City on the Edge of Forever
The mission of the Enterprise: To seek out and destroy new life and new civilisations, to conquer, oppress and enslave.
The mirror Kirk stood in front of the Guardian of Forever, he was almost salivating. With this new discovery at his command, he would soon rule the Terran Empire. But, why stop there? Why not the entire galaxy? Behind him, stood an elite squad of heavily armed imperial raiders, Waiting to travel back in time to do his bidding.
Beside him, studying his tricorder readout, his faithful first officer, the bearded Spock. But he had his own plans. A few months earlier, in a meld with the mirror Dr. McCoy, he had glimpsed a world where logic and scientific reason ruled. A world he secretly long for.
Without saying a word, he bolted for the Guardian.
Kirk, realized he was being betrayed. He drew his phaser, screamed, "Spock you traitor." And fired.
But it was to late. Spock had vanished into the mist of time.
Spock was the only person from the Terran Empire the Guardian trusted. He slowly withdrew his hands from the Guardian and broke off the meld.
"Ambassador", Picard whispered, "anything?"
Spock, his beard now snow white, shook his head. "We are still denied access. Not enough time has passed. We must leave orbit within the hour."
Picard turned slightly and said, "Commander Data, take the away team back to the Enterprise, inform Commander Riker we will be leaving shortly.'
Once the away team was gone. He sat down on a toppled column, and did not hide his disappointment.
"Spock, it's been over a hundred years, how much longer must humans carry the shame of the Terran Empire? Last year when Iowa voted to remove Kirk's statues from public view, I was optimistic that we were finally throwing off the last vestages of that hated Empire. But who could have foreseen the protests and riots. One in San Francisco that resulted three deaths. Why? To protect a statue of Kirk. That murderer still stands at the spaceport greeting visitors to Earth."
"I am half human. I instigated the collapse of the Empire. I saw the relief and joy when the Empire fell. The hope when I helped organize the Federation. I do not understand the human nostalgia for such a time. I served Kirk, he possessed few redeeming qualities. Those qualities have been magnified to the point he is almost deified. By people who fail to understand the evil he represents.
Picard stared at a crumbling statue across the plaza.
" What is a statue anyway? Is it a monument to men, good or evil? Or a reminder, of what lurks at the edge of darkness?"
Captain Jean-luc Picard stood, touched his com badge.
"Picard to Enterprise, two to beam up.". Then to Spock, "let's get the hell out of here."