"Sailor Trek:  Deep Space Nine" By Bill Harris

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Sailor Trek: Deep Space 9
By Bill Harris
Chapter 4 - A Moonless World
PG13

    Dax nodded to Kira as she made her way to the science station. "So you're the lucky one who got the night shift, Kira?"
    "Not originally," she remarked. "Worf had the duty, but Captain Sisko had a job for him, so I got called in. Not that there was anyone else available, mind you."
    "Oh, I don't know," Dax said with a shrug. "I think I could handle the center seat for a while."
    "That's true," Kira said with a laugh. "But not right now, you can't. You're still too busy trying to find a way to push this Queen Beryl back where she belongs."
    The science officer shook her head. "Not anymore."
    It took Kira a moment to realize what Dax had said. She swiveled the command chair to face the science officer, disbelief clearly written on her face. "What do you mean? Captain Sisko can't be thinking about giving up!"
    "Relax, Kira," Dax reassured her. "We're just trying another angle. We've theorized that the Prophets were referring to a temporal anomaly when they talked to Benjamin during our last trip through the wormhole. So," she gestured to the science station, "now I'm up here looking for 
temporal anomalies."
    "I see," Kira said, understanding dawning. "So, if we can find this temporal anomaly, maybe we can use it somehow... to keep this whole mess from happening in the first place?"
    "That's essentially the idea," Dax said. Leaning forward, she set about the task of remodulating the sensors. "So, anything exciting happening up here?"
    "Not much," Kira admitted. "The situation on Earth seems to have stabilized, but we're still cloaked and maintaining a distance of two hundred million kilometers. But every now and then we get a threatening message from her majesty, Queen Beryl." Sarcasm was practically dripping from Kira's voice as she said "her majesty."
    Now it was Dax's turn to show disbelief. "She's sending direct messages to us? This far away... while we're cloaked?"
    "No, no directly," Kira reassured her. "She's just sending out general broadband transmissions all over the place, using old style radio waves. And it's just the usual kind of threats I'd expect from someone like her. You know, how she's going to have her vengeance on us and wherever we came from for daring interfere with her plans, and the like. The Cardassians made the same kind of threats to us during the Occupation."
    "Sounds charming," Dax remarked, her tone indicating she found Beryl anything but. "Maybe we should invite her to the next Bajoran Gratitude Festival?"
    Kira shuddered at the thought. "No thanks. I'd rather invite Gul Dukat." She sighed and added, "But I will say this about Beryl: she loves the sound of her voice even more than Dukat does."

    Down in the Defiant's mess hall, Worf took his drink from the replicator and sat down at a nearby table with Mars and Mercury. Both of them were eying his drink dubiously, but it was Mars who finally asked the obvious question. "Prune juice?"
    "Yes." Worf had long since grown used to the reaction people had upon hearing of his beverage of choice. Rather than explain it yet again, he glanced at the padd in front of him. "Your depiction of the battle at the amusement park seems consistent with the original timeline. What happened afterwards?"
    "Afterwards?" Mars asked, then paused. When she continued, her voice was hoarse and bitter, "That's when things went horribly wrong."

    Serena looked around in disbelief. "The Negaverse is going to strike here next? At a baseball stadium?!? Luna, I think you've finally gone whacko on me."
    The cat stuck her head out from the handbag she was hiding in. "If I have gone insane, it's only because you've driven me over the edge."
    "Oooohhh!" Unable to think of a suitable retort, Serena settled for sticking her tongue out at the black feline.
    "And besides," Luna continued, ignoring Serena's antics, "There've been reports of people disappearing from here over the last couple of days. That fits with their previous activities."
    "There's one thing I find odd about this," Amy spoke up.
    "Only one?" Serena asked.
    Amy smiled and continued, "It's that they've decided to strike again so soon. After all, it's only been three days since we broke up their operation at the amusement park."
    "Maybe they're getting desperate," Raye theorized. "They know they have to face three of us now, so maybe they're trying for a quick strike, hoping to catch us off guard." She paused and looked around the concourse. "Besides, I think Luna's right. I've been having a bad feeling about this place the moment we went through the gate."
    "This from a girl who decided I was evil and slapped a spirit ward on my forehead just minutes after meeting me?" Serena quipped. "That doesn't make me feel any better about having to spend a good chunk of my allowance for a ticket."
    Raye's eyes narrowed, but Amy intervened before she could say anything. "We should split up to cover more ground. Luna and I will go this way and you two can check out the other direction."
    "Wait a minute! I want to go with you, Amy. Luna can go with the grouch!" Serena complained.
    "Grouch?!?"
    "We can meet back here in an hour," Amy said and she took the bag containing Luna from Serena and moved off.
    The other two glared at each other for a moment before they finally started off on their own search. "I can't believe Amy did it to me this time," Serena grumbled.
    "Quit complaining, meatballhead," Raye retorted.
    Serena stopped momentarily and fumed, allowing Raye to pull slightly ahead of her. "STOP CALLING ME MEATBALLHEAD!" the blonde yelled as she followed Raye.
    An uneasy silence descended over the two as they made their way through the concourse. Soon, however, Serena's mood brightened as she eyed the various offering at the concessions. The only thing stopping her from sampling at each one was the fact that her monetary supply was so limited. But that didn't prevent her from irritating Raye.
    "Come on, Serena," she finally said, "We're supposed to be here on Sailor business, remember?"
    "Give it a rest, Raye. There's no reason we can't do that and have a good time, too." Here eyes goggled as she espied a booth just coming into view. "Oh, look! That place has hot dogs, way super cheap! I can afford those!"
    Raye suppressed a groan as Serena raced over to the concession, then resignedly followed her over.
    The concession was extremely crowded when they took their place in line, but that wasn't surprising given the cut rate prices it was offering. But the moment they approached it, Raye's bad feeling 
intensified dramatically. There was definitely something evil nearby. Her eyes narrowed and she flitted her gaze back and forth over the throng in an attempt to localize it.
    Seeing that Raye was obviously worried about something, Serena asked in a whisper, "What's wrong?" 
    "I sense something."
    "Here? You've got to be kidding, Raye. I-" Serena stopped in midsentence, for at that moment a man several places in front of them groaned and sagged to his knees. Several others soon followed suit. Strangely enough though, those passing by the booth didn't pay the commotion any mind. "Uh oh."
    Raye's attention was immediately drawn to the attendant, as he was grinning ear to ear as more people collapsed. Instinctively she knew that he was the cause of this. He had to be from the Negaverse! Feeling a slight sense of weakness come over her, Raye acted. She raced through 
the crowd for the booth, the white paper of one of her spirit wards held tightly in her right hand. As she approached she chanted in a low voice, empowering the ward, then leapt for the attendant and planted it firmly on his forehead. "EVIL SPIRIT, BEGONE!"
    The effect was immediate and the attendant begin to change. His skin took on a grayish tone, and several ridges formed on his face and shoulders with features that resembled reptilian scales. However, the most prominent feature was a slight protrusion from his forehead that bore a distinct likeness to a spoon. "A youma!" Serena exclaimed.
    "Rybite!" it hissed along with several other incomprehensible utterings, confirming it's origins for them.
    Pandemonium immediately broke out as people, suddenly recovered when Raye's ward broke the energy drain spell, ran in panic from the monster. The two girls took cover around a corner and Raye gave Serena a satisfied look. "Well?"
    "OK, you're right this time. But even a broken clock is right twice a day... MOON PRISM POWER!"
    Raye glared, but decided to save any replies until after the fight was done. "MARS POWER!"
    Rybite had pinned two bystanders to the ground and was trying to drain their energy off when a voice cried out, "Hold it!" Rybite pivoted and found itself confronted by Sailor Mars and Sailor Moon. Taking a step forward, Sailor Moon leveled an accusing finger at the youma, "A ballpark is a place for people to enjoy themselves, not be attacked by Negasleaze like you! In the name of the Moon, I'll punish you!"
    The youma's only response was to hiss and then spit at the two Scouts. Both leapt aside and the large glob hit the girder between them. Sailor Moon looked on in shock as it began eating into the metal. "Eeww... That stuff's nasty!"
    "Not as nasty as I'm going to get!" Mars said. "MARS..." Before she could finish the attack phrase though, Rybite spat again at her, forcing her to dodge.
    The battle continued in that manner for some time. The youma would spit a glob of it's corrosive venom at each of them before they could bring their attacks to bear, forcing the Scouts to dodge. On the other hand, the Scouts themselves proved too agile for him to hit. It seemed the battle would remain a stalemate, until...
    "MERCURY BUBBLES... BLAST!"
    A thick layer of fog encased the area around them, and Rybite looked around trying to espy it's foes. It uttered several more incomprehensible phrases in obvious frustration as Mercury's fog 
inhibited it's visibility to near zero. Sailor Moon looked up happily at her friend's approach. "Thanks for the save, Sailor Mercury!"
    "Sorry I wasn't here sooner," she replied. "But my computer didn't detect the youma's power emanations until a few minutes ago. It must have been generating some sort of concealment field."
    "That must be why no one reacted to everyone collapsing earlier," Mars added.
    "We can theorize later. Quickly you two," Luna urged Sailor Mars and Sailor Moon, "While it's confused!"
    "Right, Luna," Sailor Moon replied. She reached to her forehead. "MOON TIARA..."
    "MARS FIRE..."
    "MAGIC!"
    "IGNITE!"
    Too late the youma saw the fire encased tiara racing for it, and it barely had time for a loud scream before the combined attack cut through it. It's last cry of despair was just about the most understandable thing the creature had said since it's manifestation.
    "Moondusted!" Sailor Moon cried happily as Rybite disintegrated. Within seconds all that remained of the incomprehensible creature was a pile of dust, which quickly faded away as well. She turned to give Mars a high five, but the other girl was staring dumbfounded. "Mars? What's wrong?"
    She didn't reply, except by moving to one side of Sailor Moon a split second later, taking aim at something behind her. Moments before, it had seemed to be an ordinary trash can, but Mars had seen it shift form, becoming a writhing, gelatinous blob that seemed very much alive to her. She didn't know what the shapeshifting creature was, but was sure that it didn't mean them any good. "MARS FIRE..."
    At the same moment Mars spoke, a gelatinous tentacle emerged from the mass and shot forth at inhuman speed, wrapping itself around Sailor Moon's neck.
    "IGNITE!" Mars saw two additional tentacles emerge, heading in the direction of herself and Sailor Mercury. But they never got to them, as her flame arrived first and struck dead center in the gelatinous ooze. A loud, inhuman scream came from it as her attack flared, leaving behind only a pile of black dust when it faded. "Got it!" she cried triumphantly, but it suddenly felt hollow to her as she caught sight of Sailor Moon sprawled out on the ground. The unnatural stillness in her form caused a cold lump of fear to form in her stomach.
    Mercury moved rapidly to the fallen Scout's side as did Luna, but each saw immediately it was too late. Serena's head was canted at an odd angle, and her half open eyes were dull and lifeless. Mercury looked to her fellow Scout, and saw that Mars was staring wide eyed in shock at the sight. "No," she said, shaking her head in denial. "It can't be..."
    "I'm afraid it is, Raye," Mercury said shakily. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to say the unthinkable through the tears that were forming. "Serena's dead."

    "What about Tuxedo Mask?" Worf asked. "I was under the impression he was usually there whenever she was in danger."
    "He was there," Mars replied softly. "He was just a little too late that time."

    Mars watched the tableau before her in shock. Mercury was kneeling beside Sailor Moon, where she had been moments before when she told Raye she was dead. Around them, Raye could sense a crowd of silent onlookers forming, but she didn't care. How could this have happened? How could it 
have gone so wrong, so quickly?
    How could I let this happen? she thought. It had only been a second at most between the time she had seen the creature change and the time she had acted. Could she have stopped it if she had acted sooner? She sensed a presence nearby. Looking up, she saw Tuxedo Mask standing among the stadium gridwork above them. He said nothing, just staring at the scene below him, a look of deep sadness on his face.  Raye watched him for several seconds, but then he vanished in the literal blink of an eye.

    "It wasn't until just before Zoisite started looking for the rainbow crystals that we saw him again." Mars closed her eyes against the tears that were forming there and added quietly, "It's my fault."
    "What is your fault?" Worf asked.
    Mars slammed her fist onto the table, jarring the various beverage containers there. Mercury jumped slightly, but Worf didn't react. The Klingon merely crossed his arms and regarded the hot tempered Scout stoically. "It's my fault that Serena is dead! If I hadn't hesitated... if I hadn't been standing there like an idiot with my mouth open while that thing was shapeshifting, I could have stopped it before it killed her!"
    Mercury sighed and bowed her head, telling Worf that this was an old argument between the two. Before she could say anything though, Worf spoke, "That is foolishness."
    "Oh, really?" she retorted, making no effort now to hold back the tears.
    "Yes," Worf replied evenly. "The changeling struck fast and without warning. You had no idea what it was, or anything about it's capabilities. That you were able to strike as quick as you did speaks well of you."
    "That's easy for..." Mars halted in midsentence as she hastily rethought what she was about to say. She had already made that mistake with Major Kira, and she had a feeling that in this instance she would be wrong about Worf as well.
    The Klingon nodded, confirming her suspicions. "Yes," he rumbled, "I understand something of what you have gone through. I, too, have endured the loss of a loved one."
    They stared at one another, their expressions each communicating to the other far more than mere words could. "Who was she?" Mars finally asked.
    Worf said nothing at first, only a slight hardening in his eyes betraying any of the emotion he felt. Then, "Her name was K'Ehleyr. She was my mate... and the mother of my son. She was murdered on board the Enterprise, on which I was chief of security." He waited a beat, then added, "I do not waste time pondering what might have been, on if there was anything I could have done differently to prevent her death. I know in my heart I did my duty that day... that there was nothing more I could do without foreknowledge to prevent her death. And you must accept the same of yourself. Given the circumstances, you did all you could hope to do to prevent it."
    Mercury slid a box of tissues she had just replicated in front of Mars, "I hope you listen to him, Raye. I've been telling you the same thing for months."
    Worf paused to consider Mars' tale in silence... and to give her a chance to compose herself. It had answered some questions, but raised several others. A changeling had been responsible for Sailor Moon's death, but how had it gotten to this world? Four years ago, the Enterprise had sealed off the quantum flux that joined the two universes, which should have cut off passage between them. Even if the Dominion had managed to reopen the flux, it would have led to a point in time a hundred years later. But why would the Dominion make the effort to do so? It didn't fit their usual method of operation. Their interests to date had been entirely with the Alpha Quadrant.
    He decided to pursue those particular questions later. "Please continue. There are several other things I would like to know. Such as how the two of you gained your increased abilities."
    "That's not too hard to answer," Mercury said, "Since it happened in the days following Serena's murder. Raye gained her increased abilities first, only a few days later when..."

