Episode 48. Proof of the Future
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Thursday, August 1, 2024 - 3:57 AM
- Location
-
- Space
- Lunar Orbit
- USS Enterprise
- Isolation Quarters
- Timeline
- Contaminated Timeline
- Previously
-
The Andorian Tarsi, a Starfleet temporal officer, has revealed to Agnes and Angie that she is a fugitive from the 26th century. She claims she tried to find the Vulcan vessel VSS Schak'Irra, which vanished in 1954, but that a temporal contamination diverted History itself. According to her, Tholian ships are wandering through this altered timeline, and the Enterprise is at the heart of the paradox. Wary but intrigued, Agnes decides to continue the interview under heavy surveillance.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank | Species | Original Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Angie Chen | NATO / Special Fleet | Commander | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Tarsi | Starfleet / Temporal Division | Commander | Andorian | Prime Timeline |
Manifest
| USS Enterprise | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | Lunar Orbit |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez |
| First Officer | Angie Chen |
| Pilot | Eric Corda |
| Communications | Emilie Flores |
| Operations | Charlene Savea |
| Tactical |
|
| Science | N/A |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos |
| Sickbay | Victor S. Calpel |
| Counselor/Consultant | Manu |
| Custodian | Manu |
| Passengers | Tarsi (Confidential) |
TL;DR
To prove her claims, Tarsi reveals a holographic implant hidden in her abdomen. It contains her flight logs, temporal readings, and personal data, accessible by projection or through a Bynar-made storage chip capable of holding several quantexaoctets of information. Between awkward humor and technological genius, Tarsi eventually convinces Agnes and Angie that her story is sincere, even if the captain remains cautious in the face of technology from another age... or another future.
Story
We have been interviewing Tarsi for more than an hour now, and the least I can say is that she has a real talent for tying even more knots into an already tangled mess.
I remain perplexed. Her revelations are disturbing, but at times they sound like pure science fiction.
On one hand, I would like to believe her story. On the other, there is our reality.
Whatever the case, I think I made the right decision by placing her in quarantine and, for now, keeping NATO Command in the dark.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Tarsi, I am going to be honest with you.
I'm skeptical, and I'd like you to add some credibility to your story.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Huh?!
I have to pay for my story? But I do not have any money, Captain Agnes Rodriguez.
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
No, Tarsi.
The captain is asking you to provide tangible evidence that your story is true.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Ah... all right.
Um... like navigation recordings, logbooks, that sort of thing?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I assume all of that is in your vessel.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Um... not exactly.
I don't store any data aboard the Tal'Kyr, to prevent it from being used against me.
Remember, I am a fugitive.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
So I should take your word for it.
Cmdr. Tarsi
No, Captain Agnes Rodriguez.
I have everything... here.
With a sudden movement, Tarsi pushes her chair back, moves away from the table, and points to her abdomen.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
In your stomach???
Cmdr. Tarsi
No, no!
Right here!
I stare at her, unable to understand what she is trying to show me. Then she stands up and slightly lifts her T-shirt, revealing a luminous shard embedded at her navel.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
... Your navel?
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
Ha ha ha.
That is original.
I had guessed that luminous shard was not just a gemstone.
Cmdr. Tarsi
It is a holographic implant of my own design.
I can give it any appearance, or cloak it depending on the circumstances.
Inside is a small storage chip containing all my data.
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
How do you control it?
Cmdr. Tarsi
It is connected to my nervous system, as well as to other implants.
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
Incredible...
You are a bionic extraterrestrial equipped like a Swiss Army knife!
Cmdr. Tarsi
Oh no, nothing that spectacular.
They are just a few little gadgets I picked up.
Technological implants are fairly common in my era.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
All right, Tarsi.
How do we access that data?
Cmdr. Tarsi
There are three ways to access it.
I can project it into the room as a hologram...
Or I can give you the chip, which you will be able to read on your computers.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What is the third method?
Cmdr. Tarsi
A direct feed to my optic implants.
But in that case, no one but me can see it.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Myeah...
Go ahead. Project it.
Tarsi tilts her head slightly and gives a brief wink. The luminous shard embedded in her abdomen immediately intensifies, then projects a multitude of shapes and signs around us, suspended in the air.
Caught off guard by their proximity, Angie and I both step back to clear the space.
Cmdr. Tarsi
What you're seeing is the Tal'Kyr's flight log since my escape in 2554.
You can see every era I stopped in.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Wow...
I've never seen anything so... well... floaty.
What do you think, Number One?
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
It is the same technology I saw in the shuttle.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I was talking about the data, Number One.
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
Ah... um...
The list of destinations is impressive. And the details are very precise.
Cmdr. Tarsi
I wandered for many weeks to gather all this information.
You can also consult my personal log.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
If there is nothing too intimate, and if it adds value, why not.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Well... as long as you keep it to yourselves, I don't mind.
Completely absorbed in reading the displayed data, I startle when the luminous shapes suddenly vanish, as if the fuses had blown.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Heeey...
What are you doing, Tarsi? Why did you cut the projection?
Cmdr. Tarsi
I am going to remove the chip from my implant and give it to you.
That way, you can make a copy and review it whenever you like.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Copy it how?
We do not have your devices from the future.
Cmdr. Tarsi
That will not be a problem.
The chip is actually a 20th-century antique... one you're very familiar with.
Tarsi makes an almost imperceptible movement. The luminous shard embedded in her navel pulses once, then something slowly detaches from it, as if drawn out by an invisible force.
The tiny object floats in the air for a moment before gliding precisely into the open palm of her hand. Tarsi curls her fingers slightly... then presents what she is holding.
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
Oh my God...
It looks like a SIM card.
Cmdr. Tarsi
That is correct, Angie.
The oldest technologies are often the most reliable.
If this chip fell into the hands of my contemporaries, they would have a very hard time accessing it.
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
But its storage capacity is limited, right?
Cmdr. Tarsi
In your era, yes.
But this one is designed with 26th-century technology.
It has a capacity of five QXo.
It is a unique model in the galaxy, which I specially ordered from the Bynars.
I had them make a small batch for me.
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
QXo?
Cmdr. Tarsi
The quantexaoctet.
That's ten to the two hundred and ninety-seventh power bytes.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Angie... close your mouth.
Your jaw is about to come loose.
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
Um... yes.
That's an enormous amount of storage compared to what we have aboard the Enterprise.
Here, we barely reach the quettaoctet.
I am afraid we will have to select what we want to copy.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Do not worry, Angie.
I have several chips I can part with.
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
But what could possibly require that much storage?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Resolution.
We have reached the subatomic level.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Thank you for showing us all this, Tarsi.
I'm still skeptical... but I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.
Cmdr. Tarsi
I understand your skepticism, Captain Agnes Rodriguez.
I'd probably feel exactly the same in your position.
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