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From: jfm@christa.unh.edu (John F Moore)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: Treklander II, part 1
Date: 2 Jun 1994 20:22:47 GMT
Organization: University of New Hampshire - Durham, NH
Lines: 91
Message-ID: <2slf2n$rj@mozz.unh.edu>
NNTP-Posting-Host: christa.unh.edu
There can be only one...These are the voyages...
T R E K L A N D E R I I
Copyright 1994 John F. Moore III
Part 1
It was a shift like any other at Deep Space Nine. Quark was busy
serving customers while making sure Odo didn't find out about his latest
schemes, Dr. Bashir was working on some organic samples taken in the Gamma
Quadrant, Chief O'Brian was grumbling about one more thing to jury-rig on
the station...just your average day on the station.
At Ops, Major Kira was going over the docking schedules for the day.
Dax wandered over to see why Kira was so interested in this day's
schedule. Usually Kira had one of her subordinates handle such mundane
tasks, leaving her to devote more of her time to running Ops.
"Why the attention to the schedule, Kira?"
Kira paid her a cursory glance. "Odo got wind of a ship from Clari III
that had spent a great deal of time talking with Quark. The communi-
cations were scrambled so we don't know who it is...only where it was
from."
"Any luck?" Dax asked, her curiosity peaked.
"That's the odd thing. There's only one ship from that region, and
it's a warp shuttle carrying a Federation diplomat."
"Why would a diplomat want to talk with Quark?"
"You got me," Kira shrugged, "but I've informed Odo."
"So why are you still interested?"
Kira pulled up a file. "I'm working on getting records on the occupants
of the shuttle. One is a Starfleet officer who resigned her commision
just before leaving Clari III, but the other two I can't find traces
of..."
"Who chartered the shuttle?"
Kira glared at her screen as if that would magicly give her the desired
information. "Ambassador Duncan MacLeod. He's on some diplomatic
mission into the Gamma Quadrant."
Dax looked stunned, then gave her typical whimsical smirk. Kira saw it.
"Mind telling me what's so damn amusing?" she asked.
"Duncan..."
Richie relieved Julia Cathaway of her piloting duties. She went back
to the rear of the shuttle to see her lover, Duncan MacLeod, waiting with
coffee. She gave him a kiss for his thoughtfulness.
"How long until we're due to arrive at Bajor," he asked.
"About another couple of hours. We'll be in sensor range in about an
hour and a half."
One of the things that attracted Julia to Duncan was his `roughness'...
his wanting to stand apart from modern society. Duncan once told her that
the late twentieth century was his favorite time period, besides the
period when he was Awakened. He even went to great lengths to ensure that
his personal shuttle, which was waiting for them on the Serties, had been
stripped of many twenty-fourth century conveniences. The first she
noticed was the food replicator had been replaced with a small kitchen-
ette, complete with enough food for the journey. Duncan said he and
Richie preferred to cook their own food, and she had to admit that food
tasted better when it was prepared by her own hand.
She drank her coffee and curled into Duncan's arms.
"We'll have about a day while the shuttle's restocked and maintained,"
Duncan said. "What do you think we should do in that time?"
Julia just smiled dreamily and said, "I'm sure we'll think of something."
"I knew Duncan MacLeod fifty years ago, when I was Kurzon Dax. He was a
swashbuckler back then. Ah, the adventures he would tell me about...I
actually saw him in action once, when the Tylok, a starliner on which we
were both passengers, was attacked. He--"
Kira cut her off. "Judzia, that was fifty years ago. I'm sure he's
changed quite a bit since then."
Dax laughed slightly. "Can you picture his face when he sees me?"
Kira looked sternly at him. "Remember lieutenant, he may have been
talking to Quark about who know what."
Dax sobered slightly. "You're right. I should tell Odo what I know
about him, not that it will help much after fifty years."
Dax entered the lift and headed for Odo's office.
Kira tried to get something on Ambassador MacLeod again. She pulled his
Federation bio. Much of the information was blank, but she found a
picture of him.
Kira frowned when she saw a thirty year-old man that Dax said she knew
fifty years ago. She hit her commbadge, she reached Dax and asked if she
knew any ships both Kurzon and MacLeod were aboard and when they were on
said ships.
She pulled up passenger manifests for said ships, those that were still
on-record anyway, and pulled MacLeod's portrait. She gaped when she
discovered that the portraits were identical.
She tapped her commbadge. "Kira to Odo. I'm sending you something
that should interest you."
--
*****************************************************************************
Prince John III jfm@christa.unh.edu
Join the Government of New Atlantis...Email me today and ask how!
