Danny Amor's Online Library/Danny Amor's Online Library - Volume 1.iso/html/startrek/old-incomplete/darktrek.p1

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From: [e-mail] (Shane Martin)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: Dark Trek Part 1
Date: 23 May 1994 07:19:36 GMT
Organization: University of Washington
Lines: 363
Message-ID: <2rple8$[e-mail]>
NNTP-Posting-Host: goren.u.washington.edu
Summary: Dark Trek Part 1
Keywords: alien



Ship's Log: Stardate 6609.5

Captain Henry Mitchell, Commander U.S.S. Darington, Oberth-Class, Starfleet

    We have just completed an expidition to the Nigel system in the Gamora
sector, to study the rare occurance of the creation of a Black Hole.  No
information has ever been collected on such a phenomenon, and with that in
mind, the crew has worked tiredlessly for the past two weeks in preparation
for the event.  Starfleet should be pleased with the data we've gathered.  We
are currently underway to starbase 451 for some much needed shoreleave.

    "Ensign Lee, what's our ETA to starbase 451?"

    Ensign Tanya Lee was fresh out of the Acadamy.  She had hoped for
her first tour of duty to be aboard a larger more noted starship, but she
soon realized she would have to start small and settled for the Darington.

    Still, wanting to impress her Captain, her fingers fly accross the
navigational console as she computed their ETA.

    "At warp 3, 36 hours Captain" Lee responded, not taking her eyes off
the control panel.

    "Good Helm maintain course and speed." The Captain ordered as he rose
from his chair.

    "Aye, Captain." Lt. Mendor replied as he inhaled the gases being
released from respiration device on his chest.

    Lt. Mendor is a Benzite, as is characteristic of his people, he has
pale blue-green skin, his facial features are round and smooth and there
is a destinct lack of a purtruding nose.  Mendor has been the Daringtion's
Helmsman for as long as the Captain has been on board.  An annoying habit
of Mendor's, is his ability to talk about absolutely nothing for extended
periods of time.  "The Fountain of Useless Information" is the secret title
the crew has bestowed upon him, but his skill at the Helm in bad situations
has allowed the Captain to overlook his little imperfection.

    Quickly adjusting his tunic, he walked over to the communications
officer,  stopping just behind the Commander's chair.

    "Commander, send a subspace message to stabase 451 alert..."

    "Message being sent, Sir."Lt. Commander Troi interrupted, turning to
face the Captain, grinning ear to ear.

    The Captain looked down at the Commander with a very annoyed look
on his face.  Troi turned back to the console chuckling to himself.

    Lt. Commander Daryl Troi is a Betazoid.  He has the full telepathic
abilities that his race is known for.  Daryl is the younger brother of
Lwaxana Troi whose daughter is Ship's Counselor aboard the Enterprise.  He
served with Captain Mitchell on his last command and asked to be assigned to
the Darington in order to "Entertain" the Captain.  Commander Daryl uses his
telepathic powers only when needed, and avoids the private thoughts of
individuals.  On more the one occasion, Captain Mitchell has taken full
advantage of Commander Troi's unique powers.

    Captain Mitchell began working his way to the portside turbo lift.

    "Commander Sparik, you have the comm.  I'll be in my quarter's."

    "Yes Sir." Commander Sparik coolly responded as he left the science
station and proceeded to occupy the vacated Captain's chair.

    Commander Sparik is as Vulcan as they come.  Their pointed ears and
emotionless personalities are a trade mark throughout the galaxy, and Sparik
was no exception.  His position as Chief Science Officer aboard the
Darington is not an easy one to fill, especially with a crew composed mainly
of scientists, researchers, and engineers.  Captain Mitchell and Commander
Sparik have been friends since their Acadamy days, and when he was given the
command of the Darington, he made sure to bring Sparik along to keep this
crew in order.

    Mitchell reached the turbo lift, it's sliding doors opened to reveal
an empty lift waiting.  He paused, turned and scanned the bridge then entered
the lift.

    "Level 4." He grumbled as the doors closed and the lift began to race
to it's destination.

    "I'll miss this." He thought to himself as he waited for the lift to
stop.

    The doors opened to a corridor and to several people waiting for a
lift.  Mitchell proceeded down the corridor towardhis quarters in the manner
of all starship Captains, stout, rigid, with the look of invincibility.

    He reached his quarter's and entered, not bothering to turn on any
lights, he walked over to a sink at the far side of the room and turned on a
mirror light.

    "A liter of water, warm." Mitchell ordered.

    The replicator built within the sink immediately materialized
the Captain's request.

    Mitchell briskly splashed water onto his face then stopped to stare
at his reflection in the mirror.  Droplets of water hung from his gray hair.
They ran down an aged, roughen face, then fell from his square jaw into the
sink.

    "Damn." He whispered, grabbing a towel to wipe his face.

