe your our lives," said Rando, smiling.

"Thank you, Captain," replied Witherell, his posture becoming more relaxed.

"We are still within Starfleet's allotted time parameters for this
mission," said Rando, "but I'd like to get us back on the schedule we were
on when we met DS9. All that means is we'll be traveling at a faster speed,
but that shouldn't be a problem, right Mr. Neddek?"

"No, sir. The engines are operating within Starfleet limits," replied
Neddek. "An increase in speed will not be difficult."

"Thank you, Commander," said Rando. "I think that pretty well covers
everything for now. Let's have another meeting tomorrow at this time," said
Rando, to which his crew responded by nodding. "Ensign," Rando said to
Marit, "as soon as you're at your post, I want you to set course for the
homeworld of the Founders and engage at warp seven.

"Aye sir," replied Ensign Marit. "But I would still like to have the
opportunity to voice my complaints about the admiral."

"You will have the opportunity, Ensign," replied Rando, "but not until this
mission is over. After all, the quicker we finish, the quicker we get
Admiral Daubar back to Starbase 106."

"Request permission to increase speed to warp nine, sir," said Marit.

"Permission denied," replied Rando, chuckling. "Now get out of here.
Dismissed."

Go to part 2

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