"You want it all but you can't have it!" -- Faith No More
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From: jfm@christa.unh.edu (John F Moore)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: Treklander II, part 2
Date: 16 Jun 1994 14:05:06 GMT
Organization: University of New Hampshire - Durham, NH
Lines: 98
Message-ID: <2tpm6i$fn5@mozz.unh.edu>
References: <Ron_Stein-150694091200@222.188.55.222> <matthewk.771718101@ucsu.colorado.edu> <2tok3c$pn@news.CCIT.Arizona.EDU>
NNTP-Posting-Host: christa.unh.edu
There can be only one...These are the voyages...
T R E K L A N D E R I I
Copyright 1994 John F. Moore III
Part 2
Odo waltzed into Quark's. As if on cue, most of Quark's more seedier
regulars became scarce as the Security chief zeroed in on the Ferengi
behind the bar.
"Constable," Quark said through a forced smile, "what a pleasant
surprise. How may I help you?"
"You can start," Odo hissed, "by telling me who you were talking to on
Clari III and why."
"It was personal business," Quark quickly said. "Nothing to consern
yourself with."
"It just seems odd that a warp shuttle is due to arrive within a day
from that very planet."
"You don't say...," Quark said thoughtfully. "Strange how coincidences
like that happen."
"Isn't it," Odo shot back dryly. "I'll be keeping an eye on you while
the shuttle is being restocked...moreso than usual."
"You have *nothing* to fear from law-abiding citizens like myself,"
Quark said with a well-rehearesed innocent expression.
Odo just snorted and walked out. Neither he nor Quark noticed Dr.
Bashir listening closely to the conversation.
Commander Sisco entered Ops from his office. "Report."
"All systems report normal sir," Chief O'Brian reported from his station.
"Commander," Kira said as she walked up to him, "Ambassador MacLeod is
due to arrive tomorrow for a short stopover before a diplomatic mission to
the Gamma Quadrant."
Sisco looked at Kira. "Why wasn't I told? I shall arrange--"
"Benjamin," Dax said from her station, "I knew the Ambassador as
Kurzon Dax. He wasn't big on formal affairs. But if you're organizing a
welcoming party..."
Sisco smiled slightly at his old friend. "I'll include you Dax."
"Commander," Kira said impatiently.
"Yes Major, I'm sorry. Was there something else?"
"Ambassador MacLeod is under suspicion of illegal activities--"
"What kind of activities?" Sisco asked.
"I'm not sure yet, but a transmission to Quark was recieved from the
Ambassador's point of origin, and since his ship is the only one arriving
from that destination--"
"So you're ready to condemn a Federation diplomat because someone from
the area he *happened* to have departed from talked with Quark?" Sisco
stared at his First Officer sternly. "While I agree that the events may
be linked I don't think we should condemn him just yet. We will greet
the Ambassador with the proper respect, but not overly so. I will inform
Odo to keep an eye on both Quark and the Ambassador, though I'm sure
Odo's already getting ready for the Ambassador's arrival."
Dr. Bashir exited Sick Bay after reading the passenger manifest for
Ambassador MacLeod's shuttle. A short time later he entered Security. A
watch officer was sitting it the desk.
"May I help you, Doctor?" she asked.
"I was looking for Constable Odo, actually."
"The Constable is off-duty right now. Is there anything I can help you
with?"
"No," Bashir said, "I was just wondering about what was being done
about Ambassador MacLeod's arrival. I couldn't help but overhear that Odo
suspects him of having dealings with Quark. Since I'm old friends with
one of his companions I'm naturally concerned."
"Well," the watch officer said, "as I'm sure you know I can't disclose
that information without the Constable's authority, but I will let him
know your concerns."
"Thank you. Tell him at the very least I would like to know what he
finds out about the Ambassador and his companions."
Julian left Security and returned to Sick Bay. Entering his office, he
locked the door and activated his desk computer.
"Computer, activate personal files, authorization Bashir-nine-alpha-six.
Access all information on following persons..."
"We've entered Bajoran system Mac," Richie said from the cockpit. He
got up as Julia eased into the pilot's seat.
The station came into full view to the shuttle.
"Where's the wormhole?" Ritchie wondered to himself.
Julia answered. "The Bajoran wormhole is only visible when ships are
either entering or leaving the wormhole. Sensors pick up the disturbance
caused by the wormhole's position." She pulled up a sensor reading of
the system to show Richie the position of the wormhole."
*This is Deep Space Nine, welcome to Bajor. You are cleared to dock.
Please relinquish control to station tractor beams.*
"This is Ambassador MacLeod's shuttle. Instructions recieved. You
have control, station."
As the tractor beam locked onto the shuttle and guided it toward the
landing platform, the trio got their essentials together and prepared to
disembark.
"You realize that they'll be waiting for us with some kind of pompous
ceremony," Richie said.
"I know," Duncan sighed, "but we'll just have to grin and take their
worst..."
--
*****************************************************************************
Prince John III jfm@christa.unh.edu
Join the Government of New Atlantis...Email me today and ask how!
