STAR TREK: Strange New Worlds I

by Dean Wesley Smith (Editor)

  She turned down what seemed like never-ending corridors. Brown. All brown. People in red and black. They [45] stared at her as she passed. She needed to get out. Outside, to the walkway. She found some stairs and raced down.

  Rounding a corner, she saw a glass door. Panting, Shahna looked through the glass and saw them, Kirk and Uhura, laughing and talking together.

  No.

  They were moving away.

  But as she reached the door, something shot out from behind the wall of an intersecting hallway, tripping her. Her skirts wrapped around her feet and she fell.

  Shahna shook her head and started to get up. Something crashed down on her back, pinning her to the ground.

  “Poor little thrall,” a familiar voice growled above her. “So, you are to be the new Provider.”

  Dosean.

  Shahna painfully twisted her upper body around, straining to see his face. He glared down at her, his hands resting on his hips.

  “You listened in?” she gasped.

  “Stupid Starfleet,” he laughed. “They are so trusting. No guards. It was simple. But now we know what to do. How to take what should be ours. As we speak, your world is under attack. And I alone will become Provider to the galaxy.”

  “Starfleet has sent ships,” she gasped.

  “They will be too late. We are quicker, smarter. And now”—Dosean rubbed his hands together—“it is my duty to make sure no other Providers step into the machine.”

  Shahna heard Provider One in her mind, reminding her of battles won, victories, and strength. Before Jim Kirk arrived.

  [46] Before freedom.

  As Dosean reached for his disrupter, Shahna studied his stance. He was off balance, keeping strength in his left leg to force her down. A weakness!

  She twisted around to his right leg, and with a powerful blow from her right hand knocked the back of his knee. He collapsed forward with a yell. Shahna twisted, bringing up her leg and kicking him in the face. She came up on her feet and kicked him in his side. Dosean yelled again, still attempting to draw his disrupter.

  Shahna kicked him again, knocking the weapon across the floor. But as she lifted her leg to kick him a fourth time, Dosean rolled away and grabbed her booted foot. She lost her balance, twisting backward to the floor. She landed with a sickening thud on the hard tiles, face first.

  Dosean yelled and ran for his weapon. Shahna shook her head again, trying not to lose consciousness, pushing herself up with her hands. She was too long out of practice—too long settling disputes with words, not actions. When she looked up, Dosean had his weapon trained on her.

  “Surprising,” he muttered. He was bleeding from his nose and a long gash on his cheek. “For a child.” He leveled the disrupter.

  Shahna barely saw the shadow move behind Dosean. Suddenly, something crashed into the Romulan’s back, sending him forward onto the floor, the disrupter skittering across the tiles.

  General Korrd stepped out of the shadows, a grin on his face. “I knew you were up to something.”

  Dosean shook his own head and turned, rolling onto his feet. He crouched before the large Klingon, then spit blood [47] onto the polished floors. “You think you are a match for me?” he demanded with much bravado. “You are old and fat. You attack from behind.”

  But General Korrd only laughed. “And you, Romulan? You attack a woman from behind. You are braver? You have more honor?”

  Dosean charged the Klingon, but Korrd stepped to the side, catching the Romulan in the back with a powerful blow. Dosean slammed to the ground, and Korrd placed a booted foot on Dosean’s back. The Romulan tried to rise, but Korrd shoved him down again. “No, no, my dear Romulan. We must wait for your guards.”

  Shahna stood shakily, leaning heavily on the wall beside her. “You ... you knew?”

  General Korrd nodded. “Romulans are not honorable.”

  Mr. Spock appeared then with three Starfleet security personnel. He looked at the scene and nodded to Korrd. “You were right, General. We owe you this day.”

  General Korrd removed his foot, then bent down and pulled the struggling and bleeding Romulan up with one hand. Dosean continued kicking in midair. “My payment will be to see this one locked up.”

  “As you wish. Mr. Loveen, please accompany the general, but ...” He put up a finger. “Do not interfere if the Romulan tries to escape. Let the general handle the prisoner.”

