Year of Hell
Chapter 1: A Visit to the Final Frontier
Zach Baker sat down and sighed. Why?, he thought to himself, why?. He guessed he should be happy. It wasn't every day a 14 year old boy became the highest-ranking officer in Starfleet. However it was a lot more stress than he'd have thought possible. The year was 2388 and Zach was now itching to get to the Time ship Relativity-A. Her predecessor had brought Zach from the 21st century to the 29th, when it was then attacked and destroyed, stranding him here. Not that it was all bad. Not only was he Supreme Admiral and extremely popular, although he couldn't see why, but he lived in the perfect world. Too perfect, he thought, too unreal. At least considering what he was used to. Suddenly, a chime came signaling that someone was at the door. "Come", he said tensely. The door swooshed open and there stood none other then Admiral Kathryn Janeway, in Zach's opinion the greatest starship captain ever. She smiled and said," I'm afraid I have some bad news." "No way!" Zach stammered," Please tell me your not going to tell me what I think your going to tell me!" He knew it sounded dumb but as long as she understood, he didn't really care. "Relativity's launch has been delayed," Janeway answered sadly. Zach moaned and sank back into the chair he had been sitting in before Janeway came to tell him the bad news, the horrible news. "I can't believe it. Again? That's the fifth time they've called it off!" Janeway smiled a small, sympathetic smile and said," I realize that all you want to do is get home. I know how it feels. I didn't fly all the way back here from the Delta Quadrant just for fun. I wanted to get home just as badly as you do now." "Yeah, but, you made it back and in 7 years instead of the 70 it was supposed to take.Plus, this is your time, not mine. I might never get home at this rate." "That's what I thought as I tried to get Voyager and her crew home, but as you so clearly pointed out, I did get home and a lot faster than anyone would have imagined. My crew and I beat the odds and you will to." Zach smiled. Janeway's speech had cheered him up a little and he replied," Maybe I need to see how far my influence goes. Perhaps I can get them to speed it up a little. Thank you, Kathryn, for giving me the speech and helping me find out what I should have done all along. I'm going to Utopia Planitia. I hope I get to see you again before I return to my own time." "I hope I get to see you again as well. Goodbye Admiral." With that Janeway turned and left, leaving Zach alone to contact a shuttle to take him to Utopia Planitia. The voyage to the shipyard was longer than Zach would have liked. He sighed, and then looked at the view screen. Why the hell did he want to leave this place? There was no longer war, hunger, or poverty. He pondered what he would do once he returned to his own time after getting used to this one." Perhaps I can help you," came a voice from behind him. Zach spun around and came face-to-face with Q." What do you want Q? I don't mean to be rude, but I'm a little busy right now." "Ooh, do I sense a note of hostility, Admiral," Q sneered mockingly."Tell me did you ever want a sibling before you showed up here?" Zach glared at Q. "Why?" "Just answer the question," Q said flatly." No, Q, I have not. Now answer my question, why?" Zach was starting to get more than a little annoyed." How would you like to go back home today?" "What's the catch?" " You will have a foe from your past. A dangerous foe, from a past that never happened, except when I want it to happen, but you'll be head of a Starfleet that you'll have set up in the past, so it's a small price to pay." Zach was completely lost by now." Wait I..." "It's not open for discussion, I'm afraid. Good-bye, Admiral" With that, Q snapped his fingers and Zach felt an odd sensation and then darkness.
Chapter 1: A Visit to the Final Frontier
Zach Baker sat down and sighed. Why?, he thought to himself, why?. He guessed he should be happy. It wasn't every day a 14 year old boy became the highest-ranking officer in Starfleet. However it was a lot more stress than he'd have thought possible. The year was 2388 and Zach was now itching to get to the Time ship Relativity-A. Her predecessor had brought Zach from the 21st century to the 29th, when it was then attacked and destroyed, stranding him here. Not that it was all bad. Not only was he Supreme Admiral and extremely popular, although he couldn't see why, but he lived in the perfect world. Too perfect, he thought, too unreal. At least considering what he was used to. Suddenly, a chime came signaling that someone was at the door. "Come", he said tensely. The door swooshed open and there stood none other then Admiral Kathryn Janeway, in Zach's opinion the greatest starship captain ever. She smiled and said," I'm afraid I have some bad news." "No way!" Zach stammered," Please tell me your not going to tell me what I think your going to tell me!" He knew it sounded dumb but as long as she understood, he didn't really care. "Relativity's launch has been delayed," Janeway answered sadly. Zach moaned and sank back into the chair he had been sitting in before Janeway came to tell him the bad news, the horrible news. "I can't believe it. Again? That's the fifth time they've called it off!" Janeway smiled a small, sympathetic smile and said," I realize that all you want to do is get home. I know how it feels. I didn't fly all the way back here from the Delta Quadrant just for fun. I wanted to get home just as badly as you do now." "Yeah, but, you made it back and in 7 years instead of the 70 it was supposed to take.Plus, this is your time, not mine. I might never get home at this rate." "That's what I thought as I tried to get Voyager and her crew home, but as you so clearly pointed out, I did get home and a lot faster than anyone would have imagined. My crew and I beat the odds and you will to." Zach smiled. Janeway's speech had cheered him up a little and he replied," Maybe I need to see how far my influence goes. Perhaps I can get them to speed it up a little. Thank you, Kathryn, for giving me the speech and helping me find out what I should have done all along. I'm going to Utopia Planitia. I hope I get to see you again before I return to my own time." "I hope I get to see you again as well. Goodbye Admiral." With that Janeway turned and left, leaving Zach alone to contact a shuttle to take him to Utopia Planitia. The voyage to the shipyard was longer than Zach would have liked. He sighed, and then looked at the view screen. Why the hell did he want to leave this place? There was no longer war, hunger, or poverty. He pondered what he would do once he returned to his own time after getting used to this one." Perhaps I can help you," came a voice from behind him. Zach spun around and came face-to-face with Q." What do you want Q? I don't mean to be rude, but I'm a little busy right now." "Ooh, do I sense a note of hostility, Admiral," Q sneered mockingly."Tell me did you ever want a sibling before you showed up here?" Zach glared at Q. "Why?" "Just answer the question," Q said flatly." No, Q, I have not. Now answer my question, why?" Zach was starting to get more than a little annoyed." How would you like to go back home today?" "What's the catch?" " You will have a foe from your past. A dangerous foe, from a past that never happened, except when I want it to happen, but you'll be head of a Starfleet that you'll have set up in the past, so it's a small price to pay." Zach was completely lost by now." Wait I..." "It's not open for discussion, I'm afraid. Good-bye, Admiral" With that, Q snapped his fingers and Zach felt an odd sensation and then darkness.