Lillie Jones
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Star Trek The Next Generation The Gift: A Star Trek SI
- Thread starter DarkDestroyer
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SotF
And Away We Go!
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You know, with the timing of things there, the theory that Wesley kind of arranged things to keep his mother busy and less worried about him is something I could see being part of it.
Followed by an "Oh SHIT!" moment when he realizes the Vox thing
DarkDestroyer
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Just a heads up---"Star Trek: Picard" is going to be pretty different from the series proper by the time we get to it.
Medical Update
DarkDestroyer
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One thing after another--so yesterday I ended up slicing a bit of my head as I caught myself going up my stairs on the bottom edge of my window---it's one of those that opens up to the side and not up and down. I have a 4cm gash that is now stapled shut. I've been ordered to rest and not do very much. I'm okay considering it could've been much worse. So going to be taking a little break.
Chapter 101: All Good Things...
DarkDestroyer
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Author's Note: I am recovering nicely. Already half finished my antibiotics. The wound is looking pretty clean all things considered. I get the staples out next Monday or Tuesday. This will probably be the last chapter before I move, roommate and I are looking at a place on Wed, and if it looks half decent, we're going to take it. Also after this chapter---things are going to deviate a little bit as we lead up to "Star Trek: Generations" (or my version of it) and then DS9. Not QUITE done with TNG yet but this is a pretty big milestone chapter.
The Day before my 49th Birthday Party. I suddenly find myself in a stark WHITE ROOM with the feintest sound, like a heart beat. Then that all too familiar swooshing sound is heard and Q appears.
"Q." I say
Q though is not wearing his Starfleet uniform, instead he is dressed in his mid 21st Century Judge Robes. If we ever see anything like this back home, we're truly fucked. I then see one of Q's courtiers appear.
"Ye shall address His Honor as such!" demands the courtier but I ignore him
"Let me guess, the Continuum doesn't want me to interfere in All Good Things...?" I ask him
"It has been determined by the Court that any such interference from Adam Christopher Young in the resumption of the Trial of Humanity, will be met with swift punishment!" The Courtier declares
"Enough of this Q. I'm not a child. I know that we're in a Continuum construct."
"You presume much." Judge Q says, speaking for the first time in his chair.
I exhale.
"I have long suspected that the recreation of the 21st Century Court Room from the Farpoint Mission was something created, so that crew's human minds would have something from history to at least relate to. They never suspected they might be in a higher plane of existence because they didn't have the knowledge that I have. I don't presume much, I KNOW, Your Honor."
He takes off his black gloves finger by finger, agonizingly slow, until both are removed. Then he snaps his fingers and appears in his White "God" Robe from Tapestry.
"Very impressive, got it in one. The Continuum has determined that the discovery of the paradox is an evolutionary milestone in humanities evolution. Your companions must come to that discovery, on their own, without help from you. That would be defeating the point of the realization." Q states
"Fair enough. But what I'm supposed to do? I'm not going to be contained here." I reply
"I have a question for you Adam, what do you think will happen to you once Picard uncovers the paradox, and realizes the significance of it? It is in theory the end of their story proper. I could send you back." Q says
"Send me home..." I muse contemplating the notion for the first time in a long time.
"Oh yes. It has been discussed. We have a bargain, the Continuum is aware of it. So are the higher beings of the cosmos, as you know now. I could snap my fingers and..."
"I have unfinished business, Q." I say simply
"Sigh. Kirk. Deep Space Nine. The Dominion. You wish to help them win the war? I understand you're desire to help Adam, but I also know you have other agendas, personal ones."
"Is that so bad?" I ask
"No. As long as your personal whims don't disrupt the larger mechanics of this universe. You are being watched, mon-ami. Constantly. As I said before, you have rocked the boat, rattled the cages. The Elders of the Universe are not---impressed with your actions. However we are---what's the human term? Babysitting you." Q says
"I don't need to be babysat. I have already assured--"
"Yes. Yes...you wouldn't do anything to harm anyone, or anything, or accidently cause the unraveling of all reality as we know it. I believe you. However there are those that don't...I am simply TELLING you, to be mindful of your decisions that you will be making in the coming years Adam. There will be consequences to your actions. Good or bad? I can't say, but be aware of what you do, mon-ami." Q warns
"I will Q. Can you at least send me on vacation, somewhere during this?" I ask
"I think that can be arranged." he snaps his finger and before I can finish this sentence I appear right before Arandis on Risa, and bump into her.
"A-Adam...w-where? How?"
"Hi Arandis. Sorry about dropping in like this, but I'm on a bit of a vacation."
"I'll prepare your estate for you."
"Thank you."
Next up: Unknown territory as I depart the Enterprise and accept...an unusual mission request.
Author's Note: I am recovering nicely. Already half finished my antibiotics. The wound is looking pretty clean all things considered. I get the staples out next Monday or Tuesday. This will probably be the last chapter before I move, roommate and I are looking at a place on Wed, and if it looks half decent, we're going to take it. Also after this chapter---things are going to deviate a little bit as we lead up to "Star Trek: Generations" (or my version of it) and then DS9. Not QUITE done with TNG yet but this is a pretty big milestone chapter.
