Cenita materialised on the Proxima bridge, two armed guards were with her. Their weapons were drawn but not raised.

"There is no need for guns," said Glav. "We are unarmed."

The Romulan captain smiled thinly. "No need to be alarmed. These are my personal security." She gestured to her companions and they holstered their weapons.

Vash entered the bridge, closely followed by Sebi and Molly.

"Well, now that we are all here," she joked, but no one laughed.

"How about you cut the crap and explain yourself," said Molly.

Vash spun around to face her. She opened her mouth to reply but then decided not to and just smiled.

"We are here to reach an agreement," said Cenita.

Vash signalled for her to be quiet. "First things first," she said. "How long before we reach Othallia?"

"We will be there in thirty minutes," said Sebi. "I still don't understand why you think that's where they will be."

Vash arched an eyebrow. "Trust me, they're there."

Molly cleared her throat and slumped into her seat. "So, Vash. You were about to explain?"

"A few years ago, I got stranded on Rigel 4. While I was trying to get a ride home, I came into contact with someone from a race I'd never met before. That might not sound surprising, but after years of travelling with Q, it's unlikely."

Glav frowned. "Who is Q?"

"Its not important right now," said Vash. "What was important is her race."

Molly glared at Vash, impatiently. "Well?"

"Her name was Mefka, and she identified herself as Othallian."

"That's not possible," said Glav. "Niata said that neither Othall or Skrahl exist anymore, only Triathian."

Sebi turned to look at him. "How do you know that?"

"From what Niata told me inside the void and from what he said in his delirium in the medical bay." A warning alarm sounded and the ship shuddered.

"Computer, what's happening?"

"A subspace distortion wave emanating from Othallia."

"Cause?"

"Unknown."

Vash looked over at Cenita. "We are running out of time." Turning back to Glav. "Can we go any faster?"

Glav nodded, reluctantly. "Computer, increase velocity to warp seven point five."

"Increasing speed to warp seven point five."

"How long until Othallia orbit?"

"Ten minutes."

Molly slammed her fist down on the console and from somewhere drew a phaser. One of the Romulan guards attempted draw his own weapon but was stopped when a phaser blast stunned him. He fell to the ground and the other guard started to move, so she stunned him as well. Cenita moved but stopped as Molly aimed at her.

"Do you want to be next?"

Cenita smiled thinly.

"Molly, put the gun down," said Glav.

"With all due respect, Glav," said Molly. "Shut up. I'm done with this bullshit. Vash, you better have a good story in the next few minutes or you'll be joining the Romulans unconscious on the deck."

Vash had lost her bravado. "That was my intention, Molly, let's just try to stay calm."

"I'm listening," said Molly. "You now have seven minutes."

"The short explanation is, I know how to get those people out of the Separation."

Sebi stared at her. "You do?"

Vash's smile returned. "Yes. The Triathians are a hybrid race, made up of Othall and Skrahl. Both existed either side of the Separation and so the balance between the universes was maintained. Then the Othal discovered Translation, the ability to literally project across space to anywhere you want to go. No ships required. What the Othal didn't realise is that the Translation didn't only cross normal space. Anyone who could project, has the ability to cross into other universal dimensions. That's how the Othal encountered the Skrahl."

"Very interesting," said Molly. "But I don't see what this has to do with what's happening now."

"The destabilisation of space time will continue until we can seal the breach," said Vash. "The only way to do this is to undo the original problem."

Sebi frowned. "Impossible, you're insane."

"It's not impossible, I know how to do it," said Vash. The ship shook again. "Listen, much as I would like to explain more, we are running out of time. Once we make orbit, we'll have a brief window to set up my equipment on the planet."

Molly gestured at Cenita. "Why are the Romulans involved?"

Clearly irritated, Vash sighed. "If space time continues to rupture, whole systems will be destroyed. The nearest occupied worlds to Othallia are in Romulan space. The reason for their presence is obvious."

"Entering planetary orbit," announced the computer.

Still holding the phaser, Molly looked at Glav. "What do you think? Do we trust them?"

Glav stared back at her then looked over at Vash and Cenita. Without a word, he simply nodded.

Molly lowered the weapon but did not put it down. A fact that wasn't lost on Cenita. She met Molly's eye with a cold stare and then smiled thinly.

Sebi brought the Proxima into equatorial orbit, noting that the Romulan vessel was beside them.

Glav gestured to Vash. "What now? It's your show, Vash."

