It was nearly 1800 hours, and Maggie and Kai were waiting in the
Ready
Room for the Lexx Crew and the others.
'Computer, what is the current time?' Maggie asked.
'The time is now 1754 hours.'
'Damn! What's taking them so long?'
'My fellow crew mates are probably quite fascinated with your ship,
Admiral. I know I am--I do not think I have ever seen anything quite
like it before. It is in their nature to learn everything they can about
something previously undiscovered,' Kai responded.
'Well, that's healthy.'
*I do not think I have ever met anyone quite like you before either,
Maggie. You understand me like no one else has in a very long time.*
*Thank you, Kai. I know for a fact that I've never met anyone quite like
you before.*
*Is that a bad thing?* he asked. Maggie could sense he felt a bit
threatened.
*On the contrary, it's wonderful! There are other telepathic races in
Starfleet, but so few of my own kind and so few with whom I can
establish such a solid link.*
Not responding, Kai rose from his seat and began to examine the framed
photographs sitting atop a tall mahogany chest of drawers in the corner.
*If you do not mind my asking, who are these people?*
Rising to join him, she began to identify the faces in each picture.
First picking up a picture of herself and Dr. Bic back in their Columbia
days, Maggie began to laugh nostalgically. *This is Dr. Bic and myself
back when we were in med school together. I don't really remember all
that much about that night though..heh! But from the surrounding
scenery, I can ascertain that we were at this fraternity party at the
West End...*
*The West End?* Kai's thoughts puzzledly interrupted her own.
*It was a bar that a lot of people from Columbia,our university, used to
frequent, and downstairs it had a room you could rent out for parties. I
think it had been there practically forever...I remember there being a
bunch of old photographs--from the 20th century, I think--of a bunch of
drunken Columbia students, all human of course--Earth hadn't made
contact with any alien races yet--just 'livin' it up'.
*Erika--Dr. Bic--and I didn't find ourselves there too often though. The
West End was more of a place for the 'mainstream' people. We were a
couple of misfits who always associated ourselves with the avante- garde,
artist type--people who weren't content unless they challenged anything
that so much as smelled of authority.*
*You like to reminisce about your early life. I can sense it.*
*Things were a lot easier then, Kai. I didn't have the guilt of
everything I did while I was among the Borg constantly weighing on my
mind. I wasn't commanding any Starships then--didn't have the
responsibility of having nearly 300 lives, and perhaps more, in my
hands.*
*Commanding a Starship seems challenging, yes. But you like a challenge,
I can tell--if you didn't, you probably wouldn't be so intent on
reclaiming your territory from His Shadow's forces.*
*My motto has always been, 'When in a no-win situation, don't give up,
cheat.' You know, back in the Academy, they used to give us this test
they called the Kobayashi Maru. It was completely a no-win situation,
designed to see how we would react if defeat was inevitable. However, it
has been beaten--twice. Once by some Vulcan kid who just graduated from
the Academy, this year, and who I absolutely want among my crew when we
finally go up against this 'His Shadow' character, and once by Captain
James T. Kirk, who's right here,* she said, pointing to an amber- haired
young man in another photograph.
*He was a wonderful friend, a mentor, and undoubtedly the man I admire
above anyone I have ever met.*
*Who is the other person in the picture with the two of you?*
*Dr. Leonard McCoy. My husband.*
*So, you are married then?* Kai asked, regret tinging his words so
slightly only a skilled telepath such as Maggie could sense it.
*Was married. He was assassinated 30 years ago by a couple of goons from
an alien race I was having, how should I say, 'dealings' with. And, as
if that weren't enough, they killed my daughter...right in front of me.
This is her, here,* she said, pointing to another photograph of her
husband, her two children, and herself, taken only shortly before her
husband's death. 'Commander Teresa McCoy, a doctor just like both of her
parents. Pretty, wasn't she?*
*Yes. She looked a great deal like you. I..I am very sorry, Maggie. Your
husband was quite a bit older than you were,* Kai commented, studying
the photograph closely.
*Actually, I was the older one in the relationship. Twenty years older.
He just appeared older because he was human and thus lacked an 800 year
lifespan. Then again, who knows? With all the artificial implants that
man kept on putting into his body, he very well could have lived to 800.
Leonard was always trying to cheat death, which may have been why he
married me. To members of most other species, 800 is almost immortal.*
*Is your son still alive?*
*Sure is!* Maggie replied, elated. *Jim's the Captain of the USS
Enterprise, probably floating around somewhere in the Delta Quadrant
about now, exploring new worlds, seeking out new civilizations--and all
that other fun Starfleet stuff.*
*What about this picture?* Kai asked, picking up a photograph that
seemed much older than all the rest, portraying an extremely young
Maggie with three other faces he did not recognize.
*This picture here is of my mother, father, my sister, Zaran or Isabel,
whichever you prefer, I guess, and myself. It was taken 120 years ago.
They're all dead now...all except me, that is...*
*Why did your sister have two names?*
*Since my mother was El-Aurian and my father was Terran, we were given
both an El-Aurian name and a name indigenous to my father's region on
Earth.*
*So, what is your El-Aurian name?*
*Aihran,* she responded.
*Aihran...* the name lingered in his mind for what seemed like an
eternity. *It is very pretty...it sounds somewhat like the female
Brunnen-G name, Ehrien. If you do not mind, I would prefer to call you
by your El-Aurian name.*
*I'd like that very much, Kai. Your people are called the Brunnen- G?
