 |
||||
==================================
Star Trek: The Crouton Generation
Season 4, Pack #31
==================================
Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1993 11:10:45 -0600
From: mwzecca@ouray.Denver.Colorado.EDU (The Admiral)
I'll be posting the full episode around Sept. 1 or so:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
STAR TREK: THE CROUTON GENERATION
"Into the Net"
* * * FLASHBACK EPISODE * * *
You've heard about it...
Ambassador (Arthur Ashe): What the hell is he talking about?
Avenger (clean shaven, full hair): I don't know, but I don't think we
should stay and find out.
But you've never read the complete story...
Townsend (Anne-Marie Martin): So they leave us no choice.
Until now.
[ _Terminator 2_ music kicks in. ]
Heins: Shields down to 17% and dropping!
McReynolds (Phil Morris): I've got to take the mains off-line!
Avenger: We're not going anywhere.
B.A.R.T.: Ay carumba, they're inside my head!
Bjorn of Borg: This set is ours.
THE DAY THE _PIKE_ WENT DOWN...
[ Receding view of the _USS Christopher Pike_ being pulled in ]
[ by a Borg cube as debris is littered through space. ]
...on the next STAR TREK: THE CROUTON GENERATION!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1993 15:35:51 -0600
From: mwzecca@ouray.Denver.Colorado.EDU (The Admiral)
Subject: ST:TCG "Into the Net" (Flashback episode)
"Captain's Log, Stardate 95675.9. After a trip through the Bajoran
wormhole, we are proceeding at maximum warp to Sinnet IV, a planet deep within
the Gamma Quadrant. The _Pike_ is ferrying an ambassador to study Sinnet's
Federation membership application, which was submitted surprisingly quickly
upon our first contact with the Sinnetians just a few weeks ago. The ambassa-
dor and I are both curious about their impatient inquiries and would like to
know what secret this world contains."
Avenger clicked off the log recorder and stared across the desk at the
far wall. Hanging on it was a large framed painting, a watercolor interpreta-
tion of an old Terran baseball park known as "Coors Field." As he admired the
tall yellow lines of the foul poles and the rough texture of the Rock Pile,
nagging thoughts stirred deep within him once again.
He launched himself to his feet suddenly and strode across his quarters
to the food replicator.
"Dr. Pepper, 20 degrees C."
"Usual syrup to water ratio, man?"
"Yes, B.A.R.T." As the glass full of the dark liquid whirled into
existence, Avenger shook his head. "What was Star Fleet thinking when they
gave you the personality of an ancient Terran cartoon character?"
"I don't know, man," replied B.A.R.T. "Ask the damn Yoyoboqians."
Avenger picked up the glass and walked back to the painting. After a
moment's contemplation, he lifted the glass as if to toast the work (and its
artist) and downed half the contents. He set the glass down and turned back
to his data terminal.
"Dear T'Lilith," he typed at his usual frantic pace. "Thank you for your
kindness. When I look at the grassy lines of the field with those rolling
mountains you drew in the distance, it brings up certain memories of home."
Avenger paused and stared at the terminal a while. He took another drink,
finally, and placed his fingers on the keyboard again. More slowly, he began
to type again. "There's something I've been wanting to tell you, but it's not
easy to admit. I have been afraid that this revelation would destroy what has
been, up to now, a wonderful friendship."
He thought it over some more, then lowered his head and pressed the
"erase" button. Topping off the glass of caffeine nutrient solution, he shut
down the terminal and padded off toward his bed.
"Lights off, ports open." As the lights in his cabin dimmed, his view-
ports, usually closed tight, slid open to reveal the soft starlight streaming
by as the ship streaked through space.
He lay on his back for some time, hands behind his head, looking out into
the void in deep contemplation. "I'm not ready to tell her yet," he whispered
to himself. Absent-mindedly, he began to play with the wristband of his
prized Timex, an ancient Terran chronometer that had somehow survived the
centuries with him, although the face was now scratched and the band damaged.
When he finally caught himself, he decided it was time for sleep. He rolled
over onto his stomach, pulled the sheets over his head and lay in the darkness
for another hour until the Sandman arrived with his customary brick-across-
the-back-of-the-head.
