Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck

[RobertScorpio]

STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#77-B A L B O A

Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck
Balboa—Deep Space Nine—Federation Earth—Septos 14

#77-Bonus
(re-printed from ESSIANS: Knowledge. Just incase some of you didn’t read that segment, this Balboa segment will be re-printed here for continuity sake)



Captain Everett West was very pleased. He stood on the outside of the massive saucer section, along with most of the crew of the Balboa. Lt. Anrolla has expertly landed the Balboa’s saucer section on the dry lake bed. The shuttle crafts had landed, in formation, near the saucer section. Just as they had done on Septos-14, work parties spread out and looked for resources that could be used if need be from the uncharted world.

The Tricorders we limited due to the strange affects of the system’s companion star. But, as they had on Septos-14, they would not let the lack of some technologies slow what had to be done. At that moment Lt. Kral and LTjG Garman came up to him.

“Sir,” Kral said, “We have some interesting data I would like to share with you.”

S’ovak, who had been talking with Lt. Commander Thron, came over to where West and Kral were. He wanted to hear what information they had as well.

“What is it?” West asked.

“Even with the limited use of sensors,” Kral told Captain West and S’ovak, “Mr. Garman and I have been able to determine that the degradation of the containment fields was indeed caused by a Gauss-Bonnet implosion of the fields of epic proportions.”

LtjG Tom Garman took over. “It would explain the reason why the Inverse Phasing worked as much as it did.”

“Well,” West said, “Then we’re lucky the breach didn’t happen sooner than it did.” West concluded.

“Yes Sir,” Kral said, “But a Gauss-Bonnet effect on this level, and this speed, can not be explained away only by pointing at the companion star. There must be another source, nearby, to this system to have this kind of result.”

“What are you saying?” West asked. “That the Gauss-Bonnet was manufactured? We all know that is impossible.”

“We realize that,” LTjG Garman said, “But the equations don’t lie.”

Captain West was happy to see Garman enforcing his statements. He showed promise for future command postings.

“All right,” West said to them both, “If the companion star can not account for it, and if it was indeed created by artificial means, then where is it emanating from?”

Kral thought for a moment. “There are twelve planets in this system. Based upon where we were when the field density began to drop, I’d say, based on our course, something, or someone on the seventh planet is where I beleive we will find the answer.”

“Then,” West said to her, “once we get settled in down here, we’ll take one of the shuttlecrafts and go visit the seventh planet.”

Kral and Garman nodded acceptance of his orders, and went about their duty. S’ovak turned to Garman.

“West, Are you sure it is wise to go there?” S’ovak asked. “If the affect your officers were talking about is manufactured, you might not find yourselves alone on that seventh planet.” He then made another observation. “With out a warp engine anymore, does any of this matter?”

West pondered the question. “Maybe not now,” West replied. “But anyone who possessed the power to do what they have done: I am quite sure they would want to keep it a secret, at all costs. I don't want to be a sitting duck.”

"A sitting duck?" S'ovak asked. "What is a sitting duck?"

West smiled, "Its an old Earth saying. Suffice to say,we don't want to seem defenseless."

S’ovak understood completely. “Then I suggest that you have your security department set up secure locations just incase. I will have my Romulan personal assist in any way needed.”

West nodded in agreement. He looked up at the sky which was starting to show the first signs of stars. Why was it that the situations never seemed to stop piling on, he asked himself. There was no reply. He pulled him self from his thoughts and set out to find Commander Shigeru.

Continued:
Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Re: STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#76--DS9

As much as Ro has had problems...I can't see her willingly abandon a child of hers unless a) she doesn't know that's her kid or b) someone prevented it by force. I wonder if this situation will have any parallels to the episode "Cardassians"...

 

[RobertScorpio]

Re: STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#76--DS9

As much as Ro has had problems...I can't see her willingly abandon a child of hers unless a) she doesn't know that's her kid or b) someone prevented it by force. I wonder if this situation will have any parallels to the episode "Cardassians"...

We're not even sure yet if it was her who left the kid at the orphanage (of course I know but...well..you know what I mean)

Rob

 

[RobertScorpio]

STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#78 Federation EARTH two part episode!!!

Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck
Balboa—Deep Space Nine—Federation Earth—Septos 14

#78 (special two part episode)
Special Guest Star
Captain Tom Paris of
Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck
Deep Space Nine


Previously

Jake and Angela, still listening to the debate between Janeway and the others over the pros and cons of Earth being a political power, watched as the body of the Janeway-A android picked up its own decapitated Janeway-A head, and screwed it back onto its neck joint. Jake and Angela, almost as if they were using telepathy, decided not to alert anyone as to what they were witnessing.

--

Meanwhile, as the Neg-vahr zoomed toward Australia, from the most southern section of Earth, it fired two blasts from its main disrupter banks. The two blasts streaked out from the ship, toward their destination….nothing could stop them now!--

The command staff at Starfleet Command could only watch on the tactical screen as the two disrupter blasts streaked out from the Neg-vahr. The two blasts headed straight for New Sydney, site of the special hope really organized by the new President of the Federation. Two Starships in orbit were dispatched to intercept the Klingon ship, but it was doubtful they could really do anything to stop the blasts from striking the conference.

--

Thousands of spectators panicked as news of the impending attack spread throughout the crowd. Men, women and children, of many species, tried to fleet the arena while various staff members tried to instill calm.

The blasts streaked toward the arena, but shockingly, they didn’t hit the perceived target. Instead, they sped onward over the New Sydney skyline, but still not changing their course. They were heading somewhere else along the flight path. It didn’t take Starfleet Command, in San Francisco, too long to figure out where they blasts were heading because they were heading directly for: California!!!

--
Moriarty, stood up from the desk he had been sitting at inside the Dining hall at Fullerton’s mansion. He also saw the data streaming in from a tactical satellite he had hacked into. The blasts had just zoomed over New Sydney and were on a direct heading: toward the mansion! He looked to the back of the room and saw that the Janeway-A android had replaced her head.

“What is the meaning of this!?” Moriarty demanded of the android. He pressed a button on his desk.

Then, the android touched a button on its arm, and then instantly it, along with Admiral Janeway, Admiral Bachmeier, Jake Sisko and Angela, were beamed away. They rematerialized on a distant hill and watched as the two blasts struck the mansion, destroying it with two massive explosions.

“What about my wife!!” Jake yelled as he watched the balls of fire rise into the air. He collapsed to his knees when it was clear that no answer was coming. Janeway rushed over to Jake to comfort the young man who had known much tragedy in his life.

The android reached into its pockets and handed Admiral Backmeier a phaser. The Janeway-A was giving itself up.

“What happened?” Bachmeier asked.

Angela walked over to the android. “You were able to over ride their programming, weren’t you?” Angela asked.

The Janeway android nodded. “Yes, indeed. I could only push myself into the main frame in limited fashion. The codes that were transferred to me, via Janeway’s mind, allowed me to access the needed program routines at Starfleet Command. I was able to get into the Neg-vahr’s main computer and program the attack. That part, I had no control over. I was, however, able to minutely change the weapons lock and create an alcove of data without being noticed by my sub-routines. Then I was able to target Pascal Fullerton’s mansion.”

“How were we beamed away if the Transport grid was down?” Bachmeier asked.

“Only the grid that covers that section of Earth was down,” Janeway-A said to him. “I programmed the computer to beam out the four of you and myself. I am sorry about Korena Sisko. I only had enough time to program five beam outs. Had I known she was there, I would have beamed her out instead of my self. For that: I am sorry.”

Jake Sisko was crying. His wife was dead. His head was buried in Janeway’s shoulder. There was nothing anyone could say to a man who had lost his mother, his father, and now, his wife.

Moments later three Starfleet shuttles arrived, having monitored the path of the disruptors and the explosion of Fullerton’s mansion. One of the shuttles landed on the hill, and the survivors, and the android, prepared to board the shuttle. The other two shuttles landed near the burning rubble of the mansion. Starfleet security teams exited the shuttles and headed toward the still burning fires as three fire tugs arrived above and began to drop water-gel on the fires.

As Janeway and the others began to board the shuttle that had come to pick them up, Bachmeier stopped them and walked over to Angela.

“Before you come with us,” Admiral Backmeier said to Angela, “I must ask that you deactivate your android for security precautions. At some future date we will reactivate it for questioning. But:, honestly, right now? You will no doubt go to prison, and that God Damn thing,” he said, not even wanting to look at the android, “will be going to the scrap yards on Mars.”

“Understood sir,” Angela said.

Janeway walked over to Bachmeier.

“Fynn,” Janeway said to Bachmeier, “she, and Daniel, were both forced into this as well. Daniel’s dead, his parents are most likely too, and now Angela’s own brother will no doubtfully be killed by their captors, so as to cover their tracks. I hope Starfleet will take that into consideration. And lets not forget,” Janeway said as she looked at her android double, “the Android did manage to re-target those weapons and sent them at the root cause of all this: Moriarty and Fullerton.”

