phil jones2

by J. R. Karlsson

With the impending collision with the Scavanger, Annika didn't feel the need to coddle Trigger's sense of self-worth. 'What about Agent Smith? Where is he?'

  'I'm here, Lieutenant.' the familiar monotone of Smith came. 'It would appear we are about to collide with the Scavanger and have been locked out of our own computer systems by the good doctor.'

  She stared at him and her heart fluttered, he was all business and looked none the worse for wear. 'How are you standing?'

  'My injuries were not... severe.' Smith tersely informed her, trying to get her off the topic. 'We need to find a way to re-appropriate the ship off our wayward doctor.'

  Annika felt a bout of dizziness hit her, then RJ was at her side. 'I don't understand... How could he recover so quickly?'

  RJ opened his mouth, but Smith cut in before he could voice a probably explanation for the man's recuperative powers. 'We need to focus on getting the ship back, we have less than a minute before impact.'

  He was right of course, he was always right. They needed to take charge of the ship somehow.

  Now if only everything wasn't so hazy.

  'There are much worse places to pass out.' RJ quipped as he observed Annika laying in a deep sleep upon one of the sick bay beds. 'I'm surprised she stayed conscious as long as she did.'

  'Lieutenant Annika is a woman of remarkable...fortitude.' Smith said. 'Is there any way to revive her? She is the only member of this crew with the capabilities to wrest the system from the Doctor.'

  RJ shook his head. 'I don't know enough about the medical systems to possibly administer the correct cocktail of drugs to wake her. We'll just have to come up with a plan without her.'

  Smith fell silent for a moment, staring at him with those ominous shades of his. 'You will revive her.'

  'No. I won't.'

  Phil pushed himself between the two men before they came to blows. 'We're not reviving the Lieutenant. I don't believe that Doctor Semaj would simply destroy us all, no matter how hair-brained his scheme.'

  'And if he destroys us by accident? Does that make it better?' Smith countered.

  He had a point. They had to find some way of communicating with the Doctor to ensure that he wouldn't destroy them all, and according to the medical bay's display they had less than a minute to figure out how.

  'Computer, this is Phil Jones.' he stated into space.

  There was a lengthy pause, and just as he was giving up on a response the computer offered him one. 'Yes, Phil Jones?'

  Well, that was odd. It usually called him Captain.

  'I command you to open communications with Doctor Semaj.'

  Another pause made him painfully aware of the clock ticking down the time until impact. 'Captain Semaj is unavailable at this time. Would you like to leave a message?'

  'Yes I would like to... actually, never mind. By the time he gets it we'll be dead.'

  RJ stood beside him now, even though his placement was irrelevant in terms of communicating with the computer. 'Computer, the crew is under threat. Initiate safety program.'

  'Negative.' the computer responded rather unhelpfully. 'You do not have the appropriate clearance level.'

  Phil knew where this was going. Captain Semaj had taken over the ship and the computer commands were now locked only to him. All that was left was to sit and wait for impact.

  And impact came.

  There was a brief grinding above their heads and this caused Anne to lower her gun from Darwin's head. An action which he was rather grateful for given that they hadn't died on schedule. What the blazes was going on?

  'Sir, my panel just told me I have an incoming transmission and then died.' the communications officer said. 'I have no way of accepting the...'

  'Hello there!' boomed the comical voice, hurting their ears with both its pitch and its effect on the speakers. 'I am the Semaj!'

  The view screen winked on and before them sat a slightly pixelated man with a pink afro and a lab coat. At this point Darwin gave up on trying to understand anything going on around him and just went with it.

  'I am broadcasting simultaneously to the crew of the Scavanger and my own ship. I have taken control of the computers on both ships and linked them, just as I have linked the ships together.'

  Without the consoles working, Darwin's crew had no way of confirming whether this was truth or not, but given that the consoles weren't working there was a fairly safe assumption to make here.

  'I shall be taking the ship and docking it in Star Command now...'