Somewhere far beyond Avenger's windows, the distant starlight glinted
off a more sinister shape gliding through the darkness...
FADE TO BLACK
----------------------------------------------------------------------
STAR TREK: THE CROUTON GENERATION
"Into the Net"
* * * Flashback episode * * *
Written by the Admiral
Starring
Michael Zecca as Captain M. Robert Avenger
John Heins as Commander John Heins
Also starring
Michael Atkinson as Lt. Mike Atkinson
Chris Evert as Dr. Theresa Hammond
Neil Patrick Harris as Lt. Jack Howsam
Anne-Marie Martin as Lt. Cdr. Townsend
Phil Morris as Lt. Cdr. Stan McReynolds
and
Nancy Cartwright as B.A.R.T.
Guest stars
Boris Becker as Lt. JG Becker
Bjorn Borg as Bjorn of Borg
Peter Gammons as Mong Tir
Dave Logan as Cdr. Gebhard
"Double-S" Les Shapiro as Wib Til
Special guest star
Arthur Ashe as Ambassador Templeton
Directed by Tim Lynch
Music by James Horner
Notes:
[1] _King Lear_, Act V, Scene iii.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Fit as a proverbial fiddle." Dr. Hammond smiled up at the lean man
perched on the side of her diagnostic table.
"Nonsense," said the Ambassador. "I haven't been the same since I had
my artificial heart implanted."
"Well, you're taking good care of yourself, at least." The Sickbay doors
parted to allow the captain and first officer passage. "Unlike some people
around here." She frowned.
"Well hello to you too, Terry," sneered Heins. "I don't suppose you're
going to let us have him?"
"Please forgive John," apologized Avenger. "He still hasn't forgiven
Theresa for his last physical." He glared over at the doctor. "And next time
you give me a booster, Terry, you'd better use the hypospray."
"I thought you *liked* needles," she smiled.
"I believe there is work to be done," the Ambassador interrupted as he
pulled himself to his feet.
Avenger communicator booped urgently. He slapped it and was rewarded
with the even more pressing voice of his second officer.
"Captain, the Sinnetians are getting impatient. Their leader, a Mr. Mong
Tir, has already called the ship five times. I'm not answering it next time!"
"Good thinking, Townsend," Avenger acknowledged. "I think we've made
them wait long enough though. Ambassador?"
The Ambassador motioned for Avenger to lead the way, and the three left
Sickbay. Dr. Hammond turned from the door and frowned, bringing a file back
up on the screen.
* * * * *
"We have much to provide, truly, Ambassador. Culture, especially our
wide variety of public sporting events, certain treasures, delicacies..."
"I am sure that is true, Mong Tir, but we need time to--"
"No time! We don't *have* that kind of time!"
"If I may interrupt," interjected Avenger. "Federation membership is a
tricky thing, Mr. Tir. We like to know more about a culture before we offer
them membership. More importantly, we like to know what dark secrets they
may be hiding."
Tir's complexion slid into a pale blue from its healthier mauve.
"I am sorry. I can not tell you--"
"Then we can not offer your world membership at this time." Templeton
slapped his electronic databook closed and turned to leave. Avenger turned
with him, playing along.
A smaller man rushed into the room, his face flushed magenta. "Mong
Tir! Mong Tir!"
Tir shouted the smaller man down in frustration. "What is it, Wib Til?!"
"The white line bounds the court. They are coming!"
"NO!" Tir rushed forward, pointing an accusing finger at Templeton.
"Fools! You see what you have done? You would not defend us. No one will!
And now they come."
"Who?" asked Avenger.
"They said you would come," Tir continued, almost babbling now. "They
spared us to bring you here. I had hoped you would act more intelligently and
open your arms to us, but you would not! Oh, woe!"
"What the hell is he talking about?" asked Templeton.
"I don't know," said Avenger, glancing about quickly. "But I don't think
we should stay and find out." He slapped his communicator. "_Pike_, two to
beam up."
* * * * *
Avenger stepped from the sparkling new Croutonizer pad and found Townsend
waiting for him. She looked a little more impatient, more frantic than usual.
"Captain, we've got trouble."
