Path: inforamp.net!news.nstn.ca!news.dal.ca!torn!csn!news-1.csn.net!imci3!imci4!newsfeed.internetmci.com!howland.reston.ans.net!news.cac.psu.edu!usenet From: "Todd A. Bobenrieth" Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative Subject: REPOST:Dawn of the Next Generation (3/3) Date: 27 Mar 1996 22:08:14 GMT Organization: TAMBOFILMS Lines: 294 Message-ID: <4jce8e$obh@hearst.cac.psu.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: nb8slip94.cac.psu.edu Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Mozilla 1.22 (Windows; I; 16bit) Status: N Picard was about to take another step down the ladder, but froze in mid step. He heard it as well. A sound was coming from an adjoining passageway. Picard imagined what was making the sound. He clearly envisioned one of his comrades feasting on another member of the crew. "I'll check it out, sir," Barclay whispered. Before Picard had a chance to stop him, Barclay made his way to the area where the sound was coming from. He barely noticed that he was holding his breath. Barclay peered into the darkened tunnel and squinted to try seeing better. Power was completely off in some sections and this, apparently, was one of them. Whatever was in there was coming toward him fast. Reg almost fell off the ladder he was clinging to, but managed to re-acquire his grip. The sound was almost directly in front of him. Barclay prepared to deliver a fist into whatever was approaching him. But just as he was ready to swing, Ensign Martinez came out of the shadows. "Martinez, you're alive!" cried Barclay. Martinez had a wild look on his face as he panted furiously. He looked into Barclay's eyes and tried to speak. After a few seconds, he finally found the words he was trying to relay. "RUN!!! They're right behind me!" The moans and grunts of the undead filled the passageway as Martinez rocketed past Barclay and down the ladder. Reg followed him with Picard close behind. They stopped going rung by rung and slid down into the lower levels. Martinez continued his descent as Picard and Barclay followed as fast as they could. The Captain happened to glance at the Ensign and saw that he was going to overshoot the deck if he didn't slow down. "Ensign," shouted Picard, "you're going to pass Deck 8 if you don't slow down! STOP NOW!" The loud voice caused Martinez to loose his grip. He let out a high-pitched scream as he began to fall. He couldn't look down, but he knew he would hit the floor at Deck 1 soon. And then, something caught him. He was hanging in thin air between Decks 2 and 3, his feet kicking spastically. "I believe," said Data neutrally, "that I have caught you." When they were safety heading parallel to Deck 8, Picard halted the group. "We'll be coming up on Holodeck Five shortly. Mr. Data, ideas?" Picard Questioned. "It would be wise to put me in the lead, since I stand the greatest chance of surviving an on-rush." "Good thinking, Data. Now, what facts do we know about these things?" "They seem to eat other for food," Martinez began. "But they don't attack each other," added Reg. "Also, Captain, if they are near, do not use your communicator," said Data. "Why?" "The frequency somehow attracts them." Picard thought about this new fact. It might make finding Beverly in the holodeck difficult. He began to head to the spot where they could get into the corridors. Once there, Picard quietly removed the panel and looked down both directions of the hallway. "All clear. Data, let's move out." The team exited the narrow passageway and into the corridor near their destination. Finally, they arrived at Holodeck Five. The doors had been forced open and Picard could see the program that was running. "It appears that Doctor Crusher has created an old style. I believe it is called, a neighborhood," the android proclaimed. "Yes, novel thinking Beverly." The four stepped through the doors and immediately hid behind a wall. A zombie was staggering down the roadway, advancing on an injured woman. He was almost upon her as Picard called out, "Computer, discontinue character on co-ordinates 08-7-436." The computer generated human vanished, causing the creature to stop and look around in confusion. "We must find Beverly immediately," Picard stated. "Then we will look for other survivors." "This design is . . . very complex, Sir. It will, um . . . it'll take some time to find her," said Barclay. "Maybe we should risk using our Comm Badges," volunteered Martinez. "Agreed," said Picard, "We have adequate cover in here." They stepped inside a building and looked around for any signs of the undead. Beverly was hidden in a closet as the creature slowly walked by. It seemed to sense her presence, but couldn't tell her whereabouts. It was about to pass when a voice came over her Comm Badge. "Picard to Doctor Crusher." The zombie went wild and started beating on the door. Beverly began shrieking as it tore at the wooden door. She frantically slapped the communicator. "Jean-Luc, HELP ME!!!" Picard jumped at the sudden yelling coming from Crusher. "Beverly, where are you," he snapped. All that came over the Comm Badge was screams for help and the