Where No Jedi Has Gone Before-done! Survey on page 9
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:50 pm
I posted this a while ago, but it was rough at best. So, I'm gonna restart it and carry through.
Here we go!
*****
Prologue
He was dead. Of that much, he was certain.
James T. Kirk held up his hands, or at least the spiritual equivalent. They were now translucent and had an odd blue tinge to them. In a paradoxical way, he felt more alive than he ever had before.
He looked up just in time to see that Starfleet captain from the future. "Jean-Luc!" he yelled. "I'm not dead." He paused. "I can't be dead. I was supposed to die alone."
Just ahead, Jean-Luc Picard, captain of the late starship Enterprise, pulled a corpse out of a twisted metal framework. Kirk walked up to him and peered over his shoulder. No emotion was visible on his face as he stared into his own lifeless eyes.
Jean-Luc closed his eyes and made the sign of the cross. Merde. I'm sorry, Jim. I should have been able to defeat Soran and A tear ran down his cheek as he gathered up Jim's body. "I will see you get a proper burial. It's the least I can do."
Jean-Luc began walking straight towards Jim, who was only mildly surprised when the captain passed right through him. The ghost shivered at the experience. "I don't like that."
"It's not so bad, once you get used to it."
Jim spun around and instantly shifted into a standard Starfleet defensive stance. After about half a second, he remembered his intangibility. "Who are you?" he asked as he regarded at the man.
Like Jim, his body had a blue tinge to it and was translucent. Unlike Jim, who was still clad in his Starfleet uniform, he wore a simple gray shirt, white pants and a brown robe. His face was partially obscured by a hood.
Jim walked up to him. "My name is James T. Kirk, late of the starship Enterprise. I ask again: who are you?"
The man pulled down the hood, showing a weathered face and blue eyes that shone with amusement and wisdom. "I am to be your guide into what comes next. It will be confusing and perhaps a little frightening, but I can assure you it will be worth it in the end. Consider it the true 'final frontier'."
Jim turned around slowly and looked up. By now Jean-Luc was halfway up the mountain. "A friend of mine once said that I can take death, and turn it into a fighting chance." He shrugged his shoulders. "I guess my chances were all used up." He looked back at the man. "So, what force sent you here, the angels or the devils?"
A low chuckle escaped from the man's lips. "I wouldn't call all of them angels, but it is a force of the light that sent me." He walked up to Jim and, much to his surprise, placed a hand on Jim's shoulder. "You have done much good, James T. Kirk. It's now time for you to rest. Let the burden of saving the galaxy fall onto the next generation's shoulders."
For a second, he hesitated. Then a thought struck him. I'm dead. What good can come from hanging around this plane of existence when there's a new one just waiting? "All right, lead the way Mr. " He hesitated as a look of confusion swept his face. "By the way, what's your name?"
The man laughed. "I apologize." He bowed in a slightly exaggerated manner. "I am Obi-Wan Kenobi, but you can call me Ben." Ben put his arm around Jim's shoulders as he led Jim off into the light.
"Oh, Ben?"
"Yes?"
"Call me Jim."
Chapter One: Crossing the Barrier
Captain's log: Stardate 53010.3. With the end of the Dominion Incursion, Starfleet hopes that diplomatic relations might be opened with the Romulans. We have been allowed to retrieve Ambassador Spock so he might address the Federation Council on the current state of the Romulan Empire.
Jean-Luc Picard stood at attention in transporter room three as a column of energy appeared on the transporter platform in front of him, coalescing into a humanoid form. Details quickly filled in, revealing the robed form of Ambassador Spock.
Spock stepped down from the platform and stood in front of Picard. The captain noted that Spock's face seemed to carry a few more wrinkles since last they met. Still, the Vulcan carried himself with a quiet dignity that few could match. He walked up to Picard and held up his hand. "Peace and long life," he said, spreading his fingers in the traditional Vulcan salute.
Picard nodded and returned the gesture. "Live long and prosper."
Spock nodded. "It is good to see you again, Captain."