"Explain." Avenger heard a loud groan beside him and turned. He managed
to catch the ambassador just as he collapsed, avoiding a serious blow to the
Ambassador's head.
"Ambassador, what's wrong?" exclaimed Avenger. Templeton wheezed and
clutched his chest. "Aw, dammit."
"Medical emergency in Croutonizer 2!" Townsend shouted into her communi-
cator. "Terry, get your butt up here now!"
* * * * *
"Damn it. Damn it. Damn it." Avenger marched out of the turbolift onto
a bridge aflurry with activity. Townsend followed closely at his heels. "What
the--?"
Mals Dnarg, the larger moon of Sinnet IV, glowed brightly high above the
_Christopher Pike_, sparks, flares and fountains leaping from its surface.
"Hi, Mike. Nice to see you," Heins called sarcastically as he looked
over Atkinson's shoulder. "Somebody's tearing up the moon from the far side."
"Source?" Townsend wondered.
"Dunno," mumbled Atkinson. "We're getting some major interference...
looks like the moon's made of reflective metals instead of green cheese."
Townsend glared coldly at Atkinson. He averted her gaze and returned to
his status board. Avenger scratched at his chin thoughtfully.
"Mike, launch a Class IV probe. I want to know what we're getting into.
Yellow alert."
Yellow light panels began to flash around the bridge. Avenger cocked his
head, gesturing for Townsend to follow as he glided down to the center seat.
As was often the case, she found herself seated in the first officer's chair
while Heins loomed over them from the tactical station.
"Probe launched," said Atkinson.
"Moon ETA 12 seconds," Heins announced.
"Probe's eye view on screen," ordered Avenger.
"Aye." Howsam switched the forward viewer to the images coming in from
the probe. The pitted surface of Mals Dnarg rose up, debris erupting from
its surface.
"Come on..." Avenger muttered impatiently.
Just before the probe reached the limb of the damaged satellite, its
image broke into static and the screen went dark. Howsam switched it back
to the view from the ship.
"Telemetry from the probe has ceased," Atkinson reported as he rechecked
his instruments. "We've lost it."
"So they leave us no choice," spat Townsend.
"Apparently." Avenger sat back in his chair, did a Picard maneuver and
looked up at John.
"Red alert," Heins ordered. He moved his hands across the tactical
display, raised shields, began drawing power to the phaser banks.
"Howsam, plot a course around the south pole of the moon. Let's see if
we can take them by surprise."
"Aye, sir." Howsam laid in the course.
Avenger looked at Townsend. Her auburn hair filtered around her shoulders
and over the black shoulders of her red uniform tunic. He'd never noticed how
soft her eyes were, despite the cold wall she projected. She was a hell of a
command officer, Avenger admitted, and appeared to be a striking woman too
(though he would never have thought of pursuing her himself). She had grown
under his command, as he had working with her. He thought it was time she had
a command of her own. He would have to put more pressure on Star Fleet when
they got back...
She found him examining her and fidgeted in her seat. The captain rarely
looked anyone in the eye, not for deceptive reasons, but simply because he was
not comfortable with the vast array of emotions he could read. She was curious
about his intentions, but she also recognized he was giving her the floor.
She turned toward Howsam and the scarred face of Mals Dnarg. She leaned
forward and pointed at Howsam. "Engage."
* * * * *
"Damn! I was afraid of this."
"D-doctor..." Ambassador Templeton's voice was a whisper and his eyes
could not find and focus on her. She swallowed hard and moved the surgery
unit into place over his chest.
"Ambassador, there's something I neglected to tell you before," she
admitted. "I hoped we could talk about it after you completed this mission."
"Something...wrong?" he croaked.
"You tested positive for HIV-6A. You must have contracted it during your
heart replacement surgery. You're starting to show symptoms."
He closed his eyes, tight.
"Don't go to sleep on me...I'm not going to lose you, damn it!" she
exclaimed.
His eyes opened again and he found her this time. She could see now that
he was NOT unconscious. Instead, his eyes burned with an inner rage. Guilt
washed over Hammond and she could not hold his gaze. She looked to her nurse
to insure everyone was ready for surgery. He nodded back at her.
"I had hoped I would not develop the symptoms," hissed Templeton. "I did
not want this made public...to jeopardize my career..."
