Star Trek: Strange New Worlds... "Spiff's Rift..."

Summary: Spaceman Spiff takes on the crew of the Enterprise...

Note: After a recent Calvin and Hobbes meme, I just had to...

Part V...

"There is a great deal I can offer you, Spaceman Spiff. Advancement, glory, power, riches...And our side obviously has excellent cookies." Commander Singh noted with arch smile, seated at her desk in the interrogation room. Spiff coolly regarding her from the seat she'd offered.

"In return for...? Selling out my world and my future?" Spiff returned her cool state with one of his own.

"All we want...Is Calvin. A mere primitive..." careful folding of hands on desk.

"My ancestor...And a great guy. I don't play that way, lady."

"Unfortunate..." she cooed, with evil leer. "After all, I'm not known as Singh the Merciless for nothing."

Spiff, hand on blaster...At last, time to dispense with negotiation and switch to mertilation.

"You'll find no blaster in that holster." Singh smiled. "It was deftly removed..."

Cut to Principal Pike and teacher standing over Calvin in hallway, he reluctantly handing over dart gun.

Hmmn...Right...Back to negotiation...

"Clever...I must have been distracted."

"I am known to have that effect on people." The Commander smiled coolly. "But there is no need as yet for violence. You may twenty-four Earth hours to consider the matter and then, either deliver Calvin up to me or your fate is sealed."

"Either way, I'd say it's sealed, though I don't...Spiff always finds a way...Given Calvin is my ancestor. If you kill him, I'm done for anyway."

"I never said I'd kill him. Gross." Singh frowned. "There are other ways...And he's kinda cute with all the Earth 20th century stuff." Grin. "Now, you may go and consider my offer. I have an algebra class to teach at ten as Mr. Gomez is out sick."

"So, think it over, Calvin. A little extra after school tutoring would help your grades a lot, I'm sure. If it's good with you, let me know tomorrow and I'll speak to your Mom." Ms. Singh smiled. "And tell Hobbes there will be cookies."

Oooh.

Shut...Up, Hobbes.

...

"A truce is declared here on Earth, for now...Given the power of Commander Singh's people and our decision to maintain neutral in our mutual futures, Spaceman Spiff." The Bullulumian commander noted coldly to Spiff on viewscreen. "We agree to transfer the resources requested and shall continue our mutual efforts to learn what Singh intends here. And expect a fair exchange of information in return. Those are the terms agreed upon." Grim look... "But I warn you, Spiff. Our own conflict is not over. When the time comes..."

"Moe?" Ms. Singh paused in the hallway, eyeing Moe and Calvin. "Everything alright?"

"Sure, Ms. Singh." Moe nodded. "Just giving Calvin his money...And some info, right? Calvin?" eyeing him.

"Yeah, he paid me back as promised." Calvin held up the money Moe had passed. "We're ok. Just talkin'."

"Good. Keep it up. Calvin? I wanted to give you that list of problems to work on for your extra session. Can you walk with me to my next class?"

Hmmn...Spiff pondered. Singh clearly wishes to speak in private, we having no particular negotiations to discuss.

"I shall leave you two to it." The Bullulumian commander ended transmission.

"Was he threatening you, Calvin?" Ms. Singh asked. "It's ok. I just want to know. I was bullied in school some too, you know?" smile.

"We were just talking."

"Uh-huh...Well, if that talking starts looking like bullying I want to know. It's better for Moe to know he can't bully his way through life too."

"So, the Bullulumians threatened your world, once." Spiff eyed the Commander.

"Once." She smiled. "But they threaten no more, as you see."

Dangerous dame...Alien commander, he realized. Pushing back a momentary flash of Tracer, no doubt some genetic thing.

"In fact we now terrorize them. The reason they are so accommodating here. They seek allies against us."

"I hate to admit it, but later, for a little while, I was something of a bully myself." Ms. Singh sighed. "After I learned how to defend myself, I got a little too much with it...A reaction. It does make me sympathize with kids like Moe a little. They do have their problems too, Calvin." Warm smile. "Well, here we are. And I actually do have a sheet of problems for you to take a look at..." she pulled sheet from her notebook. "See what you can do with these in study period and tonight and we'll go over them tomorrow afternoon. Ok?"

"It would be wise of you to avoid such an 'alliance', Spiff. I assure you, however dangerous you find us...Me..." Leer. "The Bullulumians are not to be trusted. Although, in time, we may find ways to negotiation. I must be about my duties...We shall speak at the appointed time."

"What do you think, Science Person Hobbes?" Spiff, to Hobbes, as Singh disappeared, no doubt to resume her disguise among the 21st century humans.

"And do not tell me how she's cute." Frown.

Well, she is...Hobbes noted. That is a perfectly valid science point. Just like she's also capable of snapping our necks in hand-to-hand combat and can handle her version of a mertilizer like anybody's business.

After all, it's one of her weapons, being cute.

"To which I'm impervious." Spiff insisted.

Yeah, right...Hobbes chuckled.

"HEY!"

You're only "impervious" cause you know she's a hideous alien under the human appearance.

Or at least you think so...Hobbes eyeing wall.

"What? She's an alien."

Doesn't mean she has to be hideous. I don't know about you but in our future I've encountered a lot of really...

"Shut up!"

"Calvin!" Susie, catching sight of him and Hobbes as she came down the hallway.

There's my Earth girl...Unless you...Hobbes smiled.

Arrgh!

...