    Raye leaned heavily on the deckrail and gazed out over the water. "This was a terrible idea," she muttered. Turning to her companion she added, "I don't know why I even bothered to enter that contest in the first place. This cruise has turned out to be an utter bust."
    "It seemed like a good idea at the time," Amy said. "And after... what happened a few days ago, we needed something to lift our spirits."
    "Don't you mean after I screwed up and got Serena killed?" Raye said.
    "Stop it, Raye! You can't go on blaming yourself like this!"
    "Why not?" she retorted. Frustrated, she began pacing along the railing. "I hesitated. If I had reacted the moment I saw that thing start to shapeshift, she'd be alive right now."
    "You don't know that. Ignoring the fact that you hesitated for maybe one second at most, neither one of us knows what would have happened had either one of us reacted sooner. Serena may have died in any event. Or maybe one of us would be-" Amy stopped as she spotted a certain black feline bounding in their direction. "Luna! What are you doing here?"
    "Did you two really think I'd let you out of my sight?" the cat said breathlessly. "Besides, we've got trouble."
    "What kind of trouble?" Raye asked, even though she already had a good idea what Luna was talking about.
    "Negaverse trouble! They've got something brewing in the ball room. Come on!" Luna ran off, and the two girls followed close behind her. Soon they reached the entrance to the large room and they cautiously peered inside. All round, they could see people collapsed on the floor- all save for two at the front of the room.
    Raye didn't need to be a psychic to know who they where, and what they represented. "Negasleaze!" She smiled grimly as she produced her transformation pen. "Good. I've been wanting a rematch with these creeps."
    "Excellent work, Titus," Jedite said. "We've managed to collect a great deal of energy this day."
    The youma smiled. "I am happy to serve, Jedite."
    Jedite gazed up at the collector speculatively. "With this amount of energy, Queen Beryl may even forgive the loss of the shapeshifter."
    "Too bad you're not going to be able to deliver it!" a voice rang out.
    Jedite whirled. "Who?!?"
    "I am Sailor Mars! And I won't tolerate those who would interrupt a romantic cruise! In the name of Mars..."
    "...and Mercury..."
    "We'll punish you!" they concluded simultaneously.
    "The Sailor Scouts," Jedite snarled. "Just my luck, even on a ship at sea I can't escape your interference. Titus, destroy them!"
    "My pleasure," the female youma replied. At a gesture from her, the crew in the room transforming into a humanoid form made of quicksilver. Obeying Titus' mental command, they went after the two 
Scouts.
    "You're going to do better than that!" Mercury exclaimed. "MERCURY BUBBLES BLAST!" A thick layer of fog descended over the room, and the Negaverse operatives hesitated, confused by the sudden loss of visibility and the drop in temperature.
    "Nice setup, Mercury. Now I'll finish them off. MARS FIRE IGNITE!" In an instant the fire swept over the area, reducing the quicksilver beings to piles of dust.
    Titus was hardly finished with them, however. She leapt at the two and slammed into them, driving them back onto the deck. Mars managed to get back to her feet just in time to see Titus standing by the railing, her back to the ocean. "MARS FIRE IGNITE!"
    The firebolt ran straight at the youma, but Titus gestured and two large geysers of water shot into the air. A jet of water emerged from one and intercepted Mars' attack, dousing the flame. "Seems you're not such hot stuff, Mars. Just like your friend, Sailor Moon."
    "Why you-" Mars began, but was cut off by Mercury as she began her attack. She reasoned that if she was able to blind Titus, Mars' flame might be able to get through and finish the youma off. She may have been right, but Titus acted first as she sent another blast of water at the blue haired Scout. Mercury gasped as the waterspout drove her into the bulkhead. She stood there trying to get her bearings, obviously dazed.
    "Now to finish you off," Titus gloated.
    "NO!" Mars cried and sent forth another blast of flame, only to have this one doused as well. Titus drew back her hand to launch the attack that would surely finish off Mercury, while Mars desperately tried to think of something to do. Anger and rage shot through her at her ineffectiveness in this battle, and she prepared to strike again. She was NOT going to let another friend die if she could help it!
A mental connection was forged within her mind as she drew upon all her strength, tapping into as yet unknown reserves. Instinctively the new phrase came to her and she cried out, "MARS FIREBIRD STRIKE!"
    The youma looked on in alarm as the bird of flame soared at her and she tried to douse this attack as she had with the previous ones. 
    However, this time the water blast was seriously ineffective as the firebird cut through it and struck her full on. Titus barely had time to scream before the firebird overwhelmed her.
    Mercury turned rather shakily from where the youma had been and faced Mars. "How did you do that?"
    "I don't know," the other Scout confessed, "I just did. All I knew was that I couldn't let it kill you." She went over and helped Mercury to her feet. "Are you okay?"
    "I think so," she responded. "Thanks, Mars."
    "Very touching," another voice interrupted. They turned to the source of the voice to see Jedite hovering nearby. "I thought Titus would be powerful enough to destroy you, but I seem to have underestimated you two. But now I will finish you off myself!"
    "Give it your best shot, creep!" Mars challenged him. But before the youma General could do anything, he vanished without a trace. She blinked, surprised at his sudden retreat. "Where'd he go?"
    Mercury glanced around the area with her visor. "He's nowhere around. He's gone."
    "He'll be back," Mars said grimly. "But next time we'll take care of him for good."

    Mercury turned to her fellow Scout. "Thanks again for saving my life, Raye."
    "You repaid the favor a couple of days later. Besides, we've done the same for each other ever since," she responded, then added sullenly, "I just wish I'd been able to do the same for Serena."
    Now it was Mercury's turn to pound on the table, hard enough to make even Worf blink in surprise. He hadn't known her to be prone to such outbursts on the Enterprise. "Raye!" Mercury chided her. "Didn't you listen to what Worf just said? Or anything I've told you over the months since? It wasn't your fault!!" She took a deep breath to calm herself. "There wasn't anything you or I could do to save Serena that day, as much as either one of us may wish otherwise."
    "That's what makes it so hard," Mars answered. Getting up, she walked over to the replicator. Glancing back at Worf she asked, "How do you work this thing?"
    "Simply tell it what it is you wish. Though usually it is best to use the word 'Computer' first."
    "Okay," she said. "Computer: a mug of hot tea, please."
    "There are two thousand three hundred forty seven different varieties of tea on record," the computer responded. "Please specify." A display of the various types promptly appeared listing both human and alien variants, and the computer began scrolling through them.
    "Urk!" Mars' mind boggled at the size of the list. "Any suggestions?" she asked Worf uncertainly.
    The Klingon frowned, considering. He was unsure how to reply, for despite the number of years he had lived among them, he still found human tastes odd. "I've been told that Earl Grey is an excellent 
variant."
    Shrugging she said, "Make it Earl Grey tea. You want anything, Amy?"
    "Mmm... A hot chocolate, please."
    Mars nodded. "And a hot chocolate." The requested beverages materialized and she return to the table with them, muttering, "Sure, there are umpteen different kinds of tea, but only one hot chocolate. 
Computers!"
    Mercury forbode comment, choosing instead to simply thank her friend. "Where was I? Oh, yes. Well, a few days after the battle on the ship, Jedite challenged us to meet him in open combat at the airport. We knew it was a trap but we couldn't ignore it, since he had threatened to destroy Tokyo if we didn't show up."
    "He left you very little choice," Worf agreed. "But I hope you at least took some precautions."
    "We went in with our eyes open, if that's what you mean," Mars said. "Once we got to the airport, we transformed."
    Mercury took up the tale, "And after we got inside the perimeter, several guards began chasing us. Except that when I scanned them, I saw that they weren't guards at all, they were just animated clay! Well, Mars let loose a Firebird attack and that took care of them. Then Jedite made his appearance..."

    "Very impressive, Sailor Mars," the General sneered as he examined her handiwork, "but you'll still meet the same fate as your pathetic friend, Sailor Moon."
    Mars bristled at this taunt. "You're going to be the one dying today, Jedite!"
    "Brave words. Now let's see if you can back them up!" Jedite stretched out his hands, and the two Scouts tensed, preparing to dodge whatever attack he sent their way. But Jedite had another strategy in mind, instead animating several of the nearby jets. Slowly the lumbering behemoths moved towards them, accelerating rapidly.
    "No problem," Raye said. "One fire blast should take care of them!"
    "No!" Luna cried. "If you bow up a jet, it will take your allowance for the next ten thousand years to pay for it!"
    The two Scouts looked uncertainly at each other, then did the only thing they could: run. But even with their speed enhanced in their Sailor forms, the best they could do was maintain their distance. "Split up!" Mars yelled. Mercury nodded and ran to the right, while Mars veered left.
    Jedite chuckled, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle in front of him. This was turning out to be far easier than he had imagined. How could he have let these two defeat him before? Clearly he had been overestimating them... they must have been more lucky than good. After a moments' consideration he decided that Mars was clearly the more dangerous of the two, so he sent the jets after her. Once he eliminated her, he could deal with Mercury at his leisure.
    Mercury slowed upon seeing that none of the aircraft were following her. Quickly she looked around for Sailor Mars, and her heart froze. Somehow, the aircraft had boxed her in and were closing on her. Raye was looking urgently around, trying to find a direction to run.
    Jedite materialized next to her. "Too bad, Sailor Mercury. Despite all your efforts, another one of your friends is going to die."
    "NO!"
    Jedite sneered. "There's nothing you can do. How are you going to stop those jets, hmmm? With your pathetic bubbles?"
    Stung by Jedite's taunts, Amy summoned all of her power, trying to gather all her strength in one blast. Suddenly, she felt a rush of energy, more than she had ever felt before. The words came 
instinctively, "MERCURY ICE BUBBLES..."
    Jedite frowned. That wasn't the correct phrasing.
    "FREEZE!!"
    A wave of cold energy swept over the landing gear of two of the jets, freezing them instantly. Suddenly more brittle than glass, the gear snapped under the weight above them, and the jets skidded to a halt, stirring up a huge cloud of dusk in their wake. Oh, dear, Luna thought upon seeing the extant of the wreckage, I hope they're insured.
    Jedite clenched his fists in rage while Mercury, visor deployed, looked for Mars amid the swirling dust. "Not bad, little Mercury, but too late to save your friend. Now it's your turn!"
    Mercury turned to him, but instead of cringing in fear as he expected, she simply smile slightly. "We'll see about that!" she said in a defiant tone. Jedite snarled and drew his hand back, ready to blast her out of existence, then hesitated. She showed no signs of preparing to run, just standing there staring resolutely at him. What was she up to?
    Jedite shook off his doubts. It didn't matter. He started to bring his hand forward just as he sensed something land behind him. But before he could turn around, there was a light touch on his back. "EVIL SPIRIT... BEGONE!" Mars cried, planting the ward.
    "NOOO!" Jedite howled as he felt himself paralyzed. Mars leapt past him and joined up with Sailor Mercury. The Negaverse general struggled against the power binding him. They may have the advantage for now, but he would soon break free, and then...
    Wait a minute... What was that shadow looming over him?
    Jedite cried out again, this time in horror, as the realization of his situation hit him. Still intent on following Mars, the last jet continued lumbering towards her... heading straight for Jedite. "This 
is for Sailor Moon, Jedite!" There was a brief scream as the airliner ran over him, then silence as the jet ground to a halt. No sign of Jedite remained.
    A safe distance away, Mercury and Mars exchanged a high five. "Scratch one Negacreep."

    Dax uttered a couple of choice Klingon curses that Curzon had favored in his day and leaned back in her chair. "I take it you're not having any luck?" Kira asked unnecessarily.
    "You could say that. I've conducted almost every type of scan I can imagine, but there isn't even a hint of a temporal anomaly anywhere in this system."
    Kira's brow furrowed. "There's got to be something! Otherwise, how could the timeline here have gotten so skewed?"
    "I don't know," Dax replied with a sigh. She stared at the monitor, then leaned forward and began manipulating the sensor controls again.
    "Trying a new scan?"
    "Yes, but this time I'm just looking for spatial anomalies. Maybe the change of pace will give me another idea." Within a matter of seconds the sensors beeped, indicating the detection of what Dax had been scanning for. "Well, that was simple enough. Still, the only anomalies detected are the quantum fluxes..." The science officer did a double take, both her eyebrows shooting upward. "Wait a minute... Two quantum fluxes?!?"
    "What's so unusual about that? Isn't that how the original Enterprise got here in the first place?"
    "It did... but their scans, and those of the Enterprise-D, indicated only one in this solar system." She pointed to the monitor screen. "That quantum flux leads to a point near the Romulan Neutral Zone 
in the twenty third century. But this one," she indicated the second flux located midway between the orbit of Earth and Mars, "I have no idea where it came from or where it goes." A contemplative look came over her face. "Unless..."
    Kira watched her intently, then finally asked, "Unless what?"
    "I think I know where it goes. And if I'm right, I have a good idea how history was changed." Dax moved over to the nearby engineering station and began working furiously. "I'm going to program a probe to send through the second flux and return. Then I'll know for certain."
    Dax's tone sounded extremely apprehensive to Kira. And anything that could make someone with seven lifetimes of experience anxious made her feel almost terrified. "And if you are?"
    Dax paused, then look over at Kira. "Then I hope the Prophets are watching over us."

    O'Brien uttered a curse and looked menacingly at the log buoy. "I'd like to wring the neck of your designer. If you were half as indestructible as they claim, we'd have finished by now!"
    "Tell me about it," Muniz added. The other engineer looked as frustrated as O'Brien. "The entire buoy recorder interface system is fried."
    The Chief took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. A little bit, anyway. "Well, to be charitable the buoy did survive a warp core explosion more or less intact. But we're going to have to fashion a replacement interface to hook the memory bank directly into the main computer."
    "With this?" Muniz looked doubtful.
    "What's the matter?" asked O'Brien, putting a light hearted tone in his voice. "Can't handle a challenge?"
    "A challenge is one thing... but this is near impossible! We're talking about ancient electronics here!"
    "And here I thought you were an engineer." O'Brien tried to sound disappointed. "Well, if you can't handle it..."
    "I didn't say that," Muniz interrupted the Chief. He stared at the disassembled recorder , running through several possible scenarios in his mind. "Well... we might be able to fashion a replacement interface port and then hook it up to tricorder and use it to link to the main computer."
    "Good lad," O'Brien said. "You get about making the new port, and I'll get on with modifying the tricorder." The two engineers set about their respective tasks in silence.
    Muniz had just begun installing the new dataport when a distant clanging sound made him look up. "Did you hear that?" he asked O'Brien.
    He nodded uncertainly. "Yeah. It sounded like it came from the Jeffries tube." The two of them went over to the access panel. O'Brien bent down to the panel, then warned Muniz, "Be ready. The last time I heard something banging around in here, there was a changeling running around the ship a couple of days later." Muniz nodded, drawing out his phaser. O'Brien removed the access panel and looked inside. Seeing nothing dangerous at first glance he cautiously moved into the tube, his own weapon drawn. Nothing that way...
    "I'm sorry if I disturbed you, Chief," came a voice from behind him. 
    Startled, he turned rapidly towards the voice. Or rather, he tried to. A loud thud echoed through the Jeffries tube. "OW!"
    "Oh, dear. Did I startle you?" Luna asked apologetically.
    O'Brien rubbed his head painfully and glared at the black cat. 
    "You could say that. What the hell are you doing in here, Luna?"
    "I thought I'd walk around the ship while I did some thinking. Unfortunately, I got so wrapped up in thinking that I seem to be..." She paused, seemingly embarrassed. "...lost."
    Despite his aching head, O'Brien chuckled. "That's not hard to do in here, even a ship as small as the Defiant. These conduits look a lot alike. It takes a while to get to know your way around them." He backed out of the tube entrance, allowing Luna to enter the engine room. "We're a little busy at the moment, but if you don't mind waiting I can take you wherever you need to go."
    "Thank you, Chief."
    Muniz looked confused. "Chief?"
    O'Brien had to grin. He had pretty much felt the same the first time he saw one of the Sailor Scouts' feline friends. "Not to worry Muniz. She's a friendly cat. Luna, this is Enrique Muniz, one of my engineers."
    "Hello, Mr. Muniz. It's a pleasure to meet you."
    "Um... yeah, thanks... Uh, Luna," the engineer stammered. Trying to recover, he continued, "Sorry, but a talking cat is not something I ever expected to see."
    "Well you better get used to seeing the unexpected, mister," O'Brien told him. "That is, if you really want to make a career for yourself in Starfleet."
    "It's quite alright, Chief. I get that reaction quite often." Luna looked at the scorched log buoy with interest. "What are you doing here?"
    "Well, we're trying to access the log recordings on this buoy," he responded, turning back to his work. "We already know the Jem'Hadar destroyed this ship, but it'd be nice to know who it was they attacked. Captain Sisko thinks this might give us some clue as to what's going on." 
    Muniz snapped the new port into place, while O'Brien attached and activated the tricorder. "There! Now, if we did this right..."
    He activated the controls on his panel to link up the buoy with the Defiant's main computer. "Access confirmed," the computer's voice said.
    O'Brien cried out triumphantly and shared a congratulatory glance with Muniz. "Computer: access last log entry and playback." There was a pause while the computer retrieved the requested data from the buoy. Soon the screen showed the bridge of a starship from a bird's eye view. Unfortunately, both visual and audio were filled with static.
    "What's wrong with the recording?" Luna asked.
    "Good question. Muniz?"
    He glanced at the tricorder readouts. "The dataflow looks clean. There must have been damage to the memory banks as well."
    "Well, let's just hope it wasn't too bad," O'Brien replied, turning back to the control panel. "Computer: run a level one data enhancement /noise suppression routine on the requested log entry." The computer chirped an affirmative as it ran the requested programs. "Replay from the beginning." The screen cleared somewhat and the audio became discernable. "Better," he observed.
    "The date is consistent with the electronics," Muniz added, indicating one of the readouts. "Stardate 5046.7. Just about a little over one hundred years ago."
    O'Brien replied by way of a nod as he eyed the bridge layout critically, "Looks like a Constitution-class, too."
    "A what?" asked a puzzled cat.
    O'Brien ignored her for now, paying close attention to the events unfolding before him. The ship was rocking heavily under the attack, making it hard to hear the crew. The static still present didn't make 
it any easier.
    "Shields are ineffective," he heard the science officer report. "The enemy vessels are utilizing a phased polaron beam." Another readout displayed the viewscreen image, showing clearly a Jem'Hadar attack ship. O'Brien felt a twinge sympathy for the other crew. Dominion weaponry was still giving research scientists at Starfleet Tactical fits. Current models of starships were barely a match for Jem'Hadar ships... one from a hundred years ago wouldn't have a chance.
    "Stand by phasers and photon torpedoes," ordered the captain.
    "Weapons ready," said the helmsman. "Locked on target."
    "FIRE!"
    The bridge lights dimmed as the weapons were discharged. "Got him!" 
exclaimed the navigator.
    "Direct hit," the science officer said calmly despite the chaos surrounding him. "Target has been destroyed." The bridge shook again and several panels exploded in a shower of sparks as the ship was hit by incoming fire. When the screen cleared again, several crew could be seen lying prone on the deck, including the helmsman.
    "Uhura, send out a distress signal. Priority One." The captain could be seen toggling the intercom switch on his command chair, while the science officer ran over to take the helm. "Sickbay, medical 
emergency on the bridge."
    "Where the hell isn't there one?!" came the exasperated reply. "Jim, I've got casualty reports coming on from all over-"
    The intercom whistled, overriding the signal from Sickbay. "Scott to bridge. Captain, we're losing antimatter containment! Ejection systems offline!" O'Brien blinked. Scott? That couldn't possibly 
be -- ? No, it was impossible!
    "All hands, abandon ship! Repeat-" The bridge view was cut off suddenly, indicating to the two engineers that the recorder pod had been automatically jettisoned. It was replaced by an external view of a Constitution-class ship receding in the distance. The once immaculate white hull was blackened in several places by weapons fire, and several energy discharges could be seen coruscating over several hull breaches. Less than a second later, the starship exploded in a 
blinding display, then the terminal went blank as the recording ended.
    O'Brien stared at the terminal in shock, as did Muniz. "Oh my God. That ship's service number... it can't be!"
    "What's wrong?" the cat asked, mystified.
    "That ship... it's a ship from over a hundred years in our past. But the stardate given in the log was almost twenty years before it was destroyed! Unless..." He took his tricorder and scanned the log buoy. The sinking feeling that had developed in his gut grew worse as he saw the results. "O'Brien to Sisko."
    "Go ahead, Chief."
    "We've got a problem, Captain. An even bigger problem than we thought."