"You knew?" Dr. Hammond was at once relieved and stunned.
"I knew. I had one previous attack...at home." His breath drew short.
"Well, the bad thing about HIV-6A is the artificial heart," Terry sighed.
"It traps tainted blood...and the virus. I can't successfully purge the virus
from your body and the natural vessels to your heart are weakened. We can't
just take the heart out, because you'd just contaminate the life support unit
while we replace it."
"What will you do?"
"What can I do?" Terry looked sadly into his eyes. "I'm going to hold
the pieces together until we can get you to Bethesda. Maybe I can do something
to strengthen your aorta and pulmonary for the time being."
"Do what you must, Doctor." Templeton sighed and laid his head back,
waiting for the anesthesologist to do her work.
* * * * *
"Fifteen seconds," Howsam reported, steadying himself with the con board.
"Everybody look sharp," warned Avenger.
"Captain," said Atkinson, "Mals Dnarg is no longer being attacked."
"Sensor readings?"
"The interference is still there."
"Damn!" Townsend leapt to her feet and looked over the Ops ensign's
shoulder. She looked back up at the screen. "What the hell is going on?"
"We are now at the damaged area," reported Howsam. The moon below lay
ripped open before them, scarred beyond recognition. It was as if someone
had used a giant space bulldozer to scoop up dirt and rock...
"Turn us around!" Avenger turned his chair hard to the left. "John,
prepare to--!"
Too late. He felt something grab hold of the ship, throwing him from
his chair. Blushing, he picked himself up off of Townsend and helped her to
her feet.
"I wish you'd get that gravitational stabilizer fixed," she complained.
"Sorry about that, Number T--" He froze as they caught the image on the
viewscreen. Lying a few kilometers off the _Pike_'s stern was a dark, ominous
cube shape. A green tractor beam held the _Pike_ firmly in its grip.
"Borg..." Townsend was as stunned as he was. "I thought we'd finished
with them?!"
"Apparently not," Heins noted. "It's Bjorn, Mike. Caught us completely
by surprise."
Avenger dropped back into the command chair and slammed the comm button
down with two fingers. "McReynolds, shut down the left impulse engine."
"What?" the chief engineer responded. "What for?"
"Just do it." Avenger closed the channel and looked to the con. "Jack,
go to maximum impulse as soon as the left engine shuts down."
"A-aye, sir," Howsam stuttered as he wondered what the captain was up to
this time.
"What about phaser power?" wondered Heins.
"Use warp," replied Avenger. "We're not going anywhere."
"Are you crazy?" asked Townsend.
"Some people think so, but that hasn't stopped me." He looked her square
in the eyes again, which sent a chill through her spine. "We can't just let
the Borg have the planet, can we?"
She nodded agreement and returned to her/Heins' chair.
"John, prepare to fire. You'll know when. Don't waste time trying to
get a lock."
"You lead and I'll follow." Heins pressed a few more buttons.
"Captain, the left impulse engine has been shut down," reported Howsam.
"Engage." Avenger gripped the arms of his chair and gestured with his
eyes for Townsend to do the same. Howsam pressed a few buttons, then grabbed
tight hold of his console as the ship spun hard to the left.
"Tractor lock has been broken!" Atkinson exclaimed.
"Firing phasers," said Heins. Highly charged streams jumped from the
perimeter of the saucer and leapt toward the source of the tractor beam. A
bright flash followed by a small eruption of debris signalled a direct hit.
"Main tractor hit, minor damage," reported Townsend, examining a small
status screen at her right hand.
"Damn. It's not enough." Avenger leaned forward toward Con. "Short
warp burst -- get us to the other side of--"
The floor came out from under them as the ship lurched hard to one side.
A second tractor beam, from lower down the hull, grasped the saucer of the
_Pike_ tightly. A third tractor beam grabbed hold of the ship and began to
draw it closer.
Avenger crawled to his knees slowly, massaging a bruised knee. His
officers slowly climbed back to their stations. The main viewer was awash
in green.
"Borg tractor beams are locked on...they're pulling us in!" yelled Howsam.
The bridge rocked as a tractor beam sliced into the saucer section of
the _Christopher Pike_, carving it like a Christmas turkey.
