Story:Star Trek - Infinity/Chapter 19



I felt my body tingle as I shifted through dimensions. It was as shocking sensation, and it took me a moment to reacquire my sense. Everything around me was in a ghostly state. I could see Nicky nearby, but her words seemed distant, as though I was hearing her through a wall of water.

A few feet away, I could see Denarchia. Unlike Nicky, I could see her quite clearly, and we both nodded to each other; L’Nel’s theory had proven correct. I tried to take a breath, but the air was sparse, and I could feel my consciousness slipping away.

I took a step forward, and my boot sunk into the metal floor. Horrified, for a moment I thought I was going to pass through the deck plating, but my foot soon met resistance, and it slid back out again, as though I was walking on a soft cushion.

I continued moving forward, and placed a hand on the wall in front of me. I once again met with resistance, but this time I forced my way through it. It hurt terribly, as though the wall wanted to merge itself with my body. I gritted my teeth and kept on pushing, and after another few seconds of agony, I was through.

I unclipped the device from my arm, and felt my head spinning. I fell to my knees and vomited, but as I opened my eyes again, I could see everything clearly once more.

I turned to see Denarchia a few feet away in a similar manor, but she had managed to hold the contents of her stomach in.

Denarchia leapt to her feet as a Romulan guard rounded the corner.

For a moment, he just gaped. “How did-”

And in that instant, Denarchia rushed forward. The guard reached for his weapon, but it was already too late. Denarchia wrapped her free arm around his neck, and with a sickening snap, he was dead. Denarchia let go of him, and his body slumped to the floor. She gritted her teeth and growled as she clasped her arm.

I glanced at her. “You okay?”

She nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

She grabbed the disrupter from the dead Romulan’s side. “Let’s keep moving.”

I glanced back through the forcefield at Nicky, and she gave me a nod and a thumbs up. We headed for the door and exited the security block.

Denarchia turned to me. “As soon as I shoot he surveillance camera, we’ll have to move fast. The whole ship will know we’re here in a few minutes.”

I nodded, and she fired her disrupter at the camera. We took off running, and soon reached the turbolift. We were about to enter, when I spotted something nearby. Through a window, I could see a group of Romulans aiming disrupter rifles at a row of figures.

