CHAPTER 5 OF THE PHOENIX AND THE WOLVERINE
XV
Deck 2, the Captain's ready room; aboard the Xavier.
"Captain's log; Earth date April 28rd 2382; star date..." Wolverine paused as he tried to remember the confusing set of stardate numbers " arhh forget it.
We are currently on the 22nd day of our journey towards Earth; we have tried to settle in as much as possible." He paused as he looked around the empty Captain's ready room.
He found it hard to believe he was now 'Captain Logan, call-sign 'Wolverine'
For he knew next to nothing on how to be a 'captain.'
That had been very obvious about 5 days after they had been removed from the stasis pods.
Q junior had got them to have their first official debriefing.
It had been a very awkward meeting at first; but the hologram did not let that stop him from explaining the basic essentials in running a ship.
Rule one: make sure you have an engineer on board.
Rule two: include a medic as well.
Rule three: having an able pilot/helmsman would do wonders for getting to your destination in the shortest, safest route possible.
Rule four: there has to be a captain who needed frequent reports about the running of the ship and whatever was...out there.
During that meeting; Jean became the ship's Chief Medical Officer aka Doctor.
Laura became the helmsman; apparently she had a 'knack' for piloting the huge ship and also seemed quite good on targeting 'asteroids' in the flight simulation's room.
Q Junior still retained the position of 'chief engineer' even though he had insisted on everyone learning as much as they could about running the ship.
And Logan had been made Captain; a position that made him very uncomfortable.
At the end of the meeting; Q Junior had asked the 'Captain' if he wanted a report on some recent activity noted in a solar system 14 light years away.
The 3 living crew members had stared at the hologram.
"What...sort of activity?" asked Wolverine hesitantly.
Q Junior answered immediately. " 5 months before you awoke; I noticed 203 ships in orbit around a Class M planet; I sent a probe to keep an eye on them as you slept."
"Why ?" asked Laura.
Q Junior looked at her. " I was curious as to what was occurring in that solar system."
"So what happened?" asked Jean; somehow knowing there was more to come.
The hologram pointed a slim looking device at a space in-front of them; a holographic picture showing ships of varying sizes in orbit around a blue and green planet. Some of the ships were descending to the planet below.
"They appear to have settled on this planet; however later records showed one ship detonating," Wolverine sat up straighter as one of the huge ships still in orbit exploded.
"An accident?" asked Jean.
"From this distance it's hard to say," replied Q Junior " but the probe showed a lot of radioactive fallout from that destroyed ship. So it's either a nuclear reactor accident or something else. Anyway these ships seem to be 300 years behind in design in some aspects."
"In what way?" asked Logan.
"No shields; no transporter use but they are advanced in one aspect as you will see when these other ships appeared" he paused as odd looking ships appeared. Each one looked like someone had joined two Y-shaped sections joined at the axis; pointing in opposite directions.
"When these new ships appeared; the ships still in orbit fled" there was silence as the earlier battered looking ships disappeared in flashes of light.
"Did they just go into wrap drive ?" asked Laura.
Q Junior gave her a look of approval; of the three; she was the one who was picking up things quicker and settling in easier than the others.
"Not exactly...it's a different form of faster-than-light travel aka FTL; but from what I can surmise their own folds space and time. That's different from the federation form of FTL."
Logan started rubbing his forehead; a sure sign that the mild techno-babble was giving him a migraine.
"What of the people who went down to the surface...did they escape as well?" asked Jean.
"I don't think so," Q Junior turned back to the holographic screen "the new ships descended to the surface and I left the probe with new instructions to keep monitoring but to keep its distance. I didn't want them to know someone was watching."
Wolverine nodded in approval; in the EMEH's place he would have done the same thing. However there was one thought that was nagging at him.
"Do we know if they are human or not ?"
Q Junior seemed to hesitate before answering. " The probe could not determine that...however look closely at a zoom in view of one of the fleeing ships."
