Disclaimer:
I do not own the copyrights to Star Trek Voyager, Trigun, or any other copyrighted information. All Copyrights belong to their respective owners.Reader's
Note: This is a re-posting.Star Trek Voyager
&
Trigun
More Reminiscing
Chapter 1: Earth
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Inside the Federation Runabout Angel Arm, Vash the Stampede and Hugh were making their way to Earth. Outside of the crafts windows they could see the red iron soaked soil faced planet Mars. It passed by like a road sign on a stretch of some abandoned super highway. They knew why they came all this way through all their hardships and time to this place, the Earth. They would be arriving at the little blue-green planet soon, yet for all the time that they had spent traveling it seemed as if it was an eternity to get there. Though to the crew of Voyager, Vash had thought about, it must have been an eternity longer.
"Our E.T.A. to Earth," Vash reported out loud, "is three minutes."
Hugh noticed something in Vash's voice it sounded almost like regret for a moment.
"Is something wrong Vash?" Hugh asked, "This is the place that we've been trying to reach for the past few years. To a normal human it would seem like such a long time to reach a place. Yet to us, time doesn't seem to affect us."
"I don't like the idea of being immortal, Hugh." Vash said, "But you're right, all the time that has passed everything around me has changed, yet I've remained the same."
"That is true, Vash, but this is your choice. You wanted to come here, directly to Starfleet themselves."
"I know that I can not atone for my sins, but I hope to have some kind of redemption for what I've done."
The computer console began to beep and out the windows Vash and Hugh saw the Earth. That same blue, green and white colored marble floating in a black sky. This was it, the prize that they had sought for so long.
"Beginning re-entry." Vash stated as he piloted the Angel Arm down towards Earth.
He knew from the database that was provided by the Angel Arm, that Starfleet Headquarters was located in San Francisco and that's in the continental United States. He made his way down and down closer to the planet until something was coming through.
"We have a message coming through from the planet." Hugh reported
"Open the channel." Vash asked
The channel was open and a commanding voice called out, "Transport Angel Arm, state your business here on Earth."
Vash answered, "I'm visiting Starfleet."
"Business or pleasure?"
"Business." Vash stated
"You're clear for landing."
The channel was closed and Vash laid back in his chair with an exhale, "That was easier than I thought."
"I don't think it will be so easy when Starfleet finds a Borg Drone on this ship."
"I don't know why they'd be so concerned with you, I'm even more guilty than the Borg."
Hugh looked at Vash both with his left Borg implanted eye that read biological scans and heat signatures as well as his original eye that simply showed a man in desperate times.
"Yet, even in the most crucial of times you still fought the Borg, Vash. Remember when you lead the Borg away from Voyager. You did it because you didn't want to get Voyager involved in this fight."
"Yes, it's my own personal fight and one that I have to fight alone."
Vash went back to looking at the controls and me made the adjustments as the Angel Arm had entered the atmosphere. They never noticed the friction or the heat, the platting on the Angel Arm was so super strong that neither Vash nor Hugh felt a thing as they made they're decent on San Francisco.
San Francisco looked wonderful as they got closer and closer to the city. The most prominent feature that caught the eyes of Vash and Hugh was the Golden Gate Bridge. Hugh had received memories from those in Starfleet who were assimilated into the Borg of this place, but it didn't compare to actually seeing it. For a moment Hugh understood something about human nature, a thing that he was starting to learn. He learned that seeing or experiencing an event in the collective could never compare to experiencing it first hand. If only the rest of the collective could understand that.
At one end of the bridge was Starfleet headquarters. Vash piloted the Angel Arm towards it and like a car looking for a parking space in a mall parking lot, Vash tried to find a spot to land. He found one and as he did he opened a channel to whoever was listening to his voice.
"Starfleet." He called, "Come in Starfleet."
An answer was heard, "This is the office of Starfleet, state your business."
"My name is Vash the Stampede and I am a killer of the Borg. I wish to turn myself over to Starfleet immediately. I have a Borg drone with me named Hugh, who will back up my story."
