In The Hands of Time

Written by S. Bell

Chapter One: Crash Course

I was driving along route 66 one night in the middle of May. I was returning to my home in Chicago from a business trip in Los Angeles. Suddenly, I swerved to avoid a collision with a car that broke hard in front of me. The road was slick from the early evening rain and my car flipped several times across the road. Shards of flying glass ripped through my flesh as the sound created a sickening melody with the twisting metal. Adding to the bizarre symphony was the sound of other cars colliding and screeching to a halt. Blood stung my eyes and my vision was very blurry. I feared I had a concussion and permanent damage to my retinas. My body ached like it never had and I couldn't move. I was a prisoner in my own vehicle and based by the stifling smell of smoke and the crackling sound around me, it was in flames. Choking, I attempted to scream for help, but I couldn't even hear my own voice.

Eventually, I lost consciousness, but when I came to, the smell of smoke still lingered and caused me to cough. There was the sound of a whirring alarm that wasn't present before I fainted. It was like nothing I've ever heard before. As I opened my eyes, I was unprepared for what I saw. I was lying on the floor in some sort of dark room with dozens of strange computers with weird, flat buttons. I screamed when I saw my company — about ten or twelve dead bodies, all wearing some sort of strange uniforms and metallic badges of some kind. Some of the bodies were slumped over in their chairs; others were sprawled on the floor. Although they were dead, extreme fear and agony were frozen on many of their faces. There was a stream of light along the walls that flashed on and off at regular intervals. I strained my neck to look behind me and saw a huge screen which displayed billions of the most beautiful stars I'd ever seen. It was so serene that I almost forgot about the dire situation I was in. I also spotted a small shuttle on the screen. I deduced that it was some sort of movie that was playing, but the room I was in was clearly not a theater. For the first time since my awakening, I glanced down at my body and saw that my clothes had been scorched away! All that was left of my suit was scraps of material that had fused to my skin — which was a bloody and singed mess! I was overcome with nausea at the disturbing sight of my injuries. I tried to move, but couldn't. Suddenly I heard voices entering the room. Unfortunately for me, they didn't sound friendly so I closed my eyes and pretended to be dead.

"Over here. I'm getting a faint reading. Yes, one is still alive — but only barely." A squeaky, male voice hissed jubilantly amidst the chuckles of his companions as they approached me.

"Ooh! A human female! And she's naked!" One of the other males exclaimed as he traced his hand up my thigh.

Realizing that it was quite clear they knew I was alive, I opened my eyes and screamed loudly once I saw their strange faces. There were three male… creatures with very large ears, about the size of my hands, small teeth and strange noses with ridges on them. Hearing my shriek, they all leapt back for a moment before laughing.

"Ah! She's a spirited one isn't she?" One of the males asked as he made a move to touch my face.

"Don't touch me!" I shrieked, fearing what they might do to me.

I cursed my body for not being able to move or allow me to defend myself.

"Something tells me there's nothing you can do to stop us." The male chuckled as he brought his face closer to mine in an attempt to kiss me, but I was at least able to turn my head.

"No!" I cried as I closed my eyes tightly, waiting for the nightmare to end, waiting to wake up in my battered car, but it didn't happen.

"Step away from the woman." A calm, yet assertive voice ordered.

"Starfleet?!" one of the males exclaimed.

"Yes, but there's only one of them. Surely he's no match for us." The other male hissed.

I craned my head to see whom the creatures were talking to, but they were blocking my view.

"I repeat, step away from the woman immediately." The calm voice ordered.

"She's ours! Get your own!" The lead male creature exclaimed.

The lead male quickly unsheathed a weapon, which was blasted out of his hand by a bright colored laser beam just as quickly.

"Leave at once. Do not force me to fire again." The calm voice sternly ordered.

For a brief moment, the three creatures looked at me and then each other before running away, leaving me alone with the one that had frightened them away. I saw the silhouette approach me from the darkness and heard his footsteps slowly coming toward me. Although I was happy this person frightened the creatures away from me, I was still fearful of him since I was unaware of his intentions. It wasn't until he stepped into the slow, pulsing red light when I saw him in detail. He was about six feet tall and very pale. His skin had a slight shimmer and his eyes appeared to be somewhat glittery and golden. He knelt beside me as he sheathed his weapon and removed some sort of device from his holster. As he moved the device over the length of my body, I panicked.

"Please don't hurt me!" I begged.

"I am not here to hurt you. I am here to help you. However, I can not do much for you here, you will need to come with me." He said gently.

"Who are you?"

"I am Lieutenant Commander Data of the Starship Enterprise. I was on a shuttle, traveling back to my ship when I encountered your vessel."

"What?! Are you serious?! A starship?! Okay, now I know I'm dreaming! Either that, or I have a serious concussion."

"You are correct. You do have a serious concussion. However, you are certainly not dreaming."

I tried my best to move my arms, I was desperate to try to cover myself up, but it was useless. It was very disconcerting to have my body on display in such a manner.

"Something's very wrong. I can't move. I think I need a stretcher or something."

"I am aware of the extent of your injuries. However, such a device will not be necessary. I will transport you to my shuttle, but I can not do it from here. We will need to go to the transporter room. There is still sufficient power to beam both of us off the ship."

Before I could ask how he planned on accomplishing that task, he slid an arm under my knees and the other around my back and under my arm. I cried out in pain as he effortlessly lifted me up. The points where his body contacted my own made me feel like my skin was burning anew. My salty tears burned tracks down my cheeks and I wished for anything to make all the pain go away, even if it meant death.

"I apologize for causing you discomfort. However, in this case it is unavoidable." he said as he carried me out of the room and into the corridor.

I screamed when I saw the carnage in our path as he stepped over the countless bodies that were sprawled on the floor.

"I suggest you avert your gaze. The devastation only gets worse up ahead." he advised and I buried my face into the side of his neck as I continued to cry.

A few minutes later, we came to a halt.

"I am going to set you down now, but keep your eyes closed. Do you understand?" he explained gently.

"Yes. I understand." I answered.

I was terrified at not knowing what was taking place or where I was. I was also frightened that I was naked and lying at the mercy of some strange man I just met. Oddly enough, I trusted him. He lowered me gently and I screamed in pain when my back made contact with a hard surface. I felt the sensation of fabric touching my body as he covered me with a sheet. Ordinarily it would have been comforting, but the rawness of my singed skin was so sensitive, the sheet may as well have been made of hot sandpaper. I screamed again and wondered how much more I would be able to take.

"I am sorry." he apologized once again, "I have found something that will help with the pain, but it will render you unconscious."

I opened my eyes and my gaze met his for a brief second before he clamped a hand over my eyes.

"I implore you; do not open your eyes. The scene is… traumatic." he replied as he placed the nozzle of something to my neck.

"No! Please don't shoot me!" I panicked.

"This is not a weapon; it is a hypospray… medicine. When you awake, we will be on the Enterprise." he explained as he pulled the trigger and there was a quick hissing sound accompanied by a brief sensation of pressure on the area.

I instantly became sluggish and drifted off into a deep slumber.