Racing Oblivion Part 2
Chapter 1
The ship dropped out of warp just inside the large asteroid belt between the fourth and fifth planets and immediately cloaked. Back in our dimension having a cloak on a Federation ship was considered an act of war by the Romulan Star Empire. Counting the fact that the Romulan Empire had been destroyed and the fact that this wasn't even the same dimension, who really cared. The cloak was essential to the success of the mission. There was no chance the world we were approaching could have the technology to detect us under cloak. The Captain ordered an approach at three quarters impulse. The time to orbit was two hours twelve minutes, more than enough time to begin scanning the target planet and the surrounding system. "Computer, begin recording all incoming sensor data, I'm going to take a nap, wake me in two hours." Ordered Captain K. Brian Lockley. "Recording initiated." Acknowledged the computer.
Two hours later the computer chimed to awaken the Captain. Captain Lockley went to the helm and input the commands for standard orbit. "Computer, launch microprobes and begin scanning the area called the United States for the target DNA pattern." "Scan initiated." replied the computer. Lockley went to freshen up and get something to eat. He returned an hour later. "Computer, have you located the target DNA pattern?" rasped Lockley. "Affirmative, eight matching DNA patterns." Replied the computer. "Show me." Ordered the Captain.
The computer complied by scrolling through the eight images supplied by the microprobes. "That one!!" Cried Captain Lockley, excitement filling his hoarse voice. "Get a lock on him and have the probe stay close to him, put the other probes on automatic." The computer sends the commands and the probe moves in and fires a microscopic isolinear marker chip into the targets neck. Now the Captain could track the target anywhere as well as monitor internal readings of the target with the main computer. "Now I just have to wait for the most opportune moment." Mused the Captain. "Computer, notify me when the target is alone." The computer beeped in acknowledgement. The Captain, sole survivor of the entire crew, hobbles back to the biobed to relax and get comfortable. He knows he has very limited time left so he hopes the target will cooperate soon. He suddenly realizes that the "opportune" moment might not happen before the end. That thought sends a cold chill coursing through him. He sits up on the biobed and orders the computer to begin recording. Just in case.........
Chapter 2
Late the next morning the Captain was awakened by the computers persistent chiming. "All right, all right, what is it?" He moaned through the fog of a radiation induced hangover. God, the Captain thought. Why couldn't that damned Dreadnaught have arrived two nanoseconds later? Then none of what I've had to do these last few days would have even been necessary!
The Captain turned to look at the screen he had set up in sick bay. What he saw mildly surprised him and also caused a minor twinge of jealousy. Not that he hadn't had his little side jaunts with women now and then, it's just that his ship had always been his most steadfast love. The target was kissing a very nice looking Blonde. "Be careful on your drive and call me if you have any problems." Came through the probes audio pick-up as the target told his wife good-bye for some sort of trip. "I wish they would have approved your vacation so you could go with me. Mema and Boo-Boo were looking forward to you being there." The targets wife said sadly. "I know baby, we'll try again soon, ok?" He replied as she got into the SUV.
"Computer, give her twenty minutes then beam the target directly to the bridge. I'm going to get cleaned up and prepare to receive our guest." Said Lockley. The target watched his lovely wife pull out of the driveway and start toward Arkansas on what was supposed to be a relaxing two week vacation for both of them. He blew out a forceful sigh as he returned to his computer. The company he worked for had denied his vacation request because a supervisor wanted the same days. Little did he know that in twenty minutes that supervisor and the company would no longer matter and his life would be forever changed. The Target was known as Kenneth B. Lockley, Brian to friends and family. He had retired from the Army recently and was working as a Federal contract Security Officer while doing some overseas deployments for another security company on the side. He made good money overall but it was unsatisfying and empty as a whole. All made irrelevant as the transporter beam took hold of him and transformed him into a stream of light.
