Title: "Gateway" 31/45
Author: Quills
Contact:the_quill_pen@yahoo.com
Series: ENT
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Startrek and I derive no financial
gain from this story.
Codes: A, T/Tu, Ma, S, R, P angst, drama, romance, humor,
action/adventure
Summary: Captain Archer is relieved of command for a secret mission
into the 24th Century . To find and stop the Suliban renegade Silik.
While he is gone, a Vulcan Starfleet Captain from the future is given
temporary command of the Enterprise NX-01 with his own orders to to
investigate the 'Temporal Cold War'.
Chapter 31
Fourteen hours ago.........
"Quickly, forget the equipment!" yelled the Morovitch "It's a sand storm!"
" But Doctor..." one of the technicians began to protest.
"Stacy, we can replace equipment." said the Doctor "We cannot replace human lives. Now hurry to
the shelter."
The science team scrambled across the open expanse as the sudden sand storm picked up strength
and headed their way. The planet was barren and inhospitable under normal conditions. The sudden
sand storms were an added bonus. One the science team had gotten more than a little used to. In fact
some of the team had gotten so used to the storms they forgot just how dangerous they could be. On
at least one occasion team member had not moved quickly enough and ended up trapped outside in
one of the storms. The wind was so strong and the sand so thick the team member couldn't see more
than a few feet in front of himself. After nearly two hours, the storm subsided and the team member was
found unconscious but alive. The jumpsuit he had been wearing protected his body from the abrasive
effect the sand would have had on his skin.
Dr. Morovitch and Stacy made there way to the main building of the science compound. Even with the
storm behind them, the sand was being whipped up in a frenzy. The two team members could see a figure
standing in the open archway, but the sand obscured who the figure was. As they got closer to the light they
could make out the features of the individual. It was clearly a man and he was waving to them.
"Come on." the man yelled "Hurry up, your the last two."
Morovitch and Stacy sprinted the last fifteen meters to the building archway. As the came in site they
could make out the man's features. It was assistant team leader Miles O'Rourke.
Morovitch stopped in the doorway out of breath. In between bought of wheezing and taking in huge gulps of air
he spoke. "M-Miles...is...is everyone.." The Doctor swallowed as his breathing started to come under control.
"Everyone is accounted for Doctor Morovitch." said O'Rourke putting his hand on the Doctors back "We've
all taken shelter in the main auditorium."
Morovitch shook his head "Oh good…good"
"Come on" said Stacy "Let get inside."
"Good idea." agreed Morovitch and the three members of the science team entered through the
archway sealing the emergency storm door behind them.
The wind began to pick up speed and a howl that would be appropriately called unearthly began to
reverberate around the empty buildings of the compound. The sand laden winds twisted and swirled
throughout the compound as it beat against the lone source of refuge for the planets only inhabitants.
The brunt of the storm had arrived and a team member who was foolish enough to venture out in the
storm without protective clothing and an illuminated tri-corder would find himself hopelessly at the
mercy of the storm.
The main auditorium was currently the only building with power. All others had been shut down in
case of damage to prevent live power cells from being ruptured and perhaps exploding. The outside
illumination lights glowed in the sand laden air. They were the only source of light that could guide a
lost sole to the safety of the compound. They were like a beacon of hope that had, on more than one
occasion, saved the lives of a number of team members who had gotten lost on the storms. Now, the
lights were once more beckoned lost souls in the storm.. Like many an ancient lighthouse that
beckoned ships to the safety of their shores only to be crushed on the rocky coastline that lay between.
For out of the sand emerged dark garbed figures who stopped when they saw the beacon like lights of
the compound.
One of the figures held up a sensor device that chirped and beeped as the wind howled and raged.
The figure studied the device for a moment and then looked over at a similarly garbed figure. The man
with the sensor nodded his head to the other man and the dark garbed figures proceeded towards the
isolated compound.
--------
Inside the compound the team members sat around the large auditorium as they listened to
the wind rage outside.
"I'll be happy when the storm is over." Said Stacy taking a seat next Doctor O'Rourke.
"It's kinda beautiful." said Doctor Louisa Keller "In a dark and morbid sort of way."
Another Doctor, Philip Morehead, smiled "Leave it to you, Louisa, to find beauty in a sandstorm."
said Morehead "I'll bet you like rainy days and thunderstorms as well."
Louisa smiled back as the Doctor "Nature can be overwhelming and chaotic." she responded "You should
have a healthy respect for it, but also appreciate the raw beauty of the untamed force."
