From: Anton_Sanderfoot@qms1.life.uiuc.edu (Anton Sanderfoot)
Subject: STORY: Wisdom of the Ancients 3
Followup-To: alt.startrek.creative
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 15:47:16 GMT

Sorry about the U's instead of quotes. I'll try to catch them all before
the next sections come out. If I miss some, be understanding, huh?

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Wisdom of the Ancients, part 3

Fade into large moderately lit room, a man is sitting at a table drinking
from a mug. The mans name is Qiti (chee-tie). He appears to be in his
mid-thirties,and is dressed in a grey jumpsuit similar to Wesley's acting
ensign uniform without the shoulder pads. Pan around to show Riker, Worf
and Guinan laying on cots. Guinan slowly rises looking at the man.

Qiti: [In a mild British accent] Ah, Guinan...Welcome back to the world.

Guinan: You shot me!

Qiti: I am sorry, dear Guinan, but it was necessary.

Guinan: Necessary? I don't understand...

Qiti open the drapes on a large window to show the sunrise over the city
which is about 10 km distant across the desert.

Qiti: I'll explain when your captain wakes up. Will you join me for some
tea? Ask your Klingon friend if he'll join us, perhaps hes tired of
pretending to be unconscious?

Guinan looks over at Worf who opens his eyes. With a sneer and a growl, he
gets up. Guinan limberly puts herself between Qiti and Worf.

Guinan: Please, Mr. Worf. Sit down, everything will be fine.

Riker: [waking up] What in the hell is going on?

Qiti: Perhaps now is a good time for me to explain...

Riker: Yes, I think you should start with why you shot us.

Qiti: That would be easy. You're probably not aware that there is a price
on your heads. You see, the Cardassians and the Romulans are currently
having a bidding war over the bounty for your capture.

Guinan: Why would anyone want us?

Qiti: Well, it's pretty clear why the Cardassians want you. The war is not
going well, and they are looking for hostages. The Romulans? One never
knows exactly what the Romulans want, but a Federation Captain would likely
be quite a prize. Regardless, the bounty is more than enough to get any
entrepreneur with a phaser off of this lifeless rock.

Riker: And you?

Qiti: I like this lifeless rock. That, and I have no need for any bounties,
especially on old friends.

Worf: Old Friends? How old?

Qiti: [jokingly] Shame on you. Asking a lady's age.

Guinan: Let's just say, it was well before you were born.

Qiti: Anyway, the only way to stop the assorted rabble from taking potshots
at you...

Riker: ...Was to beat the rabble to the punch. [suspiciously] So, whats
your plan for us now?

Qiti: First of all, your ship has been trying to contact you. You can get
the message here. I assure you the line is secure, and private. I will
collect some breakfast. If you will excuse me...

Qiti exits through a side door, Riker, Worf and Guinan huddle in the center
of the room.

Riker: Guinan, can we trust him?

Guinan: I'm not Troi, I can't tell you if he's lying. But, what I can tell
you is that he has no reason to lie. I'd like to speak with him for a
moment...

Riker: Go ahead. Mr. Worf and I will speak with the ship.

Guinan leaves through the same door, Riker and Worf manipulate the console
to receive the message from the Gregarious. Cut to a kitchen where Qiti is
preparing breakfast. Guinan enters.

Qiti: Ah, Guinan. Pour yourself some tea, and have a seat.

Guinan: Why?

Qiti: Because you look uncomfortable standing there.

Guinan: I mean, why did you capture us? We could have survived long enough
to be picked-up by our ship; or, you could have just as easily let us
die...

Qiti: No need to be so melodramatic. But..., you're right I do have other
reasons for bringing you here...

Guinan: The vessel in ZetaOmega. Are they coming for you?

Qiti: Again so melodramatic. Yes, they've come for me...finally. I had
hoped the energy barrier would keep them out. After all, that was it's
purpose.

Guinan: Purpose? I dont understand...

Qiti: Come now, your people know of the energy barrier. Such "secrets" are
passed along while youre adolescents.

Guinan: There's nobody left to pass on those secrets, anymore.

Qiti: The Borg, I had forgotten...

Guinan: Tell me...

Qiti: Tell you? A race of listeners.... Alright, then. Listen: It was long
believed by the many races that the universe began with the "Big Bang": a
cataclysmic explosion creating all that we see... 

Guinan: ...Yet, what came before?

Qiti: Well, myself for instance. Cycles begin, cycles end. "My" cycles
ends, "yours" begins...

Guinan: Only your's didn't end?

Qiti: Yes. The last collapse was unusually weak, and several galaxies on
the fringes were spared, including the one in which my people were
contained.

Guinan: But what does this have to do with the Energy Barrier?

Qiti: [curtly] Aren't you supposed to be listening? [smiling] Ever wonder
why there are so many omnipotent beings running around? Quite simply,
they persisted from the last cycle. Trillions of years of evolution can let
you in on a few secrets. But, anyway, the survivors, "The Ancients" banded
together to watch the new universe unfold. They...

Guinan: They? Not "We"?

Qiti: At the time, my people we no more advanced than the humans of this
day, content to roam our galaxy, and somewhat beyond. One day, we roamed
across the Ancients. We were "adopted," and they let us share their seat in
watching the cosmos.

Guinan: Quite generous of them.

Qiti: Not as generous as you might think. You see, the weak collapse of the
last cycle left this cycle perilously short of the heavy elements which
were essential  to the eventual evolution of life. The Ancients had written
off this cycle as lifeless, and had decided to stop looking, or at least
have someone else look. While looking fervishly, we discovered the start of
life, in a galaxy which is likely quite familiar to you. As this was rare
for this cycle, the galaxy was set aside, as a preserve. Only, one race
chose not to preserve it. They looked into the future of this life, and
were disappointed: limited life span, limited mental capacities, etc. They
decided they could do better; by extracting this life, and dispersing it
about the galaxy. Manipulating it into new forms and
varieties...Ironically, the peoples that resulted would name this race "The
Preservers." Needless to say, this was considered a violation of the
highest order. But, what was done, was done. Though further violations were
not to be permitted. A barrier was put up around the galaxy to prevent
further incursions.

Guinan: So where do your friends in ZetaOmega come in?

Riker: [entering with Worf] Yes, what about your "friends" in ZetaOmega?

Qiti: I think "friends" in an incorrect term. I believe "mortal enemy" may
be more appropriate.

Worf: So, that is the reason you have brought us here: You wish to use us
to destroy your enemies!

Qiti: No, I doubt the combined firepower of the Federation could scratch
the paint on that vessel. But, you are partially right. I need you to take
me to ZetaOmega.

Riker: Surely you dont plan on taking on the vessel by yourself!

Qiti: I don't intend to destroy the vessel, I intend to surrender to it...

END PART 3
Xref: sparky alt.startrek.creative:1643 rec.arts.startrek.current:10936 rec.arts.startrek.fandom:1182 rec.arts.startrek.misc:7719 rec.arts.startrek.tech:4318