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["63160" "Mon" "23" "May" "1994" "11:34:51" "-0400" "Prince John, III" "jfm@christa.unh.edu" nil "1227" "Please archive this instead of what's you already have. Thanx." "^From:" nil nil "5" nil "Please archive this instead of what's you already have. Thanx." nil nil]
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nil)
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id KAA28801; Mon, 23 May 1994 10:35:08 -0500
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(5.67b+/IDA-1.5 for <jfy@cis.ksu.edu>); Mon, 23 May 1994 11:34:56 -0400
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(5.67b/IDA-1.5 for jfy@cis.ksu.edu); Mon, 23 May 1994 11:34:52 -0400
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In-Reply-To: <9405201529.AA24175@edith.princeton.edu>
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Subject: Please archive this instead of what's you already have. Thanx.
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(There can be only one...These are the voyages...)
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T R E K L A N D E R
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Copyright 1994 John F. Moore III
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Part 1
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CAPTAIN'S LOG: Stardate 48344.5 The Enterprise has been ordered to Fyla
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VI to receive Ambassador MacLeod, who has been asked to oversee peace
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talks between two warring factions on Clari III. I admit a small amount
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unease with this mission as Ambassador MacLeod is a relatively inexperi-
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enced emmissary...
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Captain Jean-Luc Picard stood in transporter room 3 with Commander Riker
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and Councillor Troi, all in dress uniforms. Behind them, the transporter
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chief was monitoring his station.
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"Fyla VI indicates they're ready, sir," the chief said.
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"Energize."
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The transporter hummed and two figures appeared. The first was a tall
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man in his early thirties with long black hair wearing a loose-fitting
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shirt and pants under a black sleeveless overcoat. Next to his was a man
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in his early twenties with curly blonde hair and dressed similarly to the
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other man.
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Picard spoke, "Greetings Ambassador MacLeod, I am Captain Jean-Luc
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Picard. This is my first officer Commander William Riker and Deanna Troi,
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ship's Councillor."
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The taller man shook Picard's hand with a firm grip. "I'm pleased to
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meet all of you. I'm Ambassador Duncan MacLeod and this is my assistant
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Richard."
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Riker addressed the pair. "We've arranged for a dinner in your honor
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Ambassador at 1800 hours, as well as a tour of the ship. If you'll follow
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me I'll take you to your quarters."
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MacLeod nodded to Riker. "That would be most appreciated. By your
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leave, Captain?"
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Riker led the pair out of the transporter room as Picard addressed Troi.
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"What do you think of him, Councillor?"
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"He's very sincere in his desire to help the people of Clari III, but
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there's something... distant about him. I felt it in his assistant as
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well. They're both trying to hide something..."
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"Do you think they might be a danger to the ship?"
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"I don't think so. They're not hostile, but I sense unrest in both of
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them."
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Riker led the pair to Ten Forward.
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"And this is where we spend our off duty hours. We call it Ten
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Forward."
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Suddenly MacLeod and Richard seemed very distant for a moment.
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"Something wrong Ambassador?"
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MacLeod snapped out of whatever he was under. "Umm... nothing Com-
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mander. Would you mind if Richard and I looked around here for a while?"
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"I suppose that would be all right. If you need anything, I'll be by
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the viewport."
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As Riker walked toward the tabled by the viewports Richard turned to the
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Ambassador, "did you feel it Mac?"
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"Yes I did, Richie. But who is it? There are so many people here...
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and there's no way of telling if whoever it is will attack us."
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Across the room, Guinan looked at MacLeod and Richard. She then turned
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to Data, who was sitting at the bar near her.
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"Data, who are those two?"
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"They are Ambassador MacLeod and his assistant Richard. They are on a
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diplomatic mission to Clari III."
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"You don't say... I think those two need a drink."
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A waiter approached MacLeod and Richard with two glasses.
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Richard looked confused. "But we didn't order...?"
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"They're compliments from... an old friend," the waiter explained.
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"Who is this `old friend'?" asked MacLeod.
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"An anonymous one... by the being's request." The waiter left.
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Richard looked agitated. "Great! We may be in danger and we don't know
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who to watch out for!"
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MacLeod looked around. "Calm down Richie. The last thing we want to do
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is attract attention to ourselves. I think it's time we got on with our
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tour."
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After informing Riker that they were ready to go, The pair left Ten
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Forward. Guinan watched them leave.
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"Oh, don't worry Mr. MacLeod... you'll find out soon enough..."
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Captain Picard sat in his ready room when his door chimed.
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"Come!"
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Riker entered the ready room.
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"Yes Number One?"
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"Permission to speak candidly, sir?"
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"Of course. What's on your mind?"
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"I don't trust Ambassador MacLeod sir. When we were in Ten Forward he
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appeared to be looking for something rather intently."
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"Do you think he plans on endangering the Enterprise?"
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"I don't know sir, but Lt. Worf ran a routine scan on the Ambassador and
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found a sword on his person."
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"A sword, Number One?"
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"Hidden beneath his robes. A sword was also found in his assistant's
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robes."
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"I'll have Lt. Worf keep an eye on our guests, but Councillor Troi
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doesn't sense any hostility toward us."
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"One other thing I noticed in Ten Forward sir... MacLeod's assistant
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became very restless soon before we left, almost as if he was expecting
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trouble."
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"Could his assistant be a bodyguard, Number One?"
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"I don't know sir. MacLeod doesn't strike me as the type who would need
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a bodyguard."
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"I'll have someone monitor them while they're on board."
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"Thank you, I'd feel a lot better sir."
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`Enter Program' the Holodeck computer said.
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Lt. Worf was about to enter his usual workout when MacLeod sauntered up.
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"Hello, Lieutenant. Mind a little company?"
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Worf looked agitated. "I was about to engage in my daily exercises. I
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doubt you'd want to join me."
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MacLeod leaned his hand against the wall and grinned casually at Worf.
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"Oh, I dunno... it could be fun."
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Richie stalked his quarters. He knew MacLeod would be fine...he was far
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more experienced than he was. He just didn't like the idea of an
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unknown...
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The door chimed, interrupting his thoughts. "Come in."
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The door opened and the Sense hit him. He suddenly realized his sword
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was in the other room. He had to face his opponent unarmed...
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"Relax, will ya," Guinan said as she entered. "If I was gonna kill you
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I'd have done it long ago."
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"You're... you're the bartender from Ten Forward, aren't you?"
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"My name is Guinan. So you're the Immortal I sensed this afternoon.
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What's your name?"
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"Richie -- Richard."
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Guinan smiled. "Pleased to meet you Richie Richard. I'm not hostile to
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you. I've been an Immortal for much longer than you'd care to imagine.
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If I wanted to kill you you'd be dead before you could blink."
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Richie believed her... despite being over 400 years old he was still far
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too inexperienced at fighting other Immortals.
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"Well, it's good to hear that you're on my side. I'll come by and we
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can talk about... old times."
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Guinan smiled and left. Richie decided to consult with Mac before he
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met up with Guinan again. He wasn't sure he fully trusted her yet and he
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wanted to check with MacLeod before he revealed to Guinan that there was a
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third Immortal on board.
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Part 2
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CAPTAIN'S LOG: Stardate 48367.8 The crew has been reporting increasing
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unrest toward the Ambassador and his assistant. I am planning to meet
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formally with Ambassador MacLeod and discuss this in-depth.
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Captain Picard entered the bridge as Riker relinquished the command
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chair.
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"Status, Number One?"
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"We're due to arrive in just under three hours. According to reports,
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the situation on Clari III is becoming volotile. The delegates from each
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side doubt that the cease-fire will last much longer."
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"Go to warp 8, Mr. Data."
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Data turned to face the captain. "At warp 8, we will arrive at Clari
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III in 1 hour, 26 minutes, sir."
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"Good, I'll be in my ready room if I'm needed. You have the bridge,
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Number One."
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As Picard turned to leave, he noticed that Ensign DeMarcus was manning
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Tactical.
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"Has anyone seen Lt. Worf? He was supposed to report for duty ten
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minutes ago."
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MacLeod and Worf stood back to back as unidentifiably monsterous
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humanoids attacked.
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Worf was breathing heavily. "Have you had enough, Ambassador?"
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MacLeod glanced back at Worf. "I'm just getting warmed up."
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Suddenly the holodeck intercom switched on as Riker spoke. "Lt. Worf,
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report for duty at once!"