    Worf sat back and tried to take in all that Mars and Mercury had told him. Some of what they had said was similar to the past that Luna had related to him on the Enterprise, but there were some significant differences. In this timeline, the two Scouts had been able to save Nephlyte. Afterwards, the defecting General in turn helped the Scouts, joined soon afterward by Jupiter, in the search for the Rainbow Crystals. Until, that is, he died heroically, saving the Scouts from a trap Malachite had laid for them in a bid to gain those they had. Venus' timely arrival that day had prevented Malachite and Zoisite from getting their hands on them that day.
    Another difference was that apparently the relationship between Mars and Darien, whom they discovered later to be Tuxedo Mask, was much stronger than in the original timeline. At least as far as she had been concerned. Worf was pondering whether or not to reveal the truth about Darien and 
Serena to her when the intercom beeped. "Sisko to Worf."
    "Worf here," he answered.
    "Report to the bridge, Commander. And bring the Sailor Scouts with you."
    Worf nodded. "We are on our way. Worf out."
    Mars looked quizzically at Worf. "What's going on?" she asked as they rose from the table.
    "I'm not sure," he answered, leading them out of the mess hall. Turning down the corridor to the bridge he continued, "Most likely Commander Dax or Chief O'Brien have uncovered something pertinent in their investigations that should be made known to the entire crew. But we will find out when we get there."

    The trio arrived on the bridge, arriving shortly after Bashir did. Worf saw that most of the other senior officers were already present, with only Chief O'Brien yet to arrive. "Worf, where's Luna?" Dax asked.
    The Klingon shifted slightly, uncomfortable at having to admit ignorance. Presently he said, "She took a walk."
    "If you need her here, Mars and I could go looking for her," Mercury volunteered.
    At that moment O'Brien entered the bridge with Luna riding on his shoulder, thus rendering the point moot.
    "New friend, Chief?" Dax asked, raising an eyebrow.
    "You'd better be careful," Kira advised, her tone light. "Keiko could get jealous if she finds out."
    Several good natured smiles were exchanged as the Chief sputtered denials, while Luna settled for glaring at Kira. Sisko allowed the good mood to progress at it's own pace. After all, things had been tense on the ship for quite some time and they all needed a chance to laugh at something. "Chief, it's your show."
    "Yes, sir," he replied. He glanced uncomfortably around the room. The information he had clearly disturbed him far more than Kira's bantering had. "I analyzed the log recorder we picked up from the ship the Jem'Hadar destroyed. I was able to reconstruct the last log entry, and to identify it. It was a Starfleet ship, Constitution-class." He touched a control and the image of the unfortunate starship appeared on the main viewscreen. He tapped several others, enlarging and enhancing a particular area of one of the warp engine nacelles. The computer quickly cleared any distortion from the image and the ship's service number became clear for all to see.
    NCC-1701.
    "It's..." Dax began in a stunned voice.
    "...the Enterprise," concluded Sisko. He had been half expecting this since the moment O'Brien had scanned the debris field, but it still came as a shock to him. "The original, captained by James T. Kirk. And from it's appearance, this was before the refit that was done after the five year mission was completed."
    "That can't be right!" Bashir objected after several moments of shocked silence. "It was nearly twenty years after the refit before that particular Enterprise was destroyed."
    "In our timeline, Julian," Dax said. "Chief, did you check the quantum signature of the recorder?"
    He was nodding before she finished asking the question. "Yes. It's definitely from our timeline, not any alternate one."
    "Then, if Kirk's ship was destroyed by the Jem'Hadar, that would mean it's not just the Scouts' timeline that's been changed," Odo said.
    "Correct, Constable." Sisko eyed the image of the Enterprise. "It means our own past has been altered as well. And now, even if we do find a way back to our universe, we haven't got a home to return to."

    "The Sisko is aware of the nature of the problem."
    Pluto nodded. "Good," she said. "Now we can get on with a solution. Though I was beginning to wonder if they were ever going to see the full scope of the situation."
    Did you really expect more of them? a voice intoned in her head. For someone as long lived as yourself, you should realize how plodding and pedantic these Starfleet people can be.
    "You're supposed to be watching the Gateway, Q," she replied, her tone indicating she was more than slightly annoyed. "I am more concerned with results, not how stylish they go about accomplishing them."
    Humph. Sometimes you can be absolutely no fun at all, my dear.
    Pluto tried to ignore Q and returned attention to the Prophet she was dealing with, but she found herself gazing once more at sights she never thought to see again.. As is their wont, the Prophet had shifted form without warning, assuming the appearance of Queen Serenity and the background had shifted to that of the Silver Millennium. It was a rare occurrence indeed when Pluto found herself thrown for a loop.
    "Our existence is at risk," the Prophet said, bringing the Sailor Scout out of her reverie. All around them, the background lighting began to take on a reddish hue. "The Sisko must succeed."
    "I know," Pluto said, growing more concerned. The changes to the environment around them was an indication that the situation was becoming more dire. Time, at least as it was measured by corporeal beings, was growing short. "And not just for you. For the sake of two universes, Captain Sisko must reverse the damage done to the timelines, and soon. But now he is aware of what must be done to resolve the paradox. To preserve their past, Sailor Moon must live."

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Sailor Trek DS9
By Bill Harris
Chapter 5 - Return to Yesterday...
PG13

    Luna hopped down from O'Brien's shoulder onto the top of Sisko's chair.
    "Now, let me see if I've got this straight," she said. "Three ships from what you call the Dominion were accidentally transported to our universe nine months ago our time. They were then somehow captured and controlled by the Negaverse. They used the changeling in and attempt to kill all three Scouts, but only were successful in kill... in killing Sailor Moon." Her voice broke at the last, and she paused as the memories of that terrible day raced through her mind. After a time, she was able to control the emotions that had inevitably risen up from them. "Still, that was more than enough to alter the course of events for our world. Then yesterday, as Queen Beryl was about to mount her main attack and the Sailor Scouts went to face her; this ship," she nodded to the main viewscreen which still displayed an image of the unfortunate starship, "the Enterprise, crossed over from your past to our universe. It was subsequently attacked by the Dominion ships and destroyed, thus altering your past."
    "That about sums it up," Dax replied. "About the only thing you missed was the fact that there are now two quantum fluxes in this system, where there should be only one."
    "How can I leave something out if I don't know about it?" the black cat wanted to know.
    Dax smiled. "Sorry."
    "Do you have any information about that second flux, Dax?" Sisko asked.
    "You could say that." She pulled up a sensor schematic on the main viewer. "I sent a probe through the second flux and programmed it to return after taking some sensor readings. The exit point is in the Gamma Quadrant. The probe's astrometric readings indicated that it's been several months since we left DS9."
    "Months?" O'Brien exclaimed.
    Dax nodded. "That's right. And the coordinates that the flux emerges into the Gamma Quadrant are identical to where the Defiant observed three Jem'Hadar ships vanish a few days before we left the station." She paused. "The thing of it is, I had just come to that conclusion, that they had gone through a quantum flux, just before the wormhole began acting up."
    "But you have no idea where the second flux came from?" Sisko asked.
    "Not a clue," the science officer admitted.
    "It's a moot point anyway," Sisko said. "Without a method to travel back in time, we have no way to correct the timelines."
    "Great," Mars mumbled. "So we're back to square one."
    "I'm afraid so," the captain agreed.
    Dax bent down to check an alert that had just started flashing on her screen. "I'm picking up a large neutrino emission..." She looked up, surprise evident on her face. "Benjamin, it's the wormhole!"
    "On screen," Sisko ordered.
    On command, the image of the now open wormhole appeared on the main viewer. Sisko noted that it still had a shimmering appearance, as well as the red coloration.
    "That's incredible," Mercury said, awe evident in her tone.
    "Yes," Luna agreed, "it is."
    Mars would ordinarily agree as well, but she was perceiving something else entirely from the phenomena. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to sort out the impressions she was getting. "There's something wrong with it, isn't there?"
    "Yes," Kira said. "It doesn't look anything like it normally would."
    Bashir voiced a question that each member of the Defiant crew were
asking themselves. "We've been stationary here for hours. Why would it open up now?"
    Sisko could only think of one reason. "It's an invitation from the wormhole aliens." He seated himself in the command chair and faced the viewscreen.  "And I intend to take them up on it. Dax, decloak the ship and take us into the wormhole."
    "Yes, sir," Dax said, moving to the helm.
    "I hope you know what you're doing, Captain," Luna said uneasily from her perch just behind Sisko's head.
    "We'll find out soon enough," Sisko answered her just as the Defiant entered the wormhole. At once the ship began rocking as it was buffeted by the gravimetric distortions that were still echoing through the spatial corridor. All present on the bridge immediately took a seat or grabbed onto a firm handhold to avoid being tossed about.
    "All stop," Sisko ordered soon after they entered. Dax touched a control on the helm and the Defiant slowed to a halt within the wormhole. But even at rest, the ship was pitching about as if on a heavy sea.
    "Can't you do something about that?" Mars asked, starting to turn a light shade of green.
    "I'm trying," O'Brien replied. "But the gravimetric waves are strong enough that the inertial dampeners are having a hard time..."
    The ship vanished around them.
    "... compensating for it," O'Brien uncertainly finished his statement as he took in his new surroundings. The others looked about themselves feeling an equal sense of astonishment. To all appearances, they were back in Ops on Deep Space Nine. Sisko knew instantly that they had been brought to the reality of the wormhole aliens. It seemed that he was correct about being given an invitation. One that seemed to extend to his crew and the Sailor Scouts as well. The Scouts and Luna were more puzzled than any of the crew. Mars was casting about the place, trying to sense something about it, while Mercury deployed her visor and then frowned. "I don't understand. I'm not getting any readings."
    "Don't be worried about that," Dax told her. "If I'm right, we're not in our own reality at all."
    "Then were are we?" Luna asked.
    "In the realm of the Prophets," Kira answered in a hushed, reverent tone.
    "That is correct," a new voice said. They all turned to the entrance of Sisko's office. Standing there was a woman Sisko recognized from the last transit through the wormhole- Sailor Pluto. "You are in the realm of the Prophets. However, at the moment they can't greet you personally at the moment, as they are otherwise occupied."
    "Occupied?" Kira asked.
    "Yes," she replied, stepping down the steps into the lower level of Ops. "You see, you are not the only ones affected by the turmoil in the timelines. The Prophets themselves are in danger. Mortal danger."
    Kira's jaw dropped, but before she could say more Mars asked, "Hold on a minute. Who are you?!?"
    "I can answer that," Sisko said. "Everyone, meet Sailor Pluto."
    "Pluto?" Luna gasped. "The guardian of the Gate of Time?"
    "That's correct, Luna," she replied.
    "You know her?" Mercury demanded of the cat.
    "She does," Pluto said, "But it has been a long time since we last met. During the days of the Silver Millennium, to be precise. And the long time she spent in the cold sleep capsule undoubtedly affected her memory."
    "I'm glad to finally meet you," Sisko said, walking up to Pluto. "But just what did you mean when you said the Prophets are in danger?"
    The background scenery then changed, disorienting the Defiant crew. But the new backdrop was a very familiar sight to Mars, Mercury and Luna, as it was the temple Raye lived and worked at- the Hikawa shrine. But Pluto answered Sisko as if nothing had changed, "Exactly what I said, Captain. But it will take some explaining. You see, Beryl won't be content with just Earth... or even just this universe. Her lust for power and conquest is nearly unlimited. She will send her forces through the second quantum flux Commander Dax discovered, invading your Gamma Quadrant. Empowered by the Negaforce, her troops will overrun the Dominion in short order." The Defiant crewmembers seemed stunned by this announcement. To them, the forces of the Dominion seemed nearly unstoppable. The fact that Beryl's troops could conquer the Gamma Quadrant power that quickly seemed incredible to them. Pluto continued, "And still she will hunger for more... And she will send her forces through the wormhole into the Alpha Quadrant."
    "The Federation will fight them," Worf stated firmly.
    "They cannot," Pluto said. "Because in this timeline, there is no Federation."
    "No Federation?" Even the usually unflappable Odo seemed shocked by this announcement.
    "I see what she's getting at," Sisko said. "Without the Enterprise returning from it's five year mission, there'll be no one to confront V'ger shortly afterwards."
    Pluto nodded. "Correct, Captain. The advanced probe will reduce the core worlds of the Federation to lifeless husks before it leaves; rendering what is left of the Federation easy prey to a concerted Romulan/Klingon attack."
    Again the background changed, forming into one of the briefing rooms on Deep Space Nine. Each of them was seated at the table, save for Pluto. She moved around the table still speaking, "In this altered Alpha Quadrant, three main powers vie for supremacy: the Klingons, the Romulans, and the Cardassians. Nothing remains of the Federation, save for a few isolated colony worlds."
    Kira leaned anxiously forward, "What about Bajor?"
    Pluto cast a sympathetic look to her. "I'm afraid it's still dominated by the Cardassians." In a blink of an eye, they found themselves on the Promenade. "This is the station as it appears in what you would call the present." Sisko, Kira and the others looked about, but there was not a Starfleet uniform to be seen. Nor were any uniforms of the Bajoran militia visible. All they could see were Cardassians troops... and Bajoran slave laborers shuffling to and from the station's ore processing facilities. "Of
course, it is still called Terok Nor."
    Kira looked horrified. "May the Prophets save us."
    "They cannot," Pluto replied evenly. "Now it is up to you to save them from the Negaforce." The Hikawa shrine reformed about them, but Kira seemed oblivious to the changes. She walked up to Pluto and stared evenly at the mysterious Sailor Scout.
    When she spoke, her voice was low and tense. "How can the Prophets be
in danger from the Negaforce?"

