STAR TREK

Continuum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Derek Kestner

 

Based on Star Trek™ created by Gene Roddenberry

 

Prologue

 

 

The room quickly got quiet.  Derek continued, “I have an announcement, or, a question really.”  He then took a small box from his pocket and got down on a knee in front of Lady Q.  He smiled and said, “I have been planning this moment for awhile now, and I don’t want to mess up.  Q, I love you, very much.  I can’t imagine a day without you.  So, I must ask you this question: Q, will you marry me?”

 

Continuum

 

            The room was silent as everyone waited for Q’s answer.  She stood, looking down at Derek with a heart full of love and happiness.  She then nodded and said, “Yes, Derek.  I will marry you.”

            Derek jumped up and embraced her.  He said, “Oh, thank you for making me the happiest man alive.”  He then kissed her.  The room exploded as every person cheered.  The remainder of the party everyone was busy congratulating Derek and Q. 

            Brad stood beside Derek the entire time.  He was happy for Derek.  For a long time he had been worried about Derek.  Until he met Q, he was alone.  Now that he had Q, he was no longer alone.  Soon the party began to break up.  Some people left in small groups to go play cards. Others left to go to bed until only Derek, Brad, Whitney, Q, Bateson, and Scotty remained.

            They sat around a table laughing and enjoying drinks.  Q stood and announced that she had to leave, but that she would return again tomorrow to begin planning for the wedding.  She then snapped her fingers and left.

            Derek stared at the place she stood for a couple of minutes.  Bateson watched him for a couple of moments then said, “You really do love her, don’t you?”

            Derek nodded.  “I have grown to know her a lot in the past three months.  I have found that she is perfect for me.  And I love her dearly.”  Derek stood.  “I thank all of you for this great welcome back.  But I must now depart, I need to put my things away and sleep.”

            Those around the table said good-bye.  Derek then walked out of the lounge toward the turbolift and his quarters.  He steeped inside and quickly got ready for bed. 

            He laid on top of his bed for a while that night.  So many things where running through his mind, so many decisions that had to be made.  He slowly drifted off to sleep.

 

            The blare of the Red Alert alarm awoke Kestner from his deep sleep.  He quickly pulled on his uniform and clipped his communicator to his chest.  He ran out of his quarters and down the hall to the turbolift.  Seconds later he was calling up his controls at his station and waiting for Bateson’s explanation of the Red Alert.

            Once all of the officers were assembled on the bridge Bateson began.  “We have been trying to improve relations with the Volshins.  As you know, Brad Foreman and Derek Kestner both received horrible visions of what would happen if we were to go into a war with the Volshins.

            “Considering this, the Federation decided to send a peace offering to the Volshins.  They were sending a convoy of three freighters, four Defiant-class starships and two Galaxy-class starships full of supplies to the Volshin.  They were passing by the Romulan border.  Considering that the Romulan border has been quiet for months, Starfleet figured that would be the safest way to send the freighters.

            “The convoy was supposed to check in with Outpost Three on the Neutral Zone an hour ago, but they never checked in.  Outpost Three sent out two scout ships.  The ships have been searching for an hour now, but have reported that the ships are not on their course.  For fear of Romulan attack the scout ships had to go back to Outpost Three, therefore, we have been ordered to go the Romulan Neutral Zone and find out what happened to the convoy.”

            Kestner thought over what their mission.  I bet the Romulans took them so that the Federation could not improve relations with the Volshins, he thought.  He heard Bateson behind him order, “Andy, set course for the Romulan Neutral Zone and engage, full speed.”

            Kestner saw the stars streak by as they began to climb in speed.  He heard Andy report, “Captain, we will reach the Romulan Neutral Zone in one-point-three hours.”

            “Very good, Andy,” Bateson said.  Kestner looked back down to his consol.  He wondered what happened to the convoy.  He then wondered if they could find out what happened to the convoy.

 

            “We’re nearing the Romulan Neutral Zone, Captain,” Welch reported.

            “Slow to full impulse power.  Derek, put sensors on full power,” Bateson said.

            “Aye, sir,” Kestner and Welch said.

            Kestner activated the forward sensor arrays.  He looked down at the readouts and said, “Captain, we’re not picking up anything unusual.  On the first sensor sweep we do not pick up the convoy, and we’re at their last reported location.”