"You want it all but you can't have it!" -- Faith No More
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From: jfm@christa.unh.edu (John F Moore)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: Treklander II, part 3
Date: 24 Jun 1994 19:36:38 GMT
Organization: University of New Hampshire - Durham, NH
Lines: 68
Message-ID: <2ufck6$n7t@mozz.unh.edu>
NNTP-Posting-Host: christa.unh.edu
T R E K L A N D E R I I
Copyright 1994 John F. Moore III
Part 3
Commander Sisco, Lt. Dax, and Constable Odo stood in formal dress by the
airlock door as it opened, revealing Duncan MacLeod. Dax's mouth
immediately gaped when she saw the man she knew fifty years ago, looking
as if he hadn't aged a day.
"Ambassador, welcome to Deep Space Nine. I'm Commander Benjamin Sisco,
Commanding Officer of the station. This is my Chief of Security,
Constable Odo, and my Science Office, Lt. Judzia Dax."
"Commander, Constable...Lt. Dax, are you well? You seem a little pale."
Dax snapped back to reality and closed her mouth, choking back the
questions she had to ask. Now was not the proper time or place.
MacLeod continued as two others exited the airlock. "These are my
assistants Julia Cathaway and Richie--"
*Ops to Commander Sisco,* Kira's voice chirped.
Sisco tapped his commbadge. "Go ahead Major."
*Commander, there's a disturbance in the docking ring. The Isari won't
let Chief O'Brian's team aboard their vessel to do routine maintenance.*
"On my way. Sisco out." He then turned to MacLeod. "My apologies,
Ambassador, but duty calls."
"Not at all," MacLeod said, "I'm not overly fond of these stuffy
affairs anyway."
Sisco and Odo headed toward the docking ring, while Dax returned to the
bridge after staring disbelievingly at MacLeod.
"What was that all about Mac?" Richie asked.
"What was what all about?"
"The way that Trill just...stared at you."
"I have a feeling," MacLeod said, "that we've met before..."
(The SL Tylok, Statdate 10325.6, about fifty years ago. Duncan MacLeod
and Kurzon Dax sat in their cabin playing three-dimentional chess.
"I'm afraid that's checkmate," Duncan said.
Kurzon looked at the board. "Well, I'll be damned. That's three in a
row I've lost."
"Play again?"
Kurzon laughed. "No, I know to quit when I'm behind. C'mon. Let's
head to the lounge. I'm sure that Garani waitress was checking me out."
Duncan slapped his friend on the back. "You never change Kurzon. All
right, but you're buying."
As the pair headed toward the lounge, the ship was rocked by an
explosion.
"Pirates," Duncan hissed. "They're getting bold, attacking a starliner
on the main starlanes."
"This is a passenger ship! What do they want with us?"
"Whatever they can get," Duncan stated. Suddenly, he Sensed an Immortal
in the vicinity.
"What is it?" Kurzon asked.
"Nothing. Look, you get into hiding. I'm going get our bags and
valuables."
Kurzon didn't argue. As soon as he was out of sight of Kurzon, Duncan
drew his sword and sought out the Immortal...)
"Well," Julia said, "we're not accomplishing much standing here. Why
don't we go get a drink while the Commander's busy. When he's done, we
can find out where we're staying."
The trio headed to Quark's, not noticing the dark-skinned medical
officer listening in to their conversation. As they left, he snuck onto
their shuttle...
--
*****************************************************************************
Prince John III jfm@christa.unh.edu
Join the Government of New Atlantis...Email me today and ask how!
"You want it all but you can't have it!" -- Faith No More
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From: jfm@christa.unh.edu (John F Moore)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: Treklander II, part 4
Date: 30 Jun 1994 15:26:20 GMT
Organization: University of New Hampshire - Durham, NH
Lines: 98
Message-ID: <2uuo6s$egl@mozz.unh.edu>
NNTP-Posting-Host: christa.unh.edu
There can be only one...These are the voyages...
T R E K L A N D E R I I
Copyright 1994 John F. Moore III
Part 4
Duncan and Julia sat in the balcony of Quark's while Richie entertained
himself at the gambling tables. They ignored the Ferengi proprietor as
he approached the table.
"Good evening, folks. I'm your host, Quark. Can I get you anything?"
"A little peace and quiet," Duncan said as he sipped his drink. Julia
barely hid her giggle.
Quark ignored Duncan's crack. "I hear you've just come from the Clari
system. Wonderful place. Haven't been there myself but I know several
traders who pass through the area frequently..."
Suddenly Duncan's wrist unit started beeping. He turned to Quark. "Do
you have access to the security monitors?"
"Well, I might, if the price is--"
Duncan grabbed Quark by the lapels and pulled him close. "Take me to
them...*now*! You'll get your money upon reciept of the use of the
monitor."