The Day before my 49th Birthday Party. I suddenly find myself in a stark WHITE ROOM with the feintest sound, like a heart beat. Then that all too familiar swooshing sound is heard and Q appears.
"Q." I say
Q though is not wearing his Starfleet uniform, instead he is dressed in his mid 21st Century Judge Robes. If we ever see anything like this back home, we're truly fucked. I then see one of Q's courtiers appear.
"Ye shall address His Honor as such!" demands the courtier but I ignore him
"Let me guess, the Continuum doesn't want me to interfere in All Good Things...?" I ask him
"It has been determined by the Court that any such interference from Adam Christopher Young in the resumption of the Trial of Humanity, will be met with swift punishment!" The Courtier declares
"Enough of this Q. I'm not a child. I know that we're in a Continuum construct."
"You presume much." Judge Q says, speaking for the first time in his chair.
I exhale.
"I have long suspected that the recreation of the 21st Century Court Room from the Farpoint Mission was something created, so that crew's human minds would have something from history to at least relate to. They never suspected they might be in a higher plane of existence because they didn't have the knowledge that I have. I don't presume much, I KNOW, Your Honor."
He takes off his black gloves finger by finger, agonizingly slow, until both are removed. Then he snaps his fingers and appears in his White "God" Robe from Tapestry.
"Very impressive, got it in one. The Continuum has determined that the discovery of the paradox is an evolutionary milestone in humanities evolution. Your companions must come to that discovery, on their own, without help from you. That would be defeating the point of the realization." Q states
"Fair enough. But what I'm supposed to do? I'm not going to be contained here." I reply
"I have a question for you Adam, what do you think will happen to you once Picard uncovers the paradox, and realizes the significance of it? It is in theory the end of their story proper. I could send you back." Q says
"Send me home..." I muse contemplating the notion for the first time in a long time.
"Oh yes. It has been discussed. We have a bargain, the Continuum is aware of it. So are the higher beings of the cosmos, as you know now. I could snap my fingers and..."
"I have unfinished business, Q." I say simply
"Sigh. Kirk. Deep Space Nine. The Dominion. You wish to help them win the war? I understand you're desire to help Adam, but I also know you have other agendas, personal ones."
"Is that so bad?" I ask
"No. As long as your personal whims don't disrupt the larger mechanics of this universe. You are being watched, mon-ami. Constantly. As I said before, you have rocked the boat, rattled the cages. The Elders of the Universe are not---impressed with your actions. However we are---what's the human term? Babysitting you." Q says
"I don't need to be babysat. I have already assured--"
"Yes. Yes...you wouldn't do anything to harm anyone, or anything, or accidently cause the unraveling of all reality as we know it. I believe you. However there are those that don't...I am simply TELLING you, to be mindful of your decisions that you will be making in the coming years Adam. There will be consequences to your actions. Good or bad? I can't say, but be aware of what you do, mon-ami." Q warns
"I will Q. Can you at least send me on vacation, somewhere during this?" I ask
"I think that can be arranged." he snaps his finger and before I can finish this sentence I appear right before Arandis on Risa, and bump into her.
"A-Adam...w-where? How?"
"Hi Arandis. Sorry about dropping in like this, but I'm on a bit of a vacation."
"I'll prepare your estate for you."
"Thank you."
Next up: Unknown territory as I depart the Enterprise and accept...an unusual mission request.
Medical Update
DarkDestroyer
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I got the staples out this morning, and everything is looking good. The nurse cleaned the wound and re-dressed it. Said it was no big deal if the dressing came off, as that is a common occurrence for some people. The skin should reseal automatically and all the crusty bits fall off on their own. I should be fully healed from this in about two weeks.
Despacitoleo
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Yay recovers
Medical Update
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DarkDestroyer
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Hello Everyone.
I just realized it's been almost a month since the last post. A LOT has happened in the span of that time as July has been absolutely just swamped. I had my 3 month CT and CAT scan updates on the second thyroid nodule and I get the results on the 31st (the phone call was already booked). Had respite as my parents went away with my Aunt who was visiting from England so watched my brother for a week. The biggest news though is that I've chosen to have weight reduction surgery. I went to my family doctor to finally discuss weight loss options about my weight which has been out of control since the thyroid nodule surgery last Christmas. The Doc explained that basically due to the combination of the nodule with all my chronic conditions---I've plateaued at 290-300. I explained that in spite of exercising, dieting, and walking that I have only been able to lose water weight and not much else. He ruled out medication and threw me a curve ball saying that I was a prime candidate for weight reduction surgery. It is a 4 year wait process that includes meeting and planning with a specialist who helps plan with you and prepare you for the changes that will be occurring after the surgery---but he thinks he can cut that time in half. So that's where I am at right now. I'm excited and willing to make the changes that I need to. The last six months have been absolutely miserable. So hopefully the specialist can put together a plan that will help because I've literally struggled just to get back into the 280's since December.
My roommate and I are STILL looking for a place, but our timeline on that has increased and not so rigid as it was last month when we decided to do this.
