Location: Federation Outpost Deep Space Nine.
Year: 2374
For hours, Worf and Alison Cole sat at the table sharing a private conversation about their linked past as much too the surprise of those within the Bar itself, they heard a strange noise, the sound of the ever Stoic Klingon laughing at what the young woman saying. Tears of laughter rolled down her face as she joked once more while attempting to hold onto the drink in her hand.
"… Seriously Worf, I thought it would never happen. But that hologram thingy was beautiful! Amazingly timed…"
Slowly, a shadow appeared over the table as Alison took a sip of the drink in her hand which had somewhere along the night turned into Klingon Blood Wine. Her head was beginning to swirl with the effects of the alcohol as they both looked up at a beautiful young woman before them, her dark hair elegantly tied back upon her head as if too display the markings down the sides of her face and neck which where hidden by the blue Starfleet uniform she wore.
"Worf? Am I interrupting?"
"Not at all" Worf laughed, much to her surprise.
"Hello!" Alison laughed. "Who are you?"
"Alison Cole… Jadzia Dax…"
"His wife" She smiled.
"Wife?" Alison said in shock. "Wow! Umm… take a sheet… I mean sheet… s…e…a…t"
"You're drunk?" Dax said in shock.
"Drunk Me?… Nooo, I don't… I don't get drink… drunk!" She protested. "Worf?"
"Yes you are" Dax laughed. "Who are you?" Dax laughed as she sat down.
"That is a long and interesting story…"
For a moment, her body swayed as a slight smile crept over her face as with a smile, Worf emptied the cup before him and laughed out loud.
Location: Federation Starship USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D
Year: 2371
The revelation of her past had almost been too much for her to bare, a past hidden at the request of the King himself and entrusted to a select few within the Royal Court. After being granted limited freedom of the ship as either an honoured guest or a civilian member of the ship, she roamed the seemingly endless corridors of the ship while under the ever watchful eye of the chief of security as a constant sensor lock on both her and the Prince was maintained. Dressed in attire she was more used too, created by the ship's computer and replicator systems she walked through the corridors barefoot with a pair of 20th century running shoes in her left hand. Her figure perfectly complimented by the training shorts and t-shirt she wore which hugged her body with ease. Finally stopping before two large doors, she approached a small computer panel on the wall as it spoke with an eloquent female voice.
"Please state program"
"I was told by a crewmember this place could show me my home. Can you display it?"
"Please input Geographical location and stellar co-ordinates"
"Earth… Circa… 1985... May I use a panel for longitude and latitude coordinates?" She said with a single tear in her eye.
Slowly inputting the coordinates, the two large doors opened as a cool evening breeze blew over her. Her jaw dropped as she entered the seemingly magical room which expanded beyond the horizon which the moon begun to rise over large Royal household before her. Standing on a hillside over the Royal Home itself, she laughed in amazement at what she saw while she saw the twin doors slide closed and disappear leaving her alone as if she was back home, overlooking the Royal home itself. Slowly walking down the sand dune, she could feel each grain of sand on her bare feet as she approached the large open gates as they glistened in the light from the setting sun and rising full moon. Entering the great courtyard, she felt at home for the first time in centuries while entering the inner courtyard where she used to play and train as a child. Her eyes welled with tears as the mechanical sound of the twin doors opening directly behind her caught her attention while Captain Picard entered wearing his duty uniform and a slight smile on his face.
"What do you think?"
"How is this possible? It's… amazing" She said past her tears.
"Another long story. I was going off duty and I wanted to see how you where doing"
"How did you know I was here?" She said with a smile.
"Lieutenant Worf!" Picard smiled slightly.
"Worf? Of course… a… what do you call it, Sensor lock?"
"Unfortunately yes" Picard said apologetically.
"Relax Captain, precautions… I would do the same thing in you position. I was a security expert… once, remember?"
"Of course. So where are we?" He smiled.
"What? Ohh of course. Back home, the Royal Court, lucky for you this is only a… Hologram. You would've been shot on sight for entering the inner courtyard. This really is amazing, I used to play right over there as a child, that third tree… I would sit beneath it's branches and read whatever I could find. At night, my father and the King would sneak me out of the house and sit by that lake, we would use an old telescope and observe the stars. I remember the awe at seeing Saturn for the first time with my own eyes…"
"Seen it!" Picard smiled.
"What?… of course, perhaps up close? I envy you Captain Picard"
"Perhaps you will see it yourself, sometime"
"I remember the pride in my father's eyes when I was appointed the Chief of Alara's personal guard, over there… by those steps I took my vows, and that is where he was killed by the Militia. Tell me Captain, does war still exist here?" She said with a tear.
"It will take more then 400 years to evolve a better Human… War amongst humans ended centuries ago. However, Earth has suffered many conflicts, but then… you know that. You have reviewed our history files"
Laughing slightly, she looked into his eyes as she spoke. "You surprise me Captain, I also reviewed your file… although I only understood about a third of those files. Your ancestors would be proud of you"
"Thank you. Although I must ask, what did you mean when you said Riker reminded you of a great general?"