"I quite agree with you Louisa.' added Morovitch "Nature is beautiful when she's angry."
"You two are just romantics." chided technician Boyce from across the room "The weather is the weather."
At that the room sounded in laughter from the assembled science team. As the laughter died down, Morovitch
looked around to see who was in the main auditorium. When he saw several members missing he inquired
as to where they were.
O'Rourke replied "Mason and T'Prel are seeing to some equipment they pulled in from the storm and
Doctor Carter is around here somewhere."
Morovitch shook his head "As long as everyone..." the doctor started and stopped suddenly as a banging noise
reverberated through the chamber.
The team members looked at one another to make sure they had all heard it. A second banging sound
settled any doubts.
"That's the storm door!" cried Stacy
"Someone is outside!" shouted Morovitch
"Impossible!" said O'Rourke "Everyone's accounted for."
"Obviously not everyone." responded Morovitch "Maybe Mason or T'Prel went back out for additional
equipment and you didn't notice."
"Oh my god." said O'Rourke "I didn't double check..."
"Quick, we have to open the storm door and let them in." said Morovitch as he ran for the main archway.
Morovitch bolted down the corridor, reaching the storm door control panel first. He keyed in his access
code and heard the familiar blip of acknowledgment as the door locks opens and the automated servos
began to move the huge door aside. Sand immediately blew into the opening and Morovitch peered out to
see which of his people had gotten left outside. The glaring light and spinning sand obscured what
was visible in the dark night.
"Hello, is that you Mason? T'Pel?" called the Doctor as he strained his eyes to find the person who
had been beating on the storm door. What he was greeted with changed his expression from
concern and worry to abject terror.
For an older man, it can be said that Doctor Morovitch is a remarkably agile and quick man.
In his youth he was a very athletic person who was noted for being exceedingly quick on his feet.
Though the years had slowed Morovitch, he still had that fleet of foot ability of his youth and upon seeing
the dark garbed men standing outside the entranceway he immediately swung around leaping for the control
panel in a desperate effort to reseal the storm door. Unfortunately for Morovitch, he was never faster than
a disruptor blast either in his youth or in his old age. The beam sliced through the Doctor, rupturing
several internal organs as the he slammed against the wall sliding down it …leaving a bloody smear.
TBC....
Author: Quills
Contact:the_quill_pen@yahoo.com
Series: ENT
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Startrek and I derive no financial
gain from this story.
Codes: A, T/Tu, Ma, S, R, P angst, drama, romance, humor,
action/adventure
Summary: Captain Archer is relieved of command for a secret mission
into the 24th Century . To find and stop the Suliban renegade Silik.
While he is gone, a Vulcan Starfleet Captain from the future is given
temporary command of the Enterprise NX-01 with his own orders to to
investigate the 'Temporal Cold War'.
Chapter 31
Fourteen hours ago.........
"Quickly, forget the equipment!" yelled the Morovitch "It's a sand storm!"
" But Doctor..." one of the technicians began to protest.
"Stacy, we can replace equipment." said the Doctor "We cannot replace human lives. Now hurry to
the shelter."
The science team scrambled across the open expanse as the sudden sand storm picked up strength
and headed their way. The planet was barren and inhospitable under normal conditions. The sudden
sand storms were an added bonus. One the science team had gotten more than a little used to. In fact
some of the team had gotten so used to the storms they forgot just how dangerous they could be. On
at least one occasion team member had not moved quickly enough and ended up trapped outside in
one of the storms. The wind was so strong and the sand so thick the team member couldn't see more
than a few feet in front of himself. After nearly two hours, the storm subsided and the team member was
found unconscious but alive. The jumpsuit he had been wearing protected his body from the abrasive
effect the sand would have had on his skin.
Dr. Morovitch and Stacy made there way to the main building of the science compound. Even with the
storm behind them, the sand was being whipped up in a frenzy. The two team members could see a figure
standing in the open archway, but the sand obscured who the figure was. As they got closer to the light they
could make out the features of the individual. It was clearly a man and he was waving to them.
"Come on." the man yelled "Hurry up, your the last two."
Morovitch and Stacy sprinted the last fifteen meters to the building archway. As the came in site they
could make out the man's features. It was assistant team leader Miles O'Rourke.
Morovitch stopped in the doorway out of breath. In between bought of wheezing and taking in huge gulps of air
he spoke. "M-Miles...is...is everyone.." The Doctor swallowed as his breathing started to come under control.
