1571 lines
86 KiB
Plaintext
1571 lines
86 KiB
Plaintext
Path: moe.ksu.ksu.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!hellgate.utah.edu!cc.usu.edu!sll28
|
||
From: sll28@cc.usu.edu (LORNA_PAYNE)
|
||
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
|
||
Subject: BOLDLY IN SHADOW part 1
|
||
Message-ID: <1992Jan13.072438.51762@cc.usu.edu>
|
||
Date: 13 Jan 92 07:24:38 MDT
|
||
Organization: Utah State University
|
||
Lines: 109
|
||
|
||
BOLDLY IN SHADOW
|
||
Chapter 1
|
||
|
||
|
||
"Fire!" said Riker. He looked at his captain's face for what would be
|
||
the last time.
|
||
"Belay that order!" snapped another voice. Riker looked in shock at
|
||
the motley group of people entering the bridge. They were led by Lt. Chalice
|
||
Corey, a theoretical physicist. He didn't know her well; she had kept much to
|
||
herself during her six months on the ship. She had a reputation for being a
|
||
quiet, hard-working scientist. But following her, though--there was a tall,
|
||
dark man wearing Renaissance-like green and black velvet, another in shades of
|
||
blue, a tall woman with flame-like hair in copper-colored armor, and a
|
||
short woman with cloudy dark hair wearing several scraps of orchid-and-silver
|
||
cloth.
|
||
"Corey, what the--What the hell do you think you're doing?"
|
||
"Saving your butts. Hang on. This could get a little rough." She
|
||
raised her arms, closed her eyes, and after a few seconds a brief, grey
|
||
shimmering appeared, and in it, Captain Picard/Locutus. The red-head spoke a
|
||
phrase and immediately he was encased in a shining wall. The taller man
|
||
touched Corey's shoulder. She nodded up at him, and spoke three words.
|
||
The Borg ship exploded. No weapons were fired; no chain reaction
|
||
appeared; it simply blew up.
|
||
"Brace for EM shock wave." said Worf. It hit the next second. As soon
|
||
as everyone had regained their feet (and their composure) Riker turned to
|
||
Corey.
|
||
"Lieutenant, I would like an explanation."
|
||
"Commander, I think you deserve one."
|
||
"In the briefing room, if you please. All of you. Counselor, please
|
||
join us. Data, you have the bridge."
|
||
"Don't touch the captain," ordered the redhead as they all trooped out.
|
||
"Now, Lieutenant. That explanation, if you please."
|
||
Corey took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Commander Riker,
|
||
there's no way the Federation can handle the Borg. They'll eat you alive, and
|
||
you know it."
|
||
Riker said nothing. She continued, "More advanced races have lost to
|
||
them. Ask Guinan. What makes you think you're special?"
|
||
"What do you suggest?"
|
||
"You need our help."
|
||
"Who or what are you? Why should you want to help?" Carefully, he
|
||
lowered himself into the captain's seat. "And what did you do to the Borg
|
||
ship?"
|
||
"Taking your questions one at a time," Corey replied, also sitting
|
||
down, "My name is Chalice, and I am a Princess in Amber. These people are
|
||
members of my family: Merlin, Fiona, Mandrake, and Clarissa. I brought them
|
||
here to help me; the job is rather too large for just one of us. Besides, the
|
||
family that plays together, stays together.
|
||
"We want to help because we have a particular fondness for this Shadow.
|
||
We like humans. We like Romulans and Talosians and Vulcans and Betazoids and
|
||
even Klingons."
|
||
"What about Ferengi?" Riker asked.
|
||
"Don't push your luck," she shot right back. Then she smiled. "But we
|
||
don't like Borg, or their kind. As for what I did to them, well, let's just
|
||
call that one of my nastier tricks. It's rather a difficult spell to use, but
|
||
the results are worth it."
|
||
"Spells?" asked Deanna. "You mean you used magic?"
|
||
"In a manner of speaking, yes. I'm a sorceress. We're all sorcerers.
|
||
Does that bother you?" She smiled charmingly.
|
||
"Whether it bothers us or not is not the point. We've seen what your
|
||
'magic' can do. What are you going to do now? I presume you have some sort of
|
||
plan."
|
||
"Well, yes. Wasn't it Knute Rockne who said 'the best defence is a
|
||
good offence'? We're going to attack the Borg home planet."
|
||
Riker stood. "Are you crazy?"
|
||
Merlin smiled. "No one has ever accused this family of excessive
|
||
sanity." Corey's family seemed to be getting restive.
|
||
"Is Luke done yet?" Fiona said.
|
||
"Ask him," said Mandrake.
|
||
Fiona pulled out a group of cards--to Riker they appeared similar to
|
||
the Tarot deck--and selected one. The others watched as she gazed into it and
|
||
then, with a rainbow-like shimmering, another man appeared in the room,
|
||
clasping Fiona's hand. "Hello, Auntie," he said and kissed her cheek. Then he
|
||
sat down and put on his shoes, which he had been holding.
|
||
"Was it nice?" said Merlin blandly.
|
||
Luke was not put off. "Wonderful," he grinned. He ran his fingers
|
||
through his disordered hair and tucked in his shirttails.
|
||
"As I was about to say," Chalice continued impatiently, "We've won the
|
||
Federation a bit of time. I know you still have lots of questions, and I'll be
|
||
glad to answer them, but they'll have to wait just a bit.
|
||
"You've seen a sample of what we can do. We of Amber are going to
|
||
eradicate the Borg. What we need to know is whether you want to be in on it or
|
||
not?"
|
||
"Count us in."
|
||
"Good."
|
||
"But I can't speak for Starfleet Command."
|
||
"I understand. If at any time, for any reason, you want out, just say
|
||
so and we'll turn back."
|
||
The intercom beeped. "Laforge to Riker."
|
||
"Riker here. What is it, Geordi?"
|
||
"We've got some pretty strange things going on down in the
|
||
shuttlecraft bay."
|
||
"Oh, those are our ships, Commander." Chalice said.
|
||
Riker nodded. "It's all right. The owners will be down to collect
|
||
them soon."
|
||
As they left the briefing room, Riker asked, "What if we meet more Borg
|
||
on the way?"
|
||
"I'll deal with them."
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
--
|
||
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Lorna Payne
|
||
Certified Math Geek and Grammarian
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Heisenberg may have been here . . . but it's not certain.
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
|
||
Path: moe.ksu.ksu.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!agate!dog.ee.lbl.gov!hellgate.utah.edu!cc.usu.edu!sll28
|
||
From: sll28@cc.usu.edu (LORNA_PAYNE)
|
||
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
|
||
Subject: BOLDLY IN SHADOW part 2
|
||
Message-ID: <1992Jan14.072838.51800@cc.usu.edu>
|
||
Date: 14 Jan 92 07:28:37 MDT
|
||
Organization: Utah State University
|
||
Lines: 171
|
||
|
||
BOLDLY IN SHADOW
|
||
Chapter 2
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Inside of the Shuttlecraft Hangar were four of the strangest ships Riker
|
||
had ever seen. The strangers exchanged casual, almost cool farewells among
|
||
each other, and all but Merlin went to their ships, Mandrake and Clarissa going
|
||
together. One by one, three of the four ships went up the the Bay and launched
|
||
into space.
|
||
Merlin looked down at Chalice. "I'm damned if I'm leaving with a
|
||
handshake," he said and gathered her into a voracious embrace. When he
|
||
released her and strode to his green-and-black miniature bird-of-prey, she was
|
||
gasping for breath.
|
||
In response to Riker's bemused expression, Lt. Corey replied weakly,
|
||
"We're a close family."
|
||
"I don't suppose you'd care to tell us more about them."
|
||
"Why not? The cat's out of the bag already." They went to her
|
||
quarters. Riker and Troi were shocked at the richness of the room. Comfort
|
||
was expected, but not Unicorn tapestries and two-meter long jade dragons.
|
||
They all sat down and made themselves comfortable--extremely
|
||
comfortable. A scent tickled Riker's nose. He wasn't sure if it was flowers
|
||
or incense, but it was very nice. With an effort he brought himself back to
|
||
business.
|
||
"First question. What do we do about the Captain?"
|
||
She thought for a moment and finally said, "I suppose you should take
|
||
him to Sickbay. Commander Data, Commander Laforge, and Doctor Crusher can see
|
||
what they can do for him. He's in stasis for an indefinite period of time, so
|
||
the ship is in no danger from him."
|
||
"What if there's nothing we can do?"
|
||
"Captain Picard is in no danger, either. It's perfectly safe to leave
|
||
him in stasis until we can help him."
|
||
Riker gave the necessary orders.
|
||
"You were going to tell us about your family," Deanna said.
|
||
"Yes. I suppose it all begins with my brother Oberon. He's dead now.
|
||
I think. In fact, he died before I was born. Oberon was king in Amber."
|
||
"What, exactly, is Amber?" Riker asked.
|
||
"It's a rather special place. I may take you there someday.
|
||
"Anyhow, Oberon was married about five times and had nobody-knows how
|
||
many mistresses. All told, he had about twenty children. Fiona is one. These
|
||
princes and princesses spent centuries feuding and plotting and eventually
|
||
succeeded in killing almost all of each other off. The Castle is almost empty
|
||
now. Let's see: Merlin is Prince Corwin's son, Luke is Benedict's son, and
|
||
Clarissa is Flora's daughter, but she was adopted by Fiona. Nobody knows where
|
||
she found Mandrake. Who else?--oh, Martin. He's King Random's son. Merlin,
|
||
by the way, is also my husband."
|
||
"You married your own great-nephew?"
|
||
"Like I said, it's a close family." Chalice replied, grinning.
|
||
"Really, though, intra-family liasons are not all that common. We usually go a
|
||
little farther afield."
|
||
"And you're all sorcerers," Riker said.
|
||
"Oh, no. Just a few of us. Me, Merlin, Fiona, Clarissa, Luke.
|
||
Mandrake and Martin are just along for moral support."
|
||
"By the way," Riker said carefully, "what's your lifespan?"
|
||
Chalice laughed. "I was wondering if you'd catch that. Virtually
|
||
immortal. I spend a lot of time dodging Dr. Crusher. It didn't get bad until
|
||
about forty years ago. Since then diagnostic techniques have gotten
|
||
sophisticated enough to pinpoint that I'm not exactly human."
|
||
"So, Lieutenant, what is the plan you and your family have developed to
|
||
save the Federation?"
|
||
"Well, Commander--Captain?" Riker indicated that it didn't matter which
|
||
rank she used, "right now it's a little fuzzy. I will pilot the Enterprise to
|
||
the rendezvous point--" She broke off and a furrow appeared between her eyes.
|
||
"What's wrong, Chalice?" Deanna asked.
|
||
"I just realized--a warp six hellride. Zowie." Seeing their
|
||
confusion, she smiled and said, "You don't understand. That's okay. You will
|
||
soon enough.