"General Argus Cole, my mentor, my commanding officer and my adopted father. He was tall and proud much like Riker, the beard was a little more grey though" She laughed slightly. "He taught me everything I know about the military, personal defence, sciences…"
"I found a file within our databanks relating to you Major Cole" He laughed slightly. "Impressive file, you hold the equivalent of three PhD's Sciences including astronomy, a degree in Shakespeare…"
"I also cook!" She laughed slightly. "Forget it Captain, a slight joke. What else does my file say?"
"You are… 36 years of age, give or take 400 years. Expert in weapons, explosive, martial arts… even a qualified pilot"
"Again, you surprise me Sir" She said with respect.
"What are your plans for the future Miss Cole?"
"That all depends on what the Prince wishes, although he has released me from my vows, I will stay by his side. Why do you ask sir?"
"Your training is very impressive, you should consider entering Starfleet" He said with pride.
Laughing, she looked up at the palace before her as she stepped closer to the hologram of her former home and wiped a tear from her eye as she spoke.
"Two of my closest friends, Jarrod and Selene died right there… Jarrod was shot thirty times. Selene, she was barely alive when I found her, she was attacked by the militia…"
"My god" Picard said in disbelief.
"I held her in my arms as she wept, she then took my gun and used it on herself. You see sir, we both entered the military together, we where both hand chosen by the royal family to protect them. As part of our vows, we had sworn to celibacy… as it would be difficult too protect the royal family with a child or during pregnancy"
"I understand. I must say Miss Cole, you are taking your new reality very well. We have encountered several in a similar situation to yours in the past…"
"Captain…" Slowly, she turned to face him as she smiled slightly. "… I may look calm and cool, but deep down, I'm terrified. I am used too knowing where I am, what I am doing… my training has always been at the forefront of everything as I protected the Prince as was my duties, more so while on the run from the militia. Now I can not control anything, even my whereabouts are being monitored by the Klingon. The only way I am handling things is by keeping my eye on the prince as my vows dictate"
"You realise Miss Cole, that you are both safe here. You can relax and take comfort in the thought that the prince is protected by Starfleet Security and the crew of the Enterprise…"
"I know Captain, but it is difficult to relax. When your very existence has been under threat for so long, what seemed like days ago to us… it is difficult for me to let my guard down"
Picard could feel the sadness radiating off the young woman stood before him, what terrors had she seen too make her so dark and unforgiving. The stories she was telling him made imagine himself in her place, the brutal murder and betrayal of everyone she had ever known and loved by the one person no one could have even imagined. However, deep behind her eyes, a single spark could be seen a spark of hope for the future. For the next twenty minutes, she gave the Captain a tour of her once home, now little more then a holographic representation created by photons and forcefields until they reached the Royal Court itself, the seat of power for the King of the small country as she slowly walked towards the large round table before her, an emulation and homage to the legend of King Arthur.
"This was my seat… right here, behind the Prince his…SISTER sat opposite him the seat too the left was reserved for the rightful leader. The Regent, would stand beside the seat or sometimes sit beside it. When Alara became of age, he was to take the seat itself and with it, the Throne. If it was too his satisfaction, I would stand at his side… now, this is all gone. A crater now sits here…"
Tears once again welled in her eyes as she turned to face the Captain and ran her fingers over the facsimile of the Prince's chair.
"Everyone I have ever known and loved… is gone sir, with the exception of the prince. May I be alone Captain?"
"Of course Major Cole" He said with respect.
"Thank you kind sir. And please, my name is Alison… my rank is now as outdated as I am…"
Slamming her fist down on the large wooden table before, anger swelled within her as a small crack appeared in the table before her.
"If it makes you feel any better Major… you can break anything holographic"
For the first time since she had appeared onboard his ship, an true and honest laugh erupted from her lips, forcing a slight smile from the Starfleet Captain.
"Wouldn't do any good. Sir, how do I turn this thing off?"
"Computer… end program!" Picard smiled.
Almost instantly, a chime echoed around the room as the lavish Royal Court disappeared only to be replaced the black and gold trim holo-grid. Slowly, she stepped forwards as her bear feet echoed through the large empty cavern of the holodeck.
"I was told by Mister Worf… that this place can create something worth fighting? I have a lot of anger to work out"
"Computer… training program Alpha One. Set primary user… MAJOR Alison Cole" He said with a smile. ""I will leave you Major… when you wish too leave, call for the arch"
"Thank you Captain… One final request?"
"Of course" He replied politely.
"You have almost gone out of your way to make us feel at home here… may I request a guided tour of the Enterprise for the Prince? He was asking to see the bridge of your fine ship" She said with a slight bow.
"I'll see what I can do Major. Have… Fun!"
Location: Federation Outpost Deep Space Nine.
Year: 2374
For hours, Worf, Dax and Cole occupied the same table at the bar, much too the ever growing distaste of the Ferengi owner, as closing time for the bar had passed, Quark approached the three officers who where still enjoying each other's company as even Jadzia Dax had begun to take up the drink and laughter they where deeply involved in.