Quark smiled uneasily as Duncan released him. "Well, why didn't you
say so in the first place? Right this way."
Duncan motioned for Julia to stay put as Quark led him into the tavern's
office. Julia didn't notice as a nearby table reformed silently into Odo.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when Odo spoke behind her. "Quark
seems to have taken quite an interest in Ambassador MacLeod."
As Julia caught her breath, he continued. "Strange that the yours is
the only ship from that area and Quark recieved a message from that same
system.
Julia spun to face the changeling security officer. "The only
transmission we made was to alert the station we were coming for a brief
stopover. I have no idea who else would...oh no..."
Odo peered suspiciously at her. "Something you'd like to share, ms.
Cathaway?"
"Only that you may have a great deal more trouble than you bargained
for..."
Quark took Duncan to his private console and tapped in the security
codes he procured. Odo was good, damn him, but not infallible. Quark
had access to all of Odo's systems except his personal files, despite
Odo's constant upgrades, but could only read, not alter. This had proven
very useful on many occasions, to see just what Odo had on him and his
"associates." He brought up the observation subdirectory.
"I want to see my shuttle," MacLeod said.
Entering the proper commands, Quark proudly showed MacLeod the inside
of his vessel. It was empty.
"Can you replay a display?"
"Anything Odo can do, I can do from here," Quark stated proudly.
"Show this area ten minutes ago, about the time you approached the table."
Quark complied. The ship now showed a dark-skinned man in a Starfleet
Sciences garb poking around the ship, until he accesssed the shuttle's
computer. Studying it momentarily, he left.
"Who is that?" Duncan asked.
"That's the station medical officer, Julian Bashir. Why would he be
interested--"
"Thanks for your help," Duncan said, leaving a half bar of Latinum on
Quark's desk.
"Anytime..." Quark purred, eyeing the bar.
Dax stopped Duncan as he and his companions exited Quark's.
"Duncan...? Is that really you?"
"I'm sorry Lieutenant...Dax is it?"
"Duncan, it's *me!* Dax! Don't you remember?"
"I've never met you before in my life--"
"Remember before the pirate attack on the Tylok fifty years ago?
Remember how we were going to check out that waitress who I thought was
eyeing me, but it turrns out was eyeing your female companion?"
Duncan's eyes widened. "Kurzon? Is that you?"
"I *knew* it! What happened to you? You should be an old man by now!"
"I think we *both* have some explaining to do *Kurzon,*" Duncan
smirked, "but first I have some business to attend to with your doctor.
Maybe we could meet for dinner. If you'll excuse me..."
Dax nodded. As the trio left, Julia turned to Dax and said, "By the
way, you may want to ask your security officer to keep an eye open for a
dark-skinned man with a thick accent of Earth Hispanic origin."
Dr. Bashir returned to Sickbay only to be grabbed and shoved against the
wall. When his mind oriented on what happened, he saw MacLeod glaring at
him with his assistants on either side.
"Hello, Doctor," MacLeod said. "Care to tell me why you were poking
around my shuttle?"
Bashir was strangely calm. "Hello, MacLeod. I was wondering when you
were going to show. You could've knocked, you know."
"Duncan," Cathaway asked, "what's going on?"
"He expected us," Richie blurted. "Oh no...don't tell me he's..."
With his free hand, Macleod rolled up Bashir's left sleeve to reveal the
tattoo on the inside of his forearm. He the released Bashir and stormed
out of Sickbay, followed by his companions: one confused, the other
irritated.
--
*****************************************************************************
Prince John III jfm@christa.unh.edu
Join the Government of New Atlantis...Email me today and ask how!
"You want it all but you can't have it!" -- Faith No More
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From: jfm@christa.unh.edu (John F Moore)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: Treklander II, part 5
Date: 6 Jul 1994 18:39:53 GMT
Organization: University of New Hampshire - Durham, NH
Lines: 62
Message-ID: <2vetpp$jr8@mozz.unh.edu>
NNTP-Posting-Host: christa.unh.edu
There can be only one...These are the voyages...
T R E K L A N D E R I I
Copyright 1994 John F. Moore III
Part 5
Duncan and Dax sat at Quark's laughing about old times. After a while,
the old times ran out, and they sat quiet for a while.
After a while, Duncan couldn't take the quiet. "All right, you first.
What happened to you? How'd you get so..."
Dax smiled her whimsical smile that Duncan thought looked better on her
than it did on Kurzon. "I'm a Trill. This is my current host body. I'm
surprised you didn't know, Duncan."
Duncan looked sheepish. "You never really told me much about your
people."
"All right," Dax said with a piercing stare, "your turn. Why is it you
don't seem to have aged a day since I first met you?"
"Because," a voice said from behind Duncan, "he's immortal. He was
born on Earth, in the Highlands of Scotland, eight hundred years ago."