    Turning off the mirror light, Mitchell walked to his bed, turned on
a light above the head of the bed, and layed down, cradling the towel behind
his neck.  He stared off into the darkness.

    Dr. Tia stood outside the Captain's door, mentalling debating weither
to talk to him or not.

    "This is probably a bad idea." she thought to herself, biting her
lower lip.

    Dr. San Tia was born in New Tokyo on the island of Japan.  Both her
parents were officers aboard the U.S.S Yamato, and subsquently killed when
the ship encountered an alien program that caused a failure in the ship's
antimatter containment system, resulting in the ship's explosion.  Tia had
been attending Starfleet Medical Acadamy when she recieved the news.  Captain
Mitchell was a friend of the family, he took it upon himself to look after her
when her parents died, so when he was assigned to the Darington, he recruited
her as Chief Medical Officer.

    Mitchell heard the familiar ring of someone at his door.  He tried to
ignore it, but the caller was persistant.

    "Come in." He shouted, not bothering to get up from the bed and more
then a little annoyed.

    The door slid open and Dr. Tia's black sillouete hung in the lighted
corridor.  Mitchell took one look and instantly knew who it was.  Looking
away from her, he couldn't help but feel a little anger toward her.  He knew
it wasn't her fault and that she was only doing her duty, besides he loved her
like his own daughter, so could never be cross with her.

    "Well Doctor, are we the barrier of more bad news?" Mitchell
sarcastically asked, not taking his eyes off the ceiling.

    "Damn it Henry! I had no choice!" she retorqued, stepping into the
room and into the lighted area around the Captain's bed. "Do you think I
wanted to tell Starfleet about your condition?"

    "Oh yes, my condition, Iverson's disease.  A chronic disease that
causes fatal degeneration of muscular functions in humans." Mitchell began,
reciting the description of the disease. "Iverson's disease does not however
impair mental functions.  There is no known cure for the condition.  You mean
that condition Doctor?"

    He looked up at her and could see the tears forming in the corners of
her eyes.

    "I'm sorry." he whispered sympathetically to her "None of this is
your fault, you did what you had to do."

    Getting up from his bed, he ordered the lights on and walked over
to his desk.  Dr Tia watched him, not saying a word.

    "I recieved a message from Starfleet Command yesterday." He began,
sitting down in the chair behind his desk. "I am to be reassigned to a desk
job back on Earth, a new Captain will take command of the Darington when we
get to starbase 451."

    "At least you will still be in Starfleet." Tia said, trying to comfort
him. " You can still do some good."

    The Captain smiled at her and folded his hands on the desk.

    "I've given Starfleet thirty years of my life.  I've been a starship
Captain for twenty of those years.  From my first command aboard a frigate,
to the Hood, to my four years here on the Darington.  I've learned one thing
over the years, I'll never be happy doing anything else.  So, when we dock,
I am retiring."

    "Retir..." Dr Tia began, but was interrupted by Commander Sparik's
voice coming through Captain Mitchell's comm badge.

    "Bridge to Captain Mitchell."

    He pressed the communicator on his chest and responded.

    "Yes, what is it bridge?"

    "Sensors have picked up a Federation Shuttle point three light years
from our current position.  Power readings from the shuttle are very low and
sensors show one person aboard with very low lifesigns."

    "Have you tried hailing them?" Mitchell asked.

    "Yes sir, but we are getting no response." Sparik answered.

    "I'm on my way." Captain Mitchell ordered getting up from his seat.
"What's our ETA to intercept?"

    "Ten minutes, Captain."

    He looked at Dr. Tia.  He knew she wanted to talk more about this, but
now was not the time or place.  She got up and headed for the door.

    "I'll be in sickbay." She said as they both left the room.

    The doors to the turbo lift opened to reveal the bridge.  Sparik
turned to look, when he saw the Captain, he rose from his seat and resumed
his position at the science station.

    "Still no contact?" Captain Mitchell asked as he took his position
in the vacated seat.

    "No sir, no response at all." Commander Troi responded, still working
at the communications console.

    "How far out of transport range are we Ensign?"

    "Three minutes to until we are within range, sir." Ensign Lee replied.

    "How are the lifesigns Sparik?"

    "Still low Captain." Commander Sparik answered, reading the information
from the senor panel.

    Captain Mitchell starred at the forward view screen for a second
then gave orders to the crew.

    "As soon as we reach transporter range, beam whoever is on board
directly to sickbay."

    He reached up and tapped his comm badge.

    "Dr., were beaming the individaul directly to you."

    "We'll be ready Captain." Dr Tia replied.

    After three minutes the Darington slowed to impulse in preparation
to beam the shuttle occupant aboard.

    "In transporter range now sir." Ensign Lee advised.

    "beaming shuttle pilot now Captain." Sparik responded.