    Mercury spoke up. "When Beryl sent her forces into the Alpha Quadrant through the wormhole, she sent the Negaforce as well," she theorized.
    "Correct," Pluto confirmed. "And it was during it's passage through that it came into conflict with the Prophets." She cast a sympathetic gaze to Kira. "Their power may be great, Major, but even they have their limits. And the Negaforce surpasses them. They are fighting the Negaforce... But it is a fight they are slowly losing."
    "Then that's the reason for the wormhole's odd behavior- and for the changes in it's appearance," Dax said. "It's a result of the struggle between them."
    "Correct," Pluto said again.
    "Since the wormhole aliens exist outside linear time," Dax continued, more so for Mars', Mercury's and Luna's benefit than anyone else's, "a struggle between them and an equally powerful opponent would have repercussions in all areas of time- past, present, future... It's all the same to them."
    "There's just one thing I'd like to know," Sisko said as they found themselves once more in Ops. "How did all this start? I know the Jem'Hadar ships coming through the flux was the trigger for the changes to the timelines, but where did that second flux come from? They don't just appear out of thin air."
    "You're quite correct, Captain. They don't." Pluto looked to Worf, "But if you want to know how it appeared, you should ask Worf... for he helped bring about it's creation."
    The Klingon looked confused. "Me?" Pluto nodded.
    "Of course," Dax said in sudden realization. "I should have seen it before."
    "Seen what before?" Odo asked.
    "This isn't another quantum flux... It's the same one traversed by both Enterprises. But when the Enterprise-D attempted to seal it, all the torpedo did was to relocate the flux through time and space on both sides of it. Thus in our universe, one end of the flux was relocated to the Gamma Quadrant, while here, the other side was shifted to a point halfway between the orbits of Earth and Mars and a point in time a hundred years earlier."
    "Essentially correct," Pluto confirmed. "Picard's desire to seal the flux was well intentioned, but it led directly to this temporal paradox we find ourselves in the middle of."
    "My God," muttered O'Brien. "Then Q was right. Captain Picard is going to have a fit when he hears about this."
    Worf grimaced at the thought of Q being right about anything, then straightened as he heard laughter echo through his mind, followed by, "I told you so, Microbrain."
    Pluto frowned. "Q may lack in several in the area of social graces," she said pointedly to the air above them, "but he does tell the truth... For the most part, at any rate."
    "You sound as if you know him quite well," Bashir observed.
    "We've been... acquainted with each other for several centuries," she replied.
    "Centuries?" O'Brien looked over Pluto closely. To all appearances, Pluto seemed to be a woman no older than her mid-twenties. "How old are you?"
    Pluto raised an eyebrow and her expression showed slight amusement. "Really, Chief O'Brien. As a married man, I would expect you to know better than to ask a woman her age." The scenery shifted to the temple once again while O'Brien tried to avoid looking too flustered. "Ignoring that, what must be done to repair the timeline..."
    "...is to prevent the Negaverse from taking control of the Dominion ships," Sisko said. "Failing that, we must prevent them from interrupting the normal flow of history."
    "In short, keep them from killing Sailor Moon," Mercury added.
    "And either one of you," Worf said.
    "Correct," Pluto said with a nod.
    "Okay, so we know what to do," Mars said. "But there's still the small problem of time travel. Or have you got a way around that?"
    "I can provide a means for several people to travel in time," Pluto admitted. "But that would be of little value to us, for to properly contain the threat you... We will need the Defiant. That would be extremely difficult for me to handle alone." 
    She paused and smiled. "But not when one has the assistance of the Prophets."
    They blinked, disoriented at finding themselves back on the Defiant's bridge. "We've emerged from the wormhole," Kira announced after checking her panel readouts.
    "Chief, get us back under cloak. Dax, I need a report on out location... Both spatially and temporally." Moving to comply with Sisko's orders, O'Brien tapped the controls activating the borrowed Romulan cloaking device installed in the Defiant. Meanwhile, Dax consulted with the navigational computer.
    "Spatially, we're still in the Terran system right where the wormhole opened up on us. But temporally..." She paused to recheck the astrometric readouts. "We've shifted back in time just about nine months."
    "Confirmed," Mercury said, checking with her own computer. "We're now four days before..."
    "...before Sailor Moon was killed," a voice from the bridge rear said. Sisko turned, but he wasn't surprised to see Sailor Pluto standing there. "But a full day before the Jem'Hadar ships emerge from the quantum flux into this universe. You have that long to prepare for them."
    "Very well," Sisko said. "Now..."
    "Hold on a minute. There's something I want answered first." Mars went up to Pluto and glared at her. "You've just about admitted that you could have brought the Defiant here at any point in the timeline." Her voice became more strident the longer she spoke. "What I want to know is, why the hell didn't you bring them before Serena was killed in the first place?!?"
    "I think I can answer that," Odo said. The constable moved over to the two Scouts. "So that there would be no shred of doubt with the Defiant's crew over the decision to interfere with events in this universe."
    Mars seemed astounded at this. "What?!?"
    "I'm afraid Odo is correct," Pluto put in. "Whenever Starfleet crews have found themselves in the past, they are reluctant to take action unless they are absolutely certain that action is required." She turned to Sisko, "Not that this is a bad thing, you understand."
    "But why..." Mars began.
    "Mars, please try to understand," Pluto said gently. "If there were another way to do this, I would have taken it. But I must do everything I can to ensure that the timeline is corrected. It would have been difficult to convince them that they should interfere is I had brought them here prior to the formation of the paradox. And given that we would have only one chance to restore the timeline, it was a risk I was unwilling to take."
    "But still..." Mars tried again.
    "Raye..." Pluto stopped for a moment before continuing. "If Captain Sisko and his people are successful, then the events you have lived through since Sailor Moon was killed; including the deaths of Lita, Mina and Artemis; will have never happened. All will proceed as it should have before the Dominion ships arrived. And your past self will be totally ignorant of what might have been."
    "And we're going to stop it from happening," Sisko said forcefully. "But we haven't got time to waste. Chief, Dax, Worf: Begin a full systems check of the ship, and concentrate on the tactical systems. We're going to have company in twenty-four hours, and I want to be ready for them."
    Each of the three officers nodded in affirmation. But O'Brien added, "Sir, just so you're aware; the ablative armor over the aft section was degraded thirty percent in our last battle. And there's not much I can do to repair it without the facilities at DS9, or a starbase."
    "I understand, Chief. Just do what you can." He turned to Kira. "Major, there's a possibility that they may get past us. To that end I want you and Odo to work in coordination with Mercury, Mars and Luna and devise a plan to protect Sailor Moon on the ground... just in case."
    Kira nodded. "Yes, sir."
    "And just what are you going to be doing?" Luna inquired.
    "Having a long discussion with our guest over the course of future events," the captain answered, giving Pluto a long look. "Dismissed."
    The others moved off on their appointed tasks, but Dax took Sisko aside for a moment. "Benjamin, I don't know if this will have any bearing on the mission, but I thought you should know."
    "Know what, Dax?"
    "I scanned Pluto a few moments ago." She paused momentarily, seeming uncertain. "For the most part the readings from her seemed consistent with those I got from the other Scouts, except for one thing."
    "And that is?"
    "The orb atop her staff." Dax paused again. "I'm not sure what it means, but the readings I got from it are very similar to those I've gotten from the Orbs of the Prophets."
    Sisko considered this. "Given the nature of her duties as described by Luna, I can't say I find that too surprising."
    "This is going to be a long night," Kira said after entering the mess hall. She went up to the replicator, "Raktajino, extra strong." As soon as the mug finished materializing, she picked it up, took a sip and sighed gratefully. "I'll say this much for the Klingons, they sure know how to make a good coffee." Then to the Defiant's guests, "Help yourselves before we get started. We've got a lot of ground to cover." She didn't bother to make this suggestion to Odo... She knew quite well that he didn't require any nourishment, nor did he ever drink anything, either.
    Mars waited while Mercury got ordered another hot chocolate and a saucer of cream for Luna, then she hesitated at the replicator, remembering the multitude of choices in the computer for tea. "Do you have any suggestion for a kind of tea?" she asked Kira. "Anything except Earl Grey."
    "Try Tarkalian tea," Odo suggested. "I've observed it to be a favorite among humanoids at DS9."
    After Kira nodded in confirmation, Mars said, "Computer: Tarkalian tea." In short order a steaming mug appeared. She took a cautious sip and her eyes widened. "This is great!"
    "Okay, let's get started," Kira said. "Mercury, why don't you download all the info regarding the day Sailor Moon was killed into the Defiant's main computer."
    The blue haired Scout nodded and immediately set to the task. "Odo, when that's done, make a review with Luna about the actual battle itself... Tactical setup, lay of the land... You know the drill."
    "Right, Major."
    "Meanwhile, the three of us are going to go over the events leading up to it, so we can plan to cover Serena and your counterparts."
    "I don't see why we have to go into all this planning," Mars said. "We know what the changeling will masquerade as. Just let me get one good shot at it, and I'll kill it before it can even begin to shapeshift."
    "There are two problems with that," Odo said, looking disturbed by Mars' statement. "One, you only know what the changeling was just before it killed Sailor Moon. It could be anything else before that point."
    "You've got a point there," Mars said. "What's the second problem?"
    "I'd like to avoid killing the changeling, if at all possible."
    "What?!? Sailor Moon's life is way more important!"
    "In regards to the timeline, that is correct," Odo said calmly. "However, in the history of my people, no changeling has ever harmed another..." A shadowed look came over him. "At least, not until recently." He shook off the lingering memory of that day, several months previous in the Defiant's engine room, when he inadvertently killed another changeling in a struggle. It hadn't given him much choice, but it still haunted him that he was responsible for it's death. "I don't want to abet in the killing of this one... if it can be avoided."
    Kira intervened before Mars could object even more vocally than before. "We'll try, Odo. After all, the objective is to save Sailor Moon, not kill the changeling." She looked evenly at Mars until the hot tempered Scout subsided, then turned back to Odo. "But Odo, I want you to understand. If it comes down to it, if it's a choice between the changeling and Sailor Moon..."
    The constable nodded. "I understand, Major. Securing the timeline is of paramount importance."
    "Good, now that that's settled... Let's get to work." Kira motioned to a table and sat down with the two Scouts. Meanwhile Odo went over to the monitor and pulled up a tactical outlay depicting the sight of Sailor Moon's last battle. He was startled to feel something land on his shoulder, and saw Luna sitting there.
    "Sorry," she said apologetically with a cat-like shrug, "but the view from the table isn't that good."
    Before the constable could respond, he heard a burst of laughter from behind him. He turned and saw Kira struggling to keep from laughing uncontrollably. Beside her, both Mercury and Mars were smiling as well. "Is something funny, Major?"
    "I'm sorry, Odo," she said not so sincerely, "But if you were viewing it from this angle..." She stopped, trying to control her mirth.
    "I fail to see what is so amusing," Odo said.
    "Neither do I," Luna added.
    "Well, I can," Mars said. "Don't you Mercury?"
    "Of course."
    Odo snorted and turned back to the monitor. "Humanoids! Sometimes I can't understand them at all."
    "I couldn't agree with you more," Luna said.