Both recognized the voice as Julian Bashir as he joined the pair.
"Julian," Dax said, "how did you..."
"Doctor," Duncan said, irritated, "the lieutenant and I are *trying* to
have a pleasant conversation. Besides, don't you think it's a *little*
rude to be spreading secrets in a public place?" He then turned to Dax.
"He's a member of a society called the Watchers. They're trying to keep
tabs on my kind. I've dealt with them on many occasions. We have a kind
of arrangement. I run their errands and don't tell any Immortals about
their existance, and they give me whatever information they can on whoever
they see as a threat."
"Actually," Julian said, "I'm more or a member of the Watchers' inner
circle. You see, the Watchers don't just keep an eye on you...they
gather their information and give it to us. We then go through the
information to learn more about the Immortals: what they are, why they
are, and where they come from."
Dax looked dumbfoundedly at her friends as Duncan glared at Julian.
"And why are you telling me this? You can't tell me that the Watchers
chose you and took you into their so-called inner circle, just so you
could brag about it to every Immortal you see. You wanted me to find out
about you, didn't you? Why? And why do it in front of someone who isn't
involved in my struggle?
Julian excused himself from the table. "I'll answer those questions
later, MacLeod...in my quarters at 1200 hours with your friends. In the
meantime, you should tell Judzia about yourself, tell your friends about
me, and get some rest."
Judzia followed Duncan as he stormed back to his quarters. Richie and
Julia were waiting for them.
"Your message said it was urgent Mac...what's up?"
"I got a little visit from Bashir today..."
"Hold it Duncan," Julia said, "should we be talking in front of..."
"You mean all three of you are Immortal?" Dax gaped.
"She knows?" Richie groaned.
"She doesn't know everything, but she does know. Bashir thought it
necessary to tell her about me, and we're all supposed to be at his
quarters tomorrow, so we need to have a long talk..."
--
*****************************************************************************
Prince John III jfm@christa.unh.edu
Join the Government of New Atlantis...Email me today and ask how!
"You want it all but you can't have it!" -- Faith No More
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From: jfm@christa.unh.edu (John F Moore)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: Treklander II, part 6
Date: 19 Jul 1994 14:58:29 GMT
Organization: University of New Hampshire - Durham, NH
Lines: 141
Message-ID: <30gpml$rhq@mozz.unh.edu>
NNTP-Posting-Host: christa.unh.edu
There can be only one...These are the voyages...
T R E K L A N D E R I I
Copyright 1994 John F. Moore III
Part 6
Bashir waited impatiently in his quarters. He had taken a big gamble:
first by blatantly revealing the Watchers to MacLeod, second by revealing
the Watchers' true intentions, third by revealing the Watchers to Judzia,
who could ruin his career as a Starfleet officer by revealing his role in
the Watchers to Sisco, and there was always the danger of Odo or one of
Quark's toadies listening in...
The door chimed. "Enter." In walked the three Immortals and Judzia.
"Glad you decided to come, MacLeod."
"We didn't have much of a choice Bashir," MacLeod said dryly. "If we
hadn't come to you, you would have made life difficult for us until we
did. I know how you Watchers work. What Immortal do you want me to hunt
down *this* time?"
When Cathaway and Judzia looked at MacLeod, he answered, his gaze not
wavering from Julian's. "The Watchers are supposed to simply observe the
Immortals, not interfering in their quest for the Prize. Some believe
we're evil and try to kill us, but not many. Therefore, in order to main-
tain their non-interference policy, they come to Immortals who know about
them, like myself and Richie, who they give information to conserning an
Immortal who doesn't live up to society's standards of decency."
"You could hardly blame us," Julian responded. "An Immortal who would
use the power the Prize is reported to maintain for evil purposes would be
Humanity's downfall...especially now that Humanity has reached into
space."
"Julian," Judzia said, breaking the ages-old argument, "do you want
Duncan or his friends to commit murder?"
"Hopefully not," Julian said as he went over to a panel and pressed a
button. A slight high-pitched throbbing whine permeated the room.
"White noise," he explained, "so that any listening devices won't be able
to hear us. Computer, open file Bashir-nine-Alpha"
The computer screen chirped and the intercom stated, *File open*
"Execute program."
The lights dimmed and a holoprojector clicked on as Julian spoke, "This
is the assembled knowledge of the Watchers. Much of it is speculation,
but is accurate based on the information we have amassed over the
millenia."
The program began as Bashir spoke...
`Many ages ago, centuries before mankind recorded their history, Earth
was visited by a race of beings from far away.' A hazy shape that could
be a spaceship approached a large gathering of humans.
`These visitors spoke of two gifts. The first was the gift of Life
Eternal to these chosen Humans, which the beings called Quickening. The
other gift was even greater powers to the one who could discover it.' A
ray blanketed the Humans and the shape sped away.
