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Switched
Chapter 30
Behind a wall of glass, a sleek silver ship gleamed in dazzling light. It was no bigger than a standard shuttle, and very similar in shape, but the name sparkling on its shiny body marked its enormous importance: Timebird. Standing beside Commander Jovis Hanton, formally dressed and with a bulky bag over her shoulder, Cayla looked at the ship in triumphant awe and listened attentively as the Commander told her the ship's history.
"It's been in Starfleet's custody for over fifty years," he said. "It was found in the remains of a larger time-ship that crashed in Arizona in 2325. Why, or what it was doing there, no one knows, but the most popular theory is that time-travelers from the future lost control of the vessel while they were on a mission to observe twenty-fourth century life. The remains of the big ship were put in Sandwell Facility but were destroyed when the facility was desolated by a Cardassian terrorist attack. Luckily this ship was brought here from Arizona in 2330 so didn't share the same fate. It's an amazing piece of technology. We've learnt so much from it and are still learning. An exact date is not known, but estimates put it at late 38th century. It's so amazing that it makes our ships look like quills to computers. Not only can it travel at transwarp but it can self-transport through time like a time-machine."
This bit of information Cayla pounced upon. "So it doesn't have to be launched?"
"No. It just beams where it's set to go. It can't self-transport continuously, however, as it takes a lot of energy. But it's still a very impressive ship."
"Very," Cayla agreed.
"But of course no one's permitted to use it. I don't think it's been used for over forty years. I don't have to tell you how dangerous it could be in the wrong hands."
"No," Cayla answered. Then she baited. "I'd love to have a quick look inside...but I don't suppose that's allowed either."
"I'll have to check with Admiral Dawson," the Commander replied, "but I don't see why not."
Cayla's lips broke into a satisfied smile at that. "Fabulous," she said. "Just fabulous."
When Kathryn arrived at Starfleet Headquarters she used the first computer terminal she could find to access her personal file. She managed to open it with no trouble and quickly scoured through it for an access code to Rylan Dock.
"Damn," she said when she couldn't find one. Cayla had evidently been given the code in person and it had not yet been posted to her file.
"Looking for something?"
Kathryn spun towards the voice and found herself face to face with Admiral Dawson. He was an elderly man, tall and broad, and had kind brown eyes.
"Yes," Kathryn replied as calmly as she could. "Something I hoped was in my file."
The Admiral held out a padd to her. "Look no more."
Kathryn took the padd and read the message on the screen. It read 'Access Code for Rylan Dock'. The words startled Kathryn and she looked up at him. "How did you...?"
The man gave a wan smile. "Time tells its own secrets."
Then, without another word, he walked away.
Admiral Dawson had given the go ahead for an internal viewing of The Timebird so Commander Hanton opened up the secure unit and showed Cayla inside.
"The ship has a shield around it," the Commander told her, "for extra security, but I'll temporarily deactivate it. Once it's down, you can step inside. Unlock code is 452."
As the man went over to a console, Cayla discretely pulled out her phaser and walked towards the ship. The shield buzzed and glowed blue as it deactivated and, as soon as it did, Cayla turned to the Commander and stunned him with her phaser. So quick and unexpected was her action that he flopped to the ground totally unaware he'd been shot. Cayla then unlocked the ship's doors with the code she'd been given and stepped inside.
Using her tricorder to navigate the way, Kathryn hurried through Rylan Dock's endless clinical corridors to reach the co-ordinates of the time-ship. No one stopped her or questioned her as it was still early morning in Oregon and hardly anyone was about. Finally she reached her destination and infinite relief consumed her when she saw that the time-ship was still where it should be. And a quick glance at the holding unit told her there was no way Cayla was going to be able to launch the ship anytime soon. There was no port to launch it from. The ship's doors were closed, but a quick scan with her tricorder told Kathryn there was a female lifesign inside the vessel. It had to be Cayla. Quickly she made her way into the unit and then hurried over to the ship. As she did so, she saw Commander Hanton lying on the floor, but a quick glance at her tricorder's readings told her that the man was still alive. He was clearly just stunned. Forgetting about him, Kathryn tried to open the ship's doors and was profoundly glad when they obliged her and slid open. She then pulled out her phaser and stepped into the ship. Instead of the bridge she found herself in the lounge so she quickly she made her way into the corridor beyond. When she left the room the external doors shut behind her. The narrow corridor lead directly to the bridge and when Kathryn arrived there she found Cayla standing at the helm working a console. Kathryn pointed her phaser at her twin and then spoke.
"Step away from the console."
At the sound of Kathryn's voice, Cayla froze. Then she pressed a button on the console and turned around. "How did you get out of my shuttle?"
"Let's just say I'm handy with a knife. I'm also handy with a phaser, so you'd better do as I say."
"Or what? You'll kill me?"
"To refrain you, I'll stun you if I have to. Going back in time and swapping your life for mine isn't the answer to the Taron problem."
"Then what is? We let him kill us one by one?"
"We let the police do their job. You don't have to do this. If you want a new identity, the police will give you one."
Cayla scoffed. "And what good would that be? Taron has friends in the force. He would find me. It would be like handing myself over to him myself. Or maybe you think I should do that? Maybe you think I should just let him find me and torture me to death? Well, want to know something? If it would end this, I would! But it wouldn't end it. Oh no! And want to know why? Because part of that torture would be torturing someone I love. And that someone would be my kids. I can't let it happen. I won't let it happen!" As quick as lightening she drew out her phaser and shot Kathryn's out of her hand. "You're not the only one handy with a phaser. So now you'd better do as I say!"
"You don't know how to operate this ship safely," Kathryn argued. "And, if it hasn't occurred to you yet, there's no way you're going to be able to launch it or steal it from here."
"I don't need to launch it or steal it," Cayla replied. "It self-transports through time."
At those words, Kathryn's stomach began to churn. "Don't do it, Cayla. Just one thing wrong, even by a fraction, and you could kill us and everyone in this facility!"
"Intimidating baseless warnings don't work on me, sister! This ship is as likely to blow up as I am to be Queen of the Fairies! Do you think you're the only one who knows about ships because you're in the fleet?"
A bleep sounded and then a computerized voice spoke. "Temporal transport in 30 seconds."
"You see, Kathryn? You're too late. I've already initiated self-transport."
"Cancel it. Don't do this. Please..."
But Cayla didn't listen. "All that remains is for me to send you back to my shuttle." Using her free hand she fiddled with her commbadge. "The last thing I want is you giving me an earache all the way back to 2332."
"Temporal transport in 20 seconds."
"Your transporter kit won't work here," Kathryn told her. "You forget this place has an impenetrable security shield."
When Cayla found that to be true, she let go of her commbadge. "Then you'll just have to come with me."
"Temporal transport in 10 seconds."
With a quick flick of the wrist, Cayla pulled out a belt from the waist of her jacket and closed the gap between her and Kathryn. "Hands behind your back!"
"Don't do this," Kathryn cried. "It's..."
"I said hands behind your back!"
But before Kathryn could do as she bid, a siren screamed and green glowing light dematerialized them.
END OF CHAPTER THIRTY