"There's a rescue ship on its way, sir," Townsend reported. She pulled
her blood-stained hair away from a large gash in her forehead. "The shuttles
and escape pods are our best bets. The Borg will be too busy carving up the
ship to worry about us."
Avenger made his way back across the bridge, staggering to his beloved
command chair. He grabbed hold tight of an armrest and pulled himself down
into it.
"Shields down to 17% and dropping!" Heins exclaimed.
"McReynolds, what's the news?" Avenger screamed into his commpanel.
"I've got to take the mains off-line, Captain!" the chief engineer called
back. "The reactor core's going to breach any second!"
"Mike," Heins finally said. "We're not going to make it. You *have* to
make a decision."
Avenger clenched his hands about the armrests of his command chair, his
knuckles turning white. He clenched his jaw so tightly that the veins in his
forehead bulged.
The main tractor beam flared to life again, ripping into the hull,
drawing the ship ever closer.
Townsend looked to him with pleading eyes. She had a closer bond with
this ship than any of them and she was ready to give it up.
The main viewer flickered and switched to a dim corridor inside the
Borg ship. A Swede with a white metal headband and electronically assisted
serving arm stepped forward.
Bjorn smiled grimly. "This set is ours."
A Borg soldier whispered into existence near a science station, pushing
Atkinson and two ensigns to the ground as it stepped forward to interface.
Heins whirled and pushed his phaser into the Borg's available ear, firing
a short blast at a stun setting. The Borg howled and fell to the floor, its
ear crisp and smoking, its body lifeless. Two more whispered into existence
in its place.
"Come on," said Avenger. "Let's get the hell out of here." He tapped
his communicator as he dashed to his Ready Room one last time. "All hands,
abandon ship! Repeat, all hands, abandon ship!"
* * * * *
"We can't just leave him in this condition!" Dr. Hammond exclaimed as
two of her nurses tried to pull her toward the exit. She broke free and
rushed back to Templeton's side.
Surprisingly, he woke, despite the anesthetics, and looked into her eyes.
"Doctor," he whispered. "You've done all you can."
"No! I can close you up, get you onto a shuttle..."
"Doctor, if I am going to die...let me die with dignity."
"Wh-what are you saying?"
"If I return with you, I will live the rest of my life humiliated, forced
out of my profession by an accident. Leave me here. Allow my friends, my
family to remember me by my successes."
"I..I can't. It goes against my..."
"Doctor. Please. The Borg can not use me. I would only add the HIV
infection to their Collective."
"Is there...anything I can do for you?"
He closed his eyes and swallowed, then opened to look at her again.
"Give me death."
Shock filled her face. Euthanasia went against all her principles, as
it did with most Terran doctors. Four centuries before, an American doctor
had been blacklisted and later imprisoned for similar practices. Yet...
A Borg drone whispered into existence in her office. Hammond grabbed
her medical bag and a few assorted instruments. She found a drug canister
and loaded it into a hypo, then approached Templeton.
"I can't...I can't do it for you."
"Give it to me, Doctor. That is all I ask."
She blinked back tears, looked with repressed fear at the drone across
the room, then placed the hypo firmly in Templeton's hand.
"Good-bye, Ambassador."
"Thank you, Doctor."
She never looked back. As she followed the last of her people out of
the Sickbay, she thought she heard the hiss of a hypospray...
* * * * *
"We've got maybe five minutes if we're lucky." Avenger held the few
personal effects he was able to salvage from his office in his arms.
"Captain," Howsam stuttered, looking at Avenger with a look of fright.
"We're not going to make it out, are we?"
Avenger patted him on the arm and tried to look confident. "We'll make
it out, Jack. Why don't you round up your wife and coordinate escape routes
on the crew deck."
"Aye, sir." Howsam looked up into Avenger's eyes and extended a hand.
"Good luck, Captain."
Avenger grasped the hand, but couldn't bring himself to smile. For
the first time in years, he felt an overwhelming sense of failure.
The turbolift doors opened. "John, Number Two, come on." Townsend and
Heins followed Avenger out of the lift and allowed Howsam and the rest to
continue on.
"Where are we going?"