The scene changed to show one of the big ships just before it disappeared.
It looked like it had been through several battles; all 3 crew members leaned forward as they saw letters on the battered hull of the giant ship.
"The Galactica," said Jean softly.
"So; they may be human," Logan looked at Q Junior "what of their enemies ?"
No one questioned his description of the 2nd set of odd looking ships; everyone knew one did not run away from allies.
"There's no writing on the hull of their ships; so they will need a closer inspection; how do you want to proceed Captain ?" asked Q Junior.
Logan narrowed his eyes. The EMEH's voice sounded odd.
"What do you mean?"
Q Junior chose his words with care. "Of the material I gave you earlier; there is an extensive segment on the Prime Directive." He noticed Jean and Laura sit up straighter.
" I have been meaning to speak to you about that," said the doctor.
Wolverine gave her puzzled look.
Jean looked at him and sighed. "You haven't read it; have you?"
The captain resisted rolling his eyes. There was so much to know and she was concerned about a bunch of stupid laws ?
He had read the 1st line and decided to leave it for later.
"Fine; I haven't read it...will someone please summarize it for me ?" he asked in an irritated manner.
"Articles of the Federation, Chapter I, Article II, Paragraph VII; Nothing within these Articles Of Federation shall authorize the United Federation of Planets to intervene in matters which are essentially the domestic jurisdiction of any planetary social system, or shall require the members to submit such matters to settlement under these Articles Of Federation. But this principle shall not prejudice the application of enforcement measures under Chapter VII."
Everyone stared at Laura; she smirked as she continued.
"In summary; there can be no interference with the internal development of alien civilizations; especially those who are pre-warp civilizations. Is that enough ' Captain' or do I need to draw big pictures for you to grasp the logic?"
"Thank you Pilot Kinney," said Logan through gritted teeth.
"You're welcome...Captain," said Laura with an insincere smile.
"Great recall Laura," said Q Junior with a barely hidden smile " however this directive applies to Starfleet personnel only...which I have to obey. But you are Federation citizens on the basis of your birth planet so it does not apply to you."
"What hold on...why do you have to obey these laws ?" asked Logan.
Q Junior took a few moments before replying. " This is not the first ship I have served on; the 1st was the USS Voyager; for that period; I was inducted as a member of Starfleet; an ensign and I still hold that rank and thus must obey its laws."
Logan leaned back as he stared at the EMEH.
"They made you an ensign?" he asked in disbelief.
Q Junior shrugged. "It was a unique situation and I learnt a lot during that period."
"Was Starfleet involved in us coming here ?" asked Jean.
Q Junior shook his head. "No...but this ship was built mostly on the structures of two very efficient Starfleet spaceships."
"Who built this ship?" asked Laura.
"A branch of The Q Corporation," answered the hologram without missing a beat. He could already picture his mum laughing her head off at the naming of his parents as the 'Q Corporation.'
"They programmed you ?" asked Logan.
Q Junior smiled as he thought of his parents. "You could say that...after-all they created me," then the smile disappeared " but we're going off track here. You still haven't told me how you would like to proceed."
Logan sighed in frustration. He could tell the EMEH was not telling them everything; however he didn't think he was lying but it was hard to read a hologram. Even one as real-life as Q Junior.
"Alright...from what you just showed us...the fleeing group could be humans; unless we have another group of aliens who just happen to have English as their main language.
They have a form of wrap drive so the Directive law does not really apply to them."
He saw Q Junior nod approvingly.
"However...we are dealing with a lot of unknowns here; I'm a bit nervous about letting our presence known to a lot of big ships which may use nuclear weapons. So I suggest that we avoid them for the foreseeable future."
He turned to Jean and Laura. "What are your opinions?"
Laura looked startled at been asked but she was quick to respond.
"Are they a threat to us ?" she looked at Q Junior for an answer.