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Worf suddenly realized that he was late to report for duty. "Computer,
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halt program."
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The battlefield disappeared as the familiar black and yellow walls of
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the holodeck appeared and Worf almost sprinted out of the room.
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"Computer," MacLeod said as Worf exited. "I'd like to see a dojo from
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Los Angeles, California, Earth, circa 1994... complete with the following
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people..."
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Richie entered Ten Forward and sat at the bar. A waiter greeted him.
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"May I take your order?"
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Richie simply said, "I'm here to see Guinan."
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"I'm sorry, but Guinan isn't on-duty right now."
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"Where would she be?"
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"I'm not sure... she seems to like the botanical gardens."
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"Thanks," Richie said as he went to leave.
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As he reached the doors, he nearly bumped into Data and fell on the
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floor.
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"Excuse me," Data said as he helped Richie up, "I did not see you. Are
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you hurt?"
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"Only my pride... What species are you? I don't think I've ever seen a
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being with white skin and yellow eyes..."
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"I am Lt. Commander Data, and I am an android. You must be Richard,
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Ambassador MacLeod's assistant."
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"Yeah. Listen, Commander... I need to find Guinan, otherwise I'd love
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to stay and talk."
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"Perhaps another time. I am interested in you and the Ambassador, espe-
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cially since I can find no record of your births anywhere in the Federa-
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tion."
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`Oops,' Richie thought. Neither he nor (he thought) Mac had counted on
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anyone checking their birth records. He knew Mac's record wouldn't be on
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file, since births weren't generally recorded in the 1500's, but he was
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certain that if a record of his existence was found it would certainly
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raise some questions.
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"Ummm... yeah, sure. Catch ya later."
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As soon as the doors to Ten Forward closed, Richie sprinted to find
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Guinan.
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"Commander," Worf said, "we are receiving a transmission from Clari III.
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The cease-fire has been broken and hostilities have resumed."
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Riker sighed. This peace mission could be the end of MacLeod's short
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career as an Ambassador in a bloody way.
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"Computer, locate Ambassador MacLeod."
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`Ambassador MacLeod is in Holodeck 3'
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"I'm going down there to inform him of the situation personally. Lt.
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Worf, you have the bridge."
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"Aye, sir," Worf said as Riker entered the turbolift.
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Riker entered the holodeck to find a run-down training center. MacLeod
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was helping a well-built black man about his age stand up.
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"One more time, MacLeod," the black man said.
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MacLeod saw Riker enter and said to the black man, "Not yet, Charlie. I
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think you need a break."
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MacLeod went over to Riker as Charlie sat on a bench catching his
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breath.
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"What can I do for you, Commander?"
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"The situation on Clari III has escalated to open fighting."
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MacLeod looked concerned by this. "Do you have details?"
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"Not yet, but as soon as we hear we'll let you know. Do you want to
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wait until things calm down before talking to the leaders?"
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"If we wait we may never have a chance. I'm going down there."
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"I can't allow you to beam down without a security detail."
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"The last thing we need is more people with weapons down there--"
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"True enough. I mean, two people with swords beaming down is bad
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enough."
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MacLeod looked unconcerned about this discovery. "Richard and I carry
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swords because it's tradition for our people."
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"Is it... tradition... to hide them under robes so they can't be seen by
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the naked eye."
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"You'd be surprised how many people get paranoid about people carrying
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weapons."
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"Well, I'd appreciate it if you didn't carry them at all while on board
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the Enterprise."
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MacLeod walked over to a glass-walled room on the far end of the train-
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ing center and grabbed something. As he exited, Riker saw that the
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Ambassador was carrying a sheathed sword. MacLeod then handed the weapon
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to Riker.
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"I'll inform Richard to do the same. We're on your side, Commander."
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MacLeod walked back toward Charlie, then turned back to Riker. "I'd
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like all the information you have on the situation on Clari III, if you
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can."
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"I'll see what I can do," said Riker as he exited the holodeck.
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Part 3
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CAPTAIN'S LOG, Supplemental: We're approaching Clari III and are
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preparing to beam Ambassador MacLeod and his assistant to the surface.
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Commander Riker expresses concern about the pair going down alone due to
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the renewed conflict, but the Ambassador seems unconcerned. I have to
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wonder if he knows something we don't...
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Picard sat on the bridge, monitoring the orbital maneuvers performed by
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the ensign at Ops... what was her name... Cathaway? Yes, that was it.
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Cathaway had been assigned to the Enterprise two weeks ago from the
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Acadamy. She worked very hard to please her superiors and seemed likable.
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Still, on a ship as big as the Enterprise, it wasn't difficult to
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understand why Picard, or any of the senior officers (except Data) had
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trouble remembering the names of everyone on-board.
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MacLeod entered from the turbolift, getting the attentions of Worf.
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Giving the scowling Klingon a cheery smile, he approached the Captain.
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Picard looked up at him. "Hello, Ambassador. I must say this is a
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surprise. I thought you'd be--"
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"Something wrong, Cathaway?"
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Everyone except MacLeod turned to see what Riker was talking about.
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Cathaway seemed concerned, and until Riker alerted the crew, she was
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staring at MacLeod.
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"Nothing, sir," Cathaway said as she turned back at her station.
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"Captain, may I speak to you in private?"
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"Of course, Ambassador. We can use my ready room. You have the bridge,
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Number One."
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As Picard and MacLeod exited the bridge, Riker walked up to Ensign
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Cathaway.
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"Do I detect a problem with the Ambassador, Ensign?"
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Cathaway seemed like a little girl who had been caught with her hand in
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the cookie jar. "Of course not, sir. But as the Captain was saying, his
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arrival on the bridge was a surprise."
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Riker looked at her sternly. "Your duty is to fly this ship, not watch
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the comings and goings of people who may or may not belong in the bridge,
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is that understood?"
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"Of course, sir. It won't happen again."
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"See that it doesn't," Riker said as he sat in the command chair.
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"What can I do for you, Ambassador?"
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"Captain, I don't like titles much, especially in private. Mr. MacLeod
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or Duncan will do."
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"Very well, Mr. MacLeod. You wanted to speak to me?"
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"Captain, I understand Commander Riker is a little concerned about my
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wanting to go without armed escort."
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"So he tells me. I can't say I blame him. The violence down there--"
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"I can handle myself rather well, although... that Ensign out there...
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Cathaway was her name?"
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"Yes, what about her?"
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"If you could spare her, I'd like to have her along."
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"Rather a strange request... why her and not Lt. Worf?"
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"Because I feel... there's something special about her."
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"I will consult Commander Riker about it. What have you discovered
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about the situation on Clari III?"
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"Not as much as I'd like. The two sides were willing to talk peace
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until someone... the reports didn't say who... took over as leader of one
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of the factuions and renewed the attacks. Most unsettling...
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(The Alamo, night: Duncan is nursing the wounds of several of the
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defenders of the besieged fort. With him is Pierre DuSable, a Canadian
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sympathetic to the Texans' cause.
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"I tell you, mon ami, if we can hold out a little while longer ze
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reenforcements will arrive and we'll route Santa Anna's men back to
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Mexico!"
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Duncan sighed. "I wish I had your optimism, Pierre, but the fact is
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we're running out of supplies. Even if anyone arrives we may starve to
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death before then."
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DuSable stood proud. "Zen I shall form a raid to get supplies from ze
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Mexicans!"
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Duncan looked at him. "Don't be a fool! You'll die out there!"
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"Better to die fighting zen to starve to death!"
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Duncan exited the medical shack a moment later shaking his hand and
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barring the door from the outside.
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"Forgive me, my friend, but I'm more qualified than you for this kind of
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thing."
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Under cover of darkness, Duncan crept into the Mexican camp. After
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killing a sentry and taking his uniform, he walked into the supply area.
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*The mother lode*, he thought as he found two wagons full of food,
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waiting to be unloaded. *This will sustain the Alamo for a few more days*
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Suddenly, he Sensed someone. Pulling out his sword and turning, he saw
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a Mexican officer enter the tent, carrying a saber.
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"Well, well," he said. "Looks like I found myself a spy. You know,
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spying's a dangerous business... one could lose his head if the pressure
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gets too high."
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Duncan barely managed to block the Mexican's attack.