  Could it be? Could the rogue ship have a double crosser within their ranks? Had Doctor Semaj served him Jones on a silver platter? The image of Jones with an apple in his mouth being served by such a suspect cook was an unwanted one.

  '...In order to re-charge the weapons on this new conglomerate ship.'

  Conglomerate ship? What the devil was the man talking about? You couldn't just smash two ships together and form a more powerful ship.

  'So yeah, I'm going to do that right now, as the Voravians are coming back any minute now and they don't look very pleased according to my sensors. Here fishy fishy fish fish!'

  With that, the communique winked out and they set course as suggested to Star Command, who had doubtless received every word of the simulcast transmission too.

  'It would appear that my assumptions about the good Doctor were mistaken.' Agent Smith said as they continued to stare at the screen. 'Through either sheer dumb luck or coincidence he has managed to keep us alive thus far.'

  Phil couldn't argue with that, regardless of whether Semaj had meant it or not they were still here. One minute they had been on the verge of colliding with the Scavanger and the next they were in control of it. As if someone had grabbed physics by the scruff of its collar, shaken it down for all its lunch money and then told it not to turn up in these parts again.

  He didn't have to be happy about it though. This was his ship, and Semaj had gone and taken it from him without even asking.

  Then again, they did leave him abandoned in an asteroid field all by himself. None of them had even considered Semaj for the teams that were sent to the Voravian mothership or the Human Genome station. Could Phil really blame him for taking action when he woke and found that everyone else had abandoned him?

  In fact, come to think of it, without the Doctor's intervention things probably wouldn't have turned out anywhere near as well as they had so far. Maybe they owed it to the man to play along and see where he went with this.

  A hyperwarp tunnel opened up in the space before them as they docked with Star Command. Phil expected swarms of officers to come out and start shooting at them but instead the station did as was requested and the technical crews came out to re-charge the depleted Scavanger.

  The tunnel resolved into a single vessel of what looked to be Voravian make, smaller than the mothership that they had previously encountered. Was this the modest beginning of the second wave that Semaj was so concerned about?

  'This is Star Command dock.' a deep accented voice spoke over the communication system. 'Er... we're not sure which ship to send this to, so you're all getting it. The recharge of the Scavanger will be complete in five minutes.'

  Five minutes. In the grand scheme of things that wasn't too long to wait, but if more Voravian ships came out of the darkness then they were going to have problems.

  'Star Command this is the SC Bravery, transmission acknowledged.' came Semaj's voice, sounding tighter and more serious than Phil had ever heard it.

  He looked across the faces of his crew for suggestions or information, but they continued to stare at the Voravian ship on the screen as if transfixed.

  'Captain Semaj, we have an incoming transmission from the Voravian vessel. Shall I cut the transmission to the rest of the crew?'

  Phil couldn't help but notice that the computer could have been talking about them or the Scavanger's crew. Or both.

  'Negative computer. Captain Jones will be taking the transmission in the cockpit.'

  He would
?

  All eyes turned to him, and silence reigned.

  'I believe that the doc is relinquishing command to you, Captain.' RJ said, trying to prompt Phil into action.

  Was it really going to be that easy? After all this?

  'RJ, stay with Terry and Annika. Smith, Trigger, you're with me.'

  RJ nodded his approval and then Phil promptly abandoned the sick bay, it wasn't the first time that he didn't have a clue what he'd be greeted with when he got to the cock pit.

  As it turned out, the cock pit was pretty much the same as he had left it, and he seated himself cautiously in his Captain's chair as Smith manned his usual weapons station without word and Trigger slid into con to form the semblance of a crew.

  That was when the slightly pixellated image of Doctor Semaj appeared on the screen.

  'Hello Captain!' he cried, enthusiasm bubbling over at having someone else to talk to.

  'Er... hello Doctor Semaj.' Phil replied. 'Why did you invite us back to the cock pit?'

  The Doctor steepled his fingers in a mockery of what a civilised man would have considered thought. 'I just got a transmission from the Voravian ship that I thought you should take instead.'

