Existence - The Preserver Saga, Part One

[kes7]

Wow! The action builds! Good job. Poor Emily. I guess someone has to be the redshirt.

Liked the dynamics between Kirk and Winona. It is weird to do your job in front of your parents, I've had that experience before and I could very much relate to Kirk's thoughts on the matter.


As always, I can't wait to see what happens next.

 

[thew40]

We're starting to move to the conclusion of this first part here. I'd like to warn you guys, the ending is a little . . . strange. Bare in mind this is just the first part of four.

Also, I may have made a few technical errors in the next excerpt or two. Forgive them, as I'm not as up on TrekTech as some.

Again, many thanks on the faves!

-----


END OF THE LINE

Instantly, the landing party appeared in the Kelvin’s transporter room. All save one – the body of Emily Farrah.


"What the hell just happened?” demanded McCoy.


“We were just preparing to beam you up, sir,” reported the transporter technician.


“Report!” Robau barked.


“Where’s sickbay?” McCoy asked.


“We’ll take you,” George said, helping to lift Kirk up. He was so limp and heavy, completely unconscious now.


Spock, Sulu, and Uhura followed Robau out of the transporter room as the shell-shocked science and security officers wandered out. “The Klingons got a few shots on us,” came a voice from the bridge to Robau’s communicator. “The Enterprise then engaged them and had us come and pick you up.”

“How much damage did they do?”


“Shields are down to 63%, weapons are fully functional.”


“And the Enterprise?” Spock questioned.


They arrived on the bridge at this point and the acting Captain rose from his chair. “The Enterprise has taken some hits, but have delivered some strong attacks. The vessels both appear to be evenly matched.”


Robau took his place, leaning forward. Spock and the other two bridge officers were behind him, the two humans displaying their concern as Spock tried to gain as much knowledge about the situation as possible as to determine the course of action once he was back on board the Enterprise.


“Take us back to the battle. Lock weapons and prepare to fire.”


“Sir! Romulan bird-of-prey uncloaking bearing one three mark - ”


The bridge shuddered with the impact of the Romulan’s weapon. Sulu grabbed Uhura to help steady as Spock stepped towards Robau.


“Plasma torpedo, Commodore,” Spock observed.


“Fire at will!”


“Shields are down to 12%!” shouted the tactical officer.


Phaser beams sliced through the cold depths of space and struck the Romulan ship. The bird-of-prey’s shields shimmered as the Kelvin’s barrage continued. Unfortunately, Commander Avar was a seasoned warrior. Two plasma torpedoes launched out, striking the Kelvin’s saucer section, annihilating the phaser banks.


“HULL BREACH!”


“We’ve lost shields and phasers!”


“Fire all torpedoes! Maximum spread!” Robau commanded.


His tactical officer went to work, the torpedoes flying wide across their viewscreen, striking with precision at the Romulan bird-of-prey. The Romulan vessel cloaked briefly . . . and then the Klingon warship appeared, disrupter firing.


Explosions filled the bridge, sending both people and shrapnel through the air. Spock shoved both Uhura and Sulu to the ground, protecting them part of a panel went flying towards them.


“Damage report,” Robau demanded, now on his feet.


“We’ve lost all weapons. Multiple hull breaches.”


The voice of the chief engineer – Keenser – filled the bridge, disrupted as it was by static. “Warp core breach, Commodore! I can not stop it!”


“Evacuation protocols! All hands abandon ship! Get me the Enterprise!”


“I have Mr. Scott for you, sir,” said the communications officer.


“We’ll need cover fire from the Enterprise, Mr. Scott. Can you provide it?”


“Aye, Commodore. We’ll do what we can.”


Robau sighed and turned to his chair. What was left of the bridge crew were moving out after securing their stations. Spock had ordered Sulu and Uhura to leave and remained to make sure Robau was leaving as well. He was all too familiar with the old Earth tradition of the “Captain going down with the ship.”


