Chapter 6
The next morning, Armis woke up feeling like a different man. After meditating to clear his mind, he went out in search of a workout to get the kinks out of his system after a month of on again, off again Rest Trancing while in a cockpit.
Creak was busy talking with the computer again in rapid fire pure binary so Armis left him be, inquired of the computer in the hallway and followed the directions to the holo-deck.
Of the available holodecks, only one was in use. At first Armis couldn't read the panel but after focusing the Force to the task he read the display: 'Worf exercise simulation 79 in use at this time.' Armis thought to himself: "Worf, the non-human with the skull-ridge on his head and the tightly disciplined warrior mind." Out loud, Armis said: "Computer, please relay the following message, Armis Rau respectfully requests to participate in Lieutenant Worf's program." The computer answered: "One moment please." The door opened as the computer said: "You may enter when ready."
Armis entered to a strange landscape of rocky crags and shrub-like vegetation. It was dry and warm as well and a bright blue sky overhead. Hearing the doors close, Armis turned in time to see them disappear as if they had never existed in the first place. Opening his awareness to the Force completely, he could sense Worf's mind from a short distance as well as a strange echo in the Force of multiple beings.
What he could sense was not quite sentient yet still traceable. As he neared Worf's position, a quartet of battle-armored warriors that appeared to be the same species as Worf came at him with a variety of melee weapons in hand and battlecries in the air. Sensing that the strange echoes came from these beings, Armis suddenly knew that they were not alive in the strictest sense of the word and that they must be some kind of training simulator.
Stepping towards the warrior in the lead, Armis raised his hand and used the Force as a push that was strong enough to send the leader flying back through the air. The next one tried to flank him and caught a side snap kick to the chin that had Armis in a standing split momentarily as he recovered to backflip over the head of the next would-be assailant. Placing a Force Push in the back sent the attacker careening into the original leader who was just about to enter the fray.
The final attacker was raising its half-moon shaped weapon over its head to cleave Armis in two when he reached for his weapon. With a distinct snap-hiss, Armis made two motions with his white bladed lightsaber. The first move cut the attacker's weapon in two as he spun on one foot and bisected the attacker through the torso. The body fell away in two directions to lie there a moment before disappearing.
Worf had watched in utter fascination. As he had suspected, the man, the Jedi Knight, was a warrior of incredible strength, and the cylinder was a weapon but it was unlike anything he had ever seen before. Clearly a sword of some kind but the blade was energy instead of physical, and it could cut through anything.
Armis stood up straight from his cut, deactivated his lightsaber and said: "I know you're there Mr. Worf, you can come out now. I trust you have your answers." Worf emerged from the rocks where he had been concealed and said: "You are a fine warrior Jedi Rau. A great warrior indeed to defeat four fully armed and armored Klingon warriors. Surely you are a great general in your world." Armis turned to face him and said: "Wars do not make one great. They are the regrettable end result of anger, fear and aggression. If I never used my lightsaber again, it would be perfectly fine with me but I know that I won't ever get my wish until I die, either of old age like my Master or in battle somewhere. Worf laughed and said: "A warrior's creed if ever I've heard one. Would you like to try level 2?"
Two hours later, a thoroughly sweaty Jedi Knight and Klingon tactical officer exited the holodeck laughing out loud about the final round of opponents they faced. Simulated Borg drones bent on assimilating them both. At first they fell easily, as they always do. Their adapting to new situations was only effective at first. After Armis had tired of dicing them with his lightsaber since they were unable to adapt to its constantly moving energy signature, he then opted for hand to hand and alternate melee weapons.
They could have gone all day, but Worf had to report for duty. Armis said: "You say you have simulations for every hostile species you've encountered so far?" "Worf said: "For those we could get data on, yes. Most of my programs are things I created from scratch or from stories I've read or heard." Armis said: "Truly amazing Worf. Thank you for the outstanding workout, I feel much better." Worf said: "It would be an honor to fight by your side Armis. Thank you for allowing me to see a truly fine warrior in action."
The two went their separate ways. Armis went back to his room, showered and had breakfast. After he was done, the commbadge given to him chirped. Remembering the instructions the Security Officer had given him, he tapped the badge and said: "Rau here", Riker's voice said: "Please report to the conference room just off the main bridge where we spoke yesterday, we have some information for you." Armis said: "Thank you Commander. Creak and I are on the way."
