Chapter 0 Prologue the Last - Ghidorah Tai Dominion1 BILLION YEARS AGO.....
"There is news. It is not good news."
"Concerning that one, it never is. Speak, young one."
"One of the far divisions has fallen to the Ancient Destroyer. That entire quadrant of the galaxy - will likely never sustain life again."
"What of the awesome guardians of that realm, the giant Ultaramanas?"
The female Shapeshifter thought well of those heroes of the peace, slayers of more giant strange creatures than even myth allowed for. Most 80 meters in height, the Ultaramanas Warriors were Chromed Visions of power, suits streaked with a noble red. Their crescented eyes had once meant Joy to many, many trillions, all over the galaxy. Surely, she thought, they must have fled, or regrouped somewhere. For their defeat was completely unthinkable.
"A fatal error, Mistress. The warriors all bunched, and attempted to rip out the gray head that is Ghdrh's left one. Since they detected no biological signals from it, they assumed it to be a dead appendage. Their plan was then to use the wound opened by the ripping as a target, hopefully causing a chain reaction from within."
"But the head is still alive, is it not?"
"No. It does not live, nor is it immobile. It is living dead, and possesses a field that is, for want of a better term, anti-life. The Ultaramanas Warriors all shriveled and died upon gaining a firm grasp. Without them to offer opposition, the creature simply ignited that quadrant's artificial core, which was also its power source. Death for all was quick. Only a hyper-trans recording survived the explosion, whose power the creature took as its own. It lives, and it comes for us. Within centuries, it will be here-and we have nothing to destroy it with."
Feeling a pride of place, the Shapeshifter Monarch dismissed her aide's cynicism.
"We have ourselves, and that is all we have ever needed."
So it was that as Ghidorah cults rose and fell, as the other races destroyed themselves with war, or futile super-weaponry experiments, the Shapeshifters made plans. As some settled old grudges, and others just lay down to die, or evacuated, the Shapeshifters took in the scholars of other worlds, and they offered something up to their allies. Solid and Shapeshifter, working together, found a way to harness an untapped power - unity.
The day at long last came that had the Ancient Destroyer sighted in the far reaches of what would one day be called the Gamma Quadrant. Determined not to suffer the fate of the Ultaramanas in the Beta Quadrant, the Shapeshifters renounced individual identity and forged the Great Link. That first joining had power to rival that of the Ancient Destroyer's Bane, the Maw Of Hell.
A unique ship made of a single crystal was forged by the Solids, in part patterned after the remains of one of Ghidorah's challengers. Into it poured the joined beings of the Great Link. Crackling with power, the ship set out to do the impossible-to drive the Ancient Destroyer back.
As it always did, the creature approached this Quadrant's most populous region without a care. It was Ghidorah, and that meant invincible. For once though, destiny was turned away, and so was he. The weaponry coming from the Crystal was of an odd nature, and Ghidorah had no counter to it. Worse for the creature, the crystal had a refractive coating, sending its killer beams back at it. It was going to be killed. It should have been killed. But Ghidorah had learned a new trick that day.
Many times, it had teleported and appeared in another position, there to deal death to its foe. But this time, it fled the Quadrant entirely. The Shapeshifters had done it, and to all appearances, Ghidorah was no more. In fact, it merely rested in the Galactic Barrier just outside the Alpha Quadrant. There, it both drained and corrupted the fence that was supposed to keep it out. But the Gamma Quadrant was safe for uncounted years to come. The noble Shapeshifters were heroes to some, and like gods to others. After all, who had ever successfully turned back King Death?
Many thousands of years passed, and then many millions. Races came and went, but the Shapeshifters continued through their Great Link. For much of this time, that was considered a symbol of prosperity, and of peace. The slayers of Ghidorah watch over us, they would say. In that, all was well.
Near the 1/2 Billionth Anniversary of Ghidorah's defeat, a celebration was planned. No one, it seemed, could argue with marking universal re-birth. Every Solid laid claims to personal friendship with the increasingly insular Shapeshifters. This withdrawal was not a deliberate snub, as some later thought, but a natural result of the Great Link.
The Celebration went forward, and all had a time that would itself go down in legend. No expense or resource was spared, and even the Great Link experienced the Cosmic Cheer of it all.
As happens, a series of disasters struck, all natural, or predictable. These disasters involved food, commerce, pestilence, and they had no guiding hand nor any monster behind them. As is said, Events Occur.