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As Duncan retreated, the Mexican began speaking. "I plan to order my
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forces to attack. That fool Santa Anna will have no choice but to order a
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full assault. He wants to play the waiting game, let the Texans starve to
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death. Doesn't he realize those idiots will die for what they believe
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in?"
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"And you're just the man to help them, right?"
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Duncan dodged as the Mexican's slice cut open a bag of flour. As a
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white cloud hung around them, the pair continued, but Duncan began to
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fight back. As the battle raged between the two, Duncan seized the
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advantage until the Mexican was forced to his knees.
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Suddenly, there was a loud thunderclap as Duncan's eyes widened and he
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fell to the ground. The Mexican put away his pistol and readied himself
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for the Final Strike when he also fell from a gunshot.
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A figure crept up to Duncan. "Mon ami, are you all right?"
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Duncan looked weakly at him. "Pierre? What are you doing here?"
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"I thought you might need some help, especially since it was my idea,
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non?"
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The pair walked back to the supplies, leaving the Mexican to heal...)
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"And you hope to reason with a man like that?" Picard asked.
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"I hope so. But if not I want as few people as possible down there."
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"I will recommend that Ensign Cathaway be assigned to you for this, if
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you think that she'd be helpful."
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"Thank you Captain."
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Julia Cathaway Sensed MacLeod exit the Captain's ready room. She tried
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hard not to let it affect her again, though it was easier since she knew
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he was there this time. She couldn't let Riker know her secret, and he
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really came down on her hard. The fact was that she was scared of Riker,
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moreso than any Immortal she'd faced. She tried hard not to come into
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conflict with him, but it wasn't always easy. She heard Riker and the
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Captain discuss something, but was too afraid to do anything but watch the
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screen as the planet revolved below the ship.
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"Ensign Cathaway."
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Julia nearly jumped out of her skin as Riker bellowed her name. She
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wondered what she did now to deserve his ire.
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"Yes sir?" she said, turning to face them, hoping her nervousness
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didn't show.
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"You're relieved of duty. Report to Transporter Room 5 at 1800 hours."
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"Yes, sir."
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Julia almost sprinted off the bridge, relieved to be away from Commander
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William Riker.
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Part 4
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FIRST OFFICER'S LOG: Stardate 48380.1 Ambassador MacLeod is preparing
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to beam down to Clari III with his assistant and Ensign Julia Cathaway.
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|
I'm a little concerned as to why the only escort the Ambassador wants is a
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recent Acadamy graduate who's not even associated with security.
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Richie had finally found Guinan in the Botanical Gardens. Of course
|
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Guinan Sensed him long before he approached but made no indications of it.
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"Hello Richard," she said without looking up from the plants she was
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studying. "I was wondering when you were going to show."
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"Hello Guinan."
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"You and your boss have made quite a stir on the ship. I don't suppose
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he's an Immortal too?"
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`Uh-oh... I didn't want her finding out'. Richie maintained his cool,
|
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glad that Guinan was an Immortal and not a Betazoid like that Troi chick.
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|
For whatever reason Immortals seem to be full humans of Earth descent. If
|
|
there were other Immortals, he had yet to encounter them.
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|
"Why do you say that?" he asked.
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"Mainly because the crew seems to be more aggravated with him than you.
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But there are other reasons..."
|
|
"Such as?"
|
|
"Neither of you have any birth records within the lifetimes of any
|
|
crewman on board, and Ensign Cathaway Sensed him..."
|
|
"You mean there are FOUR Immortals on board."
|
|
"Yeah... scary thought, eh? I had to reassure her that neither of you
|
|
were gonna decapitate her. She really is a nice girl, if a little high-
|
|
strung."
|
|
"Mind if I ask--"
|
|
"The late 1700's."
|
|
"What?"
|
|
"You were about to ask how old I was right?" Richie nodded in response.
|
|
"I experienced the Awakening in the 1700s in the Southern US. My master
|
|
beat me to death. I remained anonymous until Earth started space travel
|
|
in earnest. It was then that I left Earth. My ship fell into a wormhole
|
|
into deep space. It was there that I met my first alien, the last sur-
|
|
vivor of a people that had been destroyed by the Borg. He died in my care
|
|
some five months later, but I had learned much about his culture. Event-
|
|
ually I found my way into Federation space and I met Picard. I claimed to
|
|
be a member of the race the alien belonged to. And the rest is history.
|
|
Now what about you and MacLeod?"
|
|
"I was Awakened in the 1990s. I was hanging around with Mac back then
|
|
too, along with his girlfriend Tessa. Tessa was shot to death by gang
|
|
members. I was shot that day too. I've been traveling off and on with
|
|
him ever since.
|
|
"Mac I'm not too sure of. I know he's been around since the 1500s but
|
|
he doesn't talk much about his Awakening. I know he's battled more
|
|
Immortals before I met him than I've seen since hooking up with him. And
|
|
what about Cathaway?"
|
|
"I don't know much about her. She tends to avoid me, or any Immortal."
|
|
|
|
MacLeod sat in his room staring at a picture when his door chimed.
|
|
"Yes?"
|
|
The door slid open as Cathaway entered.
|
|
MacLeod stood. "Ah, Ensign. Come in, please."
|
|
Cathaway looked nervous. MacLeod tried assuring her, "Come on, I don't
|
|
bite, and I don't attack unless threatened."
|
|
Cautiously, she entered. MacLeod could see her white-knuckled death-
|
|
grip on her sword, expecting an ambush of some kind. Slowly, he put his
|
|
hand, his sword hand, on hers and gently guided it to a nearby table.
|
|
"We're all friends here, Cathaway... I promise I won't hurt you. Now
|
|
put the sword down..."
|
|
Something in MacLeod's voice calmed her enough that she released her
|
|
grip on her sword. Breathing a sigh of relief, MacLeod backed away.
|
|
"Would you like something to drink?"
|
|
"Ummm... no thank you."
|
|
MacLeod walked to the replicator. "2 Synthales"
|
|
Two mugs of the liquid appeared and he brought both to Cathaway.
|
|
"I said I wasn't thirsty, sir."
|
|
"Stop with the formalities and the pretenses. I'm Duncan MacLeod of the
|
|
clan MacLeod, not Ambassador MacLeod. I'm an equal, not a superior. The
|
|
only difference is that you think I'm going to trick you into a compromis-
|
|
ing position so I can kill you and take your Quickening. To prove that
|
|
I'm not going to, I'll let you choose the drink, that way if I've poisoned
|
|
one you have a 50% chance of choosing the other one, and if I've poisoned
|
|
both then we'll both recover at the same time and it won't make a
|
|
difference. Now take the drink."
|
|
Cathaway chose one and they both drank at the same time. When no ill
|
|
effects occured, Cathaway relaxed a little.
|
|
"You're probably wondering why I asked you to join my little party
|
|
planetside?" MacLeod asked. Cathaway nodded. "Well, I don't want any
|
|
mortals endangering themselves needlessly, but we're relatively safe--"
|
|
"Unless someone phasers us at maximum level," she said.
|
|
"Well, there is that, and there's little I can do about it if they try,
|
|
but other than that we're safe."
|
|
Cathaway noticed the picture on the table next to where MacLeod was
|
|
sitting. "Who's this? Another Immortal? A sweetheart, perhaps?"
|
|
"No, it's someone I loved a long time ago. I did my best to save her
|
|
life, but..."
|
|
Cathaway turned to him. "I know the feeling. When I was on my training
|
|
cruise, we were struck by an asteroid that got past our navagation
|
|
shields. The section where we were hit was the section where my fiancee
|
|
and I were walking. The whole section went up in flames. I was Awakened
|
|
that day. No one else survived the explosion. To this day I wish that I
|
|
hadn't been cursed with Immortality."
|
|
"I didn't know--it's hard falling in love with an Immortal knowing that
|
|
you'll outlive her, possibly by centuries... but I can't imagine what it's
|
|
like--"
|
|
Cathaway turned to face him. She was crying. "That's right, MacLeod!
|
|
You can't know the pain I endure every day, knowing that my Adam is dead
|
|
because he wasn't born into this curse!"
|
|
She grabbed her sword and ran out of MacLeod's room.
|
|
|
|
Part 5
|
|
|
|
At 1800 hours Ensign Cathaway entered Transporter Room 5. She was
|
|
carrying a tote bag full of things she thought she might need planetside:
|
|
spare uniforms, energy packs for her phaser, toiletries, her sword...