What is the name of your planet?*
*What was the name of my planet, you mean. Brunnis 2 was destroyed by
His Shadow's forces over 2000 years ago.*
*About the time you were assimilated into his Assasin gang?*
*The very day. But I would hardly call it an assimilation. We were
mindless beings, but we retained some degree of individuality, however
small. We did not have the thoughts of others constantly running through
our heads.*
*My planet was destroyed too.*
*Yes, I remember your telling Stan.*
*By the Borg. My mother, sister, and I managed to escape on two
different refugee ships. My ship was rescued by a Federation vessel, but
theirs was destroyed.*
*Quite tragic, Aihran. The Borg? The same people who assimilated you?*
*Yes, although this was quite some time before. You see, I left home
when I was about 20 years old to go to school on earth. My parents had
split up slightly prior, and my mother would never let me got to Earth
to see my father, let alone allow him to come visit us. Also, she was so
overbearing--so rigid--and I was such a free spirit it was absolutely
killing me to live with her. So I came to earth, worked my way through
undergraduate university and medical school, then spent two years at
Starfleet Academy and became an officer like my father. He was so proud
of me...* Her thoughts began to trail off, obviously being intentionally
blocked from Kai's mind, as if this memory was hers and hers alone. *He
was killed in action a short time after that. About thirty years later,
I went back to El-Auria to see my mother and sister for the first time
since I had left. My sister had married and was the mother of three
beautiful children who looked just like her.
*Well, she for one was happy to see me again...but my mother wouldn't
accept any apologies I offered her. While I was visiting, the Borg began
attacking the planet, and we had to evacuate. She died without ever
forgiving me...and it still hurts...*
*That is...understandable, Aihran. Even by someone like me, who cannot
feel.*
*You underestimate yourself, Kai. You can feel--I can sense it every
time we communicate telepathically like this. I could sense it the
moment you appeared on the transporter padd. It's just been so long
since you've consciously used your feelings that you've forgotten about
them--but they're there. And if you'd like, I could help you resurface
them,* Maggie offered.
*And how would you do this?* Kai asked.
*Aha! So you're interested! That's the first sign that you have
feelings!*
Unable to hold back, Kai let the broadest smile Maggie had ever seen
cross his face.
*And that's the second sign,* she teased him, returning the smile.
*After my link with the collective was severed, I had some trouble
understanding the emotions that were resurfacing within my psyche. So I
started learning Vulcan meditation techniques. Although most Vulcans,
not including Erika--she's a different case all together, try to
suppress their emotions, I was using the techniques to bring them to
surface. And my endeavors were most successful, let me tell ya.*
*Obviously...or we would not be having this conversation right now.*
*So, what do you say, Kai? Do you want me to teach you these techniques
sometime? We'll have a couple of days at Starfleet Headquarters before
we go into combat, so I should have more than enough time for you.*
*I think...I should like that, Aihran.*
*Excellent.*
With that, there was a buzz at the door.
'Come!' Maggie called.
Tom, the remaining members of the Lexx away team, and the other senior
officers entered the room. However, something seemed to be missing. It
was then when Maggie realized the robot head, 790, was not among them.
'Number One, where's 790?' she asked her First Officer.
'He's spending a little time in the Brig...reflecting...on what appears
to be a lack of respect for authority.'
'Aah, gotcha,' Maggie winked.
'The better for it, anyway. He'd probably find innumberable ways to
disrupt our conference here, Admiral McCoy,' Captain Tweedle reassured
her.
'I don't doubt it,' Maggie responded, rising from her chair and
stretching slightly. 'If you'd all take your places at the conference
table?' She motioned towards the long, rectangular table that lie
towards the other side of the Ready Room.
Sitting down into her customary position at the head of the table, she
bid the Captain of the Lexx to take the chair directly across from her.
'Now that we're all here, I propose that before getting down to
business, I should introduce you, Captain Tweedle, and your crew to the
senior staff aboard the USS Narendra III. Captain Paris and Dr. Bic,
you've already met,' She began, motioning towards the two officers on
either side of her. 'As you have already met Chief of Security,
Lieutenant Commander Odo, and Chief of Operations, Ensign Elar Raen.
Next to Dr. Bic is Counsellor Nulak Deb, and next to Commander Odo is my
chief Engineer, Commander B'Elanna Torres. Also, I would like you to
meet my chief Flight Control Officer, Ensign Renee Bittman, chief
Science Officer, Commander T'Val, chief of Stellar Cartography, Crewman
5 of 12, and Communications Officer, Lieutenant Terok.'
Examining Counsellor Nulak and Crewman 5 of 12, Kai realized they, like
Admiral McCoy, had once been Borg. 5 of 12 had the most cybernetic
devices remaining in his body, as if he had been part of the collective
for the greater portion of his life. It appeared as if Counsellor
Nulak's implants, on the other hand, had all been removed, save for the
exoskeletal structure encasing her left hand. However, their removal had
not been conducted by a surgeon of the same skill as the one who had
treated her colleagues, as two uneven scars appeared on her face where
her implants once would have been.
Kai mused that these former Borg were much like him--once mindless,
performing abominable acts in the name of some higher cause with no way
to refuse to do so. Perhaps not even wanting to--at least on a conscious
level. Now, the three of them were struggling to gain that which so long
ago was ripped from them their individuality, their lives as they once
knew them. But they were still among the living, at least in the
biological sense, so their efforts were admirable. Yet, after meeting
Admiral McCoy, who, with her mind, could reach into the depths of his
soul and bring to the surface emotions he thought were long
lost--possibilities he thought were impossible--he began to re- examine
his condition. When he had told her that he was not alive, she told him
he was mistaken. She had said this because, by the laws of all logic and
reason, she believed she was correct--not because she hoped to gain
anything from her affirmation. And she had gone so far as to prove her
arguments with the use of her astounding telepathic/empathic abilities.