    "Have the shuttle brought aboard." Mitchell said as he rose out of his
seat and walked to the turbo lift. "Sparik your with me.  Lt Mendor, you have
the bridge."

    "Aye, sir." Mendor replied as he assumed the vacant Captain's seat.

    Sparik left the science station and joined the Captain in the turbo
lift.  They arrived at sickbay a few minutes later, Dr. tia and several
assistants were working on the shuttle occupant.  He was a human male, of
average build, and wearing a mining uniform with the patch of a Federation
mining colony on the right sleeve.  The man was unconcious but the Captain
could see he was still breathing.

    "I've managed to stabilize his condition." Dr. Tia responded to the
Captain's unasked question. "But there is something I think you should see."

    The Doctor hel a small scanner over the patient's chest.  She moved
to a view screen next to the medical bed and activated it.  A computer
enhanced three-dimensional image of the man's chest appeared on the screen.
The lungs and heart were working and the rest of the organs seemed ok.

    "This is what I want you to see." Dr. Tia added, pressing several
buttons on the control panel.

    The image rotated to a side view and the rib cage was removed for
a better view.  There was something embedded just inside the man's chest, below
the heart.  It appeared black on the image, almost worm like.  The image
rotated again and a picture of what appeared to be the head came into view.
The most predominant feature was a mouth filled with long silver teeth.  The
creature had no eyes and the head seemed to attach to the body with no neck.
The rest of the body drew back and ended in a sharp tail.  The whole creature
looked like it's skeleton was on the outside of it's body.  Small arms and
legs purtruded from the main body.  There was a sense of evil about the image
that sent chills up the Captain's spine.

    "What is it?" He asked, unable to take his eyes off the screen.

    "I have no idea." Dr. Tia replied. "I've never seen anything like it
before."

    "Sparik what do you make of it?"

    "Unknown Captain.  It's quite possible that it is two lifeforms
sharing a body.  There are several species that are capable of this.  The Trill
for example." Sparik answered studying the image closely.

    "Dr. Can you wake him?" The Captain asked, now looking at the patient.

    "His signs are ok, I can try." She said, reaching for a hypospray.

    She Administered the medication to him and stepped back.  The man's
eyes flittered open.  His look was first of curiosity, then it changed to
terror.  He shot up out of the bed and grabbed the Captain, squeezing his
arms.

    "Please, you have to kill me!" The man ordered, trembling as he clung
to the Captain.

    Mitchell tried to break the man's grip, but he was incredible strong.
Sparik came to his aid and both tried to break the man's grip.  Mitchell
tried to talk to him in the process.

    "I am Captain Hen..." Mitchell tried to say, but was interrupted by
the man's scream.

    "Oh, God! I can feel it!" he yelled, releasing his grip and clutching
his chest.

    At that instant, every muscle in the man's body contracted, his eyes
rolled back into his head.  He fell back onto the medical bed and began
convulsing wildly.

    Activate a force field around his arms and legs." Dr. Tia ordered
trying to restrain the rapid muscle spasms.

    The force fields activated, restraining the patient's arms and legs,
but his head and chest were still thrashing about uncontrollable.  Grunts of
pain eminated from the man's throat.

    "Thirty cc's of docamean!" Dr. Tia ordered.

    The assistant quickly prepared the order and handed it to the Doctor.
Sparik and Mitchell stepped back a few feet to give her room.  She administered
the hypospray, but it had no effect.

    Suddenly, the man'd chest exploded with blood.  The sound of bone
cracking could be heard as something tried to break it's way free from his
chest.  Each impact ripped the bone and muscle apart, sending blood in every
direction.  Finally the man's ribs could take no more, and the thing potruded
out of his chest cavity.

    "Security to sickbay now!" Captain Mitchell ordered as he starred
wide eyed at what lay in the man's chest.

    Sitting in a pool of blood and tissue of what remained of the man's
chest was the thing the had seen on the view screen.  It looked up and scanned
the room with it's eyeless head.  Captain Mitchell pulled the Doctor away from
the bed and starred at the blood covered creature.  It opened it's mouth
revealing razor sharp teeth and let out an ungodly cry.

    At that instant, the sickbay doors opened and an Andorian security
guard lead a team of two other guards into the room, phasors drawn and ready.
The creature turned and bolted from the bed to the door, past the shocked
security team.  Regaining their composure, one of them fired at it.  The
creature was too fast and the guard missed.  seconds later the creature burned
a hole into a jefferies tube cover and was gone.

    The Andorian guard entered the sickbay.  One of the other guards nearly
vomitted from the sight.

    "What the Hell Happened here!" The Andorian demanded.

    Captain Mitchell looked at the remains of the man, his ribs were
forced apart and the hole in his chest was filled with blood.  He looked at his
trembling hands and uniform, they were covered in blood as well.  Turning to
the guard, his expression was one of fear.

    "I...I don't know." Mitchell choked out.



            END PART 1