What's all this got to do with the story? The story has been on hiatus. I'm busy re-writing the lead up to "Star Trek: Generations". I realized that there was basically too big a gap between the conclusion of TNG and Generations so you guys deserve more story and the thing I had planned...I'm able to do now so I just need the time to sit down and do this.
I don't frankly now how long the hiatus is going to be. It could be a couple of days, could be a month. I appreciate the patience and interest though! This will transition us into the DEEP SPACE NINE portion of the story.
I just realized it's been almost a month since the last post. A LOT has happened in the span of that time as July has been absolutely just swamped. I had my 3 month CT and CAT scan updates on the second thyroid nodule and I get the results on the 31st (the phone call was already booked). Had respite as my parents went away with my Aunt who was visiting from England so watched my brother for a week. The biggest news though is that I've chosen to have weight reduction surgery. I went to my family doctor to finally discuss weight loss options about my weight which has been out of control since the thyroid nodule surgery last Christmas. The Doc explained that basically due to the combination of the nodule with all my chronic conditions---I've plateaued at 290-300. I explained that in spite of exercising, dieting, and walking that I have only been able to lose water weight and not much else. He ruled out medication and threw me a curve ball saying that I was a prime candidate for weight reduction surgery. It is a 4 year wait process that includes meeting and planning with a specialist who helps plan with you and prepare you for the changes that will be occurring after the surgery---but he thinks he can cut that time in half. So that's where I am at right now. I'm excited and willing to make the changes that I need to. The last six months have been absolutely miserable. So hopefully the specialist can put together a plan that will help because I've literally struggled just to get back into the 280's since December.
My roommate and I are STILL looking for a place, but our timeline on that has increased and not so rigid as it was last month when we decided to do this.
What's all this got to do with the story? The story has been on hiatus. I'm busy re-writing the lead up to "Star Trek: Generations". I realized that there was basically too big a gap between the conclusion of TNG and Generations so you guys deserve more story and the thing I had planned...I'm able to do now so I just need the time to sit down and do this.
I don't frankly now how long the hiatus is going to be. It could be a couple of days, could be a month. I appreciate the patience and interest though! This will transition us into the DEEP SPACE NINE portion of the story.
Chapter 102: Starfleet Has Intelligence???!!!!
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DarkDestroyer
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Risa is absolutely lovely as this time Arandis and I spend time as friends. Ro is still on Deep Space Nine as they handle the fallout from the dissolution of the Circle. Starfleet Command has officially launched an investigation into my concerns regarding Cardsassian interference. Alynna herself has been appointed the Chief Investigator. This is the first time I've been able to fully explore what Curzon left me. The estate itself is---well---luxurious as one would expect befitting the Old Man's status and accomplishments. Arandis tells me that he had it personally built and oversaw every aspect of it's construction to his specific criteria and deigns. He didn't just intent it as a vacation home, he wanted it to also function as a muti-purpose complex. He also left an incredible amount of money. So much in fact, I haven't a clue to deal with. I'm sure Jadzia inherited a lot as well---I'll have to talk to about that the next time I see her. Ro and I talk for a while and I promise her that I'm on my best behavior on Risa.
"I wouldn't do anything without you here, Laren."
"Hmmm. I'm sure you wouldn't."
I spend my 49th Birthday on Risa and the day after on the 29th of December. I get a surprise call. Vice-Admiral Sarah Cooper of Starfleet Intelligence. Alynna's second.
"Sir...this is a surprise." I greet her awkwardly as I sit down still drenched coming out of the pool. I toss my towel over my shoulders.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you Ensign. Just because Q chose to give you a vacation for cosmic means, doesn't mean we can't recall you back into immediate service."
"Uh...I just came from a swim. What can I do for you Admiral?" I ask formally
"Funny you should phrase it that way Adam, it's more of what we can do for you. I have a proposal." she replies
"Uh-oh. I know that look. What do you want Sarah? Or should I be asking what does Alynna want from me?"
"What makes you think this has anything to do with the Boss?" Sarah asks
"Admiral Cooper, please don't insult my intelligence. I know an intelligence pitch when I see one. You guys have been trying to cultivate my services since I first arrived, and my answer now is what it always has been. Absolutely not."
"Very well I will refrain from the bullshit." she drops her veneer and adopts her game face
"We want you to come work for us. You will be trained, conditioned, and handled accordingly. You are wasting that fabulous nanite enhanced body on the Enterprise. Your project at Daystrom is not going to be operative for at least another year, you'll wallow away doing mundane things on the Enterprise."
I start to consider her words. The main series has concluded. There's a large gap of non story until Scotty and his team complete the Tether. The fact is I've said no to Intel because I'm scared. It's my turn to drop the facade.
"I'm scared Sarah." I say
"We'll train the fear out of you." she replies stone faced
"Can I think about this?" I ask
"I'll give you 24 hours." she says
"What about the Enterprise?"
"Captain Picard will be informed you've been....reassigned." Cooper says
"Okay let me get back to you. Young out." I push the button and then quickly establish another comm channel to the Enterprise.