As a result, he had been given much more than the recovery of the
emotions she had brought to surface, but the greatest gift anyone could
receive--the gift of hope. Hope was, indeed, something he had found
little use for in the 2000 years since his natural death--that is, until
now.
Kai began to ponder this further, until the realization hit him Ehrien,
the Brunnen-G name which sounded so much like Aihran, Maggie's El- Aurian
name, meant 'Hope'.
*Her parents named her well,* he mused, careful to shield his thoughts
from her telepathic mind. It was, unlikely, however, that the name would
hold the same meaning in her language, as the Brunnen-G and the
El-Aurians were two entirely different people, from two entirely
different points of the galaxy. Still, he embraced the thought as he
allowed his eyes to study her, all the while making sure his mind was
temporarily blocked from hers.
She was very beautiful, he thought to himself. Though in a much
different way than he found Xev beautiful. His Aihran was tall and
strong, both physically and mentally. Despite her humanity, she was a
being of great logic and emotional restraint--restraint, but with the
ability to show great emotion when the appropriate occasion arose. His
field of vision perused from her long, wavy chestnut hair to her blue
eyes--warm, friendly, and sparkling with life, yet, upon closer
inspection, older than one would gather. From what she had told him
earlier of her life, she had seen much--though not nearly as much as Kai
in his two millennia. This was understandable, however, for very few
ever had.
Now, she was in a position of great responsibility, where her very
decisions could save or destroy the lives of all those under her
command, and in her eyes, this fact was the most apparent. While full
humans may experience the graying of hair over such events, the stresses
of Aihran's life manifested themselves deep within the blue seas of her
eyes.
'Now, for the Federation's current status as to the conflict with His Shadow's forces,' Maggie continued. 'Two days ago, we received word from Starfleet Headquarters that Federation Outpost Deep Space Nine, as well as both the Bajoran and Cardassian homeworlds, had been taken over by a previously unencountered alien presence. Until you informed us earlier that their leader calls himself 'His Shadow' we were unaware as to who, exactly, these invaders were, as all communications with the occupied areas have been more or less cut off. Starfleet did learn, however, from those who actuallly managed to escape that the one we now know as 'His Shadow' physiologically resembles the Trill, a race of 'joined' humanoids who are active members of the Federation, in that his humanoid form is inhabited by an invertebrate symbiont which appears to control his every action...'
'With all due respect, Admiral,' Stanley Tweedle interrupted, 'You're not telling us anything we don't already know.'
'Point well taken, Captain,' Tom Paris answered, 'but I believe the Admiral was attempting to fill in those of us who are still in the dark about all this. Admiral, if you would continue,' he finished, motioning towards her.
'Indeed, thank you, Number One.
'Anyway, as I was saying,' Maggie resumed, fidgeting in her seat and clearing her throat, 'Deep Space Nine, one Federation planet and one non- Federation planet have been occupied. When the station was invaded, all information in the main computers was downloaded to the nearest relay station. Although it is possible it could have been intercepted by enemy forces in the Bajoran wormhole, we believe it was safely received by Deep Space Ten--one of our stations in the Gamma Quadrant near the Vorta homeworld. Also, all crucial sections were sealed off and self-destructed. The only remaining section of Deep Space Nine is useless to His Shadow's Forces in all tactical senses except as a relay center and stepping stone into Federation Territory.
'It is for this reason that we must act now--and rid DS9 of enemy forces before they have a chance to take over any more of our worlds...'
'Admiral,' Commander T'Val began, 'Would it not be more logical to lure them into our own territory--territory that we are familiar with and in which we would therefore have a tactical advantage?'
'Not at the expense of any more lives, Commander. Far too many people have suffered because of this His Shadow nuisance. I can't allow any more...'
'I think I see where T'Val is going with this, Admiral,' Odo chimed in. 'If only we could set some sort of bait...' he thought a moment, '...a badly damaged ship of some sort--something easy to combat--an Andorian luxury liner, for example. Send a phony distress call out to Deep Space Nine, and when they arrive, have a bunch of cloaked ships waiting to ambush them. That is, of course, assuming His Shadow is unfamiliar with cloaking technology?' His eyes traversed the faces of the Lexx crew.
'That they are,' Kai responded. 'But if it is possible they could have intercepted the Deep Space Nine computer download, the situation may have changed.'
'The download was dispatched on a heavily encoded frequency--they always are--one so jumbled only an expert from Starfleet Intelligence could have made sense of it. But I for one am assuming that every step ahead of His Shadow we may be technologically, he's an extra step ahead of us in cunning,' Maggie added.
'Do you think,' Ensign Bittman suddenly announced, coming down from a cloud of deep thought, 'we could send a few larger destroyers and perhaps...Klingon Birds of Prey...to intercept the enemy vessels approaching the bait, a good number of heavily armed destroyers...perhaps Prometheus class or something similar...to Deep Space Nine...and an entire interstellar armada into the Gamma Quadrant to cripple the enemy at their base?'
'Excellent tactical ideas, Ensign. But we need to have an entire interstellar armada on the home turf as well...just in case the 'bait' doesn't go down too well. I was thinking that when we finally do venture into the Gamma Quadrant, we should rely heavily on Borg cubes.'
'You would think of that, Maggie,' Dr. Bic snarled at her.