    Sisko led Pluto into the small and scarcely used captain's ready room. "Have a seat," he said, before doing likewise behind his desk.
    "I have a feeling I know what you're planning, Captain," she said as she did so. "Don't you think it would be wiser to attack first, rather than try to negotiate with the Dominion ships first?"
    "It's not Federation policy to attack on sight, at least outside of a wartime situation," Sisko explained. "If this can be resolved without bloodshed, then I have to take the chance."
    "I'm not overly optimistic about the chance of that."
    Sisko grimaced. "Knowing the Dominion, neither am I. But what I need to know from you is, do I have the chance to even try?"
    "Perhaps," Pluto conceded. "Originally, the Dominion ships were here for two hours before the Negaverse made any move against them. But I would take great care with using that figure, Captain. The future is ever in motion."
    "Don't worry about that," Sisko said, leaning back in his chair. "I intend to be ready for anything."
    Nearly twenty four hours later, Sisko took a quick glance around the bridge, checking on the readiness of all systems. But as usual, his crew was extremely efficient. The Defiant was as ready as they could make her. He swung his chair around to face the three Sailor Scouts. "It's almost time," He said to them. "You had better get out of sight before we make contact with them."
    "I hope you know what you're doing, Captain," Mars said to him. She had been extremely vocal when he had informed them of his plan to attempt to talk the Jem'Hadar back through the flux first. "I still think you should attack the first chance you get."
    "Tactically speaking, you're right. However, even with the element of surprise, three to one odds against Dominion ships aren't odds I like to face. And a I told Pluto earlier: If there is a chance this can be resolved without bloodshed, then I have to try to do so." He turned toward the main viewscreen. "But don't worry. If it comes to a fight, they'll find us more than a match for them."
    "Don't worry Mars," Pluto assured her. "Captain Sisko is more than aware of the urgency of this situation. He'll do what is required."
    A sensor alarm sounded. "Picking up a tachyon surge," Dax reported. "They're coming through."
    Sisko nodded. "Out of sight, you three. If the situation does get nasty, I want you as aces in the hole." Silently the three left the bridge as Sisko seated himself. "Here we go. Red alert." Around the bridge, the alert lights flashed and the klaxon sounded. It really wasn't needed, as the crew were already at their action stations. Sisko kept his attention on the screen, which was focused on the
quantum flux. There was a brief burst of light along with a slight ripple effect, and three Jem'Hadar ships appeared as if from out of nowhere. "Right on schedule."
    Worf checked the tactical scanners and frowned. "Their shields came up the moment they passed through the flux. Also, their main power and weapon systems are online and fully active."
    "Both the Enterprise and the Enterprise-D suffered severe power drains during their passages through the flux," Bashir noted.
    "It seems that's not a problem for the Dominion," O'Brien groused.
    "Considering how different their technologies are, I can't say I'm all that surprised," Kira said.
    Sisko took a deep breath. "Mr. Worf, decloak the ship. Major, hail them." The two officers complied, and Sisko noted subconsciously the cloaking field being lowered. Within seconds of Kira's hail, the screen flickered, centered on a Vorta.
    "I am Fiden, lead Vorta for this group."
    "Captain Benjamin Sisko, commanding the Federation starship Defiant."
    The Vorta immediately broke into a wide, and Sisko thought wholly insincere, smile. "Captain Sisko! A pleasure to make your acquaintance. But I am puzzled by what you are doing here, so far from Deep Space Nine."
    "We're both a long way from home," Sisko noted. "A whole universe away, in fact."
    "Universe?" Fiden seemed genuinely confused. "I'm afraid I don't understand."
    "I can explain, but we had better make it quick." Sisko paused for effect. "That is, if you want the Founder on board your ship to survive."
    The smug look vanished from the Vorta's face. "Threats do not become you, Captain," Fiden noted, with some anger in his voice.
    Sisko raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't making one. But I do have some inside knowledge about this universe... Which you had better listen to."
    Mercury watched Mars pace in the hallway. "Raye, could please you stop that? You're making me nervous!"
    "I can't help it," Mars replied irritably. "Whether or not Serena dies depends on what's being said in there. I can't stand being left out of it!"
    Mercury sighed. "You're not helping matters, either. Captain Sisko knows whom he's dealing with."
    "Mercury is correct," Pluto said. "I had extensive talks with him about the timing involved. The last time, it was two hours before Nephlyte took control of the shapeshifter. We should have at least an hour before they mount any move."
    Mars stopped and stared coldly at Pluto. "And if you're wrong?"
    "Even if she is," Mercury said, intervening, "We should still have three days before Serena is in any danger. And Kira has outlined a good plan to protect her."
    "I know, I know," Mars said. "I helped make it, remember?" She turned her gaze to the bridge door. "I just wish I was in there."
    As if in response, the bridge door snapped open, and Sisko and Odo exited. Each of the three Scouts looked expectedly at him. "Well?" Mars asked.
    "The Vorta, Fiden, has agreed to meet with me, to see the proof we have regarding the situation." He turned to Pluto, "I'd like you to be there, since you have first hand knowledge of how the timeline should go."
    "Very well," she responded reluctantly. "If you wish it."
    Sisko noted the unhappy look on Mars' face as well. "Don't worry," he told the hot tempered Scout. "I told Worf to fire on them the moment they do anything suspicious, or if they attempt to get closer to Earth. Since communications with them are closed, you can monitor the situation from the bridge if you wish."
    Mars nodded and watched them go. "I hope this works," she said. "If it does, maybe things will work out better for me and Darien in the real timeline."
    Mercury hesitated on the verge of entering the bridge. "Raye, about that..."
    "What?"
    Amy paused again, the began manipulating her computer. An image quickly appeared on the screen. "I think you should look at this first."
    Raye frowned, but complied with Mercury's request. But the second she did so, she gasped in astonishment. Though she wasn't aware of it, the image Mercury showed her came from the logs of the Enterprise-D, taken shortly after Rubeus' Borg ship had been destroyed. It showed Tuxedo Mask and all five of the Sailor Scouts. But it wasn't Mars he was embracing. It was Sailor Moon. "What's this about?"
    "I've read a good many of the logs about the Sailor Scouts available from the Enterprise and the later Enterprise-D," Mercury responded. "From all of those, it seems evident that Tuxedo Mask from the original timeline was intimately involved with Sailor Moon... And not you."
    Mars shook her head. She found this hard to believe. "Why?"
    Amy hesitated. "Luna, you remember how you always said that one of our primary missions was to locate the Moon Princess?"
    The cat nodded. "Yes, of course I do."
    "Well, we had. According to the logs of Picard's Enterprise, Serena was the Moon Princess."
    "And since Darien was the Prince of Earth, they were involved during the Silver Millennium," Raye concluded. "Somehow, I always knew his heart belonged to someone else." She paused and looked at the image again. "And now I know why."
    "Raye, I'm sorry..."
    She shook her head. "It's not your fault, Amy. It's just what has to be." She went through the bridge door, and went directly to Worf. The Klingon stared expectedly at her. "You knew," she said, not phrasing it as a question.
    The other crewmembers exchanged questioning glances, but Worf regarded her evenly. "Yes."
    "Why didn't you tell me?"
    Worf paused a moment. "You had to find out for yourself. After all, in your mind, you were his par'mach'ai." The usually even minded Dax turned to them, eyebrows upraised.
    "Uh, could you translate that?"
    "The closest human term would be lover."
    "WHAT?!?" Luna screeched, causing Raye to turn a dark shade of crimson.
    "We weren't that close," she said. "But I appreciate the sentiment. But would you guys stop treating it as if I'm going to lose him? I mean, my counterpart on Earth will never feel the same way if we're successful." She paused, staring into space, then added softly, "Besides, I'd give anything for her to have a chance to live."
    Pluto stood next to the large monitor in the mess hall, doubt evident in her expression. "I am uneasy at being present at this meeting, Captain."
    "All I need you for is to confirm what I tell them about what will happen, to both the Founder on their ship and to the Dominion." Sisko half turned to her. "That is, if it won't cause any disruption to the time stream."
    Pluto hesitated, considering her answer carefully. "No, I don't believe it will."
    "Why are you so uneasy?" Odo asked. "I thought you knew the future."
    "I have certain knowledge about future events in the proper timeline, and how things have progressed in the alternate," she responded. Sighing she added, "However, while we are involved with this process of restoring time, I am as in the dark about future events as you are."
    The door opened before Odo could respond, allowing Fiden and Komentac'lan to enter the room, escorted by two security officers. Sisko dismissed them with a nod and they quickly departed. Fiden smiled broadly, "Captain Sisko, it is a pleasure to finally meet you face to face." He turned to Odo and half bowed to him. "And you as well, Odo."
    "Do tell," Odo said blandly.
    Fiden straightened himself and approached Pluto. "And who might this lovely young woman be?" Pluto said nothing, but arched an eyebrow at Fiden's description of her as young. "Her... uniform clearly isn't Bajoran issue, nor is it Starfleet."
    He turned to Sisko. "Unless, of course, you're planning on changing them again?"
    "She's a guest on the Defiant," Sisko explained. "She's a resident of this alternate universe we've entered. Her name is Sailor Pluto."
    "Sailor... Pluto?" Fiden looked her over again, puzzled. "A rather odd name."
    "Not for a Sailor Scout," Pluto said, addressing the Vorta for the first time.
    "She's the reason for our being here," Odo said. "So that we can save your lives, as well as the life of the Founder on your ship."
    "You have made that threat before," Komentac'lan snarled.
    "Not a threat," Pluto stated flatly. "Merely a statement of what will occur if you do not return to your own universe."
    Sisko went to the monitor. "This will help you to understand." He tapped a control and played a visual log, extracted from Mercury's computer, of the battle that had resulted in Sailor Moon being killed.
    Fiden watched the action for a silent moment. "Mildly entertaining, but I fail to see how this..." His voice trailed off as the changeling suddenly revealed itself, and the expression on his face shifted to sheer horror when Mars was shown destroying it. "It can't be."
    "It can, and it will."
    "Why are you showing me this obvious fabrication?" he demanded harshly.
    Pluto took a step towards Fiden, causing Komentac'lan to put his hand to his weapon. "It isn't a fabrication. This recording is of an event that will happen three days from now, if you do not return to your own universe."
    "So you say."
    "Yes, I do. And further, your failure to act will also result in the utter and complete destruction of the Dominion itself."
    Fiden stared back at her, appalled. "Impossible."
    "No, it is a certainty."
    "The Dominion has stood for over two thousand years," Fiden protested. "And it will continue to exist long after your civilization crumbles to dust!"
    Pluto heaved an exasperated sigh. "I should have expected this. Some people must be shown, not simply told." To Sisko, she added, "We'll be right back." With that, she and Fiden both vanished.
    Komentac'lan drew his weapon and looked wildly about the room. "What have you done with Fiden?" he demanded.
    "We've done nothing to him. And Pluto said they'd be back." Sisko watched as the Jem'Hadar continued to search the room. "Now put that weapon away."
    "Why should I?"
    "Because I said to," Odo replied, marching up to Komentac'lan. Komentac'lan stared at Odo, indecision evident on his face. While Odo's status with the other Founders may be in doubt, he was still a Founder and Komentac'lan was bound to obey him. For now. Reluctantly he holstered his weapon.
    It was in that moment that Pluto reappeared with Fiden. The Vorta had a shocked expression on his face. "Unbelievable. Simply unbelievable."
    "But true nevertheless," Pluto responded.
    Fiden nodded and turned to Captain Sisko. "I have no choice other than to believe what Pluto has shown me. We will return through the quantum flux."
    In the heart of one of the Dominion ships, the changeling rested in it's gelatinous state, oblivious to the discussion going on aboard the Defiant. The affairs of the solids were of no concern to it. It's only worry was how the current situation was going to affect the long range plans of the Dominion. Could this new universe fit into those plans?
    A shimmering in the room interrupted it's planning. Amidst it appeared a humanoid male, dressed in a gray uniform. Immediately the changeling assumed a humanoid shape of it's own. The appearance of this humanoid was an unknown factor, and that was troubling to it. "Who are you?" it demanded.
    "I am Nephlyte," he responded, raising a hand that was surrounded by a glowing aura. "And your new master!" The light shot forth from his hand, surrounding the changeling. Desperately it tried to summon help from the Jem'Hadar on the ship, but it quickly found it's will suborned. Within seconds, Nephlyte's spell had brought the changeling completely under his power.
    Nephlyte paused to examine the creature's mind. So the creatures on these three ships regard this shapeshifter as a god, hmm? That could prove useful, he thought. But he also saw that the Defiant was not under it's control.  Indeed, it had proven a formidable adversary in the past. "Well," he said with a chuckle, "We'll just have to destroy it. This shapeshifter should be more than enough for our 
purposes." He concentrated a moment, summoning the power of the stars. "Centaurus the Centaur and Aquila the Eagle, come forth!"
    Mars frowned, staring at the three Dominion ships on the viewscreen. "Something's wrong. I'm getting bad vibes from over there."
    Worf glanced at her before returning his attention to the main viewer. So far the Jem'Hadar ship hadn't moved, and until they did so, he could take no action against them. But Mars had proven herself quite perceptive in the past. Indeed, in many ways her abilities were almost as good as Counselor Troi's. "Chief?"
    "Nothing," he replied. "No unusual energy emissions, nothing to indicate they're going to attack."
    "I don't care what your sensors show. Something's up," Mars growled. "You've got anything, Mercury?"
    "I thought I detected something a few moments ago, but it's not there now," she replied.
    Dax found her attention drawn from the conversation around her to the sensors, which were indicating a spurious reading. She tapped the console, refining the readings for more detail. Her eyes widened in alarm when she saw that it was indicating a spatial anomaly forming on the bridge.
    Before the science officer could give any warning, a burst of light announced the arrival of one of Nephlyte's constellation avatars, specifically Centaurus the centaur. Reacting first, Worf sprang from the command chair, his hand going for his phaser. This action was enough to save his life, for the centaur fired an arrow that passed through the space the Klingon's head had been mere moments before. It impacted on the far side of the bridge, narrowly missing Sailor Mercury as well.
    Kira reacted next, firing her phaser. The creature winced at the beam's impact but little other effect was evident. Centaurus cried out loudly and reared back, lashing out with it's hooves at the Major. She ducked below it's attack, and rolled for the far side of the bridge.
    Mars moved to confront it next, summoning her power. "MARS..."
    She got no farther, as Centaurus quickly nocked and fired off another arrow. Worf again reacted quickly, shoving her out of the arrows path so the missed her throat. However, this action put his left arm in the line of fire. The Klingon grimaced at the pain as it embedded itself in his forearm, but he ignored it as best he could and fired his own weapon at the intruder. His shot met with as little success as Kira's.
    Mars gave Worf a silent look of thanks and gathered herself for another try. "MARS FIRE IGNITE!"
    The fireball raced at Centaurus, but it proved to be very agile. It shifted to it's left so that Mars' attack missed completely, impacting instead at the rear bulkhead. The floor and several nearby consoles were set ablaze, and an alarm instantly sounded. "Warning: fire detected on the main bridge," the computer intoned. Several jets of white vapor sprayed out over the flames, further adding to the confusion while simultaneously suppressing the fire. "Fire control systems activated."
    Boretkat'lyn stared in amazement at the Founder. It had just announced that they were going to Earth, bypassing the blockading Federation starship. He found it hard to believe that they would be leaving such a threat behind them. It was unlike a Founder to make such an obvious tactical error. "Why don't we fire?!?" he demanded to know. He glared at Nephlyte before addressing the Founder again. "If it is the destruction of the Defiant you wish, then let us bring it about!"
    "Enough!" the Founder exclaimed, glaring at the Second. Boretkat'lyn immediately stood to attention. "I trust you remember who is in command here?"
    "Of course," Boretkat'lyn immediately responded. "You are the Founder."
    "See to it that you remember that," the changeling snarled.
    Boretkat'lyn allowed himself a momentary glance with the Third. The Founder's behavior seemed to be most uncharacteristic. Still, it was not the place of the Jem'Hadar to object to the wishes of the Founders.
    "As you wish it," Boretkat'lyn stated, adding, "Obedience brings victory."
    The Founder nodded, seemingly satisfied, "...And victory is life. Good, you remember the lessons we instilled in your kind." It paused for a moment, then smiled evilly. "In any event, do not concern yourself with the state of the Defiant. It's destruction has been assured." The changeling concluded the statement with a laugh that chilled Boretkat'lyn to the bone. And there were few things in the universe that could frighten a Jem'Hadar.
    "...as a gesture of good will, Captain, I am willing to give the safe conduct through the Gamma Quadrant until you reach the wormhole," Fiden said.
    Given what he already knew about the Dominion, Sisko found that hard to take at face value. "I'm gratified to hear that. However, there's still the matter of the flux itself. I hope you understand that I would like to eliminate any possibility of anymore ships from our side from crossing over."
    "Yes, of course," Fiden agreed. "But I can assure you that the Founders..." He broke off in midstatement as the alert klaxon sounded, alerting the rest of the ship to the fire alarm on the bridge. Sisko was in the process of activating his comm badge when a loud cry resounded through the room. They turned and saw a large eagle, measuring a meter and a half tall, standing at the other side of the mess hall. Fiden was  only able to say, "What is that?" before it leapt to attack.
    For all it's size the creature was amazingly quick and agile. It landed atop of them with talons extended before any of them could react, it's attention centered on Captain Sisko. Pluto managed to pull him to one side before it could strike him but Fiden, being next to Sisko, was savagely slashed by the creature. The Vorta had time for a strangled cry before he collapsed.
    Komentac'lan drew out his weapon and fired two quick shots. Aquila looked irritably at him and swept a wing in his direction, throwing the Jem'Hadar down against Sisko's left leg. The captain went down, grimacing at the sudden pain shooting through his knee. The creature advanced towards him again but it's path was blocked by a grim faced Pluto, her staff at the ready.
    Before either could do anything more, Odo jumped atop the eagle, his limbs reverting to a gelatinous state and wrapping themselves around it. The eagle cried out in frustration as the constable restrained it's wings and claws.
    By this point, Komentac'lan had regained his footing. Unwilling to take the chance of hitting a Founder with weapons fire, he charged into close quarters with the eagle and hit it across the beak with all his might.
    Though Odo had restrained it's limbs, it's head was still free to move and Aquila took advantage that fact by seizing the Jem'Hadar First within it's beak. It swung him to and fro like a ragdoll, then flung him against the far wall where he collapsed bonelessly. It was obvious to anyone that he was quite dead, his neck having been broken.
    Now Pluto moved in to take action. She couldn't use her powers on it, as that would likely kill Odo, so she chose an alternative course of action. Instead she brought the top of the staff down atop Aquila's head. Her enhanced strength being greater than a Jem'Hadar's, it stood dazed from the blow. Pluto followed the blow up by grasping the staff with both hands and shoving it into the eagle's chest. The eagle was nearly flung into the air, striking the wall in nearly the same spot Komentac'lan had seconds before. It stood there shaking it's head, obviously dazed. Taking advantage of this, Odo immediately reverted to his natural form and oozed away from it, thus giving Pluto a clear shot.
    Lying on the floor, Sisko blinked, trying to clear his mind. He saw Pluto confront the creature and it glared back at her, having regained it's bearings. It uttered a loud cry and flew at the Sailor Scout. Simultaneously, Pluto swung her staff in front of her. In his dazed state, Sisko wasn't sure, but he thought he heard her whisper something. But what followed was impossible for him to miss.
    Dark green energy coalesced along the staff as Pluto swung it along it's arc. As it the midpoint, a sphere of energy of the same color shot out from the staff and struck the Negaverse creature. The flare of Pluto's attack hid it from Sisko's sight, but he heard it cry out loudly again, though this time in pain and despair. When the light faded, he saw no sign that the creature had ever been there, other that a pile of rapidly fading dust.
    Odo reformed himself next to Pluto and nodded approvingly. "Well done."
    "Thank you." She turned Sisko. "Captain, are you well?"
    "My leg hurts like hell, but I'll live." He indicated the spot where Aquila had been moments before. "I thought you said it was two hours before the Negaverse tried anything."
    "I warned you that could change," she reproached him. "Though I admit I didn't think they would move this fast."
    "The presence of the Defiant may have spurred them into almost immediate reaction," Odo theorized.
    "We can guess later," Pluto said. "But we must make sure the ships don't reach Earth."
    "Agreed," Sisko said. "With the Negaverse on the move, the time for talk is over." He tried to get up on his own, but fell back after yelping in pain. "Help me to the bridge." Pluto moved to one side of Sisko while Odo went to the other, and together they helped the captain up and out of the mess hall.

    Mars grimaced. The bridge was too confined for her to use her firebird attack, along with the fact the Worf was now grappling with the centaur, despite his injured arm. "We need cover!" she said to her fellow Scout.
    Mercury nodded. "Coming right up. MERCURY BUBBLES BLAST!"
    Instantly the ambient temperature dropped and a thick layer of fog formed on the bridge. Dax noted that the creature seemed to lose sight of them, while she (and presumably the others) could still see it clearly. "Worf! Get down!" The Klingon immediately released his grip on the Negaverse creature, and fell back to the bridge fore. For it's part, the centaur reared back and unleashed a volley of arrows through the room. Fortunately, no one was hit, thought several of the stations took damage of one sort or other.
    Mars took advantage of a clear shot. "MARS FIRE IGNITE!" This time the flame struck true and it cried out in pain while it's bow was incinerated.
    "Now!" Kira exclaimed, and five phaser beams converged on the centaur, staggering it. "Mercury, Mars... Hit it again!"
    "Right!" Mercury said. While the bridge was too confined for Mars' more powerful attack, it was more than wide open enough for hers. "MERCURY ICE BUBBLES FREEZE!"
    "MARS FIRE IGNITE!" Mars yelled, striking simultaneously with Mercury.
    The twin attacks of fire and ice struck the centaur, and the Defiant crewmembers maintain their phaser fire as well. The combined might of all these attacks was too much for the centaur, and it disintegrated to dust amid a cry of despair.
    "Dusted!" Mercury exclaimed as the fog lifted.
    Kira turned to Dax. "Dax, see if there are anymore of these things on the ship."
    "There was one in the mess hall," a voice came from the starboard door. Everyone turned to see Sisko limp in, aided by Odo and Sailor Pluto. They helped him towards the command chair. "But it's been taken care of." Sisko grimaced as he seated himself. His leg was throbbing intensely, there were more important concerns at the moment. He could see the three ships receding on the viewscreen, obviously on their way to Earth. "Dax --"
    Dax had already taken her place at the helm and was working the controls. Fortunately, it had emerged from the recent conflict unscathed. "I'm already on it, Captain. We're on an intercept course at full impulse."
    Bashir spoke up from nearby the tactical station, where he had been tending to Worf. "Captain, we should get Worf down to sickbay." He paused for a quick scan of Sisko. "And yourself as well. You've got torn ligaments in that knee."
    "I can wait until this is over, Doctor," Sisko responded. "But you can get started on Worf."
    "Sir, I can maintain my post," the Klingon protested, trying to ignore the pain from his injured arm. He turned back to the tactical station but stopped when he saw the arrow protruding from the panel. The panels flickered randomly, indicating the station had been heavily damaged.
    Kira saw it as well, and began working furiously on her console. "I'm transferring weapons control to my station."
    "There's nothing more you can do up here, Mr. Worf. Get that arm taken care of." Before Worf could object further Sisko added, "That's an order."
    "Yes, sir," Worf said reluctantly and left the bridge with Bashir. On the main viewscreen, Sisko could see two of the Dominion ships break off and turn to face the Defiant.
    "Major, the moment they're in weapons range, I want you to open fire."
    "Yes, sir." Kira kept her attention on the distance indicator, waiting for the other ships to enter range. In a matter of seconds, the distance between them had closed to a scant few thousands of kilometers. "Entering weapon's range- firing!"
    The Defiant's powerful pulse phaser batteries spoke, sending a barrage of high energy bursts on the ship on the right. The first couple were absorbed by it's shields but the next penetrated, exploding the Dominion ship. It's companion managed to bank right and flanked the Defiant, firing on it all the while.
    On board, the ship rocked under the incoming fire. Kira retaliated with the other phaser batteries mounted on the ship, but these weren't nearly as powerful as the pulse phasers and the Jem'Hadar ship was able to absorb these.
    "Dax, do what you can to avoid fire, but keep on that lead ship. That's the one with the changeling on it!" Dax nodded and programmed a series of evasive maneuvers. But tied as the Defiant was to an intercept course, it could only avoid a small fraction of the incoming fire. Fortunately, the ablative armor seemed to be holding for the moment. 
    "The ablative armor is being degraded. It's not going to last much longer!" O'Brien shouted over the din of battle. As if in response, the ship shook again. "That did it. The aft ablative armor is gone!"
    "Just keep her together for a few more seconds, Chief," Sisko told him.
    Mercury came up behind Kira, her computer open. "Major, according to my scans their shields are weakest over their dorsal section. Concentrate your fire there," she suggested. Kira nodded and adjusted her firing pattern. Her next shot from the upper phaser array hit the area suggested by Mercury and penetrated the other ship's shields, damaging it's hull. The Dominion vessel broke off on it's current attack run and began a series of evasive maneuvers, trying to avoid other incoming fire.
    "Nice shooting!" Sisko complimented. He checked the tactical situation again and noted the lead ship was nearly in weapons range. "Kira, prepare a full spread of quantum torpedoes."
    Kira nodded. "Torpedoes ready and locked on target."
    "In weapons range!" Dax announced.
    The Defiant rocked again, as the other Jem'Hadar ship made a new run on it. "The aft weapons array just went offline," O'Brien reported. "We've got damage to the impulse engines, too."
    Sisko gave no other indication he heard the engineer other than a curt nod. "FIRE!" The Defiant pitched slightly as four of the powerful torpedoes were launched. The lead ship dodged at the last moment, evading two of the torpedoes. But two still struck the Jem'Hadar ship on it's port side. Designed as they were to penetrate the tough shields employed by the Borg, the torpedoes tore through the attack ship's shields, shearing off the port warp nacelle. Suddenly unbalanced, it spun around several times before exploding. "Two down, one to go. Dax, hard about! Kira, lock phasers and fire when ready."
    Free now from their previous constraints, Dax put the small starship on a tight turn, quickly bringing the Defiant nose to nose with the remaining ship.  Immediately, Kira triggered a burst from the pulse phasers, scoring several direct hits. The last of the Jem'Hadar ships became an expanding fireball. "Get us back under cloak, Chief." If we can cloak, he added silently.
    "Cloak engaged," O'Brien reported.
    "You did it!" Mars cried. "You got them all!"
    "I wouldn't start celebrating just yet," Odo said glumly. Lacking any other function during battle, the Constable had been keeping an eye on the sensors. "I detected a spatial anomaly forming on the lead ship just before we destroyed it."
    Dax went over and stood behind him and eyed the readings for herself. Meanwhile, Mercury opened up her computer once again and began working on it rapidly. "Uh oh," Dax said.
    "That doesn't sound good, old man."
    "It's not good," she responded apprehensively. "I detected a similar spatial anomaly reading just before Zoisite appeared in front of us, and another one before that centaur appeared on the bridge. I think this is some method of teleportation employed by the Negaverse."
    "So some or all of them might have been able to get off before it was destroyed," O'Brien stated.
    "See if you can determine a possible destination, Chief," Sisko ordered, despite having a sinking feeling where they had gone.
    Mercury answered before O'Brien could even begin scanning. "I've got it. They teleported to the arctic regions." She paused and looked to Mars. "Specifically, D Point."
    "Right to the Negaverse," Dax said.
    Kira grimaced at the news. "Damn! I thought we had them."
    Mars felt and looked suddenly very tired. "It's going to happen again... Just like before."
    "That must not be allowed to happen," Pluto said. "Otherwise, all will be lost. The timelines of both universes will forever be in chaos."
    Mars felt someone place a hand on her shoulder and she turned to see Sisko standing behind her despite his injured leg, determination etched on his face. "It's not going to happen again, Raye. Not if I can help it," he resolutely reassured her. "Whatever it takes, no matter the cost, we're going to prevent history from repeating itself."