  The young security officer smiled, then saluted Mr. Spock. “Aye, sir.”

  Shahna watched them retreat down a hall. Then she turned to the doorway, peering steadily through the glass. “He ... he,” Shahna tried to form the words, tried to point [48] to the door. But her vision blurred and she began to fall.

  Mr. Spock caught her and lifted her in his arms as the two remaining guards followed them back down the hall.

  Shahna looked out the door before Mr. Spock turned a corner.

  Kirk and Uhura were gone.

  As she knew they were.

  Staring at the reflection in the mirror, Shahna sighed.

  Dr. Chapel touched her arm. “The bruises will fade eventually, and your nose has been mended.”

  Shahna did not want Jim Kirk to see her like this. He would no longer think her beautiful. He would see her as repulsive. Ugly.

  Mr. Spock walked into the Federation Medical Facility. “I understand you are well enough to leave?”

  Shahna put the mirror on the bed she was sitting on and nodded. “Dosean did not do as much damage as he would’ve liked, but I was sloppy. I should never have run off like that. I should have known he would try something.”

  Mr. Spock nodded, placing his arms behind his back. “The Excelsior and the Saratoga were able to turn back a Romulan vessel entering Triskelion space. It would appear Commander Dosean radioed ahead of his discovery. He figured that once you were dead, a new Provider would not be named immediately, and he and his ship could steal the unmanned technology.”

  “Are you saying Ambassador Renzel knew nothing of this?”

  “No. He is denying any knowledge of his first officer’s actions, and the Romulan government has sent its apologies. [49] A new ambassador was dispatched with a message assuring the Federation he would represent the empire in signing the nonaggression treaty. It would appear the knowledge of a new Provider, one with reason to distrust the Romulans, has renewed their fear of Triskelion.”

  “I would like to thank General Korrd if I may. He was following me, wasn’t he? Against Admiral Beckett’s recommendation.”

  “Yes and no. The admiral suspected treachery by the Romulans. If they had heard the admiral giving Korrd orders to guard you, they would not have made their move.”

  “Then I would like to speak to him before I go.”

  Mr. Spock nearly smiled, and Shahna widened her eyes. “I’m afraid the general is enjoying himself interrogating Commander Dosean. It appears Ambassador Renzel has abandoned his charge. But the general knows you are grateful.”

  Shahna looked down at her torn skirts. She tried to straighten them to little avail. “I saw Jim Kirk, and a woman who I thought was Uhura. I tried to get to them. That is when Dosean attacked.”

  “I see.” Mr. Spock nodded as he stepped forward. “Then you have not truly finished your mission here. Starfleet command has commissioned the Yorktown to carry you home. The Excelsior and the Saratoga will continue on with their missions once the Yorktown sets up a standard orbit around Triskelion, and the Yorktown will continue to guard your home until the Conversion is complete.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Do not thank me. General Korrd was insistent. He will be leading a Klingon flagship to honor that day. Which, I understand, if all goes well, will be tomorrow.”

  [50] Shahna looked up into Mr. Spock’s dark eyes. “You said my mission was not complete.”

  “You have not met with Captain Kirk. I have tried to contact him repeatedly, but he is now on Spacedock. They are preparing to launch a very special ship today. I have ar
ranged for you to be there.”

  Shahna blinked, her green eyes showing brightly through the bruises. “You have? Will I see him?”

  “If you wish.”

  “But ...” She touched her nose tentatively. “My face. I am truly unfit to see him now. He will think I am ugly.”

  “Shahna.” Mr. Spock reached out and took her hand in a very un-Vulcanlike manner. “The wonder of Captain Kirk is that he sees beauty in everything. Your injuries will make no difference.”

  Mr. Spock released her hand. “I have arranged new clothes for you. We leave as soon as you are ready.”

  Half an hour later, Mr. Spock was leading her from the transporter room of Spacedock and into a hallway packed with people.

  Shahna was dizzied by the phantasmagoria of faces. Strange, alien smells and colors. Through it all was the constant red and black of Starfleet.

  “Who are all these people?” She raised her voice to be heard over the melee.