'Hey, if His Shadow can rip through a fleet of Borg ships, then we'll know he's stronger than he makes himself out to us,' The part Cardassian, part Bajoran, part Borg, Nulak Deb contributed.
'But,' Maggie added, 'the way things are going, even with Starfleet vessels alone, I'd say we've got him outgunned. Geez, this bastard sure picked the wrong people to mess with!'
*You seem very confident about this, Admiral,* Kai glanced over at her.
*Pissed off, yes. Confident? That's yet to come. But we've overcome far more formidable adversaries...if that weren't so, I wouldn't be here,* she smiled back at him.
Understanding that she meant the Borg,he returned the smile--a ghost of a smile--but a smile, nonetheless.
'But the Borg are allied with us on this?' Captain Paris inquired.
'They sure are...but you'll find out more about that at the Admiral's Conference.'
'Admiral's Conference?' Xev asked, perplexed.
'When we arrive at Spacedock, we are to immediately board a runabout bound for Starfleet Headquarters to attend a classified briefing with the Federation President, Starfleet Intelligence, and the Council of Admirals. Computer, what is the present time?'
'1907 hours.'
'Damn, we're late...'
'But why us?' B'Elanna questioned.
'Because we're the only ones in the Federation who have seen what this His Shadow character can do who aren't trapped on Deep Space Nine. Also, we've got three--four if you count that blasted 'droid in the Brig--who have had prior dealings with him--know his style. 790 will be released from the Brig upon docking and, if he promises to keep decorum, will be permitted to attend the briefing.'
'I'll do the best I can to keep him in line, Admiral,' Xev reassured her.
'You do that.
'Captain Tweedle, you and your crew best be getting back to the Lexx. I'm not sure exactly how you'd go about docking that thing, but the spacedock people can be quite helpful about that sort of thing. Just be sure to meet my senior staff and I in Observation Deck 7A. By then, I should have word on getting us a runabout or two. Until then,' Maggie rose, walking to the other side of the table to shake the Captain's hand, quickly retracting it with all the diplomacy she could muster when she remembered her last attempt.
'This meeting is adjourned. Stations, please.' She tapped her commbadge,
'Bridge, any word from spacedock?'
'About an hour ago they asked us if we wanted to dock or were planning on just staying up here and looking pretty. Heh!'
'How'd you answer them, Lieutenant?'
'I informed them you were in a meeting with your senior staff and the crew of the alien vessel. They were a bit perturbed though when there was no response to their hails to the Lexx. But when I explained it was allright, that they must all be on board talking with you, they understood and asked us to stand by.'
'I'll be up there in a minute then...McCoy out.'
Maggie turned to face Captain Tweedle, 'This is your entire crew?'
'The rest were eaten by Cluster Lizards,' he replied as he and his crew began to file out.
A perplexed and somewhat sickened look quickly crossed the Admiral's face as she turned to face her first officer. As she was about to open her mouth, Kai approached her from behind.
'Admiral,' he began,'Stanley has given me permission to remain on board the Narendra III during docking. Is this allright with you?'
'More than allright, Kai. I'd be glad to have you...especially if you're considering that little proposal of mine,' she winked. 'Come on, guys,' she joked, linking her arms with the two men on either side, 'we've got some history to make.'
**********************************
'Captain on the bridge!' the Andorian Lieutenant who had been in command during the senior staff's absence suddenly announced, rising from her chair and standing at attention.
'As you were,' Maggie responded, taking her place at the center of the bridge.
The rest of the senior bridge crew resumed their stations, with Kai standing to the Admiral's left.
'Ops, disengage tractor beam on the Lexx.'
'Tractor beam disengaged, Admiral.'
'Mr. Terok, hail spacedock and tell them we're coming in.'
'Aye Admiral,' The Vulcan at the comm station responded. 'Spacedock acknowledges and replies that we are cleared for docking.'
'Excellent. Okay, Mr. Bittman, Bring us around--Steady as she goes.'
With the skill that only one of Starfleet's finest could possess, Renee Bittman began the docking procedure.
'1/8 impulse power, present speed. Spacedock doors opened.'
'Proceed in,' Maggie replied, leaning back in her chair.
Slowly, the Narendra III was engulfed by the floating structure, so massive it substantially dwarfed the in-of-itself large starship.
The ship turned and made its way into one of the drydocks.
'Impulse engines shutting down and docking clamps engaged. Docking process complete in 7 seconds...4-3-2-1. Docking successful, Admiral,' Ensign Bittman announced, turning from her station to face her commanding officer.
'Excellent work, Renee. And what about the Lexx? Did they make it in?'
'The Lexx is entering drydock 3A1--all the way on the other side,' Ensign Elar reported.
'How is it being held in place?' Tom Paris inquired, approaching the Ops station and peering over the Ensign's shoulder.
'Tractor beam, sir,' he responded.
'On visual.'
'Aye, Captain.'
With that, a picture of the Lexx appeared on the viewscreen--being held into place by a weak field of blue light.
'Mr. Terok, hail the Lexx Crew,' Maggie ordered.
'Captain Tweedle. This is Admiral McCoy. I assume your first docking experience in a Federation space dock went well?'
'Very smooth ride, Admiral,' he replied as his image was put on holo- visual. 'My only question is how should we get out of the ship? Should we take a shuttle over or wait for a beam out?'
'My crew and I are about to depart for the space station and are planning to beam over. Upon arrival, I will instruct the transporter technicians to lock onto your crew and beam you over as well.'
'Much appreciated, Admiral. See you on...Observation Deck 7A?'
'That's right, Captain. McCoy out.'
'Okay, everybody out,' Maggie smiled, heading for the turbolift.