            Bateson thought for a moment.  For the sake of the Federation, he had to find that convoy.  He said, “Continue the sensor sweeps.  Andy, take us on a parallel course from the neutral zone.  We’ll back track between Outpost Three and the last known position to see if we can find them.”

 

            For the next several hours the Bozeman traveled between the convoys last known position and Outpost Three.  They did not find a trace of the convoy.  Bateson finally adopted the fact that the Romulans may have attacked them.  He even let the first watch off.

            Kestner road the turbolift to his quarters.  He took a quick shower then got dressed.  He had just snapped his communicator to his chest when a shimmer of light announced Lady Q’s presence.

            She reached up and kissed him and said, “Hello, Derek.”

            He returned the kiss and said, “Hey, Q.  What’s the occasion?”

            “Well, silly.  I have a wedding to prepare for,” she said.  She was reaching up to kiss him when there was another shimmer of light evolved into Q. 

            He smiled as he said, “Did I hear someone say, ‘wedding’?”

            Lady Q nodded.  “Yes.”

            Q smiled.  “Well, congratulations.  But I’m afraid that’s not why I am here.”

            “Why are you here,” Derek asked.

            “It’s as plain as the nose on your face who stole your precious convoy,” Q explained.

            “Well, who did it?” Derek asked interested in what he had to say.

            “I must speak to your Captain at once,” Q said brushing off Kestner’s question.

            Kestner thought.  “Well, I’ll see what I can do.”  He tapped his communicator and said, “Kestner to Captain Bateson.”

            Bateson’s voice said, “Bateson here.”

            “Captain Bateson, I have a visitor here who says he needs to speak to you immediately,” Kestner said.

            “Very well.  Send him on up, I’m in my Ready Room,” Bateson said.

            “Thank you, Captain.  Kestner out,” Kestner said. 

            Kestner steeped toward the door.  He was cut off when Q said, “Allow me.”  With a snap of his fingers Kestner found himself in the Captain’s Ready Room.  He stood beside both Q and Lady Q.

            Bateson looked puzzled and said, “Why are you here?”

            Q smiled.  “Thank you for that warm welcome, Captain Bateson.  I have come here to help you with your problem with the convoy.”

            “Do you have information for us?” Bateson asked.

            Q only laughed.  “Please, Captain Bateson.  The solution is as plain as the nose on your face: the Borg.”

            “What?!” Bateson stood at this. 

            “Yes.  A couple of years ago the Borg planned an invasion of Federation Space coming from the Romulan Neutral Zone.  They somehow found out that you were sending a convoy to the Volshins and they did not want that convoy to get to its destination,” Q explained.

            Bateson leaned back in his chair and smiled.  He said, “Q, after all that you did to Captain Picard you expect us to believe you?  How do we know that you are not lying to us?”

            It was then Q’s turn to smile.  He said, “Very well, Captain Bateson.  If you will not believe me…”  With that he snapped his fingers.  The Bozeman was then flung across space.  Within seconds it stopped spinning out of control.  Q then said, “Go check your sensors now, Captain Bateson.”

            Bateson stood and walked toward the door.  Q then Kestner and Lady Q holding hands followed him.  They stepped out onto the bridge to see the red alert lights flashing and the other officers stepping toward their stations.  On the viewscreen was a Borg station with one assimilated Galaxy-class starship, three assimilated Federation freighters, and two assimilated Defiant-class starships.

            Q smiled and turned to Bateson.  “I told you, Captain Bateson.”

            “Yes you did,” Bateson agreed scratching his beard.  He turned and said, “I apologize, Q.  I had no right to disagree with you.”

            Q smiled to himself.  “Apology accepted, Captain.  But now you have a bigger problem.  Those Borg out there wont attack you until they consider you a threat.  I would use that time to devise a plan to get the Galaxy-class starship out of here, the one that has not been assimilated, I mean.”

            Bateson nodded in agreement.  He turned to Q but before he could ask his question Q said, “Well, I must now go.  I’ll see you in the Alpha Quadrant.”  With a snap of his fingers he was gone. 

            Bateson turned to look at Lady Q.  She was standing behind Derek.  He said, “You’re not gonna abandon us too, are you?”

            She smiled and shook her head, “No, of course not.”

            “Good,” Bateson said, “because you will have to be our ride home, once we find out how to get that Galaxy-class starship outta there.”