|
|
MacLeod and his assistant were already waiting. That she knew before
|
|
entering, thanks to her damnable Sense. She really hated being Immortal,
|
|
but didn't know if she had the courage to end it. Besides, Adam wouldn't
|
|
have approved...
|
|
Commander Riker was also there, as well as Lt. Worf. She was about to
|
|
step onto the transporter pad when she noticed that no one else was making
|
|
a move in that direction.
|
|
"Something wrong, sirs?" she asked, placing her bag on the pad and
|
|
walking over.
|
|
Riker cleared his throat. "The situation has escalated. The Captain
|
|
has ordered that a qualified security detail be assigned--"
|
|
"Despite my objections," MacLeod interrupted.
|
|
`I'm sure you objected MacLeod,' Cathaway thought. `You want my Quick-
|
|
ening to yourself with no witnesses!'
|
|
"In any case," Riker continued, "the Captain has ordered Lt. Worf to
|
|
accompany the three of you down. Good luck to you all."
|
|
The four stepped onto the pad and Riker barked, "Energize". Cathaway
|
|
felt the tingle of her atoms being converted to energy and sent to the
|
|
planet's surface.
|
|
|
|
As soon as Worf saw the surface of Clari III he pulled out his phaser
|
|
and began scanning for potential targets. The beings on this planet were
|
|
hostile creatures who might mistake him and those he was sworn to protect
|
|
as enemies.
|
|
MacLeod placed his hand on Worf's phaser arm and lowered it. "Calm
|
|
down, Lieutenant. The last thing we need is for whoever's here to mistake
|
|
us for the enemy by a display of weapons."
|
|
Worf couldn't argue with MacLeod, because he was right; any display of
|
|
hostile intent could cause them to become targets. But at the same time,
|
|
MacLeod made him look bad to a subordinate. Worf settled on giving him a
|
|
dirty look.
|
|
"I'm going to have a look around. A representative of the Tyone faction
|
|
was supposed to meet us here and take us to a neutral position where we'd
|
|
meet with the Feuhl faction's representative.
|
|
"I'll go with you Mac," his assistant said.
|
|
"No Richard, you stay with Worf, in case our contact centers on our
|
|
transporter signal. Ensign Cathaway, you come with me."
|
|
Worf noticed Cathaway tense immediately, but she complied and grabbed
|
|
her bag.
|
|
|
|
As soon as they were out of sight and earshot from Worf, MacLeod turned
|
|
to Cathaway. "Why are you afraid of me?"
|
|
The question took Cathaway by surprise. She was expecting MacLeod to go
|
|
for his sword and blame her death on `hostile natives', not a direct
|
|
question.
|
|
"You... you're Immortal..."
|
|
"You think all Immortals are cold-blooded killers? If I was, then
|
|
Richard would have been dead long ago."
|
|
"Richard is..."
|
|
"You remember the picture in my quarters?" Cathaway nodded. "He was
|
|
with her the day she died. He was Awakened that day. If I was such a
|
|
cold-blooded killer, I would have taken his head the day I found out,
|
|
while he was still adjusting to the change. Instead I nurtured him and
|
|
tried to keep him safe until I felt he was ready to explore the limits of
|
|
his new abilities.
|
|
"I admit I've taken more than my share of Immortal lives, but never
|
|
unless they deserved to die. You think Richie is my only Immortal friend?
|
|
I've come close to killing a few friends, only to pull them back to reason
|
|
before the Final Strike. One friend I DID kill, but only after he real-
|
|
ized that he was a danger to everyone around him if he lived."
|
|
"Why was he--"
|
|
"He had a dark side that came out and killed those he felt close to. He
|
|
had no memory of his dark side's actions; in fact, he thought that it was
|
|
a different Immortal. When he realized that his enemy was himself, he
|
|
begged me to take his life."
|
|
"I'm sorry, MacLeod," Julia said. "It's just that I've run into three
|
|
Immortals since my Awakening before you, and all but one of them cared
|
|
nothing but to take my head. Friends?"
|
|
Julia extended her hand, which MacLeod took. Julia found herself
|
|
looking into MacLeod's eyes. She wanted to turn away, but there was
|
|
something captivating about him. She was entranced in his eyes, eyes that
|
|
have seen eons pass. They gazed at each other for what seemed like an
|
|
eternity. The moment before their lips met her communicator switched on.
|
|
*Worf to Cathaway*
|
|
Julia composed herself and pressed her combadge. "Cathaway here."
|
|
*Prima Tu-Jar of the Tyones has arrived. Return to Base Camp immediate-
|
|
ly.*
|
|
"On our way."
|
|
Julia looked at MacLeod. "Perhaps another time... Duncan?"
|
|
MacLeod grinned at her. "If it's one thing we have, it's time."
|
|
|
|
Part 6
|
|
|
|
Duncan and Julia walked back to the Base Camp. Along the way, they
|
|
shared a number of things about themselves, and Julia admitted that the
|
|
one other Immortal who didn't try to kill her was Guinan. Guinan helped
|
|
her through her fiancee's death and through her own fears about her new
|
|
life.
|
|
"I had someone like that too. His name was Darius, and for over four
|
|
hundred years he was like a father to me... until he was murdered by a
|
|
mortal."
|
|
Julia noticed that Duncan was very tense when he mentioned Darius. She
|
|
was about to question him about Darius's death when she saw Worf and a
|
|
squat four-legged orange creature with several pseudopods on its torso
|
|
eyestalks all round its conical head. She and Duncan immediately stopped
|
|
the conversation. She was told of the dangers of allowing mortals,
|
|
especially ones prone to violence, know of the Immortals' existence
|
|
Duncan walked up to the creature and addressed it. "Long life to you
|
|
and your family. I am Ambassador Duncan MacLeod."
|
|
The creature faced Duncan and spoke. "Have peace with your Essence,
|
|
MacLeod-Duncan. I am Prima Tu-Jar of the Tyone peoples. It is refreshing
|
|
to see a two-leg who knows our customs." Worf sneered at Tu-Jar as it
|
|
continued, "The meeting place is ready, as per your specifications. The
|
|
Feuhl will be arriving soon, although I do not expect much."
|
|
"We must be hopeful, Prima. I take it the Feuhl were the ones to resume
|
|
hostilities?"
|
|
"Yes. Soon after a large, dark-skinned two-leg arrived, the hostilities
|
|
resumed."
|
|
"I would be very anxious to meet this... `two-leg' that seems to have
|
|
spurred the conflict."
|
|
The party arrived at the meeting place, an abandoned underground
|
|
shelter. Inside was a table with a single makeshift chair (the Clarians
|
|
apparently had no use for such things, as well as two others against the
|
|
wall.
|
|
"I apologize for not having enough sitting apparatus for your group, but
|
|
we were unsure of the size of your group."
|
|
"It's quite all right. This will do just fine. Your hospitality is
|
|
most appreciated."
|
|
Julia heard Richard clear his throat, but Duncan ignored him. "When
|
|
will the Feuhl delegate be arriving?"
|
|
"Within two cycles. The Feuhl have been informed of your arrival."
|
|
"Perhaps we should keep a watch so that the delegate can be welcomed
|
|
when it arrives. Do we have sleeping arrangements?"
|
|
Tu-Jar seemed confused. "You do not sleep erect? We were unaware of
|
|
this detail of two-leg society."
|
|
"I'm sure the floor is quite comfortable," Duncan then turned to the
|
|
others, "unless you wish the comforts of the Enterprise?"
|
|
Richard seemed to consider Duncan's offer to return, but declined. Worf
|
|
was duty-bound to remain, while Julia had... her own reasons to stay.
|
|
"Then I'll take the first watch with Ensign Cathaway," Duncan said.
|
|
"We'll take four-hour shifts, Richard and Lt. Worf will take the other
|
|
watch."
|
|
"And what shall I do, MacLeod-Duncan?"
|
|
Duncan grinned at Tu-Jar. "You'll teach me about your people. It will
|
|
help me relate to both delegates better. I'm sure the sociology files the
|
|
Federation has don't begin to explain your people's ways."
|
|
Tu-Jar made a gutteral warble, which Julia assumed was the way the
|
|
Clarians laughed. "You are indeed a wise being, MacLeod-Duncan. I shall
|
|
rest until you return from your watch."
|
|
|
|
As Duncan prepared to go outside, he was stopped by Richie.
|
|
"Why didn't you introduce us, Mac?"