Vash nodded to Cenita, who tapped her com patch. "This is Commander Cenita. Transport the device to the designated location, immediately."

"Yes, Commander."

Vash headed for the turbo lift. "Whoever's coming, follow me."

"I will remain here," said Sebi, eying the unconscious Romulans.

Cenita stopped and called her ship again. "Transport my guard back to the ship," she said. "Put them both in confinement. I'll deal with their incompetence later."

The two guards dematerialised.

"I will still remain here," said Sebi, holding Cenita's gaze.

This too, produced a knowing smile on the Romulan commanders face. Nodding, she followed the others into the turbo lift.

Picard was sat on the steps that led into the building. Next to him, Lumi was trying to comfort a distraught Niata, who was inconsolable.

The ground rumbled beneath them and as he stood up, Picard watched a jagged crack grow across the street and crawl up the wall of the opposite structure.

"We've run out of time," said Niata, fatalistically. "Without the Transportal, I can't open the way."

Lumi had her arm around his shoulder. "Listen to me," she said. "I know it seems hopeless but you must not give up." She glanced over at Picard and pointed in his direction. "Niata, this is Jean Luc Picard. He has faced situations far worse than this and has always found an answer. This man is one of the best of Starfleet. He'll find an answer, won't you Jean Luc?"

Picard frowned, then noticed Niata's almost worshipful gaze. He sighed inwardly.

"Well," he said. "There must be options that we haven't tried yet. Come on, let's go back inside."

As they entered the chamber, a black cylindrical container that reminded Picard of an old oil drum materialised infront of the mosaic. The similarity ended there, as the container was not metal and appeared to have some sort of power within.

Niata looked confused. "What's that?"

Picard shook his head. "I've no idea."

As they approached the cylinder, four people materialised next to it. Molly rushed forward and threw her arms around Picard's neck and then ran to embrace Lumi.

"I'm so glad you're safe," she said.

Picard looked passed her at Vash and the Romulan Commander.

"Vash, what's going on?"

"No time to explain, help me with this Jean Luc."

"Somehow, she's shielding her thoughts, Jean Luc," said Lumi. "I don't trust her."

Vash glared at Lumi. "I dislike Betazoids. I don't see why my innermost thoughts and feelings should be readily available to you."

"That's just a smoke screen and you know it," snapped Lumi. "If you have nothing to hide, drop your shield."

As she continued to work, Vash smiled. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

Picard shook his head. "I'm not helping you with anything." The ground shook again, more violently this time.

Vash met his eye and he saw something he had never seen before. She was genuinely frightened.

"This is only going to get worse, unless you help me." Her voice was almost pleading.

Picard looked at the others and saw a mix of confusion and fear.

He shook his head, resignedly. "Very well." He turned to Molly and whispered. "Stay back and keep your phaser handy. Just in case." They shared an uncertain smile and Picard walked over to where Vash was activating the device.

She looked up at him. "Thank you. We haven't got long." She looked over at Glav. "Can I have Jean Luc's gift?"

Silently, Glav passed her the inscribed language cylinder that the unknown alien had given him at Boconn Station.

Picard tapped the top of the cylinder. "Vash, What is this?"

"It's a sort of key," said Vash, meeting his eye. "I'm sorry Jean Luc."

The pieces began falling into place and Picard stiffened when he realised that, once again, this woman had manipulated him.

"The unknown alien at Boconn Station," he said. "You knew."

Vash smiled. "Not exactly. You were meant to have received the cylinder when you were on Kimayl over a year ago."

"That's why you got yourself on board the Redemption," said Picard. "It had nothing to do with seeing me, you wanted the cylinder."

"That side of things was a bonus."

"One that I hope you both enjoyed," said Cenita.

"What?"

Picard turned around just in time to see Cenita's disruptor leveled at his head.

More Romulans had appeared from the shadows. All armed.

Cenita turned to Molly. "Drop your weapon, or I'll kill your friend."

Molly stared wide eyed at Picard, who nodded and she let her phaser fall to the ground. One of the Romulans collected it.

"You double crossing..." Vash's tirade was cut off abruptly when one of the guards slapped her across the face.

Cenita glared at her. "You have served your purpose human. We have what we want."

The guards herded them into a group.

Cenita signalled to two of the guards.

"The Triathian stays in here, but take the rest of them outside. If there is even a sign that they are not being compliant. Kill them."