"Mr. Young...this is a surprise. Are you ready to resume your duties after Q's little vacation?" Picard asks
"Actually sir...I've been offered another assignment. I'm contemplating taking it." I reply and I see his genuine surprised look he places down his PADD and puts his full attention to me
"I see. What is the nature of the assignment?" he asks
"I'm not at liberty to discuss that sir." I reply and the realization hits Picard immediately.
"Starfleet Intelligence has finally got their hooks into you..." he says
"Aye sir. I don't know how long this will be. I'll be back for my things and then I will have to report." I say and Picard nods
"Very well. I look forward to seeing you Ensign."
"Aye sir." I hang up
I get up and walk around a while. Use the towel to wipe my bald head. I can't believe I'm doing this. I sigh and sit back down and reopen the channel to Cooper.
"I'm in."
"That was unexpectedly fast."
"I'm trusting you Sarah." and she just nods
"You'll report back to the Enterprise, collect your things, and we'll send a ship for you to transport you back to Earth. You'll then be briefed when you arrive."
"Aye Admiral. I'll see you then."
The screen goes blank replaced with the Starfleet emblem.
This has taken an interesting turn....
Risa is absolutely lovely as this time Arandis and I spend time as friends. Ro is still on Deep Space Nine as they handle the fallout from the dissolution of the Circle. Starfleet Command has officially launched an investigation into my concerns regarding Cardsassian interference. Alynna herself has been appointed the Chief Investigator. This is the first time I've been able to fully explore what Curzon left me. The estate itself is---well---luxurious as one would expect befitting the Old Man's status and accomplishments. Arandis tells me that he had it personally built and oversaw every aspect of it's construction to his specific criteria and deigns. He didn't just intent it as a vacation home, he wanted it to also function as a muti-purpose complex. He also left an incredible amount of money. So much in fact, I haven't a clue to deal with. I'm sure Jadzia inherited a lot as well---I'll have to talk to about that the next time I see her. Ro and I talk for a while and I promise her that I'm on my best behavior on Risa.
"I wouldn't do anything without you here, Laren."
"Hmmm. I'm sure you wouldn't."
I spend my 49th Birthday on Risa and the day after on the 29th of December. I get a surprise call. Vice-Admiral Sarah Cooper of Starfleet Intelligence. Alynna's second.
"Sir...this is a surprise." I greet her awkwardly as I sit down still drenched coming out of the pool. I toss my towel over my shoulders.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you Ensign. Just because Q chose to give you a vacation for cosmic means, doesn't mean we can't recall you back into immediate service."
"Uh...I just came from a swim. What can I do for you Admiral?" I ask formally
"Funny you should phrase it that way Adam, it's more of what we can do for you. I have a proposal." she replies
"Uh-oh. I know that look. What do you want Sarah? Or should I be asking what does Alynna want from me?"
"What makes you think this has anything to do with the Boss?" Sarah asks
"Admiral Cooper, please don't insult my intelligence. I know an intelligence pitch when I see one. You guys have been trying to cultivate my services since I first arrived, and my answer now is what it always has been. Absolutely not."
"Very well I will refrain from the bullshit." she drops her veneer and adopts her game face
"We want you to come work for us. You will be trained, conditioned, and handled accordingly. You are wasting that fabulous nanite enhanced body on the Enterprise. Your project at Daystrom is not going to be operative for at least another year, you'll wallow away doing mundane things on the Enterprise."
I start to consider her words. The main series has concluded. There's a large gap of non story until Scotty and his team complete the Tether. The fact is I've said no to Intel because I'm scared. It's my turn to drop the facade.
"I'm scared Sarah." I say
"We'll train the fear out of you." she replies stone faced
"Can I think about this?" I ask
"I'll give you 24 hours." she says
"What about the Enterprise?"
"Captain Picard will be informed you've been....reassigned." Cooper says
"Okay let me get back to you. Young out." I push the button and then quickly establish another comm channel to the Enterprise.
"Mr. Young...this is a surprise. Are you ready to resume your duties after Q's little vacation?" Picard asks
"Actually sir...I've been offered another assignment. I'm contemplating taking it." I reply and I see his genuine surprised look he places down his PADD and puts his full attention to me
"I see. What is the nature of the assignment?" he asks
"I'm not at liberty to discuss that sir." I reply and the realization hits Picard immediately.
"Starfleet Intelligence has finally got their hooks into you..." he says
"Aye sir. I don't know how long this will be. I'll be back for my things and then I will have to report." I say and Picard nods
"Very well. I look forward to seeing you Ensign."
"Aye sir." I hang up
I get up and walk around a while. Use the towel to wipe my bald head. I can't believe I'm doing this. I sigh and sit back down and reopen the channel to Cooper.
"I'm in."
"That was unexpectedly fast."
"I'm trusting you Sarah." and she just nods
"You'll report back to the Enterprise, collect your things, and we'll send a ship for you to transport you back to Earth. You'll then be briefed when you arrive."
"Aye Admiral. I'll see you then."
The screen goes blank replaced with the Starfleet emblem.
This has taken an interesting turn....
Marlow3
*concern*
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After seeing the debacles starfleet Intel has made over TNG i am surprised he would allow himself to be under their command. The handling of the Romulans and the fact they were compromised only a few years previous with those brain bugs would make me leery of anything they had to say.
