Chapter 11
Lieutenant Tom Paris' molecules shimmered onto the transporter deck of the U.S.S Farragut. He phased in the room with the sparkle of blue light. Paris carried a duffle bag over his shoulder and a PADD in his hand. So this is where I'm going to die, he thought sarcastically. Tom quickly stepped off the deck and was greeted by the Transporter Officer. Tom tried to give the PADD, which had his orders on it, to the officer. However, he was quickly turned away.
"Sorry Lieutenant, you don't give that to me. You're to give it to Captain Riker, who is waiting for you on the bridge."
Tom thanked the officer then headed for the turbo lift. As Tom approached the lift he noticed a man who was waiting for the turbo lift doors to open. The man was older than Tom by about six or seven years. His hair was light brown and curly. Paris recognized the man but could not remember his name. The man had several PADDs in his hands and was reading one of them as the lift doors opened. Both men quickly entered the ship's turbo lift and the doors hissed shut. The man nodded to Tom, told the computer to take him to Engineering, and then returned to reading his PADD. Tom told the computer to take him to the bridge as he stared at the familiar looking man. The older man realized Tom was looking at him, which made the man feel rather awkward.
"May I help you?" asked the man in a thick Irish accent.
Tom shook his head and smiled. He suddenly realized he had been staring.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare, it's just that you look very familiar. Have we met before?"
"I don't think so. I mean, you don't look familiar. My name is Miles O'Brien. I'm the ship's Chief Engineer. I'd shake your hand but my hands are kind of full right now."
"O'Brien huh? Well, I'm Lieutenant Tom Paris. I'm the new Helm's Officer.
It's a pleasure to meet you."
O'Brien nodded and smiled casually.
"Likewise." he stated as he returned his attention back to his PADD.
Suddenly, a light flickered on in Paris' mind. He remembered where he had seen Miles O'Brien.
"Miles O'Brien! That's right! Now I remember. Weren't you stationed on Deep Space Nine? I remember because I was on a mission for the Marquis, to sabotage a Cardassian Warship that was docked at DS9. While I was there, I stopped off at Quark's Bar, to play a little Dabo. I did fairly well that evening and as I recall, you played too that night, and lost most of your money. I bet almost all your credits went to me. You were so drunk that you tried to hit me but you passed out before you could follow through. It had to of been one of the funniest things I'd ever seen. I asked the Ferrangi who owned the bar, what your name was and he gave it to me gladly. Miles O'Brien. That was it! I'm sure of it.
Miles glared at Tom and shook his head. It was apparent that Tom had struck one of O'Brien's nerves.
"I'm afraid you've got me mixed up with someone else. I was never stationed at Deep Space Nine.
Thankfully to O'Brien, the turbo lift doors opened and revealed Engineering. Miles quickly stepped off the lift but turned back to Tom.
"I guess I'll be seeing you around." he said to Tom as the doors hissed shut.
Tom smiled to himself. It was definitely the same guy, he thought, and you know, I think I just made a friend. Tom continued to smile as the turbo lift hummed toward the bridge.
=====/////=====
Tom Paris stepped onto the U.S.S Farragut's bridge. He smiled lightly as he took in the view. The Farragut was relatively simple but had the top of the line technology. The U.S.S Voyager was more elaborate and by far a more advanced ship, but the Farragut had that special something. Tom could not put his finger on it. Suddenly, Captain William Riker stood in front of the Lieutenant. Riker was smiling but Tom could tell that the Captain had a heavy heart. Will extended his hand and Tom grasped it firmly.
"Welcome, Lieutenant. I'm Captain William T. Riker. I assume you're Lieutenant Tom Paris."
"Yes, sir. I've been assigned to the Farragut as acting chief helmsman. Sir, I just wanted to say that your reputation proceeds you. I heard a lot of great things about you." stated Tom as he handed Riker his PADD.
Captain Riker glanced at the PADD briefly and then returned his gaze to the Lieutenant. Riker smirked lopsidedly.
"And I you Lieutenant. Admiral Janeway recommended you personally. She said and I quote "Will, I couldn't have asked for a better helmsman." Well, her opinion means a lot to me, so naturally I picked you up."
"Thank you Captain. I had to get involved somehow. I couldn't just sit around while the Borg tried to attack Earth."
"Well, we have plenty of work for you to do Tom, so take your post."
"Aye, sir." said Tom as he headed for the helm.
Tom Paris tapped the helms officer on duty on the shoulder. He motioned for the officer to take his leave, which the officer did gladly. Tom slid into the seat and pulled the Helm Consol over his lap. He skimmed the consol briefly, trying to get a knowledge of the system. It felt so good to be back in a helms' post. Tom had not been at the helm of a ship in a year. He had not realized how much he missed it. Captain Riker smiled at the Lieutenant.