"Sickbay, then Engineering."
Dr. Hammond came around the corner, in tears.
"Terry," asked Heins, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder. "What's
wrong?"
"N-nothing," she lied.
"Doctor," Avenger pressed. "Where's the Ambassador?"
"D-dead."
"Damn." Lt. JG Becker came around the corner, a security squad in tow.
Avenger stopped him with a hand.
"Boris, get the doctor to an escape pod and make sure the science decks
are evacuated. We'll meet you soon."
"Ja wohl, mein Herr." Becker led the doctor away by the hand.
"Come on."
* * * * *
As they raced to Engineering, they passed by numerous crew and families.
Some of the children cried, others clutched teddy bears or stuffed sehlats
closely. All were frightened.
"No time," called Townsend. "Come on."
They reached Engineering and the famous "pool table" control console.
Avenger punched a few buttons and scanned his palmprint.
"Computer, recognize Avenger, Captain M. R. SI4213-27003. Encode
self-destruct, time delay 180 seconds."
"Ay carumba," B.A.R.T. exclaimed. "You sure about this, man?"
"Code CPE-1704-TKS."
"Confirmed, man."
Avenger looked up at Heins and Townsend. They nodded back with the
same level of determination. They had made a great team...
"Computer, this if first officer Heins, Cdr. J. M. SS323-47659. Confirm
self-destruct. Code 6-4-2-3."
"Computer, this is second officer Townsend, Lt. Cdr. A. M. SH272-3861.
Confirm self-destruct and activate. Code zero zero zero destruct zero."
They heard a shimmering whisper and whirled to find five Borg drones
clustered around the warp core. Two rushed forward and fired tennis balls
in their general direction.
"Out! Come on!" Avenger rushed them out of Engineering. The threat
averted the Borg did not give chase.
B.A.R.T. chirped and squealed. "Self-destruct sequence deactivated. Ay
carumba, they're inside my head!"
* * * * *
They reached the escape pod as the last of the crew crammed in. Townsend
pressed the "close" button and the pod's doors began to shut, but ran into a
problem.
"The hatch is jammed. Controls must be shorting out," she realized.
"We won't be able to disengage until the inner doors on the ship shut."
"Let me help," offered Heins. They reopened the pod doors and tried to
pull the airlock doors closed...to no avail.
"Mike, somebody's going to have to manually eject the pod from outside."
"I'll do it," said Avenger, leaping to press pass them. Townsend held
him back with a hand.
"No, Captain. I can't let you do this." She took a deep breath and
stated, forcefully, "*I* will go."
"Townsend, I can't ask--"
"Captain, this ship has been my home for the past seven years. I can
not leave her behind now."
"Number Two, with all due respect, you're being ridiculous. We won't
be able to come back--"
"Exactly why you should stay in the pod, Captain!" Townsend stood up to
her full height, then up on her toes and looked up into Avenger's eyes as best
she could. "I never bought this bleeding heart 'Captain goes down with his
ship' crap and I'm certainly not going to let you macho your way past me.
Star Fleet still needs you--" She stopped and whirled on Heins before he
could open *his* mouth or make a move. "*And* you, Commander." She whirled
back to Avenger. "If the Borg are making another move, the Fleet will need
your help. If you sacrifice yourself now, you'll be throwing away the lives
of trillions of others."
Avenger rested his hand on her forearm, choking back a tear. "Amber..."
"Damn you, Avenger! You KNOW I hate that name!"
"I can't...let you go. Logically, you're right, but..."
Silent tears welled in Townsend's eyes as she pushed Avenger back into
the pod. "Don't say anything, Captain. Don't try to rationalize. Just go...
and be there when they need you."
"Amber, I've been spending weeks pulling strings trying to get you a
command of your own. How can I just--?"
"Consider it my first command decision." She suddenly pulled him close,
embraced him tightly. "It's been great working with you." She let go, ran
through the hatch and slammed the close button.
"Townsend, wait!" Heins and Avenger rushed forward to find the airlock
doors closing tightly before them. They slammed their fists against the door
several times, but Townsend merely stood on the other side shaking her head.
Avenger felt the wristband of his watch break. He didn't even notice as his
beloved timepiece fell to the deck and shattered.