'Transporter Room 1."
Room for the Lexx Crew and the others.
'Computer, what is the current time?' Maggie asked.
'The time is now 1754 hours.'
'Damn! What's taking them so long?'
'My fellow crew mates are probably quite fascinated with your ship,
Admiral. I know I am--I do not think I have ever seen anything quite
like it before. It is in their nature to learn everything they can about
something previously undiscovered,' Kai responded.
'Well, that's healthy.'
*I do not think I have ever met anyone quite like you before either,
Maggie. You understand me like no one else has in a very long time.*
*Thank you, Kai. I know for a fact that I've never met anyone quite like
you before.*
*Is that a bad thing?* he asked. Maggie could sense he felt a bit
threatened.
*On the contrary, it's wonderful! There are other telepathic races in
Starfleet, but so few of my own kind and so few with whom I can
establish such a solid link.*
Not responding, Kai rose from his seat and began to examine the framed
photographs sitting atop a tall mahogany chest of drawers in the corner.
*If you do not mind my asking, who are these people?*
Rising to join him, she began to identify the faces in each picture.
First picking up a picture of herself and Dr. Bic back in their Columbia
days, Maggie began to laugh nostalgically. *This is Dr. Bic and myself
back when we were in med school together. I don't really remember all
that much about that night though..heh! But from the surrounding
scenery, I can ascertain that we were at this fraternity party at the
West End...*
*The West End?* Kai's thoughts puzzledly interrupted her own.
*It was a bar that a lot of people from Columbia,our university, used to
frequent, and downstairs it had a room you could rent out for parties. I
think it had been there practically forever...I remember there being a
bunch of old photographs--from the 20th century, I think--of a bunch of
drunken Columbia students, all human of course--Earth hadn't made
contact with any alien races yet--just 'livin' it up'.
*Erika--Dr. Bic--and I didn't find ourselves there too often though. The
West End was more of a place for the 'mainstream' people. We were a
couple of misfits who always associated ourselves with the avante- garde,
artist type--people who weren't content unless they challenged anything
that so much as smelled of authority.*
*You like to reminisce about your early life. I can sense it.*
*Things were a lot easier then, Kai. I didn't have the guilt of
everything I did while I was among the Borg constantly weighing on my
mind. I wasn't commanding any Starships then--didn't have the
responsibility of having nearly 300 lives, and perhaps more, in my
hands.*
*Commanding a Starship seems challenging, yes. But you like a challenge,
I can tell--if you didn't, you probably wouldn't be so intent on
reclaiming your territory from His Shadow's forces.*
*My motto has always been, 'When in a no-win situation, don't give up,
cheat.' You know, back in the Academy, they used to give us this test
they called the Kobayashi Maru. It was completely a no-win situation,
designed to see how we would react if defeat was inevitable. However, it
has been beaten--twice. Once by some Vulcan kid who just graduated from
the Academy, this year, and who I absolutely want among my crew when we
finally go up against this 'His Shadow' character, and once by Captain
James T. Kirk, who's right here,* she said, pointing to an amber- haired
young man in another photograph.
*He was a wonderful friend, a mentor, and undoubtedly the man I admire
above anyone I have ever met.*
*Who is the other person in the picture with the two of you?*
*Dr. Leonard McCoy. My husband.*
*So, you are married then?* Kai asked, regret tinging his words so
slightly only a skilled telepath such as Maggie could sense it.
*Was married. He was assassinated 30 years ago by a couple of goons from
an alien race I was having, how should I say, 'dealings' with. And, as
if that weren't enough, they killed my daughter...right in front of me.
This is her, here,* she said, pointing to another photograph of her
husband, her two children, and herself, taken only shortly before her
husband's death. 'Commander Teresa McCoy, a doctor just like both of her
parents. Pretty, wasn't she?*
*Yes. She looked a great deal like you. I..I am very sorry, Maggie. Your
husband was quite a bit older than you were,* Kai commented, studying
the photograph closely.
*Actually, I was the older one in the relationship. Twenty years older.
He just appeared older because he was human and thus lacked an 800 year
lifespan. Then again, who knows? With all the artificial implants that
man kept on putting into his body, he very well could have lived to 800.
Leonard was always trying to cheat death, which may have been why he
married me. To members of most other species, 800 is almost immortal.*
*Is your son still alive?*
*Sure is!* Maggie replied, elated. *Jim's the Captain of the USS
Enterprise, probably floating around somewhere in the Delta Quadrant
about now, exploring new worlds, seeking out new civilizations--and all
that other fun Starfleet stuff.*
*What about this picture?* Kai asked, picking up a photograph that
seemed much older than all the rest, portraying an extremely young
Maggie with three other faces he did not recognize.
*This picture here is of my mother, father, my sister, Zaran or Isabel,
whichever you prefer, I guess, and myself. It was taken 120 years ago.
They're all dead now...all except me, that is...*
*Why did your sister have two names?*
*Since my mother was El-Aurian and my father was Terran, we were given
both an El-Aurian name and a name indigenous to my father's region on
Earth.*
*So, what is your El-Aurian name?*
*Aihran,* she responded.
*Aihran...* the name lingered in his mind for what seemed like an
eternity. *It is very pretty...it sounds somewhat like the female
Brunnen-G name, Ehrien. If you do not mind, I would prefer to call you
by your El-Aurian name.*
*I'd like that very much, Kai. Your people are called the Brunnen- G?
