Chapter 9
He knew he was dreaming. Considering the events of the past, this had to be a dream, though different than the ones he was experiencing.
Picard surveyed the green metallic wired surroundings. He was lying down on a metal slab. Metal bracings secured him to the platform, almost filling him up with their cold, heartless essence.
And that's why he was here. His captors were neither gleeful nor hateful towards him. They were almost, indifferent. Their outfits were as metallic and cold as the environment, giving the everlasting impression that they were parts of a gigantic machine.
They lowered their instruments and began taking Picard apart. Once Picard was gone, they would replace him with one who was not independent, one who conformed.
Picard remembered he remained in that being, and, with the help of his crew, he was able to fight off the creature. However, his essence remained.
The table suddenly lifted up, bringing Picard's body to a vertical, all primed up to serve the gigantic machine.
This captor was different. He was dressed in red, royal roads. Long black hair adorned his head, topped with a small peculiar crown. A long goatee completed the man's facial features.
Unlike his indifferent surgeons, the man was smiling, he then laughed.
And finally, he spoke.
"You see, despite our differences, we are the same." The man proclaimed, "Tyranny, no matter what form it comes in, is still tyranny. Like this organism of a machine, I will take apart this world, and fill it with my essence!"
"NO!" Picard declared, "While tyranny can suppress man's free will, it cannot destroy it! You cannot win!"
"I already have," the man responded, his smile grew.
Picard checked his surroundings. It was hot. The metallic prison was now a prison of flames. And they were slowly making their way towards Picard.
"You will meet me, Picard," the man stated, "And when we do meet, your defeat is inevitable, there is no way you can fight this. Because resistance…. is futile."
The man let out a final laugh as metal and flame consumed Picard's body.
Aang screamed from the burning sensation. The last dream was unlike the others he had experienced.
Until then, his dreams had been chronicling the strange off-worlders from their decent from the massive space traveler, all the way to Ba Sing Se, all the way to ...
The invasion. Sokka had been complaining that Katara's care for the natives of this Fire Nation village was holding them behind schedule. Aang knew they had to travel a long distance, but he didn't know the exact place. Seriously, that water tribe boy was going to have to give him some disclosure.
Aang thought for a minute, the strangers were safe and sound on the ship Hakoda commanded, so there was no need to worry. Aang had to worry about his part.
Aang blinked. He saw something in the distance, behind some of the hills. He was too tired to go investigate, he would have to wait another night.
But he could swear, he saw the village's spirit, the Painted Lady.
Come on my boys fight with me
With spear, and sword for harmony
Against the mighty tyrants be
The strength of the Water Tribe Warriors.
He smells like the Polar Dog, waiting for prey
His arms, strong to break glaciers away
For he is the mighty Water Tribe Warrior.
With the brashness of a club
And the cleverness of a boomerang
Hakoda bowed as his audience, seated on the bare metal floor, burst into applause.
"I made that up on a whim, you know!" he responded to the crowd. His fellow water tribe warriors greeted him on the elevated platform, patting him on the back, and shaking his hand.
Riker watched with amusement. It wasn't a song really. It was a poem. A poem that would make any Klingon's inner warrior pumped up for battle. His captain, seated next to him, finished his applause. "That man sure knows how to rouse his followers!" Picard stated under the hoots of the audience.
"I sure know!" Riker heartily responded.
"Captain!" interrupted a hustled Wesley Crusher, "Captain! I think they're calling for you next!"
Picard gave a confused look. He could not hear anything over the din of the audience.
The din slowly focused into a chant. Wes's ears were as sharp as Picard's in his prime.
"PIC-ARD! PIC-ARD! PIC-ARD! PIC-ARD! PIC-ARD!" the crowd chanted. Hands started patting the captain as he was hustled onto the podium where Hakoda stood again.
"Jean-Luc", Hakoda began, as Picard nervously faced the audience, leading a starfleet crew was one thing, being in front of a rowdy, primitive crew, quite another.