  “Federation Press Corps,” came Mr. Spock’s response.

  “Who? What do they do? What are all those devices on their heads?”

  Mr. Spock leaned down to speak in her ear. “They are here to record this event, although Captain Kirk has been known to refer to them as Selurian space fleas. Others [51] throughout the Federation will want to see Captain Kirk and the others’ reactions throughout the maiden voyage.”

  Shahna did not understand all of what Mr. Spock said. She looked around as he was doing, trying to see a familiar face in the crowd.

  Mr. Spock brought his wrist communicator to his ear and listened intently. Then he said something Shahna couldn’t hear and grabbed her arm gently. “It would appear that Captain Kirk and the others are already boarding a shuttle to take them to the ship.”

  Shahna’s eyes widened as her hopes crashed toward the planet below. “Then I have missed him again?”

  Mr. Spock pointed behind the crowd and directed her through another door.

  The quiet was nearly deafening as the doors closed behind them. Shahna stared in awe at the room before her. Windows stretched from ceiling to floor, behind rows of clothed tables. She stepped forward, her eyes scanning the great ship displayed through the transparent aluminum.

  As she neared the window, walking slowly, afraid the vision would suddenly fade and she would awaken in the Medical Facility again, a name came into focus, seemingly painted with care on the side of the ship.

  Enterprise 1701-B. B?

  She turned to Mr. Spock, who stood nearly as transfixed as she. “He has a new ship? Is this a new Enterprise?”

  “It is not his ship. Captain John Harriman will be her captain, but Captain Kirk, Mr. Scott, and Mr. Chekov will be aboard for the first voyage. For posterity, as Dr. McCoy would say.”

  “Chekov is here as well?” Shahna turned back to the [52] vision before her. How often had she pictured herself aboard that ship, with Captain Kirk at the helm? “Can we go aboard?”

  “I’m afraid not. But I was hoping we might—”

  The doors opened, letting in the shouts of the crowds outside. The cry of a single name followed one man into the room as Shahna turned around.

  “Captain Kirk! Can we have one—”

  “Spock, couldn’t this wait until after—” The man stopped in midsentence, staring at Shahna.

  Shahna froze. It was him. Older now. But the same, dressed in the red and black of Starfleet. He stopped just inside the doorway, his face equally caught in a mask of surprise.

  Then his face brightened into a wide grin and he went to her.

  Shahna began to cry as his arms went around her, holding her close.

  “I didn’t think ... I didn’t dare believe ...” she said breathlessly.

  Captain Kirk pulled back, never letting his arms fall from hers. His eyes roamed her face and he put a gentle hand to her cheek. “You never believed what?”

  “That I would see you. That you would ... remember me.”

  “Oh Shahna,” he said, still grinning from ear to ear. “How could I forget a face like that?” He gingerly touched her bruises. “I heard from Mr. Spock what happened, and after having fought you myself so many years ago, I am amazed Dosean is still alive.”

  “But General Korrd was the one who saved me,” she said [53] shakily. Her entire body trembled, unable to fully comprehend the reality of her dreams before her. That she was once again in his arms was almost too much to bear. “Oh, I have so much to tell you. I did what you told me. I’ve learned so much.”

  “I know, I know,” he said gently. “And I want to hear it all. Really. But there’s something I have to do first. This shouldn’t take too long. We’re only going around the edge of our solar system and back. And then ...” He touched her green and gray hair, smiling still. “And then we’ll talk. I know you have to get back, and I want to hear all about it. And I’m sure Uhura and Chekov will want to be here too. We’ll have dinner.”

  “Promise?”

  “I promise. Now, before I get into too much trouble—”

  The doors opened again and two uniformed men stepped in. “Captain Kirk, we have to go if we’re to launch on time.”

  Captain Kirk scowled at them, then turned a happy face back to her. “Stay here with Spock. Wait for me.”

  Then, beyond anything Shahna had dreamed of, Captain Kirk kissed her, slowly, passionately; and her legs felt wobbly beneath her.

  Then he was gone, carried away by the two men and into the shouting crowds beyond the doors.