|
||
"So. Everyone else is off gathering armadas from various other
|
||
Shadows. We'll meet up and attack the Borg, and, hopefully, drive them back
|
||
where they came from."
|
||
Deanna got up to take a closer look at the unicorn tapestry. It looked
|
||
genuine. She hadn't suffered through that minor in Art History for nothin.
|
||
But it wasn't like any other similar work she'd ever seen before. "That's the
|
||
second time you've mentioned Shadows, Chalice," she said. "What do you mean by
|
||
that?"
|
||
"Shadows are different realities; different universes. As one who has
|
||
walked the Pattern of Amber, I have the power to travel between different
|
||
Shadows. And I can take others with me.
|
||
"Commander, your biggest problem with the Borg is that they assimilate
|
||
and adapt to new technology so quickly, right?"
|
||
"Right," he said cautiously.
|
||
"So we want to hit them so quickly, and with so many different
|
||
technologies, all at once, that they won't stand a chance.
|
||
"But now, sir, i really need to rest up. I've got a warp six hellride
|
||
coming, and a lot of spells to hang."
|
||
"What course should we set?"
|
||
"It really doesn't matter. I should stop and effect whatever repairs
|
||
you can do in, say, six hours."
|
||
|
||
As they returned to the bridge, Riker asked Deanna for her advice.
|
||
"I'd trust her. I like Chalice--she's smart and honest. She's been
|
||
evasive about some things, but now we know why. And she really does know what
|
||
she's doing. I'd stake the Sacred Chalice of Reeks on it."
|
||
"I'm still not happy about it."
|
||
"Well, then, Will, think about it this way. What better options do we
|
||
have right now?"
|
||
|
||
Six hours later, Chalice took her place at the Com station.
|
||
"Is there anything we need to do to prepare for this?" Riker said.
|
||
"Just sit back and enjoy the ride."
|
||
"All right, then. Mr. Crusher, ahead warp factor six."
|
||
"Warp factor six, sir."
|
||
At first nothing unusual happened. After about ten minutes, though,
|
||
Data reported that he could not state the ship's location. Then an unfamiliar
|
||
nebula appeared off the starboard bow. An asteroid field of giant rough
|
||
diamonds flashed by, and they skirted around a cluster of seven stars orbiting
|
||
each other so closely they sucked matter from their neighbors.
|
||
Space slowly lightened to a deep emerald green. A blue whale swam
|
||
lazily by and waved at them.
|
||
"Captain, that whale is travelling at warp factor six-point-two," Data
|
||
said.
|
||
Riker took a deep breath. He was getting less and less sure of what
|
||
he'd let the ship in for. Next to him, Shelby was staring at him, silently
|
||
urging him to go back to sane behavior.
|
||
Chalice sat back. "Follow the whale, Wes," she said. He did and they
|
||
went through the deepening blue space after the animal. Space continued to
|
||
change colors around them: from sapphire it darkened into violet, then purple,
|
||
wine, and finally crimson.
|
||
"Data," asked Shelby, "what do sensors show about the coloration around
|
||
us?"
|
||
"We are passing through a field of photons with uniform frequencies,
|
||
Commander. There is no danger to the ship."
|
||
"I see," she said, leaning back. Maybe, Riker thought, she was unhappy
|
||
that they weren't in more danger.
|
||
As the first hint of yellow lightened the sky, Chalice said, "Take us
|
||
on a heading of 1.57 mark zero."
|
||
Obediently, the ship shot nearly vertically out of the photon field,
|
||
and space was black around them once more.
|
||
"Rear view on auxiliary screen," Riker said. "Let's see where we've
|
||
been." On the small screen appeared a rainbow weaving like a drunken ribbon
|
||
through space. "Do you suppose if we followed it we'd find a pot of gold?" he
|
||
murmered to Deanna. She smiled. "By the way, is there anything out there
|
||
sensors aren't reading?"
|
||
"Nothing I can't pick up. I'll keep you posted--there!"
|
||
Riker looked at the main screen.
|
||
Across the deep blackness of space cut a strip of flat blackness.
|
||
"Worf," he snapped, "what is that?"
|
||
"Sensors show nothing there."
|
||
"There's something there, all right."
|
||
"Does your Betazoid ESP tell you that?" Shelby asked.
|
||
"No, my human gut instinct."
|
||
"I know what you mean," Riker said. "What is that, Chalice?"
|
||
"The Black Road. It's probably how the Borg got into your Shadow."
|
||
"What do you mean, into *our* Shadow?"
|
||
"They aren't native to your galaxy, or even your universe. They're
|
||
from a nearby Shadow, where life is considerably--different--from yours.
|
||
"Steer around the Road, Wesley."
|
||
They avoided it with ease. A giant teacup powered with steam flashed
|
||
past them.
|
||
"They're from a different Shadow? But they look humanoid."
|
||
"A lot of Shadows have humanoids, Captain Riker." A school of
|
||
kilometer-long space jellyfish gambolod across their path.
|
||
"Data, as soon as sensors show a ring nebula with exceptionally strong
|
||
ouput in the 4.5 MHz range, let me know. We should be there soon."
|
||
Within three minutes Data reported finding the nebula in question. As
|
||
they approached it, sensors showed a large number of ships in the immediate
|
||
vicinity, of several varietes, none of them known to the Federation.
|
||
|
||
|
||
with steam flashed by.
|
||
|
||
|
||
--
|
||
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Lorna Payne
|
||
Certified Math Geek and Grammarian
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Heisenberg may have been here . . . but it's not certain.
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
|
||
Path: moe.ksu.ksu.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!hellgate.utah.edu!cc.usu.edu!sll28
|
||
From: sll28@cc.usu.edu (LORNA_PAYNE)
|
||
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
|
||
Subject: BOLDLY IN SHADOW part 3
|
||
Message-ID: <1992Jan15.091449.51831@cc.usu.edu>
|
||
Date: 15 Jan 92 09:14:49 MDT
|
||
Organization: Utah State University
|
||
Lines: 192
|
||
|
||
|
||
BOLDLY IN SHADOW
|
||
Chapter 3
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
"Captain, we are being hailed," Worf said.
|
||
"On visual."
|
||
Merlin's face appeared on the screen. "What took you so long? You're
|
||
the last to arrive."
|
||
"We only had to come twice as far as all the others." Chalice replied.
|
||
"Is the Council ready?"
|
||
"Ready and waiting." Merlin gave the co-ordinates, deep in the heart of
|
||
a spherical black battle station.
|
||
Riker stood. "Shelby, Data, Deanna, and Geordi, come with me. Worf,
|
||
you have the conn. After you, Your Highness." The Away Team followed Chalice
|
||
to Transporter room three.
|
||
When they materialized Riker noticed three things at once: first, the
|
||
room they were in was cheerfully decorated in shades of black, grey, and silver;
|
||
second, the alien commander was either an android or else he wore some kind of
|
||
grotesque black mask which filtered his breathing; and third, Chalice had
|
||
changed her clothes during the transport. She now wore a Renaissance-style
|
||
gown of crimson velvet with lavish silver embroidery and pearls.
|
||
Merlin bowed gracefully; the alien officers went to their knees.
|
||
Chalice stepped forward and took her husband's proffered arm. The alien
|
||
commander rose and joined the Enterprise team.
|
||
The corridors continued the battle stations sunny decorating scheme.
|
||
And honor guard of officers in grey or black uniforms and crew in white
|
||
armor lined their route.
|
||
The councis room was circular, fifteen meters in diameter, and (of
|
||
course) had black walls, floor, and furnishings. The ceiling only was white
|
||
with elaborate geometric moldings. The round table was nearly full. Two seats
|
||
were empty at the far side, clearly intended for the sorcerers, since the
|
||
other people of Amber were grouped together there. The huge man in the mask
|
||
took his place with two other men wearing the grey uniform of the station. A
|
||
wide variety of alen beings, some humanoid, some not, filled the room. Half a
|
||
dozen small orange scaly humanoids sat next to two cylindrical shapes topped
|
||
by domes and a variety of metal limbs. An android, far more primitive than
|
||
Data, slumped in a chair, ignored by everyone.
|
||
Chalice and Merlin took their seats. Three seats near the bottom of
|
||
the table remained empty; Riker, Shelby, and Troi took them. Data and
|
||
LaForge stood.
|
||
Chalice spoke first. "We welcome all of you here and acknowledge
|
||
the inconvenience and effort you have made to join this fleet. We wish to
|
||
thank Governor Ginalt for the use of this station as a meeting place. I am
|
||
sure there is no question in your minds about why we are here today.
|
||
"Some of you have encountered the Borg before, and have suffered
|
||
because of it. Others have only seen the destruction they they wrought."
|
||
The android muttered, "High time somebody did the job." The man at
|
||
Chalice's left, who wore a black leather jacket, a studded collar, three
|
||
earrings, and blue hair, threw a paperweight at him. It bounced harmlessly
|
||
off the android's metal body.
|
||
"Shut up, Marvin," the man said.
|
||
Chalice continued, "We acknowledge all your contributions to this war.
|
||
The purpose of this council is to formulate our strategy. Captain Riker and
|
||
Commanders Shelby, Data, and LaForge are our resident experts on the Borg.
|
||
Captain, will you fill in the rest of the group?"
|
||
Riker cleared his throat and stood. "Yes, of course. The Federation
|
||
first encountered the Borg several months ago . . . ." Succinctly the four of
|
||
them told of their encounters. When they were done, one of the metal beings
|
||
intoned "This information comes from Humans. Humans are inferior beings.
|
||
Daleks require more accurate information." Riker decided he didn't like
|
||
Daleks much. But he said, "We will gladly send you the complete files in our
|
||
computers."
|
||
"I trust that will be acceptable, Dalek," Chalice said. "I personally
|
||
vouch for the records accuracy."
|
||
"That is acceptable."
|
||
"Are there any more question?" Chalice said. "Good. The Borg's most
|
||
formidible attribute is the skill with which they adapt to new technologies.
|
||
You each get one chance at them, and then you must fall back. After one shot,
|
||
they will have analyzed your weaponry and capabilites, offensive and defencive,
|
||
and they'll cut you up like rice paper. After one shot, you fall back. One of
|
||
us will guide the survivors back home.
|
||
"The Enterprise has already had her shot. She stays at the rear of the
|
||
fleet to act as a command center. It shouldn't be too hard to find the Borg,
|
||
either. All we need to do is to follow the Black Road and they will find us.
|
||
"Our main task here is to fix the batting order, as it were. Who wants
|
||
to go first?"
|
||
"The honor of the Empire demands that we have the premier place," said
|
||
the dessicated man next to the Mask.
|
||
"Very will, Governor Ginalt. The Death Star may have that honor. Who
|
||
will be next?"
|
||
"The Daleks" and "The Sontaran Centurions" were spoken simultaneously.