Bachmeier nodded. “I will do my best on behalf of the girl, but that thing,” Bachmeier said to Janeway, in reference to the Android, “must be destroyed.”

Janeway knew she couldn’t persuade him on that front, and she had to admit, he was right.

Angela walked over to Janeway-A and pushed a hidden switch on the left side of the android’s head. A device protruded from the head of the android, and Angela removed it: the Android was deactivated, and came to a perfect stand still. The android, too heavy to move, was then beamed aboard the shuttle.

Jake Sisko gazed out the window at the flames coming from the smashed building, as the shuttle began to lift off of the ground. He could see the Starfleet teams entering the battered premises, looking for clues. But the explosion was massive. It was so massive, only small chunks of debris remained. And somewhere in the carcass of Fullerton’s mansion, were the remains of his wife.

End of Part one….Part two later today!!!

 

[RobertScorpio]

STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#78 Federation EARTH two part episode!

Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck
Balboa—Deep Space Nine—Federation Earth—Septos 14

#78 (part two of a special two part episode)
Special Guest Star
Captain Tom Paris of
Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck
Deep Space Nine

The attempted attack on the Hope rally did not deter the President at all. It was rescheduled for the following week, and it was a big success. The President spoke in a manner that inspired the gathered crowd. She told them that they must not let bigotry ruin the foundation of the Federation. Everyone would redouble their efforts to be sure that all were treated equally, without favor to any. She received a loud applause. She also told them that soon, real soon, Warp speed would be returned and that Earth would rejoin the galactic neighborhood, stronger than ever.

--
Not all the news was as hopeful. Admiral Fynn Bachmeier studied the latest one-minute message sent via the Dimensional relay from DS9.

Due to the power constraints, DS9 was barely able to channel enough energy from the Bajoran sun to power the panels that collected energy to power the Tunnel Probe. The message was worrisome. The Jem’Hadar had attacked and destroyed most of the Founders. But the Founders who had survived had aligned themselves with the Borg, destroyed the Jem’Hadar, and the Vorta, and were now on their way to the Wormhole so as to invade the Alpha-Quadrant once and for all they would bring order to the galaxy: Their order.

Strangely enough, Bachmeier concluded, it was to everyone’s benefit that Warp Speed didn’t return. Not having warp speed was what was keeping the Borg fleet thousands of years from the wormhole instead of days.

But if the Borg could also find away to travel via Dimensional Jumping, it wouldn’t matter.
--
Janeway sat with Jake at his restaurant in New Orleans. Jake had decided to close Sisko’s once and for all. Janeway did her best to talk him out of it, but Jake didn’t listen to her. He no longer had the will to push on with it. He just wanted to retire to his home on the Bayou and continue his writing in solitude.

“You’re father wouldn’t give up like this,” Janeway said to Jake.

“I’m not my father,” Jake said. “He was a great man, I am not.”

“I don’t believe that at all.” Janeway said.

Jake was about to add something when suddenly Vic Fontane appeared.

“Please: not now Vic.” Jake said to Vic.

Vic didn’t listen and sat down next to Janeway, and looked directly at Jake.

“I’m sorry, Jake,” Vic said, “Korena was one hell of a girl. I have been thinking about Bakooth as well. I can not believe he would have done this to you with out some reason.”

Jake nodded. “It doesn’t matter now, Vic. They’re both dead, and I guess, in someway, so am I.”

Jake looked at Korena’s picture, right next to his own, that adorned the wall near the entrance to the restaurant. In the picture, she was smiling her warm smile. A lone tear traced down his cheek. She had been forced to betray him by Moriarty, who was now destroyed as well. What leverage did he use on her? How was he able to get her to cave to his demands? Jake would never know because now she was dead….

--
Or was she?

A small transport vessel made its way through space, on a course that took it away from Earth. Korena Sisko was indeed still alive, but was kept in a special life support container, in stasis. A woman, who stood over the container, looked at specially made directions written on the outside of the stasis container. She pressed a couple buttons, and was relieved when what she did: worked. She also made sure that the bandage over Korena’s left index finger was still secure, and it was.

She then stood up, and walked over to a special computer that had a strange device attached to it. The woman’s name was Countess Regina Bartholomew. She looked at the strange device and shook her head.

“Oh James,” She said to herself, “What could have possibly gone wrong?”

The device was a special back up program Moriarty had built himself. Right before he perceived he was about be destroyed, he would throw the emergency purge relay, and all relevent information would be transferred to the ship, downloaded into the library banks, and then merged with the back up files stored in the memory unit. It would only work if the ship was in range, which it was, having been in parking orbit of Earth for quite some time.

The process to reorganize the memory subroutines would take several hours. But when completed, he would ‘live’ again, but now only as a hologram, just as Regina.

As for Korena Sisko? Jake’s wife had never been brought to Earth. She had always been kept prisoner on the transport. Regina hated this part Moriarty’s plan, detaining Korena Sisko. But if Professor Moriarty said it was needed: it was needed. Korena would be leveraged at some future point.

Regina stood up and walked back over to the stasis chamber that contained Korena Sisko. Although she was their prisoner, Korena would be treated with respect due that of a woman who was baring a child: as she was.

--
Meanwhile, on the planet Bajor, in the city of Relliketh, Tom Paris was introduced to the girl named Devina. The girl was quiet, and somber.

“How is she?” Paris asked the woman, an elderly Bajoran, who ran the orphanage.

“She doesn’t talk much,” the woman replied, “Though: we have only had her in our care for barely two weeks.”

“Who left her here?” Paris asked.

The woman smiled back at Paris.

“We make it a point not to ask questions of that nature.” the woman said. “All I can say is that instructions were left to me on how to contact Devina’s new benefactor, and I followed them.”

Paris nodded, and then he looked down at the girl. The girl looked straight ahead, with out expression.

“It’s okay,” Paris told the girl, “I am here to protect you. You needn’t be scared.”

Without warning the girl reached out and grabbed Paris’s arm, and held it tight to her, as though she was frightened out of her mind.

“What’s wrong?” Paris asked.

Devina looked up at Tom, and she had a worried expression on her face. “They’re here,” she said. “They won’t let you take me.”

Tom Paris had the natural ability to know when the fear of others was caused by paranoia, or by real elements. And he could tell, immediately, that her fear was legitimate. And then his ears heard a piercing noise. The window next to where he stood suddenly cracked. He turned around to see the head mistress of the orphanage fall to the ground: dead. Her forehead had been penetrated by some kind of weapon. Tom reached into his pocket and pushed a button, and then he, and the girl, were both beamed away.

Tom Paris and Devina rematerialized somewhere else, but not on the Defiant, which was where they were supposed to have gone.

“What the hell?” Paris asked himself as he realized they were not on the Defiant’s transporter pad. “Where are we?”

A fat Feringi stood before them, flanked by two Klingon henchmen. “You, huuuuman! Why are trying to steal my asset?” The Feringi said to Paris.

“You’re asset?” Paris asked, “What are you talking about? Her?”

The Feringi smiled. “Human, even I have standards,” the Feringi said. “I will not kidnap children from orphanages. By teleporting her away from there, and now having had your transport signal diverted to here, you have saved me the trouble of having to wait her out. I have three buyers for the girl, all of whom will pay handsomely for her. You, Starfleet, I have no need for. TAKE HIM AWAY!”

The two massive Klingons grabbed Tom Paris and, as Paris struggled, dragged him out of the dingy transporter room. The Feringi looked at the girl, who was still on her knees on the Transporter pad.

“Sorry kid,” the Feringi said, “it isn’t personal. I have bills to my pay.”

He watched as two other Klingons lifted her up and took her a way as well.

--
Paris was taken to a dungeon, and was thrown into it. He tumbled onto the ground as his Klingon escorts slammed the door shut, locking him in. Paris stood up and surveyed the dungeon. It was dark, dingy, and smelly. He walked around and did not feel confident as he saw a few remnants of decayed skeleton bones scattered on the ground.

Over in the dark corner he heard a sound. It was the sound of a large groan. The dungeon had barely any lighting, so Paris walked toward the groan very quietly. Then, on the ground, he saw where the groaning was coming from: the massive Nausican he had seen outside of the orphanage. No doubt he too had been ambushed in someway, and brought here, along with the child-Nausican as well. The Nausican child was no where to be seen.

“Your death! NOW!” The Nausican grumbled as it struggled to stand up.

“Hey,” Paris said, “I’m here for the same reason you are. They took my,” Paris struggled for the word, “daughter.”

“You lie!” The Nausican said as he finally got his bearings and stood up. “I know Devina’s father!”