"Could you give us your location sir?"
"I'm at the shuttle landing area. Please, send your security forces, I'll come out peacefully."
Vash closed the channel.
"I hope you know what your doing Vash." Hugh stated his concern.
"I hope I do as well." Vash smiled
He opened the Angel Arms door and he stepped out into the warm sunlight of the Earth. In his red duster Vash felt the rush of heat, yet the heat didn't feel like that one his original world of Gunsmoke with its twin suns. It felt cooler here than back on that baron desert world.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his sunglasses, those John Lennon, round lens style sunglasses. He placed them on and looked out through yellow tinted vision, he saw people starting to come towards him. He looked and he saw a building that looked like it had been slanted backward with the doors slanting with it like an old time tornado shelter with space age technology. Above this place, Vash saw the sign that read, "Starfleet Headquarters."
"This is the place." Vash thought as he raised his hands to the sky with the people approaching him. He saw that they were carrying phaser rifles and all of them were pointing at him.
"Where's the Borg?" Someone asked
Vash suddenly realized something, they were after Hugh instead of him, "Wait, shouldn't you be after me?" Vash asked
"We were ordered to bring the Borg into custody."
"Alright." Vash exhaled he turned inward to the craft, "Alright Hugh you can come out now."
Hugh walked out with his newly acquired walking skill that had become increasingly different than his Borg stepping. Vash turned around and saw all the phaser rifles pointing at Hugh now. He rose his hands into the air.
"Please, don't fire!" He pleaded, "The Borg drone can not harm you! His assimilation abilities have been stripped, but I'm the one you want, arrest me!"
"Take them both into custody!" A voice shouted
Vash couldn't tell who was calling the shots here but he didn't care all he wanted was to try to receive his own redemption for the death of the Borg.
He felt a pair of hands take him by the shoulders and lead him into Starfleet Headquarters.
"At last." Vash thought, "I'm here. I just hope that Voyage will be able to get here soon."
What Vash didn't know was that on the other side of the Galaxy, Voyager was already making up a plan to get back home. The way home was through the technology of the Borg, using a thing that is called a Transwarp Hub. This hub would allow ships to go to anywhere in the galaxy in minutes, instantaneous travel across great distances. That was the route that Voyager was taking and at the time that they were making their crucial decision, Starfleet was arresting Vash and Hugh.
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Vash sat in a nearly empty room. The only objects in this room were a table and two chairs. He was brought to this room shortly after he and Hugh were taken into custody. Vash was also chained at his wrists and ankles. Yet the chains were more advanced than the old fashioned chains he was used to. They were more like bars that ran from one wrist and ankle to the other. Vash was sure that Starfleet wasn't taking any chances. He pulled on the bars and looked at how they were securely locked together. He felt how the cuffs were pressing the material of his duster and brown jumpsuit against his skin. Under it he could already feel his skin begin to sweat as he waited.
The door opened and in walked a Starfleet Admiral. His uniform in the colors of red, black and gold, on his color was pinned his rank of admiral. He looked at Vash with his old tempered eyes that asked the hundreds of questions to come. He took his seat across the table from Vash and began the interrogation.
"Vash the Stampede?" He asked taking his seat, "I'm Admiral Paris. From what the security force told me, you turned yourself in freely. The Borg drone also turned himself in with you. So, you may start your explanation."
Vash took in a deep breath and began his story.
"I already stated my name." He began, "My name is Vash the Stampede. I'm also known as the Humanoid Typhoon. However in the Delta Quadrant where the Borg dwell I am known as the Borg Killer, the Borg Slayer and Killer of the Collective. Even the Borg themselves fear me."
The Admirals eyebrows raised in amazement while his eyes narrowed in scrutiny.
"How?" He asked, "could on man be feared by the federations most notorious enemy?"
"My friend, Hugh, The Borg drone has a memory module that contains my encounter with the Borg collective. I would like to request a review by Starfleet command for the validity of my story."