The Jedi and his droid entered the conference room to see only Riker, Picard, Laforge and Troi. The two doctors of the day before were absent. Picard spoke first: "Good morning Armis. How was your first night aboard Enterprise?" Armis said: "Good morning Captain, and thank you for asking, it was wonderful to stretch out on a bed instead of a starfighter control seat."
Picard said: "Please, have a seat. Mr. Laforge has something to show you." After sitting down and Creak moving to stand by his side, Armis listened as Geordi spoke: "Thanks to that primer on Basic, my engineers and I were able to translate everything on your ship. Let me start by saying, Creak is a marvelous droid. He took sensor readings at every point of your journey. It seems that when you made your blind jump into hyperspace, you flew througha dimensional rift that linked our two worlds."
"We've been able to extrapolate your course and were able to narrow down your probable entry point to one of three locations. We've sent remote probes to take an advance look at each place and we should have our results by the end of the day today."
Picard spoke next: "We've already informed Starfleet Headquarters about you and they have authorized us to break off our patrol cycle and wait for the remote probe data. It looks as if you'll be able to go home very soon." Armis said: "Thank you very much Captain. I truly appreciate your efforts on my part."
Armis suddenly stood up and turned to the windows looking out into space from the conference room. He said: "Captain, this ship is in danger; you must move it away from here, now, without delay!" Picard started to speak: "Excuse me? What did you say?" but got no further when the ship's comm sounded off and Worf's voice said: "Captain Picard, Commander Riker, to the Bridge."
The Starfleet officers, trailed by Armis and Creak, exited the conference room onto the bridge. As Picard and Riker took their seats in the center, Geordi walked over to his station and said: "Engineering, transfer to the bridge please." The panel at his station lit up as he sat down in front of it.
Picard said: "Mr. Worf, report." Worf said: "Captain, I'm picking up a localized distortion of space/time 50,000 kilometers ahead. As I was monitoring long range scans, it suddenly appeared. Shortly after that, scans came back with this." The screen changed from the calm serenity of space to show a large triangular vessel the same color of storm-cloud gray to be seen in Earthly weather patterns as it emerged from what looked, to the Starfleet crew, like a ship coming out of warp.
Armis said: "Captain that is Warlord Regis's command ship, the Ragnorak. He did pursue me. I must get to my ship and lead him away. He's come for me and I can't allow you to come to any harm for helping me." Picard said: "Thank you for the concern Mr. Rau, but I do not surrender those who find sanctuary aboard my ship. Mr. Worf, hail them."
Worf said: "Aye sir." The sound of a hailing signal query came from Worf's station. A moment later, Worf said: "Captain, they are receiving but the answer I'm getting is indecipherable to the computer." Armis walked over to Worf's station, looked at the incoming signal and said: "With your permission Captain, Creak can act as a relay node but I urge you to let me leave. This is not your fight."
Picard said: "Again, Mr. Rau, I appreciate your concern but I won't let you act as a sacrifice. Go ahead with your relay though." Armis said: "As you wish Captain. Creak, come up here and talk to the computer." Creak deployed his third leg to negotiate the slight incline to the station where Armis stood. A few seconds later, Creak signaled everything was ready. Armis went back to his place off to the side so that the viewscreen would not see him.
Worf said: "Channel open Captain.", just as the picture of a middle-aged man from the waist up, dressed in an immaculate gray uniform and gray service cap came onscreen. Though the man may have been middle-age, his physique was that of a younger man. His face only starting to show the lines of age, his arms and upper body had the look of someone who took great care of his body.
Picard spoke first: "Greetings. I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with?" The man on screen said in an aristocratic voice: "I am Warlord Regis. In the name of the Galactic Empire, I demand that you turn over the Rebel traitor, Armis Rau to me or I will destroy your ship and everyone aboard it."
Picard was accustomed to belligerence in first contact from time to time so simply kept his calm and said: "I'm sorry Warlord Regis. I don't know of any 'rebel traitors' by that name. We are a ship of peaceful exploration and scientific discovery."
Regis stood there a moment and said: "I think your lying to me Picard but since I don't feel like taking the time to destroy you right now, I'll leave you with a lesson in speaking to your betters and search elsewhere."
The screen went dark as Armis said: "Captain, move your ship! NOW!" As Picard turned to speak, Worf said: "Captain, Regis's weapons are preparing to fire!" Before Picard could say a word, Riker said: "Red alert, shields up!" The last thing anyone on the Bridge was aware of was the world turning on its side and the sound of a tremendous impact as the lights went out.