|
|
"Because both delegates haven't arrived arrived yet. Get some rest
|
|
Richie."
|
|
Julia was already waiting for Duncan when he exited the shelter.
|
|
"Do you think you'll be able to talk peace with these people?"
|
|
"First I need to talk them into renewing the cease-fire. Tu-Jar seems
|
|
more than willing to help me, so now I need to work on the Feuhl delegate.
|
|
Once I can stop them from killing each other I can try to reach some sort
|
|
of treaty."
|
|
"What about this other being that he mentioned?"
|
|
"*It* mentioned. Clarians are unisexual beings. As far as the being
|
|
Tu-Jar mentioned, I'm not sure what to make of that. Someone wants to
|
|
keep the hostilities going, and I want to find out why."
|
|
"That can wait until the fighting stops. For now, why don't we make a
|
|
little peace of our own..."
|
|
Duncan then embraced Julia and kissed her.
|
|
|
|
Part 7
|
|
|
|
After a day and a half, Duncan had learned much about the Clarians and
|
|
the reasons behind the war between the Tyones and the Feuhl. He and Julia
|
|
were about to relieve Richie and Lt. Worf when the sound of a phaser dis-
|
|
charge was heard and Worf flew backwards down the stairs with a burn on
|
|
his chest.
|
|
Julia pressed her combadge. "Enterprise, beam Lt. Worf directly to Sick
|
|
Bay, he's been hit hard by a phaser!"
|
|
Julia turned to Duncan, but he was already bounding up the stairs.
|
|
|
|
"Richie!"
|
|
Duncan exited the shelter, but there was no sign of Richie or whoever
|
|
attacked Lt. Worf. His first thought was that Richie was disintegrated,
|
|
but if that was so, why was Worf still intact? No, Richie had to be
|
|
hiding or trying to find whoever attacked the shelter. Drawing his sword,
|
|
Duncan began searching as well.
|
|
After a few minutes, he Sensed someone behind a column.
|
|
"Richie?" he whispered. No answer.
|
|
He stalked up to the column and whispered Richie's name again. Still no
|
|
answer. He came around to face whoever was behind the column, and nearly
|
|
caved in Julia's skull.
|
|
"Jesus, MacLeod, a simple hello would have done!" she whispered.
|
|
"Julia, what're you doing out here? You should be guarding the Prima."
|
|
"I had the Enterprise beam Tu-Jar aboard."
|
|
"Get there yourself. I don't want to endanger--"
|
|
"No way, MacLeod! You're not getting away from me that easily. We'll
|
|
split up and find that bastard."
|
|
|
|
Richie limped back to the shelter to find it empty.
|
|
*Great!* he thought, *either they're all dead or they left thinking I
|
|
was. Well, I'm gonna find a way to get home.*
|
|
Richie limped out to find his hunter.
|
|
|
|
Duncan Sensed someone on the other side of a nearby structure. He hoped
|
|
it was Richie. He was starting to worry. He'd been searching for over
|
|
twenty minutes and had found Julia three times, but still hadn't found
|
|
Richie.
|
|
He came around and caught the glint of moving steel and ducked just in
|
|
time as the blade of a sword struck the structure where his neck was a
|
|
moment ago.
|
|
"So, Sinor MacLeod, we meet again. Thees time only one of us shall walk
|
|
away!"
|
|
Duncan stood poised to face a man he had not seen since the Alamo.
|
|
|
|
Captain Picard entered Sick Bay to see his head of security under a
|
|
surgical unit.
|
|
"What's his status, Doctor?"
|
|
Dr. Crusher's eyes never left the screen she was looking at. "He was
|
|
hit by a phaser down there. He's in critical condition, and not improving
|
|
very well."
|
|
"Will he be all right?"
|
|
"I don't know. He was hit square in the chest. Whoever hit him was an
|
|
excellent shot and knew exactly where to hit him. If not for Ensign
|
|
Cathaway's quick response he'd be dead."
|
|
Picard pressed his combadge. "Picard to Bridge."
|
|
*Riker here.*
|
|
"Any word from the Away Team since the attack on Lt. Worf?"
|
|
*Ensign Cathaway had Prima Tu-Jar beamed aboard and said she was going
|
|
to try to capture whoever attacked the Away Team, thinking it might be a
|
|
link to whoever renewed conflicts down there.*
|
|
"Keep track of her. And send down a security detail to help in the
|
|
search. Picard out."
|
|
|
|
Julia ran to the sound of steel on steel. She was stopped by Richard.
|
|
"What's going on?"
|
|
"Mac's found our attacker... an Immortal."
|
|
"How do you know that?"
|
|
"I Sensed him just before Worf was hit. How is he?"
|
|
"He was barely alive when I had him returned to the ship."
|
|
"And the Prima?"
|
|
"Safe. We've got to help Duncan!"
|
|
"It's his fight. We can't interfere. It's part of the Rules. You know
|
|
that."
|
|
"But--"
|
|
Julia watched helplessly as she saw Duncan gaining an upper hand,
|
|
backing his foe against one of the columns. Suddenly Duncan was thrown
|
|
back by a phaser discharge.
|
|
The other Immortal holstered his phaser and sauntered up to Duncan.
|
|
"So Sinor MacLeod, eet seems that you fell for the same treeck twice,
|
|
eh?"
|
|
The Immortal poised over Duncan for the Final Strike.
|
|
"NO!" Julia screamed as she charged him. Throwing her fury behind her,
|
|
she knocked the Immortal back. But he was quick to recover and hit her
|
|
behind the neck with his sword, sending her reeling.
|
|
"You should not be so queek to die, sinorita," he said as he swung his
|
|
sword to her neck...
|
|
...And was blown back by a phaser blast. Three officers from the
|
|
Enterprise rushed into the battlesite.
|
|
"Away team to Enterprise. Six to beam up and one to beam to the Brig."
|
|
|
|
Part 8
|
|
|
|
CAPTAIN'S LOG: Stardate 48397.4 We have captured the leader of the
|
|
Feuhl military, an Earthling known as Sancho Marin. We have not yet found
|
|
out why he's trying to escalate hostilities here, or even how he managed
|
|
to survive a direct hit from a phaser, but I intend to find out. Ambass-
|
|
ador MacLeod and the away team assigned to him, with Lt. Dijar replacing
|
|
an injured Lt. Worf have since returned to the surface to begin negotia-
|
|
tions between the two factions.
|
|
|
|
Julia watched as Duncan disarmed the tempers of Prima Tu-Jar and the
|
|
Feuhl delegate, Ryla Drei-Fru.
|
|
"But we have no promise that the Feuhl will keep the cease-fire this
|
|
time! Your military advisor, Marin-Sancho, could not have brought you to
|
|
battle if you did not wish to go."
|
|
"It has a point," Duncan said. "What promise can you give that you'll
|
|
keep your end of the bargain, Ryla?"
|
|
"I swear on the blood of my children that we will not attack the Tyone
|
|
as long as Marin-Sancho remains away. His followers were few, but they
|
|
were enough to convince the Tyones that we wished to continue the attack.
|
|
Without their leader, his followers have no direction."
|
|
MacLeod stretched. "Well, it's getting late. I think we have enough
|
|
trust between us that no one will try to kill the other, so why don't we
|
|
rest for the night and start talks in earnest tomorrow?"
|
|
"Agreed, MacLeod-Duncan."
|
|
"I concur."
|
|
"At last," Julia mumbled to Dijar. "I thought he'd NEVER get those two
|
|
to speaking terms..."
|
|
Julia and Duncan went to the back room as Dijar stood guard. Dijar, a
|
|
Ceradian, only needed sleep once every standard month for 72 standard
|
|
hours. Because of this, Ceradians were excellent as sentries or guards.
|
|
Riker certainly picked a good replacement for the Klingon.
|
|
Julia looked at the cots that MacLeod had replicated. These were
|
|
certainly more comfortable-looking than the floor.
|
|
She was asleep moments after lying down.
|
|
|
|
"I advise against this, sir," Riker said as he and Picard headed toward
|
|
the brig.
|
|
"I understand your concern, Number One, but if he won't talk we have to
|
|
do this."
|
|
They arrived at Marin's cell. Waiting there was Lt. T'dor, a Vulcan
|
|
from Behavioral Sciences. The Vulcan nodded to the Captain and his first
|
|
officer as they approached.
|
|
"Hello Mr. T'dor."