"Care to take us out for a little spin, Lieutenant? I can't let you be a helms officer without getting a feel of the "Old Girl". Take us out, Mr. Paris. Warp one, engage." ordered Riker as he motion toward the Farragut's main screen.
"Aye, sir." stated Tom as he tapped the Helm keys.
The U.S.S Farragut slowly moved out of the cluttered area of Starships. Tom tapped keys and moved the Farragut eloquently. The ship moved out of packed region and slowly went into warp. The ship blasted into warp one, leaving sparkled light behind it.
=====/////=====
The Borg Queen's upper torso was lifted from her regeneration compartment by a clamp arm. The arm carried her torso toward the lower part of her body. It slowly clamped her upper half to the lower half. The torsos clasped together with a click and the Borg Queen came to life. Her dull eyes quickly came open and revealed her despicable evil. She examined her creations of Borg as they fulfilled their tasks. The time was nearing and she would have her most desired possession. Locutus will me mine again, she thought, he will be one with the Borg. The two Cubes continued toward Federation Space.
=====/////=====
Captain Picard quickly opened his eyes from sleep. The image of the Borg Queen floated in his mind. She called for him. Her voice was clear as day. She wanted him and would stop at nothing to get him. Picard rustled tiredly from his ready-room chair.
"Why did I even bother trying to sleep?" he said to himself.
Picard looked at his the old grandfather clock that was set up against the wall. Time ticked by slowly but it seemed as though every time the pendulum of the clock swayed back and forth, the walls of the ready-room grew smaller. Picard blinked the vision away and slugged toward the water receptacle in the room. He turned on the faucet and scooped up some cool water with his hands. He quickly splashed the water on his face and patted his cheeks. Picard let the water drip off his face. He needed to wake up. The time was approaching and he had to be ready. Jean-Luc grabbed a towel and blotted his face with it. It soaked up the remaining droplets of moisture. Picard set the towel down and turned back to the father clock. That damn thing is ticking my life away, he thought.
"Well, you won't get me without a fight!" he shouted.
Picard pulled down his uniform and bolted toward the bridge. The time was nearing and Picard would be ready for it
Lieutenant Tom Paris' molecules shimmered onto the transporter deck of the U.S.S Farragut. He phased in the room with the sparkle of blue light. Paris carried a duffle bag over his shoulder and a PADD in his hand. So this is where I'm going to die, he thought sarcastically. Tom quickly stepped off the deck and was greeted by the Transporter Officer. Tom tried to give the PADD, which had his orders on it, to the officer. However, he was quickly turned away.
"Sorry Lieutenant, you don't give that to me. You're to give it to Captain Riker, who is waiting for you on the bridge."
Tom thanked the officer then headed for the turbo lift. As Tom approached the lift he noticed a man who was waiting for the turbo lift doors to open. The man was older than Tom by about six or seven years. His hair was light brown and curly. Paris recognized the man but could not remember his name. The man had several PADDs in his hands and was reading one of them as the lift doors opened. Both men quickly entered the ship's turbo lift and the doors hissed shut. The man nodded to Tom, told the computer to take him to Engineering, and then returned to reading his PADD. Tom told the computer to take him to the bridge as he stared at the familiar looking man. The older man realized Tom was looking at him, which made the man feel rather awkward.
"May I help you?" asked the man in a thick Irish accent.
Tom shook his head and smiled. He suddenly realized he had been staring.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare, it's just that you look very familiar. Have we met before?"
"I don't think so. I mean, you don't look familiar. My name is Miles O'Brien. I'm the ship's Chief Engineer. I'd shake your hand but my hands are kind of full right now."
"O'Brien huh? Well, I'm Lieutenant Tom Paris. I'm the new Helm's Officer.
It's a pleasure to meet you."
O'Brien nodded and smiled casually.
"Likewise." he stated as he returned his attention back to his PADD.
Suddenly, a light flickered on in Paris' mind. He remembered where he had seen Miles O'Brien.
"Miles O'Brien! That's right! Now I remember. Weren't you stationed on Deep Space Nine? I remember because I was on a mission for the Marquis, to sabotage a Cardassian Warship that was docked at DS9. While I was there, I stopped off at Quark's Bar, to play a little Dabo. I did fairly well that evening and as I recall, you played too that night, and lost most of your money. I bet almost all your credits went to me. You were so drunk that you tried to hit me but you passed out before you could follow through. It had to of been one of the funniest things I'd ever seen. I asked the Ferrangi who owned the bar, what your name was and he gave it to me gladly. Miles O'Brien. That was it! I'm sure of it.