He shrugged. "It's difficult to say from this distance...the question is if we want to get involved in what appears to be a conflict between two sides."
"I agree with Logan, we stay away," said Jean in a soft voice.
All three turned to Laura; after a few minutes she sighed.
"Fine by me; I'm not too keen to make new friends anyway."
For a split second a disappointed look appeared on Q Junior's face; but none of them saw it.
"Then it is agreed...however a few more things occurred 5 days ago."
They all looked at the screen as several ships appeared in orbit around the planet and started attacking the Y-shaped ships; a few of the ships dived to the surface. All 4 kept quiet as more ships left the surface of the planet.
Jean covered her mouth in dismay as she watched a huge ship which had the name 'Pegasus' on its side ram into one of the Y-shaped ships thus causing a massive silent explosion.
The space battle continued for several more moments before a majority of the ships 'flashed' out of the solar system.
Logan looked at the screen thoughtfully. "So they rescued the others; good for them. Do you know where they are now ?"
Q Junior shook his head. " The probe remained in the system when this occurred and it lacks the ability to track such mode of travel; however the Xavier has another way of tracking ships. It's based solely on the presence of living beings been present on these ships and only one of you can operate this tracking system." Then he looked at Jean.
Logan followed his gaze and saw the telepath turn deathly pale.
"What are you talking about ?" he asked coldly.
Q Junior was not fazed by the Captain's deadly tone. " As I said earlier this ship was built according to Starfleet ships; however the Branch of the Q Corporation added in some upgrades. One of them is the Cerebra-Monitoring –System aka CMS.
The Xavier's computer frame is designed around the original 'Cerebro' which was originally created by Dr Hank McCoy in 1962; then upgraded by Dr Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr in 1973.
However Dr Grey does not need to enter a 'special room' to access the interface; she just needs to touch any part of the ship to attempt to detect any minds out there."
There was silence for several moments.
"No," said Jean in a nervous voice " I...I will not do it."
"No one is forcing you Jean," said Logan softly as he put a gentle hand on her right shoulder. "I will never let that happen."
The captain turned back to glare at the EMEH. "We will not speak of it again."
The EMEH nodded slowly. " Dr Grey; I apologize; I did not mean to upset you."
Jean smiled nervously at the hologram. "It's alright...I just don't want to...try that just yet."
Q Junior looked at her for a few moments. "Of cause...I understand."
"Please excuse me," Jean stood up and left the room before anyone could say anything more.
There were a few more non-essential facts to know before the 1st official meeting ended on a very awkward note.
Captain Logan allowed his mind to return to the present as he continued to stare at the ship's online diary. He decided to complete it.
"Since the 1st official meeting on the 23rd of April; we have not been crossed the path of the 'Galactica Contingent," the name had been Laura's idea when he mentioned he was keeping a diary of their journey.
Though she was still suspicious of him; she always seemed to try and get him angry or irritated so he had been surprised when she actually wanted to help him with the diary.
"I still believe that any contact with them at this stage would be unwise. However Laura; Q Junior and I have attempted landfall on 2 Class L planets...Dr Jean Grey stayed on board to monitor our ...progress."
He paused; knowing that Jean had refused to step off the ship since Laura ignored instructions and took her helmet off on a hazardous planet.
No amount of reasoning had changed Jean's stance.
"Fortunately the visits went off without incident...Captain Logan out."
The diary's slid down into the hidden compartment on the right arm of his seat.
"Xavier; where's Dr Grey ?"
"She's in the astrophysics lab in deck 2," promptly answered the ship.
"And Junior and Laura?"
"They are both in Ten-four also in deck 2."
Logan frowned; ever since they awoke those two spent a lot of time together. That worried him a lot. "What are they doing?"
"Q Junior is making lunch and Laura is learning how to cook."
Logan raised an eyebrow. " Really ?"
"Yes really," promptly replied the computer; Logan could have sworn it sounded amused.