|
||
"The Borg will be exterminated," continued the Dalek alone. "The Sontarans do
|
||
not follow the Daleks in anything," insisted a stubby humanoid in a silver suit.
|
||
"Very well. The Daleks and the Sontarans may attack together. Who
|
||
next?"
|
||
"We will!! We will!! We will die gloriously in the service of Amber!!"
|
||
shouted the little orange guys who had barely restrained themselves up to now.
|
||
"I don't think that's wise," said Luke. "We will have had two direct
|
||
attacks; the third encounter should be more--subtle. Storkey, you're number
|
||
three."
|
||
A humanoid who bore a strong resemblance to a Tellarite with mange
|
||
nodded, spat, and scratched vigorously as if for fleas. Admiral Ginalt
|
||
looked pained.
|
||
"After that, the Kanossians may demonstrate their loyalty to Amber,"
|
||
Chalice decided. They jumped up and down in glee. Riker wondered if they were
|
||
going to turn somersaults on the polished table. "Marvin, you're number five on
|
||
the hit parade."
|
||
"Don't you mean hit list?" Marvin mumbled.
|
||
Chalice turned to Merlin. "How are the nanites going?"
|
||
"Pretty well. Luke has been doing some refinements on them."
|
||
"They've gobbled up everything we've thrown at them and begged for
|
||
more," Luke said.
|
||
"Pity you couldn't try them on Marvin," Mandrake muttered. Smiles
|
||
passed around the table.
|
||
"Here I sit, brain the size of a planet, and listen to insults. Life.
|
||
Don't talk to me about life," Marvin complained.
|
||
"Merlin, is Ghost ready?" Chalice said, ignoring the distractions.
|
||
"He's working on it."
|
||
"What's the problem?"
|
||
"Well, the Shadows we want are all either too close to Amber for comfort
|
||
or else way off near Chaos."
|
||
"And?"
|
||
"And Ghost doesn't like messing with either one."
|
||
"Tell him he'd better find a place soon or we'll send them to him. His
|
||
Shadow is perfectly adequate for our needs."
|
||
"Chalice . . ." Merlin said calmly.
|
||
"What?"
|
||
"Treating him that way doesn't work. He might just go off and sulk.
|
||
What good will that do us?"
|
||
"Just make sure he's ready when we need him."
|
||
"With all due respect," asked Shelby, "Just what do you people plan on
|
||
doing? Leading the cheering section?"
|
||
Several of the nobles of Amber turned imperious glares on her. Fiona
|
||
seemed about to speak, but Merlin forestalled her.
|
||
"There's no guarantee that any of you will succeed. Nevertheless,
|
||
this mission must not fail. We," he raised his arms, indicating his family,
|
||
"will be nearby at all times; if one attack fails, then we will step in and
|
||
use our powers. Frankly, we hope we're just leading the cheering section."
|
||
"I don't see why--"
|
||
"Because a) there are only a few of us; b) in the short term our
|
||
powers are limited; and, c) if any of us die, then some of you don't go home.
|
||
If you don't want to be stranded forever in a strange shadow, I suggest you
|
||
not argue."
|
||
Shelby opened her mouth but no words came out. Her hands went to her
|
||
throat. Deanna stood and looked at the Mask. "Let her go," she said.
|
||
Mask waved a finger negligently and Shelby could breathe again.
|
||
"My apologies, Commander," Admiral Ginalt said. "Lord Vader is
|
||
sometimes a little . . . impatient . . . with those who lack a proper respect
|
||
for authority."
|
||
"My apologies," Riker replied. "Commander Shelby meant no real
|
||
disrespect."
|
||
Chalice inclined her head. "Apology accepted, Commander. I believe
|
||
this council stands adjourned."
|
||
|
||
|
||
Back on the Enterprise, Riker ordered the other members of the away
|
||
team to prepare full reports on what they had seen, hears, or otherwise
|
||
learned aboard the Death Star. (Data simply downloaded his short-term
|
||
memory into the main computer).
|
||
The fleet followed the Black Road. As they progressed, it expanded
|
||
until it stretched out as far as sensors could show. The Black Road became
|
||
a Black Plane.
|
||
They had not been underway when the first Borg Cubeship appeared.
|
||
The Death Star moved forward, away from the fleet. The Borg Cube
|
||
stopped, and the two ships hung motionless for several minutes. "Data, check
|
||
all frequencies. What are they saying?" Shelby said.
|
||
"There are no communications between the two ships."
|
||
"I suppost they're doing the same initial surveillance they did to us.
|
||
They've probably beamed somebody over to learn the technology."
|
||
"Well, Ginalt had better not wait. The Borg learn awfully fas--"
|
||
Riker was remarking when eight blue beams leapt out of the crater in the
|
||
station's hull. They met, and in a Newtonian collision pattern, one huge beam
|
||
surged toward the Borg ship.
|
||
The Borg ships collapsed almost immediately, and in seconds the ship was
|
||
nothing but dust rejoining the interstellar matter out of which it had come.
|
||
Data's cool voice cut through the cheers on the bridge. "Captain, the
|
||
Borg ship let off a high-energy burst .2 seconds before their destruction."
|
||
"A communications packet?"
|
||
"It seems likely."
|
||
"Direction?"
|
||
"1.7 mark 1.41"
|
||
"Straight back up the road," Shelby murmured. "Can we intercept?"
|
||
"Negative. The packet's speed was warp 9.87. It is now beyond sensor
|
||
range."
|
||
"Then they'll be warned," said Riker.
|
||
Chalice opened hailing frequencies. "Attention, all ships. The Borg
|
||
have been warned of our presence. Death Star, assume new position. All ships,
|
||
full speed ahead." She closed the curcuit, leaned back, and added grimly,
|
||
"Into the Valley of Death rode the six hundred."
|
||
|
||
|
||
--
|
||
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Lorna Payne
|
||
Certified Math Geek and Grammarian
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Heisenberg may have been here . . . but it's not certain.
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
|
||
Path: moe.ksu.ksu.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!hellgate.utah.edu!cc.usu.edu!sll28
|
||
From: sll28@cc.usu.edu (LORNA_PAYNE)
|
||
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
|
||
Subject: BOLDLY IN SHADOW part 4
|
||
Message-ID: <1992Jan17.083623.51886@cc.usu.edu>
|
||
Date: 17 Jan 92 08:36:21 MDT
|
||
Organization: Utah State University
|
||
Lines: 252
|
||
|
||
BOLDLY IN SHADOW
|
||
|
||
CHAPTER 4
|
||
|
||
|
||
The fleet had barely assumed its new formation when the next Borg ship
|
||
approached. Immediately the Sontaran battle fleet, followed closely by the
|
||
hemispherical Dalek cruiser, attacked.
|
||
Disruptor beams flashed back and forth; the Sontaran beams splashed
|
||
harmlessly into the Borg shields. Then the Enterprise screen was filled with
|
||
the glare of explosions.
|
||
"What is that?" Riker asked.
|
||
"The Sontarans are overloading their engines and charging the Borg
|
||
ship," Data answered.
|
||
"They're turning themselves into antimatter torpedoes," Wesley added.
|
||
"Best use for them," Merlin muttered.
|
||
"Borg sheilds remain at 100 percent efficiency," reported Data. "The
|
||
Sontaran fleet is completely eliminated."
|
||
Chalice was holding a card and seemed to be talking to it as if it
|
||
were a communication device. "Fiona, you're up." She listened intently and
|
||
nodded, passed her hand over the face of the card and was about to address
|
||
Riker when another explosion occured.
|
||
"The Dalek ship has been eliminated, sir," Worf reported.
|
||
"Captain Riker, withdraw--maximum speed."
|
||
"Why?"
|
||
"No time to explain. Just do it."
|
||
"Wesley, get us out of here. Best possible speed."
|
||
"Aye, sir." As the ship pulled away Riker ordered 360 degree view on
|
||
the main screen. The picture split, with the center still showing forward,
|
||
while around it were views at other angles. Chalice gripped the railing and
|
||
concentrated on the center picture, while around them the rest of the fleet
|
||
fled in different directions.
|
||
The Borg ship disappeared. At nearly the same moment the ship was
|
||
wrenched backwards by a tremendous force, which was all Riker was aware of
|
||
in the moments before he blacked out.
|
||
|
||
|
||
Something was itching near his nose. Riker reached up to scratch and
|
||
he realized that it was carpet. He blinked and tried to sit up. That wasn't
|
||
a good idea. Waves of dizziness and nausea rolled over him. Hands helped him
|
||
to a standing position, and it took him a moment to place them. Worf and Data.
|
||
Solahr and the Coreys were also walking. Several people (Ensigns
|
||
Torres and Gomez, as well as young Crusher) were still groping towards
|
||
consciousness. Deanna was still out, as were Geordi and whats-his-name at
|
||
Environmental, but Shelby was awake. And looking none too happy about it.
|
||
She slouched in her chair, her head in her hands.
|
||
He touched her shoulder as he sat down. "Shelby. How're you feeling?"
|
||
"I think I had a hangover this bad. Once." Selahr administered a
|
||
hypo.
|
||
"Then you've got a stronger head than I do." It was his turn for a
|
||
shot. It took a few seconds before he started feeling better--better being a
|
||
strictly relative term. "Data, Lt. Corey, report. What the hell happened?
|
||
Shelby, I need to know the ship's condition."
|
||
Data responded first. "According to our instruments, we encountered
|
||
a sudden gravitational force. Instruments have not yet succeded in measuring
|
||
it accurately."
|
||
"Source?"
|
||
"It would seem to have been the Borg ship."
|
||
"Chalice? What did your cousin do?"
|
||
"Niece. Fiona, it would seem, planted a singularity in the core of the
|
||
ship."
|
||
"She what?"
|
||
"See why we want to keep our intervention to a minimum?"
|
||
"But at that distance, going that velocity, we shouldn't have escaped,"
|
||
he objected.
|
||
Data interrupted their discussion. "Our instruments are not very
|
||
illuminating. Different sensors show contradictory data."
|
||
"We weren't exactly at that distance, going that speed," Chalice
|
||
explained. "I had just started to shift shadow. That must have given us the
|
||
push we needed to slingshot around the singularity."
|
||
"So where are we now?"
|
||
"Unknown," Data said, and limped off.
|
||
"You got me," Chalice answered. "Merlin's working on that one now."
|
||
"Shelby, what kind of shape are we in?"
|
||
"Warp engines are offline again. Impulse power is only at forty
|
||
percent efficiency, but steady. The entire crew, with the exception of
|
||
Data was unconscious for between eighty and ninety minutes, but there are
|
||
no serious injuries."
|
||
"Thanks. Data, you were awake? What happened?"
|
||
The android looked at his hands. The left-hand fingers twitched
|
||
slightly. "I find it difficult to explain, sir."
|
||
"Are you all right, Data?" asked the now-awake Troi.