“Uh oh, bad lie.” Tom said as the Nausican bared its teeth and prepared to fight.

Continued
Star Trek Shuffle the Deck will now go on Holiday hiatus.
More to come soon!

Riker and the citizens of SEPTOS 14 face death as space creatures attack the planet...but an ancient secret will either save them, or destroy the planet...

Tom Paris must try to save the lone child of Ro Laren. To do so, he must get past a very mean Nausican!

Kassidy Sisko, with her son in tow, makes a run from the smugglers who kidnapped her. Can she make it to the crew of the Balboa before she is captured???

Smiley has returned from the Mirror Universe, and he isn't alone. Absolute turmoil comes as the identity of the other Mirror Universe traveler is revealed

Jake Sisko believes his wife is dead, but she isn't. What sinister plan is Moriarty up to now???

the Borg/Founder alliance want to bring order to the Galaxy. What or who can possibly stop them!!!

PLUS: Spock is born--again!!!

Shufle the Deck 2009!!!

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Re: STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#78 Federation EARTH two part episode!

"Uh-oh, bad lie..." That definitely sounds like something Paris would actually say!

And poor Jake, believing his wife is dead.

 

[RobertScorpio]

Re: STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#75 Septos 14

Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck
Balboa—Septos 14—DS9—Federation EARTH--ESSIANS

#79


“This is a very crappy situation.” Dr. Mistral said in his usual dry, sardonic, tone. It had the effect of causing laughter around those he was grouped with.

Mistral stood on one of the higher ridges inside the cave. It looked out upon the organized rows of refugees below, who just like him, were hoping the solid walls of the cave they were hiding in would be strong enough to hold up against the Thraval swarm which was about to attack the planet Septos-14.

Captain Riker, who was standing in the lower part of the cave, and who had heard the laughter caused by Dr. Mistral’s outburst, even smiled himself. Mistral was only speaking out loud which most of them were feeling on the inside; fear. Somehow, hearing curse words within these moments of solitude went a fantastic way into proving much needed humor.

It wouldn’t be so bad, or least Riker convinced himself, if the creatures weren’t so horrifying to look at. Unfortunately, they were very grizzly looking. They very much looked like Bats combined with raptors of the pre-historic age. But unlike those Earth “monsters”, these ones could fly through space, and could eat the innards of a dying person in a mere moment. They were part of Romulan and Klingon myths, but had not been 'seen' in centuries. What had brought them back? No one knew.

The Septos-14 settlers and the remnants of the Balboa’s crew, and others as well, were crammed into two very large caves. Nearly 10000 people in all. Riker was situated near to the portable scanners and sensors that had been thrown together as fast as they could be. They had very limited capability, and because of the cave walls, were practically useless. Ensign Rose, who sat at the main controls with other crew members of the Balboa, stood up and walked over to Riker. Riker, who had studied both the caves in these final moments before the Thraval arrived, concluded that the caves were artificial. Meaning: someone had previously carved them out of the base of the mountain. Could it have been the Hurq who had done this eons upon eons ago when they ravaged this part of the Galaxy?

“Sir,” Rose said to Riker as she walked over to him, “the Swarm has just rammed our final satellite relay post. We have no way to tell where those things are.”

“Have all the phasers and phaser-rifles been dispersed through-out the caves equally?” Riker asked.

“Yes,” Ensign Rose replied, “Kafla and his ranch-hands are helping as best as they can in dispersing them, but I wish Security officer Shigeru was here. I’d feel more comfortable if he were organizing the effort.”

“Yes, in fact” Riker said to her, “I have heard of Lt. Commander Shigeru. I took a martial-arts class with one of his uncles during shore-leave a couple years ago on Earth, in Kyoto Japan.”

Rose smiled, “Lt. Commander Shigeru is a riot.” She said to Riker. “His Japanese accent is so cool, but he can be a,” she toned her voice down, “hard-ass at times.”

“Sounds like a good officer.” Riker said with honor in his voice.

He looked around the perimeter of the cave. Several Balboa officers and several civilians as well, were positioned at key points with the weapons. If the space monsters some how got inside the cave, it was hoped these sharpshooters could take them out. Riker knew, as he was sure most knew, it would be a miracle. If there were indeed eighty-thousand of those things, and they found a way into the caves? It would be absolute bedlam.

The entrances to both caves were sealed up with strategic phaser blasts from the K’amort’s Bird of Prey. It was right after that task had been completed when the BOP made its exit from the mountain area, out into space, and as far from the planet as it could get.

Kafla’s herd of Horses and C’haqs were placed inside of a third, and more cramped cave. Several of his ranch hands, which included Klingons, Andorians and even a Trill or two, were guarding the animals in their cave.

Now all they had to do, Riker and the others, was to wait out the night. And hopefully, if the monsters grew weary of the search, they would head back into space, and leave Septos-14 far behind.

At that moment Riker and Ensign Rose heard the loud sounds of Klingon curse words. A Klingon was madder than hell.

“Now what?” Riker said as he and Ensign Rose, and Dr. Mistral, headed off toward the cursing Klingon.

Meanwhile, sitting with a group of settlers, Tiberius and Elaine watched as Riker and the others headed toward the commotion.

“Do you think we should tell him who we really are?” Tiberius asked Elaine.

“And what exactly do we say,” Elaine said, “we’ve come from another plane of existence? And that I am Ensign Rose’s daughter grown up, and I am a warrior champion from that other universe, and that you are the son of…”

He cut her off. “I get the picture.” He said as he scratched an itch on the tip of his left Vulcanian ear.

“Do you even know who James Kirk was? I believe this man must have been a legend to many to be so important to our parents.” Elaine asked Tiberius.

“Oh, yes, he was important enough to my father at least,” Tiberius said, “to be named after him. I have always been most fond of this name I have been given: Tiberius. At least it doesn’t start with the letter S.”

“Well,” She said with a smile, “it does end with one.”

“Do you think we will ever get back to Hotep?” He asked her.

“I don’t know,” Elaine said. “Maybe this is part of our path. I’m sure, if Sheppard was here, he’d say something like that.”
--

Meanwhile, near the Federation colony fifty miles from the caves. A family of Tomorans, who refused to go with the refugees to the caves, huddle together in their small home. They prayed to their Gods to deliver them a miracle. There was a mother, a father, and two younglings. Tomorans were a hominoid species that had long blue mains and bronze skin. They were known for their rather complex belief system. But it wasn’t going to save them: not on this night.

The ground of their home began to rumble as the mighty swarm of Thraval’s passed over head. Two dozen of the creatures, smelling a small quantity of blood, swooped down from the swarm and toward the Tomoran abode. Only a minimum force field protected the house. The Thraval rammed the field, one at a time. Each time they did, it absorbed a small quantity of the field’s energy. Eventually it was worn down, and the Thravals smashed into the Tomoran home.

The Tomoran father could only watch, in his own final breaths of life, as the creatures attacked his wife, and children, devouring them with out mercy. The Tomoran’s orange colored blood was splattered all over the walls as the monsters ripped the Tomorans apart, piece by piece. And then the father felt the piercing sensation of one of the monsters biting in to his chest, killing him.

--
Riker stood with Kafla, and listened to the explanation of one of his ranch hands as to why he was cussing so loudly.

“My son,” K’anoth, Kafla’s chief horse trainer said, “is only a boy.” K’anoth said as he stared down at his cowering boy. “He likes to climb on trees, and into caves, and hide.”

“And for that reason, you yelled at him like that?” Riker asked.

“The boy,” Kafla explained to Riker, “yelled forbidden words upon seeing something up there in the small alcove he found.”

Kafla reached out his hand and then he pointed up and, indeed, almost as if hidden from view, there was a cut-in into the cave. One had to really look for it to see it, but it was there.

“What did he see up there that startled him so much?” Ensign Rose asked, almost as if she could read Riker’s own mind.

None of the Klingons answered.

“Do I have to go up there my self and see?” Riker asked Kafla.

“No, that will not be needed.” Kafla said. He motioned for Riker to walk with him, away from the others.

Once they were at a safe distance, Kafla spoke.

“The boy claims to have seen an aberration.” Kafla said.

“What does that mean?” Riker asked.

“He claims that he saw a Hurq demon up in that space above the cave. It is forbidden for Klingon children to even mention the word Hurq out loud: to do so would dishonor one’s family.”

“I want to see this Hurq demon,” Riker said. “There was a Hurq treasure in these caves recently,” Riker said, “Perhaps the treasure hunters left something behind we can use.”

Kafla put his hand on Riker’s shoulder. “Do not go up there and tempt fate, Riker. It could cost you your life.”

Riker smiled, “I love to play against the odds.”

Moments later, Riker, with the help of the Klingons, and some ropes, climbed up the cave wall, then on to the small passage, and then he disappeared into the alcove.