Good to have you back mate.
Thanks for the chapter.
Good to have you back mate.
Thanks for the chapter.
DarkDestroyer
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Things are going to get a little dark.
Not fully back yet. This the final push to find a place---both my roommate and I thought we'd long since be out of here by now, but the World Cup hijinks made things frustrating here. He has to be out by Friday. I'm okay as I haven't given my notice....but we both understand if we have to do this separately that we'll accept that. We're going to be looking hard though over the next few days.
This was just the set up chapter since I already had it done and was just holding on to it. Gonna have a proper hiatus now...but hopefully not for TOO long.
Lillie Jones
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Impressive
Thanks for the chapter
Thanks for the chapter
Status
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DarkDestroyer
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I got the call from the oncologist on Friday afternoon. Both scans were negative in terms of any new growth. The second nodule is still around the same length as it was three months around 1.4 cm. I have a TEENY cluster of them near the middle of my bottom throat upper chest but they think those will dissolve. The CAT scan showed nothing anyone was worried about so that means I've now graduated to the six month check up stage. So I'll be doing this again in March of '27. He is referring me to a colleague...I've forgotten what their title is...and doesn't appear to be imminent as I didn't immediately get a booking call from the office for it. So everything on THAT side of the body is honky dory right now.
Moving is still in flux. I am now in my final month at the house---or at least that is the intent. I am still not going to submit my notice until after we've secured a place. My roommate has moved out and is staying at one of their friends house. If I happen to find something on my own, he's fine with that but we'd both prefer to still find something together. So this is going to be on hiatus until after I move and am settled down---which means likely the fall time. I'd like to resume this to time it with Star Trek's 60th Anniversary in Sep, but we'll see.
Moving is still in flux. I am now in my final month at the house---or at least that is the intent. I am still not going to submit my notice until after we've secured a place. My roommate has moved out and is staying at one of their friends house. If I happen to find something on my own, he's fine with that but we'd both prefer to still find something together. So this is going to be on hiatus until after I move and am settled down---which means likely the fall time. I'd like to resume this to time it with Star Trek's 60th Anniversary in Sep, but we'll see.
Chapter 103: Forged Into Steel
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DarkDestroyer
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The fog rolled across San Francisco bay, creating a near misty illusion as I entered Vice-Admiral Sarah Cooper's office. The office was---spartan---Sarah was a practical person. Highly analytical which is why Alynna had promoted her. Cooper had been in SI since she was a raw, newly graduated Cadet. She had wanted a different path than her crewmates which immediately got her flagged by the agency as a top recruit. It has paid off for her all these decades later as the second most powerful person within the division. Somehow we've established this strange rapport we have.
"Welcome home, Mr. Young. I trust your trip was uneventful." Sarah greets
"It was. You still look surprised that I'm here."
"I am. I thought you'd back out. I'm slightly impressed that you haven't."
"What do you want from me, Admiral, why am I here?"
"Your future knowledge has been, frankly wasted with what you've been doing on the Enterprise these past six years. Starfleet Intelligence, had we had our way from the start, would have recruited you and used that knowledge to enact policy changes that would have accelerated your grand plans for the galaxy ten fold. Instead---you wanted to use that to have adventures on the Enterprise. All well and good. No one knows better than you the dangers the galaxy poses. You have claimed that you want to get us ready for war, but you're not a solider, you've experienced dreadful things---yes---but you have no idea what is truly out there. I intend to remove the veil."
She punched up a holographic sphere that showed a map of the galaxy including all the hot botton galactic powers. A green dot brightens over Bajor, a tiny white dot represents Deep Space Nine, and a serious of dots near the station represent the Wormhole. Cooper then brings up profiles of former Minister Jarro Essa. Vedek Winn Adami. Li Nalas, along with Ro, and Sisko.
"You want to know why you are standing in this room now, Adam? THIS is why. Your decision to expose the Circle by sending Lieutenant Ro that data file on the Circle you had compiled was a fundamental shift in your line of thinking. Up until that point, your actions and specifically how you decided those actions were made with meticulous, calculating thinking---i.e. you were overly cautious about everything you decided to. But something changed when you chose to hit the terminal button that day. That day---you became an Intelligence asset without knowing it."
I frown.
"Let me continue. After the Circle had been dismantled, Jaro and Winn's activities were exposed and shut down...and Li Nalas was asked to step up to help his people once again, to end the legend, and be a real inspiration---your little beautiful mind went to places it was forced to go, the bigger picture, Mr. Young. You began to suspect a...conspiracy. Not just any conspiracy, perhaps the biggest conspiracy facing our generation and the one before it---why we chose to do nothing to help the Bajorans. From your conversations with our erstwhile boss, you learned of her attempts to warn Starfleet Command---the evidence she and her slain partner attempted to provide---and were told to ignore, the Prime Directive was invoked and younger Lt. Nechavyev was quieted. But now she's running around on an investigation that has even the slightest possible chance of being true to see if there are moles planed deep within the foundation of the organization sworn to protect the Federation. All of that is Intelligence operative thinking, Adam. I've read your psyche profile. I have read ALL the reports on you from your colleagues. You've been doing Intel work this entire time and not known it. THAT is why you're here today. That is why we want to use you." Cooper explained.