When the transporter released him a fraction of a second later, he stood gazing around him in bewilderment, mixed with a lot of curiosity also. The Captain stood watching the target with an amused twinkle in his eye. He knew exactly what the target was thinking because it would be the same thing he himself would think. Captain Lockley had caught a glimpse of the game the target was playing when he was beamed to the ship. It was called Star Trek Starfleet Command 4 and it had some very familiar looking starships on it. Either I've been playing entirely too many computer games and I'm dreaming, or this is the coolest thing that's ever happened to me! were the targets exact thoughts. The Captain cleared his throat and said, "I"m Captain.....ummm...the Captain of this ship, the U.S.S. Prometheus. It is a Valkyrie Class light dreadnaught and hopefully, along with you, mankind's salvation. The target turned to face the Captain as several conflicting emotions played across his face. I know you.... You seem very familiar, but I can't put my finger on it yet. The target thought with wary confusion.
The Captain was about to explain, when he was overcome by a wave of wet, hacking coughs that dropped him to his knees. He was barely able to rasp. "Computer, immediate emergency beam out, two directly to sick bay"! As the pair materialized in sick bay, the target, observed a third man appear seconds behind him and the obviously distressed Captain. "Please state the nature of the medical emergency." The third man said. The target spoke for the first time since being brought on board. "I think he's dying," as he pointed at the Captain who was sprawled on the floor.
The "third man", in reality just an Emergency Medical Hologram (E.M.H. for short), grabbed a hypospray from a nearby tray and pressed it to the Captain's neck. There was an almost inaudible hiss as the drug entered his bloodstream. After a few seconds, the Captain didn't look quite as pale as he shakily made his way to his feet. "Sorry about that." Apologized Lockley. "I was hoping I'd have more time." The target looked the Captain in the eyes and was almost floored as recognition set in. The Captain smiled wearily. "I see you finally made the connection on where you know me from, and no, it's not impossible. I am you and you are me. We just happen to be from different dimensions. I'm a little worse for wear from radiation posioning or you would have recognized me immediately." Explained Captain Lockley.
"Enough chit chat, since we are the same person, and I WILL die soon, you are now commander of the Prometheus. You can accept it or you can walk away, your choice. But if you walk away, the human race will most likely die out in a hundred years or so." (If not much much sooner.) Thought Captain Lockley. "If you choose to accecpt the responsibility, go to your Ready Room just off the bridge have the computer show you the file Lockley Alpha 1." The new Captain K. Brian Lockley smiled. "Since we ARE the same person, you KNOW I won't walk away." The first captain handed the NEW captain his combadge then crawled into the biobed with a relieved sigh. "I did know you wouldn't walk away......." He then closed his eyes and found the permanent peace and rest he so desperately craved.
As the new captain stood staring down at his alternate self, the E.M.H. approached him. "Captain, I know the is all new, confusing, oh, and a hundred other adjectives I could add. I just want you to know that you can rely on me for any assistance that you may require"
"Thanks Doc, I really appreciate that, I really do. I think I'll head to my ready room and watch the file he told me to." Captain Lockley walked out of sick bay and stepped into the closest turbolift. Being a consumate Star Trek fanatic, he was roughly familiar with the workings of a starship. He tapped the combadge pinned to his chest. "Captain Lockley to sickbay." There was little if no pause at all. "Sickbay here Captain." The E.M.H. replied. The captain thought quietly for a second. "Where happened to the crew?" Again little or no delay from the E.M.H. "They were killed by the same radiation that killed the captain; the file you are about to watch will explain everything to an extent. I will try to help fill in the gaps it doesn't explain." Assured the holographic doctor. "OK, but where are all the bodies?" Lockley asked, curiousity driving him nuts. "In a stasis chamber inside a converted crew quarters, where I would like to transfer the (other) Captain Lockley, with you permission of course." Lockley nodded his head. "By all means Doc." The captain stood pondering as the turbolift doors opened onto the bridge, HIS bridge. "I really hope I'm not dreaming all of this." The newly christened captain of the Prometheus said quietly. As he crossed the bridge, he paused to take in the view of Earth on the main viewscreen. "WOW." Was all he could say.