For more information / To purchase this and other stories
Please visit maxwriters. pbwiki. com
The following story takes place after "Home Again
Forms of Life
Written by Chris Stephenson
3
(Most of this chapter written by Nathan "Skrit" Cobaugh, specifically Skrit's origin. It can be found in it's original entirety at .com.)
"Let's go over this one more time..."
As Skrit had expected, once he had brought up the subject of where he had come from, something the producers of the show had been clamoring for ever since he had first started having a part in it, he was met with a much warmer reception than he had the last time he had spoken with them. While the cameras were still on Squirrelly, at last now Skrit would have one chance to regain his spotlight. And he would give it everything he had to do so.
As the producer repeated what Skrit already knew, about which direction the camera would be facing and where he should be looking, Skrit realized how few people actually knew his story. Of course the Captain did, because he liked to know about each of his officers, not to mention that he was around when this whole thing happened. But friends like Babs and Jaydin and Critch, while they had made references to it on several occasions, had never asked any further probing questions. And Skrit never thought to tell them. It wasn't something they needed to know, or probably even wanted to know, really. The fact that he was who he was was good enough for them, and usually that'd be good enough for him to. But circumstances being what they were, it was time to come clean.
It was the middle of the night again, and Skrit stood at his security station, which had a few new spots on it for the cameras to rest, and also on his screen it showed his notes, just in case he forgot any particulars. Not like he could, he had lived it after all. He turned his attention back to the producer as he closed.
"You clear on that?"
"Crystal."
"All right Commander, we'll be live in a few minutes, so hang tight." As the time ticked away to his return, he wondered how they had talked Captain Kelvok into allowing them to tape on the bridge. The bridge of a starship, especially one as advanced as the Maximillian, was usually kept under pretty tight wraps. Though he supposed that with old enemies either crumbling away, in the case of the Romulans, or becoming friends, in the case of the Klingons, security was becoming less stringent than it had in recent times. He supposed that the producers had been told to keep their cameras strictly on him. It would certainly explain a lot.
The clock moved slowly in Skrit's head, and he passed the time by imagining the screens across the galaxy turning on, expecting to see the squirrel, but instead finding their old friend. He figured it would be a welcome surprise, and soon they'd probably forget Squirrelly ever existed. Who needed to watch boring engineering fix-it type stuff anyway. Security, that's where the action was.
"Showtime, Commander!" Skrit instinctively snapped to attention as the producer counted down... "On 5, 4, 3, 2..."
The producer started, happily. "Welcome to another installment of 'Starship Life'. Today, we continue on our journey through the systems with the U.S.S. Maximillian, NCC-74997, a Sovereign class starship that has seen quite a bit of action, and strange happenings throughout the universe. And no stranger to strange things is the Maximillian's own security officer, Lieutenant Commander Skrit! He's seen things we cannot imagine, I'm sure, but for today, we're going to learn a little about him, in his own words. So, without further time wasting from myself, let's turn this show over to our friend Skrit, and learn a little something..."
Skrit allowed the cheesy words of the producer to roll off him as he began talking, cautiously. "Thank you. For the past few days and weeks, I have received many messages wanting to know how I came to be, where I came from, and what I'm doing here. I couldn't ignore all the mail, so now, I will reveal my secrets to you, my audience.
"It began a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...well not really, but a good story starts with an embellishment, don't you think? It was a few years ago, after the Dominion war and the business with the Marconian invader. The Maximillian had been recently patched up, and a great patching job they did to, after losing a nacelle and having multiple holes punched in it, but I digress...The Maximillian was sent on a mission of science, to an uncharted sector, to an uncharted planet. The Chief medical officer at that time was a man by the name of Dr. Nathan Alexander.
"It was a routine assignment, and the rest of the away team had already beamed back up to the planet. He was using his tricorder on a rather unassuming plant...and then I happened along.
"How in my original form, I am a wave form energy that is able to coalesce into a cross between electromagnetic and chemical energy similar to cosmic dust and stellar winds. The closest form of energy that I come closest to resembling, by human comprehension anyway, is a solar flare. Due to my unique identity, my essence transcends existence as we know it into multi-dimensional levels. This is how I am able to briefly alter myself into energy patterns that I can become compatible with, such as certain types of EM frequencies like those on a starship, and so forth."
Skrit paused, to collect himself and also to let everything he had said sink into his audience, though he realized he probably just lost a good half of them with that little explanation. Nonplussed, however, he continued.
"Now I was just happening along, exploring the planet, when I picked up the energy of the tricorder. Now to everyone you know, a tricorder is simply just as it is, a scanning device, useful for all sorts of things. For me, however, never having seen one before, I took it as a means of communication. My mistake was, trying to communicate back.