“Commodore, we are running out of time.”


The bridge shook again as the Klingons fired once more. Robau sighed and walked off the bridge.


“I know.”

***

George pushed Jim in a wheelchair, Winona and McCoy directly behind. As they ran towards the waiting medical shuttle, Winona had an eerie feeling of déjà vu. She couldn’t place it and it didn’t make sense, but she had the strangest feeling she had done something like this in . . . another lifetime.


They arrived at the medical shuttle, where they found Sulu and Uhura waiting with the security officers.


“Where’s Spock?” McCoy asked.


“Right here, Doctor,” Spock responded, appearing with Robau just then. “I appreciate the concern, of course.”


“Just get in the damn shuttle, Spock.”


Sulu took the co-pilot’s seat as the shuttle was fired out of the Kelvin, along with a dozen others. Behind them, the Kelvin began to explode. Flames broke through its surface. Hull breaches accelerated, ripping through the large ‘KELVIN’ on the saucer section.


“How is the Captain?” Uhura asked, Kirk’s limp body swaying with the shuttle.


“I’m more concerned about us at the moment, Lieutenant.”


Outside the window, the Kelvin exploded. Debris was launched in several directions, the subspace shockwave striking the shuttle and violently tossing it and its others.


“The Enterprise is dropping shields!” Sulu reported.


“Most illogical,” Spock mumbled. “They’re leaving themselves vulnerable.”


“And giving us a chance,” Robau argued, pointing the de-cloaking Romulan bird-of-prey. Disrupter beams fired out at the shuttles, striking and destroying one. Robau winced.


The Enterprise fired phasers at the Romulan bird-of-prey, veering it off from the shuttles. The bird-of-prey and the Klingon warship fired at the Enterprise then. The Enterprise fired back as the tractor beam came on and started to pull the shuttles into its shuttle bay.

 

[Mistral]

Scotty is pulling off a dangerous maneuver. I don't know if I'd drop shields under the circumstances. Gutsy. And Winona's "feeling" makes me wonder what's really going on around here. How does the alien entity know about the obelisk on Amerind but not about Humans?

 

[thew40]

Scotty is pulling off a dangerous maneuver. I don't know if I'd drop shields under the circumstances. Gutsy.

Well, Scotty never really came off as the best tactician in the galaxy to me. His number one priority was getting those shuttles into the Enterprise.

How does the alien entity know about the obelisk on Amerind but not about Humans?

There's a lot that the Keeper isn't saying. Some of it will be revealed in this part -- but not much. The mystery of the Keeper - and Sargon's people and the Preservers themselves - are the lynchpin of what's to come. This story introduces the mystery, the second part adds a new twist to it, and the the last two parts see the mystery itself deepen.

Short section today, but I'll post again later.

-------

MATTERS OF HONOR AND TREACHERY

Robau, Spock, Sulu, and Uhura arrived on the bridge, which was abuzz with activity. “Report, Mr. Scott,” Spock commanded.


“Shields are back up, but I cannae promise you more than 35%. The Klingons took a licking, but with those Romulans, we’re outnumbered and outflanked. We also have two hull breaches.”


“Understood. You’re needed in Engineering, I assume?”


“Aye. I’ll see what I can get ye with those shields.”


“Commendable work, Mr. Scott.” Spock took the chair. “Chekov, prepare a wide spread of photon torpedoes, aimed at both the Romulan bird-of-prey and Klingon warship. Fire.”


Even as the photon torpedoes were launched, the Enterprise again came under fire. Spock gripped the sides of the captain’s chair as shield dropped another 13%.


“Pull us back,” Spock ordered then. “We’re retreating.”


The Enterprise began to withdraw from battle. Klingon disrupters struck the aft shields and coupled with three plasma torpedoes, the nacelles took a hit. The Enterprise vibrated with the attack.


“We’ve lost warp drive!” Sulu shouted.


“Mr. Scott . . .”