The Sphere changed to a profile of me. The reprogrammed Borg nanites running through my blood stream. Giving me status as an "above advanced human". Cooper flashes that shark teeth smile of hers and I shiver slightly.
"These---separate you from everyone else. They regenerated your foot, have healed your broken, chronic ailed body, and created something that has been wallowing around. They give you an edge Adam. You need to take advantage of this. The others see what happened as a tragedy that happened that needs to be overcome, we see you for what you truly could become. A living weapon. Accelerated healing. Enhanced reflexes. We're going to refocus you into forged steel, Mr. Young."
Ignoring Sarah's recruitment push I instead respond differently.
"On Risa, I revealed that I scared. You told me you would train the fear out of me. I'm ready to begin." I say with arms relaxed behind my back.
Cooper tapped a small control on her desk. Instantly, the high-arched windows overlooking San Francisco Bay shattered into raw, cascading blocks of green light. The sleek mahogany desk, the secure terminals, and the pristine Starfleet Headquarters walls dissolved into thin air. The simulation rezzed into existence around them with dizzying speed, replacing the office with a dark, rain-slicked alien metropolis underbelly. Neon signs in broken Orion language buzzed overhead, casting long, erratic shadows across a damp, debris-strewn alleyway. I immediately become alert.
"Meet your handler and prepare to defend yourself, recruit." Cooper orders
I stagger back slightly, my boots splashing in a pool of holo generated water. A figure emerged wearing an all black tactical jumpsuit...a figure with striking blonde hair I immediately recognized.
"Ishara?!!"
Ishara didn't respond though, closing the distance between us with a speed I hadn't anticipated. She lunges forward with a brutal, snapping kick aimed right at my sternum. I throw up my arms in a double cross block, absorbing the impact, but the sheer force of her momentum skidded my boots across the wet pavement. Ishara didn't give me a second to breathe. She pivoted seamlessly on her heel, using the recoil of the block to whip a backfist directly at my jaw. I ducked under the strike, the rushing wind of her fist whistling past my ear. I stepped into her guard, attempting to utilize standard Starfleet security grappling techniques to lock her arm. But Ishara wasn't a standard Starfleet opponent. She was raised in the lawless pits, and gang wars of Turkana IV. She countered by driving her forehead straight into Adam's nose.
"Fuck..." I breathe out winded
White-hot pain flashed across me , but as blood began to trickle from me nose, the reprogrammed nanites swarmed the injury, numbing the pain receptors and instantly sealing the ruptured capillaries. Beverly and Data had programmed them to instantly begin regenerating any ailment or injury they detected upon it occurring. I catch Ishara by the vest before she could disengage, twisting my hips to execute a heavy, battlefield hip-throw. Ishara slammed into the rain-slicked ground with a heavy thud, but she rolled backward with the impact, sweeping her leg in a wide, vicious arc. Her boot caught Adam behind the ankle, taking his legs out from under me.
I hit the pavement hard, rolling instinctively to avoid a lethal, descending heel-drop that cracked the simulated concrete where his head had been a fraction of a second prior. He sprang back to his feet, slipping into a tight, low tactical stance. I start panting, and wipe the blood from my face.
"Not bad old man." Ishara flashes that grin at me
"What...the...hell...Ishara?"!!" I exclaim
She relaxes her pose while explaining her journey.
"I wasn't fitting in, in spite of your gracious encouragement," Ishara replied, stepping back to roll out her shoulders. "I needed focus. My experiences and time on Turkana... overwhelmed me at times. I was a pain in the arse to my professors. This got word back to SI—they recruited me and... well... I feel at home at last."
She dropped back into a low brawling stance, a cold, challenging glimmer in her eyes. "Now I have to deal with you. What was Lieutenant Morani doing with you on the Enterprise? Doing kid fighting sessions? You're good, but you're lazy. I know you don't want to hurt anyone, but you're not on the Enterprise anymore, recruit—we go again. Push yourself, trainee."
"Alright...round two it is." I say and then kick into Batman mode.
I closed my eyes for a fraction of a second, retreating into a highly structured mind palace. In that mental space, the training halls of the Enterprise-D materialized. I saw Lieutenant Morani's fluid, defensive Aikido stances. He saw Worf's brutal, uncompromising Mok'bara katas. I tore down the rigid barriers dividing the styles, fusing them into a singular, predatory flow designed for the gutter. I then opened my eyes and do Neo and Morpheus hand gesture to Ishara.
"Let's dance."
Ishara was already in mid-air, driving a flying knee toward my jaw. Must register that as a favourite move of hers. Adam didn't block. He pivoted under her trajectory with the low, sweeping grace of a Klingon martial artist, letting her momentum carry her past me. As she landed, I stepped into her blind spot, launching a brutal elbow strike that cracked hard against her tactical shoulder plate.