`No one knew what this second gift was, but they knew that whoever dis-
covered it would be the most powerful being in the land. It was referred
to as The Prize, since it had to be won. Among these first Immortals were
several groups who travelled the world together. One group settled in
Egypt, another in Greece, another in South America...and because of their
agelessness--'
("The ancient gods!" Richie said. Julian nodded and continued.)
`They were indeed revered as gods. Others decided to try to live among
Humanity, such as MacLeod's kinsman's mentor Ramirez. Still others tried
to subjugate Humanity into assisting them in finding the Prize, such as
the Kurgan and Darius before he was converted to Christanity.
(Richie and MacLeod listened intently, as they knew these names, but
Cathaway sat waiting for Julian to get to the point...much like listening
to Data but without the interrupt protocol)
`What the Immortals didn't know was that portions of the planet, as well
as several others, were infused by the beings as siphons for their power.
Humans felt the energy within and thought it to be Holy Ground. The power
of the lands infused caused released Quickening to be dispersed ather
than captured.'
"Computer, end program."
"What causes Immortals to lose their Quickening?" Judzia asked.
Julain replied, "Quickening is lost when an
Immortal dies. There are only who ways an Immortal may die: decapitation
and disintegration. In the case of disintegration the Quickening is
dispersed, but in the case of decapitation, if the Immortal's killer is
also Immortal, most of the victim's Quickening and knowledges are
transferred to the killer."
"What do you mean, *most*?" Richie asked.
"You notice that during a Quickening transfer there are eletrical
discharges? This Quickening is dispersed and lost to the killer. In the
case of Holy Ground, all Quickening is dispersed."
"What happens to the lost Quickening?" Cathaway asked.
"Well, the Quickening floats through the ether until it discovers an
unborn child. The fetus is then infused with the Quickening. Since it
doesn't take muck Quickening, a slain ancient Immortal or an Immortal
whose Quickening was lost can create several dozen new Immortals."
"Therefore the Prize--"
"Is *not* the result of being the final Immortal, since that would never
happen. Even if somehow only two Immortals remained, the killing of the
second would create new Immortals."
"Then," MacLeod asked, "what *is* the Prize?"
"The Watchers aren't sure, but the key would likely be on the beings'
home planet, wouldn't you say?"
"And where is that?"
"Well," Julian said, "I would venture to guess it's not in the Alpha
Quadrent, since most of it has been explored and there's little, if any,
records of beings visiting Earth, at least not for that purpose. But it
would seem that these being wanted to be found someday, so would leave a
way to be found..."
"The wormhole?!" Judzia exclaimed. "You think these...beings came from
the Gamma Quadrent?"
"I'm almost certain. I'm currently asking the Watchers for all
information that might contain a star chart of some kind that I might be
able to glean some information from. I hope to have the information
within the next few days if it exists."
"Julian," Judzia asked, "why did you ask *me* here? I'm by no means
Immortal!"
"No, but you're a scientist. I would think you'd relish the chance of
a millenia-old secret to be discovered. Besides, *someone* has to secure
a runabout for this."
"What's wrong with our shuttle?" Cathaway asked, insulted.
"Nothing, but I doubt Commander Sisco would allow one of his senior
officers into the Gamma Quadrent in a civilian craft."
"*Assuming* we go along!" MacLeod sneered.
"The choice is yours," Julian smiled. "Although I'm sure each of you
would relish the thought of obtaining the Prize. I'll be in touch."
The Immortals left. When they were gone, Judzia asked Julian, "how
certain are you the beings are there?"
"You must promise not to tell anyone, not even MacLeod?" Judzia gave
her word. "I recieved the information I needed a week before MacLeod and
his friends arrived. Remember that quick trip through the Wormhole I
made last week? That was to get a bearing from the information I
recieved. I even have the planet's name."
"Why didn't you tell them?
"I want them to come of their own free will. If they think that it may
be a wild goose chase, they'll search within themselves as to whether
they want to believe me."
"But if you told them," Jusdzia countered, "you'd have three willing
participants."
"Who might decide to go without me if they decided they didn't need
me. This way, they have a reason to keep me around...and safe."
Judzia sighed. "Can you tell *me* the name of the planet?"
"The natives called it...Zeist."
--
*****************************************************************************
Prince John III jfm@christa.unh.edu
Join the Government of New Atlantis...Email me today and ask how!
"I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead" -- "Weird Al" Yankovic
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From: jfm@christa.unh.edu (John F Moore)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: Treklander II, part 7
Date: 25 Jul 1994 14:41:25 GMT
Organization: University of New Hampshire - Durham, NH
Lines: 76
Message-ID: <310iul$cnu@mozz.unh.edu>
NNTP-Posting-Host: christa.unh.edu
There can be only one...These are the voyages...