“I’m on it, sir,” Scotty replied from Engineering


“What now, Mr. Spock?” asked Chekov.

***

Avar rose from her chair and walked towards the central command terminal, where Hitorah stood at his mistresses ready. By his side, the other Centurions were working the controls, the vessel currently above the Enterprise and doing a quick scan of its damage. They had re-cloaked.


“Report, Hitorah,” she commanded.


“The Enterprise’s warp drive is off-line and their shields are down to 14%.”


“Recommendation.”


“Prepare a boarding party. The Remans in the hold can easily outmatch their security- even with the Kelvin’s personnel. Along with the Klingons, we can claim the Enterprise in the name of the alliance.”


Avar smiled a little. “The alliance . . . a bounty for the alliance. A glorious prize. Who gets what, I must ask? We get the saucer section and the Klingons get the drive section?” She returned to her seat. “I want the Enterprise destroyed. We do not need their technology and any knowledge they’ve gained of the wormhole we are more than smart enough to get on our own.”


“And what about the Klingons?”


“You must be joking, Hitorah. Those beasts are just as likely to share my point of view.”


-------


Again, I'm not Mr. Trek Tech. If I screwed something up, please point it out to me so I can take precautions for the next time.

 

[thew40]

MINDSCAPE

Jim’s reflection was that of Janice Lester. He felt her skin, her body, her hair and face. He was in her body, trapped, locked into something that she couldn’t handle . . . herself. Jim then felt something strange – a release from that body. He was moving through a corridor and into . . . an orb.


He felt the presence of Sargon, their minds touching, their knowledge striking, their very essences interweaving for a moment.


Was it like this when he did the same with Janice?


No . . . because she wasn’t like Sargon. None of them were. Not yet . . . ?


The orb split apart and he saw Miramanee standing beneath the obelisk. Felt her hand slip into his. Her lips touch his.


She vanished from him and there were George and Winona Kirk, sitting by the obelisk, watching him. Watching him and studying him.


What was this?


‘The answers you sought,’ the Keeper’s voice told him, now more coherent than ever. ‘You can not fully comprehend us. You can not fully comprehend our work. We are ancient; you are young. What has begun here for you has been happening for many, many years.’


Kirk looked down and saw the body of Emily Farrah on a circular platform. The platform was dropping past glass tubes – many of which were empty, but some had people in them.


‘You are not who we sought,’ the Keeper continued as Emily Farrah vanished into the darkness, along with the tubes. ‘We are curious about you. We have preserved you in some places. You found some of your race scattered across the galaxy. We needed to understand your flashpoints, your key moments. There is much to be revealed about you. Your destiny is our destiny. But you can not grasp that yet. You must let go of this and continue to grasp what you can. Explore, James T Kirk. That is your truest destiny.’


Kirk saw Janice Lester again.


He saw Miramanee and Edith Keller.


‘Let go.’


He saw Carol Marcus and Ruth.


‘Rise up. Take control. Embrace your destiny, as it is today.’
-------


More to come!

 

[Mistral]

OK, that was sufficiently mystic. *scratches head* Guess I have to wait for more.

 

[thew40]

CAPTAIN KIRK TO THE BRIDGE

He woke up suddenly, his parents by his side, McCoy and Nurse Chapel running scans. They all looked to him, but he didn’t have time. The ship was rocked with another volley of disrupter fire. He landed on his feet and steadied.


McCoy got in his way. “Jim, just what the hell do you think you’re doing?”


“Taking charge.”


“Jimmy . . .” Winona started, but he cut in.


“I’m fine,” he told her as he made for the door. “We’ll talk when I’m through.”


McCoy followed him. “Now wait just a damn minute . . .”

***

Scotty was working up a sweat in Engineering. Between getting shield capacity back up, getting weapons active, and trying to get warp drive running again, he was moving at a pace that made him feel like he was going to warp. And coming apart.