What is the name of your planet?*
*What was the name of my planet, you mean. Brunnis 2 was destroyed by
His Shadow's forces over 2000 years ago.*
*About the time you were assimilated into his Assasin gang?*
*The very day. But I would hardly call it an assimilation. We were
mindless beings, but we retained some degree of individuality, however
small. We did not have the thoughts of others constantly running through
our heads.*
*My planet was destroyed too.*
*Yes, I remember your telling Stan.*
*By the Borg. My mother, sister, and I managed to escape on two
different refugee ships. My ship was rescued by a Federation vessel, but
theirs was destroyed.*
*Quite tragic, Aihran. The Borg? The same people who assimilated you?*
*Yes, although this was quite some time before. You see, I left home
when I was about 20 years old to go to school on earth. My parents had
split up slightly prior, and my mother would never let me got to Earth
to see my father, let alone allow him to come visit us. Also, she was so
overbearing--so rigid--and I was such a free spirit it was absolutely
killing me to live with her. So I came to earth, worked my way through
undergraduate university and medical school, then spent two years at
Starfleet Academy and became an officer like my father. He was so proud
of me...* Her thoughts began to trail off, obviously being intentionally
blocked from Kai's mind, as if this memory was hers and hers alone. *He
was killed in action a short time after that. About thirty years later,
I went back to El-Auria to see my mother and sister for the first time
since I had left. My sister had married and was the mother of three
beautiful children who looked just like her.
*Well, she for one was happy to see me again...but my mother wouldn't
accept any apologies I offered her. While I was visiting, the Borg began
attacking the planet, and we had to evacuate. She died without ever
forgiving me...and it still hurts...*
*That is...understandable, Aihran. Even by someone like me, who cannot
feel.*
*You underestimate yourself, Kai. You can feel--I can sense it every
time we communicate telepathically like this. I could sense it the
moment you appeared on the transporter padd. It's just been so long
since you've consciously used your feelings that you've forgotten about
them--but they're there. And if you'd like, I could help you resurface
them,* Maggie offered.
*And how would you do this?* Kai asked.
*Aha! So you're interested! That's the first sign that you have
feelings!*
Unable to hold back, Kai let the broadest smile Maggie had ever seen
cross his face.
*And that's the second sign,* she teased him, returning the smile.
*After my link with the collective was severed, I had some trouble
understanding the emotions that were resurfacing within my psyche. So I
started learning Vulcan meditation techniques. Although most Vulcans,
not including Erika--she's a different case all together, try to
suppress their emotions, I was using the techniques to bring them to
surface. And my endeavors were most successful, let me tell ya.*
*Obviously...or we would not be having this conversation right now.*
*So, what do you say, Kai? Do you want me to teach you these techniques
sometime? We'll have a couple of days at Starfleet Headquarters before
we go into combat, so I should have more than enough time for you.*
*I think...I should like that, Aihran.*
*Excellent.*
With that, there was a buzz at the door.
'Come!' Maggie called.
Tom, the remaining members of the Lexx away team, and the other senior
officers entered the room. However, something seemed to be missing. It
was then when Maggie realized the robot head, 790, was not among them.
'Number One, where's 790?' she asked her First Officer.
'He's spending a little time in the Brig...reflecting...on what appears
to be a lack of respect for authority.'
'Aah, gotcha,' Maggie winked.
'The better for it, anyway. He'd probably find innumberable ways to
disrupt our conference here, Admiral McCoy,' Captain Tweedle reassured
her.
'I don't doubt it,' Maggie responded, rising from her chair and
stretching slightly. 'If you'd all take your places at the conference
table?' She motioned towards the long, rectangular table that lie
towards the other side of the Ready Room.
Sitting down into her customary position at the head of the table, she
bid the Captain of the Lexx to take the chair directly across from her.
'Now that we're all here, I propose that before getting down to
business, I should introduce you, Captain Tweedle, and your crew to the
senior staff aboard the USS Narendra III. Captain Paris and Dr. Bic,
you've already met,' She began, motioning towards the two officers on
either side of her. 'As you have already met Chief of Security,
Lieutenant Commander Odo, and Chief of Operations, Ensign Elar Raen.
Next to Dr. Bic is Counsellor Nulak Deb, and next to Commander Odo is my
chief Engineer, Commander B'Elanna Torres. Also, I would like you to
meet my chief Flight Control Officer, Ensign Renee Bittman, chief
Science Officer, Commander T'Val, chief of Stellar Cartography, Crewman
5 of 12, and Communications Officer, Lieutenant Terok.'
Examining Counsellor Nulak and Crewman 5 of 12, Kai realized they, like
Admiral McCoy, had once been Borg. 5 of 12 had the most cybernetic
devices remaining in his body, as if he had been part of the collective
for the greater portion of his life. It appeared as if Counsellor
Nulak's implants, on the other hand, had all been removed, save for the
exoskeletal structure encasing her left hand. However, their removal had
not been conducted by a surgeon of the same skill as the one who had
treated her colleagues, as two uneven scars appeared on her face where
her implants once would have been.
Kai mused that these former Borg were much like him--once mindless,
performing abominable acts in the name of some higher cause with no way
to refuse to do so. Perhaps not even wanting to--at least on a conscious
level. Now, the three of them were struggling to gain that which so long
ago was ripped from them their individuality, their lives as they once
knew them. But they were still among the living, at least in the
biological sense, so their efforts were admirable. Yet, after meeting
Admiral McCoy, who, with her mind, could reach into the depths of his
soul and bring to the surface emotions he thought were long
lost--possibilities he thought were impossible--he began to re- examine
his condition. When he had told her that he was not alive, she told him
he was mistaken. She had said this because, by the laws of all logic and
reason, she believed she was correct--not because she hoped to gain
anything from her affirmation. And she had gone so far as to prove her
arguments with the use of her astounding telepathic/empathic abilities.
