..August 23rd.  . . 2296. .

Worf was looking down upon the sleeping body of Quarty. They had managed to get a ship big enough for a away team and was relatively spacey. It had enough space for all five men as a group. Data was at the helm along with Riker.

"I doubt myself that this is a old Q." Word said, voicing concern.

"That is under no doubt my Quarty." John-Luc said.

"Safe you can say that, I never seen him grow old, Mr Pocirld." Worf said.

"John-Luc, please." John-Luc said, looking down upon his sleeping mate's body.

"I am very uncomfortable calling you by your first name." Worf said.

"Used to your Captain preference," John-Luc said. "Understandable. . . I never go the chance to ask . . . What is it like without there being a Klingon war?"

"Peaceful," Worf said. "But the Romulans still pose a threat as do certain Klingons against the Federation."

"How cheery." John-Luc said.

"What was it like watching Q grow old?" Worf asked.

"Pleasant." John-Luc said.

"Pleasant?" Worf repeated, confused.

"Except for the rapid memory loss," John-Luc said. "We had everything under control. His inability to walk and his weakening eyesight . . ."

"I understand something about you and him," Worf said. "You are very content growing old with someone who is not to be trusted."

"His name is Quarty and I am sure he will love it if you call him that," John-Luc said. "I was like you in the beginning. A lot, really."

Worf raised a brow.

"He did something to persuade you otherwise." Worf said.

"He thought of my needs before his," John-Luc said. "The Q you told me of would have left me to die or otherwise enter into a deep medititation. I could have medidated and ended up losing my focus halfway through because of some gaurds . . . But he broke me out using the only way that could have sent us back to the original Enterprise."

"How long did it take you to develop this . . ." Worf started to ask but he couldn't finish the thought.

"Opinion?" John-Luc finished. "Two years and one week."

"You often talk about working with the Romulans. . ." Worf started. "What was that like?"

"Them. . ." John-Luc said. "They were . . .Helpful. But the hate towards them never burned away. I lost my friend Jack Crusher in their attempt to 'help' one of the Federation's small ships." He was sitting down by Quarty's side. "I never did get along with Romulans and I had to pretend that we did get along for the Federation's sake." He had a laugh. "Honestly, if working with Klingons in your timeline is better than how our alliance with the Romulans then I will be glad there is a one true original timeline."

"It is," Worf said. "When I get back . . . Should I tell my captain about you and Quarty?"

"No." John-Luc said, without any hesistation.

Worf looked at Quarty.

"The only way I recognized Quarty was by his voice alone," Worf said. "He used his older voice once when mimicking a old man . . . But it looked nothing like this version of him on the biobed."

"Seems a lot like fate." John-Luc said.

"Or he knew this would happen." Worf said.

"He knew nothing of the sorts," John-Luc said, briefly closing his eyes. "If he did . . . There are so many things he would have not done."

John-Luc remembered the memory that he had seen. The memory of Jessie's disappearance that were all too real. He had experienced the emotions Quarty had gone through shortly after her death. John-Luc sighed, feeling his own little hole in his heart that Jessie had once filled. His heart is placed by his chest rather than in the center of the chest. The mind meld had been strong and emotional between them.

"Riker to Sickbay," Riker's voice came to. "We have come into contact with Voyager."

John-Luc got up then went over to the communication device on the wall.

"Have you made the little lie?" John-Luc said.

"Yes and they are awaiting a test run," Riker said. "I can't believe they fell for it. I feel bad for lying . . ."

"It will be relevant to know their alive, it will." John-Luc said.

"Get ready for transport," Riker said. "Riker out."

John-Luc picked up the lightweight Quarty into his arms.

"Make sure the communications turn off after we are beamed and raise the shields," John-Luc said. "Not until I give the signal."