"We would all like to hear any songs that you've picked up on your travels," Hakoda continued. "Your right hand man claimed you have quite the singing voice."
Picard zeroed in on the one person who it could have been.
Riker's only response was, "You know it's true Captain!" His first officer shrugged and sat down on the metal floor. Picard was going to have to send him down to the bulkhead once they returned to the Enterprise.
Picard was a lover of music, and had a wide repertoire of songs that he had memorized. Singing in front of a rowdy crowd is quite different then singing alone in his private quarters, however.
However, he found the perfect song for the occasion. The best part was, it was a duet.
"Okay, my esteemed audience!" Picard finally began. The crowd pulled in, excited for what the Captain had to offer.
"It's true that I have heard a wide range of songs. This song carries with it, the same tone of the poem that our Captain, Hakoda, has recited before. Now, for this song, I require another body to perform, so I am happy to invite my...'right hand man', William Riker, up to the stage."
Riker was suddenly swarmed with the crowd, as they now pushed him up to the small podium. It was not long before he was shoved next to a very satisfied Picard.
"What's the big idea, Captain?" Riker whispered in Picard's ear.
"It's merely Starfleet regulations, a captain never goes into the field of danger without his first officer."
Riker said nothing, it was too late anyway as the crowd was now eagerly awaiting their performance.
"Your known for breaking a few regulations," was Riker's last comment before Picard made his announcement.
"Tonight, I will give a performance of, 'A British Tar.'"
Damn it, I know that piece.
"Ready Number One?"
"When You are Captain."
And Picard began:
A British Tar is a soaring soul
As free as a mountain bird
His energetic fists
Should be ready to resist
A dictatorial word
His nose should pant and his lip should curl
His cheeks should flame and his brow should furl
His bosom should heave and his heart should glow
And his fist be ever ready for a knock-down blow
His eyes should flash with an inborn fire
His brow with scorn be wru-
"Silence!" shouted the angry lieutenant. All the honor and glory that could come from this capture would probably not be worth this.
His captive responded, "But it has been two days since your capture of me. Ever since I have awakened, you have left me tied up with nothing to do. When one has nothing to do, they must make for their own. I am merely imitating someone who would-"
"Enough from you!" Chang shouted. The red glow of the engines highlighted sweat on the man's brow. How could he, a lieutenant, be stuck in the bowels of a navy ship? He should be enjoying the comforts of the bridge!
But the pale man, or "Data," as he introduced himself, had already attempted to escape once. The man's strength was unthinkable. It took six guards to finally lock the man in full metal binds, circulating around his torso. So far, these bindings had proved strong enough.
Interrogating the man, however, was a completely different monster. The man was right, "he was impervious to pain." No sword, fire, hot coals, or limb turning could make the him even wince.
All in good time, if he couldn't make the man talk...
Princess Azula could. If Azula could navigate the treacherous Dai Li, then she could solve the maze of this man's mind.
And the Fire Nation could become more powerful than ever with the new technology he was traveling with.
Chang surveyed a small metal device. The man had not divulged it's purpose, but he recognized it as the device the man's companions were using against his men.
He smiled, once Azula broke "Data", hopefully he could get a share of the glory with her.
There was the sound of applause as Wesley watched Picard and Riker walk down from the podium. A hand patted him on the back
Wesley recognized it as the boy who helped them, Haru.
"Your companions have quite the voices, Weasly", Haru stated, smiling.
"It's Wesley." the young ensign corrected.
"Wesley?" Haru questioned, a puzzled look on his face, "I thought I had heard it differently."
"Well," Crusher concluded, "Take it from the man himself. Besides, if you say 'Weasly' it reminds me of Harry Potter."
"Right," Haru answered, not knowing what the young man meant by "Harry Potter." Haru then sighted the men of the hour, the captain and his first mate.
"Gentlemen!" Haru greeted, "Seems I've got an eye for singing talent!"
"We've picked up a few things," Riker responded, smiling.
