From: Anton_Sanderfoot@qms1.life.uiuc.edu (Anton Sanderfoot)
Subject: STORY: Wisdom of the Ancients 6
Followup-To: alt.startrek.creative
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 22:53:13 GMT

Things pick up a bit after this section. Parts 1-6 were just introducing
the main players. I'll be slowing down the rate of posting to once a day
for the remainder of the sections, putting the conclusion on Friday. Have
fun...

___________________________________________
Wisdom of the Ancients, pt. 6

Open with Gregarious slowing as it approaches ZetaOmega. The planet appears
quite grey and cratered. Riker's log entry voices over the opening.

Riker: [vo] Captain's Log, stardate 46991.7. We have arrived at the remains
of the ZetaOmega science station. The reports from the probe underestimated
the destruction of this planet. Orbital assessment of the planet has shown
that it is likely to break up due to the seismic stresses induced by the
bombardment. Mr. Worf has lead an away team down to the planet to examine
the surface.

Cut to Engineering, Riker is walking in towards Chief Engineer Thomas who
is going over some schematics with Wesley.

Riker: What's the story Chief?

Thomas: I think we have all the bugs worked out. Nothing really unexpected
for a vessel rushed out ahead of schedule. Mr. Crusher has been a great
help.

Riker: Excellent. It's likely we'll need a fully functional vessel if any
of Qiti's information is correct.

Qiti: [walking up from behind] Unfortunately, the information is quite
true.

Riker: [surprised] How is that you show up whenever I speak about you?

Qiti: Coincidence, I assure you...

Riker: No offense, but I would prefer if you weren't in Engineering.

Qiti: I understand, I was simply on a stroll. No malice intended.

Riker: I'm sure. Mr. Crusher, will you escort Qiti on the remainder of his
stroll.

Riker and Thomas continue to speak as Wesley and Qiti exit. Cut to random
hall as Wesley and Qiti walk along.

Wesley: Is there anything in particular you wish to see?

Qiti: No, I was just walking. Clearing my head. There are many more minds
on this vessel than I am used to dealing with. I've got a bit of a
headache.

Wesley: Are you an empath?

Qiti: Empath? No, I'm no mind reader. I am simply able to sense to presence
of life. 

Wesley: It doesn't seem simple at all. Is it common for your people?

Qiti: Somewhat, all of my people are slightly sensitive to such things. It
was a skill that was deemed important for a warrior to have, and was
amplified. A killing machine should always know the location of its prey.
Malqi's delusions... 

Wesley: Malqi, he was your leader?

Qiti: Leader? Yes, I suppose he was. He led my people to destruction by
making monsters such as me. He planned to create his own private army, and
use it to dominate the universe. If not for the revolt and the resulting
civil war, he would have succeeded. [pause] I only wish I would have killed
him myself when I had the chance. It's ironic, Malqi himself had taught us
to be mindless killers, if his training of me had been complete, I would
have killed him. Instead part of me still held life sacred and refused to
kill him. Still, the Zenrabi ended up doing the job for me. Last I saw him,
he was being taken by a band of Zenrabi.

Wesley: [after long pause] If you can only sense the presence of life, why
should their presence give you a headache?

Qiti: I'm not sure. The minds of humanoids are especially "noisy." Perhaps
I'm just not used to dealing with the noise.

Wesley: Counselor Troi used to say the same thing. She was an empath.
Strange, I still don't understand how such things are possible.

Qiti: What is a brain but a sophisticated electromagnet. The firing of
neuron creates a momentary electric field. The presence of anything creates
a gravitation disturbance. Simply being attuned to and interpreting those
signals is all that is required. Strictly speaking, anyone could be trained
to at least sense such things.

Wesley: [pausing] Guinan has told me that you knew when the Zenrabi
destroyed Balthazar 6. Surely you can't sense things from thousands of
light years away.

Qiti: Distance is not important. Yes, in three-dimensional terms, such
distances are great; but in...[smiling] Well, such things are ment for each
people to discover on their own.

Wesley: We have already glimpsed such ideas. While I was on board the
Enterprise, I met a being called the Traveller. He...

Qiti suddenly looks away and buries his head in his hands in pain.

Wesley: What's wrong?

Qiti: We must speak with your Captain. The Zenrabi are attacking another
world.

Cut to the bridge. Great activity is occurring as crew rush around.

Riker: Away Team, standby for immediate transport. [to Ensign at helm] I
want maximum warp as soon as the Away Team is on board.

Wesley and Qiti enter the bridge.

Qiti: Riker, the Zenrabi are attacking another world.

Riker: Your news is a bit late, long range sensors picked up their ship at
Milagro 7 ten minutes ago. Were already underway.

Worf, Rild and Mirok return to the bridge from away duty taking their
positions.

Worf: It appears the estimations of their speed were incorrect. [looking at
Qiti] At current speed, it appears we will be too late.

Qiti: Open a channel to them. Broadcast that you have me on board. They
will stop their attack.

Riker: [after a pause] Open the channel, broadcast the message.

Lieutenant Rimpole manning the Weapons Console executes the command.

Rimpole: Aye, Sir. Sending message.

Mirok: Sensors indicate that the bombardment has ended.

The tension level on the bridge decreases as sighs of relief are heard from
all except Qiti. His face has become ghostly white and his mouth hangs
open.

Guinan: Qiti, what's wrong?

Wesley: Are you sensing something from the people of Milagro 7?

Qiti: No, it's from the Zenrabi vessel....[pause]...laughter...

An alarm sounds from Mirok's panel.

Mirok: [Shocked] It's gone!

Riker: What's gone?

Qiti: [eyes closed in pain] Milagro 7. They destroyed it.

Riker: My God! How!

Mirok: An energy weapon discharged from the center of the vessel, striking
the center of the planet. A seismic resonance was set up and the entire
planet just shattered.

Qiti slumps to the ground, sitting on the ramp to the lift, his head buried
in his hands.

Worf: It appears our data was quite incorrect!

Rimpole: Captain. Incoming message from the Zenrabi vessel. Reading as
visual.

Riker: Let's meet our enemy. On screen. Do not send a signal from our end.

The starfield on the screen is replaced by the visage of a humanoid form
who appears to be in his late forties.

Riker: What in the hell!

Qiti: [still with head in hands] Malqi...

END PART 6
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