At that moment the caves began to shake. The Thraval swarm was hovering above the mountains, their massive gravitational force causing tremors below. The monsters were hungry, and they could smell quantities ofblood, all kinds of blood, below. The time to eat: was now!!!

To be continued
STAR TREK Shuffle The Deck

 

[RobertScorpio]

SHUFFLE THE DECK cast call...DEC 28 2008

principle cast members of
STAR TREK: SHUFFLE THE DECK

 

[RobertScorpio]

STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#80 Septos 14

Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck
Balboa—Septos 14—DS9—Federation EARTH--ESSIANS

#80

At first, Riker found it hard to steady him self on the cave-wall, especially as the cave itself began to tremble due to the gravitational pull of the Thraval swarm on the entire mountain area. Riker had to give props to the Klingon kid for being able to have made this climb with out ropes or anything to help him. Riker would be sure to recommend that he join Starfleet, and that he, Riker, would sponsor him as well.

As Riker steadied himself, he kept his mind busy. He wondered if the tremors were more than just the gravitational pull of the Thraval on the mountains, but maybe because of the unique properties of the caves themselves. The Hurq treasure had been hidden in the caves eons ago. The strange properties of the cave made it practically invisible to sensors. Then there was an emotion-feeding entity that had helped keep potential scavengers away, probably for eons as well. And, to top it all off, the Thraval, a species not seen in these parts for centuries, shows up as well. There was more than met the eye, Riker concluded, as he transferred up to the last ledge that led to the opening the boy had found. Riker looked down at the others, and then he entered the cutout in the side of the cave wall.

Elaine and Tiberius had watched from afar as Riker scaled the inside of the cave. They, like many others, wondered what was so interesting about that area of the cave that Riker had to climb up to see. Then the two secret time travelers, Elaine and Tiberius, over heard some others mentioning the fact that a young Klingon child had climbed up there as well, and had seen, what he thought, was a Hurq demon inside a small alcove above the main cave setting. Tiberius looked over to Elaine.

“Do you think the Klingon boy found it: the Conduit? Do you think the Ring is with it?” Tiberius asked of Elaine softly.

“I don’t know,” Elaine said, “If our people didn’t find it before returning to the Crossing with Sheppard, than perhaps it was hidden by the Hurq too well and only found by mistake by this Klingon boy.”

“Then not only will Riker find the Conduit, he might also find the last Etarian Ring as well.” Tiberius stated in a worried manner.

“Would you calm down, my love,” Elaine said with her sweet smile, “we will just have to get that ring before Riker does.” Elaine said.

“And just how do we do that?” Tiberius asked.

Elaine shook her head. “I don’t know yet. One thing is for sure. Riker won’t be sure how to operate the conduit with the ring.”

“You can’t do what I think you’re going to do,” Tiberius said to her. “If you do, we will all die.”

“Killing us all may be the only way to save us all.” She finally said to him. “Now, come on, follow me.”

Elaine thought for a moment as she, with Tiberius by her side, made her way toward where Riker had scaled the wall. “We’re doing this for most of them anyway. Somehow that must count for something in the big grand scheme of things.”

Tiberius smiled, “I’m not sure Sheppard would see it that way.”

“No,” she offered, “I don’t think he would.”
--
Riker walked through the small alcove that was cut into the cave. It was quite apparent to Riker that the tunnel he was walking in, as well as the rest of the caves in the general area, had been created by artificial means. As he came to the end of the tunnel he saw what the boy saw: A Hurq warrior!!! But the legendary warrior was not a live. It was dead, most likely left behind to scare any curious Klingons. What was behind the Hurq warrior was what piqued Riker’s interest. He walked past the ‘scarecrow’ Hurq, and over to a strange looking device, An alien control panel Riker had never seen before, but it defiantly had Hurq writings on it. But just what did it do, and what was the strange Ring object that was twirling above it. Riker had no idea.
--
At that moment the Thraval swarm broke apart. Thousands upon thousands of the space monsters dove down at the mountain range below. The creatures scoured the rocks and ledges of the mountains, smelling blood nearby as they did.

Nearly four thousand of them found the cave where the animals were. By just ramming the rocks that were stacked at the only entrance into the cave, they were able to bust through. The Klingon ranch hands put up a good fight, but it was useless. The creatures devoured the Klingons, and the Horses and Cha’q that had been herded into the cave. Soon, blood spattered all through the cave as one by one the Thraval used their massive mouths to rip the skin and innards out of the herd of animals. But the Thraval could smell more blood beyond another cave in of rocks. So they began to ram those rocks as well.
--
Riker looked at the strange device, and was momentarily startled as Kafla walked up from behind.

“I thought it was forbidden for your people to ignore Hurq scarecrows.” Riker said to Kafla.

Before Kafla could answer, they heard thousands of screams. They could also feel the impact each time the Thraval swarm rammed the entrance to the caves.

“From the sound of it, they must have already broken into the cave where the animals were.” Riker said.

“Most unfortunate.” Kafla said as he realized he probably just lost most of his herd, and most of his Ranch-hands. “It would seem we are to pass into StoVoKor together, Riker!” Kafla yelled with an almost manic glee.

Riker did not want to go to heaven, or hell, just yet. He had once told Picard that he wanted to live forever. Well, Riker thought, forever isn’t over yet.

He stared at the control device, trying to figure out what its function was. He could hear the sound of phasers whining in the background. The creatures had made it in. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but he felt compelled to keep looking. The control panel had strange writings that neither he nor Kafla could read. And, hovering just above the control was the twirling ring.

A large lever was just below the twirling ring. Strangely, enough, the lever was made of some unknown substance that seemed to pulse with energy. Riker looked to Kafla.

“I’m going to pull the lever!” Riker said, as the screams became louder.

“It might kill us all!” Kafla said. Then Kafla thought about the other way of death being offered them: being devoured. He looked to Riker, and smiled, “Throw it!”

Riker reached out and place his hands on the lever, just as Tiberius and Elaine came walked in to the small opening, via the tunnel.

“What are you two doing her?” Riker asked.

“We’re here to save us all,” Elaine said. “Hand me the Ring!” Elaine said as the screams grew louder.

Riker could tell when someone was being truthful, or not, most the time. The ability came from playing Poker as long as he had. Something told him that Elaine knew more than she was letting on: but with no alternative he reached out, snatched the twirling ring, which was nearly the size of his hand, and handed it to her. She rushed past him, put the Ring over the strange lever and then, in one swift move, she pulled the lever.

--
K’amort had piloted his Bird of Prey to a point just beyond the second moon of Septos-14 nearly fourteen hours previously. Rehyes’valah, his Romulan employer, and lover, sat next to him, as his men, K’talpa and T’var, manned the helm and navigation stations. They could only watch the planet Septos-14, on the main screen, in the near distance, and wonder how the people on the planet, hiding in the caves, were holding out against the demon beasts.

But then, with out warning, Septos-14 was surrounded by some kind of red energy pattern, and then exploded, violently, almost like a star!!!

“Get us out of here!!!” Rehyes’valah demanded as the blast stretched out from the where Septos-14 had been. The Bird of Prey banked away from the blast. But because warp drive was no longer working, due to the effect of the Wave that rendered all warp travel in the galaxy useless several months ago, it was a futile effort. The explosion shockwave reached the Bird of Prey, and the ship exploded as the shockwave went on its way, destroying the two moons of Septos-14 as well.

Continued
Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Re: STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#80 Septos 14

Yikes! That can't bode well for the people ON Septos-14...though it would also be nice if that shockwave or whatever it is eliminated the Thraval as well as that ship.

 

[RobertScorpio]

Re: STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#80 Septos 14

Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck
Balboa—Deep Space Nine—Federation Earth—Septos 14

#81


A few weather fronts moved in quickly, which forced Captain Everett West from taking one of the shuttles to explore the seventh world of this uncharted system deep with in the Gamma-Quadrant. With the drive section of the Balboa destroyed, all that was left was the saucer section of the once mighty USS BALBOA. With nearly three weeks having passed since arriving in the Gamma-Quadrant, via an undiscovered wormhole near the Romulan/Klingon Border, the crew was settling in with the fact that this world would be their home for some time to come.


Captain West was in one of the recreation bays. He was wearing his Starfleet issued workout gear, and was inside one of the Holorunners. The Holorunner was a very interesting work out machine. All one had to do was program the surrounding they wanted, and then jog along a hologram created path. Being just barely larger than a standard humanoid, it took up less space than a holodeck. The old Excelsior-class Starship had yet to have a holodeck installed. When your hardly one of Starfleet’s best crews, you don’t see too many bones thrown your way. And Captain Michelle Duell had ruffled many feathers since taking command of this ship. West wondered where she was, now. They hadn’t seen her in over two months. She had gone on a mission to another reality to save the galaxy. The Wave that took away warp travel would, according to rumor, sweep back upon the galaxy again and destroy all life. Capt Duell was taking part in a mission to prevent just that. She had taken first officer Bynak, and Ensign Rose’s child along with her. Captain West had just been the head of Engineering when Capt Duell and Bynak left on their mission, had now become the Balboa’s captain. He field promoted head of security, Shigeru Ichiro, to be the new first officer of the Balboa. Life on the Starship Balboa went on, and they tackled each new challenge as all good crews do.