|
||
"Negative, Counsellor. I, too, am operating at lessened efficiency."
|
||
Riker hit his communicator. "Bridge to Engineering. Geordi, what's
|
||
the problem?"
|
||
"I can't say, sir. I've tried rerouting power, boosting the
|
||
generators, everything short of scrubbing the cables. The power's just not
|
||
there--the whole system's at about forty percent."
|
||
Chalice cleared her throat. Riker nodded and signed off. "What is
|
||
it, Lieutenant?"
|
||
"We've got it figured out."
|
||
"And?"
|
||
"And you're not going to like it," Merlin said.
|
||
"I already don't like it."
|
||
"Well, Chalice had started to shift shadow when the gravity well
|
||
grabbed us . . ."
|
||
"Tell me something I don't know," he snapped. His head had
|
||
subsided to the level of a moderately bad volcanic eruption.
|
||
Merlin stiffened, but a nudge from Chalice kept him talking.
|
||
" . . . and I gave us a little extra kick before I went under. We've
|
||
ended up in a different shadow, one where certain chemical and electro-
|
||
magnetic processes operate under different rules." He smiled pleasantly.
|
||
"You mean they don't work."
|
||
"Correction, Captain," Data interrupted. "They appear to operate,
|
||
but at lessened efficiency."
|
||
"Can your friends get us out?"
|
||
Merlin grinned this time. "I've been unable to make contact with any
|
||
of them. Which means they can't talk to us, they won't talk to us, or that
|
||
the signal isn't getting through."
|
||
"We think it's the third thing." Chalice added.
|
||
"What you mean is that we're on our own."
|
||
"That's correct."
|
||
"And you two are nothing more than inconvenient passengers."
|
||
"With all due respect, Captain, Merlin is an inconvenient passenger.
|
||
I am a duly commisssioned Starfleet officer."
|
||
Shelby seemed about to respond to this statement, but Riker forestalled
|
||
her. "Acknowledged, Lieutenant. Can you and the 'inconvenient passenger' find
|
||
a way out of here?"
|
||
"We'll work on it."
|
||
Riker turned to Troi. "Can you sense anything?"
|
||
She shook her head as if to clear it. "Quite a bit, actually. The
|
||
conditions which make it hard for the computers seem to make things easier for
|
||
me. The crew is responding well, all things considered, to this situation. I
|
||
sense no other life around us, however. In fact, we may be the only living
|
||
things in this entire universe."
|
||
Riker felt a faint twinge of unease. To be the only living things in
|
||
an entire universe was not an honor he had ever craved. "Right. Chalice--"
|
||
"Pizza, anyone?" Merlin said, holding a green-and-gold box with strange
|
||
characters printed on it.
|
||
"Where did you get that?"
|
||
"Well, like the engines, it seems our magic works, but at a reduced
|
||
level. I've never worked so hard for a pizza in my life. Beer, that's another
|
||
story." Sure enough, several bottles sat on the floor near his feet.
|
||
"Logrus works, then?" Chalice asked.
|
||
"Seems to. But it's hard, like reaching through granite."
|
||
"Then Pattern magic should work."
|
||
"Should." Merlin opened the box. "Ugh. Anchovies, fried eggs, and--
|
||
prunes?" He closed the box again. "Last time I order from these guys."
|
||
"We should be able to shift shadow."
|
||
"You want to go back to the battle?"
|
||
"No. We couldn't do any good there. But we could find out what hap-
|
||
pened, and take care of Captain Picard."
|
||
"Home?"
|
||
Chalice nodded, and the two magicians conferred for a few minutes.
|
||
Worf sniffed the discarded pizza and, apparently deciding it was to his liking,
|
||
set it aside for later consumption. The magicians reached a decision, and
|
||
Chalice said, "Captain Riker, we aren't inconvenient after all."
|
||
He took a deep breath. Here we go again, he thought. "Briefing room,
|
||
please, everyone."
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
CHAPTER 5
|
||
|
||
Once the senior oficers were assembled, Chalice outlined the plan.
|
||
The Enterprise and the magicians would combine their energies to find a class-M
|
||
planet. A small party would then beam down with Captain Picard (still in
|
||
stasis) and would travel to Amber, where they could heal Picard and discover the
|
||
fate of the Borg and the rest of the armada. Then they would return to the
|
||
ship, and Chalice would conduct the Enterprise back to the Federation.
|
||
"Why do you want to find a planet?" asked Shelby.
|
||
Chalice and Merlin looked at each other, and Riker could almost see
|
||
them mentally scratching their heads. Clearly this question had never come
|
||
up before. "Theoretically, we don't," Merlin said finally. "But it's much
|
||
easier that way: the more similar the surroundings are when we start, the
|
||
faster the trip."
|
||
"And if your plan doesn't work?"
|
||
"You'll be no worse off than you are now."
|
||
"What about the Borg?" Shelby clearly didn't like the idea of more
|
||
shadow-shifting and other magic. In fact, it was obvious she didn't like
|
||
anything about how this mission had turned out.
|
||
"As soon as we can contact someone else, we'll know," Merlin replied.
|
||
His temper was beginning to wear a little short, too.
|
||
"You'll excuse us if we're not overly confident in you."
|
||
Merlin stood. "Captain Riker," he said, turning his back on Shelby,
|
||
"you are in the service of the Royal House of Amber. It's not your place to
|
||
express confidence or the lack of it."
|
||
"Ours is not to reason why?" Riker asked.
|
||
"My father was in the Charge of the Light Brigade; he was one of the
|
||
handful of survivors." Merlin replied, sitting down again.
|
||
"So, Captain," Chalice remarked, "if you would instruct Commander
|
||
LaForge to move the ship, we'll start the job."
|
||
|
||
Somewhat disgruntled, the officers resumed their bridge positions.
|
||
"What do you think of your friend Chalice now?" muttered Riker to Troi.
|
||
"*I* have confidence in them," she answered. "Even though this has
|
||
not worked out at all as they had hoped, they are still sure of their ability
|
||
to handle whatever comes up. I think they're used to surprises.
|
||
"And, Will, don't worry about the ship. Their number-one goal is to
|
||
get the Enterprise and all of her crew home safely."
|
||
The ship moved forward at a snail's crawl. This time, it seemed to
|
||
be Merlin guiding their course. At first it appeared difficult, even for him.
|
||
After about twenty minutes, a bright blue nebula appeared off the port bow. It
|
||
took the ship another ten minutes to reach and enter it. "Go towards the
|
||
yellow spot, Wesley," Merlin said.
|
||
"What yellow spot?"
|
||
"Look for sodium traces," Chalice said. A narrow tongue of gas,
|
||
slightly greener than the surrounding cloud, snaked near them. Wesley
|
||
followed the vein, which got yellower and yellower.
|
||
As he did so, the whole atmosphere changed subtly. The lights seemed
|
||
brighter, the sounds clearer. Riker's headache finally cleared away completely.
|
||
"Captain Riker, the engine room reports that we have eighty-five
|
||
percent impulse power," the Ensign Gomez said.
|
||
"Thank you. Data, how are you?"
|
||
"I am operating at full efficiency atain, sir."
|
||
"Glad to hear it. Mr. Crusher, begin scanning for potential systems."
|
||
"Not quite yet, Captain," Chalice said. "We're close, but we aren't
|
||
to the shadow we need yet. Keep going until we hit familiar space. Then halt.
|
||
Whatever you do, maintain radio silence.
|
||
"Merlin is going to work with the Ghostwheel to find the exact shadow
|
||
we want. If Ghost feels like cooperating. Keep going, Wes."
|
||
"Forward half-speed, Ensign," Riker said. This whole thing was really
|
||
starting to get to him, too. Pressure on his arm made him look over at Troi.
|
||
"Let's talk." she murmured.
|
||
"Commander Shelby, you have the bridge." He led the way back to the
|
||
briefing room; he couldn't stomach the thought of using the Ready Room as his
|
||
own. "Well, Deanna? What's on your mind?"
|
||
"Plenty. While we were in that 'shadow', I told you that my senses
|
||
were heightened."
|
||
"And did you learn anything of interest?" he said, not hiding his lack
|
||
of interest.
|
||
"I had a glimpse into the minds of Chalice and Merlin. Will, you have
|
||
no idea how powerful these beings are; they manipulate reality the way we do
|
||
computer programs."
|
||
"Like the Q?"
|
||
"Not as fast or as showy, maybe, but yes. And on a much vaster scale.
|
||
And not so arbitrarily, either, thank the Rings of Betazed."
|
||
"You mean they could do what Q does?"
|
||
"They could do--anything. I got the strong impression that Merlin
|
||
would rather enjoy turning Shelby into a coatrack."
|
||
"I'll keep her busy."
|
||
"One other thing, Will. I also got a whiff of . . . well, you could
|
||
call it precognition."
|
||
"You saw the future?"
|
||
"Futures. Not so much 'saw,' as . . ." She sighed. "Damn, it's hard
|
||
to describe. I got an impression of an incredibly twisted, convoluted set of
|
||
paths, branching and connecting in uncountably many combinations. And if
|
||
those two are heading for the path I think they are, we're in for some fun."
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
--
|
||
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Lorna Payne
|
||
Certified Math Geek and Grammarian
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Heisenberg may have been here . . . but it's not certain.
