Adam 

        Pianodrums@aol.com


Sailor Moon, and all of its related characters are property of Naoko
Takeuchi, the creator, and the English version by Dic.  Star Trek is
property of Paramount Pictures, and was created by Gene Roddenberry.


Mutual Dilemma
Chapter #18


        Down on the surface of Earth, the Borg Collective concentrated its
efforts with the completion of the cube.  The goal was in sight.  Units
spread across the vessel, connecting distribution nodes, and regenerating
in their new cells.  Power levels were rising, and weapons systems were
almost operational.


***


        "Their history really is similar to our own, number one."  Captain
Picard took a sip from another mug of Earl Gray tea.  The tea had been the
only substance to keep him awake for the past three days.
        "Really?"  The first officer seemed surprised.  He had just arrived
on the Enterprise from the damaged Poseidon, and he was hoping for some
sleep in his quarters.  The captain seemed to have other ideas, though.
This didn't anger the commander at all, however.  In a situation like this,
senior officers often missed sleep, and from the dark circles under
Picard's eyes, Riker surmised that his captain had spent far more time
awake than he.
        "Indeed.  From what I could find, after the destruction of the Moon
Kingdom, this planet developed almost the same way ours did."
        "How is that possible?  I mean, didn't the Moon Kingdom have
spacefaring abilities?"  Commander Riker hadn't been updated on the
situation on board the Enterprise, but he knew a little about the Silver
Millennium.  The two cats and the five scouts told him a lot when he was on
Earth.  That excursion felt like it had occurred weeks ago.
        "It seems that after the invading army called the Nega-force was
defeated on the Moon, Earth was reduced to a pre-spacefaring civilization."
        "With no remaining evidence of the Silver Millennium?"
        "That's right.  As soon as the Moon Kingdom fell, this Earth
entered the Dark age just as ours did at the same time.  The two histories
have run almost parallel since."
        "Almost?"
        "In the past year, remnants of the Silver Millennium have
resurfaced, these Sailor Scouts being a part of it, and the Nega-force
attacked the Earth again."
        "And then us."  Riker looked at the captain, who diverted his eyes
to his pad.
        "And then us."  Picard sighed loudly, and looked up at his first
officer.  "The Borg could very well have ruined this civilization's future.
And now I am going to have to interfere even more by contacting them, and
organizing their governments."
        "It is unavoidable, sir.  The Borg do not have a Prime Directive.
They do not care who or what they destroy.  We are just trying to make the
best of this dilemma."
        "Yes, I know.  I just hate the fact that I am going to have to
involve a pre-warp civilization in -our- war.  It's just not fair to them."
        "You're absolutely right, sir.  But it's the only way to save
them."  There was a long pause.  Riker was surprised at the captain's
unusual emotionalism.  Captain Picard usually based his decisions on
rational ideas without clouding them with his personal feelings.  Then he
understood.  Not Riker, nor anyone else could grasp the captain's feelings
about the Borg.  The aliens that tore out his skin and replaced it with
machines.  The aliens that took from his mind all of the information
necessary to defeat his crew.  The aliens who commanded him to lead an
assault against the Federation at Wolf 359, in which eleven thousand
officers died.  The commander had nothing to say.
        "Well, you need some sleep, Number One.  I recommend that you get
it."
        "Both of us need sleep, sir."  Picard smiled slightly.
        "Dismissed."  Commander Riker looked at the captain for a while,
and then left the ready room.  Alone, Captain Picard grimaced.