The Admirals mouth narrowed in an annoying expression, he was already teetering between believing this red coat stranger and believing that he was insane. The real question is, which is he? Admiral Paris was a man who would not keep his opinion to himself.
"You're not in a position to ask for anything." He stated
"You would still hold a review to see whether I'm telling the truth or not, so we both want the same thing."
Paris found himself in a stalemate. Either way a review would have to be held. Plus this man gave himself over willingly. So when this is over he'll be investigated by Starfleet Tactical or by Starfleet Medical.
Paris exhaled, "Alright. A review will be held. In the meantime our science team will look through the memory module in that Borg drone."
"Hugh." Vash interrupted, "His name is Hugh."
"Hugh." Paris corrected himself, "I'm also going to send a message to the Starship Enterprise-E about that drone. I happen to know that the crew has a history with that drone. They might want to see him."
"Thank you Admiral." Vash smiled
Paris had an odd reaction on his face. He looked as though he had never seen a smile on a mans face in his entire life. It was a repulsed look that was afraid of anything that was even the least bit enjoyable.
"You're welcome." He said reluctantly.
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Starfleet Review:
In a large open courtroom, Vash and Hugh stood in the middle of it and under a spotlight like being stars of the show. In front of them behind a long oak and marble table sat seven Starfleet Admirals. This was Starfleet Command.
Each Admiral was of different race and gender. Sitting among them was Admiral Paris who spoke to Vash earlier. He looked at Vash and Hugh with that same suctions look that the other Admirals were displaying.
On the long oak and marble table were jugs and glasses of water, which were there for any surge of thirst. Among those jugs and glasses, where there should be a judge's gavel was a dome bell and a small hammer.
Admiral Paris picked up the small hammer and rang the bell.
"Vash the Stampede." He began, "Under a few hours ago you came willingly into the custody of Starfleet command with the hope of being arrested. For the crime of what you consider being mass murder of the Borg. It is not common that an event such as this would happen, so new actions were to be taken. This review is not only to corroborate your story but also to determine your own future. How do you plead?"
"Guilty, Admiral Paris." Vash responded
"Are you ready to proceed?"
Vash stood with the handcuffs still on his wrists and ankles.
"Starfleet Command." He began, "I've been waiting for this for a long time. I've never been more ready in my life."
"Mr. Vash." Admiral Paris began
As he did, Hugh looked around the room to see it filled with the faces of different races from across the Alpha Quadrant. There were Humans, Klingons, Vulcans, Andarians, Betazoid and Starfleet Officers of equal diversity. Yet Hugh saw disgust in their faces when he looked at them. Each seemed to convey a feeling of contempt and hatred. Hugh knew all too well why and who they were looking that way about. It was because Hugh was Borg and its that which gave hatred.
Among those contemptible and hating faces Hugh saw the most familiar faces he could see. It was the faces of the senior staff of the Enterprise-E; Captain Picard, Commander Riker, Dr. Crusher, Counselor Troi, Data, Worf, and Geordi. Those faces gave Hugh a smile; it was like seeing a rose bush among ragweed.
Yet Hugh couldn't be distracted, he looked back to the long table of Admirals.
"Mr. Vash." Admiral Paris had begun, "You submitted a piece of the Borg memory module. In it we found a file of you in an encounter with the Borg. This will be our Exhibit A."
Vash and Hugh looked to their left to where a black screen was embedded into the wall. It began to play that same memory that rang through their memories for a very long time.
They watched as Vash pulled out his gun and it began to form his Angel Arm. The long and gray scaly cannon arm that was alien to all those who watched it. Except for Vash and Hugh.
The video ended with the same static, Vash and Hugh turned to look back at the panel of Admirals. They noticed each admiral was a mixture of amazement and disbelief of what they saw. At least until Admiral Paris spoke.
"Vash." He said, "Do you have anything to say about this?"
"I do." Vash spoke, "The weapon you have just seen is called the Angel Arm. It is the weapon that I've used that killed billions of Borg drones."