The long, long recovery time for this disaster cycle was blamed on the expenses for the Great Celebration. This was barely true, but it raised the indignant hackles of some Shapeshifters.
"Remember, you Solids wouldn't have a Quadrant to live in if we had not slain Ghidorah. You thank us now with pointless contempt?"
The cycle of disasters passed, but the contempt never did - on either side. When it was suggested that Shapeshifters were milking the other races for a long-ago service, there were tavern scuffles. When some Solids talked of the "True History" that "they don't want us to know about", the Shapeshifter role in keeping back the Ancient Destroyer was diminished, causing recriminations. When some said that perhaps the "Changelings" had somehow called the monster in, the Shapeshifters withdrew from all formal relations with other races. But it was only when a certain phrase entered the Solid parlance that full fledged "Changeling Hunts" began. That phrase was simple, but devastating to the Shapeshifter cause.
"King Ghidorah is but a myth."
Repeated as a mantra, this phrase gave Solids the unneeded excuse to punish the liars who, they felt, had made them all pay for a false favor. 750 Million Years after turning back the Galactic Night, the Shapeshifters faced a very real possibility of genocidal extinction at the hands of the descendants of those they saved. As against Ghidorah, they formed a plan.
"They think us the Enemy. Let us oblige them, then. First we shall provide one, then we shall become one."
Understanding Solid DNA as no others could, Shapeshifter scientists created two races to serve them. One group was the Vorta, with the aspect and coldness of the Ancient Destroyer's Mecha-head. The other was the Jem'Hadar, whose aspect and approach to battle was modeled after the Death's Head. Securing their long-term loyalty through cultural and physiological means, the Shapeshifters sent these two out, pretending to be a new, unknown force.
Against them, the Solids had no defense, but progress in taking the Quadrant was slow, so the Shapeshifters deceptively offered their help against the invaders. They drew up a plan of attack that seemed to work every step of the way. Needless to say, when all Solid forces were in the proper position, they were annihilated. The Shapeshifters found a hidden world and withdrew from sight, running their new Dominion as its secret Founders. The Solids came to think of Changelings as a myth. Among themselves, the Shapeshifters even took the pejorative Changeling as an ironic badge of honor. But they made one tragic mistake in all this. Since the memory of how they were betrayed caused so very much pain, it was excised from the Great Link. The Hunts became the reason for their Empire. So, they, too, thought that King Ghidorah was a myth. This was a great mistake. Ghidorah was not a myth, but quite real, and it would return.
On the 200 millionth anniversary of the Dominion's founding, its domain had, after multiple generations of war, extended from the edges of the Delta Quadrant through to the Galactic Barrier. The now-paranoid Shapeshifters were quite safe, as they ruled every aspect of every life of every Solid. The subjects of the Dominion would not turn against them. But history would. In each turn, their own efforts would hamstring them - fatally.
Had anyone kept their wits or their memories about them, they could have easily prepared for Ghidorah's return. But life is seldom that simple.
"As the Ambassador from the Great Link, I ask that any so-called 'evidence' that has Ghidorah merely teleporting away be called for what it is - mean-spirited revisionism."
"It was all so long ago. What did you Ch-Shapeshifters really do, in that great battle? If in fact, you did anything at all."
"No, Solids played no role in the crystal-ship's construction. A Solid's mind is simply not fluid enough to create such art."
"Well certainly I once believed in King Ghidorah. I also believed that a giant rat ate impure children. But now I am of Age, and know that all those old stories are merely that. Our children don't even want to hear them anymore. Why should we? Is it to serve the narrow Changeling view?"
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Gamma Quadrant, c.2200 AD
As was often her displeasurable duty, she separated from the Great Link, and departed for another of the Dominion's worlds. The Vorta had actually seemed perturbed when last they spoke.
"This had better be important."
"Oh, yes, my living Goddess. Most assuredly. You see, my people are all dead. Yes. I am the last Vorta."
"Only a Vorta could say that and feel next to nothing. Sometimes, I think we bred you too well."
"Precisely. You see, a force of pure evil approaches us. Hmm. We are - or should I say we were - not accustomed to such an abstract concept in so raw a form. If not for the psi-inhibiting drugs I took earlier, as part of my therapy, I'd have died with the rest of them, as they felt this presence. Most disturbing."
"How much longer will these inhibitors last?"
"Oh, well, I'm afraid they've already pretty much worn off. Goodbye, my Goddess. It was a pleasure serving you."