Miles glared at Tom and shook his head. It was apparent that Tom had struck one of O'Brien's nerves.
"I'm afraid you've got me mixed up with someone else. I was never stationed at Deep Space Nine.
Thankfully to O'Brien, the turbo lift doors opened and revealed Engineering. Miles quickly stepped off the lift but turned back to Tom.
"I guess I'll be seeing you around." he said to Tom as the doors hissed shut.
Tom smiled to himself. It was definitely the same guy, he thought, and you know, I think I just made a friend. Tom continued to smile as the turbo lift hummed toward the bridge.
=====/////=====
Tom Paris stepped onto the U.S.S Farragut's bridge. He smiled lightly as he took in the view. The Farragut was relatively simple but had the top of the line technology. The U.S.S Voyager was more elaborate and by far a more advanced ship, but the Farragut had that special something. Tom could not put his finger on it. Suddenly, Captain William Riker stood in front of the Lieutenant. Riker was smiling but Tom could tell that the Captain had a heavy heart. Will extended his hand and Tom grasped it firmly.
"Welcome, Lieutenant. I'm Captain William T. Riker. I assume you're Lieutenant Tom Paris."
"Yes, sir. I've been assigned to the Farragut as acting chief helmsman. Sir, I just wanted to say that your reputation proceeds you. I heard a lot of great things about you." stated Tom as he handed Riker his PADD.
Captain Riker glanced at the PADD briefly and then returned his gaze to the Lieutenant. Riker smirked lopsidedly.
"And I you Lieutenant. Admiral Janeway recommended you personally. She said and I quote "Will, I couldn't have asked for a better helmsman." Well, her opinion means a lot to me, so naturally I picked you up."
"Thank you Captain. I had to get involved somehow. I couldn't just sit around while the Borg tried to attack Earth."
"Well, we have plenty of work for you to do Tom, so take your post."
"Aye, sir." said Tom as he headed for the helm.
Tom Paris tapped the helms officer on duty on the shoulder. He motioned for the officer to take his leave, which the officer did gladly. Tom slid into the seat and pulled the Helm Consol over his lap. He skimmed the consol briefly, trying to get a knowledge of the system. It felt so good to be back in a helms' post. Tom had not been at the helm of a ship in a year. He had not realized how much he missed it. Captain Riker smiled at the Lieutenant.
"Care to take us out for a little spin, Lieutenant? I can't let you be a helms officer without getting a feel of the "Old Girl". Take us out, Mr. Paris. Warp one, engage." ordered Riker as he motion toward the Farragut's main screen.
"Aye, sir." stated Tom as he tapped the Helm keys.
The U.S.S Farragut slowly moved out of the cluttered area of Starships. Tom tapped keys and moved the Farragut eloquently. The ship moved out of packed region and slowly went into warp. The ship blasted into warp one, leaving sparkled light behind it.
=====/////=====
The Borg Queen's upper torso was lifted from her regeneration compartment by a clamp arm. The arm carried her torso toward the lower part of her body. It slowly clamped her upper half to the lower half. The torsos clasped together with a click and the Borg Queen came to life. Her dull eyes quickly came open and revealed her despicable evil. She examined her creations of Borg as they fulfilled their tasks. The time was nearing and she would have her most desired possession. Locutus will me mine again, she thought, he will be one with the Borg. The two Cubes continued toward Federation Space.
=====/////=====
Captain Picard quickly opened his eyes from sleep. The image of the Borg Queen floated in his mind. She called for him. Her voice was clear as day. She wanted him and would stop at nothing to get him. Picard rustled tiredly from his ready-room chair.
"Why did I even bother trying to sleep?" he said to himself.
Picard looked at his the old grandfather clock that was set up against the wall. Time ticked by slowly but it seemed as though every time the pendulum of the clock swayed back and forth, the walls of the ready-room grew smaller. Picard blinked the vision away and slugged toward the water receptacle in the room. He turned on the faucet and scooped up some cool water with his hands. He quickly splashed the water on his face and patted his cheeks. Picard let the water drip off his face. He needed to wake up. The time was approaching and he had to be ready. Jean-Luc grabbed a towel and blotted his face with it. It soaked up the remaining droplets of moisture. Picard set the towel down and turned back to the father clock. That damn thing is ticking my life away, he thought.
"Well, you won't get me without a fight!" he shouted.
Picard pulled down his uniform and bolted toward the bridge. The time was nearing and Picard would be ready for it