As a result, he had been given much more than the recovery of the
emotions she had brought to surface, but the greatest gift anyone could
receive--the gift of hope. Hope was, indeed, something he had found
little use for in the 2000 years since his natural death--that is, until
now.
Kai began to ponder this further, until the realization hit him Ehrien,
the Brunnen-G name which sounded so much like Aihran, Maggie's El- Aurian
name, meant 'Hope'.
*Her parents named her well,* he mused, careful to shield his thoughts
from her telepathic mind. It was, unlikely, however, that the name would
hold the same meaning in her language, as the Brunnen-G and the
El-Aurians were two entirely different people, from two entirely
different points of the galaxy. Still, he embraced the thought as he
allowed his eyes to study her, all the while making sure his mind was
temporarily blocked from hers.
She was very beautiful, he thought to himself. Though in a much
different way than he found Xev beautiful. His Aihran was tall and
strong, both physically and mentally. Despite her humanity, she was a
being of great logic and emotional restraint--restraint, but with the
ability to show great emotion when the appropriate occasion arose. His
field of vision perused from her long, wavy chestnut hair to her blue
eyes--warm, friendly, and sparkling with life, yet, upon closer
inspection, older than one would gather. From what she had told him
earlier of her life, she had seen much--though not nearly as much as Kai
in his two millennia. This was understandable, however, for very few
ever had.
Now, she was in a position of great responsibility, where her very
decisions could save or destroy the lives of all those under her
command, and in her eyes, this fact was the most apparent. While full
humans may experience the graying of hair over such events, the stresses
of Aihran's life manifested themselves deep within the blue seas of her
eyes.
'Now, for the Federation's current status as to the conflict with His Shadow's forces,' Maggie continued. 'Two days ago, we received word from Starfleet Headquarters that Federation Outpost Deep Space Nine, as well as both the Bajoran and Cardassian homeworlds, had been taken over by a previously unencountered alien presence. Until you informed us earlier that their leader calls himself 'His Shadow' we were unaware as to who, exactly, these invaders were, as all communications with the occupied areas have been more or less cut off. Starfleet did learn, however, from those who actuallly managed to escape that the one we now know as 'His Shadow' physiologically resembles the Trill, a race of 'joined' humanoids who are active members of the Federation, in that his humanoid form is inhabited by an invertebrate symbiont which appears to control his every action...'
'With all due respect, Admiral,' Stanley Tweedle interrupted, 'You're not telling us anything we don't already know.'
'Point well taken, Captain,' Tom Paris answered, 'but I believe the Admiral was attempting to fill in those of us who are still in the dark about all this. Admiral, if you would continue,' he finished, motioning towards her.
'Indeed, thank you, Number One.
'Anyway, as I was saying,' Maggie resumed, fidgeting in her seat and clearing her throat, 'Deep Space Nine, one Federation planet and one non- Federation planet have been occupied. When the station was invaded, all information in the main computers was downloaded to the nearest relay station. Although it is possible it could have been intercepted by enemy forces in the Bajoran wormhole, we believe it was safely received by Deep Space Ten--one of our stations in the Gamma Quadrant near the Vorta homeworld. Also, all crucial sections were sealed off and self-destructed. The only remaining section of Deep Space Nine is useless to His Shadow's Forces in all tactical senses except as a relay center and stepping stone into Federation Territory.
'It is for this reason that we must act now--and rid DS9 of enemy forces before they have a chance to take over any more of our worlds...'
'Admiral,' Commander T'Val began, 'Would it not be more logical to lure them into our own territory--territory that we are familiar with and in which we would therefore have a tactical advantage?'
'Not at the expense of any more lives, Commander. Far too many people have suffered because of this His Shadow nuisance. I can't allow any more...'
'I think I see where T'Val is going with this, Admiral,' Odo chimed in. 'If only we could set some sort of bait...' he thought a moment, '...a badly damaged ship of some sort--something easy to combat--an Andorian luxury liner, for example. Send a phony distress call out to Deep Space Nine, and when they arrive, have a bunch of cloaked ships waiting to ambush them. That is, of course, assuming His Shadow is unfamiliar with cloaking technology?' His eyes traversed the faces of the Lexx crew.
'That they are,' Kai responded. 'But if it is possible they could have intercepted the Deep Space Nine computer download, the situation may have changed.'
'The download was dispatched on a heavily encoded frequency--they always are--one so jumbled only an expert from Starfleet Intelligence could have made sense of it. But I for one am assuming that every step ahead of His Shadow we may be technologically, he's an extra step ahead of us in cunning,' Maggie added.
'Do you think,' Ensign Bittman suddenly announced, coming down from a cloud of deep thought, 'we could send a few larger destroyers and perhaps...Klingon Birds of Prey...to intercept the enemy vessels approaching the bait, a good number of heavily armed destroyers...perhaps Prometheus class or something similar...to Deep Space Nine...and an entire interstellar armada into the Gamma Quadrant to cripple the enemy at their base?'
'Excellent tactical ideas, Ensign. But we need to have an entire interstellar armada on the home turf as well...just in case the 'bait' doesn't go down too well. I was thinking that when we finally do venture into the Gamma Quadrant, we should rely heavily on Borg cubes.'
'You would think of that, Maggie,' Dr. Bic snarled at her.
'Hey, if His Shadow can rip through a fleet of Borg ships, then we'll know he's stronger than he makes himself out to us,' The part Cardassian, part Bajoran, part Borg, Nulak Deb contributed.