"Excuse me, but closing time has passed. You will have too leave!"
"Quark… my good man or what ever you are. We shall leave thy establishment…" Cole declared with a mocking tone. "… But fair thee be warned kind sir, I shall return upon the appointed hour of your opening!"
Swaying slightly, Cole walked towards the exit of the bar as she was followed by Worf and his wife. For the remainder of the night, Cole stayed with the married couple as she slept on their sofa after swapping stories back and forwards.
"So, you've known her for three years now Worf?" Dax said with a smile.
"Closer to two and a half Dax" Cole smiled. "Picard and his crew where my saviours and in return… does she know Worf?"
"Know what?" Dax replied with confusion.
"That incident WAS classified by Starfleet Security, but she does have clearance…" Worf smiled slightly as his head begun too spin from the Blood Wine.
"For what?"
"Alright, guess there's no harm in telling her the real Story. Thirty months and an odd number of days ago, the USS Enterprise encountered a small sleeper ship from Earth's distant past. I was one of the popsicles onboard along with another the only two too survive. His name was Alara, deposed prince of our, his country… well all that is a long story for another time. Anyway, I was thawed out first, was Head of his Personal Guard, after being discharged from Sickbay by the very attractive Doctor Crusher we where both granted limited access throughout that amazing ship… my first stop was the holodeck and after a trip down memory lane with Picard as my guide, so to speak… I had some, personal issues to work out so I used one of the Starfleet training programs, that's when I found a Klingon program, much more of a challenge, time passed amazingly in there…"
"Four hours to be exact" Worf smiled into yet another mug of Blood Wine"
"… Something like that, I left the holodeck, I was shocked by what I saw"
Location: Federation Starship USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D
Year: 2371
Sweat dripped from her body as she nursed the small cuts and bruises sustained by the holodeck creations she had called for, stepping into the corridors she walked towards the nearest exit as something seemingly out of place caught her eye, turning slowly to her left, she instantly noticed several panels had been removed from the walls of the corridor as several pieces of technology had been also been removed. In the distance three people lay on the floor motionless. Cautiously, Cole walked towards them and checked each of them for a pulse.
"What the hell? At least they're alive" She mumbled to herself.
In the distance, the sound of a conversation caught her attention as she slowly stood and walked towards the voices as they became audible.
"We have at least three hours before the gas wears off, I want this corridor stripped for the equipment and move onto the next. The bridge crew are getting a little… uncooperative" Called out a large alien creature.
"Yes sir, what about the crew?"
"Once we have what we need, we'll proceed as planned. I have team three in engineering, once we're ready… we'll destroy this vessel by a warp core breach"
Shock overcame her, how could someone board such a highly advanced vessel such as the Enterprise and overtake its crew of thousands? Although she did not understand much of what they where saying, one thing was clear, they where going to destroy the Enterprise and everyone onboard. Slowly stepping backwards she thought for a moment as the voices disappeared around the corridor.
"This, I'm trained for!" She mumbled to herself.
Quietly she ran through the corridors, avoiding those whom had boarded the ship before entering someone's personal quarters. Removing her own clothing, she searched for appropriate clothing, a Starfleet blue uniform, pulling on the tight fitting uniform, Alison looked around the quarters for anything she could use as a weapon. Although she had seen something like a weapon on Worf's hip several days earlier, she had not seen anything like it in these quarters. Shaking her head, she picked up a small sharp knife which had been left on a dinner table. Sliding it up her left sleeve, Alison walked towards a small computer on the desk before her as she thought quickly.
"Umm… computer? What is the status of the crew?"
"Unconscious…" Replied the female voice of the computer.
"What are they doing too the Enterprise?"
"The hostile forces are removing technology from this vessel"
"How many hostile forces are onboard this ship?"
"Eighteen"
"Can you show me the location of each hostile?"
On the small screen before her, several groups of four people appeared on a schematic of the Enterprise as she memorised the locations of each team member before she spoke once more.
"Computer, are any of the Enterprise crew conscious?"
"Confirmed, the command staff are conscious and on the bridge"
"Show me!" A slight sigh of relief overcame her as an image of the command staff appeared on the computer. "At least they are alive… Alara?" She said with shock. "He's on the bridge, that is a different problem. Computer, where is the android?"
"Lieutenant Commander Data is currently located in sickbay" The computer replied once more.
"What is his current status?"
"Commander Data has been deactivated"
"Alright, with two of those guys in sickbay… how do I switch him back on?"
After receiving the correct information on the android, she stood and walked towards the door leading out of the quarters, before she reached the door Alison stopped and walked back to the computer as she typed in a single command. Before took over the responsibility of the Prince's personal security, she had been implanted with a tiny radio transmitter in her left ear, although still obsolete by the standards of the day it was still functioning. Tying the computer to the radio in her ear, she could now receive private information from the ship's computer without being overheard by anyone nearby.
"Alright, first objective… locate and activate Data… second objectives… free the hostages and secure the ship!" She smiled to herself. "This should be fun"