As West ran across a bridge that stretched over a picturesque river, he also wondered how those who were left behind on Septos-14 were faring. His plan was to have lured the Thraval swarm far enough away from the planet to hopefully save the citizens from a possible attack. That is when the Balboa was unexpectedly pulled into the wormhole and brought to this world in the Gamma-Quadrant. West didn’t know what happen to the Thraval after that point. *(BUT WE DO READERS!!! CHECK THE LAST TWO EPISODES FOR ANSWERS)

Suddenly, as he ran past a broken down Ford 150, circa 1974 model, along the country side road, he saw Romulan Commander S’ovak, standing near a lake looking out at a group of ducks that were floating atop of it, eating the scraps of bread S’ovak was throwning their way.

The Romulan commander, and his crew, merged with the Balboa crew after having lost their own ship in a battle with a Klingon ship several months in the past. It had been a rocky relationship, but West had come to respect the treasure hunting Romulan. In fact, they had become friends, which surprised Captain West: since he normally didn’t get along with any beings who had pointed ears. For some reason he found those with pointed ears to be: strange

“Ah,” S’ovak said as he saw West jog up to where he stood near the edge of the lake, “I see you are doing your early run.”

West stopped jogging, reached down to a towel he had as part of his workout clothes, and dried the sweat from his face. “Well, we humans don’t have your Romulan metabolism.”

“Why not take a pill?” S’ovak asked. “I thought the Federation had pills or hypo-sprays for every ill your kind faces.”

“No way.” West said, “That kind of weight control isn’t for me. I prefer to get out here into the fresh air and run my way to health.”

“But commander,” S’ovak said with a doubtful smile, “you are inside of a Holorunner, and you are far from the outdoors. You are, strangely enough, inside of a box which is inside your own sterile gymnasium”.

West was about to ask why S’ovak had entered the holoprogam, via one of the satellite observation booths somewhere in the gym, when, with out warning, three men, all of them ninja’s, in head-to-toe black ninja gear, emerged from the lake, all with various martial-art weapons.

“Stand back, S’ovak, I will handle these invaders.” West said.

“You have no weapon!” S’ovak reminded West.

“Wrong again,” West said as he showed S’ovak his hands, “I have these. These are the only weapons I need.”

S’ovak watched as West took on the three Ninjas. One by one West took them on, eventually garnering a Katana in the process. The Starship Commander killed all three attackers, as a crowd of simple Earthling common folk, hologram created, gathered around and watched. It was an amazing fete, no doubt a random event programmed into the holoprogram. West came back over to S’ovak.

“We can thank Mr. Shigeru for hacking my simple running program and inserting one of his training programs.” West said with a knowing grin. “I’ll be sure to mention it when he and Thron get back from their patrol.”

West continued on his run and fifteen minutes later exited the holorunner, and joined S’ovak for their morning briefing.
--
The shuffle-craft, which was piloted by Lt. Commander Thron, was flying over a mountain range on its return flight to the Balboa saucer section, which was parked inside a massive lake bed.

Inside the craft, Shigeru watched as Lt. Cmder Thron, a Gorn, practiced ancient Japanese breating techniques. The shuttle was on auto pilot. The Gorn was breathing slowly, his hands behind his neck.

“Now,” Shigeru said, “breathe out as slow as you can.”

The exhale of a deep breath for a Gorn came out, when done slowly, like that of a whale breathing out of his air-tube on the top of its head. It was loud.

“Very good,” Shigeru said, “very good.”

Thron nodded his head. “Opens sinuses.”

Shigeru smiled, “It will do far more than that my Gorn friend. It will also open up your soul.”

Thron sipped on the Greenleaf Tea that Shigeru had made them earlier.

Shigeru looked at the control panel. “We should get ready to land: we’ll be back at the saucer section in two minutes.”

They looked out the main view port and could see the massive saucer section, in the distance. Suddenly, with out warning, the Shuttle lurched, and then all power was lost.

In fact, the entire planet seemed to shake. Everyone aboard the saucer section, with out warning, vomited due to the dizziness that overcame everyone.

On the shuttle, Thron and Shigeru vomited as well, with Thron, and his massive amount of throw-up, blanketing the entire control panel with one barf expulsion. The shuttle dropped from the sky. But due to how low they were, and the large trees they were above, the shuttle fell to the ground without a large amount of damage. Thron and Shigeru were able to craw out, and were unharmed. Though, they were covered in Gorn throw-up.

--

Inside the smuggler’s camp, Kassidy Sisko watched as Betram, and the other two smugglers, were still overtaken by the nausea induced moments. With out thinking, she grabbed her son’s hand and yanked him with her. It was now or never, she thought to her self. So she, and her son Joseph, darted into the thick forest.

“They’re getting away!” Betram yelled to the others.

Unfortunately, for Betram, the other two smugglers were still too ill to chase Kassidy, so Betram did. He grabbed his hand phaser and ran after the two fleeing captives. For nearly twenty minutes he ran after them.

Joseph could run like the wind, Betram thought to himself. Betram had no doubts that he could catch up to Kassidy, but the kid was too fast. Betram didn’t usually have to run this far this fast. He was tiring, and was about to quit, when he ran through a cluster of trees and stopped when he found Kassidy kneeling over Joseph, who had obviously fallen during the chase. Betram came over and knelt beside Joseph.

“How is he?” Betram asked with real concern.

“He’s fine,” Kassidy said.

She looked at Betram, looking down at her fallen son, and was impressed with his compassion for her son. He looked up to her after feeling Joseph’s leg.

“It looks to me that he only as a sprained ankle.” Betram said.

On impulse, Kassidy leaned closer and kissed Betram on the lips. In the five months of being his captive, she had felt emotions growing for Betram: and from him as well for her.

“Why did you kiss me?” Betram asked. “I kidnapped you and your son.”

Joseph, who actually liked Betram too, pretended to be occupied with a branch he had been using as a pillow after he fell.

“Well,” Kassidy said to Betram, “I don’t think you’re the same person that you were back then. And I actually think the two of us could go into business together, and I mean the legitimate kind, and do quite well.”

Betram smiled. “You would go into business with me?”

Kassidy nodded. “Sure I would: Unless you have a bunch of warrants out for your arrest.”

Betram pondered her words for a moment. “Well, I do have…”

He was cut off when suddenly they heard a noise. They turned around, and saw a massive GORN standing before them, and a Japanese man with a Katana. And they smelt awful!

--Continued
Star Trek Shuffle The Deck
What happens when a HORTA fights a GORN??? Find out!!!
Star Trek BALBOA!

 

[RobertScorpio]

Re: STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#80 Septos 14

Star Trek Shuffle the Deck
Balboa—Deep Space Nine—Federation Earth—ESSIANS

#82

previously
Betram smiled. “You would go into business with me?”

Kassidy nodded. “Sure I would: Unless you have a bunch of warrants out for your arrest.”

Betram pondered her words for a moment. “Well, I do have…”

He was cut off when suddenly they heard a noise. They turned around, and saw a massive GORN standing before them, and a Japanese man with a Katana. And they smelt awful!

Our story continues…

Betram stood up and put himself between Thron and Shigeru, and Kassidy and Joseph, who was still on the ground with his mother, Kassidy, seeing to his injury. Betram held a phaser, aiming it right at Thron.

“You take one move toward us,” Betram said, “and I’ll kill both of you. The woman and boy are with me.” Betram said to Thron and Shigeru.

“You put down phaser, or we smash!” Thron warned, his voice thundering through the forest.

The confrontation saw no end in sight. On a nearby tree, two squirrel like creatures watched the showdown as they chewed on some nuts. Their instincts told them to run toward the base of the mountain that was just yards from where they were, but their curiosity told them to stay, and watch.

“Excuse me,” Shigeru said with his slight Japanese accent, with his Katana raised in a defensive posture, “but we over heard the woman say that you had kidnapped her and the boy.”

“Its okay, Betram” Kassidy said to Betram, “they’re Starfleet. If there are two of them, then there are more. Just tell them the truth.”

At that moment, the ground directly beneath Thron lurched up, and the massive Gorn was thrown to the ground. And just as that happened, a stream of energy came from a nearby grouping of trees, and struck Shigeru, throwing him to the ground, and leaving him out cold. Another beam struck Thron, doing the same.