"Hopefully your as good as fighters as singers"
"Like I've said, we've picked up quite a few things."
"Captain," Worf butted in, acknowledging Haru at the same time.
"Well Mister Worf," Picard inquired with an amused voice, "What did you think?"
"I hope I never have to sing that with you," Worf gruffly responded.
"Oh you never know Worf, a time may come when we need to sing that."
"Well, hopefully that time will be in the far future," Worf said as he began scanning the crowd. He finally found the man he wanted, and began marching towards him through the mass of men who were filing out.
Standing tall, Worf pointed at the man.
"You!" Worf shouted, "I challenge you, on my honor, for a rematch!"
The muscular man turned around. His face formed into a smile.
"The Boulder accepts your challenge, and promises to bring twice the hurt!"
Two of the water tribe warriors, anticipating another arm-wrestle, immediately brought out two chairs and a table. With unbelievable efficiency, they set all these items down in proper order in between the two men.
Worf took his seat as the Boulder simultaneously settled in to his, the two men locked arms almost immediately after.
"What's going on here?" Deanna suddenly interrupted as the two men readied themselves for the battle of dominance.
"Worf has challenged this guy again." Riker stated. He then pulled himself next to Deanna, as one of the men shouted "Go!"
"He won't win," Deanna said, "Didn't he lose to that guy last time?"
"Yeah," Riker stated, absorbed in the match.
"Then why is Worf challenging him if he knows he's going to lose?"
"Deanna, have you ever met a Klingon in your life? Worf is taking him on because of the challenge, but look."
Deanna broke here concentration with Riker. Worf's opponent was, once again, gaining the advantage. Riker and Deanna were both on the side of the challengers, and both could see by the sweat and the scrunching of faces, that the advantage the Boulder gained was hard fought.
"It's over," Riker concluded, "this guy has more strength than Worf, and it's hard to fight from behind in an arm-wrestle."
The Boulder's advantage began growing more rapidly. Worf's hand was mere inches from defeat.
Silence permeated the place. Everyone knew that the feisty Klingon was destined for defeat.
"Worf!" echoed a low voice through the chamber. Picard locked eyes with Worf as defeat came even closer.
"I have faith in you."
Worf's body then had a different stature to it. The Klingon's struggling face formed into a smile.
"By Kathless," the Klingon grunted to his opponent, "I will be the victor."
The Boulder's progress then halted. Once again, Worf and the Boulder were locked in that position.
"I have faith in you!" shouted Wesley Crusher from the back.
"I guess I do too," Deanna stated, as Worf began turning the tides.
"Beat the bastard," Riker said with a smile. He couldn't believe it, Worf was making progress to the midpoint with the Boulder. But, as he heard from Captain Picard, never underestimate a Klingon.
The Boulder contorted his face, and his muscles even more as he fought to bring the advantage back to him.
"What?" shouted the Boulder as he looked across the room, "No words of encouragement for the Boulder?"
"Hippo believes in the Boulder!" shouted an extremely large man.
Worf began making his way onto the Boulder's side. For all his muscles, the Boulder could not wrestle with pure determination.
And then his arm collapsed. The thud echoed around the table. Worf, panting hard, rose from his seat, and surveyed the audience for his crew members.
He then raised his arms in the air, facing the ceiling with pure delight.
"Men," Deanna stated as applause began, started by Riker. She shook her head and began retreating to her quarters. Being the only woman on this boat was very interesting to say the least.
Captain Picard approached Worf, and shook his hand. Faith. If it could subdue the massive man, could it subdue the situation they were in?
Picard sighed, he too had to retreat to his quarters.
It was a long night. Unfortunately, Hakoda had been occupied so that Picard could not press him for more questions on his dreams.
But soon enough, he would have to find out who or what this avatar was.
Oh boy, I felt this was as "filler" as one could get to a chapter
The boat provides many opportunities for inter-universe mingling. Hopefully it was good enough
Next Friday, more boat action!