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
|
||
Path: moe.ksu.ksu.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!hellgate.utah.edu!cc.usu.edu!sll28
|
||
From: sll28@cc.usu.edu (LORNA_PAYNE)
|
||
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
|
||
Subject: BOLDLY IN SHADOW part 5
|
||
Message-ID: <1992Jan20.102943.51925@cc.usu.edu>
|
||
Date: 20 Jan 92 10:29:43 MDT
|
||
Organization: Utah State University
|
||
Lines: 169
|
||
|
||
CHAPTER 6
|
||
|
||
The door opened and Shelby entered. "We're here."
|
||
"Where?" asked Riker, following her back to the bridge.
|
||
"Starbase 45. Only it's not."
|
||
"What do you mean, it's not?"
|
||
"There are no life signs anywhere on the planet or in the station,"
|
||
Data replied.
|
||
"But half a million people live on Doozer." Mostly Tellarites, it was
|
||
true, but Federation citizens nonetheless.
|
||
"Not this Doozer," said Chalice. She stood on tiptoe and kissed her
|
||
husband lightly. "Good work, darling. Very fine-tuned shifting." She turned
|
||
to Riker. "That, sir, is a fully-equipped starbase. Commander Laforge and his
|
||
staff can find all the tools and equipment they need to get the mains online
|
||
again, while Merlin, I, and whomever else you choose beam down to the surface
|
||
and go in search of Amber."
|
||
"Before you start assembling equipment," Merlin added, "I should warn
|
||
you that electronic devices don't work in Amber. Don't weigh yourselves down
|
||
with too much stuff. And I'm afraid Data can't go. I'm sorry about that, Data.
|
||
You'd find it fascinating."
|
||
"You need not apologize, sir. I presume that those conditions preclude
|
||
your bringing back tricorder recordings as well."
|
||
"I'm afraid so."
|
||
"Then," Riker said, "the away team will consist of myself, Counsellor
|
||
Troi, Dr. Crusher, and Lt. Worf. Geordi, I'll need and anti-grav gurney to
|
||
carry Captain Picard, and put some wheels on it. When the power fails, we can
|
||
pull it."
|
||
"I'll have it for you in ten minutes." Geordi left the bridge with
|
||
Merlin and Chalice.
|
||
"Captain Riker," Shelby said, ice dripping off every word, "regulations
|
||
clearly prohibit--"
|
||
"Stuff regulations, Shelby. I'm going down, and you can't stop me."
|
||
"And what do you think you'll be accomplishing by that?"
|
||
"You once accused me of not being able to make the 'big decisions.'
|
||
Well this is one I have no trouble with."
|
||
"I'm not entirely happy with some of your decisions, *Captain*."
|
||
"Well, *Commander*, you can register your complaints with the
|
||
appropriate authorities when we get back home. Until then, you'll just have
|
||
to live with it. You have the ship until my return." Followed by Worf and
|
||
Troi, he left the bridge.
|
||
In Transporter Room Four, the three found Dr. Crusher and the Coreys
|
||
waiting for them. Picard's still, mutilated body lay on a gurney. Looking at
|
||
him gave Riker the creeps.
|
||
"I've found a nice meadow for you, sir," O'Brian said as they
|
||
stepped onto the platform.
|
||
"Thank you, Chief. Energize."
|
||
|
||
The meadow was lovely. A few late wildflowers brightened the tall
|
||
grass, and in the distance they could hear what sounded like a whipporwhill.
|
||
Looking around, Riker noticed Chalice had changed her clothes again. The
|
||
crimson velvet gown was replaced by silvery tunic, trousers, and cloak, and a
|
||
mail-shirt of some metal he'd never seen before. The jeweled pendant she'd
|
||
worn before still hung around her neck, though. "Do you change outfits
|
||
every time you step into a transporter beam, Lieutenant?" he asked.
|
||
"Only when it's convenient, Commander."
|
||
"You're wearing armor. Do you expect trouble?"
|
||
"When going to Amber, it's best to be prepared for any eventuality."
|
||
"Hey!" Merlin said. "That's mithril! Where did you find mithril?"
|
||
"Where one usually finds it."
|
||
"In a barrow?"
|
||
"That's right. And I'm not telling you where it is, so don't even
|
||
ask."
|
||
"What is mithril?" Worf asked, interested.
|
||
"A metal alloy invented and worked by elven folk in ancient times,
|
||
lighter, stronger, and lovelier than any other," replied Troi. "My father
|
||
reared me on Tolkien," she explained. She reached out a hand to touch Chalice's
|
||
sleeve. "So it really exists."
|
||
"Of course. Everything really exists, if you only know how to look."
|
||
"Speaking of places to look, which way do we go?" Riker asked Merlin.
|
||
He turned to Chalice. "Majesty?"
|
||
Chalice of Amber, Princess of the Unicorn, shaded her eyes and looked
|
||
around. "That way," she said, indicating a pleasant way following a brook.
|
||
She and Merlin led the way, followed by Troi, then Crusher with the gurney.
|
||
Worf and Riker were in the rear.
|
||
At first Riker noticed no changes. Then he realized that the sky was
|
||
a purer, more intense blue than he had ever seen before. Even Alaska during
|
||
midsummer could only approximate it. The birdsongs had also altered, become
|
||
more various and vibrant.
|
||
A light breeze played about as they made their way. Merlin was
|
||
whistling some half-familiar air, and it would all have been very pleasant if he
|
||
hadn't been looking at Captain Picard/Locutus the whole time. Once he tried to
|
||
hail the ship; there was no answer.
|
||
The trees were thicker now, and older. They left the creek and ascended
|
||
a steep hillside. When they reached the top, they made a sharp turn around a
|
||
rocky outcropping. Worf looked back, then touched Riker's arm and pointed.
|
||
The meadow had disappeared. They were engulfed in an ancient and verdant
|
||
forest.
|
||
They had been walking for nearly an hour, Riker guessed, but the sun
|
||
had moved far across the sky. "Thirsty?" Merlin asked, handing around a
|
||
goatskin.
|
||
"We're making good time. This looks to be near the edge of Arden,"
|
||
Chalice remarked.
|
||
"We should be home by nightfall, if all goes well."
|
||
"Except--"
|
||
"Except what?"
|
||
Chalice pointed to the gurney. "The juice still floweth. If we were
|
||
anywhere close . . ."
|
||
"You're right."
|
||
"Well, let's keep going. We can only get closer." The group descended
|
||
the other side of the hill. As they went down, the forest grew thicker, the sky
|
||
darker, and the birds silent. At last the only sounds that broke the gloom
|
||
were the wind in the branches and the cry of the owls. Chalice's mithril-shirt
|
||
shimmered in the uncertain light; Riker seemed to recall that that was a bad
|
||
sign.
|
||
"The owls--" Merlin began.
|
||
"Don't say it, Merle," Chalice ordered.
|
||
"The owls are not what they seem."
|
||
Chalice spoke three short words and a bright spark shot from her out-
|
||
stretched hand right into the middle of Merlin's back.
|
||
"Ow!"
|
||
"I told you not to say it." Silence fell and the group tramped along
|
||
for some time in the increasing dark, until they could barely see their way.
|
||
"We're going the wrong way," Chalice said in an accusing tone.
|
||
"I *know* we're going the wrong way," Merlin replied. "The road keeps
|
||
shifting away from us."
|
||
"Here--let's hold up for a minute." The group stopped at the base of
|
||
a giant redwood, fifteen feet across. While Merlin conjured up and passed
|
||
around a waterbag, Chalice spoke. "We have a problem."
|
||
"No. Not really. You?" Riker answered.
|
||
"We're getting farther from Amber, not closer. There can be only one
|
||
explanation: someone with comparable powers doesn't want us to get there.
|
||
And that means Family."
|
||
"But your family . . ." Crusher began to say, but she was cut off by
|
||
Merlin's terse response.
|
||
"Not this family."
|
||
"So we need to be ready for anything. Take a rest while we work it
|
||
out." Merlin first set to getting light; he came up with three pine-knot
|
||
torches, a large flashlight, and two Coleman lanterns. Chalice took the pack
|
||
of cards from a pouch at her belt, selected several, and concentrated on them
|
||
for a time. She shook her head and put them away. "No answer. We must
|
||
still be personae non gratae. We're going to have to walk all the way. So,
|
||
let's get prepared." She reached into the air and an old-style phaser rifle
|
||
materialized in her hands. She tossed it to Riker. It was followed by a
|
||
particularly lethal-looking machine gun, a sonic disruptor, a dart gun, and
|
||
a large variety of blades. Last of all came mithril shirts and silvery
|
||
cloakes like those she wore. Merlin already had his sword; he took a pistol,
|
||
a Vegan-style laser, a mithril shirt, and a few more blades. The others
|
||
donned the armor and cloaks, and selected the weapons they felt comfortable
|
||
with. Riker took a projectile-firing pistol, a long knife and a bastard
|
||
sword.
|
||
Worf gathered as many different weapons as he could stash away in his
|
||
uniform and armor and still move freely, a truly awe-inspiring number. Troi
|
||
was too worried about their situation to marvel for more than a moment at the
|
||
thought of her very own mithril-shirt and dagger. She also picked a large
|
||
gun that looked as though aim wasn't a terribly important part of its
|
||
usefulness. Crusher took the phaser, a pistol, and a tiny knife that looked
|
||
like a scalpel. She tried to lay a mithril shirt over Picard, but the Borg
|
||
circuitry shot off sparks when it touched the ancient metal.
|
||
"Well, that confirms what we thought all along," she said, removing
|
||
the shirt from Picard. "The Borg are basically evil."
|
||
"Hey, Merle," said Chalice, "Take a look at this." He joined her at
|
||
the gurney and watched as she pressed it down. Whe she released it, it bounced
|
||
back up. "Did that look slow to you?"
|
||
He tried it. "It's sluggish, all right."
|
||
"That's a good sign. I think."
|
||
"Maybe. But this place has a foul stink to it."
|
||
"I thought that was the skunk cabbage."
|
||
"Whatever. Let's get out of here."
|
||
"Right. Commander Riker, we're moving out."
|
||
|
||
--
|
||
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Lorna Payne
|
||
Certified Math Geek and Grammarian
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Heisenberg may have been here . . . but it's not certain.
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
|
||
Path: moe.ksu.ksu.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!hellgate.utah.edu!cc.usu.edu!sll28
|
||
From: sll28@cc.usu.edu (LORNA_PAYNE)
|
||
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
|
||
Subject: BOLDLY IN SHADOW part 6
|
||
Message-ID: <1992Jan21.092222.51942@cc.usu.edu>
|
||
Date: 21 Jan 92 09:22:22 MDT
|
||
Organization: Utah State University
|
||
Lines: 166
|
||
|
||
CHAPTER 7
|
||
|
||
|
||
Carefully, occasionally stumbling over roots, the group moved forward.
|
||
Despite the lamps and torches the darkness clung palpably to them. A narrow
|
||
path corssed their way; they turned to the right and followed it. It twisted
|
||
and jagged around trees and forded foul streams and switchbacked through
|
||
steep, bramble-filled ravines.
|
||
At the bottom of such a gorge, deeper than the others, the path didn't
|
||
go back up, but followed the bottom. Near a particularly thick, tall, and
|
||
reeking bramble patch, the path was blocked by a man. Or, more correctly,
|
||
something that had once been a man. One eye was missing; the flesh hung in
|
||
strips from his bones. Torn and rotting clothing revealed an equally torn and
|
||
rotting body below.
|
||
Troi stifled a scream at the sight. Crusher let a sickened moan
|
||
escape. Worf growled. Riker didn't say anything, but he was glad he hadn't
|
||
eaten recently. Merlin and Chalice alone took the horrific sight in stride.
|
||
The being raised an arm. In an hand that was mostly skeleton he held
|
||
a gleaming scimitar. "Nnnoonne shhaallll ppaaaassssss."
|
||
"Zombies," said Merlin. "They have such a way with words." Quicker
|
||
than the others could follow, he sliced the zombie into seven different
|
||
pieces, which lay on the ground and twitched as they proceeded down the path.
|
||
An arrow *whicked* into a tree near Riker's head. He spun around,
|
||
phaser rifle set at disintegrate and saw--nothing.
|
||
Troi screamed, for real this time. In the beams of the waving flash-
|
||
lights Riker could see zombies advancing on them from both sides. The formerly
|
||
lifeless forest had sprouted lifeless warriors from every tree and shrub, from
|
||
every bramble patch and stream bed. Forward they came, dropping clods of flesh,
|
||
but holding swords, bows, tommy guns and tomahawks at the ready.