Ishara grunted, spinning instantly with a lethal capoeira-style kick aimed at my temple. I slipped the blow by millimeters, his mind palace calculating her recovery time in real-time. He caught her extended leg, using her own Turkana momentum to drive her backward into a pile of simulated cargo crates. The wood shattered with a deafening crack. Ishara bounced back out of the wreckage like a cornered wildcat. She lunged with a blinding flurry of straight punches, her fists moving in a blur of street-fighting fury. I shifted into a tight, textbook Boxing guard, tucking his chin. He absorbed three heavy blows to his forearms, parried a fourth, and then exploded forward. I then drove a vicious palm-strike directly into her sternum—a technique Worf had taught him to shatter an opponent's center of gravity.
The impact knocked the wind from Ishara's lungs, sending her skidding five feet across the wet pavement. She dropped to one knee, clutching her chest, gasping for air as the rain poured over her face.
I stood over her, my breathing heavy, my hands raised in a low, adaptive stance that belonged to no specific academy handbook. For the first time, I wasn't holding back out of fear of hurting someone. I was fighting to survive. I then turn to face Admiral Cooper.
"End program." She orders
"IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT?!" I roar with my Batman voice.
"It is a start." She says and leaves the two of us in the holdodeck.
A new, different, beginning has begun.
The fog rolled across San Francisco bay, creating a near misty illusion as I entered Vice-Admiral Sarah Cooper's office. The office was---spartan---Sarah was a practical person. Highly analytical which is why Alynna had promoted her. Cooper had been in SI since she was a raw, newly graduated Cadet. She had wanted a different path than her crewmates which immediately got her flagged by the agency as a top recruit. It has paid off for her all these decades later as the second most powerful person within the division. Somehow we've established this strange rapport we have.
"Welcome home, Mr. Young. I trust your trip was uneventful." Sarah greets
"It was. You still look surprised that I'm here."
"I am. I thought you'd back out. I'm slightly impressed that you haven't."
"What do you want from me, Admiral, why am I here?"
"Your future knowledge has been, frankly wasted with what you've been doing on the Enterprise these past six years. Starfleet Intelligence, had we had our way from the start, would have recruited you and used that knowledge to enact policy changes that would have accelerated your grand plans for the galaxy ten fold. Instead---you wanted to use that to have adventures on the Enterprise. All well and good. No one knows better than you the dangers the galaxy poses. You have claimed that you want to get us ready for war, but you're not a solider, you've experienced dreadful things---yes---but you have no idea what is truly out there. I intend to remove the veil."
She punched up a holographic sphere that showed a map of the galaxy including all the hot botton galactic powers. A green dot brightens over Bajor, a tiny white dot represents Deep Space Nine, and a serious of dots near the station represent the Wormhole. Cooper then brings up profiles of former Minister Jarro Essa. Vedek Winn Adami. Li Nalas, along with Ro, and Sisko.
"You want to know why you are standing in this room now, Adam? THIS is why. Your decision to expose the Circle by sending Lieutenant Ro that data file on the Circle you had compiled was a fundamental shift in your line of thinking. Up until that point, your actions and specifically how you decided those actions were made with meticulous, calculating thinking---i.e. you were overly cautious about everything you decided to. But something changed when you chose to hit the terminal button that day. That day---you became an Intelligence asset without knowing it."
I frown.
"Let me continue. After the Circle had been dismantled, Jaro and Winn's activities were exposed and shut down...and Li Nalas was asked to step up to help his people once again, to end the legend, and be a real inspiration---your little beautiful mind went to places it was forced to go, the bigger picture, Mr. Young. You began to suspect a...conspiracy. Not just any conspiracy, perhaps the biggest conspiracy facing our generation and the one before it---why we chose to do nothing to help the Bajorans. From your conversations with our erstwhile boss, you learned of her attempts to warn Starfleet Command---the evidence she and her slain partner attempted to provide---and were told to ignore, the Prime Directive was invoked and younger Lt. Nechavyev was quieted. But now she's running around on an investigation that has even the slightest possible chance of being true to see if there are moles planed deep within the foundation of the organization sworn to protect the Federation. All of that is Intelligence operative thinking, Adam. I've read your psyche profile. I have read ALL the reports on you from your colleagues. You've been doing Intel work this entire time and not known it. THAT is why you're here today. That is why we want to use you." Cooper explained.
The Sphere changed to a profile of me. The reprogrammed Borg nanites running through my blood stream. Giving me status as an "above advanced human". Cooper flashes that shark teeth smile of hers and I shiver slightly.
"These---separate you from everyone else. They regenerated your foot, have healed your broken, chronic ailed body, and created something that has been wallowing around. They give you an edge Adam. You need to take advantage of this. The others see what happened as a tragedy that happened that needs to be overcome, we see you for what you truly could become. A living weapon. Accelerated healing. Enhanced reflexes. We're going to refocus you into forged steel, Mr. Young."
Ignoring Sarah's recruitment push I instead respond differently.
"On Risa, I revealed that I scared. You told me you would train the fear out of me. I'm ready to begin." I say with arms relaxed behind my back.