thing's attack on the door. Picard was sweating profusely as he shuddered in fear. "Computer," called Data," End program." The images vanished and were replaced by the holodeck's grid pattern. At the far corner stood Crusher. The zombie was confused by the change and look around the room, Just in time to see Picard coming toward him. It raised its arms to grab the Captain, but he was quicker. He plunged the cane into its forehead and shoved it against the wall. The creature slumped to the floor and a blue cloud rose from it. The cloud passed through the walls and was gone. Beverly threw her arms around Picard. "Captain, there's two more!" Martinez shouted. Data quickly dispatched one by tearing it head off. Picard ran toward the other. Just before the Captain reached the thing, it turned to face him. His face brightened. "Guinan!" She smiled at him and nodded. "How did you keep them from attacking you," asked Picard? "I don't know, Captain. They just didn't seem to want me." "Guinan, do you know of any more survivors?" "No. I'm afraid we're all that's left." A sound at the door caught their attention. Commander Riker came into the room, holding a half-eaten arm. His white, cloudy eyes focused on Picard as he began to advance. Martinez ran at Riker to fend him off, but he tripped over one of the corpses and sprawled out in front of the Commander. Ensign Martinez barely had a chance to look up before Riker was on him. Wil bit into his temple and pulled the flesh away from around the eye. Martinez went instantly into shock and didn't sense Data pull Riker off. The android held him at arm's length. Riker snapped at the air, trying to get Data. "Captain," Data inquired, "Instructions?" Picard stared uneasily as his First Officer squirmed in the android's grip. He once again had to make major decision regarding Riker. "Mr. Data . . . end it." Data put his hands on either side of Riker's head and began to squeeze. Blood pouring out of his eyes, nose, mouth and ears accompanied the cracking sound. Wil's eyes exploded as his skull gave way. Data let him fall to the floor into a pool of his own blood. Picard vomited at the sight. Doctor Crusher staggered and passed out. Guinan and Barclay stared at the scene in disbelief. Data backed away and lowered his head. "Data," Picard said uneasily, "we must seal the doors." The android dragged Riker and Martinez out into the hall and began working on the control panel. Within minutes, the doors were closed tight. The group sat, in a circle at the center of the room, in silence. Finally Picard spoke up. "In one day, I've lost my crew, my friends . . . my Command . . . " "Captain," consoled Guinan, "you did what you thought best." "But it was the wrong thing to do!" "You can't make ALL the right choices," she countered. "But at such a cost . . . Guinan, I just watched my friend's head get crushed. William T. Riker is gone. Do you know what I'm feeling right now?? Can you possibly understand?" Picard openly sobbed. Beverly embraced him, sharing his tears. Barclay buried his face in his hands. It dawned on him for the first time. He lost his ONLY friend today. Reg shook his head back and forth. Data had seen grief before, especially when Tasha died. But nothing had ever rivaled this sorrow. Out of more than one thousand crew members and families, four humans and one android survived. The four had soon fallen asleep. Data stayed on guard as the hours passed. A loud thud awoke the survivors. "Data, what was that," asked Picard. "It would appear that they want back in, Sir." "W-we've gotta get off this ship," Barclay said. "Agreed," proclaimed the Captain, "but we cannot let this vessel be boarded in the future. It must be destroyed." "Sir, if we self-destruct the Enterprise, how will we get clear in time? The shuttles can't get out without Warp Speed . . . " "There is away," said Picard, "The Captain's Yacht." "Of course," replied Data. "The Captain's Yacht can reach Warp Four." "I'll have to set a longer self-destruct sequence to allow for adequate escape time. Data, you'll have to go down there first and prepare it for departure." "Aye, Sir. It should take no more than twenty minutes to complete the task." "Barring any attacks," submitted Barclay. "I factored in several scenarios, Lieutenant. Twenty minutes will be sufficient." "Alright, Mr. Data. Let's proceed. On my mark . . . Now." Data opened the holodeck doors to face Ensign Martinez. His face had stopped bleeding, leaving a dark crimson stain. Data thrust his palm into his face, sending Martinez backward into a bulkhead. The back of his head shattered into a red waterfall. The blue mist vacated his body. Data headed for Dock 12 as Picard closed the doors. He turned to the others. "Gods speed, Mr. Data." Beverly smiled for the first time since Wil and Data returned to the ship. There was finally hope. Data decided that using the turbolifts would be acceptable and headed for the nearest one. As the doors opened, Data looked in at the terrible sight. Councilor Troi and Geordie LaForge were tearing bits of flesh off a small child and stuffing it in their mouths. Data stepped into