Picard nodded, and the two walked out of the transporter room. "How is Romulus?"
Spock's right eyebrow arched. "The populace threw its full support behind the war once the Dominion's plans were leaked. It also led to a lot of the citizens getting involved in issues they might not have." He let out a breath as they continued down the corridor, passing several crewmembers. "The war has possibly done more good for the Romulans than bad. Illogical, but true."
Picard nodded. "War is the least logical course of action, but sometimes the most necessary." They entered a turbolift. "Deck eleven," Picard said.
Picard and Spock continued talking while the car traversed the tunnels connecting the various parts of the ship. "We have Ambassador Worf with us. Perhaps you two can-" Before Picard could continue, the turbo lift shuddered around them. Both men also felt their vision dim, as if the lights inside the car shorted out for a moment. Picard tapped his combadge. "Bridge, what just happened?"
*****
Commander William Riker looked up from the science station in the Enterprise's bridge. "We're not sure, Captain. The ship dropped out of warp, and then everyone's vision went fuzzy for a moment. Frankly, I'm not sure what happened." He glanced up at the ops station, currently occupied by the ship's second officer Lieutenant Commander Data.
Data glanced up from various readoutsand shrugged. "I have no idea what is going on, sir."
Riker let out a groan and looked up at the large main viewscreen mounted at the front of the bridge. "Helm, check the position of the stars against our maps. Let's see where we are."
The main viewscreen flickered from a shot of space to a three-dimensional picture of local space on one side. Various maps of star clusters and sectors flashed on the other as the computer tried to match up where they were. The computer spoke after a full minute. "Unable to identify location."
Data turned back to Riker and smiled. "Well, we are explorers. It appears we can now do quite a bit of exploring."
Riker scowled and turned back to the science station. "Get to work on finding out what happened."
Data nodded and sat back down. "Aye, sir."
The aft turbolift door opened, allowing Picard and Spock to enter. "Report," Picard ordered.
Riker looked up and over. "We don't have any real answers, Captain. One moment we were going along at warp seven, and the next our visions dim and our sensors go offline."
Spock's right eyebrow arched. "I am afraid, Commander Riker, that that is often the case." He walked over to the station and leaned forward. His hands darted over the controls and his eyes narrowed slightly.
The first officer shrank back a bit and a bit of sweat broke out on his forehead at being in proximity of such a legend. It quickly passed as the half-Vulcan's hands continued to fly over the console, checking readings and sensor logs.
He straightened up and looked over to the ops station. "Mister Data, I am going to perform a quantum analysis. Would you assist me?"
The pale-skinned android cocked his cranium to the side and scratched his head. "I would be happy to, but what would be the point?"
A new voice spoke up before Spock could answer. "Captain, we have an unidentified ship entering sensor range."
Picard turned to the source of the voice, an Andorian tactical officer by the name of Tirsek. "Can you identify it?"
Tirsek snarled and shook her head, her shaggy white hair swishing about. "I can't, sir. It doesn't match any known configuration in our database." She looked up and let out a sigh. "Sorry, sir."
Picard waved her off and walked over to his chair. He sat down and looked up at the main viewscreen. "Let's put this new arrival onscreen." The image abruptly changed from space to a small but growing disk. "Magnify."
The disk grew into a larger one and details began showing. Two triangular prongs stuck out of the forward section and a large sensor dish jutted from the dorsal surface. Picard's trained eyes also picked out an obvious weapons emplacement at the top.
Tirsek spoke up. "Sir, we are being hailed Audio only."
The captain nodded. "Put it through."
A male's voice came through. "Ah, this is Han Solo of the Millennium Falcon. Are you people lost?"
Picard's eyebrow arched in a most Vulcan-like fashion. "Ah I believe so. I'm Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation starship Enterprise. Can you please tell us our location?"
A short laugh came over. "Heh, that's a good one." There was a short pause before, "Wait, you really don't know?"
The turbolift doors opened again, allowing Ambassador Worf to exit. He wore black pants, a tunic and a robe laden with medals. Worf walked over to Picard's chair and looked over at the viewer. "I apologize for the delay, Captain. I was doing my calisthenics when it happened."