With that, the Vorta's head exploded, as the accumulated evil took him with no effort. The Shapeshifter was shocked, but just shook her head and assumed his form. She contacted the First Of All, Leader of the Jem'Hadar forces.
"Yes. First, we Vorta have sensed a strong evil in this region. Have you spotted anything of significance?"
"How is it you yet live, Vorta? Your clone-brother is no more, and many ships report the same. Or are you an impostor?"
To his horror, the Jem'Hadar saw the Vorta shift.
"Forgiveness, Founder. I did not realize my blasphemy. I shall end my life -"
"Perhaps later. What have you seen?"
"Why, merely the further test you sent us. Our new brother is vast, and powerful."
"Show me a picture of your new brother."
At first, the creature onscreen was strange to her. But somewhere, a flood of excised racial memories came bubbling up. She responded with new orders.
"First. Engage and destroy the creature."
"No, my Goddess. We will not. We cannot move to completely destroy one of your own creations."
"Madness. He is not our creation. That is the Ancient Destroyer, King Ghidorah! Again, First, obey your Goddess!"
"He must be your creation. Already 500 worlds are destroyed, by his mighty heads. So powerful a being must serve those whose power created the Universe. In addition, you have fashioned his gold head in your Holy likeness, his middle head like those of the Vorta, and the Head-which- is-Death like our own. No, he is yours and you gods are testing our faith. Have we passed?"
Angrily, the Shapeshifter switched to a wide-band, speaking in effect to all Jem'Hadar everywhere at once.
"The First is relieved of command. Engage and attack King Ghidorah. The creature is destroying the subject worlds. We Founders did not create the Ancient Destroyer, so you are free to move against it."
Still, it was the First who responded.
"But how can this creature be more powerful than the Gods? I am no mere zealot, but I know how you Gods made us. This creature, Ghidorah, bears your mark."
Not using its ability to cloak from long-range sensors, Ghidorah tore the atmospheres from world after defenseless world. In one solar system, it used its gravity beam to ignite a gas giant. Absorbing energy from a flight through that system's sun, the resulting supernova took out an entire sector, and ignited still others in its wake. The female Changeling moved to act.
"Forget Gods, and think only of demons, specifically Ghidorah! We Founders created you, but we are not Gods! You are still programmed to serve your creators, and I demand you do so."
"You - are not Gods?"
"I just said that, didn't I?"
"I - see. To be certain, this changes everything."
"I expect it should. Now, Will You Fight the Enemy? Will You Fight Ghidorah?"
The First closed his eyes. If they could tear, they would have then.
"Thank You For Creating Us, Changeling. We Enjoyed Life And Battle."
"What are you babbling..."
On the master viewscreen, tens of thousands of Jem'Hadar ships winked out and were no more. But Ghidorah was nowhere in sight.
"First, what is happening? I demand you answer!"
"Perhaps we will find Gods on the other side. I hope so, for we have nothing here. We have almost as little as you Founders."
With that, the First activated the self-destruct for his own ship, as many millions of now-Faithless Jem'Hadar had already done. Because to them, a goddess from Mount Olympus had just casually declared the whole of life to be a lie. As she fled for the Founders' world, the Changeling remembered why they had chosen intermediaries when dealing with the Jem'Hadar.
She landed her ship upon their beautiful world, and made for the Great Link. There it lay, warm and inviting. She would not die alone, or perhaps at all.
"We beat you before, creature! Now, the Great Link shall find a way to...."
Suddenly, Ghidorah's gold head came out from behind a hilltop. The head sunk into the Great Link.
"My people! Why do you scream? What is he doing to you?"
Her center of gravity was in her throat, then, as she saw the Great Link begin-to drain. Ghidorah was drinking the Great Link. The Ancient Destroyer was eating her people, and their death-screams filled her mind. That mind remembered sending Changeling infants to another part of the Galaxy, in hopes of eventual colonization. If any survived, they would now be the last. As the Link went down, Ghidorah stopped. The gold head pulled back, and the Death's Head went down in its place. In one mind-cracking instant, the remainder of the Great Link was erased by the touch of anti-life. She was alone, with the creature staring at her. She nodded.
"I understand now. We didn't beat you, didn't even really drive you off. You just decided to be patient, as we often claim to be. You just waited until this Quadrant was an easier target. Until we and the Solids had destroyed the conditions that had held you back last time. By seeking order, and safety, we prevented a recurrence of our earlier sour victory. Our servants were too pliant to help us, because that was how we made them. We allowed none of the subject races free scientific endeavor. Your last pass created the conditions for this one. You piece of cosmic trash. YOU SET US UP!!!!"
