Shortcut to Danger

A massive ship looking like a giant bird moving through the vastness of space. The Federation starship Omega, Galaxy class Z194-AA1 makes its slow way toward Federation space. After two days in this section of space they still have found no way. Slow ever so slowly, the ship begins moving toward a vast wormhole.

INSIDE THE SHIP

on the bridge, CAPTAIN SHIRLEEN TWINNER is seated in the Captain's chair with her First Officer, COMMANDER BORTH in the chair next to her.

SHIRLEEN: Will this wormhole take us back to Federation space?

FERAGA: No way of knowing Captain. All scans are coming up negative.

SHIRLEEN(looks over to the newest member): You know anything Aliena?

ALIENA(staring ahead.): Enough to know not to enter....

SHIRLEEN: What do you know?

ALIENA: Among my people, these wormholes' you call them are Baktarnan or Holes of Doom because once a ship enters, one never sees it again. Its our greatest taboo. That to see one, to go the other way.

SHIRLEEN:So, you don't really know what's on the other side of this particular one?

ALIENA(shakes head): No. My people wouldn't even come this far. Our fear is that great.

SHIRLEEN(nods): All right.(turns to Navigation) Anything on the wormhole? I'd like to be sure before entering.

FERAGA(hands moving quickly across the console before looking up): Scanners aren't picking up any readings. There seems to be some kind of signal blocking our attempts to scan.

SHIRLEEN(thoughtfully): Strange. That shouldn't happen.(turns back to Ferage) Send out a probe.

FERAGA: Aye Captain.

Feraga presses a series of buttons on her console as a probe is launched from the ship. They feel the backlash as the probe is launched.

FERAGA: Probe launched.

SHIRLEEN: Good. Now, we'll be able to see---

FERAGA(watching her console): Captain! The probe?! The probe's gone!

COMMANDER BORTH: What do you mean gone?! How?

FERAGA(hands moving across the console quickly): The probe was there... then it just....vanished. I'm not picking up any trace of it. It's simply---gone.

A massive blast hits the ship causing everyone to jerk in reaction.

SHIRLEEN(slight turn of the head): What was that?

ZUN(hands moving across his console): NO way of knowing Captain. (another jerk of the ship) Scanners are not picking up any ships in the vicinity.

FERAGA: Captain! Its the wormhole! Its emitting some kind of field. We're being pulled in.

SHIRLEEN(looking towards the Helm): Take us out of range!

TED PRESTON(hands move): Aye Captain.

The force being emitted is a matach for the ship as the starship Omega continues to move steadily forward.

Ted Preston frantically tries to move the ship out of the way, to no avail.

FERAGA: Captain, sensors are picking up something.

SHIRLEEN: Where's it coming from?

FERAGA: Inside the wormhole.... The wormhole's subfield is too strong for Omega. We will be entering it.

SHIRLEEN(thoughtfully): All right then. We'll do it another way.(looks to Preston) Mister Preston, go forward.... Toward the wormhole.

TED PRESTON(looks at her in shock): Into the wormhole, Captain?

SHIRLEEN(nods): Yes. It seems we have no choice. Proceed.

TED PRESTON(turning back to his console): Aye captain.

The starship Omega, instead of trying to escape begins moving forward, towards the wormhole.

The wormhole, in response begins to flucuate.

FERAGA: Captain, I'm getting a reading of point 099 from the wormhole. Its working!

SHIRLEEN(nods): Helm, head forward. Warp Three.

TED PRESTON: Aye captain.

The ship moves forward. The wormhole opens revealing what looks like a space station. But ulile a station the cre of the Omega has ever seen before. It tops even that of Deep Space 9.

SHIRLEEN: Any life on that station?

Feraga continues her scan for awhile before looking over at the captain.

FERAGA: Scans show two lifeforms.

COMMANDER BORTH: Two?

FERAGA: Aye Commander.

COMMANDER BORTH: How?!

SHIRLEEN: Are they human?

FERAGA(hands moving across her console before looking up): Human like and.... (trails off.)

SHIRLEEN(picking up on that): What?

FERAGA: Captain, I'm picking up these human forms yet there's something different about them.

Before Shirleen can say anything else, a voice is heard by them all.

VOICE: You are welcome.

TED PRESTON(turning to look at the captain): What was that?

SHIRLEEN: No idea.(turns to the back left side over at Communications) Open a channel.

ENSIGN TOOMAR: Aye captain.

The Communications Officer touches a button as a soft beep sounds.

ENSIGN TOOMAR: Channel is open, Captain.

SHIRLEEN(nods): This is Captain Shirleen Twinner of the Fereation Starship Omega....

VOICE(interrupts): You are welcome Captain Twinner.

A bright light shines brightly around the interior of the bridge before disappearing, taking the crew with it.

INSIDE A WHITE LAB AREA

filled with flowers and chambers with strange beings filled in the chambers and two being standing near these chambers. One is an fairly young woman and the other a small boy about six. The woman approaches them.

SHIRLEEN: What is this place?

WOMAN: Welcome to X90A2. I am the Guardian. WOMAN(turns to him): Yes and no.

FERAGA: Excuse me?

WOMAN: This is a station yes, but it is also a haven. A safe haven.

The woman stares at the group as her eyes widen. She's staring at Shirleen in shock.

SHIRLEEN: Why are you staring at me like that?

WOMAN(looks at her): You just remind me of someone....

SHIRLEEN: Who?

The woman shakes her head as the little boy steps up, moving over to her.

WOMAN: Please. Be welcome here.