Picard nodded in understanding, then looked back to the viewscreen as he addressed Han Solo again. "I'm afraid not, Captain Solo. It appears we've accidentally crossed a large expanse of space in little time, throwing us into uncharted space. We'd appreciate any help."
On the Falcon, Han's brown eyes looked over the strange ship. He had to admit, it had some fine lines to it. "It looks like she's moving, even while standing still," he muttered.
Next to him, Chewie nodded. [I would give anything to look at that thing's engines,] the Wookiee growled.
Han leaned forward and toggled the com switch. "Captain, you're near the Yavin System. My brother runs the Jedi Academy on the fourth moon of the gas giant. If you'd like, I can escort you there."
Chewie looked over at Han, but he waved him off. "Don't worry, pal. I've got a good feeling about this."
*****
Picard thought for a moment before speaking. "We'd be happy to take you up on your offer, Captain Solo. Picard out."
Tirsek closed the channel before speaking. "Captain, I think I know where this Solo fellow is talking about. There's a star system about two light years out, and sensors not only indicate a gas giant but one with several moons."
Picard nodded and organized his thoughts before speaking. "Mister Data, continue the quantum scan and coordinate with Ambassador Spock. I want a report by the time we hit this Yavin System." He stood up and turned to Worf. "Ambassador, we may need you once we get there."
Worf drew himself to his full height, his dark eyes piercing. "I am at your disposal, Captain."
The captain nodded and patted him on the arm. "Thank you." He turned to helm and spoke. "Set course for the Yavin System, warp seven."
The Enterprise's bow rose and the impulse engines fired, sending the Sovereign-class battle cruiser forward and past the Millennium Falcon. The comparatively tiny CEC YT-1300 freighter pirouetted on its axis and followed behind. The twin nacelles of the Enterprise flashed, creating a warp field and sending the ship hurtling forward at six-hundred fifty-six times the speed of light. The Falcon followed and, with a flash of light, entered hyperspace.
*****
Please read and review?
Here we go!
*****
Prologue
He was dead. Of that much, he was certain.
James T. Kirk held up his hands, or at least the spiritual equivalent. They were now translucent and had an odd blue tinge to them. In a paradoxical way, he felt more alive than he ever had before.
He looked up just in time to see that Starfleet captain from the future. "Jean-Luc!" he yelled. "I'm not dead." He paused. "I can't be dead. I was supposed to die alone."
Just ahead, Jean-Luc Picard, captain of the late starship Enterprise, pulled a corpse out of a twisted metal framework. Kirk walked up to him and peered over his shoulder. No emotion was visible on his face as he stared into his own lifeless eyes.
Jean-Luc closed his eyes and made the sign of the cross. Merde. I'm sorry, Jim. I should have been able to defeat Soran and A tear ran down his cheek as he gathered up Jim's body. "I will see you get a proper burial. It's the least I can do."
Jean-Luc began walking straight towards Jim, who was only mildly surprised when the captain passed right through him. The ghost shivered at the experience. "I don't like that."
"It's not so bad, once you get used to it."
Jim spun around and instantly shifted into a standard Starfleet defensive stance. After about half a second, he remembered his intangibility. "Who are you?" he asked as he regarded at the man.
Like Jim, his body had a blue tinge to it and was translucent. Unlike Jim, who was still clad in his Starfleet uniform, he wore a simple gray shirt, white pants and a brown robe. His face was partially obscured by a hood.
Jim walked up to him. "My name is James T. Kirk, late of the starship Enterprise. I ask again: who are you?"
The man pulled down the hood, showing a weathered face and blue eyes that shone with amusement and wisdom. "I am to be your guide into what comes next. It will be confusing and perhaps a little frightening, but I can assure you it will be worth it in the end. Consider it the true 'final frontier'."