  Mr. Spock stepped forward. “Are you all right, Ambassador?”

  Shahna smiled so widely she thought her face would break. Her heart soared beyond the stars and she clapped her hands together in joy. “Oh wonderful, Mr. Spock. Wonderful.”

  * * *

  [54] Shahna watched as the battered Enterprise limped back into Spacedock. The gaping hole in the ship faced her, mocked her. It was as if space itself had taken him back, returning him to the stars.

  Shahna was alone in the room with the magnificent view. She sensed a hush throughout the world below her. They mounted with her, but did they feel her anguish? Did they know her grief?

  Finally she sat down in one of the plush chairs. A candle burned in a crystal glass in the center of the table. She reached in and pinched it out.

  The doors opened, and Mr. Spock stepped in. His Vulcan control seemed strained, and his face was paler than usual as he walked stiffly to her. He turned and faced the ship, watching as it completed docking maneuvers, his arms clasped tightly behind his back.

  “Mr. Spock?” she asked quietly. Would he speak? Could he speak? The few who had come into the room with the news spoke of Spock and Kirk’s friendship, and one of the men had taken bets on how well his Vulcan control would last.

  But Mr. Spock turned to her with a calm face and raised an eyebrow. “Yes, Ambassador? Are you well?”

  “I was more concerned about you.” She picked up a piece of silverware and fondled it between her fingers. “I know how close you were.”

  He nodded and returned to staring out at the ship. “He returned my life to me once. He was a great man.”

  Shahna stood and came to stand beside him. “There are some who would not understand your words. But I do. When [55] there is grief greater than the heart can bear, then words are inadequate.”

  He only nodded and continued to stare outside. She followed his gaze and realized he did not look at the ship, but at the stars behind it.

  She too looked out at those lights. “If I had not seen his smile, and known his happiness ...” Shahna smiled. “Now I can hold him in my heart, and share him with my people. Generations of Triskelions will know the man who gave them freedom.”

  Shahna put her hands to the glass and looked sideways at Mr. Spock. His face was expressionless, but even now she saw his grief.

  “I cannot believe, nor do I sense, his death,” he said finally, quietly.

  “He will not die as long as we remember him,” she said, turning her
emerald gaze back to the stars.

  They stood there together for a time in silence, separated by a space of a few inches. But Shahna knew in her heart they were closer now than ever. She finally knew him.

  A single tear flowed down her cheek. “And I make a promise to you, Jim Kirk, as I did before, to always watch the lights in the sky, and remember.”

  Reflections

  Dayton Ward

  STARDATE 48649.7

  Jean-Luc Picard looked down through the twisted wreckage of the fallen bridge and into the face of James Kirk. He could see the life draining away from behind the powerful hazel eyes. The injured man was struggling not to give in to the immense pain his wounds had to be causing. Picard desperately wanted to do something, anything, to help, but he knew in his heart the man was wounded mortally.

  “It was fun.” Kirk uttered the words with a small smile. Was this contentment that Picard saw?

  Then, the smile was replaced for the briefest of moments with a look of confusion. Picard could not be sure, but he thought it was the look of someone who was finally, ultimately realizing the end was near.

  Time is a predator that stalks us all our lives.

  Tolian Soran’s haunting words echoed in Picard’s mind as he studied Kirk’s face, watched as the color slowly, inexorably drained away. After being thwarted countless times, the predator was indeed finally gaining on James Kirk.

  [57] “Oh my,” the injured man whispered, the light behind his eyes beginning to dim.

  From an oddly detached viewpoint, James T. Kirk watched himself deliver those final words, then die as Jean-Luc Picard looked on helplessly.

  Jean-Luc Picard, captain of the Enterprise. Not his Enterprise, but that was now a fact of no importance. Nothing appeared to be a fact of importance anymore.

  Suddenly, the scene was lost as everything faded amidst an onslaught of blinding light. He thought he could feel his body ... no ... his very existence begin to dissolve.

  So, this is death?

  Light faded and blackness replaced it, though not the darkness one experienced when the lights are suddenly turned off. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but there was something different.