From the crowd came a wave of whispered. Each telling the other of what they thought about this in their own way.
"That leads to my exhibit B." Vash said, "My gun, the Colt .45 Long Barrel."
Admiral Paris picked up the gun and allowed the other Admirals to view the strange weapon. This odd piece of weaponry that looked so old yet was shinning a bright silver hue in the light of the courtroom. It fired like an old western Colt .45 but loaded it's bullets like a shotgun. Yet this was the very weapon that dealt a crushing blow to the Borg. Ironic that a weapon made in the fashion of the past could kill a future enemy.
"So, you're saying," Admiral Paris clarified, "That this gun in your hands was responsible for the destruction of what could have been half of the Borg population?"
Vash looked mournful as if he knew both in his mind and heart that he would die. He took in a deep breath and in a short gasp as if he was about to burst in tears.
"Yes." He said, "I am solely responsible and I am prepared for any punishment that your law dictates."
The panel of Admirals looked at each other with confusion. Was this man serious? Was he that willing to admit to mass murder? Yes, it is the truth, Vash knew this and so did Hugh.
Vash continued to speak, "I've seen too much desolation in my time. I wanted to embrace peace but my path is always stained in blood and gun smoke. I've had enough, please, throw the book at me for my crimes."
Vash had his eyes closed, he felt the tears start to build like a bathtub overflowing. His ears were open and all he heard was his own heartbeat. Then his ears picked up what was the most inappropriate sound in that room. He heard applause. He opened his eyes and saw Admiral Paris standing up from behind the oak and marble table applauding Vash. Why? That was the question running through Vash's mind as the whole room started to applaud.
Vash looked around him as if he were in some surreal nightmare. Why were they applauding? Vash asked that question demandingly.
"Why are you applauding?!" He demanded
Admiral Paris, who was a very serious man, was now laughing like a child.
"Punishment?" He laughed, "No, Vash the Stampede, you're an answer to prayers all over the alpha quadrant."
Vash's face gave the expression of a cod fish, open mouth and wide eyes. The applause calmed down as Vash came up with his next question.
"How?" Vash asked
Admiral Paris had calmed won to explain, "For over a decade, we've been trying to find a way to fight and defend against the Borg indefinitely. Hundreds of worlds, thousands of ships and billions of lives have fallen to the Borg. We've all been praying for a miracle and now our miracle wants us to kill him. I say no, we'd like to hire you into Starfleet as our first line of defense against the Borg."
"I refuse!" Vash shouted. It was so high it was like a scream, "I came all these light years to receive my punishment and now I find that I'm being praised? I'm a murderer! I did it! I took their lives!"
"They were Borg, Vash." Paris consulted
"They were individuals robbed of their individuality! They deserved a chance!"
As Vash made his plea, he felt a very familiar hand on his left shoulder. It came down with a cold metallic shiver, yet had that same warmth that Vash knew.
Vash looked and saw Hugh's face. He shook his head, Hugh was telling Vash that resistance against Starfleet would be useless. The only thing that can be done now is to accept and embrace this new life.
Vash looked back up at Admiral Paris who still stood like a proud statue. Vash felt the warmth in his face as if he was about to cry, but he didn't''. He reached into his pocket with the cuffs still on. He pulled out his round yellow lens John Lennon style sunglasses. From behind the sunglasses he looked at the world through the yellow tint and he looked back up at the Admiral and smiled.
"I accept your offer now." Vash said
"What made you chance your mind?" Paris asked
"I realize now there's no escaping my own destiny. In the words of the Borg, resistance is futile."
The room once again started to overflow with applause from every side.
To be continued…
Author's Notes:
I made this story because I've had a lot of people saying that I should write more about what will happen to Vash and Hugh once they reach Earth. I know what will happen or what has happened when Voyager reaches home. So I made it so that Vash and Hugh reach Earth first, but they are going to get one hell of a surprise.I hope you've enjoyed the beginning of this story,
Come back and see the next chapter, when Vash meets the crew of the Enterprise-E.