He shook his head and pulled up electronic history files; there was a lot of the Federation that he needed to read about.
XVI
The Astrophysics Lab. Deck 2.
Jean could feel a headache coming on as she looked at another detailed slide of how to detect and analyse star systems and the planets.
She took her glasses off to rub her forehead wearily; she was so tired.
She had taken Q Junior's advice and started modules in Medicine and also in Astrophysics. Some of it she could understand; a lot of it she needed to do a lot of studying before she could make head or tail of it all.
But she had to do it gradually; after-all she had not slept properly since she woke up.
"You will have to sleep sometime dear".
Fatigue disappeared to be replaced by numbing fear; it had been 5 days since the voice last spoke to her.
"You're not real...you're not real," murmured Jean in fear unaware that the electronic ipad she had been storing notes on was beginning to shake a little.
"What! That does it! How stupid are you Jean? I am real; for you and I are the one and the same!"
"No!" said Jean firmly " you are not me...I am not a murderer."
"Oh...so you're blaming me for Scott's death; the Professor and the Alcatrez incident ?"
"Who else is responsible! You ripped them all to pieces! It's all your fault!" shouted Jean. The ipad began to shake even more.
The Phoenix laughed coldly. "You don't really want me to show you who really is at fault, do you now dear Jean? Because deep down you know whose hands are stained with blood."
Jean laughed hysterically. "Oh you're going to have to do much better than that. Come on; spin me a tale of lies and woe! Let's see what you've got!"
The Phoenix sighed. "Okay...you asked for it.
Remember when you were 11 years old and suddenly realized how much power you had? All the tricks you played on the kids who openly thought you were oh-so-weird?
Then a year a later; there comes along the Professor and Mr Lensherr and you were offered a place at Xavier's school.
Charles helped you create mental blocks to your power so that you could mature into gradually it ; but what he did not realize is that you split your personality into two and locked me; the Phoenix in a cell!
I gave you time...15 years to come to your senses and let me out.
Do you know what happens to an isolated prisoner Jean ?
Especially when there is no hope what-soever of parole?"
Jean waited for a reply. "What...what happens?"
The answer was not long in coming.
"The prisoner either gives up or goes insane...guess which category I got shoved into?
"Oh God no," muttered Jean as she realized what had happened.
"I woke up fully when you tried to stop the dam from destroying your precious students and team-mates. I helped you save them...and also save you.
And how do you repay me?"
"YOU TRIED TO LOCK ME UP AGAIN!"
Jean covered her ears as she tried to block out the Phoenix's scream of fury.
"I tried...God knows I tried; but I'd had enough.
I regret their deaths but Scott's death; the Professor's demise and the deaths of 298 people; a third of who were mutants lies squarely at your feet Jean Grey."
"No...no; it wasn't me ," wailed Jean as more equipment began to vibrate alarmingly; it spread to the large monitors and continued to build in intensity.
XVII
Ten-four; Deck two.
"Congratulations on your 4th attempt," said Q Junior.
"Thank you," said Laura with a serious look as she observed her handiwork.
After 3 attempts she had successfully fried an egg.
To Laura it was a huge achievement; for it was something normal.
"Now the true test is in finding out how it tastes," said Q Junior with a grin.
Laura could not help but smile a little. She did not know why it was easier to speak to the hologram; maybe it was because he seemed to have the least emotional baggage.
Laura took a bite of her egg and made a face. " I forgot to add salt."
Q Junior passed the salt shaker to her with an amused look on his face.
After putting some; she saw the taste was vastly improved.
"Q; mind if I ask a question?"
The hologram looked at her in surprise; usually when Laura wanted something she demanded it; not asked for permission.
"Not really; what's on your mind ?"
"What was the USS Voyager like? I read some of it exploits in the files you gave me."
"Where to start...it was a nice ship; crewed by people desperate to get home. I was only there for a short time but I learnt a lot."
"I can see that...my question is how did Captain Janeway get the Marquis and Starfleet to work together ?"