'But,' Maggie added, 'the way things are going, even with Starfleet vessels alone, I'd say we've got him outgunned. Geez, this bastard sure picked the wrong people to mess with!'
*You seem very confident about this, Admiral,* Kai glanced over at her.
*Pissed off, yes. Confident? That's yet to come. But we've overcome far more formidable adversaries...if that weren't so, I wouldn't be here,* she smiled back at him.
Understanding that she meant the Borg,he returned the smile--a ghost of a smile--but a smile, nonetheless.
'But the Borg are allied with us on this?' Captain Paris inquired.
'They sure are...but you'll find out more about that at the Admiral's Conference.'
'Admiral's Conference?' Xev asked, perplexed.
'When we arrive at Spacedock, we are to immediately board a runabout bound for Starfleet Headquarters to attend a classified briefing with the Federation President, Starfleet Intelligence, and the Council of Admirals. Computer, what is the present time?'
'1907 hours.'
'Damn, we're late...'
'But why us?' B'Elanna questioned.
'Because we're the only ones in the Federation who have seen what this His Shadow character can do who aren't trapped on Deep Space Nine. Also, we've got three--four if you count that blasted 'droid in the Brig--who have had prior dealings with him--know his style. 790 will be released from the Brig upon docking and, if he promises to keep decorum, will be permitted to attend the briefing.'
'I'll do the best I can to keep him in line, Admiral,' Xev reassured her.
'You do that.
'Captain Tweedle, you and your crew best be getting back to the Lexx. I'm not sure exactly how you'd go about docking that thing, but the spacedock people can be quite helpful about that sort of thing. Just be sure to meet my senior staff and I in Observation Deck 7A. By then, I should have word on getting us a runabout or two. Until then,' Maggie rose, walking to the other side of the table to shake the Captain's hand, quickly retracting it with all the diplomacy she could muster when she remembered her last attempt.
'This meeting is adjourned. Stations, please.' She tapped her commbadge,
'Bridge, any word from spacedock?'
'About an hour ago they asked us if we wanted to dock or were planning on just staying up here and looking pretty. Heh!'
'How'd you answer them, Lieutenant?'
'I informed them you were in a meeting with your senior staff and the crew of the alien vessel. They were a bit perturbed though when there was no response to their hails to the Lexx. But when I explained it was allright, that they must all be on board talking with you, they understood and asked us to stand by.'
'I'll be up there in a minute then...McCoy out.'
Maggie turned to face Captain Tweedle, 'This is your entire crew?'
'The rest were eaten by Cluster Lizards,' he replied as he and his crew began to file out.
A perplexed and somewhat sickened look quickly crossed the Admiral's face as she turned to face her first officer. As she was about to open her mouth, Kai approached her from behind.
'Admiral,' he began,'Stanley has given me permission to remain on board the Narendra III during docking. Is this allright with you?'
'More than allright, Kai. I'd be glad to have you...especially if you're considering that little proposal of mine,' she winked. 'Come on, guys,' she joked, linking her arms with the two men on either side, 'we've got some history to make.'
**********************************
'Captain on the bridge!' the Andorian Lieutenant who had been in command during the senior staff's absence suddenly announced, rising from her chair and standing at attention.
'As you were,' Maggie responded, taking her place at the center of the bridge.
The rest of the senior bridge crew resumed their stations, with Kai standing to the Admiral's left.
'Ops, disengage tractor beam on the Lexx.'
'Tractor beam disengaged, Admiral.'
'Mr. Terok, hail spacedock and tell them we're coming in.'
'Aye Admiral,' The Vulcan at the comm station responded. 'Spacedock acknowledges and replies that we are cleared for docking.'
'Excellent. Okay, Mr. Bittman, Bring us around--Steady as she goes.'
With the skill that only one of Starfleet's finest could possess, Renee Bittman began the docking procedure.
'1/8 impulse power, present speed. Spacedock doors opened.'
'Proceed in,' Maggie replied, leaning back in her chair.
Slowly, the Narendra III was engulfed by the floating structure, so massive it substantially dwarfed the in-of-itself large starship.
The ship turned and made its way into one of the drydocks.
'Impulse engines shutting down and docking clamps engaged. Docking process complete in 7 seconds...4-3-2-1. Docking successful, Admiral,' Ensign Bittman announced, turning from her station to face her commanding officer.
'Excellent work, Renee. And what about the Lexx? Did they make it in?'
'The Lexx is entering drydock 3A1--all the way on the other side,' Ensign Elar reported.
'How is it being held in place?' Tom Paris inquired, approaching the Ops station and peering over the Ensign's shoulder.
'Tractor beam, sir,' he responded.
'On visual.'
'Aye, Captain.'
With that, a picture of the Lexx appeared on the viewscreen--being held into place by a weak field of blue light.
'Mr. Terok, hail the Lexx Crew,' Maggie ordered.
'Captain Tweedle. This is Admiral McCoy. I assume your first docking experience in a Federation space dock went well?'
'Very smooth ride, Admiral,' he replied as his image was put on holo- visual. 'My only question is how should we get out of the ship? Should we take a shuttle over or wait for a beam out?'
'My crew and I are about to depart for the space station and are planning to beam over. Upon arrival, I will instruct the transporter technicians to lock onto your crew and beam you over as well.'
'Much appreciated, Admiral. See you on...Observation Deck 7A?'
'That's right, Captain. McCoy out.'
'Okay, everybody out,' Maggie smiled, heading for the turbolift.
'Transporter Room 1."