            “Don’t worry, Captain Bateson, I wont abandon you,” she said.

            “Good,” Bateson said.  He then leaned back and began to scratch his beard.  How were they going to get they Galaxy-class starship from the Borg?  He then ordered, “Derek, take a scan of the starship.”

            “Aye, sir,” Kestner said.  He pressed the prompts that activated the sensors and took a quick reading of the ship.  He quickly read over the findings then reported, “Only reading half of her crew onboard, Captain.  They must have already assimilated the rest.  There are no Borg on the ship at this current time.”

            Bateson thought over this new information.  How was he going to get that ship out?  He then asked, “Derek, how is the ship attached to the station?”

            Kestner took another quick reading then turned to Bateson.  “Captain, they are not attached.  I read heavy transporter activity from the station to the ship.  I have also found out that the ship has been powered down.  Life support is still online, the engines have been shut down however the warp core was put on stand-by.”

            Bateson again thought of the new information.  He then said, “We have to contact them.  Derek, is their comm. system out?”

            Kestner took another quick at his readouts and said, “No, sir.”

            “Very well.”  Bateson turned to Dayton and said, “Wizz, patch us through.”

            “Aye, sir,” Dayton said.  Seconds later he said, “I can only get audio, sir.”

            “This is Captain Morgan Bateson of the U.S.S. Bozeman.  We have come to save your crew from further assimilation.  Please respond.”

            “This is Lieutenant Commander John Decker of the U.S.S. Stonewall.  As of now I am the highest-ranking officer of this ship.  We welcome any chance to get away from here, Captain.  Tell us what we need to do,” the voice on the other end said.

            “Slowly begin powering up your ship, Lieutenant Commander.  We will try to create a diversion for you until you can reach as much power as possible, then we’ll give ya a ride home,” Bateson said.

            “Aye, sir.  We will begin restoring power immediately,” Decker said.

            “Very good, Bozeman out.”

            As this conversation was going on Dayton was thinking to himself.  When Bateson said “Bozeman out,” he turned and said, “Captain, why not just let Q here snap us back into the Alpha Quadrant?”

            Q answered for Bateson when she said, “Because, Mr. Dayton, unlike the other members of the continuum, I do not like to interfere with destiny.  I try not to too many things into my hands, but I will help you get back to the Alpha Quadrant when the time comes.”

            Dayton became quiet when she said this.  Bateson smiled.  He liked her already.  He then focused his attention back to the viewscreen.  Kestner said, “I’m reading a slight increase in the Stonewall’s power, sir.  The Borg has not yet reacted.”

            “Very good, Derek,” Bateson said.  He then called out, “This is the Captain, all hands to battle stations.” 

            Crewmen throughout the ship quickly headed toward their stations.  Dayton quickly reported that everyone was at his or her station.  Bateson then said, “Take us toward one of the Borg Cubes.”  He then turned to Mrs. Foreman and said, “Whitney, prepare to fire on the Cube on my signal.”

            “Captain, you’re not planning on fighting one Cube, much less a fleet of them, are you?” Kestner asked.

            “Only to keep them distracted while the Stonewall powers up,” Bateson said.

            Kestner quickly did the calculations in his head then said, “Captain, that will take ten to fifteen minutes at the rate they are going.  Do you think you can hold off this many Cubes?”

            “I do indeed, Derek.  I have the best ship, with the finest crew, and I have faith in them, and in you,” Bateson told him.

            Kestner turned back to his consol.  He hoped that Bateson knew what he was doing.  He quickly took another look at his sensor readouts.  It said that the Stonewall had twenty-five percent power.  They needed at least seventy percent power too get moving. 

            The Bozeman moved into position to fire on the Cube.  Bateson thought over what he had to do.  He knew his ship was more moveable than the Cubeships; maybe he could use that for an advantage.  The Bozeman arrived in front of one of the Borg Cubeships.  Bateson sat quietly for a moment waiting for the right time…

            …It was time.  Bateson raised his hand and said, “Whitney, fire!”

 

 

 

The Bozeman quickly launched its weapons against the Cube.  They struck the Cube causing little damage.  Kestner reported, “Less than one percent damage to the Cube, Captain.  I hope you know what you are doing.”

            The Cube then turned toward the Bozeman.  Kestner said, “Captain, they are preparing to fire their weapons.”