The woman fades and disappears but the boy's still there staring at Shirleen.

THE CREW IS MOVING AROUND

taking readings looking around. The woman is gone but not completely. Invisible to the captain and her crew, the woman follows them.

WOMAN(mutters though no one hears): The power's dormant now. But soon it will awaken. The captain will have her hands full as all in this quadrant will seek to possess such powers. I will do all I can to stop that but one never knows.

Shirleen and her crew is moving among the 'garden'.

SHIRLEEN: You find out anything about this place?

FERAGA: I've been getting readings from somewhere below. So far, I haven't been able to discover where.

TED PRESTON: I've been trying to talk with some of the others.... Nothing. They won't even talk to me.

COMMANDER BORTH: I haven't even seen out hostess. She just disappeared.

SHIRLEEN(nods): Yes.

IN SPACE

heading for the alien station, a ship, looking like a giant ladybug is making its way toward the station.

On the bridge of the Omega, scanners begin picking up the other ship as it makes its way to its destination. Word is sent to the captain on the station.

WITH THE CAPTAIN AND CREW ON THE STATION

Captain Shirleen Twinner is moving among the flowers while every so often bending to gently finger one. Her thoughts are back home on Earth where by now her own garden is flourishing.

SHIRLEEN: What could bring about such beauty here?

All the while, the woman continues to follow Shirleen, invisibly.

WOMNA(under her breath): She would never know.

As the captain continues on her solitary walk, the woman still with her. There comes a beep. Shirleen reaches up and taps the communicator device, stopping at the same time.

SHIRLEEN: Yes?

VOICE: Captain, we're picking up a ship coming towards the station....

SHIRLEEN: A ship? Lifeforms?

VOICE: Nothing yet, Captain. Scanners unable to penetrate the hull of the ship.

SHIRLEEN: Keep on it.

VOICE: Aye Captain.

SHIRLEEN: And keep my advised.(Shirleen presses the comm badge again, continuing to walk, returning now to the rest of the crew who are scanning the area around them.)

OUT IN SPACE

the mysterious ship has reached the station and is orbiting it. The Omega continues its own orbit.

INSIDE THE MYSTERIOUS SHIP

A group of strange beings that look like a cross between a wolf and a human. Fur along their hands and top of their head. They are wearing dark colored uniforms much like those wore in the military.

Their ship is built to look like a war room; round table with smaller ones around the sides of the walls/bulkheads. Computers are built into these walls.

The leader is in the center of the bridge with other members of its crew moving around him.

LEADER: Begin the attack.

CREWMEMBER #1: Sir, our sensors are picking up the power generated by the One. We may destroy him if we do.

LEADER: No. He will be smart enough to escape. Then we may get him. He has left his portion of space. He is helpless.

CREWMEMBER#2: Sir, sensors are picking up another ship orbiting the station.

LEADER(turns to that crewmenber.): What? What kind is it?

CREWMEMBER#2: Unknown sir. Its not from this quadrant.

LEADER: Destroy them.

CREWMEMBER#1: Yes sir.

A beam of light heads for the Omega from the mysterious ship.

ON THE STATION

Shirleen has rejoined the rest of her crew. She stands next to her commander. They turn to her.

SHIRLEEN: We got someone else.

COMMANDER BORTH: What sort?

SHIRLEEN: Another ship orbiting this station.

TED PRESTON: How could this be? Why would this mysterious ship come here? What for?

SHIRLEEN(shakes head): I don't know.

Suddenly, the station lurches violently as the flowers and trees and such flucuate. The crew looks around as this happens.

The flucuations become stronger as the garden begins to disappear and small areas of what looks like a hallway begins to appear around them.

FERAGA: Captain? What's going on? That was a phaser blast.

Another lurch as the crew now finds themselves standing in the middle of a cooridor, stars twinkling outside the windows to the left of them.

ZUN(looking around): What just happened?

SHIRLEEN: I'd say this station's under attack.

Before anyone can say anything else, the little boy runs up, fear on his face. He runs to Shirleen burying a fear and tear streaming face in her legs.

Shirleen's shocked expression as the small boy clings to her legs. She looks over at the crew.

Its at that point when the woman makes her appearance. She notes the small boy clinging to Shirleen and makes a decision before turning to the group.

WOMAN: I will send you back to your ship now. You must flee.

SHIRLEEN(looking at the woman): Who's attacking you?

WOMAN: The Berthans.

She says nothing more as the group is sent back to the Omega, the small boy still clinging to Shirleen as they appear on the bridge of their ship. Shirleen goes over to her seat as the rest of the crew go to their stations.

SHIRLEEN: Find out where the attack's coming from and hail them.

ENSIGN TOOMAR: Aye captain. (pressing buttons) No answer Captain.

SHIRLEEN: What are they doing now?

ZUN: Firing their weapons array Captain.

WOMAN'S VOICE(coming from their communications): I can't let you all die because of me, Captain. Take care of that child. He will protect you.

SHIRLEEN: Wait! What are you saying?

WOMAN'S VOICE: Sending you and your ship away.

SHIRLEEN: We can help you.

The voice is gone as the starship is telaported away from the station as the station explodes.

FAR AWAY

SHIRLEEN: How far are we now?

FERAGA: One point five million light years. And the station's gone.

COMMANDER BORTH: What do we do?

SHIRLEEN: We continue on. (looks at Ted Preston) Let's get out of here. Warp nine.

TED PRESTON: Aye captain.

The ship leaves at warp nine, in a stream of blurred light.

The End