"I attempted to merge with the tricorder, to try and understand it, and speak back to it. Almost immediately, the tricorder overloaded, and an electrical surge was sent through Dr. Alexander's body. The merging was a success, and I instantly knew everything about the tricorder, every piece of information inside it flowed through me, and I wanted to know more. I also instantly knew about the good doctor, and within a nanosecond I attempted to merge with his body as well, in order to keep him alive, instead of unknowingly committing a horrible act.
"I became aware of the damage being done, and absorbed the life and very spirit of Dr. Alexander. The body, myself included, was transported back to the Maximillian, directly into sickbay. Unfortunately, again, my essence was too much for the container to handle, and the body of the doctor began to vaporize.
"As my energy began to encompass his matter, I realized that I could not cause any further destruction. This could cause a matter/antimatter explosion, and I don't have to tell you how bad that would be. Rest assured, we wouldn't be sitting here right now. Thinking quickly, aware of my surroundings, I interfaced with the EMH emitters and pattern buffers, and sent whatever energy by-products that the circuits couldn't handle through the ship, directly into the warp core. I can tell you without ego that the Maximillian's efficiency was raised for no less than two weeks.
"What happened to the good doctor? He's a part of me, sitting behind my brain. I can feel him thinking, and we work together now, there's no sense of anger or animosity towards me. I think he understands that I didn't mean what I did. Occupational hazard, I guess. Because of him, though, I started off in the Federation on the right foot. All my knowledge came from him, and I'm sure that's one reason they let me go through the academy so quickly. The fact that I look just like him when I'm wearing my emitters can't hurt, either."
Skrit stopped, and bowed his head, but did not reveal if he was thinking, or remembering the fallen doctor. Then he straightened up, and continued.
"Regardless, they were convinced that my intent was to aid Starfleet by bringing a sense of security to volatile situations. My ability to convince to hostile parties to work together in the interests of prosperity and long life was what sealed the deal. Since then I've been involved in a number of first contact missions, not to mention some testy peace negotiations throughout the stars.
"As Starfleet was impressed with the level of trust that I could handle along with the responsibility of being able to make snap decisions in the face of adversity and overcome many obstacles, I became highly recommended for the Starfleet Marine corp. Again my effectiveness became apparent with expertise in forms of combat, discipline, and knowledge of multiple technologies.
"As a result of the skills demonstrated by myself to Starfleet and the UFP, I was permitted, on my request, to return to the Maximillian to serve as chief of Security. My accumulated knowledge and experience through Starfleet gave me the ability to construct more effective nodes to interface with which contain small shield generators that protect them and a higher frequency that permit me to modify certain patterns within the physical form that I take. This is how I am able to generate weapons and phase in and out which by the way causes a serious degradation of the emitters. Generating weapons is easy, phasing wears out the emitters which can only be constructed by utilizing the replicators and then manually adjusting them accordingly. Not that you care, but anyway...
"As you know, I now serve on the Maximillian, however, there are times when Skrit is called on from Command, Intelligence, and the UFP. This is one of the reasons I decided to build a ship on which to use for certain missions."
Skrit loved talking about his ship. "Due to the extensive data available through not only myself but that of the computer I was able to compile enough parts out of shipyards and junkyards to build The RSL, named after a great friend of the good doctor. Also, by use of the huge database I have learned all forms of combat that have been discovered throughout the history and exploration of humanity as well as contact with other alien life forms.
"Now, To avoid wasting energy I use no energy weapons whatsoever. When energy weapons are used on me, it's like feeding me a Sunday meal. My nodes, unfortunately, can only take so much, hence an additional buffer and tiny shields to protect them. My favorite weapons are swords, knives, and a Klingon medallion that I proudly brandishes on uniform which opens up to reveal three blades which symbolize the Klingon insignia." He paused to show it off. "The only time I materialize this medallion is on away missions and diplomatic functions with the Klingons as a sign of respect. Now, As I am pure energy I cannot be killed, at least not by your standard weaponry. I can be dissipated, however in time I can reassemble. I do not align with any particular religious treatise or doctrine. I am a companion and my only goal is to aid those who are in need.
"All technology on the RSL was utilized and combined from various technologies around the cosmos. I know other entities as well who also aid myself in working to help those in need. This is why I have built the RSL and why I proudly serve on the Mighty Max.
"And that's me, in a nutshell, so to speak. I hope I haven't used up too much of your time, so I'll send it back to our host. Thanks again, and I'll see you in the stars..."
The producer started talking again, but Skrit paid no attention. He had done it, socked it right out of the park, to use an old vernacular, probably picked up from looking at old sports memorabilia at Deep Space Nine. Everyone else, now, would have to play catch up. He was back in the driver's seat, where he always should have been, and nothing could stop him now...