Emerging from the trees was the Betazed smuggler comrad of Betram. His name was Zymal. For a species that was usually soft and caring, this Betazed, Zymal, had a fierce look to him which was re-enforced with an eye patch on his left eye.

Emerging from the new hole in the ground where Thron had been standing was a Horta. The Horta was a female, and just months earlier, had married Zymal. It was a coupling that made for many jokes from others.

“It’s about time you two showed up,” Betram said.

“Well, it would help,” Zymal said to Betram, “if you kept the two Earthlings tied up. She used to be married to Starfleet. So how many brain cells does it take for you to realize she will make a run for it when ever she can? I say kill them now, and save us the trouble of doing so later.”

Betram was about to respond when they heard a strange whining sound. It sounded very much like phaser fire, and lots of them. The whining sound of the phasers woke Thron and Shigeru from their phaser stuns. Betram, along with Zymal, stood and faced the rocky mountain side that was just 30 yards from where they were. Thron and Shigeru walked over to them, and stood by their side. They were no longer to fight upon hearing the strange sound. Kassidy stood up and walked over to them as well.

“Is someone trying to cut their way out of that mountain?” Kassidy asked.

“I don’t know,” Zymal said, “but I don’t intend to stay and find out. Come on Betram, leave the Earthlings here if you wish, but let’s get out of here.”

Betram shook his head. “I can’t just leave them both here,” he said to Zymal, “Get you and your wife out of here. I wouldn’t want it said that I caused the break up of the most interesting marriage couple in Federation history.”

Zymal looked down to his Horta wife. He could read her thoughts quite well.

“No,” Zymal finally said to Betram, “She says that we will stay and face what ever threat this is; with you.”

“How Touching!” Thron said with mock appreciation to them both.

Suddenly, the area around the bottom of the mountain side began to glow a reddish glow.

“Get back,” Betram warned them all, “it’s gonna blow!”

They all ran back a few yards and hid be hind a cluster of trees. The phaser barrage was getting louder. Whatever those rocks were made of, it wasn’t easy to blast through. But then, it happened. The bottom area of the mountain side blew outwards. Rocks and debris scattered every where. Seconds later, clusters of humans made their way out of the blast. Some of them had serious injuries, and were caked with blood.

--
Inside the mountain, Elaine opened her eyes. She had activated the Conduit back on Septos-14. The device, which fed off of the energy of the planet Septos 14, including its magnetic and inner-core, created a conduit to a world this world which was also so equipped with the unique properties of the cave.

Elaine, and Tiberius, knew that such a conduit existed between Septos -14 and this world in the Gamma-Quadrant. They also knew that both worlds were actually the same world, bi-products of the being known as Sheppard that now not only existed as a vessel, and as a living being, but as aspects of the universe one would never understand.

It was even the world of the Crossing, where all things existed and didn’t at the same time. The Etarian Ring was also a unique object, having come from the universe of the world known as Hotep.

The energy discharge of the device had thrown her and Tiberius to the ground, and unfortunately it caused large rocks to fall and they had crushed Kafla to death. The alcove had collapsed upon the lower level, luckily not landing on anyone below. Elaine looked around for the Ring; but it was gone.

Two hours later a complete rescue team arrived from the Balboa saucer section, after receiving a hail from Shigeru. Before the rescue teams arrived, Betram and his fellow smugglers assisted the massive wall of humanity that had been inside the mountain. Zymal’s Horta wife was very useful when it came to digging out many who had been swallowed up by caved in rocks and boulders. The Horta was also able to find, unfortunately, many of those who had perished in during the Thraval attack, and the move through the conduit.

The Thraval that had managed to get inside the cave did not survive the dizziness that the transfer had caused all who had been in the cave. The animal corpses were taken out and burned.

Captain Everett West and S’ovak arrived with one of the later rescue teams as well. All though it was good to see that most of the crew he left behind had made it, it was not with the knowledge that many had not. He also took a moment too take it all in. An undiscovered wormhole, near Septos-14, that led here. That was interesting enough: But now there also some kind of planet wide phenomena that did the same thing on a planet wide level. He would have to have Ensign Rose and Lt. Mistral debrief him on what they knew.

After nearly four hours of relief efforts, night time had come. All those who had come to the cave before the Thraval attacked them back on Septos-14 were accounted for, with nearly one thousand of them killed, either by the Thraval beasts, or the cave in of the mountain. But there was one significant person missing in action: Captain Riker. His body wasn’t found, nor was he among the survivors: he was just gone.

“And with him,” Elaine whispered to Tiberius as they looked at West from afar as they boarded a shuttle, “the last Etarian Ring.”

They were huddled together on one of the rescue shuttles.

“What do we do now?” Tiberius asked as he took a seat next to Elaine’s.

Elaine shook her head. “I don’t know. Morinva is dead, but unless we unite the Etarian Rings, the eons of absolute peace his death brought will be lost.”

“I don’t understand, my love,” Tiberius said, “if you destroyed Morinva, and you did I saw you do it, and then you took his place as ruler of Hotep, then who in this previous life with us is trying to stop you?”

“It has to be Obriah,” Elaine said, “It just has to be.”

Tiberius shook his. “Then we have to hope that Obriah, whoever he was in this plane, does not know who you are in this existence: Just the daughter of Starfleet officer.”

Elaine nodded her head. “If Obriah is here, and he knows who we are, then our lives, and the very existence of where we come from, and those who live in this plane as well, will be all face dire jeopardy.”

--

In orbit of the seventh planet was the massive Vaadwaurian warship.

Gawthar sat in his command chair, well aware of the fact that he came from another plane of existence. Everything that had to transpire was unfolding exactly how he knew it would. The only things that stood in his way from taking over Hotep, and destroying this lesser step of life, was the death of Morinva, which had already happened, and finding the missing Etarian Ring.

And now, with the activation of the Conduit, which had happened just hours ago, Gawthar knew that the Ring had been found; for only it could have activated the conduit on the planet Septos-14, clear across the galaxy. And all this probably meant that Maram, the girl who killed Morinva, was on the planet as well, and with her: THE ETARIAN RING!!!

And, beneath his ship, the seventh planet was waiting for him to bring the Ring to it. And with that accomplished, Gawthar would not be stopped.

Continued..
Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck

Who came to DS9 from the MIRROR universe with Smiley??? Find out next time!!!
On DEEP SPACE NINE!!!

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Re: STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#80 Septos 14

Loud...nights...with a Horta?

Man--usually my curiosity gets me. Not THIS time. Some details I just do NOT want to hear!

 

[RobertScorpio]

Re: STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#80 Septos 14

Loud...nights...with a Horta?

Man--usually my curiosity gets me. Not THIS time. Some details I just do NOT want to hear!

I wasn't sure what you meant and then I saw that..yeah that was a line that sneaked through my rough draft..it has been omitted...

Rob

 

[RobertScorpio]

STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#83 Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck
Balboa—Deep Space Nine—Federation Earth-ESSIANS

#83


Meanwhile, on the planet Bajor, in the city of Relliketh, Tom Paris was introduced to the girl named Devina. The girl was quiet, and somber.

“How is she?” Paris asked the woman, an elderly Bajoran, who ran the orphanage.

“She doesn’t talk much,” the woman replied, “Though: we have only had her in our care for barely two weeks.”

“Who left her here?” Paris asked.

The woman smiled back at Paris.

“We make it a point not to ask questions of that nature.” the woman said. “All I can say is that instructions were left to me on how to contact Devina’s new benefactor, and I followed them.”

Paris nodded, and then he looked down at the girl. The girl looked straight ahead, with out expression.

“It’s okay,” Paris told the girl, “I am here to protect you. You needn’t be scared.”

Without warning the girl reached out and grabbed Paris’s arm, and held it tight to her, as though she was frightened out of her mind.

“What’s wrong?” Paris asked.

Devina looked up at Tom, and she had a worried expression on her face. “They’re here,” she said. “They won’t let you take me.”

Tom Paris had the natural ability to know when the fear of others was caused by paranoia, or by real elements. And he could tell, immediately, that her fear was legitimate. And then his ears heard a piercing noise. The window next to where he stood suddenly cracked. He turned around to see the head mistress of the orphanage fall to the ground: dead. Her forehead had been penetrated by some kind of weapon. Tom reached into his pocket and pushed a button, and then he, and the girl, were both beamed away.

Tom Paris and Devina rematerialized somewhere else, but not on the Defiant, which was where they were supposed to have gone.

“What the hell?” Paris asked himself as he realized they were not on the Defiant’s transporter pad. “Where are we?”

A fat Feringi stood before them, flanked by two Klingon henchmen. “You, huuuuman! Why are trying to steal my asset?” The Feringi said to Paris.

“You’re asset?” Paris asked, “What are you talking about? Her?”

