Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations: The Collectors by Christopher L. Bennett

Author:Christopher L. Bennett
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fiction, Star Trek
ISBN: 9781476782591
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 2014-12-08T08:00:00+00:00

VIII

* * *

Day 266, 3051

TIA Headquarters, Tandar Prime

Of course, Jena Noi thought as she studied the face of her alternate self. It stood to reason that the Noi of this timeline would still be here; after all, with their different histories, there was no guarantee that she would have been sent on an equivalent mission to retrieve the obelisk. True, in some circumstances, two alternate versions of the same individual would spontaneously merge, but only if one of their timelines had collapsed. Since Noi’s own timeline was the one currently in a deferred state, she would be the one doomed to disappear, not her shorter-haired TIA counterpart. But her suit’s phase shielding protected her against that, as did the underlying physics of this particular situation. At least she hoped so. In general, such erasures occurred only once the probabilities had been definitively resolved. Her continued existence implied that she still had an opportunity to restore her own reality.

But her gut told her that the woman facing her now would make that a significantly more difficult goal to achieve. The other Noi was built much like her but was harder, wirier. Her bearing and expression were those of a seasoned soldier, though she was not above a smirk and a swagger as she stepped forward to examine herself. “So this is the ‘original’ model, hm? The one who presumes she has more right to exist?”

Danlen moved into Noi’s field of view. “Agent Jena Noi of the Federation Temporal Agency, allow me to introduce Assistant Supervisor Jena Noi of the Temporal Intervention Agency. One of my top people.” He smirked. “Maybe two of my top people now, if you agree to cooperate. Hmm . . . how about I call you ‘Jena,’ ” he said to the FTA agent, “and you ‘Noi,’ ” he went on to the TIA supervisor. “Or just ‘Agent’ and ‘Supervisor’ in more formal contexts.”

Supervisor Noi was pacing slowly around Agent Noi, sizing her up from all angles. She took hold of Jena’s long queue of black hair, stroking it. “I haven’t worn my hair like this since college,” she said. “Kind of impractical, isn’t it? Especially in a fight.”

“I try to avoid those.”

“Too bad,” the supervisor said. “Because we’re planning to start one, and the director wants you along.”

Jena turned to Danlen. “The obelisk. You’re going to trigger its return function and send a strike force with it.”

The other Noi grinned with pride. “She’s smart. No surprise there.”

“You must agree,” Danlen told the agent, “that the obelisk technology must be secured, its creators . . . dissuaded from continuing their actions. Given how advanced they will be, we need every advantage we can get in case we meet resistance. Two Jena Nois on the same team would be quite an advantage.

“Not to mention that your firsthand experience with the obelisk could be invaluable. We have the theory, but you’re the only one who’s ridden the thing before.”

“I had no control. It was a desperation move that got me here at all.

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