STAR TREK
RUNNER
(A Quinn Martin production)
Tonights Episode;
In The Wink Of Your Eyes
Featuring
Hank Morton-recast
Vash
Federation Investigator Stoney Burke-recast
Benton Cogley
Zimmerman
Previously
TWO YEARS AFTER THE FINAL EPISODE OF
AUSTIN GRAYSON; N C C – 1 7 0 1
Hank Morton had become quite a celebrity in the two years that had passed since calling the Star Trek universe home. Starfleet had made him an honorary Admiral, and he had spent several months discussing military strategy with the highest ranks of Starfleet, and touring the speaking engagement scene.
His travels had taken him to Vulcan, to Deep Space Nine, and even to the very famous K-7 space station. His collection of Star Trek DVDs had been taken away by Q, which was probably a wise precaution, Hank agreed with now.
Finally, after two years of constant traveling, he had come to Risa for rest and relaxation. He was relaxing on a beach lounge chair, soaking in the sun, when a beautiful woman came up and occupied the one next to him.
He looked over to the woman.
“Isn’t your name Vash?” Hank asked.
She smiled her seductive smile. “Why, yes, I am.” She said with a flirtation voice. “You’re that man who came from that other universe and got mixed up with Q.” She said to him. “I know how getting mixed up with him can be, believe me.” She said as she sipped her martini.
Morton flagged down a waiter and asked him to bring them another round of drinks.
They chatted with each other as the sun went down, and as the sun dipped away, they both headed to Hank’s room.
--
It was the middle of the night. Hank was sleeping in his bed, with Vash by his side. It was then he heard a crashing noise from the next room. Vash wasn’t disturbed by the sound, but Hank was curious as to what it is.
He slipped on his robe and went out into the hallway of the hotel room he was staying in. The hallway lights had been dimmed. The light of from another room was coming out from an opened doorway. Hank was curious as to why the door was opened to the other room, and made his way over to opening. He looked in, and saw a most terrible sight.
A man’s body was on the floor of the entrance, stabbed several times. Another man, who was holding the knife with bloodied hands, was crouched down next to the dead man’s body. The killer looked up at Hank Morton. Hank recognized him immediately. He was the doctor from Voyager.
“What is the meaning of this?!” Hank demanded.
“I swear,” Zimmerman said, “I didn’t do this.” He stood up. “I’ve been framed.”
Morton was always a good judge of character.
“I believe you.” Hank told Zimmerman.
“What should I do?” Zimmerman asked, with the look of shocked horror in his face.
Morton could only think of one answer. “Run!”
OUR STORY CONTINUES
Hank Morton stood in his hotel room, while two men guarded the door to his room in the hallway outside. Vash was busy pouring her self some of the freshly brewed coffee that Morton had just made.
It had been several hours since Morton had discovered the Voyager Doctor standing over the body of a dead man. He had called the authorities and had been told to stay in his room to await an official debriefing of what he saw.
Vash sipped her coffee, and immediately her face took on the look of someone who had just had terrible coffee.
“What the heck is this?” She asked as she looked into her coffee cup.
“It’s coffee,” Morton’s gruff voice said, “compliments of my great grandaddy’s secret formula.” He finished with a smile.
She promptly disposed of her cup of coffee. “Well, if you ask me, it tastes like straight acid.”
Hank smiled. “Why thank you,” he told her, “I appreciate it.”
She gave him a look of slight anger. “It wasn’t meant as a compliment.”
“But it was taken as one anyways.” Hank fired back.
She had changed into her clothes and attempted to leave the room. Upon opening the door she was told to go back inside the room by the to MPs that guarded the door on the outside.
“How long do they intend to keep us in here?” Vash said. “I’m supposed to board a transport at the space port in two hours or so.”
Hank shook his head. “I wouldn’t bet on it.” He told her as he sipped his own cup of coffee.
Vash gave Hank a look of protest. “Oh,” she said to him, “why did you have to go and find that dead body anyway?”
Hank was about to answer when, suddenly, there was a knock on the door. It opened up to reveal a very serious looking man. He wore what appeared to be a civilian ‘suit’ of the day, and it was very prom and proper. He had an icy stare on his face as he came into the room, and over to where Hank stood. The stranger took a badge out of his suit pocket and flashed to Hank and Vash.
“My name is Stoney Burke.” Burke said. “Although we have never officially met, Mr. Morton,” Burke continued, “I did investigate your abduction a couple years back. And as I recall I was never satisfied with Admiral Janeway’s explanation.” He held out his hand to shake Hank’s.
Hank Morton could tell what a person was like with just one look. And Hank’s instincts were telling him that Stoney Burke was a class-1 asshole. And Hank hated assholes.
“I’m not sure what more I can tell you Mr. Burke than what I have already told your men earlier.” Hank offered.