|
|
"Captain, Commander. I am ready to perform the mindmeld, with your
|
|
permission."
|
|
"Make it so." Picard said as the security officer trained his phaser on
|
|
Marin and released the force field.
|
|
Marin didn't move as T'dor entered and began the ritual.
|
|
"My mind to your mind... my thoughts to--"
|
|
Suddenly, as quick as thought, Marin seized the Vulcan officer and used
|
|
him as a shield.
|
|
"Let me go, or your pointy-eared amigo weel have an odd angle to hees
|
|
head!"
|
|
`Captain,' Data said, `Sensors are picking up a ship approaching fast.'
|
|
"What type?" Picard asked.
|
|
`Unknown.'
|
|
"Go to Yellow Alert."
|
|
`Aye sir.'
|
|
Sancho Marin merely smiled.
|
|
|
|
Part 9
|
|
|
|
Julia and Duncan were walking hand-in-hand under the twin moons of Clari
|
|
III. Julia couldn't remember being happier than she was by Duncan's side.
|
|
She never thought she could feel this way after Adam's death...
|
|
*Adam,* she thought, *I'll always love you, but I don't want to be alone
|
|
any more--*
|
|
Julia's thoughts were interrupted as a phaser blast hit the pillar near
|
|
the pair and Sancho Marin jumped the pair. Duncan pulled out his sword
|
|
and pushed Julia away, telling her to get to safety.
|
|
The next few moments seemed to happen in slow motion as the combatants
|
|
clashed swords.
|
|
Duncan pressed the offensive, trying to get Marin away from her.
|
|
"Ah, Sinor MacLeod, you are mucho aggressive when you have the sinorita
|
|
to defend, eh?"
|
|
"You'll not touch her while I still live!"
|
|
"Then I shall have to make you no longer live."
|
|
Suddenly Marin charged Duncan, forcing him back until Marin gained the
|
|
upper hand. Duncan tripped onto his back and fell prey to Marin's sword.
|
|
As he soaked up Duncan's Quickening, Duncan's head rolled in her direc-
|
|
tion. She looked at in horror as she stared into the vacant eyes of her
|
|
dead lover... Adam?!
|
|
She was so horrified by what she saw that she didn't hear Marin's
|
|
Quickening finish.
|
|
"Well, well... looks like Sinor MacLeod died in vain, eh?"
|
|
Marin's sword flew toward her neck...
|
|
...and she woke up.
|
|
|
|
Data sat in the command chair. He was the only crisis-experienced
|
|
officer on the bridge.
|
|
*Go to Yellow Alert,* Captain Picard said from the brig.
|
|
"Yellow Alert, Mr. Kaal," Data said to the Tactical officer on duty.
|
|
"Raising shields," Ensign Kaal said as the klaxons wailed.
|
|
"Captain," Data said, "we may have to break orbit. I am alerting the
|
|
away team of our situation."
|
|
*Make it so. I'll return to the bridge as soon as the situation here is
|
|
resolved.*
|
|
"Understood. Data out. Helm, talk us to 356 Mark 67, Warp 3."
|
|
"Heading set and engaged, sir," Lt. Dhemn, the Navigation Officer,
|
|
stated.
|
|
"The ship is powering up weapons!"
|
|
"Go to Red Alert."
|
|
The klaxons wailed more urgently as the weapon systems were brought
|
|
online. The ship shook under enemy fire.
|
|
"Enemy weapons barely touched the shields, sir. Maybe they're no threat
|
|
to us after all."
|
|
"I do not think that is the case, Mr. Kaal. If I am correct, the ship
|
|
pursuing us wants our prisoner intact. But why would they chase us...?"
|
|
|
|
"My followers weel not rest unteel I am free, Sinor Picard."
|
|
"Then they'll be awake a long time," Riker stated.
|
|
"Don't be so hasty, Number One," Picard whispered to his first officer.
|
|
"Don't forget he has Lt. T'dor in his custody."
|
|
He then spoke aloud. "If we let you go, will you agree to leave Clari
|
|
III?"
|
|
"You have my word as a Mexican, Sinor Picard."
|
|
"I still don't trust him sir," Riker murmured to his Captain.
|
|
"Nor do I, Number One, but what choice do we have?"
|
|
Picard tapped his combadge. "Picard to transporter room. standby for
|
|
transit to the pursuing vessel."
|
|
*Standing by.*
|
|
"If you release Lt. T'dor, I'll beam you back to your ship.
|
|
"I think I like thees Vulcan's company, so he weel amuse me unteel I am
|
|
returned."
|
|
Picard tapped his combadge again. "Mr. Data, signal the vessel that
|
|
we'll be returning their leader to them."
|
|
*Understood, sir.*
|
|
|
|
Duncan exited the shelter to the windy Clarian night. He saw Julia
|
|
standing with her back to him about ten meters away, her hair blowing in
|
|
the breeze. He approached her and placed his hand on her shoulder. She
|
|
shrugged it off and backed away.
|
|
"Julia, what's wrong?"
|
|
"I can't be involved with you any more, MacLeod... I can't take losing
|
|
another man I care for."
|
|
"Julia..."
|
|
"Duncan, please... just go."
|
|
Duncan walked away silently. He didn't see Julia's tear-streaked face
|
|
under the twin Clarian moons.
|
|
|
|
Part 10
|
|
|
|
Counselor Troi quietly entered from the turbolift and watched the events
|
|
from the Science stations. Data was, of course, the epitomy of calm on
|
|
the bridge. The rest were young officers who would have been replaced by
|
|
the more experiences department heads, were they able to report to the
|
|
bridge, but the Captain and Will were handling the hostage situation in
|
|
the brig and Lt. Worf was recovering from his wounds in- flicted by Sancho
|
|
Marin. These were mere babes, hinging on Data's every command and
|
|
counting on him to save them. She didn't need to be an empath to feel
|
|
their fear of making a mistake that could cause the deaths of every man,
|
|
woman, and child on the Enterprise.
|
|
*Picard to Data. We're ready to transport.*
|
|
"Understood Captain. We will lower shields momentarily."
|
|
Lt. Kaal pressed a few buttons on his station and indicated that he had
|
|
lowered shields.
|
|
"Hail the vessel," Data said.
|
|
The bridge of the vessel came up. It was filled with Clarians. Marin
|
|
still had Lt. T'dor in his grip.
|
|
"Ah, Enterprise. Muchos gracias for freeing me... now I shall have the
|
|
honor of destroying you," Marin said as he effortlessly snapped T'dor's
|
|
neck and tossed him aside.
|
|
"Shields up! Red Alert!" Data ordered as the screen shifted back to
|
|
the vessel.
|
|
The vessel fired phasers and photon torpedos, the Enterprise shook
|
|
violently.
|
|
"Shields down to 35%, Mr. Data!"
|
|
"Helm, evasive maneuvers. Mr. Kaal, return fire. Data to Captain
|
|
Picard."
|
|
As the Enterprise fired its weapons, the vessel disappeared.
|
|
"Cloaking device activated, sir." Kaal reported.
|
|
*Crusher to bridge*
|
|
"Data here. Go ahead Doctor."
|
|
*Data, that attack seems to have knocked the Captain and Commander Riker
|
|
unconscious.*
|
|
"Are they injured?"
|
|
*They appear to have concussions, but I don't know how bad yet. There
|
|
are a lot of casualties coming in that are more serious.*
|
|
"Understood Doctor. Keep me informed. Data out."
|
|
Dianna felt the tension on the bridge climb even higher as the bridge
|
|
crew realized they were on their own.
|
|
"Damage report, Mr. Kaal?"
|
|
Kaal looked at the readouts coming in. "Warp Drive damaged; we can only
|
|
get to Warp 2 until repairs are made... Impulse engines also seem to be
|
|
hard hit as well... communications are out... Decks 10 through 19 report
|
|
heavy damage... they hit us hard, sir.
|
|
Data stroked his chin in a fashion that he saw other crewmen do when
|
|
they were deep in thought.
|
|
"Bridge to Sick Bay."
|
|
*Crusher here.*
|
|
"Doctor, transfer all wounded to the saucer section. I am taking the
|
|
drive section back to Clari III while the saucer section is taken to the
|
|
nearest starbase."
|
|
Data then turned to Troi. "Counselor, I want you to assume command of
|
|
the saucer section--"
|
|
"Data," Dianna said, "Why are you separating the ship?"