T R E K L A N D E R I I
Copyright 1994 John F. Moore III
Part 7
"No," Commander Sisco yelled at his officers, "absolutely out of the
question!"
"But Benjamin," Judzia pleaded, "we're talking about a world that had
contact with ancient Earth."
Julian chimed in. "It's an opportunity to explore a race that crossed
entire quadrants possibly before we discovered fire."
"I will not have members of my senior staff traipsing around unexplored
planets that could have hidden traps."
The pair left Ops, dejected. No one noticed the wrench by Chief
O'Brian's station suddenly disappear; nor did they notice the rat get
onto the lift with Julian and Judzia.
Odo assumed his usual form next to the pair.
"Odo," Julian said, "you startled me! Why the secrecy?"
"I found out about your meeting with Ambassador MacLeod, Doctor," the
Security Officer began. "When I checked your room, I could see but all I
got on audio was static. I just hope Quark doesn't find out how you
accomplished that...
"Naturally, I became concerned, so I've been following you, trying to
find out what you were up to."
"I assume," Bashir said drily, "that you've found out enough."
"I know you're going to the Gamma Quadrant to find information about a
race that may have created the Wormhole. Naturally, I am interested in
such an endeavor to say the least."
"I think we can include you in our little group," Dax grinned,
"provided you can get us off the station..."
Quark's was fairly slow...it was in the middle of Alpha Shift, after all
...when a dark-skinned man sauntered in.
"May, may I help you?" Rahm said, falling over himself to serve this
new face to the bar.
"Yes, I wish to see your boss," the man said with a slight accent.
"My...my brother is busy with inven--"
Rahm was suddenly grabbed by the lapels and pulled toward the man.
Rahm froze as he started at the man's bloodshot eyes.
"I *said* I wish to see your boss...now!"
Rahm fell to the floor as the man let him go, and scrambled toward the
back room of the bar. A few moments later, Quark entered the bar with
Rahm in tow.
"I'm Quark," Quark said in an irritated tone, "May I help you or do you
happen to like bullying the help?"
"I am Marin. We talked a while back."
Quark's eyes lit up brighter than Latinum under a twin-sun noon sky.
"Yes, I remember. How may I assist you?"
"I'm looking for an old friend who might be here...named MacLeod."
"Can we trust him Mac?"
"You and I both know that the Watchers follow their own priorities, not
ours. We can't trust any of them?"
"But Duncan, he's Starfleet!"
"You're telling me," Duncan said, looking her square in the eye, "that
in the entire history of Starfleet, no officer or crewman has ever broken
their Starfleet oath?"
"OK, you've made your point," Julia admitted. "But what if he's on the
level? What if this Zeist is the key to the Prize?"
"Then we're all in danger, because if there can be only one--"
The room fell silent.
"I don't know about you guys," Richie said, "but I have to know."
"Count me in too," Julia said. "Duncan?"
Duncan just sat there. "I can't. I've always feared I'd have to face
you in mortal combat, Richie. I can't go knowing it's a possibility."
Richie nodded. "I understand, Mac. We'll see you when we get back."
Richie and Julia left to meet with Bashir, and Duncan suddenly felt
very alone.
--
*****************************************************************************
Prince John III jfm@christa.unh.edu
Join the Government of New Atlantis...Email me today and ask how!
"I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead" -- "Weird Al" Yankovic
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From: jfm@christa.unh.edu (John F Moore)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: Treklander II, part 8
Date: 3 Aug 1994 08:50:39 GMT
Organization: University of New Hampshire - Durham, NH
Lines: 76
Message-ID: <31nlov$3kf@mozz.unh.edu>
NNTP-Posting-Host: christa.unh.edu
My apologies about the sporatic postings, but my life is VERY hectic.
I'm hoping to finish this story and move onto my next writing project by
early September (no, I'm not planning on writing Treklander III)
Now....
There can be only one...These are the voyages...
T R E K L A N D E R I I
Copyright 1994 John F. Moore III
Part 8
Sancho Marin crept through the corridors of the station, eventually
coming to MacLeod's room. He knew that MacLeod would Sense him the
moment the door opened, so he'd have to take him down fast.
He got out his phaser and chimed the door, but there was no response.
He pulled out the decoder sticks he got from Quark and used then to bypass
the lock. He opened the door and looked for a vantage point where he
could watch the door.
He waited...
Odo met the others in the shuttlebay.
"It's done. The Gangees is cleared for an exploration mission of some
nebula or other in the Gamma Quadrent."
Judzia kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Odo."
Odo snorted. "Don't thank me yet. Sisco will have our heads when he
finds out you disobeyed his orders and that I helped you do it."
Julia looked at Richie and said, "I've got to say goodbye to him before
we go."