Burked nodded. “Well,” Burke said, “it is possible that a man of your age may need further prodding. I can help with that.”
Hank didn’t like the sign of that at all. “There is nothing wrong with my age,” Hank told Burke, “and if you doubt that, perhaps we can step outside and I can stick my boot up your fucking ass.”
Burke nodded. “I am sorry if I offended you,” Burke said with absolutely no remorse in his voice. “Let me re-phrase my previous words. I would like for you to make an official statement at my headquarters at the Federation complex in mid-city. The statement you gave earlier was not official,” Burke said with a smile, “but when you give your statement in there, it will be.”
Hank prodded Burke some more. “Are you suggesting you found something wrong from with my earlier statement?”
Burke shook his head. “No,” Burke said, “but just incase, I’d like to have you make another statement under oath.”
Hank fired back. “Look, Mr. Burke,” Hank said to him, “all I saw was a dead man in the next room. I did my civilian duty and called the officials. So I would appreciate it if you would stop with the double innuendos.”
“That was your statement,” Burke admitted. “And as of now, it is the only evidence we have to go on. You see, Mr. Morton,” Burke added “there hasn’t been an act of murder in the Federation, in this manner, in quite sometime. In fact, the only time such murders were a product of every day life was back in the past, be it back my Earth, or your own Earth I would guess. So you will excuse me if I seem to take this matter most seriously.”
“Oh, Mr. Burke” a third voice said from the door, “you can take it as seriously as you wish.” Benton Cogley said as he stepped into the room. “Just be sure it’s in writing. Things always go smoother when they’re done in writing, don’t you think?”
Hank recognized the lawyer, Benton Cogley. He was in Janeway’s office on the very day Austin, Frank and the others were there as well, and Q sent them all home. Hank had no love for lawyers, but if he had to have one, why not the descendent of Sam Cogley. No doubt both of them were liberals, ACLU types, Hank thought to him self. But, oh well, he added.
“I offer myself as your legal advisor.” Benton said as he offered his hand to Hank.
“He hasn’t been charged.” Burke added. Then he looked to Hank. “I know we don’t get along Mr. Morton,” Burke said, “but I would advise against seeking this man’s advice on anything, much less legal advice.”
“Can I use that quote when I solicit new clients?” Benton asked Burke.
Burke turned and walked to the door. Before he stepped out into the hallway, he aimed his parting words to Hank.
“Since this investigation is on going,” Burke said, “please do not leave Risa until the interview is done.”
“Mr. Burke,” Benton added to Burke’s back, “how is it one of the Federation’s most famous investigators is already here on Risa when this so called ‘rare’ crime happened?”
Burke didn’t answer, stepped through the door, and was gone.
Vash was happy when the guards let them leave. She was informed by the guards that she too would have to go to mid-city to give an official statement as well. Benton agreed to represent her as well.
Cogley bid farewell and told Hank and Vash he would meet them both at the Federation office in mid-city in two hours.
Hank had a look of distrust on his face.
“What’s wrong?” Vash asked Hank. “We have one of the best lawyers representing us. This will all be over real quick, you’ll see.”
“Maybe,” Hank said to her. “But the same question Benton asked Mr. Burke could be asked about Benton as well. How is it that one of the Federation’s greatest investigators, and, one of the most famous lawyers, would both be on this planet at the same time?” Morton asked.
Vash shook her head. “That is a good question.”
Hank looked at her and thought to him self, ‘and what about you, Vash, one of the most notorious con artists.’ Hank knew something strange was transpiring, and the only way to see it through was to take care that he paid attention to every detail. He headed to his room to shower, and to change, before heading to mid-city for the official statement to Investigator Stoney Burke.
Up to now Hank had told no one of seeing the Voyager Doctor holding a bloodied knife over the dead body. And for some reason, Hank knew it was a secret he should keep; for now.
--
The transport vessel traveled through space, having just left Risa hour earlier. One of the passengers, a bearded man, sat by himself and was reading a holopod novel. Luckily the special programming on the man’s holo-emitter allowed him to change his appearance, by adding beards or hair, or whatever it was programmed for. And for now, the Voyager doctor, (Zimmerman from this point of the story onward), would have to use these seldom used programs to stay ahead, and free, for as long as he could.
He had to find away to contact the Admiral. He reached into his pocket to make sure the chip was still there; it was. The chip had been handed to him by the man whose life was ending in a pool of blood when Zimmerman had activated his program hours earlier. What was on the chip? And why it was worth killing for? Zimmerman had no clue to either answer.
All he could do was stay ahead of whoever killed the man, and the law that now thought Zimmerman did it.
CONTINUED
Especially with your twisted sense of humour and doom and gloom.
And here I thought he was the "perfect gentleman" and all round hunk! 