|
|
"Because I must protect the lives of the injured and the crew's
|
|
families--"
|
|
"But Data, these people aren't battle-experienced. Wouldn't it be
|
|
better to--"
|
|
Data looked squarely at Troi, and she thought she could almost feel a
|
|
glimmer of concern from him. "Counselor, no one is ever ready for their
|
|
first battle. Most hope they never have to face another being in a
|
|
contest where there is a good chance only one will survive. But Ambass-
|
|
ador MacLeod's group is back at Clari III, and the Clarians are trying to
|
|
achieve peace... a peace that can not happen if Mr. Marin returns. For
|
|
the sake of a world's safety, we must place our own safety aside."
|
|
Dianna had never seen Data like this. If she didn't know better, she
|
|
would have thought that Data was trying to avenge a blow to his pride in
|
|
allowing the Enterprise to be crippled under his command.
|
|
"All right, Data. I'll get them to safety. You do what you feel is
|
|
right."
|
|
Data turned to his bridge crew. "Please report to the Battle Bridge and
|
|
prepare for separation."
|
|
|
|
Duncan sat by the entrance to the shelter. He couldn't understand why
|
|
Julia had sent him away. All he knew was it hurt... he hadn't felt so
|
|
hurt in almost 400 years... since Tessa's death. He could almost feel her
|
|
body in his arms... and the bodies of all the others he'd loved and lost
|
|
in his 800 years of existence. He couldn't begin to count the people that
|
|
he cared for, male and female, lovers and friends, mortal and Immortal,
|
|
who died despite his best efforts to save them.
|
|
|
|
(The Alamo: Duncan heard the charge of the Mexican army as they stormed
|
|
the fort. The brave Texans and their allies valiantly fought to keep
|
|
their enemy out, but eventually it proved to be to no avail. He saw the
|
|
body of Davy Crockett fall from the platform above to his feet. He
|
|
checked Crockett's pulse, already knowing there would be none.
|
|
Suddenly, the Mexicans burst through the doors of the fort. Duncan
|
|
charged the onslaught and wound up fighting alongside Pierre.
|
|
"Quite ze fight, eh mon ami?"
|
|
"Just watch your back and don't let them in!"
|
|
Suddenly a shot hit Pierre square in the chest and he crumpled.
|
|
"Pierre!" Duncan knelt before his friend.
|
|
"Please.... mon.. ami....... do an old.. Quebecois proud....... Do
|
|
not... let ze Mexicans...... ween........"
|
|
"Don't die on me, Pierre! Please don't die...")
|
|
|
|
"Duncan?"
|
|
Duncan slowly lifted his head to see Julia looking at him.
|
|
"Hi."
|
|
"Listen, I'm sorry I was hard on you like that--"
|
|
Duncan placed a finger over her mouth. "Shhhh.... you don't need to
|
|
explain. If it's what you want..."
|
|
"I don't, but I'm just afraid of seeing you die."
|
|
Duncan held his hand out to her. As she accepted it he pulled her down
|
|
and held her close.
|
|
"I know. It's one of the prices of Immortality."
|
|
|
|
Part 11
|
|
|
|
Data and his bridge crew sat ready on the Battle Bridge. Each of them
|
|
knew this was for real. The slightest mistake could cost them the lives
|
|
of everyone in the drive section.
|
|
*Troi to Data. We're ready to separate.*
|
|
"Commence separation maneuver Counselor," Data said.
|
|
As the saucer section sped away, Data said, "helm, set course back to
|
|
Clari III, best possible speed."
|
|
"Course laid in and engaged, sir."
|
|
"Go to red alert, Mr. Kaal."
|
|
|
|
Duncan was worried. The Enterprise had not acknowledged his check-in
|
|
for over two hours. He hoped nothing had gone wrong, but when dealing
|
|
with an Immortal one could never tell.
|
|
Julia walked up to him. "The Enterprise is capable of handling itself,
|
|
you know. She doesn't need you to worry about her."
|
|
"If it was just Marin we were dealing with I'd agree with you, but he
|
|
has followers and I'm not sure what kind of resources they have. They may
|
|
be able to obtain something that could destroy the Enterprise."
|
|
"At least the talks are almost over. Personally, I think Richie and Lt.
|
|
Dijar are going stir-crazy waiting for something to happen."
|
|
|
|
"Damage control reports impulse power restored... shields up to full power."
|
|
"Thank you, Mr. Kaal. Estimated time to Clari III?"
|
|
"Estimating 4 hours, 23 minutes, sir."
|
|
"I only hope we will not be too late..."
|
|
|
|
Part 12
|
|
|
|
The drive section took an orbit around Clari III. There was no sign of
|
|
Sancho Marin's vessel.
|
|
"Open a channel to the Away Team, Mr. Kaal."
|
|
"Channel open, sir"
|
|
"Enterprise to Away Team. Report please."
|
|
*Enterprise, this is Ensign Cathaway. Where have you been? Is some-
|
|
thing wrong up there?*
|
|
Data briefed the Away Team of the situation. *So Marin could return at
|
|
any time, then?*
|
|
"I do not know. It would seem likely that he would return here to
|
|
resume the hostilities again--"
|
|
Suddenly the drive section was rocked from a phaser blast.
|
|
"Shields down to 54% sir!" Lt. Kaal announced. "Sensors indicate that
|
|
they appeared briefly and cloaked again."
|
|
"Find them, Mr. Kaal. Lt. Dhemn, scan the area for somewhere where we
|
|
might be able to... even the odds." Data mentally patted himself on the
|
|
back for being able to use one of the phrases he picked up from Commander
|
|
Riker.
|
|
|
|
"I do not understand your concern, MacLeod-Duncan," Drei-Fru said. "I
|
|
have assured you that the Feuhl will not resume conflicts--"
|
|
"But there is no way the Tyones could know that," Tu-Jar said for
|
|
Duncan.
|
|
Duncan was worried. Not only did he need to worry about the peace talks
|
|
breaking down, but he knew Marin would be back to have another go at
|
|
either Richie, Julia, or himself, and he didn't need to have either
|
|
delegate or Lt. Dijar endangered because of the three Immortals.
|
|
"It's me Marin's after. He'll be back to finish the job. I'm going
|
|
out there to provide him with a target besides the five of you--"
|
|
"No way, Mac," Richie said. " I'm going with you. We're in this
|
|
together."
|
|
"And if you think I'm letting you out of my sight for one minute, Duncan
|
|
MacLeod, you've got another think coming!"
|
|
Duncan was touched by his friends' loyalty, but only briefly as a band
|
|
of Clarians burst into the shelter, phasers drawn.
|
|
|
|
"I think I've found something, sir," Lt. Dhemn stated as another phaser
|
|
burst rocked the drive section.
|
|
"Shields down to 32%," Lt. Kaal announced.
|
|
"Lay in a course, best possible speed," Data said calmly.
|
|
"Course laid in, sir," Dhemn stated.
|
|
"Engage."
|
|
As the drive section sped toward Dhemn's "odds-evener", Data looked
|
|
over Dhemn's shoulder.
|
|
"All right, Lieutenant, show me what you have found."
|
|
Dhemn's panel screen lit up as he spoke. "The Ydires Nebula. If we
|
|
reconfigure the sensor array to 5338 angstroms, we should be able to use
|
|
the ionized particles of the nebula to track the vessel's exhaust trail,
|
|
even if it's cloaked."
|
|
"Well done, Lt. Dhemn. Lt. Kaal, adjust the sensors accordingly. Time to
|
|
the nebula?"
|
|
"Estimating twenty minutes at this speed," Dhemn announced.
|
|
|
|
Part 13
|
|
|
|
The Clarians attacked with a ferocity that Duncan had not seen in some
|
|
time. Prima Tu-Jar and Ryla Drei-Fru retreated to the sleeping chamber.
|
|
Duncan, Richie, Julia, and Lt. Dijar had hidden behind crates and tables
|
|
to shield them from the phaser fire.
|
|
"Just like the Alamo," Duncan mumbled.
|
|
"Sir?" Dijar queried.
|
|
"A similar situation I was in a long time ago," Duncan said, phasering
|
|
one of the attackers.
|
|
Slowly, the number of attackers was dwindling, but how long did they
|
|
have before their phasers ran dry?
|
|
|
|
The Enterprise rocked again as it entered the Ydires Nebula.
|
|
"Shields down to 16%. Sir, one more hit could penetrate the hull!"