        "Shields up!  Red alert!  All hands to battle stations!"  Commander
Worf gripped the arm rests of the Defiant's command chair as the powerhouse
beneath him came to full power.  The sirens that signaled red alert sounded
at once as red light flooded the Bridge.  Around him, crew members quickly
dropped into their posts as systems suddenly blinked to life.
        "All decks report ready, sir."  The ensign at OPS had a faint sound
of anxiety in his voice.
        Worf turned to the helmsman.  "Take us out of orbit, Ensign."
        "Aye sir!"  The Defiant gracefully swung away from Earth, and broke
out of the planet's gravitational pull under full impulse power.  Worf
paused, considering his options.
        "Our target is within visual range."
        "Load all torpedo bays, and ready phasers."  The most heavily armed
warship in the Federation flexed its muscles as it raced towards its
adversary.  "Onscreen."  The viewscreen revealed its large, ugly form.
Sunlight glinted off the metal parts of its exterior as it sat...waiting
...taunting the crew.
        Worf leaned forward.  "Lock phasers on target."
        "Locking phasers."  A red bullseye moved around on the viewscreen
until it came to rest on its target's center.  "Phasers locked."
        Worf paused for a second, willing his newly repaired ship to
function normally.  Then he raised his hand.  "Fire!"
        Rapid firing particle beams erupted from both sides of the
Defiant's hull.  Like machine guns, round after round tore through space
and contacted solidly with their target.  The looming object shuddered
under the barrage.  Large cracks formed along its silvery surface, and then
it came apart into a million separate pieces, glowing red.
        Worf stared at the sight on the screen.  "Report!"
        "Sensors indicate the destruction of the entire asteroid, with no
fragment being larger than one meter in diameter."  The Ensign smiled in
pride.  After six separate drills, the Defiant's weapons systems were
finally working properly.
        Worf was equally pleased.  "All hands, this is the Commander.  I
want to congratulate you all on an admirable job with repairing the
Defiant.  You have all served this ship with honor, and I trust you to keep
up your work.  Worf out."  Even Klingons gave praise every once in a while.
        "What are your orders, sir?"  Asked the beaming helmsman.
        "Set a course back to Earth, and contact the Enterprise.  Tell them
that their ship won't be alone in the fight."




        Devon was alone in the guest's quarters when Mina arrived.  He was
reading something from a pad that an Ensign had given him.  At seeing the
slim, blond haired girl, he smiled brightly, and made room on the couch for
her to sit.
        "What are you reading?"  She asked, accepting his offer, and
sitting beside him.
        He set the pad on the table to concentrate on the conversation.
"Oh, I'm just reading about the history of the people on this ship.  I
guess...you can call it our future."
        Mina smiled.  "Yeah, this whole situation has been really strange."
        "I know!  First those Borg, then this ship, and now these rumors
about a war!  Everything's been haywire since I moved to Tokyo!"  He
laughed.
        "You can't say that you haven't enjoyed any of it, though."  Mina
put her hand on Devon's cheek, and kissed him.  His heart raced as he
returned the kiss.  He put his hand on her arm, and moved her hand so it
rested over his face.  He kissed her palm and inhaled its scent.  It hinted
of fragrant soap.
        "No, I can't say that I haven't."
        She smiled again, and caressed his face with her fingers.  "I'm
glad."
        "Is everything okay, Mina?"  Devon stopped, and his face registered
concern.
        "Why?"
        "I have the feeling that you're upset about something."  Mina
paused, and then sighed.
        "I'm sorry.  It's just this whole situation with the Borg.  I mean,
I haven't spoken to my parents for weeks, and I have no idea if they've
been..."  She stopped, and sighed again.  Devon put his arm around her.
        "I know the feeling.  I haven't been able to talk to my parent's
either."
        "I don't want to upset you, or anything."
        "No, no.  You're not upsetting me at all."  Devon paused.  "What
would make me happy would be to see you happy."  
        Mina smiled.  "How's this?"  Devon returned the smile.
        "I'm also worried about tomorrow."  Mina looked at a spot on the
floor.
        "What's happening tomorrow?"
        "Everything.  Captain Picard is going to speak to every country in
the world tomorrow, to ask them for help in fighting the Borg.  He hopes
that the armies will be able to disable all of the Borg's systems; to keep
them from launching their ship."
        "That sounds like a good idea."
        "If it doesn't work, Luna and Artemis have decided to send us in to
fight."
        "Hmm."  Devon was in thought.  "Well, my dad always told me that a
little optimism never hurt."
        "It's kinda hard to be optimistic in a situation like this."
        "Nope nope!"  Devon smiled.  "That's pessimism.  Try saying 'It's
going to work out perfectly!' "  Mina chuckled, and nodded.
        "I hope you're right."  Devon laughed, and kissed her hand again.
        "That's the spirit!"  He closed his eyes, and repressed a shudder.
I hope so too, he thought.