“I can help,” came the voice of the Kelvin’s chief engineer.


“You? No offense, laddie, but you’re a little small and out of your league.”


“I can climb on things.”


“On my ship? I dinnae think so.”


Keenser walked over to one of controls and began to play around some of the keys. Scotty was about to scold him for it . . . when he saw that phaser capacity had jumped by 10%. Scotty smiled a little bit and patted him on the head.


“So, ye like ta climb, do ya? I’ve got a wee job for ya.”

***

Kirk arrived on the bridge, followed by McCoy, who would not stop telling him to return. Spock rose from the chair immediately, to which Kirk took as soon as. Robau glanced to McCoy, then Spock. Finally, he leaned close to Kirk.


“Are you certain that - ?”


“More than, Commodore.” He listened then as Spock told him what exactly the status was of the other vessels. When Spock finished, Kirk nodded and leaned forward. “Mr. Chekov, lock phasers on the Romulan vessel then maneuver us within two kilometers of the Klingon warship. Prepare tractor beam.”


“Keptain?”


“Trust me, Chekov.”


The Enterprise thrusted forward, taking a barrage of Klingon torpedoes as they did. But despite that, the Enterprise was on top of the Klingons in seconds and the tractor beam was deployed, locking the Klingons in place.


“Turn us about 45 degrees and then release tractor beam. Hard about!”


The Enterprise did so, the Klingon vessel snapping out from them. As the Enterprise regained itself, the phasers fired hard and fast, coupled with photon torpedoes. Huge explosions ripped across the hull of the warship, flames erupting from its surface.


“The Klingon vessel is disabled,” Spock reported, “but the Romulans are still in-coming.”


Kirk grunted a little, trying to work out a strategy for them.


“May I offer a suggestion, Captain?” came the voice of George Kirk. The Captain turned to his father and nodded.


“Go ahead.”


“I have an idea.”

***

The Enterprise pulled away from in-coming Romulan vessel, rising up above on its impulse engines. As it did, the Romulans rose up to meet it, locking weapons on the bridge. Commander Avar considered taking the ship completely for herself now that K’vork was out of the picture . . . but eliminating the legendary Captain and crew of the vessel was the priority.


Four photon torpedoes sped from the Enterprise, detonating around the Romulans but not against them. Avar smiled a little, knowing that Starfleet’s targeting array was now off.


“Detecting debris,” Hitorah reported.


“Steady,” Avar replied as they slipped by metallic objects. “Prepare to fire at my command.”


The ‘debris’ suddenly exploded. The Romulan ship pitched left and right as drifting photon torpedoes went off. Phasers from the Enterprise struck at that moment, just as the shields began to weaken. The Romulan bird-of-prey went dead, a massive explosion blowing out part of the bottom of the ship.

***

Kirk wiped the sweat from his brow and looked to his father, who was beaming broadly in his gold uniform. “Well done, Lieutenant.”


“The same, Captain.”


Robau stepped over next James Kirk and stared at the drifting Romulan and Klingon ships. “This was very costly.”


“Agreed, Commodore.”


“What happened to you, Captain?” Robau then asked.


“Telepathic connection, I believe. In short . . . I was told that what we have here is just over our heads. I think this battle proves it, actually.”


Bones leaned over. “What do you mean by that, Jim?”


“The mission of the Preservers – their final mission, I suppose – was to maintain life. If we are their ‘children’ . . . then we have failed in that regard today. I believe we’re just not ready yet. But we’re trying.”


Winona smiled. “Yes. We are.”


------

I'll post some more a little later today.

 

[Mistral]

I liked that. A taste of Balance of Terror in reverse, too.

 

[thew40]

Thank you so much for the comments! I really appreciate it. I was nervous posting my first Trek fanfic here, but now I'm very glad I did! Here's the last section of "Existence."