            Bateson ordered, “Evasive maneuvers.  We need to keep them from hitting us as much as possible.”

            The Bozeman groaned as they began to swerve to keep from the Cube hitting them.  Welch kept calm hands on his control board as he made the necessary adjustments on the course.  Bateson said, “Whitney, any chance you get, fire on the Cube, keep them with us.  Andy, set course, zero-three-seven-mark-five-four-nine.”

            “Aye, sir,” Welch and Mrs. Foreman said at the same time.  When Welch saw where the new course would take them he turned to Bateson and said, “Captain, that course takes us straight toward the another Borg Cube.”

            “I know,” Bateson said.  “We’re going to use our smaller turning radius to try and make one Cube crash into the other one.  Perhaps that would cause enough chaos in the collective that it will buy us some time.  Now, get moving.”

            Welch quickly followed his orders.  He knew when his captain meant business.  Kestner kept a watch on the power of the U.S.S. Stonewall.  He saw the new readout and said, “Captain, the Stonewall is up to thirty-six percent power and rising.  They still need nine minutes.  I don’t know if the Collective can be paralyzed that long by doing this maneuver.”

            “It will have to be,” Bateson said.  “Keep me posted on how far away we are from the Cube.”

            “We are fifteen hundred kilometers from the Cube, the first cube is still following us,” Kestner reported.  The entire bridgecrew listened as Kestner called out the distance as it dwindled.

            When the distance got down to three thousand meters Bateson ordered, “Evasive: three-four-seven-mark-five-one-two!”

            The Bozeman groaned as it turned on its y-axis to keep from hitting the Cube.  As Bateson expected, the Cube tried to turn, but failed.  It crashed into the other Cubeship and exploded in fire.  Just as Bateson expected, it paralyzed the Collective in for the amount of time they needed. 

            When the Stonewall was up to seventy percent power, Bateson hailed her and said, “Bozeman to Stonewall.  Prepare to be sent back to the Alpha Quadrant.  Bozeman out.”  With those words spoken, he turned to Lady Q, “Now it’s time to keep your word.”

            Lady Q nodded.  She snapped her fingers.  The Bozeman and Stonewall was quickly flung through billions of light years within seconds.  They soon came to rest in the Alpha Quadrant, right were they had left.

 

            Captain Morgan Bateson, Captain Montgomery Scott, Lieutenant Commander Derek Kestner, Lieutenant Commander Brad Foreman, Lieutenant Whitney Foreman, and Lady Q sat around a table at Starbase 503.  They had towed the Stonewall to this Starbase for repairs and recrew. 

            Bateson was glad that this mission was over, but they still lost the freighters.  They were enjoying themselves when a flash of light announced Q’s presence.  He smiled at the Captain and said, “Ah, Captain Bateson.  My congratulations to you, you beat the Borg.  I extend my hand to you.”  He reached out his hand as if to shake Bateson’s.  Bateson extended his but Q quickly pulled it back.  “But really, Captain Bateson, that’s not the real reason I am here.”

            “Then why are you here?” Bateson asked.

            Q turned his attention to Derek and Lady Q.  He said, “Congratulations you two on your engagement.  I am, however, the bearer of bad news.”

            Lady Q looked surprised.  “What bad news?” she asked.

            “I’m glad you asked me that m’dear,” Q said smiling.  “You see the continuum has no problem with you marrying Kestner here, in fact, they welcome it.  However, there is one small catch, to marry him, you must become human.”

            Lady Q stood up and stared at Q.  “What?”

            “Yes, it is true.  Every word of it.  I am afraid that to marry this, human, you must become human,” Q grinned.  He loved being the bearer of bad news that was what he was excellent at.  “Well, as fun as this has been, I must now go, I’ll let you decide.  Until next time.”  He snapped his fingers and was gone.

 

            Derek and Lady Q were sitting quietly in Derek’s quarters on the U.S.S. Bozeman.  Lady Q had a hard decision before her and Derek wanted to give her all the help he could.  He turned to her and took her hands into his.  He said, “Q, I love you, you know that, but I don’t want to take you from a life you love.  If marrying me means becoming human and you don’t agree with that, please, do not accept.”