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Sailor Trek: Deep Space 9
By Bill Harris
Chapter 6 - Surveillance
PG13

    "Captain's Log, Stardate... unknown. Repairs to the Defiant have been completed and we have settled into a close orbit of Earth while remaining cloaked. We have implemented Major Kira's plan to protect the Sailor Moon, and to this end several members of our crew are maintaining a discrete watch on her and the other two Scouts. Constable Odo has been making use of his unique abilities as well by mimicking various objects and animals in the vicinity... though I have noticed that, for reasons 
that elude me, he's developed a dislike for ravens."
    "Needless to say, Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars were unhappy that I have refused their request to be part of the surveillance effort. I can understand how they feel, but in my opinion, it is best to keep them in reserve for the moment. Sailor Pluto has demurred, in my opinion reluctantly, from any involvement in the event below, citing the potential for drastic changes to the timeline. Given her intimate knowledge in matters of a temporal nature, I cannot fault her for that."

    Jedite half smiled as he stood before Queen Beryl and watched Nephlyte's sudden discomfort. Beryl had started this audience by congratulating Nephlyte on his capture of the Changeling and the 
surviving Jem'Hadar soldiers, but the smug look on his face suddenly vanished when she began to berate him on the loss of all three alien spacecraft... And for his failure to capture or destroy the other, 
unknown ship. Perhaps her anger at Nephlyte's performance would be enough that she would forget the events surrounding his latest encounter with the Sailor Scouts.
    "...and as for you, Jedite..."
    Any trace of a smile vanished from his face as he shuddered inwardly at the iciness in her tone. Beryl hadn't forgotten and worse, she evidently hadn't expunged all of her anger upon Nephlyte. In fact, she seemed even angrier than before.
    This could be much worse than he had feared.
    "Once again you've encountered the Sailor Scouts..." Her grew loud and shrill, "... and failed miserably! Nephlyte's failure is bad enough, but your bungling has become intolerable!" She leaned forward, and her voice became low and menacing. "Can you give me a reason I shouldn't condemn you to Eternal Sleep at once?"
    Jedite bowed low, striving to give the appearance of calm despite the fear he felt grip his soul. "I apologize for my failings, Queen Beryl," he said, "But I do have a plan..." His mind raced as he strove 
to come up with a plan, ANY plan, that would appease the Negaverse monarch. And incidentally save his neck. "...which should result in the destruction of the Sailor Scouts."
    "Indeed," Beryl all but purred. Her voice may have taken on a pleasant tone, but her expression still promised a fate worse than death. "You have made such claims in the past. Why should this time be 
any different?"
    Jedite noticed a gloating look on Nephlyte's face as Beryl spoke. Evidently the other General thought that whatever plan Jedite came up with would be doomed to fail. How he wished he could just wipe the smile of his rival's face...
    Inspiration struck him like a thunderbolt. As calmly as he could he addressed Beryl, "Because this time we have the shapeshifter as an asset." Jedite's statement drew a sharp look from Nephlyte, pleasing him to no end. Evidently the other General had his own plans for the shapeshifter... plans which Jedite had no qualms about upsetting.
    "I see." Queen Beryl regarded him coolly for several moments. "Tell me more Jedite. If this plan has potential, you may yet redeem yourself."
    Nephlyte grimaced as he heard Jedite outline his plan. If it hadn't been for the interference of that other ship, the Defiant, then he might have replaced Jedite. But now it seemed that the General had 
pulled another proverbial rabbit out of the hat, for it seemed that Beryl was going to approve of his plan.
    In his mind, he went over what had gone wrong with his operation. One of his constellation avatars should have been enough to destroy that ship, even with their advanced weapons. Two should have torn it apart in seconds, and would have... Had there not been those Sailor Scouts on it. This was the most puzzling aspect of it. Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury were clearly busy on Earth foiling Jedite's latest scheme, yet he had seen them on the Defiant through the Centaurus' eyes. How had they 
managed to be in both places at once? And then there was the mystery Scout that had dealt with Aquila. Where had she come from? And who was she?
    Whatever the answer, he dare not reveal this information to Queen Beryl. The appearance of each new Scout had irritated her greatly. The news that there were now three more could send her into a rage- and he no doubt would end up paying the price.

    "Captain's Personal Log, supplemental. If the alternate timeline is any indication, the forces of the Negaverse will strike today. I just hope our combined forces are enough to keep this day from turning into a disaster a second time."

    Pluto eyed the monitor display from her seat at the science station. "And so it begins," she said softly.
    Sisko left the command chair and moved to the forward part of the bridge to stand beside her. Since Pluto knew best what to look for, he had her examining Earthside communications for some sign the Negaverse was going to proceed with their plan. "You've got something?"
    "Yes, Captain," she replied. "There have been accounts in the Tokyo media of several disappearances at the baseball stadium. Just as it was before. No doubt Luna will see it and have the Scouts investigate." She turned to face Sisko. "It will happen today."
    "Very well," Sisko replied grimly. "It's nearly dawn down there. We'll have to initiate phase one immediately."

    Mars raced down the corridor with Bashir close on her heels and stopped after rounding a corner. "Damn!" she exclaimed at seeing the empty corridor in front of her. "He's not here!"
    Bashir opened a tricorder with one hand, the other holding onto a Bajoran style phaser. The small device began scanning automatically. "The emergency forcefields are still up on the corridor junction and on the ventilation ducts," he said while examining the readouts. He looked to the door on their right while putting the tricorder away. "There's only one way he could have gone."
    Mars nodded, and tapped the Bajoran comm badge she was wearing. 
    "Mars to Mercury. We've chased him to the engine room."
    "The Chief and I have just gotten to the starboard side entrance," came her reply. "It's sealed, so he couldn't have gotten out this way."
    Mars gave a grim smile of satisfaction, "Then we've got him cornered." She started for the door.
    "Watch it," Bashir warned her as he placed himself to one side of the door. "We may have him cornered, but we haven't got him yet." Mars acknowledge the warning with a swift nod and the two of them moved swiftly into the engine room, the door snapping shut behind them.
    At nearly the same instant, the far doorway opened, allowing Mercury and Chief O'Brien entrance into the room. "He's definitely in here," Mars said, looking about the room and noting that Mercury's visor was already deployed. "I can sense it."
    Mercury scanned about the room while the two Starfleet officers swept the various surfaces with low power phaser beams. "You're right, Mars," she said. "I'm getting indications of his presence, but I can't get any firm readings of him."
    "Keep your eyes open," O'Brien advised, still firing. "He's got to show himself sometime."
    Mars nodded as she moved to one side of the door, still looking about. She heard Bashir suddenly cry out, "Behind you!" just as she felt a light touch on her right shoulder.
    "You're dead," Odo advised her.
    She turned to the changeling, who was half formed with the rest of him still clinging to the wall, then glared at O'Brien. "I thought you swept that wall!"
    "I did!" he said defensively.
    "He did," Odo confirmed. "In fact, he missed me by only two millimeters."
    "Two millimeters!" Mars sagged back against the wall as Odo fully reformed himself. O'Brien and Bashir exchanged rueful looks while Mercury sighed and retracted her visor.
    "I take it the Constable won again?" a voice inquired from above. 
    They looked above them to the terrace level in the engine room fore and saw Sisko standing there with Pluto beside him, having entered through the door there.
    "Winner and still champion," Bashir confirmed.
    "This isn't a game, Doctor," Odo said disapprovingly. "These training exercises are necessary if you're going to be ready to deal with the Founder the Negaverse is controlling."
    "Yeah, we know. But it still would be nice to catch you once in a while," Mars shot back. "We've done this eight times now and you've been able to 'kill' one of us each time."
    "Don't feel too bad about it," O'Brien reassured her. "Odo always wins at 'Chase the Changeling'." A loud snort was the Constable's only response.
    "I'd like to give you a chance for a rematch, but I'm afraid we're running short on time." Sisko looked at Sailor Mars, "Meet Dax in the transporter room. It's time to implement phase one. And Chief... Meet me when you get done down here. I've got an assignment for you as well."
    "Aye, sir," O'Brien said.
    Mars nodded her thanks and headed for the door. As she was exiting Mercury asked, "Captain, have you heard anything from Luna?"
    "No," he admitted. "But I wouldn't worry. I'm sure Luna knows how to take care of herself. And it's not as if she's alone down there."

    At that moment, Luna was literally up a tree just outside the Tsukino residence. For a cat, it was an ideal vantage point for keeping an eye on Serena's bedroom.
    But even a feline would find many hours staying still in a tree uncomfortable. Luna shifted her position so that she could stretch her muscles as she had done several times during her vigil. She grimaced at the sight of her forepaws, with the fur covering them now as yellow as was the rest of her fur. Being disguised was a condition Sisko had set down for her to be able to participate in the surveillance they were keeping on Serena and as her various abilities didn't function well with her crescent moon symbol covered, altering the color of her fur to match it was the best Bashir could do. Despite the necessity, she hated it. Hopefully this would be over soon and she could go back to her natural black.
    A slight tremor in the tree brought her back to the present. She looked around for the source, and found herself face to face with... herself. Suddenly she was very glad for her disguise.
    "All right," her past counterpart demanded. "I don't know who you are, but you've been in this tree for the last two nights. Now, I want to know what it is you're up to."
    Luna blinked, unsure what to do for a moment before deciding that now was not the time to reveal herself. Instead, she silently bounded out of the tree and ran across the yard, heading over to where she knew Kira was positioned.

    Luna's eyes narrowed as she watched the strange cat race off. There's something very familiar about that cat, she thought. She got down from the tree and prowled about the yard to satisfy herself that all was well in the area before heading back into Serena's room. Settling back down next to her charge she contemplated the recent events. Something odd is going on around here. And I'm going to have to find out what.
    The only question was how.

    Luna leapt onto Kira's shoulder after making her way to the Major's concealed vantage point. "What happened?" she asked in a whisper.
    "Let's just say I had a close encounter of the temporal kind," Luna replied, keeping her voice equally low.
    Kira arched an eyebrow. "Oh, your counterpart found you?"
    The formerly black cat sighed. "I'm afraid so. And I must say, I found it quite unsettling."
    "I know the feeling," Kira replied, thinking back to her encounter with the Intendant Kira Nerys in the alternate universe. "I had something similar happen to me once."

    Mercury watched as Bashir put together a medkit for possible use during the upcoming away mission. Odo had ended the drills, deciding that any further exercises wouldn't be needed as the main action was in the very near future. She hoped that things went better in the real thing than they did during the drills. "Doctor, could you answer a question?" she asked after a time.
    "Certainly," he answered as he examined a tricorder modified to have a Bajoran look. "Ask away."
    "I understand the need for you to use civilian clothing on the away missions, but could you tell me why you are using Bajoran style weapons, comm badges and..." She indicated the medkit, "...the medical equipment?"
    "Well, as you are well aware, the Scouts will have later encounters with Kirk's Enterprise, and then later Picard's. So while we have to do everything we can to eliminate this temporal paradox..."
    "... you don't want to create another in the process," she finished. "And any foreknowledge of Starfleet's existence could create changes in the timeline."
    "Exactly," Bashir commented, putting away a dermal regenerator. "This way they'll be none the wiser when they do encounter the Enterprise-D." He hesitated, then looked at her, "We hope."

    Dawn was just breaking at the Hikawa shrine as Raye tended to the sacred fire. It was a task she attended to daily before she went to school. She was concentrating on her task, but not so intently that she missed someone approach from outside. She went for the door and opened it, "I'm sorry, but..." Her voice trailed off as she got a good look at those who were standing outside. One was a tall female with a strange tattoo pattern on both sides of her forehead and extending down the sides 
of her neck, but it was the other that unsettled her.
    The other person was her. Another Raye Hino.
    "Who are you?" she finally managed to breathe out.
    "I'm Jadzia Dax," the taller one said. "And this is..."
    "I think she knows who I am, Jadzia," her double said.
    Raye walked over to her counterpart and then circled her, studying her intently. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find anything about her that would indicate that she was a fake. All her senses, both physical and psychic, were telling her that this was another version of herself. "This is impossible."
    Her doppleganger shook her head. "Not when you use time travel."
    "Time travel?"
    "Yep. I came on her ship," she said, indicating Dax.
    Raye turned her attention to the other woman. "Okay, so where are you from?"
    "I'm from the future too, but from another planet also. My people are called Trill."
    Raye shook her head. People from another planet, time travelers... 
    This day was getting very weird, and it had just started. "Okay, assuming for the moment that everything you've said is the truth, why are you here? Why travel back in time?"
    "Because something went gravely wrong in my past," her counterpart explained. "It's going to happen in your very near future, today in fact, and it involves Serena."
    "Serena? What'd that meatballhead do now?" Raye snapped.
    Her counterpart glowered at her. "She died."

    It was nearly an hour later that a very troubled Raye Hino watched as her future counterpart and the woman named Dax walked off the temple grounds. Soon after they had gotten out of sight, she turned to the burning fire and began the ritual of a fire reading.
    While the bulk of her mind was concentrating on the flame, the remainder was going over what Dax and her double had told her: that Luna would lead them to investigate what seemed to be another Negaverse operation, similar to the amusement park scheme that they had tried. But this time, it was simply a trap designed to lure the Scouts there and kill them. But they would only succeed in killing Serena. Just thinking about it scared Raye more than she would care to admit.
    However, while they were able to give her a vague warning, they had been very limited in the details they gave her.