|
||
"Run!" shouted Riker. He pulled the trigger and cut a wide swath
|
||
through the forces. Worf's machine gun was louder, but just as effective at
|
||
blowing away pieces of the attackers.
|
||
The only trouble was, it wasn't enough to blow away just part of them.
|
||
Riker quickly learned that he had to hold the phaser on one zombie long
|
||
enough to obliterate nearly all of him--almost three seconds apiece. Too long.
|
||
Soon he was using the rifle as a club, swinging it wildly, knocking putrefying
|
||
body parts into the bushes.
|
||
Beside him, Worf was now wielding two blades against five zombies.
|
||
Past him Merlin fought, his teeth flashing demonaically. As they retreated,
|
||
Riker caught a glimpse of the women: Chalice was clearing a path for them
|
||
while the others steered the gurney along the twisting, narrow path.
|
||
"Back!" Merlin said. He sliced one bloated attacker into three pieces
|
||
and ran, dark sword in hand.
|
||
Riker smashed one skull into shards (which didn't deter the owner at
|
||
all), knocked off three arms, and followed Merlin.
|
||
Worf slice-n-diced two more zombies with his swords. With a flying
|
||
hitch-kick he knocked head and trunk off another. On the rebound, a round-
|
||
house punch shattered one unfortunate undead nearly into dust. He followed the
|
||
others down the path while it remained clear. Valor in battle was one thing;
|
||
foolishly getting caught behind was another.
|
||
Riker pounded down the path at a dead run, following its twists and
|
||
turns in the cloying, fetid darkness as best he could. Around this boulder,
|
||
trip on a root, keep on going--barely--stop!
|
||
The path ended. So did the mountain. Momentum propelled him forward
|
||
and he made a wild grasp at a branch as he went over the edge.
|
||
And it held. Riker pulled himself up until his feet were once more
|
||
on solid ground.
|
||
Out here the sky was clear, and two full moons illuminated the cliff
|
||
side. "Worf, watch out," he shouted back up into the forest. "There's a
|
||
cliff ahead." Looking down the rocky slope, he could see the others,
|
||
picking their way down. Merlin had joined them and the four looked like a
|
||
wierd funeral party, guiding the bier awkwardly down the hillside, armed to the
|
||
teeth, descending to the moonlit mist below. Worf had joined him by now, and
|
||
they chose a likely path. Clambering down the shale, they joined the others
|
||
below.
|
||
"Is everyone all right?" Riker asked. "Good. After that experience,
|
||
I'm surprised we don't all have more that a few cuts and bruises."
|
||
"The mithril helped some," Chalice replied.
|
||
"Your skill with the sword helped more." Riker answered.
|
||
"Have you ever considered a career in Security?" Worf asked her. She
|
||
only grinned.
|
||
"We have one piece of good news," Troi said. "The electronic devices
|
||
have failed. According to Chalice, that means we could be significantly
|
||
closer to Amber." Sure enough, the gurney's wheels had touched ground.
|
||
Merlin pulled a pistol from his belt and pointed it in the air. He
|
||
pulled the trigger. Nothing. He tossed it away. "You may as well dump
|
||
everything electronic and chemical. From here on out, it's blades only."
|
||
With some reluctance they did so before setting out across the misty plain.
|
||
Lights flickered and danced in the distance. Beneath the mist, the ground
|
||
was not smooth; rocks and icy puddles tripped them up.
|
||
"What are those lights?" Troi said.
|
||
"Swamp gas," Crusher replied.
|
||
"Probably," Chalice said.
|
||
"Just to be safe, don't follow them." Merlin said.
|
||
The air was split by a cry--a long, drawn-out, agonizingly anguished
|
||
howl. Worf roared and whipped his scimitar into readiness.
|
||
"I don't want to know what that was," Crusher said shakily when the
|
||
last echoes had finally faded away.
|
||
"It was either the Hound of the Baskervilles or a banshee. Personally,
|
||
I hope it's the Hound," Merlin said. "This place kind of reminds me of the
|
||
desert where I met the Sphinx. She told me a riddle, which I guessed, and I
|
||
told her one she didn't get. So I won."
|
||
"What was the riddle?" Riker asked, pulling his leg free from where it
|
||
had gotten wedged between two rocks.
|
||
"What's red and green and goes round and round and round?"
|
||
Another howl rent the air near them. "A frog in a cuisinart."
|
||
"Ha, ha." Chalice pointed ahead. "See that tor up there? It's not too
|
||
far. Let's head for that." The group pressed forward, trying to cross the
|
||
hundred meters of broken ground before they met the Hound.
|
||
"I don't suppose we could take a break?" Troi asked.
|
||
"Afraid not," Merlin replied. "We should get away from this place
|
||
first."
|
||
"YYYOOOOWWWWW!!!" This time it was only a few feet away, and it was
|
||
followed by several snarls and growls.
|
||
"Move it!" Riker shouted. The group picked up speed, scabbling up the
|
||
slope as best they could, and those with swords drew them.
|
||
Something with claws raked Riker's back. He turned to face his
|
||
attacker--a two-meter tall lupine humanoid, wearing curde leather clothing,
|
||
but unarmed except for tooth and claw.
|
||
Riker attacked. Too late he saw White Fang's three friends.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
CHAPTER 8
|
||
|
||
|
||
Riker swung his sword. White Fang dodged and tackled him low. As
|
||
Riker went down he lost his sword, but he still had his kris and he thrust it
|
||
deep into White Fang's neck. It was in his left hand, so the blow wasn't as
|
||
well-placed as it should have been, but he twisted the knife as he pulled it
|
||
out, and rust-colored blood spurted out gratifyingly.
|
||
Worf leapt over their struggling forms. He swung each of his blades
|
||
at a wolfman. The first was beheaded instantly; the second was slowed but
|
||
not stopped by the long gash in his chest. Riker pushed the now-inert
|
||
White Fang off and retrieved his sword. When he turned around, Worf was
|
||
putting a knife through one wolfman while another had him in a stranglhold.
|
||
Riker tried to get to him, but he found his was blocked by another. Nearby,
|
||
he could see Merlin and Chalice swinging their blades so fast the eye only
|
||
caught blue-white arcs. But for every wolfman they felled, another--or
|
||
more often two or three--attacked from the mist. Even Deanna and Beverly were
|
||
involved; inexpert as they were, their mithril knives seemed to bite
|
||
everything they touched.
|
||
Nevertheless, they were outmatched. Riker staggered from exhaustion;
|
||
a claw got under his guard and scraped across his back. It wasn't the first,
|
||
either Worf, coated in blood, howled in frustration but fought on. The
|
||
gurney had been overturned at some point and Picard was getting stepped on.
|
||
Troi went down.
|
||
"That's it," Merlin said. "Doctor, get Deanna out of here."
|
||
"Where?"
|
||
"Follow me," Chalice said. She picked up Picard and slung him over
|
||
her shoulder as if he were a 5-kilo bag of potatoes. Holding him with one
|
||
arm and with the other fending off the relatively few attackers higher on the
|
||
slope, she reached the tor. The others followed to a crevice barely large
|
||
enought for a person, and too small for a wolfman.
|
||
Unfortunately, it was only deep enough for the women and Picard. Riker,
|
||
Worf, and Merlin stood outside and fought off the onfrushing horde.
|
||
To Riker's astonishment, Chalice took out her cards. "This is no time
|
||
for solitaire, Lieutenant."
|
||
"Shut up, Riker," she replied, absently. Then a few eternally long
|
||
minutes later, she shouted, "Everyone take hands and hold on--now!" Riker felt
|
||
Merlin grab him around the waist and
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
And the world disappeared in a shimmer of rainbows.
|
||
|
||
--
|
||
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Lorna Payne
|
||
Certified Math Geek and Grammarian
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Heisenberg may have been here . . . but it's not certain.
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
|
||
Path: moe.ksu.ksu.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!uwm.edu!caen!hellgate.utah.edu!cc.usu.edu!sll28
|
||
From: sll28@cc.usu.edu (LORNA_PAYNE)
|
||
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
|
||
Subject: BOLDLY IN SHADOW part 7 (and final)
|
||
Message-ID: <1992Jan23.072528.52001@cc.usu.edu>
|
||
Date: 23 Jan 92 07:25:28 MDT
|
||
Organization: Utah State University
|
||
Lines: 441
|
||
|
||
Here it is, folks: the grand climax to the adventure! Well, it may be an
|
||
anticlimax, but it's well within the spirit of Amber as set up by Roger
|
||
Zelazny . . .
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
BOLDLY IN SHADOW
|
||
|
||
CHAPTER 9
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
When the world reconfigured itself in the form of a small panelled
|
||
room lined with bookshelves and tapestries, and illuminated by candles, Riker
|
||
was too aghast to do more than blink.
|
||
"Do you know how idiotic you all look?" a cultured male voice said off
|
||
to the side. Riker looked around. They did indeed look silly.
|
||
Chalice was holding a strange man by one hand and had both Picard and
|
||
Troi embraced in the other arm. Beverly Crusher gripped Troi's shoulder in
|
||
her left hand, while her right arm was wrapped around Worf's leg. Merlin had
|
||
one arm around Worf and the other around Riker. Now he let them go, stepped
|
||
forward, and said in an annoyed tone, "Who the hell are you?"
|
||
"You're bleeding all over my carpet."
|
||
Chalice stood, a little wearily. "Vlad, thank you. I owe you one for
|
||
this. A big one. Meet Merlin."
|
||
"So this is the infamous Merlin of Chaos." Vlad's brown eyes were not
|
||
quite level with Merlin's green ones, but they were equally arrogant. "Merlin,
|
||
meet your reclusive cousin Vlad."
|
||
"There's no Vlad in Amber."
|
||
"Don't be an idiot, Merle. Of course there is. You know about Osric
|
||
and Finndo, don't you?"
|
||
"They're dead."
|
||
"Do you know how they died?"
|
||
"No."
|
||
Chalice's voice turned from tired to icy. "Quite right. Do not
|
||
presume that you are privy to all the secrets of Amber."
|
||
Merlin looked at Chalice and their eyes locked. After a moment, he
|
||
bowed his head and replied, "No, my Lady."
|
||
Vlad smiled and folded his arms over his slight frame. "And don't you
|
||
start getting ideas, either," Chalice ordered him. He swept an elegant bow.
|
||
"Tell Random we're here; get an operating room ready; our friends are weary
|
||
and wounded. We need medical attention and guest rooms prepared *now*. Get
|
||
on it." Vlad left the room.
|
||
"And I want a drink." She found herself a decanter and glass, poured
|
||
herself four fingers of rose-colored liquid, and threw herself in a deep
|
||
leather chair. "By the way, welcome to Amber."