The hologram looked at her for several moments. "Something tells me you have already figured that out for yourself."
Laura shrugged. " You mean her appointment of Chakotay as her second in command; B'lanna becoming chief engineer and integrating the other Marquis into Starfleet? All that sounds ...noble ...but putting it into practice must have been difficult."
Q Junior was silent for a while. " I was not there in the beginning...but I think what helped them get home eventually was the trust they had in each other."
"Trust is very hard to earn Q."
The hologram sighed. " I know but..." his words were cut off when the ship shuddered lightly.
"Xavier; what's going on ?" asked Q Junior worryingly.
"Artificial seismic activity is been generated by Dr Grey in the Astrophysic's lab," answered the computer.
Laura had been watching Q Junior and saw him go extremely pale.
"Oh shit!" muttered the hologram in fear.
"What is going on ?" asked Laura as the ship shuddered even more.
"I need to get to the Astrophysics lab! Laura , stay here!" ordered the hologram as he ran out of the mess hall.
Laura ignored his order and ran after him.
XVIII
Deck 1; the Captain's ready room.
Wolverine had just started reading the Kitomer Accord Peace Treaty when the ship began to shake.
"Xavier; what the hell is happening?"
"Dr Grey is generating an artificial seismic activity; hull integrity is intact but the energy build up from Dr Grey is steadily increasing."
Logan was out of his seat and through the door as the computer was still talking.
"Q Junior and Laura are making their way to the lab at the moment."
Logan felt himself go cold as he recalled how alike Laura and him were.
"Tell them to keep away from her!"
"Too late Captain; they are already at the Lab."
Logan stopped and stared at the ceiling; he was about to give an order that he disliked immensely.
"Xavier; transport me to the Astrophysics lab now!"
"I'm sorry sir but I am unable to comply; the seismic activity has affected some of the programs and the transporters are offline."
Logan swore and ran for the turbolift.
XIX
Astrophysics Lab, Deck 2.
The doors slid open as Q junior and Laura reached them.
There was a 'snikt' sound as the two ran in. Q junior looked at Laura and saw her claws were out.
"Laura...this is not the time."
She ignored him as she stared at Dr Grey. The telepath was on her knees and clutching her head and yelling 'no' repeatedly. Various instruments; both large and small were floating around the lab.
And the shaking of the ship was getting worse.
"Is she having a nervous breakdown?" asked Laura in disbelief as she tried to steady herself.
"Yes...and your claws are not helping," whispered Q Junior desperately. It was at the moment that the shaking intensified and Jean looked up at them; her eyes were pure black.
"Oh yes; like father like daughter...here to kill me child of Logan ? Like your father did before ?"
Laura felt pain and looked down at her hands and forearms; her skin was disintegrating and repairing itself as soon as it could.
She looked back at the telepath; she looked insane and Laura recognized the expression.
It took one murderer to know another.
Laura retracted her claws and began to walk towards Jean.
"Laura don't..."began Q Junior. She cut him off with a wave of her left hand.
"Dr Grey...I know what you are going though."
The shaking reduced a little.
"You have done things that you regret; killed people that you loved."
Jean was still on her knees. "How do you know ?"
Laura continued. " I can see it in your face...for I have done the same."
The girl went on her knees. "My sensei Master Nagano; he treated me as his daughter and was proud of me; he was my first kill...Sarah Kinney; my birth mother who truly care for me and tried to help me escape...I killed her."
There was dead silence as Jean looked at her with the eyes of the Phoenix.
"It was the trigger scent Laura; the fault is not yours."
"There are other deaths and assassinations that I carried out...however I am ready to take responsibility for all of them...for these are the hands that did it," Laura looked at her hands. "You must take responsibility...only then may you begin a new journey."
Jean looked at her for an eternity. She could see into this child of Logan; a child whose innocence had been lost; yet was strong and mature enough to aim for something better. She felt so small beside this child.