"Come on, Mike. You know how stubborn she is." Heins grabbed Avenger
by the arm and slammed the "Close" button to reclose the pod's doors. Despite
his apparent lack of respect, Avenger could tell John was hurting inside.
Heins moved past into the co-pilot's seat, leaving Avenger with his thoughts.
He watched as Townsend waved, smiled at him one last time and launched
the pod. As the pod sailed away from the _Pike_, Avenger watched sadly as
his starship shrank from view. The Borg then moved in for the kill, carving
up his beloved saucer section.
He could look no longer, instead turning his gaze to the scattered
components of his ancient timepiece. He stared at them for some time, not
blinking, not breathing.
"A plague upon you," he finally whispered. "Murderers, traitors all!
I might have saved her; now she's gone for ever." [1]
* * * * *
The tractor beam pulled the pod closer, closer, closer until finally,
agonizingly, the pod came to a halt and pressed itself to a docking port.
After several minutes, the inner doors opened. Heins waited for Avenger to
take the lead, but Avenger didn't move. Impatient, Heins opened the pod's
doors himself.
"I'm Gebhard, XO of the _Ellison_. Are you people all right?" the tall
man on the other side of the doors asked. He reached a hand out to give
Heins a lift out of the pod. Together they helped others.
"I'm Heins, XO of the _Pike_. Borg caught us by surprise. They got the
ship, but we managed to get most of the crew out in time."
"I know. We've managed to recover eight escape pods and four shuttles
already." Gebhard watched the way Heins looked about nervously, occasionally
peering through the escape pod portholes. "It's okay, Commander. The Borg
haven't followed you here. And we're ready for them."
"Uh...good." Heins helped the last of the crew out of the escape pod.
He and Gebhard watched Avenger, who sat alone now in the pod, his mind adrift
somewhere.
Avenger stood and walked forward, seating himself in the pilot's chair.
Heins looked at Gebhard, then ducked his head and re-entered the pod himself.
He walked forward slowly, silently.
Avenger stared out into space. Heins could tell Avenger was torturing
himself inside, much like he did the day he failed his first Kobyashi Maru.
John hadn't been there for him that day. He'd vowed never to make the same
mistake again. He'd stuck by Avenger through all these years, served side by
side with him as much as possible. They'd pulled each other out of the frying
pan on numerous occasions and John hoped this wasn't going to be the last.
A nervous chill begin to overtake John's spine. Unable to resist the
temptation, he walked over to the weapon's locker and removed a single phaser.
It was a standard dustbuster model, with few improvements since the days when
the _Galaxy_ class starships had first been commissioned. _Galaxy_ class...
a thing of beauty, but a thing of the past. They didn't make them any more.
The _Pike_ was one of the last of a dying breed. Now it was gone too.
Heins attached the phaser to the waist of his uniform and sat down in
the co-pilot's seat. Avenger continued to stare into space, unblinking,
barely breathing. Once, after a particularly stressful situation was resolved
on the _Dublin_, Avenger shared the secret of his origins with Heins. John
could believe that looking at his friend. He projected "alien" right now.
"So..." Heins began. Avenger didn't turn, didn't respond, didn't blink.
He just sat there. Heins pressed again. "What are we going to do now?"
Avenger's right hand moved, crept up to the top of his head. He began
to twirl a lock of his hair, round and round and round.
"Come on, Mike. Don't do this. None of this was your fault."
Avenger's grip on the lock became firmer as he twirled it. Round and
round and round. Heins took the silence as a hint and stood.
"You know where you can find me," Heins whispered. Looking back once,
he walked out of the escape pod into the ship beyond. Gebhard joined him
and walked him to a turbolift.
Avenger grabbed firm hold of a single strand of hair and pulled it,
painfully, from his scalp. A healthy cluster of hair folicle cells still
remained firmly attached to the strand.
The pain subsided. The emotional and psychological pain did not. His
body became rigid, like a statue. Then, suddenly, like a snaked uncoiling to
strike, Avenger's fists reached out and smashed the pilot's controls.
"Dammit! Dammit all!"
[ TCG Archives | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | TSG | TPG | Misc | Begin | End ] |
||||