|
||
"Vlad's gonna be pissed at you for bleeding on his chair," Merlin said.
|
||
"His problem," was all Chalice replied.
|
||
Within two minutes, servants poured into the room. They lifted out
|
||
Picard and the unconsious Troi and ushered the others to a suite of decadantly
|
||
luxurious room where their various cuts and bruises were treated and dressed,
|
||
and they were allowed to sink into deep, hot, scented tubs (except for Worf,
|
||
who still had the strength to insist on an ice-cold shower), and then to the
|
||
best night's rest they'd had in weeks.
|
||
|
||
Riker rolled over and decided he really was awake. There was a piece of
|
||
paper on the elaborately turned table next to his dark wood-canopied and
|
||
brocade-hung bed. He picked it up.
|
||
It was heavy, more like parchment than paper. It was also blank. but
|
||
as he looked at it, words appeared in black-and-gold calligraphy.
|
||
|
||
SCHEDULE OF THE DAY'S EVENTS
|
||
(Geez, don't you think you've slept long
|
||
enough? Some people.)
|
||
RIGHT NOW: Breakfast in the Dining Room
|
||
ONE HOUR FROM NOW: Captain Picard's
|
||
Surgery in the Laboratory
|
||
THIS EVENING: Dinner. Be there.
|
||
AFTER THAT: Audience with King Random in
|
||
the Library
|
||
WHENEVER YOU WANT: Tour of the Castle,
|
||
Hunting in the Forest, Meditating
|
||
in the Gardens.
|
||
|
||
Got any questions? Ask a servant. What do
|
||
I look like, an information source?
|
||
|
||
Riker grinned and rolled out of bed. A selection of clothing,
|
||
including a clean uniform, was in the closet. He picked out a loose-fiting
|
||
sweater in a blue/grey patterned with black, matching trousers, and soft black
|
||
boots. Then he went in search of the dining room.
|
||
Fortunately he met a lackey who led him right to it. It was a
|
||
cavernous, irregularly shaped hall in a style reminiscent of late gothic.
|
||
Along one short wall was a long buffet table heaped with food. Riker nodded to
|
||
Worf, Crusher, and Merlin, who were conferring at one table. He loaded his
|
||
plate and joined them.
|
||
"How'd you sleep?" asked Merlin.
|
||
"Terrific. Is it something in the air?"
|
||
"Could be. I have to apologize for the schedule. I was still a little
|
||
hammered last night when I set it up and I'm afraid it came out not as I had
|
||
intended."
|
||
"No problem. How's Deanna?"
|
||
"I checked on her first thing this morning," Crusher said. "She'll be
|
||
fine. It was mostly loss of blood and shock. She's under orders to stay in
|
||
bed until further notice."
|
||
"I'd like to see her."
|
||
"No problem. I'll drop you off on my way to the surgery."
|
||
"How does that look?"
|
||
"Well," she set down her eggshell coffee cup, "it's difficult to say.
|
||
On the Enterprise, with scopes and microscopic lasers, I'd say the prognosis was
|
||
pretty good. I've had a look at their surgery, and while it seems to be
|
||
extremely well-equipped, I'm not familiar with a lot of the instruments. At
|
||
least the Captain is still enchanted, so he won't be in any pain during the
|
||
surgery."
|
||
"I'd like to watch."
|
||
"I don't think that's a good idea, Will. It will be very messy, and
|
||
it will take several hours. At least."
|
||
"If you say so."
|
||
|
||
Deanna was sitting up in bed. (Hers was an elaborately draped rose
|
||
bon-bon in an equally feminine room.) She was eating her breakfast with her
|
||
left hand; her right arm was in a sling. She looked pale and rather weak,
|
||
but was reasonably cheerful and very interested in Amber. Riker stayed with
|
||
her while Dr. Crusher went on to the surgery. Merlin was going to show Worf
|
||
the armory.
|
||
Eventually Deanna fell asleep again, so Riker left her and wandered
|
||
through endless twisting corridors, up and down staircases, and through what
|
||
may have been a secret passageway. The "door" was wide open, and it seemed to
|
||
be a well-traveled way, though. He passed small sitting rooms, great halls,
|
||
and three libraries before he found an outside door.
|
||
The palace grounds were extensive and vaired. Riker paced restlessly
|
||
through rose gardens, a yew maze, and wide expanses of lawn before he
|
||
stumbled almost by accident onto a Zen-style meditation garden. Here he sat
|
||
and watched the shadows move across the raked gravel. Why was it taking so
|
||
long? Surely they should be done by now. It had been hours.
|
||
Eventually his stomach decided gentle urgings were useless and gave
|
||
him a real message. So he got up and found his way back to the castle. Once
|
||
there he collared one of the inevitable lackeys and ordered his lunch, got
|
||
directions to his room, and learned that the captain was still in surgery.
|
||
His lunch came, but he couldn't touch it; it tasted like cardboard.
|
||
The clock ticked away the hours.
|
||
Someone knocked at the door. It was Beverly Crusher.
|
||
"You look exhausted," he said.
|
||
"I just live for seven-hour surgeries." She sat down heavily. "I
|
||
need a drink. What have you got?"
|
||
"What's your pleasure?"
|
||
"Anything. Just make it stiff."
|
||
He found some bottles in a cabinet and sniffed. He didn't recognize
|
||
anything, but he poured a little of each into a glass and handed it over.
|
||
She took a sip and wrinkled her nose. "This is terrible," she said,
|
||
and she took a long draw.
|
||
"Well, Doctor?" he asked.
|
||
"He'll live. In fact, he'll be fine. There was wiring and equipment
|
||
in virtually every system in his body, and it took four or five of us, but it's
|
||
all out now. He's sleeping now."
|
||
"Is he still enchanted?"
|
||
"Yes and no. Chalice removed the stasis spell and replaced it with what
|
||
she called 'the healing sleep.' All I know is, he's stable and resting
|
||
comfortably."
|
||
"How long will it be before he can travel?"
|
||
"A few days at least. Maybe a week or so."
|
||
"So we may as well get comfortable here."
|
||
"May as well." She downed the rest of the drink. "Well, we've got a
|
||
dinner party to get ready for. Thanks for the booze."
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
CHAPTER 10
|
||
|
||
|
||
As he entered the dining hall, Riker was momentarily overwhelmed by
|
||
the splendor and confusion. Green, russet, and gold hangings festooned the
|
||
walls; musicians played at the foot of the room; servants bearing covered
|
||
dishes advanced and retreated in a formal dance.
|
||
Five long tables were laid with damask and plate, and not nearly
|
||
enough people to fill them were milling around. Among others, Riker spotted
|
||
Martin, slouching in a chair scowling. He wore formal Victorian evening
|
||
dress (white tie and tails was it called?). His blue mohawk with tail and
|
||
skull earring made an interesting contrast with his clothes. Beverly wore a
|
||
gown of sea-green velvet and jewels of the same strange grey-green. Sipping
|
||
a cocktail, she chatted with Chalice, who looked truly regal in silver lace
|
||
and diamonds. They spotted him and walked over.
|
||
"Commander Riker," said the Princess of the Unicorn, "it's good to
|
||
see you. How do you like Amber?"
|
||
"From what I've seen, I like it very much."
|
||
"Will, I checked on Captain Picard again just before I came down,"
|
||
Crusher said. "His vital signs are much stronger already. I'm afraid you
|
||
won't be a captain much longer."
|
||
"Wonderful." A footman in green and gold livery presented a tray of
|
||
drinks. Riker selected and interesting-looking one. "Is this good?" he
|
||
asked Chalice, squinting at the five layers of color and miniature fireworks
|
||
popping at the top.
|
||
"It's not bad. I prefer champagne, though." She indicated another
|
||
footman (this one wore crimson laced with silver) who carried a dark bottle.
|
||
"From my own cellar. Would you like some?"
|
||
"Thank you."
|
||
"Will, I want to request the Chalice be transferred to Medical."
|
||
"You're a doctor?" he asked Chalice.
|
||
"She's a top-notch surgeon," Crusher said.
|
||
"We all have some medical training. It's a matter of survival."
|
||
"*Some* medical training--where did you study?"
|
||
"In your shadow, Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Vulcan Science Academy . .
|
||
a couple other places. Doctor, here comes Deanna. Why don't you check on
|
||
her?"
|
||
Sure enough, Deanna, lying on a litter, was being borne in by four
|
||
guards. Beverly headed off to see her. Riker started to follow but was
|
||
stopped by Chalice's hand on his arm. "You can talk to her later. There's
|
||
someone I want you to meet." As they passed through the room, Riker
|
||
recognized some of the other royals he'd met before. Most of them had made
|
||
it back, it seemed. But there was one member of the royal house who he didn't
|
||
see.
|
||
"Where's Vlad?"
|
||
"Shh. Don't mention that." Sotto voce, she added, "Tell you later."
|
||
Sitting in large gold-leafed chairs at the center of the high table
|
||
were a husky man with curly russet hair and beard, wearing a golden, jeweled
|
||
crown. Beside him last a quietly lovely woman with empty eyes.
|
||
"Random, this is Commander William Riker of the Enterprise. Commander,
|
||
Random, King in Amber."
|
||
Riker bowed. The king's first words were not what he expected, though.
|
||
"Chalice tells me you dig jazz. Maybe we could have a jam session later."
|
||
"I'd like that."
|
||
Worf and Merlin came up next to Riker. Worf went down on one knee and
|
||
barked, "Your Majesty."
|
||
"Worf," Random replied.
|
||
"Your armory is . . . well equipped."
|
||
"Thank you. Did you and Merlin have a good practice session?"
|
||
"He is a formidible warrior."
|
||
"High praise from a Klingon," Merlin said.
|
||
Trumpets blared from the far end of the room. "Dinner time," said the
|
||
king.
|
||
"Where should we sit?" Riker asked. He was gradually getting used to
|
||
the strange mix of strictest protocol and absolute informality that governed
|
||
social relations here.
|
||
"Wherever you want," Queen Vialle said, smiling. "This is just a
|
||
family dinner."
|
||
|
||
It was at the same time the most splendid and the most chaotic dinner
|
||
party Riker had ever attended. Despite the elegance of the people and setting,
|
||
there seemed to be no order of seating or service. Some ate exclusively from
|
||
a menue prepared just for them (Worf downed three platters of gach), while
|
||
others picked and chose whatever looked good from the selection available.
|
||
And a lot looked good. People changed seats at will and conversed quietly in
|
||
groups of two or three. Hence the need for lots of extra seats; Riker noted
|
||
that the clumps preferred to be isolated. As soon as someone left his or
|
||
her seat (unless a footman was placed on guard) one servant cleared the place
|
||
and another laid another. The only exceptions to the revolving seating plan
|
||
were the King, Queen, and Deanna--their clumps were stationary.