|
|
Data studied the viewscreen as he spoke. "I am well aware of that
|
|
fact, Lieutenant. Any sign of the vessel?"
|
|
"I think I have something...036 mark 64, range 45,000 kilometers."
|
|
"Lock phasers and fire!"
|
|
The Enterprise's phasers connected and, for the first time, the battle
|
|
bridge crew felt as if they had a chance of surviving.
|
|
|
|
The away team stood victorious, though their phasers were nearly
|
|
drained. They managed to take a prisoner and find out where Marin was
|
|
hiding.
|
|
"I'm going after them," Duncan said.
|
|
"Not without us," Richie stated.
|
|
"Not this time, Richie," Duncan said. "I need you to guard the
|
|
delegates and try to get them to safety. I'll contact you in 24 hours.
|
|
Grabbing the phaser with the most power, Duncan ran off after Sancho Marin.
|
|
|
|
Part 14
|
|
|
|
The drive section exchanged blows with the Clarian craft for some time.
|
|
The Enterprise, having already been weakened, was getting the worst of it.
|
|
The ship rocked yet again.
|
|
*Data,* Geordi called from Engineering, *the containment fields on the
|
|
warp drive are collapsing! If Engineering takes another hit--*
|
|
"Understood Geordi. Do we still have warp power?"
|
|
*Yeah, but I wouldn't push it too hard until we canh stabilize the field.*
|
|
"Helm, get us out of here, best possible speed."
|
|
The drive section sped away. After a few moments of disorientation,
|
|
the Clarians followed.
|
|
"They're gaining," Lt. Kaal said.
|
|
"Geordi," Data said, "I am about to do something that might be consid-
|
|
ered...suicidal. Can the ship take full reverse?"
|
|
*Are you NUTS, Data?! The strain put on the ship at this speed would
|
|
be tricky if the ship was intact, but in the shape it's in--*
|
|
"Can you draw power into the inertial dampers? Perhaps that will
|
|
decrease the strain."
|
|
*Hell, anything's possible. I'm shutting down all nonessential systems
|
|
...that means you may have to deal with emergency lighting only...give me
|
|
five minutes.*
|
|
"We do not have five minutes, Geordi. The Clarian ship is faster and
|
|
more maneuverable than we are currently."
|
|
Geordi sighed. *I'll see what I can do. Buy me three minutes.
|
|
LaForge out.*
|
|
"Mr. Kaal, I want a spread of Photon Torpedoes that will keep the
|
|
Clarian ship from coming within firing range."
|
|
Kaal looked at Data quizzically. "Sir?"
|
|
"The Clarians' Torpedoes have a considerably shorter range than ours.
|
|
We must keep them beyond that range." Data walked over to Kaal's panel
|
|
and pulled up a tactical display. "Fire the torpedoes in such a way that
|
|
the Clarians will have to slow to avoid getting hit, in a conical
|
|
pattern."
|
|
Kaal's face lit up in understanding. "With their ship caught in the
|
|
middle beyond firing range! But why not fire dirctly at them?"
|
|
"Their shields are more able to take direct hits. No doubt they have
|
|
boosted frontal shield power. Therefore, I am going to attemp reversing
|
|
warp speed to get behind them and attack their weaker side before they
|
|
can react."
|
|
Kaal set the firing array. "Spread ready, sir. Awaiting your orders."
|
|
Data returned to the command chair. "Wait until we are aklmost within
|
|
their firing range, then fire the spread. Boost frontal shields."
|
|
Data's firing spread kept the Clarians at bay, though they tried to hit
|
|
the drive section . The few shots that reached the ship weren't enough to
|
|
penetrate the shields.
|
|
*LaForge to Bridge, you have your boosted dampers. I hope you know what
|
|
you're doing, Data.*
|
|
"Helm, reverse thrust, maximum warp!"
|
|
The drive section strained under the sudden change in thrust. The
|
|
inertial dampers were hard-pressed to keep the ship together. The
|
|
Clarian ship shot by the drive section.
|
|
"Fire all weapons, now!"
|
|
The drive section unloaded everything onto the Clarians' rear. The
|
|
ship shuddered as its rear shield began collapsing. Then, it disappeared.
|
|
"Sensors are still picking it up," Kaal announced. "Apparently their
|
|
cloaking system was damaged."
|
|
"Make them aware of that fact, Mr. Kaal," Data said.
|
|
A single torpedo was fired, impacting on the Clarian vessel.
|
|
"They appear to be heading back to Clari III."
|
|
"Mr. Dhemn, get us there, best possible speed. Bridge to Engineering,
|
|
damage report?"
|
|
*We took a beating from that maneuver, but we're still holding together.
|
|
We can give you warp 3, no higher.*
|
|
"Understood. I only hope the Ambassador will be all right."
|
|
|
|
Part 15
|
|
|
|
Duncan crept into the fortress Sancho Marin was using. After rounding
|
|
a corner and making sure there were no guards, he said, "You can stop
|
|
trying to follow me. You should have known that I could Sense you..."
|
|
Julia sheepishly crept from the shadows.
|
|
"What the hell are you doing here, Julia?"
|
|
"No way was I gonna let you out of my sight, Duncan MacLeod," she said
|
|
in retaliation.
|
|
Suddenly, the pair Sensed someone approaching.
|
|
"Did Richie follow you?" Duncan asked.
|
|
"Not that I know of," Julia answered.
|
|
The pair turned to see Marin approach.
|
|
"Well, Sinor MacLeod...shall we dance?"
|
|
Duncan drew his sword and the pair circled each other.
|
|
*Why did I have to be an Immortal?* Julia thought. *I just wanted to
|
|
be a Starfleet researcher, and now I've got to watch the man I love face
|
|
death yet again!*
|
|
Julia unconciously drew her phaser as Marin and Duncan clashed swords.
|
|
Duncan was forced back until he was close to the edge of the floor. Marin
|
|
swung and Duncan dodged, but lost his balance and fell over the edge.
|
|
Marin cartefully aimed his phaser at Duncan, who was sprawled on the
|
|
ground recovering from the fall. "As much as I would love to take your
|
|
Queekening, eet would be much easier to destroy you."
|
|
"NO!" Julia screamed as she fired on Marin. The phaser blast knocked
|
|
Marin over the edge as well, and watched the battle from above. She knew
|
|
she'd bought Duncan time to recover.
|
|
Duncan rose to his feet first and immediately attacked. Marin was hard-
|
|
pressed to defend himself. Duncan saw Marin draw his phaser, but before
|
|
Marin could fire it, Duncan attacked the phaser with a blow that removed
|
|
Marin's hand.
|
|
Marin's scream alerted the guards, who charged in, guns blazing. This
|
|
distraction gave Marin enough time to activate his communicator.
|
|
"Amigos," he said through gritted teeth, "get me away from here!"
|
|
Marin disappeared in a transporter beam, leaving his allies behind.
|
|
|
|
CAPTAIN'S LOG: Stardate 38434.7. The drive section has rejoined the
|
|
saucer section at Starbase 136. Sancho Marin has escaped, but the Clari-
|
|
ans have signed a peace treaty thanks to Ambassador MacLeod. Ensign
|
|
Cathaway has given her resignation from Starfleet to join the Ambassador
|
|
on his next assignment: overseeing diplomatic relations in the Gamma
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Quadrant. The trio will be transferring to the USS Serties in a few
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hours.
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Captain Picard and Commander Riker entered Transporter Room 5 with
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Duncan, Richie, and Julia Cathaway.
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"Well, I want to thank you for all your help, Captain," Duncan said.
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"The thanks should go to you for your help with the Clarians," Picard
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said.
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Suddenly, Duncan, Julia, and Richie looked a little distant as Guinan
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entered.
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"I should've known I couldn't leave quietly," Richie smirked.
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"Don't flatter yourself, kid," Guinan said flatly, "I'm here to say
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goodbye to Julia."
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Julia and Guinan embraced each other.
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"Take care of the ship, Guinan," Julia whispered.
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"And don't you lose your head over MacLeod," Guinan warned Julia.
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The trio stepped onto the transporter pad.
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"Energize," Duncan said, and with a shimmer of light, they were gone.
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--
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*****************************************************************************
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Prince John III jfm@christa.unh.edu
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Join the Government of New Atlantis...Email me today and ask how!
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"You want it all but you can't have it!" -- Faith No More
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