The Feringi smiled. “Huuuuman, even I have standards,” the Feringi said. “I will not kidnap children from orphanages. By teleporting her away from there, and now having had your transport signal diverted to here, you have saved me the trouble of having to wait her out. I have three buyers for the girl, all of whom will pay handsomely for her. You, Starfleet, I have no need for. TAKE HIM AWAY!”

The two massive Klingons grabbed Tom Paris and, as Paris struggled, dragged him out of the dingy transporter room. The Feringi looked at the girl, who was still on her knees on the Transporter pad.

“Sorry kid,” the Feringi said, “it isn’t personal. I have bills to pay.”

He watched as two other Klingons lifted her up and took her a way as well.

--
Paris was taken to a dungeon, and was thrown into it. He tumbled onto the ground as his Klingon escorts slammed the door shut, locking him in. Paris stood up and surveyed the dungeon. It was dark, dingy, and smelly. He walked around and did not feel confident as he saw a few remnants of decayed skeleton bones scattered on the ground.

Over in the dark corner he heard a sound. It was the sound of a large groan. The dungeon had barely any lighting, so Paris walked toward the groan very quietly. Then, on the ground, he saw where the groaning was coming from: the massive Nausican he had seen outside of the orphanage. No doubt he too had been ambushed in someway, and brought here, along with the child-Nausican as well. The Nausican child was no where to be seen.

“Your death! NOW!” The Nausican grumbled as it struggled to stand up.

“Hey,” Paris said, “I’m here for the same reason you are. They took my,” Paris struggled for the word, “daughter.”

“You lie!” The Nausican said as he finally got his bearings and stood up. “I know Deveeena’s father!”

“Uh oh, bad lie.” Tom said as the Nausican bared its teeth and prepared to fight.

The Nausican, Bak’nor, was about to attack when he suddenly stopped, and looked down upon the much shorter Tom Paris.

“Well, come on!!” Paris yelled, as he leered up at the massive Nausican, “Don’t go easy on me. I can get a couple finger-pulls in before I’m squashed like an ant! I’m not afraid of you!”

“Picard!?” Bak’nor demanded.

“What?” Paris replied in sheer confusion.

“PICARD!!!” Bak’nor thundered.

“Look at my head,” Paris said, “Do I look like Picard?”

The Nausican’s eyes flared, and then he began to laugh, very loudly.

Paris looked around then back up at his so called attacker.

“What’s so funny?” Paris asked.

“You make joke!” Bak’nor said, as his laughter calmed.

“Do you know Admiral Picard?” Paris asked.

Bak’nor shook his head. “No, I not know,” he replied, “I knew Ro Laren. I know Deveeeeena,” Bak’nor said, accenting on Devina’s name. “I know Picard’s image.”

“Then she’s alive: Ro Laren?” Paris asked.

“That I not know,” Bak’nor said. “We both fight together: many years. My nephew, Boor’ka, and Deveeena, are same age. Orphanage I send him to watch her.”

“You mean, protect her.” Paris said. “Then are you the one who sent the coded message to Picard?”

The Nausican nodded. “I send message.” Bak’nor took in their surroundings. “Now must go.”

“That’s going to be easier said than done.” Paris said.

Bak’nor shook his head. “Getting out of cage; easy. Getting off Bajor not.”

“I have one of the most powerful ships in the quadrant waiting in orbit for me,” Paris said. “You get us out of here, and I can get us off this planet. They took my communicator, but it shouldn’t be hard to get word to my crew.”

“You have ship?” Bak’nor asked as he leaned down and stared directly into Paris’s eyes.

“She’s called the Defiant, and I think she’s the toughest little ship I’ve ever been on.” Paris said.

Bak’nor nodded. “I know Deeeeefiant.” Bak’nor said with great appreciation. “Many time it chase Bak’nor in the badlands. Dax always let Bak’nor get head start.”

“Dax, do you mean Jadzia Dax. You must have been part of the Maquis. Are you a fugitive? Did you know Chakotay?” Paris asked.

Bak’nor laughed again, “Chakotay I knew. Am I fugitive? If so, no one will come for me.”

“Why not?” Paris asked.

Then, with out warning, the Nausican whirled around, and grasped Paris into a massive bear hug and started to crush the human’s ribs.

“I kill. That is what Bak’nor does!” Bak’nor said with a fierce anger in his eyes as he watched the life in Paris’s eyes wane. “That why no one come.”

Then he released the much smaller Paris, and Paris fell to the ground gasping for air.

“You protect Deveeena?” Bak’nor asked as he helped Paris back up to his feet.

“Yes, that’s what I was sent here.” Paris said.

“Then we go get her.” Bak’nor said. “Take her to Picard, you will.”

“What about your son?” Paris asked.

“No son; Nephew.” Bak’nor said. “Escape from smugglers, tell me that his father forced to do something bad. So, Bak’nor will find smuggler, I kill.”

“You get me and Devina out of here,” Paris said, “I will help you.”

Bak’nor shook his head. “I need help? No.” Then he pointed his mighty finger and Paris, and poked the much smaller man on the chest. “Keep Deveeeena safe or I kill you next time.”

Paris gulped. “I will keep her safe.”

“Now we go.” Bak’nor said.

“I can’t wait to see how you pull this off.” Paris said under his breath.

--
Everyone on Ops stood in shock as Smiley’s companion pulled down their hood to reveal who they were.

“Oh my,” came softly from Picard’s lips as he recognized immediately who the other traveler was: Locutus of Borg.


Continued, early in January of 2009
STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK
DEEP SPACE NINE

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Re: STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#83 Deep Space Nine

WHAT? Locutus??! Either the Borg are VERY different in the MU or they just couldn't reverse the damage from assimilation. I wonder which it will turn out to be!

You know, IF this MU Locutus is "friendly" or at least not dangerous, he could be the ticket to stopping the Borg-Founder alliance...

And again, you really nailed the character of Paris with that "Do I LOOK like Picard?" line!

 

[RobertScorpio]

STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#84 RIKER

STAR TREK: SHUFFLE the DECK
Balboa—Deep Space Nine—Federation Earth—and now joining the wheel: RIKER

Captain William T Riker opened his eyes, and all he saw a blur. He tried to lift his head, but he couldn’t. His head ached, and it ached badly. It was the same pain he felt when he found himself, somehow, on the world of Septos-14, but a hundred times worse. He was just as thirsty too. The last thing he remembered was Elaine taking the ring from his hand, sliding it over the strange lever on the device the Klingon boy had found, and then pulling the lever down. There was a flash of light, and Riker had the strange sensation that he was falling through the emptiness of the universe, surrounded by millions upon millions of stars, only to arrive here: where ever here was.

He closed his eyes, unable to bear the pain of keeping them alive. He thought about just drifting off to sleep, and chucking the universe away. But that was not the kind of man William Riker was. So, with all the strength he could muster inside of his aching mind, he forced himself to rise up into a sitting position. He groaned as he did, the pain seemed to ramp up for every inch that Riker raised his back. Once he was up, he rapped his arms around his knees, using them as an anchor. He opened his eyes again, and the blurriness seemed to fade little by little.

He was inside of a cave. It was not the same cave he was in when Elaine pulled the lever, but it was a cave. He struggled to stand up but stumbled back to the ground. He would have to rest before trying again.

“Where am I?” He asked himself.

“So, you are awake at last.” A voice said.

Riker squeezed his eye lids together, and looked in the direction from where the voice came. He could barely make out another person sitting near him.

“Where are we?” Riker asked softly, his voice parched with thirst.

The other person shook his head. “There will be time for that later, Mr. Riker.” The voice of the man said. “You must get your strength back.”

The unknown man passed Riker a large pouch that was obviously made from animal hide. Inside of the pouch was water. Although he was thirsty, Riker didn’t really trust the Stranger.

“Just drink it,” The Stranger said. “Without water, you will die here.”

Riker did as the Stranger said, and opened the pouch. He let the water trickle down into his throat. With his mouth, and innards, no longer crying out for water, Riker was able to concentrate more.

“So,” Riker said as he wiped wisps of water from his mouth with his sleeve, “who are you, how do you know my name, and where the hell are we?” Riker asked.

The Stranger, who was obscured by the darkness of the cave, laughed.

“I knew you were going to ask me that,” the Stranger said. “However, do any of our names really matter, either on Hotep, or in your universe? I wonder if the Essians ever wondered what came next, after an existence in Hotep?”

“What are you talking about?” Riker asked.

“Oh yes,” the Stranger said, “Sheppard no doubt took your memories from you to keep the truth ever behind the shroud of a mystery.”

“Is this the Crossing?” Riker asked the Stranger, as he looked around the dark cave they shared. “Is this the place between our plane of existence and Hotep?” Riker’s memories were coming back to him.