"Everyone is accounted for Doctor Morovitch." said O'Rourke putting his hand on the Doctors back "We've
all taken shelter in the main auditorium."
Morovitch shook his head "Oh good…good"
"Come on" said Stacy "Let get inside."
"Good idea." agreed Morovitch and the three members of the science team entered through the
archway sealing the emergency storm door behind them.
The wind began to pick up speed and a howl that would be appropriately called unearthly began to
reverberate around the empty buildings of the compound. The sand laden winds twisted and swirled
throughout the compound as it beat against the lone source of refuge for the planets only inhabitants.
The brunt of the storm had arrived and a team member who was foolish enough to venture out in the
storm without protective clothing and an illuminated tri-corder would find himself hopelessly at the
mercy of the storm.
The main auditorium was currently the only building with power. All others had been shut down in
case of damage to prevent live power cells from being ruptured and perhaps exploding. The outside
illumination lights glowed in the sand laden air. They were the only source of light that could guide a
lost sole to the safety of the compound. They were like a beacon of hope that had, on more than one
occasion, saved the lives of a number of team members who had gotten lost on the storms. Now, the
lights were once more beckoned lost souls in the storm.. Like many an ancient lighthouse that
beckoned ships to the safety of their shores only to be crushed on the rocky coastline that lay between.
For out of the sand emerged dark garbed figures who stopped when they saw the beacon like lights of
the compound.
One of the figures held up a sensor device that chirped and beeped as the wind howled and raged.
The figure studied the device for a moment and then looked over at a similarly garbed figure. The man
with the sensor nodded his head to the other man and the dark garbed figures proceeded towards the
isolated compound.
--------
Inside the compound the team members sat around the large auditorium as they listened to
the wind rage outside.
"I'll be happy when the storm is over." Said Stacy taking a seat next Doctor O'Rourke.
"It's kinda beautiful." said Doctor Louisa Keller "In a dark and morbid sort of way."
Another Doctor, Philip Morehead, smiled "Leave it to you, Louisa, to find beauty in a sandstorm."
said Morehead "I'll bet you like rainy days and thunderstorms as well."
Louisa smiled back as the Doctor "Nature can be overwhelming and chaotic." she responded "You should
have a healthy respect for it, but also appreciate the raw beauty of the untamed force."
"I quite agree with you Louisa.' added Morovitch "Nature is beautiful when she's angry."
"You two are just romantics." chided technician Boyce from across the room "The weather is the weather."
At that the room sounded in laughter from the assembled science team. As the laughter died down, Morovitch
looked around to see who was in the main auditorium. When he saw several members missing he inquired
as to where they were.
O'Rourke replied "Mason and T'Prel are seeing to some equipment they pulled in from the storm and
Doctor Carter is around here somewhere."
Morovitch shook his head "As long as everyone..." the doctor started and stopped suddenly as a banging noise
reverberated through the chamber.
The team members looked at one another to make sure they had all heard it. A second banging sound
settled any doubts.
"That's the storm door!" cried Stacy
"Someone is outside!" shouted Morovitch
"Impossible!" said O'Rourke "Everyone's accounted for."
"Obviously not everyone." responded Morovitch "Maybe Mason or T'Prel went back out for additional
equipment and you didn't notice."
"Oh my god." said O'Rourke "I didn't double check..."
"Quick, we have to open the storm door and let them in." said Morovitch as he ran for the main archway.
Morovitch bolted down the corridor, reaching the storm door control panel first. He keyed in his access
code and heard the familiar blip of acknowledgment as the door locks opens and the automated servos
began to move the huge door aside. Sand immediately blew into the opening and Morovitch peered out to
see which of his people had gotten left outside. The glaring light and spinning sand obscured what
was visible in the dark night.
"Hello, is that you Mason? T'Pel?" called the Doctor as he strained his eyes to find the person who
had been beating on the storm door. What he was greeted with changed his expression from
concern and worry to abject terror.
For an older man, it can be said that Doctor Morovitch is a remarkably agile and quick man.
In his youth he was a very athletic person who was noted for being exceedingly quick on his feet.
Though the years had slowed Morovitch, he still had that fleet of foot ability of his youth and upon seeing
the dark garbed men standing outside the entranceway he immediately swung around leaping for the control
panel in a desperate effort to reseal the storm door. Unfortunately for Morovitch, he was never faster than
a disruptor blast either in his youth or in his old age. The beam sliced through the Doctor, rupturing
several internal organs as the he slammed against the wall sliding down it …leaving a bloody smear.
TBC....