"Make it fast," Julian said, "we don't have much time before Major Kira
finds out what we're up to and blows the whistle on us."
Duncan moped in Quark's. He didn't realize how much he would miss
Richie and Julia when they left.
Quark sidles up across from him. "You look like you've lost your best
friend. Why not tell a sympathetic ear?"
Duncan took a swig of his drink. "You wouldn't understand. My friends
are going on a journey they may not return from."
Quark suddenly recognized him. "You're Ambassador MacLeod, aren't you?
An old friend of yours is looking for you...dark-skinned fellow."
Duncan slammed his drink down and bolted out of Quark's
"You're welcome..." Quark muttered.
Sancho Marin wondered what the look on MacLeod's face would be when he
realized that he was about to die. Then, he noticed a message on
MacLeod's comm panel. Not taking his eyes off the door, he turned it on.
*Duncan, it's Julia. I couldn't leave without saying goodbye. We're
almost ready to leave for the Gamma Quadrent. I wish you were here...I
miss you already. Wish us luck!*
`So, MacLeod's friends are on their way to the Gamma Quadrent, eh? I
suddenly feel the need to travel.'
Julia saw Duncan running into the shuttlebay.
"Duncan? Dax, we've got to go back for him."
"No time," Julian said, "I'm locking onto his coordinates and beaming
him aboard..."
As Duncan materialized, Julia embraced and kissed him.
"Mac, I thought you weren't coming?"
"We've got problems," Duncan said as he sat down, "Sancho Marin's on the
station, and he knows I'm here. I came because I was afraid he'd found
you four in his search for me."
"Why would he be after you?" Dax asked.
"Because Marin's Immortal," Julian said as the Gangees cleared the
station. "He's after their Quickening."
*Gangees, this is Ops. What the hell are you--*
Odo turned off the comm panel, cutting off Sisco in mid-sentence.
"Well, now he knows. I hope Rua Pente is to everyone's liking?"
The group remained quiet as the gangees entered the wormhole, not seeing
the small cloaked vessel following them in.
--
*****************************************************************************
Prince John III jfm@christa.unh.edu
Join the Government of New Atlantis...Email me today and ask how!
"I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead" -- "Weird Al" Yankovic
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From: jfm@christa.unh.edu (John F Moore)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: Treklander II, part 9
Date: 30 Aug 1994 14:18:33 GMT
Organization: University of New Hampshire - Durham, NH
Lines: 56
Message-ID: <33vf3p$rc6@mozz.unh.edu>
NNTP-Posting-Host: christa.unh.edu
There can be only one...These are the voyages...
T R E K L A N D E R I I
Copyright 1994 John F. Moore III
Part 9
"Well Bashir," Duncan said, "where to now?"
Bashir brought up the starchart and matched it with the surrounding
stars. "There. Set a course for 063 Mark 44."
The Gangees sped toward their destination, followed by the cloaked vessel.
Sancho Marin sat at the helm of his ship, watching the Gangees speed
toward whatever destination it was heading.
"I wonder which I will kill first? MacLeod's lover or his toadie?
Either way, I want MacLeod to watch. He shall pay for ruining my plans."
Suddenly, he Sensed something, more powerful than any Immortal he'd
ever faced. He looked around the bridge, but saw no one.
"Can you feel it, Mac?"
Duncan nodded silently. He wasn't sure what he Sensed, but it too
powerful to be an Immortal. Even Darius didn't feel this powerful.
"We must be getting close," Julian said. "There's no doubt now. this
is the home of the Immortals' creators."
Julian was excited. What would he ask them? How would they look and
act? So many possibilities...
"We're coming into orbit," Julia said from her station.
Julian got his first look at Zeist. It was desolate, a thin, but
breathable atmosphere, almost unbearably cold, noplace that even
resembled civilization...
"This can't be the place..." Julian said.
"Maybe they live underground," Richie said.
"Scanning," Dax said. "My readings aren't penetrating the surface. I
think Richie's right. Someone doesn't want us to know what's below the
surface."
"Check for openings...notably those at least large enough for a ship
this size."
"Scanning. It could take some time. This is a pretty big planet and
we're not really equipped for this. I'd say we'll be up here at least
two hours."
Marin was tiring of waiting. Why did they want to come this rockball?
Why haven't they landed, since the planet is capable of supporting life,
barely? And why was his Sense going off? He decided not to wait.
Revenge was worth losing Macleod's Quickening. He lined up the ship in
his sights.
"Ship uncloaking! They're locking phasers!" Julia cried.
The ship was a small vessel similar to a Bird of Prey, but smaller.
It opened fire on the Gangees.
--
*****************************************************************************
Prince John III jfm@christa.unh.edu
Join the Government of New Atlantis...Email me today and ask how!
"I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead" -- "Weird Al" Yankovic