the turbolift and grabbed both by their collars. "Forgive me, Geordie," Data said. The android brought their heads together with a squish. He tossed their bodies into the hallway and pushed the dead child out. The doors closed and Data frowned. "Deck Twelve," he commanded. The wait seemed like an eternity to Picard. He had begun pacing again. Guinan followed his path with her eyes. "Captain," she said, "Data is fine. He will be calling at any minute." As if on cue, Picard's Comm Badge beeped. "Data to Picard." "Picard here. Are you alright?" "Fine, Sir. The Captain's Yacht is ready. I suggest using Turbolift 9. I have installed Force fields to allow access for fifteen minutes. That was the best I could do." "Excellent, Mr. Data, we're on our way." Picard broke off communications and they headed for the doors. The force fields were in place and holding. The energy of the fields had attracted several zombies, who tried in vain to get through. When they got to the turbolift, they saw the three bodies. "Deanna . . . Geordie..." Picard whispered. Beverly almost fainted. Picard caught her as she wobbled. "Jean-Luc, that was Nurse Ogowa's child . . . " "Everyone, into the turbolift," ordered the Captain. The got inside and the doors closed. Inside, the lights flickered momentarily. Picard tapped his communicator. "Mr. Data, what just happened?" "Slight power fluctuation. The force fields are down. I'm attempting to raise them." "Keep me posted, Data." "Aye, Sir," came the response. When the turbolift arrived at Deck 12, the doors opened to a zombie. Barclay jumped at it and grabbed its neck. "RUN!" He shouted. The three ran past Barclay and the creature and toward the Captain's Yacht entrance. Reg cast the thing into the turbolift and quickly followed them. They reached their destination to find Data lying in pieces. The zombies had chewed on him until his power shut down. "Come on," said Picard, "get him inside. We can reassemble him later." Barclay and Picard put the sections of the android's body inside the Yacht. Beverly and Guinan hurried inside the ship and Barclay followed. "Barclay, get her warmed up. I'll set the destruct sequence." "Aye, Sir." Barclay went into the control room and Picard looked around at his ship. "Computer," he called out, "verify Captain Jean-Luc Picard." "Verified," returned the computer. "Set auto destruct, 01-21-003, destruct." "Auto-destruct set. You have ten minutes to reach safe distance." Picard stepped inside the vessel and the door closed. He passed by Guinan and Crusher as he made his way to the control room. "We're all set Captain," Barclay informed. "Very well. Release docking clamps." "Aye, Sir. Docking clamps released." The Captain's Yacht slowly drifted away from the hull of the Enterprise. Picard watched as the flagship of the Federation slowly became smaller on the viewscreen. "Mr. Barclay, set course 327 mark 4, Warp One." "Course set, Sir, Warp Power ready." Picard paused and sighed. He pointed toward the space before them. "Engage." The ship shot out of the Nebula and away from a massive explosion. The Enterprise into a ball of fire, igniting the Hiaratu Nebula. The Captain's Yacht streaked away to safety. Picard slumped into his chair. Sleep came upon him a blanket. A dream began . . . A Romulan Scout Ship slowed to impulse as its Commander entered a guarded room. "Fill the chamber with the gas," he ordered. A strong hissing sound indicated that his command was carried out. "Raise the barrier and then . . . Lower the subspace field." A force field appeared in the entrance to the holding cell. Immediately after, the steady buzzing of the subspace field went silent. The Romulan slowly walked toward the cell. A wicked grin crossed his face. "Contact Gul Marotte, tell him the chemical worked." "Yes, Sub-Commander." The Romulan watched the movement inside the cell closely. "Sub-Commander," the other said, "he requests immediate beam over." "Most assuredly. Let them have him." A bright flash of colors appeared in the cell, then vanished. "Sir, Gul Marotte sends his gratitude." "Fine. Now tell him to send his payment." "Aye Sub-Commander." The Cardassian ship opened fire on the Romulans. The Scout Ship disintegrated quickly. "Set course for Bajor," Marotte ordered. "Warp Seven." "Aye, Sir," came the response, "course set. Proceeding at Warp Seven." "He who laughs last, say the humans. In four hours, the New Occupation begins." "Sir," called out the subordinate, "Holding bay reports the cell has been breached!" Marotte's eyes widened. "WHAT?!" Picard awakes sweating. He quickly scanned his surroundings. He relaxed when he saw Reg. "Are you alright, Sir," asked Barclay? "Yes, thank you, Mr. Barclay." The Captain glanced back at the sleeping forms of Guinan and Beverly. He smiled and turned back to Barclay. "Estimated time of arrival?" He inquired. "We should arrive at Deep Space Nine in seventeen hours at Warp One, Sir." "Excellent, Mr. Barclay. It will be good to see O'Brien again." "Aye, Sir." The shuttle craft silently speeded to the station at the edge of the galaxy. Picard looked forward to the long rest that was coming.