    "You have to understand," Dax had told her, "We have to be very  careful in what we tell you. Our objective is to prevent Sailor Moon from being killed today. But if we give you too much information, we could upset the timeline even more."
    "Why don't you at least tell me what this shapeshifter will be hiding as?" she demanded.
    Her counterpart shook her head. "Wouldn't do any good. As someone pointed out to me, the changeling could be literally anything or anyone. I only know what it was imitating just before it struck."
    "Besides, we've already made some alterations in the timeline," Dax added. "So events from here on will be different that what happened previously."
    "The best thing to do is to keep you eyes on everything."
    Raye groaned. "Everything?!?"
    "And everyone." Her counterpart gave her a mournful smile. "Sorry, but it's the best advice we can give."
    "Don't worry," Dax added trying to reassure her, "We've got others that will be along watching for it. And they'll be keeping an eye on Serena as well. So don't think that everything depends on you. All we need you to do is to stay alert and be ready for when the time comes."

    All during her talk with them, Raye had been concentrating on both women intently, trying to get something on how truthful they were being. Hoping that there was some fabrication to their tale. Unfortunately all her senses could tell her was that everything they had told her had been truthful, she reflected as she concentrated on the fire, even if they weren't telling her everything. She returned her full attention to the flame. After several more minutes, an image formed amid the flames in response to her prodding. Raye recoiled upon seeing it, horrified.
    It was an image of Death.

    Dax tapped on her comm badge after they were some distance from the temple. "Dax to Kira. We're on our way."
    "Acknowledged," she heard the Major reply, "Take your time. We've got a while before she heads for school. So take your time getting here. Kira out."
    Dax and Raye continued in silence for a while before Raye asked, "How do you think that went?"
    Dax shrugged. "Pretty well, I think. But she is you. How do you think she took it?"
    "About as good as can be expected," she responded. "She's frustrated we can't tell her more, but understands our reasons. I think she'll be ready for that shapeshifter."
    "I hope so," Dax said. "According to Kira, it wasn't easy getting Benjamin to go along with this idea."

    "Absolutely not!" Sisko exclaimed.
    Raye instinctively winced at his tone, but Kira held her ground. Emissary or no, she had these type of confrontations with him before and was still willing to stand her ground. "Captain, I think you should reconsider."
    "Major, have you lost your mind?" Sisko moved around the desk and confronted the Bajoran directly. "Having Raye meet up with her past self would be a direct violation of-"
    "To hell with the time travel directives!" Kira snapped. "They don't apply to this situation." She spared a glance at Pluto, who had been standing to one side and had yet to say anything, though she was watching their discussion with great interest. "Captain, those directives are designed for preserving the timeline. But in this case we're talking about changing this timeline deliberately, and along a very specific path. We're going to need all the help we can get."
    "Like you two have been saying," Raye said to both Sisko and Pluto, "We're only going to get one chance at this. Alerting one of the Scouts from this time frame could be the edge we need to keep things from going awry."
    "Those are good points," Sisko said. "But I don't think --"
    "They're right, Captain," Pluto interrupted him.
    Sisko stared at her. "I would have thought you'd be the last person to endorse this plan."
    "Ordinarily, I wouldn't... but as Major Kira pointed out, this is not the usual type of time travel situation." She paused and looked sternly at Raye. "Of course, she should make sure the she divulges nothing to her counterpart beyond the events of that day."
    "Don't worry," Raye promised. "I don't want to do anything to make things worse."
    Sisko paced the length of the room, considering. "Wouldn't Luna be a better choice?" he finally asked.
    "No," Raye replied, shaking her head. "Luna would never be able to keep something like this from Serena, and if she found out it would really cause problems. Besides, we have no easy way of contacting her alone. The same goes for Amy. On the other hand, if we do it early enough in the day, my double should be alone for long enough to talk to her."
    "Very well," Sisko said, agreeing reluctantly. "I'm not sure I like the idea, but since our resident expert on time agrees, I'll go along."

    "It's getting pretty late," Dax noted as they were nearing Serena's house. "Shouldn't Kira have called to let us know Serena was on her way to school by now?"
    Raye smirked. "You guys have been watching her for two days and you still don't know her very well. Just remember: all during the time I knew her, Serena was never on time for anything." Then a sorrowed look came over her face, "Except for her own funeral. She was way too early for that."
    Dax patted her on the shoulder. "That's what were here to change, remember?"
    Raye nodded, but before she could reply a loud cry came from up the street in the direction of the Tsukino residence. Guessing what would follow, Raye moved Dax off to one side safely out of the way and out of sight, just before a blonde blur came racing by them. Peering out, they saw Serena racing for school, Luna right beside her. "Serena," she said softly, and a rush of emotions swept through her at the sight of seeing her alive. She shook her head and blinked away the tears that had been forming. There wasn't any time for that.
    Unnoticed by her, the disguised Luna approached them, "Come on, Dax. It'll be hard enough to keep up with them as it is."
    "Where's Kira?" Dax inquired.
    "Back there," the cat answered. "Now let's move!" She raced off in pursuit of Serena and Dax followed her.
    Raye moved up the street in the opposite direction and found Kira extricating herself rather painfully from a rose bush. Kira glared at her after her slightly less than successful attempt to stifle a giggle. "Oh, I'm sure it's very funny," she commented, her tone indicating she thought otherwise.
    "Depends on your point of view, Major." Raye's smile grew broader as she thought of what Sisko's reaction would be when he heard about this.
    Kira was thinking along the same lines. "Don't mention this- OW!" Kira winced as she tried to put her weight on her right foot. Evidently she had sprained her ankle as well. "...to anyone," she finished. "That's an order."
    Raye moved over to give her a hand. "Too bad.. you're not my commanding officer," she retorted as they made their way to a secluded spot.
    "I could always have Odo throw you in the brig," Kira threatened, but Raye could tell she wasn't serious. "Kira to Defiant... two to beam up."
    Raye felt the now familiar sensation of the transporter beam gripping them and Tokyo faded from view, to be replaced by the Defiant's transporter room. She heard Kira groan softly as they both saw that Sisko was waiting there to meet them.
    Sisko raised an eyebrow at the sight of Kira's tattered clothing as Raye helped her off the platform. "What happened to you?" he asked somewhat rhetorically, a slight smile coming to his face.
    "Serena," she said with a grimace, consigning herself to the inevitable. "Since it was getting so late, I figured she was staying home sick from school. Then I hear a shriek, so loud it would startle 
the Prophets, yelling something about being late. Less than a minute later, this blonde blur comes racing out the door, onto the street and bowls me over." Sisko chuckled, as did Raye, much to Kira's discomfort. 
    "I don't think it's very funny."
    "Indeed? As I recall, you thought is was extremely funny yesterday... when a similar event happened to me."
    "Yes, sir," she said simply.
    Sisko allowed himself to savor the moment before getting back to business. "Let's forget it for now. I take it Serena made it to school safely."
    "She's on her way," Raye put in. "Luna- that is, our Luna- is following her, with Dax tailing her as well. They should be there soon."
    "Good. We'll have Odo take up the watch in a couple of hours, while we get ready. If we're right, the critical time will be this afternoon." 
    Sisko dismissed them with a gesture, and Raye help Kira on her way to the medical bay.

    "Everything looks as it should," Dax commented. She and Luna were looking around the area of Crossroads Junior High after making sure that Serena had arrived safely, if a bit tardy.
    "So far," Luna observed, trying to stifle a catlike yawn.
    "You must be exhausted," Dax observed. "Odo should be here in a couple of hours to relieve you. You should get some rest then."
    "You won't get any argument from me," the feline said.
    Dax nodded. "Okay, I've got to get back to the ship. I'll see you up there." Luna nodded before leaping from Dax's shoulder to find a good observation post.
    Dax was about to go on her way to the beam out point when she heard, "I thought it was just Meatballhead. Or do all cat owners talk to their pets as if they expect and answer?"
    The science officer turned to face her questioner, but she already knew who it was. Worf and Mercury had been most thorough in their briefings, covering everything from appearances to voices of the people around here. So she was not surprised to find herself facing Darien.

    One of the aft bridges doors snapped open to admit O'Brien. "Here you are, sir." He looked strange dressed in civilian clothing while standing on the bridge, but it was understandable given the nature of 
the assignment Sisko had given him. "Tickets to the ball game for all of us... Except for Luna and Odo, of course."
    A smile creased Sisko's face as he took the tickets in hand. "Good work, Chief."
    "You didn't have any trouble with your funny money, did you Miles?" Bashir asked.
    "Funny money?" Amy looked troubled. "You mean it was counterfeit?"
    "Well, not exactly. I mean, it wasn't real money, but there's no way you could tell it wasn't." O'Brien shrugged. "Since we used a replicator, it practically is the real thing."
    "I just wish we could take the time to actually see the game," Sisko said regretfully. "And it's too bad this didn't happen in North America. It would have been nice to see some of the contemporary Major League players in action... Cal Ripken, for example."
    "Or Nolan Ryan?" Kira suggested.
    Sisko grinned. "You've been studying, Major. But I'm afraid you're a few years too late for him."

    Everything seemed to be going according to plan, Raye observed as she walked down the corridor. The mess hall door opened automatically to admit her and she went over to the replicator. She noted that Dax and Worf were seated at one table, uncharacteristically silent. Something told her that they had been talking, but had stopped the moment she entered. Picking up the raktajino she ordered, she wandered over to them. "You know, I'm actually beginning to like this stuff," she commented.
    "I've always liked it," Dax said, raising her own mug. Raye noted that Worf was drinking usual tall glass of prune juice, and repressed a shudder as she sat down.
    "So, are you two going to tell me what it was you were talking about when I came in?"
    "Who says we were talking about anything?" Dax asked.
    "Come on. You are hardly the silent type, Jadzia. And I got the feeling you two were in the middle of something when I came in." Raye leaned back in her chair and regarded the two Starfleet officers. "You were talking about Darien, weren't you?"
    Surprise registered on Dax's face, but Raye only saw a gleam of satisfaction on Worf's. "I told you she was perceptive," he said.
    "Well, there wasn't anything psychic about it," Raye admitted. "It was just a good guess."
    "A very good guess," Dax said. "But you were right, we were talking about him. I bumped into him during my away mission."
    "I wish I could go on those," Ray grumbled.
    "Soon," Worf said. "According to Pluto, the Negaverse is starting to move. The battle will take place today."
    Raye nodded, but turned back to Dax. "So, what were you saying about him."
    Dax grimaced. "I was just noting that he seemed... aloof."
    "It comes from the fact that he was an orphan. Being raised in an orphanage, he finds it hard to deal with people. So he keeps them at a distance." Raye paused, remembering her times with him. "Once you get to know him, he's easier to deal with."
    "Maybe it's just me," Dax said, "But I don't know what you saw in him... Or what Serena will see in him."
    "It has as much to do with the fact that he does not know who and what he is," Worf rumbled. "I met him well after he regained those memories. It was clear to me that he loved her deeply."
    Raye wasn't sure what Dax was up to, but the Trill smiled and winked at her. "Worf, you're a romantic," she teased him.
    "I am not," the Klingon denied.
    It might have gone on for some time, but there was a beep form the comm system. "Attention all away party members. Report to the transporter room. It's time to begin phase two."

    Sisko, with Major Kira beside him, peered through the bushes and watched Amy and Raye's past selves from his vantage point on the temple grounds. Amy was sitting calmly on the porch steps, reading a book, while Raye was pacing back and forth. She was obviously impatient about something. She wasn't the only one. He glanced up to Luna. "Where is she? I though you said Serena would be here by now?"
    Luna peered down from the tree branches, her current gold coloring standing out somewhat. "No, I said she should be here by now. With Serena, there's a big difference."
    "Well, where is she?" Kira snapped. "Everything hinges on keeping her safe!"
    "Probably on her way here," the cat responded calmly. "Don't worry, Odo said he'd keep a close eye on her. And from what I've seen, he's very good at that." She grimaced at the thought of how the Constable had gone about informing her. They had been lingering outside Serena's school for most of the day when Odo had come up to her, doing a very good imitation of herself! (He may not be able to handle humanoids, but he's pretty good with animals, she thought.) Luna had almost had a heart 
failure thinking that her counterpart had managed to come up to her without her sensing it. But she had fainted when Odo spoke to her from that form, using his own voice. "If there had been any problems, I'm sure he would have called."

    Sisko was not the only one concerned over Serena's tardiness. "She should be here soon," Raye reassured the large human next to her. She watched her past self pace impatiently back and forth, then glanced back to the equally impatient man. "Don't worry, Worf, we still have time before the attack."
    The disguised Klingon frowned. "I would not use your memories of the past as a guide to the future here. We have already made some alterations to the timeline. The destruction of the Jem'Hadar ships by the Defiant will have some ripples in the course of events."
    "I know that," she snapped. There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment before she asked, "Worf, do you think the changes that've been made are enough to keep the Enterprise from being destroyed?"
    "At least initially," he answered. "But without Sailor Moon's presence, I don't think they will survive their entire encounter with Beryl's forces."
    "Well, Jedite never found out our ID's, so she should be all right, as long as she doesn't transform first." Worf grunted noncommittally and they resumed their vigil in silence. Again Raye broke it, "Worf, can I ask you a question?"
    "Of course."
    "Amy found out about the Klingon Death Howl and she told me about it. But Lita wasn't a Klingon. So why the howling after she died?"
    Worf frowned and pondered not answering her question, but that seemed dishonorable to him. "It was a... family matter."
    Raye seemed puzzled. "I don't understand."
    "When the Scouts visited the Enterprise-D, I became friends with her. And it was a very close connection. Not in a romantic sense, but more along the lines of a brother and sister. So before they left, I decided to formalize it, and I accepted Lita into my family. She became a member of the House of Mogh." Worf decided to leave out how the House of Mogh had become dishonored recently by his opposing the actions of Chancellor Gowron. He could explain that later. 
    "But the Lita I knew never went to the Enterprise. So why..."
    "It does not matter," Worf interrupted her. "The principle remains 
the same. I knew about it, and that is what mattered. And it extends 
to your pledge to her as well."
    "What?"
    "Lita requested that you stop Beryl, and you promised to do so. And by restoring the timeline to it's original state, it will be done. And as leader of the House of Mogh, her last request is binding on me also. Thus I must make sure that we are successful, no matter what the cost."
    "Even if it kills us."
    Worf nodded. "It is a good day to die."
    "You Klingons are a fatalistic bunch." Raye gave Worf another lookover. "It's still strange to see you looking like that, Worf. I'd just gotten used to your usual looks."
    Worf scowled at her, remembering. "It was your doing."
    "Hey, it was Amy's idea," she pointed out.
    "You had a hand in it."

    They had been assembled in the mess hall, while Kira outlined the plan they had come to for protecting Sailor Moon. As it became clear that the entire senior staff would be involved, Worf shifted slightly. Sisko asked, "What's wrong, Mr. Worf?"
    "It is the thought of undergoing cosmetic surgery to appear as a human, sir." He crossed his arms and grimaced. "It is not a prospect I relish, but I am willing to endure it if the mission requires."
    "I'm sorry, Mr. Worf," Sisko replied, "But with the possibility of Jem'Hadar soldiers being present, we're going to need our best people available. And you are undoubtedly one of the better close combat experts I have on hand."
    "Aye, sir," the Klingon responded.
    Amy looked thoughtful. "I have a solution," she said. She handed Worf a odd looking device that was shaped rather like a pen. "We've used this in the past to disguise ourselves."
    Raye nodded approvingly. "Good idea, Amy."
    Worf took the proffered device and eyed it dubiously. He had heard about this it, but had never seen it in action. "How does it work?"
    Raye answered, "Just say "Disguise Power," then tell it what you want to be disguised as."
    "You've got to be kidding."
    Raye grinned. "Nope."
    "Give it a try, Commander," Sisko said.
    Worf grimaced, obviously more uncomfortable than before. "Aye, sir. Disguise power, make me look like a... human." He just about choked out the last word.
    The magic of the disguise pen flowed outward and enveloped Worf, obscuring him from sight for several seconds. When it cleared, Worf looked very much like a human.
    A rather large human. But human, nevertheless.
    Dax smiled. "Looks good on you." Worf only responded with a glare.

    The sound of a loud crash brought Worf back to the present. Both he and Raye looked concernedly in the direction of the nearby sound, but they relaxed upon hearing Dax's voice over the now open comm line. 
    "Benjamin, we've located Serena." Amusement was clearly heard in her voice. "Julian just... ran into her."
    "Serena strikes again," Raye observed quietly, prompting a nod of agreement from Worf.