-----

HEADING HOME, HEADING OUT

“I’m reading no life-signs on the Klingon and Romulan ships, Captain,” Spock called out. “Nor any organic material, whatsoever.” Before Kirk could respond, Spock looked up. “Jim, the wormhole is showing signs of destabilization.”


“Scotty, engines?” Kirk called down.


“Warp drive in three minutes, Captain. Count on it.”


“Can you make it two?”


“If this one will stop climbing on everything, aye!”


Kirk joined Spock then. “And what’s that about no life-signs? I don’t like the idea of leaving Romulan and Klingon soldiers out here.”


“I do not understand it. Our sensors should be reading them . . . or at least something.”


“Were our sensors damaged in the attack?”


“Perhaps.”


“Spock, I hate the possibility, but we may just have to leave them behind if they’re even here.”


“Agreed. The wormhole’s destabilization is increasing rapidly.”


Kirk returned to his chair, where Robau stood waiting. His hands folded neatly behind his back, he regarded the world that was being left behind. “Doctor Farrah.”


Kirk nodded a little. “I . . .” He stopped himself, not knowing what to say. There were no words, really, to describe the mix of feelings within. In fact, even with the loss of Emily Farrah, he felt . . . good. Better than he had in months. He was ready for the next mission, for the next adventure.


And he had the strangest feeling about Doctor Farrah and the events below. A feeling that maybe it wasn’t all what he thought it was.

***

Not much later, the Enterprise re-emerged on the other side. As the Federation flagship veered out of the asteroid field, Spock looked up from his scope.


“It appears the wormhole device is undergoing some sort of self-destruction protocol. I’m reading numerous internal electro-magnetic signatures, followed by explosions. The Keeper, apparently, is no longer accepting admittance to his system.”


“For now, Mr. Spock,” Kirk answered without even thinking about it. “Mister Sulu, lay in a course for the nearest starbase, at best possible speed. Something tells me we’re in need of a tune-up.”


“Course laid in, Captain.”


Robau walked over to Uhura, looking to coordinate with Starfleet command to help get his people back to where they belonged. Bones leaned up next to Spock, watching Jim with growing confidence. Winona joined George next to their son.


“Are you sure you’re all right, Jimmy?” Winona questioned.


Jim nodded. “Yes,” he responded and gave her and George a reassuring smile that answered any more questions about his emotional state. “The stars beckon.”


THE SPIRAL

Commander Avar slowly awoke next to Hitorah. All around her, she could hear grunting, groaning, and growling. Her crew – including the ten Remans that had been on board – were all standing on a metal platform next to K’vork, Drang, and the rest of the Klingons.


“What is this?” demanded Drang. “Some kind of Romulan trickery!”


“I would think so,” snarled a nearby Reman named . . . oh, she couldn’t remember.


“What is going on here?” came a female’s voice. A human stood nearby, one hand on her chest.


“Starfleet?” Avar questioned.


“My name is Doctor Emily Farrah. What are you doing here? Where are we?”


Avar stared at her, understanding that the young human was just as confused as the others. “That . . . is an excellent question.”


“Help!” shouted another human female.


Doctor Farrah turned to her. She was squatting on the ground, sobbing, and holding her stomach.


“Easy, easy!” Farrah assured her. “Easy, you’re among friends! Or at least one friend . . .” Farrah added, eyeing the many enemies. “What is your name?”


The woman stared at Doctor Farrah, brushing the raven black hair from her face. “M-Miramanee.”

-----

TO BE CONTINUED!

COMING SOON: EXTINCTION – THE PRESERVER SAGA, PART TWO


"Extinction" should hopefully be around in the next few weeks. I need to put some other projects to bed and get some research going first. Again, thanks for the feedback!

 

[fleetcaptain]

Great ending. Can't wait to see what happens in part 2. Nice to see that Scotty is finally warming up to Keenser. Would be interesting if he ends up staying aboard the Enterprise.

 

[Mistral]

Missed the ending-interesting. Look forward to where you are going. Now on to pt 2!