“No,” the Stranger replied, “This place is not the Crossing. Well, at least, not the Crossing you are speaking of. However,” the Stranger added, “I am willing to bet you have never had any knowledge of Hotep until now. Oh, you knew your friends were going into another, what do you call it, plane? Search your memories Riker, have you ever said the word Hotep before?”

“No.”

The Stranger chucked. “What a perfect pawn you are to them.”

Riker shook his head. “None of this makes any sense. A Wave sweeps through were I am from, and is threatening to sweep back, and kill everyone with it. The Essians send simple beings to another reality to stop it and, here we are, you and I, discussing this song and dance in some dark cave. I don’t buy it, I’m not a fool.”

Riker could feel his strength coming back, and he stood up, and faced the Stranger, who had also stood up as well.

“It’s time to end this charade,” Riker said, “I want to know who you are, and I want to know now.”

“Very well,” the Stranger said, “It is time I introduce my self to my new cellmate.”

The man stepped out of the shadows. Riker didn’t recognize him at first, but then he did. It all came together, it seemed, Riker thought to him self.

“Please to meet you,” Riker said, and then he said the Stranger’s name….

Continued…
STAR TREK
SHUFFLE THE DECK

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Re: STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#84 RIKER

Hmmmmm...I have a few ideas as to who this might be, someone who might be out to cause chaos...but I have a feeling I'm about to be completely wrong! I can't wait to find out!

 

[RobertScorpio]

STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#85 DS9

Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck
Balboa—Deep Space Nine—Federation Earth—Riker—Essians

#85

PLANET BAJOR

INSIDE AN UNKNOWN COMPLEX’S DUNGEON


Tom Paris, crouched down and held his hands to his ears. He felt silly doing so, but when one finds themselves with a Nausican as an ally, one learns to do what the Nausican said or risk bodily harm, even though one may be an ally: of a Nausican.

So, Tom held his hands to his ears, just as he was directed to by Bak’nor, the massive Nausican who, like Tom, was stuck inside of the fat Feringi’s dungeon. Although their weapons had been confiscated before being put inside the dark and dingy space, and smelly place, Bak’nor seemed to have some plan on how to get out of the dungeon.

The Nausican looked back to Paris.

“Cover ears!?” Bak’nor asked.

Paris nodded his head in the affirmative. “Covered!”

The Nausican nodded his large head as well, then reached inside of its fang filled mouth and put his fingers around one of his inner teeth.

Paris watched in stunned silence as Bak’nor pulled on the tooth, and then, there was a loud cracking noise. Bak’nor took the pulled, bloodied tooth, from his mouth, held it out so he could see it, and was apparently satisfied.

“What the hell are you going to do with that!?” Paris asked.

“Watch!,” Bak’nor said, “Cover ears!”

Paris watched as Bak’nor put the tooth next to the large cement door that kept them trapped inside the dungeon. Then Bak’nor waved Tom to move back, and then ran over to where Paris was again crouched. Then, without warning, the tooth exploded, and knocked the cement door out of it frame.

Bak’nor took off running toward the exit, and Paris followed. Paris had no problem letting Bak’nor take point as they ran through the maze off corridors. A Klingon, holding a Disrupter, came around the corner from up ahead. Bak’nor was too fast for the Klingon. He grabbed the Klingon’s head, and then with a hand on each side of the ridged headed, he twisted the head all the way around, killing the Klingon instantly. The dead Klingon had dropped his weapon which Tom Paris quickly picked up. Now he, and Bak’nor, had a fighting chance. Bak’nor continued to the run down the path way. They came out into the main area.

“Run!” Bak’nor said pointing to what appeared to be an exit for Tom.

Tom thought about it, but shook his head. “I can’t!” Paris replied. “I’ve got to get the girl.”

Then Bak’nor shook his head, and then grunted as he said, “Come!”

The Nausican ran towards another door just as it opened. Another Klingon came running through, not doubt alerted by some silent alarm system, and he was carrying a Bat’leth. With out warning, Bak’nor slammed into the Klingon, and then grabbed the Klingon’s weapon.

Then, in one move, and as if he were swinging for a homerun, Bak’nor swung the Bat’leth around and the force was so mighty, and swift, it sliced through the Klingon’s neck, decapitating his head.

“If I ever join that tackle football team on Rigel-7 again,” Paris said to Bak’nor, “I want you on my team.”

“No play sports!” Bak’nor said.

“Funny,” Paris said, “I had a feeling you would say that.”

Paris followed Bak’nor through the door and then the situation turned very serious. Devina was being held by yet another Klingon henchmen. Another Klingon held a knife to the young Nauscian’s neck as well. And if that wasn’t enough, the fat Feringi held a knife to Admiral Picard’s neck.

“Admiral Picard!” Paris said. “What are you doing here?”

Picard was calm, ever the sturdy one he was. “I came here looking for you after I received a hail from the Defiant that they had lost contact with you. Little, did I know, that I was walking into a simple trap.”

Picard was situated in a chair, so were Devina and the young Nauscian, Boork’a . The fat Feringi directed his words at Tom Paris and Bak’nor.

“These two are my last Klingons, STOP KILLING MY HENCHMEN!” the Feringi yelled. “Now, I am willing to let you both go,” he said to Tom and Bak’nor, “You can take two of these prisoners with you, but one of these prisoners must stay for future bargaining rights.”

“Take the girl, Tom,” Picard said. “It’s her life before mine.”

“I not leave Boork’a” Bak’nor said to Paris.

“I thought she was important to you!” Paris reminded the Nauscian.

“Boork’a is Nausican! Deveeeena not!” Bak’nor roared back.

So it really came down between Picard and Devina.

“The Admiral will fetch a higher price,” the Fat Feringi said to Paris. “The girl has three bidders, but they are all local. Picard would attract wealthier bidders. I think you should take the girl too.”

“I order you to take Devina.” Picard said to Paris. “We all want to live our lives as if we were more than just mere men. Let my death count for something: Let my life’s final act be the actions of a hero.”

There was silence.

Paris shook his head and started laughing. He tried to stop, but then he started to laugh again. He looked at Picard, and then Tom tried to straighten up and get serious…but he couldn’t He started laughing again.

“What is the meaning of this!!!” The Fat Feringi demanded.

Paris repeated Picard’s last words, “Let my life’s final act be the actions of a hero?” They all listened but no one laughed. “No one talks like that,” Paris said, “Come on, that isn’t Admiral Picard!”

Suddenly the room around Paris changed shape into the recognizable patterns of a Holodeck. None of it had been real. The Klingons disappeared as well. The only things that remained in the holodeck were Paris, Bak’nor, Boork’a, Devina and the Fat Feringi.

“Okay, would someone mind telling me what all this song and dance was for?” Paris demanded.

The Feringi came over to Tom, along with Boork’a and Devina.

“We had to be sure,” the Feringi said, “That you would be willing to risk your life for Devina. Ro Laren meant a lot to us: she was one of us. I diverted your Transport signal here so as to make you play out the charade and prove you were legitimate.”

Paris turned to Bak’nor. “Did you really pull your tooth out back there?”

Bak’nor laughed, and nodded in the affirmative. “Love pain!”

Paris shook his head. “Okay, now that I have passed your test, I think I better start heading back to DS9 before Picard really does come here.”

“Bak’nor will come with you as well,” the Feringi said. “Where she goes,” he pointed at Devina, “He goes. There will be no debate.”

“Very well,” Paris said.

“Am I going to meet Admiral Picard?” Devina, who was no longer in a somber state, no doubt part of the act, asked.

“Yes, you are, and he is looking forward to meeting you as well.” Paris said with a smile.

Moments later: Paris was able to contact the Defiant with his communicator. And then he, along with Bak’nor and Devina, were beamed up to the Defiant. Once they were aboard, the Defiant headed back home to Deep Space Nine.

Meanwhile, on the planet below, the Feringi watched on the main screen as the Defiant headed away at best speed. Then he pressed a button and the screen changed images. Now, on the screen, was the face of Ro Laren.

“I trust all went well?” Ro Laren asked.

“Yes,” the Feringi said. “Devina is on her way to Picard.”

Ro Laren smiled. “Well,” Ro Laren said, “Hopefully he will be able to protect her. What have you heard about the contract?”

The Feringi, his name was Grom, gave her a somber look. “There is most definitely a contract out on her life. Now, who is paying for it? That I don’t know. But I told Devina to get a hold of Quark. If anyone knows anything going on in this sector, it’s my sister’s former husband’s brother Quark.”

Unknown to Grom, and Ro Laren, they were not the only ones who were monitoring their brief communication.

To be continued..
STAR TREK
SHUFFLE THE DECK

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Re: STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#85 DS9

Well, now...Grom just got a lot more interesting. Like the MU Ferengi, he seems to be interested in more than just latinum. And...wow, what a way to describe Grom's relationship to Prinadora. (At least that's what I get out of it.) Reminds me of Spaceballs!