  A message? What for? Why defer now when he had complete control? None of this made any sense to him.

  'I'm going to come out of the computer now, please don't hurt me.'

  In a rare moment of unity, Smith and Trigger shared a look of disbelief.

  'Ok then... whenever you're ready Doctor.' Phil replied, playing along in the hope that nothing terrible would happen.

  There was a flash from the view screen and it resolved into a much more life-like rendition of Doctor Semaj who hurtled with a scream through the air and came to a splayed rest at the Captain's feet.

  'Please don't hurt me.' he repeated, trying to rearrange his limbs and failing.

  'We shall deal with you later Doctor.' Smith assured him. 'Now get away from the Captain and go back to sick bay, your... talents are needed there.'

  Semaj promptly scuttled off without further word, not before tripping over several thing and getting his lab coat stuck in the door though.

  When the Doctor's din had been muffled Phil turned his attention elsewhere. 'Computer, transmission on screen.'

  'Yes Captain Jones. Have a nice day.' the computer informed him in its typically saccharine voice.

  The view screen resolved into the beleaguered face of the Voravian Translator. 'This is the Voravian Empire to any and all opposing ships in the area. We surrender unconditionally.'

  Several things happened then. The view screen decided to morph into an image of Darwin screaming at them not to accept, then an image of Burroughs superimposed itself upon that and offered the same sentiment with more spittle. The communication speakers crackled into the manic-sounding Professor Hanniman demanding that they not accept.

  Then there was silence and the Translator returned.

  'I apologise for the interruption in this call.' the computer said. 'Your regular communications have been restored.'

  'Thank you computer.' Phil said, and then turned to Trigger and Smith. 'Suggestions?'

  'While I am loathe to agree with Darwin about anything, the Voravians want time to lick their wounds and then attack us anew.' Smith said.

  Phil nodded, turning his chair so that the focus was upon Trigger. 'And you Ensign?'

  Trigger had that deer in the headlights look about him, clearly no wanting to be the centre of attention. 'I... I don't think we should just kill them.'

  'Why not?' Smith interjected. 'They had no compunction when it came to destroying us.'

  'I just...' Trigger stammered into silence.

  'You just what?' Smith pressed. 'Want them to come back and kill us all?'

  'I dunno... I just feel we were so close to peace and if we were to butcher them all...' he failed to finish his sentence after the continuous glare from Smith finally broke his nerve.

  They both had good points. If he were to accept their surrender he could be setting up further reprisal in the future. If he were to reject it then he would be directly responsible for the slaughter of a race they almost had peace with.

  'We can't do it.' he said at last, after much pondering. 'Put audio back on, Trigger.'

  'Aye Captain.' Trigger said with no small amount of uncertainty. Phil realised now that he hadn't told either of them of his final decision.

  'We have decided to accept your surrender.' Phil informed the Translator. 'Withdraw your fleet from our space. Our diplomats will sort things out.'

  The Voravian nodded and uttered his thank before the transmission terminated and his ship vanished into hyperwarp.

  And that was the end of the Voravian Conflict. For now.

  'Warning, unauthorised breach in progress.' the computer said, catching Smith open-mouthed at the point of remonstration.

  'Computer, details!' Smith shouted in annoyance.

  'Several individuals from the former hull of the Scavanger have entered the Bravery.' it said, displaying blinking dots on the view screen.

  The intercom crackled open. 'Jones we have your position surrounded and the rest of your crew captured. Come out peacefully and hand the ship over to Star Command!'

  That was unmistakably Darwin's voice. Oh well, it had been a good run.

  'Open the doors, Agent Smith.' he signalled to the security officer.

  'But Captain...'

  'That's an order. I'll not have you sacrificing yourself for nothing.'

  Smith growled under his breath but reluctantly did as he was told.

  Captain Darwin marched in, flanked by heavily armed security officers who swiftly disarmed Smith.

  'Final chapter, Jones!' he crowed.