Jim turned around slowly and looked up. By now Jean-Luc was halfway up the mountain. "A friend of mine once said that I can take death, and turn it into a fighting chance." He shrugged his shoulders. "I guess my chances were all used up." He looked back at the man. "So, what force sent you here, the angels or the devils?"
A low chuckle escaped from the man's lips. "I wouldn't call all of them angels, but it is a force of the light that sent me." He walked up to Jim and, much to his surprise, placed a hand on Jim's shoulder. "You have done much good, James T. Kirk. It's now time for you to rest. Let the burden of saving the galaxy fall onto the next generation's shoulders."
For a second, he hesitated. Then a thought struck him. I'm dead. What good can come from hanging around this plane of existence when there's a new one just waiting? "All right, lead the way Mr. " He hesitated as a look of confusion swept his face. "By the way, what's your name?"
The man laughed. "I apologize." He bowed in a slightly exaggerated manner. "I am Obi-Wan Kenobi, but you can call me Ben." Ben put his arm around Jim's shoulders as he led Jim off into the light.
"Oh, Ben?"
"Yes?"
"Call me Jim."
Chapter One: Crossing the Barrier
Captain's log: Stardate 53010.3. With the end of the Dominion Incursion, Starfleet hopes that diplomatic relations might be opened with the Romulans. We have been allowed to retrieve Ambassador Spock so he might address the Federation Council on the current state of the Romulan Empire.
Jean-Luc Picard stood at attention in transporter room three as a column of energy appeared on the transporter platform in front of him, coalescing into a humanoid form. Details quickly filled in, revealing the robed form of Ambassador Spock.
Spock stepped down from the platform and stood in front of Picard. The captain noted that Spock's face seemed to carry a few more wrinkles since last they met. Still, the Vulcan carried himself with a quiet dignity that few could match. He walked up to Picard and held up his hand. "Peace and long life," he said, spreading his fingers in the traditional Vulcan salute.
Picard nodded and returned the gesture. "Live long and prosper."
Spock nodded. "It is good to see you again, Captain."
Picard nodded, and the two walked out of the transporter room. "How is Romulus?"
Spock's right eyebrow arched. "The populace threw its full support behind the war once the Dominion's plans were leaked. It also led to a lot of the citizens getting involved in issues they might not have." He let out a breath as they continued down the corridor, passing several crewmembers. "The war has possibly done more good for the Romulans than bad. Illogical, but true."
Picard nodded. "War is the least logical course of action, but sometimes the most necessary." They entered a turbolift. "Deck eleven," Picard said.
Picard and Spock continued talking while the car traversed the tunnels connecting the various parts of the ship. "We have Ambassador Worf with us. Perhaps you two can-" Before Picard could continue, the turbo lift shuddered around them. Both men also felt their vision dim, as if the lights inside the car shorted out for a moment. Picard tapped his combadge. "Bridge, what just happened?"
*****
Commander William Riker looked up from the science station in the Enterprise's bridge. "We're not sure, Captain. The ship dropped out of warp, and then everyone's vision went fuzzy for a moment. Frankly, I'm not sure what happened." He glanced up at the ops station, currently occupied by the ship's second officer Lieutenant Commander Data.
Data glanced up from various readoutsand shrugged. "I have no idea what is going on, sir."
Riker let out a groan and looked up at the large main viewscreen mounted at the front of the bridge. "Helm, check the position of the stars against our maps. Let's see where we are."
The main viewscreen flickered from a shot of space to a three-dimensional picture of local space on one side. Various maps of star clusters and sectors flashed on the other as the computer tried to match up where they were. The computer spoke after a full minute. "Unable to identify location."
Data turned back to Riker and smiled. "Well, we are explorers. It appears we can now do quite a bit of exploring."
Riker scowled and turned back to the science station. "Get to work on finding out what happened."
Data nodded and sat back down. "Aye, sir."
The aft turbolift door opened, allowing Picard and Spock to enter. "Report," Picard ordered.
Riker looked up and over. "We don't have any real answers, Captain. One moment we were going along at warp seven, and the next our visions dim and our sensors go offline."