Denarchia grabbed my arm. “Let’s go!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">I pointed towards the row of figures. “We have to help them!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">I turned to look her in the eye, and she nodded concedingly. “You save them, I’ll disable the ship.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">I replied, “But your arm!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">She responded, “I only need one arm to fire a disrupter, and one arm to break a Romulan neck; I’ll be just fine.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">As she stepped into the turbolift, I found myself wondering who I should be more worried about: Denarchia, or the Romulans guarding the bridge.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">I stepped through the doors leading to the large room, and quietly moved down the steps. I could see the sublieutenant standing beside five other Romulans holding disrupter rifles.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">The sublieutenant raised his hand in the air. “Ready!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">The guards raised their weapons.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">He clenched his hand into a fist. “Aim!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">If I had had a moment longer to think about it, perhaps I could have thought of something better to shout, but I didn’t, and didn’t. “Hey ugly!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">It wasn’t anything personal, I didn’t really think they were ugly, they weren’t really actually that bad looking; I had only wanted to get their attention.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">I ducked as disrupter blasts flew in my direction, tearing holes in the wall behind me. I heard a cheer rise up from the officers, and they rushed forward.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">For a few moments, it was utter chaos. Christopher and P’Trell led the charge, slamming into the Romulan guards and bowling them over like pins. Chris delivered a blow to one, and grabbed the disrupter from the guard’s hand. He shot the disrupter’s owner in the chest, and whirled around to fire a shot at the sublieutenant, who had been slinking away.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">Lt. j.g. Zik and Cmdr. Chekov followed with a second attack, and in a matter of moments, all seven Romulans lay dead, strewn across the floor with various wounds and disrupter holes in their bodies.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">I hurried down the steps towards the officers.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">Chekov was the first to speak, “Cadet, how did you manage to escape?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">I replied, “Chief Todd will explain it later, for now we have to rescue the other cadets and get to the bridge to help Denarchia!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">Chekov nodded, and turned to the rest of the group. “Zik, Martin, L’Nel, and Stoner; you head to the detention block and free the other cadets. The rest of you, with me.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">The ten of us piled into the turbolift, armed with the Romulan’s disrupters.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">As the doors opened, a frenzied scene was laid out before me. Two Romulans lay outside the turbolifts doors, and a third was dead near the helm. Disrupter holes covered the walls, and in the middle of it all was Denarchia, grappling for her life with a pair of Romulans armed with razorsharp daggers.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">The Romulan facing us ducked as he spotted us, and barely missed getting hit as his comrade was gunned down by P’Trell and Christopher.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">A moment later, he jumped back up again and grabbed Denarchia round the chest, holding his wickedly sharp blade to her throat. “Don’t move, or she dies.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">Denarchia growled. “Get off me!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">She slammed her elbow into his chest, and slapped his knife away. In a blur of motion, she delivered a kick to his head, and he fell to the ground, knocked completely unconscious.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">“Well played.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">All of us turned as we heard the sound of clapping.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">Dawn stepped out from around the corner, a sick smile plastered across her face. “Just one problem, I still have all the rest of your cadets, and unless you want me to slaughter all of them right here and now, I suggest you drop your weapons.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">One by one, we all dropped our weapons, and they clattered to the floor in a heap beside the dead Romulans.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">Dawn let out a small giggle, something that sent shivers down my spine. “You’ve done well cadets, it’ll be so nice to have you as a part of my army. You’ll make fine operatives, once you learn a little respect.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">The Romulan who had been knocked out by Denarchia lifted his head, and stumbled to his feet.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">Dawn scowled at him. “You are a disgrace to the master race.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">She fired a disrupter bolt into his chest, sending him toppling to the ground, rasping as he gasped, trying to contain air with lungs he no longer had.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">She turned back to us. “Now then, where was I. Ah yes, you will all be executed for your failed attempt to escape. You will make a fine example to the other cadets.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">I smiled. “Now see, that’s where you’re wrong commander. You don’t have the other cadets.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">The ship shook and the voice of a Romulan officer came over the bridge comlink. “Sir! The shields just went out; all the cadets were just beamed over to the Infinity!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">A blue hue glowed around my body, and Dawn screamed, “No!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">A moment later, we all stood on the bridge of the Infinity.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">Chekov shouted, “Red alert! Mr. P’Trell, raise shields! Ensign Arch, take the helm! Lieutenant Iria, man the science station!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">The crew scrambled to comply with the commander’s orders.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">I turned, and found myself staring into the eyes of-

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">“Ublar, magician extraordinaire!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">My jaw dropped. “Ublar! How did you get here?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">His antenna twitched. “Your traitorous little lady missed me.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">I scowled. “Why didn’t you help us?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">He frowned. “I did try, oh believe me, I did. But the crazy lady in the ship said I couldn’t authorize anything, or some nonsense.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">If not for the heat of the moment, I probably would’ve laughed, but instead I ignored him and moved to assist the bridge officers.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">P’Trell shouted, “Sir! We’ve disabled their sensor net!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">Lt. J.G. Iria turned to the commander. “Sir, the warbird’s drive has activated, they’re going to warp!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">Chekov turned to P’Trell. “Lieutenant, disable their engines!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">P’Trell shook his head. “I can’t sir, the photon torpedo launchers aren’t armed and phasers are offline!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">The commander turned to Chris. “Mr. Arch, are we able to pursue?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">Christopher shook his head. “Negative sir, the warp core is still powering up!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">Chekov’s expression darkened. “Blast!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">The warbird shot to warp, leaving a trail of burning plasma smoke and debris as it went.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">Chekov let out a sigh and relaxed. “Stand down red alert. Lt. L’Nel, organize repair crews. Dr. Layn, tend to the wounded. Oh, and everyone…”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">He paused for a moment, letting a smooth smile spread across his face. “We’ve won.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">Everyone cheered. He was right, the Romulans may have escaped, but they had taken considerable damage. They wouldn’t mess with us again soon…