    Dax looked on, bemused as Bashir and Serena picked themselves up off the ground. A very familiar black cat sat beside them, a seemingly downcast expression on her face.
    "I'm sorry!" Serena said for what must have been the fifth time in a slightly panicked voice.
    "It's all right," Julian painfully reassured her yet again. In truth, he had heard her long before she had arrived, but revealing that might have given away his genetically enhanced status. Unfortunately, he had misjudged just how fast she was moving, thus resulting in the collision. "No permanent damage done. Are you okay, um...?" His voice trailed off as he feigned ignorance.
    "Oh, my name's Serena," she answered.
    "Bashir. Julian Bashir," the doctor replied smoothly. "If I may inquire, why are you in such a hurry?"
    "Oh, I'm on my way to meet some friends," she said in an offhand manner. "I got to school late today, so I got detention, and I just got out and now I'm way late to meet them and Raye can be so touchy..."
    Bashir nodded sympathetically. "Yes, I've noticed," he said quietly.
    "Huh?" Serena stared at him, genuinely puzzled. How could he know that? "You know Raye?" A slow smile crept over her face and then she said in a sly tone, "Oh, are you her boyfriend?"
    It was rare that Dax found herself struck speechless.

    She wasn't the only one. But Raye wasn't one to remain speechless for long.
    "Boyfriend?!?" she nearly shrieked just after there was an audible click indicating somebody had closed the open comm channel. "Him?"
    "I suggest you keep your voice down," Worf advised her. His expression remained stern, but his eyes glinted with amusement. "We do not want to attract any unnecessary attention."
    Raye turned from him and glowered, arms crossed, at a nearby tree. 
    She continued to grumble, but her volume was much lower. "That little meatballhead..."

    Bashir sputtered momentarily, "No, she's not." He decided that changing the subject to cover his misstep would be the best strategy. "Who might your four legged friend be?"
    Serena glanced down to where Luna was looking impatiently back up at her. "This is my cat... her name's Luna."
    Bashir crouched down and gave Luna an obligatory scratch. "She seems intelligent..." Luna started to preen, "For a cat, that is." 
    Luna stood stock still, and glared at the doctor.
    "For a cat?" Serena asked, not sure if she should be offended.
    "Yes, though I really can't be sure... I'm more of a dog person myself."
    Luna turned from Bashir, and marched over to Serena, batting a paw on her knee for attention.
    Serena eyed the cat, then her own eyes grew wide. "Oh, no... The time!" She began running up the path, then stopped and turned back to them. "See you later. Bye." After giving a last wave, she raced up the path to the shrine, the cat following her. Moments later a small black dog emerged from behind a nearby tree and, after giving the two Starfleet officers an ironic glance, followed her up the path.
    "It's hard to believe the fate of this Earth, and that of the Federation, depends on her," Bashir commented as he watched her enter.
    Dax tapped her comm badge to reopen the comm channel, then went up to Bashir. A keen observer would note a mischievous glint in her eyes. 
    "So, you and Raye are an item now?"
    "Jadzia!"
    "You don't think she's attractive?"
    "Of course she is!" he exclaimed. "It's just that-" He stopped in midsentence as he realized just what Dax was up to.
    "Just that what?" a voice over the comm channel dangerously asked before he could form a suitable retort, causing Bashir to pale. It wasn't wise to offend, even accidentally, someone who literally could command fire.
    Fortunately, he was saved from further embarrassment. "Let's keep our minds on the business at hand, people," Sisko admonished them. "Dax?"
    "Serena's on her way, sir," she reported, now all business. "Odo's in position, as planned."
    "Good. Everyone keep your eyes open. Things are going to start happening in a hurry from here on."

    Raye confronted Serena the moment she arrived, hands planted on her hips. "It's about time you got here! What you do, stop at every ice cream shop along the way?" Amy looked questioningly at her, as did Luna. Certainly Raye had a history of snapping at people, Serena in particular, but she was acting much tenser than usual.
    The answer was that Raye had been sensing the watchers around the temple. But as she hadn't an accompanying sense of evil with it, she reasoned it was the others mention by Dax and her future self. This meant that the danger they mentioned was getting closer, and the added tension was driving her crazy.
    "As if," Serena replied. "I'll have you know I came straight here! Though I did bump into this really cute guy..." Her eyes narrowed and she looked at Raye speculatively, "By the way, he seemed to know you... is he by any chance your boyfriend?"
    "Huh? Who are you talking about? I don't have a boyfriend!" 
    Raye instantly regretted saying that.
    "Oh, so no wonder you're so cranky," Serena quipped.
    Raye was trying to frame a proper retort when something in Serena's bag caught her eye. She reached into it and pulled out the comic in there. "Oh, sure you came straight here! AFTER you hit the comic book shop!"
    "Raye, give that back! It's mine!"

    Raye felt a lump form in her throat as she watched the ongoing argument between Serena and her counterpart. She had forgotten just much she missed those all too frequent arguments she had with Serena. Once again she found herself blinking back the tears that were forming, and her face settled into a mask of determination.
    There was no way in hell she was going to let Serena die this time.

    O'Brien looked around the concourse from a secluded alcove. He and Amy had been among the first people allowed inside, and several of the vendors were still setting things up. "Seems peaceful enough," he commented to his companion.
    She glanced down at her half hidden computer. "I'm afraid that's not going to last."
    "You picking up something?" he asked. He did a quick scan with a tricorder, trying to keep it concealed as well, "Because I'm not detecting anything."
    "That's because your tricorder isn't as sensitive to Negaverse activities as my computer." Amy stared pointedly at the stand that would be the source of the trouble to come. "Now that I know what to scan for, I can detect their activities." She grimaced, "The youma's activities, that is. I still don't have a clue where the shapeshifter is."
    "All right," O'Brien said. "Nothing for it but to wait." He glanced above and saw that there were several spots amid the rafters that someone could use to keep watch without being easily seen. And since the Scouts would meet him later, he needed to keep out of their sight. "You stay here. I'll find a secluded place and have the ship beam me up there."

    Raye and Serena found their argument interrupted when a small, black dog came up to them and began barking. It was about a half meter in length, with jet black fur and a small nub where it's tail should be. 
    "Oh, you're cute," Serena giggled, motioning the canine to come closer. It did so, sniffing at her tentatively. She began petting it on the head, and it wagged it's excuse of a tail happily in response then stood on it's hind legs and placed it's forepaws on her knee as it begged for further attention.
    Raye's eyes narrowed as she examined the canine closely. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something about the dog seemed wrong to her. Still, she didn't sense anything evil about it. Could this be associated with the watchers Dax had mentioned earlier?
    She shook her head and tried to relax. She'd be glad when this day was over. All this worrying was going to giver her an ulcer... And she was much too young for that!

    "Odo seems to be enjoying this assignment," Sisko observed wryly.
    "He'd never admit it," Kira replied. "He'll just say that he was playing his part."
    "To the hilt."

    "Serena, leave that dog alone!" Luna insisted. "We've got Sailor business to attend to!"
    Serena shot a glare at the black cat, who was trying to keep Amy in between herself and the dog. "Stop being such a 'fraidycat, Luna! And what makes you think the Negaverse is going to try something? We just trashed them at Dreamland."
    "Oh, right," Raye snapped. "Like they're going to do nothing after that, Meatballhead?"
    Serena glared at Raye and was about to snap at her when Amy spoke up. "Luna might be right. They could be ready to try something again."
    "I think they are trying something," Luna said. "I found a report in a the newspaper this morning about people disappearing in the vicinity of the baseball stadium."
    "Oh, not again," Serena mumbled.
    Luna nodded. "I'm afraid so, Serena. We should go inves- Now cut that out!" She directed the last at the dog, which had begun sniffing at her. "Oh, I hate dogs!"
    Odo inwardly nodded to himself, satisfied that this is Luna. So far there was no indication the changeling was present. It would most likely appear at the ballpark, as before.
    Meanwhile, the three girls had started to giggle at the sight. 
    "I'm glad you all think this is so amusing," Luna said, her tone clearly indicating otherwise. "Now, come on!" She turned to leave, and the three girls followed her. Sensing something else following, 
Luna turned and saw the dog happily tagging along. "Oh, no you don't! Serena, tell that dog to stay here!"
    Serena sighed. "You heard her, girl. Stay!" The dog looked at her with sad eyes, and began to whimper and whine. "I don't think she wants to stay, Luna."
    "We can't take her with us," Amy said. "It could be dangerous."
    "I've got an idea." Raye ran back inside and returned a few minutes later with a length of rope. She quickly tied the dog to a nearby tree, ignoring it's whining with difficulty. "There, that should hold her!"
    The three girls and cat left on their way, the dog watching them until they were out of sight. When they had gotten out of sight, the flesh of it's neck altered into a caramel colored gelatinous substance, 
and oozed it's way around the rope. It fell limply to the ground, and the dog raced after the scouts.
    Raye's counterpart nodded to Worf. "There they go." She tapped her comm badge as they followed at a distance. "Mars to Sisko. They're on their way."
    "We see it. Everyone else, go on ahead to the ballpark. Kira and I will follow them along the way."

    Pluto stood by the comm station on the bridge, monitoring the away teams' transmissions. So far everything seemed to be going as planned. 
    But the critical time was yet to come.
    And there was still one detail to attend to here. The crew had been more concerned with saving Sailor Moon so they had ignored what to do with the extra quantum flux. It would have to be dealt with, else the Enterprise detect an extra one when it appeared here in a few months time. Fortunately, she and Q had discussed this before.
    She moved towards the engineering station. "Mr. Muniz..."
    The engineer turned to her. "Yes?"
    "I have a task for you to perform." She handed him a data padd. "I need you to modify a quantum torpedo along these parameters."
    Muniz examined the readout, then looked to Lt. Glynn, who had the conn. As the captain had instructed them to cooperate fully with Sailor Pluto, he nodded. Muniz got up. "Okay. I'll get right on it."

    "What's wrong, Luna?" Serena asked worriedly. The black cat had halted as they were nearing the stadium and was looking about, her expression one of puzzlement. If fact, she had been looking around them all during the trek here, she reflected.
    "I'm not sure," she answered. "But I sense something odd around here. It's as if we're being followed."
    Raye frowned. She still had the feeling of being watched but it still felt like it had at the temple. Nothing about it felt evil or wrong, so it was probably still the others mentioned by Dax and her 
counterpart. Briefly she toyed with the idea of alerting Serena and Amy to what had happened that morning, but discarded it at once. Dax had been very clear that she should allow events to proceed normally, or else the Negaverse could back out of their current plan and start again, this time without Dax's people being aware of where things would happen. "Are you sure Luna? I don't sense anything evil," she said aloud.
    "Well, that settles it," Serena said. "Luna's going paranoid on us."
    "I am not!" the cat snapped. "There is something amiss around here. I just can't put my paw on it right now."
    "As if," Serena retorted. "First you come up with this idea that the Negaverse is going to strike at a baseball stadium, of all places, and now you're getting odd feelings that even Raye isn't having. Luna, you're going totally whacko on me."
    Luna glared at the blonde girl. "If I have gone insane, it's only because you've driven me over the edge, Serena," she said before going on her way.
    "Hey!" Serena cried before following her. "Luna, it's bad enough that buying a ticket into here will use almost all of my allowance! I don't need you needling me like that!"
    "If you'd stop buying all these comic books, you'd have more of your allowance available, meatballhead!" Raye snapped.
    "Oh, you're a fine one to talk about not buying comic books!" Serena retorted.
    Amy sighed. It was going to be a long day.

    Sisko glanced up from the program he had obtained. The three Sailor Scouts were nearby, close enough so that he could hear them talking. "I think Luna's right," Raye was saying. "I've been having a 
bad feeling about this place the moment we went through the gate."
    "This from a girl who decided I was evil and slapped a spirit ward on my forehead just minutes after meeting me?" Serena quipped. "That still doesn't make me feel any better about having to spend a good chunk of my allowance for a ticket."
    Raye's eyes narrowed, but Amy intervened before she could say anything. "We should split up to cover more ground. Luna and I will go this way and you two can check out the other direction."
    "Wait a minute! I want to go with you, Amy. Luna can go with the grouch!" Serena complained.
    "It sounds good to me," Raye said, prompting a series of astonished looks from the others. "Come on, Serena, let's go." Raye smoothly transferred the bag containing Luna from Serena to Amy, then took the blonde girl by the arm and began moving her down the concourse.
    Luna and Amy were still looking stunned when Sisko and Kira moved to follow the two girls.

    Amy watched from her own vantage point as Serena and Raye moved up the concourse. As soon as they passed by, she began moving in the opposite direction, moving to where her own counterpart had gone.

    "Here they come," Bashir noted.
    Dax nodded, but otherwise did not reply. She and Bashir had taken up position nearby the concession stand that should be the Negaverse front (assuming, of course, that things were still proceeding along those lines), but not so close as to be inside the presumed illusion field. Raye (present day version) and Serena were approaching, just as they should be. In the background she could see Benjamin and Kira following them, but she had no idea where Worf and Raye were.
It was at that moment that Serena caught sight of the prices, and she immediately headed for the booth. Raye grabbed her by the arm. "What do you think you're doing?" Dax heard her ask, her voice low but still loud enough to carry to Dax's position. "We're here on business Serena, remember? Besides, it could be dangerous!"
    "Dangerous?!?" Serena asked incredulously. "Here? Raye, you're getting way worse than Luna. Now let go!" With that she tore her arm free and headed for the line.Raye seemed about ready to try and stop her again, but she spotted Dax nearby. The Trill gave her a reassuring nod, indicating to Raye that help was nearby. She relaxed a bit and followed Serena towards the booth. The moment Raye took her place in line, the bad feeling she had been having the entire day intensified dramatically. There was definitely something evil nearby. Her eyes narrowed and she flitted her gaze back and forth over the throng in an attempt to localize it. Here we go, she thought.

    Luna poked her head up from the bag she was concealed in. 
    "Anything, Amy?"
    "Nothing concrete," she replied. She tapped a couple of times on her palmtop and frowned. "So far there's no indication of Negaverse activity, but I'm picking up several anomalous readings. Including one that's-"
    "Just about on top of you?" Amy whirled about to confront the voice from behind her and gasped. Luna found herself similarly stunned. The girl who had spoken to them was dressed differently from Amy, but was in all other respects identical to her. "Your computer is picking up me and my computer as well." She gestured with her own palmtop, which Amy saw was identical to her own.
    "Who are you?" Amy asked as soon as she found her voice.
    "I'm you. Almost a year older, but you nevertheless. You can confirm that with a scan." She paused while Amy started the scanning process, examining both her double and the computer she held. "The 
reason you're not picking any Negaverse activity is because they've screened themselves behind an illusion field."
    "How do you know?" Luna asked.
    "Because I've lived this day before Luna. That's why I'm here- to make sure it doesn't go wrong again."
    Before Luna could ask any more questions, there was a beep from Amy's computer. "She is me," Amy stated. "Allowing for nine months of growth, she is in every other respect identical... even down to the DNA. And her computer is exactly the same as mine."
    "Of course," her double replied. "I'm you, just a little older." 
    She gestured, indicating the direction Raye and Serena had gone. "Now come on. I'm going to need your help when the trouble starts." She started, and Amy followed her after a moment.
    She ran for a second to catch up. "What do you mean about trouble?"
    "Luna was right about this being a Negaverse operation," her older self explained. "But it's not quite a standard energy gathering operation. It's a trap as well. And if we're not careful, Sailor Moon 
is going to be killed... again."

    O'Brien stared down at the concession booth, fingering his phaser rifle. All looked normal as far as he could tell, but his tricorder was giving indications that something was up.
    Suddenly the illusion field surrounding it collapsed, and O'Brien could see the chaos that was unfolding below. People were scrambling to their feet and starting to flee in panic, while the youma (Rybite was it's name, the Chief recalled) was standing on the counter. "I don't believe it," O'Brien muttered as he gawked at it. "It does look like a Cardie." Then several motions at the edge of his vision caught his eye. "What the hell...?"

    Both Amy's saw the commotion starting in the distance. "Oh, hell," the Amy from the future exclaimed much to her counterpart's consternation. "It's already starting."
    "Then we better get moving," Luna said. The black cat was trying her best to conceal it, but she had been badly shaken by the other Amy's tale of what had happened in her past during the next few minutes. "You two have got to find that shapeshifter."
    "I wonder if it could have been that dog," Amy mused as they hurried.
    "No, that was Odo. He's on our side," her double explained. 
    "He-" A beeping sounded from her computer, accompanied by similar beeping from Amy's. "Oh, no. They're here," she muttered as she examined the readings. She tapped a medallion she wore just over her left breast. "Mizuno to Sisko. I've just detected..."
    "We see it," a deep voice responded from the medallion. "Get back here at once." Amy nodded to herself as she led her counterpart along. Phase three had begun.

    O'Brien watched from his vantage point as three very familiar and armed shapes shimmered into view on the outskirts of the panicking crowd. "That's all we bloody well need," he muttered darkly. "Jem'Hadar!"

Note: Odo was imitating a schipperke (pronounce "skipper key"), which is a Belgium breed of dog. The reason I picked this breed as opposed to a more common one is because my brother has one. Why not?

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