  Chapter 50

  ! ! !

  Captain Darwin was cock of the walk, and awfully pleased with himself. She may have only been a woman but Anne had been correct in guessing that the recharge at Star Command had in turn re-activated the life support, allowing them to send a boarding party of bridge crew out to claim the rebel vessel. Good thinking, that woman.

  Now he was finally triumphant over Jones and could take him into custody that would result in the heroic ticker-tape adulation he so richly deserved.

  'It's over Jones!' he bellowed, trying to ignore the growing taste of egg-nog in his mouth. 'Step away from the command chair and don't make any sudden moves.'

  Much to his disappointment, the traitor Captain didn't go for a secreted gun or weapon and as a result he couldn't shoot him on the spot. Even more infuriating was that the man was doing the exact opposite of quivering in his boots, his flabby face was as placid as a Buddha statue.

  'You're right Captain.' Jones admitted in what was almost a pleasant tone of voice. 'I knew there was only so long I could evade Star Command. Ultimately if in doing so we have saved the lives of billions of humans and Voravians alike then so be it.'

  The guards pointing their guns at him shifted uncomfortably, but Darwin was having none of it.

  'You are a traitor and a coward and I won't have any of your preaching. Guards, take him away!'

  The guards had been distracted by the re-opening of the cockpit doors. Within them stood a spindly figure barely noticeable amongst all the bodies gathered here.

  'Hello.' he said.

  Darwin arched an eyebrow. 'Can I help you? Why is this man not in captivity with the rest?'

  'You didn't notice me, neither did your guards. I just wanted to tell the Captain something before I went back to sick bay.'

  'Go on then.' Darwin said, gritting his teeth and fighting down the urge to blast the man. 'What is it?'

  The odd man blinked, as if he hadn't been expecting a response. 'I meant the real Captain, not you. Captain Jones sir, there was something I neglected to tell you before.'

  The man's strange and cartoonish voice seemed sombre in tone, as if a great burden had been placed upon him by delivering this message.

  'What is it, Semaj?' Phil prompted,
much to the infuriation of Darwin. Who was he to still be talking when so many armed weapons were pointed his way?

  'Well sir, it's just that when I was in the computer I decided to deactivate the Scavanger's weapons.'

  'Preposterous!' Darwin scoffed, interrupting. 'We fired all we had at you, there was no malfunction.'

  The slightest twitch of irritation passed across this Semaj's features and was gone. 'I wasn't talking about the ship's weapons, I meant the weapons in the ship.'

  Darwin stared down at the pistol he was holding. 'You're bluffing!'

  Semaj walked over and pressed his bony chest directly into the path of fire. 'No, I'm not.'

  There was the slightest moment of hesitation on Darwin's part and then his trigger finger took control of the situation, burning a hole in the irritating man.

  Well, his trigger finger certainly went down anyway. There was a distinct lack of holes.

  'This weapon on the other hand is... fully functional.' Agent Smith informed him, levelling it at the guards and shepherding them out of the cockpit.

  Anne levelled a kick at him just as she was leaving, and the Agent snapped an arm up to block the attack. Without hesitation he ignited his own trigger and the woman burst into a screaming pile of ash.

  Darwin knew when to hedge his bets, Jones and his crew had the upper hand again.

  'I still have the glove, Jones!' he gurgled at him from the increasingly pungent flavour of egg-nog in his throat. 'You can't have it back!'

  He watched the other Captain swallow, then extend his hand.

  Pins and needles shot up and down his arm, then with an immediacy that scared him, the taste in his mouth was gone. Indicating to the small part of his mind that was still rational that something had changed.

  'Actually, it looks like you don't have a choice in the matter, former Captain Darwin.' Jones said, flexing the newly sparkling glove that rested upon his hand. 'It would appear that the glove wanted to be with me after all.'

  Darwin stared for a moment, then down at the balled fists of his hands that were equally bare and made a lunge for Jones.

  Agent Smith's own fist invited the darkness in.