Cooper tapped a small control on her desk. Instantly, the high-arched windows overlooking San Francisco Bay shattered into raw, cascading blocks of green light. The sleek mahogany desk, the secure terminals, and the pristine Starfleet Headquarters walls dissolved into thin air. The simulation rezzed into existence around them with dizzying speed, replacing the office with a dark, rain-slicked alien metropolis underbelly. Neon signs in broken Orion language buzzed overhead, casting long, erratic shadows across a damp, debris-strewn alleyway. I immediately become alert.
"Meet your handler and prepare to defend yourself, recruit." Cooper orders
I stagger back slightly, my boots splashing in a pool of holo generated water. A figure emerged wearing an all black tactical jumpsuit...a figure with striking blonde hair I immediately recognized.
"Ishara?!!"
Ishara didn't respond though, closing the distance between us with a speed I hadn't anticipated. She lunges forward with a brutal, snapping kick aimed right at my sternum. I throw up my arms in a double cross block, absorbing the impact, but the sheer force of her momentum skidded my boots across the wet pavement. Ishara didn't give me a second to breathe. She pivoted seamlessly on her heel, using the recoil of the block to whip a backfist directly at my jaw. I ducked under the strike, the rushing wind of her fist whistling past my ear. I stepped into her guard, attempting to utilize standard Starfleet security grappling techniques to lock her arm. But Ishara wasn't a standard Starfleet opponent. She was raised in the lawless pits, and gang wars of Turkana IV. She countered by driving her forehead straight into Adam's nose.
"Fuck..." I breathe out winded
White-hot pain flashed across me , but as blood began to trickle from me nose, the reprogrammed nanites swarmed the injury, numbing the pain receptors and instantly sealing the ruptured capillaries. Beverly and Data had programmed them to instantly begin regenerating any ailment or injury they detected upon it occurring. I catch Ishara by the vest before she could disengage, twisting my hips to execute a heavy, battlefield hip-throw. Ishara slammed into the rain-slicked ground with a heavy thud, but she rolled backward with the impact, sweeping her leg in a wide, vicious arc. Her boot caught Adam behind the ankle, taking his legs out from under me.
I hit the pavement hard, rolling instinctively to avoid a lethal, descending heel-drop that cracked the simulated concrete where his head had been a fraction of a second prior. He sprang back to his feet, slipping into a tight, low tactical stance. I start panting, and wipe the blood from my face.
"Not bad old man." Ishara flashes that grin at me
"What...the...hell...Ishara?"!!" I exclaim
She relaxes her pose while explaining her journey.
"I wasn't fitting in, in spite of your gracious encouragement," Ishara replied, stepping back to roll out her shoulders. "I needed focus. My experiences and time on Turkana... overwhelmed me at times. I was a pain in the arse to my professors. This got word back to SI—they recruited me and... well... I feel at home at last."
She dropped back into a low brawling stance, a cold, challenging glimmer in her eyes. "Now I have to deal with you. What was Lieutenant Morani doing with you on the Enterprise? Doing kid fighting sessions? You're good, but you're lazy. I know you don't want to hurt anyone, but you're not on the Enterprise anymore, recruit—we go again. Push yourself, trainee."
"Alright...round two it is." I say and then kick into Batman mode.
I closed my eyes for a fraction of a second, retreating into a highly structured mind palace. In that mental space, the training halls of the Enterprise-D materialized. I saw Lieutenant Morani's fluid, defensive Aikido stances. He saw Worf's brutal, uncompromising Mok'bara katas. I tore down the rigid barriers dividing the styles, fusing them into a singular, predatory flow designed for the gutter. I then opened my eyes and do Neo and Morpheus hand gesture to Ishara.
"Let's dance."
Ishara was already in mid-air, driving a flying knee toward my jaw. Must register that as a favourite move of hers. Adam didn't block. He pivoted under her trajectory with the low, sweeping grace of a Klingon martial artist, letting her momentum carry her past me. As she landed, I stepped into her blind spot, launching a brutal elbow strike that cracked hard against her tactical shoulder plate.
Ishara grunted, spinning instantly with a lethal capoeira-style kick aimed at my temple. I slipped the blow by millimeters, his mind palace calculating her recovery time in real-time. He caught her extended leg, using her own Turkana momentum to drive her backward into a pile of simulated cargo crates. The wood shattered with a deafening crack. Ishara bounced back out of the wreckage like a cornered wildcat. She lunged with a blinding flurry of straight punches, her fists moving in a blur of street-fighting fury. I shifted into a tight, textbook Boxing guard, tucking his chin. He absorbed three heavy blows to his forearms, parried a fourth, and then exploded forward. I then drove a vicious palm-strike directly into her sternum—a technique Worf had taught him to shatter an opponent's center of gravity.
The impact knocked the wind from Ishara's lungs, sending her skidding five feet across the wet pavement. She dropped to one knee, clutching her chest, gasping for air as the rain poured over her face.
I stood over her, my breathing heavy, my hands raised in a low, adaptive stance that belonged to no specific academy handbook. For the first time, I wasn't holding back out of fear of hurting someone. I was fighting to survive. I then turn to face Admiral Cooper.
"End program." She orders
"IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT?!" I roar with my Batman voice.
"It is a start." She says and leaves the two of us in the holdodeck.
A new, different, beginning has begun.
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