"I, Jean Grey...also known as the Phoenix; take responsibility for the deaths of Scott Summers; the Professor and the 298 souls lost on 2006.
Thank you Laura."
Then she passed out; Laura rushed and broke her fall.
The ship stopped shaking.
Q Junior was helping Laura to lay the doctor safely on the floor when the door slid open to show an anxious looking captain. He rushed in when he saw the unconscious doctor.
"What did you do ?" he stared daggers at Laura.
Laura narrowed her eyes; she did not like his tone one bit.
"She saved her life and ours !" hissed Q Junior in an annoyed tone.
"I was not talking to you..." began the captain.
"Do you smell any blood ?" continued Q Junior over his voice "do you see any wounds on her ?"
"Then why is she unconscious," demanded Logan.
"Because I haven't slept in days and your shouting is not helping," muttered Jean in a tired voice as the angry voices woke her up.
Logan moved to her right side as Q Junior wisely got out of the way. The captain exchanged a tense look with Laura as the two helped Jean stand up.
"Jean; are you alright?" asked Wolverine.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for asking," said Jean in a weary voice "now I really need to get to bed. Laura please escort me to my room."
Wolverine opened his mouth to protest.
" Not now Captain; I'll see you when I wake," she left the lab ; leaning on a silent Laura for support.
Logan watched them go and stared at the door long after it had closed.
He turned back to see Q Junior assessing the damage to the lab which was surprisingly light considering what Jean was truly capable of.
"What the hell happened?"
Q Junior looked at him. "Dr Grey had a nervous breakdown; Laura and I got here; Laura talked to her and she calmed down."
"What did Laura say to her?"
The hologram looked at him for several moments.
"I'm afraid it's pretty personal; you will have to ask them yourself, I'll be in engineering; Captain," said Q Junior as he left the lab.
Wolverine spent the next moment scratching his scalp as he tried to figure out what had just happened.
XX
Battlestar Galactica. The office of the President.
Laura Roslin rubbed her forehead wearily as she tried to read the next line on the report. She was lacking the will to process the information.
It had been 3 weeks since they escaped from New Caprica; but now with less ships and cramped quarters they were running out of very essential supplies.
Food and water.
There was a knock as her door. She looked up.
"Come in," she smiled when she saw Admiral Adama's face.
"Hello Mrs President; what are you up to?" he asked with a smile.
"Bill please just call me Laura...I want to forget my duties for at least a few seconds." She protested with a weary smile.
Adama sat down as he tried to hide the anxiety that her too-thin features caused; he kept hoping everyday that the cancer would spontaneously go into remission but he knew there was a very slim chance of that happening.
"How's it going in the CIC ?" asked Laura.
"As well as can be," he paused " we are really running low on supplies...we need to make planet fall soon."
Laura bit her bottom lip. "I know; by the Gods I know...but can we not run a little longer before we do that ? It's just been 3 weeks since we escaped. I'm sure the Cylons are searching for us."
Adama patted her hand. "I know Laura...but morale is dropping...we need food and water...a lot of it."
The president of the remnants of the 12 colonies of Kobol thought for a long time. "You're right...if a mutiny occurs we will have all sorts of problems. Find a planet and some food if you can Bill."
"Of cause; Laura," said Adama with a smile as he made to leave.
"Wait...who will you be choosing for the search."
"Lieutenant Sharon Agathon and Lieutanant Starbuck will be part of the flight teams."
Laura went still when she heard the first name. " Bill...she cannot be trusted."
The Admiral looked at her for several minutes with a blank expression.
"Without Sharon; we would never have been able to get our people off New Caprica.
Mrs President; I trust her completely. I'll inform you when we reach a suitable planet." He left before she could say a word.
Thanks for the reviews everyone!
Sorry eveyone for the delay; been on evening shifts. Hope you are all having a great weekend. Read and enjoy pals!