Spock's right eyebrow arched. "I am afraid, Commander Riker, that that is often the case." He walked over to the station and leaned forward. His hands darted over the controls and his eyes narrowed slightly.
The first officer shrank back a bit and a bit of sweat broke out on his forehead at being in proximity of such a legend. It quickly passed as the half-Vulcan's hands continued to fly over the console, checking readings and sensor logs.
He straightened up and looked over to the ops station. "Mister Data, I am going to perform a quantum analysis. Would you assist me?"
The pale-skinned android cocked his cranium to the side and scratched his head. "I would be happy to, but what would be the point?"
A new voice spoke up before Spock could answer. "Captain, we have an unidentified ship entering sensor range."
Picard turned to the source of the voice, an Andorian tactical officer by the name of Tirsek. "Can you identify it?"
Tirsek snarled and shook her head, her shaggy white hair swishing about. "I can't, sir. It doesn't match any known configuration in our database." She looked up and let out a sigh. "Sorry, sir."
Picard waved her off and walked over to his chair. He sat down and looked up at the main viewscreen. "Let's put this new arrival onscreen." The image abruptly changed from space to a small but growing disk. "Magnify."
The disk grew into a larger one and details began showing. Two triangular prongs stuck out of the forward section and a large sensor dish jutted from the dorsal surface. Picard's trained eyes also picked out an obvious weapons emplacement at the top.
Tirsek spoke up. "Sir, we are being hailed Audio only."
The captain nodded. "Put it through."
A male's voice came through. "Ah, this is Han Solo of the Millennium Falcon. Are you people lost?"
Picard's eyebrow arched in a most Vulcan-like fashion. "Ah I believe so. I'm Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation starship Enterprise. Can you please tell us our location?"
A short laugh came over. "Heh, that's a good one." There was a short pause before, "Wait, you really don't know?"
The turbolift doors opened again, allowing Ambassador Worf to exit. He wore black pants, a tunic and a robe laden with medals. Worf walked over to Picard's chair and looked over at the viewer. "I apologize for the delay, Captain. I was doing my calisthenics when it happened."
Picard nodded in understanding, then looked back to the viewscreen as he addressed Han Solo again. "I'm afraid not, Captain Solo. It appears we've accidentally crossed a large expanse of space in little time, throwing us into uncharted space. We'd appreciate any help."
On the Falcon, Han's brown eyes looked over the strange ship. He had to admit, it had some fine lines to it. "It looks like she's moving, even while standing still," he muttered.
Next to him, Chewie nodded. [I would give anything to look at that thing's engines,] the Wookiee growled.
Han leaned forward and toggled the com switch. "Captain, you're near the Yavin System. My brother runs the Jedi Academy on the fourth moon of the gas giant. If you'd like, I can escort you there."
Chewie looked over at Han, but he waved him off. "Don't worry, pal. I've got a good feeling about this."
*****
Picard thought for a moment before speaking. "We'd be happy to take you up on your offer, Captain Solo. Picard out."
Tirsek closed the channel before speaking. "Captain, I think I know where this Solo fellow is talking about. There's a star system about two light years out, and sensors not only indicate a gas giant but one with several moons."
Picard nodded and organized his thoughts before speaking. "Mister Data, continue the quantum scan and coordinate with Ambassador Spock. I want a report by the time we hit this Yavin System." He stood up and turned to Worf. "Ambassador, we may need you once we get there."
Worf drew himself to his full height, his dark eyes piercing. "I am at your disposal, Captain."
The captain nodded and patted him on the arm. "Thank you." He turned to helm and spoke. "Set course for the Yavin System, warp seven."
The Enterprise's bow rose and the impulse engines fired, sending the Sovereign-class battle cruiser forward and past the Millennium Falcon. The comparatively tiny CEC YT-1300 freighter pirouetted on its axis and followed behind. The twin nacelles of the Enterprise flashed, creating a warp field and sending the ship hurtling forward at six-hundred fifty-six times the speed of light. The Falcon followed and, with a flash of light, entered hyperspace.
*****
Please read and review?