|
||
When at last the last cake had been finished and the last tray of
|
||
pastries sent back empty--these people of Amber were prodigious eaters--and
|
||
all that were left were bowls heaped with fruit, King Random stood and
|
||
strode out of the hall. All the others stood as he passed by, and then settled
|
||
down to their previous pursuits. At least three of the natives seemed to be
|
||
trying their hardest to arrange a later rendezvous with Deanna, and Beverly
|
||
apparently had her evening's entertainment set up with a tall man in black
|
||
velvet. Strangely, although he did not seem terribly old, his hair was pure
|
||
white.
|
||
After about five minutes, Chalice climbed off her husband's lap,
|
||
nodded at Riker, and left. He noted with some surprise that she was accorded
|
||
the same courtesy as Random had been--everyone stood, and a few people bowed.
|
||
Several of her crimson-and-silver clad footmen followed her out. Seeing that
|
||
Merlin made no sign of immediately leaving, Riker felt free to finish his
|
||
drink before he bid the lovely greenskinned Princess Llewella good evening.
|
||
One of Chalice's footmen met him outside the door and gave him
|
||
directions to the library. Actually, he could just have said, "Follow the
|
||
drums," because the room and the passages outside were full of the sound:
|
||
King Random was hitting the skins with a good deal of noise and no small skill.
|
||
Chalice stood at the far side of the room studying and etching of the Unicorn;
|
||
she did not turn around when Riker entered. He took a seat on a deep leather
|
||
sofa facing a huge empty fireplace, and waited. Sure enough, Worf, Crusher,
|
||
Troi (still being carried around by Random's men), and finally Merlin each
|
||
arrived in turn. Merlin closed and locked the door behind him.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
CHAPTER 11
|
||
|
||
|
||
Once Merlin had taken his place on the couch beside the others, Random
|
||
set down his drumsticks and climbed down from the array of drums. Chalice
|
||
likewise left her musings and joined the group, but did not sit. Instead
|
||
she stood facing Random across the hearth. Random spoke.
|
||
"Chalice, Merlin, and several others have told me about the thread
|
||
your shadow faces, about your battles, and about your journey here. No doubt
|
||
you have many questions. Some have already been answered, some will never be
|
||
answered. But I do know you've come across one of Amber's better-kept secrets."
|
||
"Vlad," Riker said.
|
||
"Vlad," Random answered. "Vlad is a being of uncertain parentage and
|
||
unusual abilities, but certainly of the blood of Amber. He came to us some time
|
||
ago and since then has served faithfully in a confidential and occasionally
|
||
covert fashion. Our own one-man CIA, if you will.
|
||
"There are some facts you need to know. First, Fiona did not return
|
||
from the battle. While trums yield no answer, it is the consensus that she is
|
||
not dead, just out of reach."
|
||
"Like we were for a while," Merlin said.
|
||
"Correct. I'll have more to say about that in a bit. Second,
|
||
Ghostwheel is also down. Vlad's information is that it's gone off on one of
|
||
its snits--"
|
||
"Ghost does not have snits. Sulks, yes. Snits, no," Merlin said.
|
||
"--whatever. But after you left the scene of battle, there were several
|
||
other confrontations; even their 'home system' was sent through Shadow to a
|
||
place where their systems won't work, in fact, to where they'll be unstable and
|
||
would self-destruct. Which is exactly what happened. Except that right
|
||
afterwards, Ghostwheel went off sulking and the ship Fiona was on encountered
|
||
a Borg cube. They both disappeared. Since then, no word from either Ghost or
|
||
Fiona.
|
||
"Third, there's the difficulty you had reaching Amber. It was obvious
|
||
that someone with real powers was determined to keep you away."
|
||
"Who could have done that?" asked Crusher. This discussion of family
|
||
intrigue and violence on a cosmic scale seemed to exert a powerful fascination
|
||
for her.
|
||
"Fiona--maybe. Ghost--definitely. Me--doubtfully. There are three--
|
||
no, four--others in Amber, but some of those are supposed to be dead." Riker
|
||
noticed that he didn't mention Merlin or Chalice, but he supposed that Random
|
||
was just being polite.
|
||
"Vlad?" Merlin asked.
|
||
"I don't think so. Vlad hasn't walked the Pattern. His gifts lie in
|
||
information gathering, not Shadow manipulation," Chalice said.
|
||
"The question we have to ask now is, what happened to Fiona? Is she
|
||
still trying to make it back? If so, who's preventing it? Does she not want
|
||
to come back? Or, was she captured by the Borg? If so . . ."
|
||
Random didn't finish the sentence. He didn't have to. The picture of
|
||
Jean-Luc Picard, now freed from the bonds of Locutus, flashed before them.
|
||
"If so," continued Chalice, breaking the hush with icy tones as hard
|
||
and sharp as the diamonds in her tiara, "what does that imply for Amber?"
|
||
The four Federation personnel looked at each other. The larger
|
||
implications hadn't crossed their minds.
|
||
"If Fiona becomes part of the Borg, the all Amber may be assimilated
|
||
into their technology," Riker said.
|
||
"They could walk through Shadows, even come to Amber. No reality
|
||
would be safe," Deanna murmered.
|
||
"Not necessarily. They couldn't come to Amber: their cybernetic
|
||
implants wouldn't work. They'd be helpless. That would also prevent their
|
||
walking the Pattern," Chalice said.
|
||
"They wouldn't have to. They could incorporate the Pattern into
|
||
their programming. At the very least, Fiona could lead them wherever they
|
||
wanted to go," Merlin said.
|
||
Chalice sank into a chair. "Merlin, son of Corwin, son of Oberon, we
|
||
are in deep shit."
|
||
Random had pulled out a card and seemed to be arguing with someone on
|
||
the other end of the line. Finally he reached in and pulled Vlad through.
|
||
The impeccably elegant pose of the previous night was gone. He looked rumpled
|
||
in body and spirit.
|
||
"I told you, there's nothing new," he snapped.
|
||
"I don't care what you said then. Have you traced that ship yet?
|
||
Have you made contact with Ghostwheel yet?
|
||
"No and no."
|
||
"You're lying," Troi said.
|
||
Vlad turned to her. "Beware, mortal. You speak to one of the blood
|
||
of Amber."
|
||
Deanna Troi leaned back on the silver-and-jade brocade cushions of
|
||
her litter, licked her lips and smiled. "Commander," she said to Riker in a
|
||
voice of infinite sweetness, "I sense great deception."
|
||
"Your word is good enough for me, Counsellor," Riker said.
|
||
"For me, too." Chalice pulled a silvery dagger out of her sleeve.
|
||
"Where is she, Vlad?"
|
||
"You'll never find her."
|
||
"We'll see. Merlin, take him out of here. I'm sure Gerard and Julian
|
||
will want to see him."
|
||
Vlad blanched and looked around as if ready to run for it. But with
|
||
two other men prepared to jump him at the slightest provocation, he decided to
|
||
give it up. "In Remba's dungeons."
|
||
"Why doesn't she answer?"
|
||
"She's been kept unconscious."
|
||
"And Ghost?"
|
||
"How should I know? Ask Merlin. It's his toy."
|
||
"The 'assasination attempt'?" Chalice said.
|
||
Vlad laughed in her face. "Between us, O Princess of the Unicorn, it
|
||
is vendetta."
|
||
"Why?"
|
||
"Don't be obtuse, Princess." They locked stares for a long time.
|
||
"Very well," she said finally. "May we agree on a truce until I can
|
||
get my friends--innocent bystanders and mortals all--out of the way and back
|
||
into their own Shadow?"
|
||
"Have it your way. I have the feeling I'll be occupied for some time
|
||
to come."
|
||
"You got that right," Merlin said, sliding an Italian stiletto between
|
||
his ribs.
|
||
Vlad slid silently to the floor.
|
||
"Sorry about the rug, Random."
|
||
"That's okay. He's not bleeding much."
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
CHAPTER 12
|
||
|
||
|
||
Two days later, the group of Enterprise personnel left Castle Amber.
|
||
Riker, Worf, and Chalice rode steeds from the stable, while Crusher, Troi, and
|
||
the still-sleeping Picard traveled in a wagon.
|
||
"So Amber constitues the one true reality, and the further away you
|
||
get, the less real things are?" Riker asked his hostess as they rode easily
|
||
down the slopes of Kolvir.
|
||
"That's pretty much correct."
|
||
"Is the process continuous, or are there breaks in it?"
|
||
"Continuous, most of the time."
|
||
"In other words, where we are right now is less real than where we
|
||
were five minutes ago."
|
||
"Theoretically, yes. But you'd never be able to quantify the
|
||
difference. And to tell the truth, we don't usually try." The sun shone in
|
||
the impossibly blue sky; the sea glittered below them, and the wind from the
|
||
forest was invitingly cool in their faces.
|
||
"Usually?"
|
||
"Usually."
|
||
"For a subquantal physicist, you sound awfully imprecise."
|
||
"I did say *most* of us don't try." With her uniform she wore the
|
||
Unicorn pendant. Today it was on a short chain of heavy platinum so it rested
|
||
snugly around her high black collar. "How are you doing back there?" she
|
||
called to Deanna, who held the team's reins in her good hand.
|
||
"We're fine. This is an awfully well-trained set of horses."
|
||
"One of Julian's talents," Chalice remarked to Riker.
|
||
They rode at an easy pace throughout the morning, stopped for an
|
||
elegant picnic in a clearing in the Forest of Arden, and then rode for a few
|
||
more hours. Eventually Chalice steered them to a small rocky bluff, and they
|
||
followed it for a whil. Near a narrow cave opening, she pulled up and
|
||
dismounted. "From here we walk," she announced. They slid Captain Picard,
|
||
now lashed to a stretcher, out of the back of the wagon, and Worf and Riker
|
||
carrying him, followed Chalice into the cave. Deanna and Beverly were in the
|
||
rear.
|
||
There were a few tricky twists early on, but the way soon straightened
|
||
out and widened. Periodic torches threw dancing light to guide them.
|
||
"Will," Beverly said, "This rock has been worked."
|
||
"I noticed."
|
||
Soon the cave had become a corridor with regular lights above and
|
||
doors at either side. Riker wondered idly what he would see if he opened one.
|
||
Chalice picked a door, a flimsy-looking thing with peeling paint. She stared
|
||
at it hard for a long moment, and then she pulled it open.
|
||
The group walked into the Enterprise. "That's quite a trick,
|
||
Lieutenant," Riker said.
|
||
"My pleasure, sir."
|
||
Riker hit his communicator. "Medical team to this location. Commander
|
||
Shelby, Commander LaForge, meet me on the bridge with full reports in five
|
||
minutes. I want to get underway as soon as possible. Riker out."
|
||
He looked at Chalice. "Back home?"
|
||
"Back home."
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
--
|
||
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Lorna Payne
|
||
Certified Math Geek and Grammarian
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Heisenberg may have been here . . . but it's not certain.
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
|
||
|