Stretching toward the Death's Head, she was gone before she knew it. From the mouth of the gold head, a brownish ooze that was once alive slipped out as though drool. The Mecha-Head then split the planet's mantle with its red beam, setting up its final destruction.
In 30 years, Ghidorah's work would be done. Not an erg of energy nor a scrap of solid matter remained in what was the Gamma Quadrant. Solids and Shapeshifters were at long last equal. –
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2286, Romulan Space
T'Red watched nervously as yet another ship cracked from the strain of tractor-beam towing Ghidorah. His mass was deceptive, even for one so large. T'Red, one of Romulus's finest Captains, was on the verge of openly questioning the Senate's wisdom in bringing the creature to Romulus, dormant or no. How could they hope to control the Three Roads To Death?
"If you become a threat to my ship, or to my homeworld, creature, then I shall kill you, no matter how many Tal Shiar the Senate has aboard. Know this to be true."
But his bold words did not help T'Red banish his dread at the sight of the monster, nor ease his feelings of impending disaster. He turned and walked away, but in many respects he would spend the rest of his life glued to that spot, unable to turn away.
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In Federation Space, something stirred at the top-secret Starbase Omega. It had taken a Starship to kill it. But it was, in its own way, just as capable of regeneration as Ghidorah, for it was the Maw Of Hell, built for no other purpose than to kill the Ancient Destroyer. It stirred, but did not re-activate. A tech observed the slight power-spike.
"Hey, what do you make of that?"
"Aaah, some stray energy is always going in that space-funnel. Don't worry."
"Thanks, but I will worry. I mean, God help the Galaxy if the Doomsday Machine ever comes back on-line!"
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USS ENTERPRISE
"Hey, Unc... Er, Good Morning, Captain Kirk, Sir."
"Hello, Lieutenant Kirk. Are you ready for that important assignment I mentioned?"
"Glad to do it on both fronts, Sir."
"Good. Peter, StarFleet is having us play escort to a select group of family members of the crew. I was wondering if you would be their liaison."
"Well, sure. Again, Sir, I'll do what you say. When are they coming on board?"
"They came on last night, during your orientation. Peter, are you sure? It would make my life easier. Just keep them out of my hair, for the most part. Ok?"
"Uncle Jim, I don't want any special favors, and I certainly expect none. I'm a Kirk. Just give me my duty, and I'll do it so long as it does no harm or otherwise exceeds legal orders. But you know that, so why all this preparation?"
The Captain pointed his nephew toward the largest recreational area on the ship.
"You see, Peter, StarFleet has done it to me again. They want to see if, in the future, Starships could include families onboard. So...."
James Kirk opened the door. Inside, running at top speeds, were Peter's charges. His very young charges, none of them older than 15. Peter's uncle cut him off as he began to speak.
"Now, we'll discuss that private subject you wanted to bring up - later. Lastly, Lieutenant Kirk, it's damned good to have you on board."
"Captain, I...."
"BRIDGE TO CAPTAIN KIRK! Sir, we need you up here."
"On my way, Commander Uhura."
Once in the hall, Jim picked up a communicator.
"Did it work, Sir?"
"Perfectly timed, Uhura. His eyes told me he's contemplating Court- Martial right now - and I can't say I blame him. 200 kids... will he ever forgive me?"
"With all respect, Sir, that boy loves you - just maybe not as much, right now."
Inside, Peter recorded a brief entry in his personal log before jumping into the chaos.
"I am on board the Enterprise, and now will find a way to inform my Uncle, the Captain, of the impending threat of Ghidorah and the conspirators still within the Federation that wish his coming. For now, though, I find I have another duty - that of baby-sitter. When all this is done, I will turn myself in-for my beloved Uncle's murder, as justifiable as it might seem for handing me this choice assignment."
Peter then noticed a little girl of about 10 staring at him, almost wistfully.
"Er, can I help you, Miss..."
"Sulu. Demora Sulu. And I know who you are. You're the Captain's nephew. Wow! You're even more handsome than I thought."
Peter now realized that, on top of finding a way to defeat the Ancient Destroyer, he would now have to deal with that most dreaded of things - the schoolgirl Crush. Life aboard the Enterprise was already interesting, and the times themselves would grow even more so, as a three-headed nightmare had finally arrived in the Alpha Quadrant.