            “Derek, I love you, I want to marry you,” Lady Q paused to think.  She then said, “I will admit, there are a lot of things I will miss about being Q, all the power, the control of the universe, immortality, but I would give it all up for you.”  She placed her hand on his cheek.  “You mean that much to me.”

            Derek sighed.  “I just feel that you are making this decision too fast.  Maybe I should give you some time to think about it,” Derek said.

            “I don’t have to think about it, Derek.  I love you, and I want to marry you, no matter if I have to become human.  Derek, you know that you would cross-mountains and rivers for me, so I am going to cross them for you also,” Lady Q said.  “I don’t have to think about it another moment.”

            Derek smiled and kissed her.  “I am glad.  I really did want you to stay with me, but I did not want to take being Q from you and have you dread it for the rest of your life.”

            Lady Q only smiled.  “Ah, but I would be spending the rest of my life with you.”

            She leaned over.  Her lips came close to his.  Q’s voice suddenly said, “Ah, sharing an intimate moment.  I love it.”  He walked toward them with a smile on his face.  He looked over at Lady Q and said, “Q, have you an answer for the continuum?”

            She nodded and said, “I do have an answer, but with a deal.”

            At this Q’s eyes rose and said, “A deal?”

            “Yes.  I want to marry Derek, and I will become human, but, I want some time so that I may learn a profession so that I can do something on the ship besides sit around the quarters all day, and then you can make me into a human.”

            Q thought this over.  He then smiled and said, “Of course, you have the time.  Just report back to me when you are finished.”  He snapped his fingers and was gone.

            Derek looked at Q.  “What will you need?”

            “I will need a computer terminal, but, with the Captain’s permission,” Lady Q said.

            “Alright, please follow me to the bridge,” Derek said.  With that he walked out of his quarters with Lady Q on his heels.

 

            Captain Bateson turned in his chair to face Lady Q and Kestner.  He said, “So, you want me to allow you access to a computer terminal so that you may learn one of the jobs on my ship?”

            “Yes, Captain,” Lady Q said. “It would not take very long.  I would also like to become part of Starfleet, if that’s ok.” 

            Bateson thought for a moment.  He then said, “Would you please excuse me for a moment?”

            “Yes, sir, Captain,” Kestner said.  He took Lady Q by the hand and led her out the door. 

            When the door closed behind them Bateson called for Commander Starfleet Admiral Dayton Owens.  His face soon came up on the screen.  Bateson said, “Good evening, Admiral Owens.”

            Owens smiled and said, “Ah, Captain Bateson, good evening to you also.  What did you need, Captain?”

            “Admiral, I have an interesting situation here.  For a while now Lieutenant Commander Derek Kestner has been involved with a female Q.  The other day he asked Q to marry him and she accepted.  When we came to Starbase 503 Picard’s Q came and told her that if she wanted to marry Kestner she would have to become human.  She accepted.  Today she came to me and asked if she could have access the computer too learn a job on the ship and become part of Starfleet,” Bateson explained to Owens.

            Owens thought for a moment.  He then said, “Let her have the access and instate her in Starfleet at the rank of Ensign.  This might be a good opportunity to learn more about the Q from her.”

            “Yes, sir, Admiral.  I will do as you ask,” Bateson said.

            “Very good, Captain Bateson.  Owens out.”

            Bateson then tapped his communicator and said, “Owens to Kestner.  You may come back in.”

            The doors slide open and Lady Q and Kestner walked back inside.  They sat down across from Bateson.  Bateson said, “Admiral Owens has given me permission to let you use the computer.”

            Lady Q smiled.  “Thank you, Captain.”  She stood and walked to the computer terminal sitting on Bateson’s desk.  She snapped her fingers.  Bateson watched as all the information on transporter chief flew across the screen.  She read it just as fast.  In seconds the data stopped.  She said, “I know everything about being a Transporter Chief, that’s what I want to do.”

            Bateson gapped.  “How did you do that?”

            Lady Q just smiled.  “It’s kind of a long story,” she said.

            “Alright,” Bateson said.  He watched her as she retook her seat beside Kestner.  He then opened a drawer on his desk and got out one pip.  He then looked up at her and said, “Snap yourself into a Starfleet uniform.”  She did as he asked.  He then stood and asked her to stand.  She did.  As he snapped the pip into place he said, “I am proud to give to you the rank of Ensign.”

            “Thank you, sir,” Lady Q said.

            A flash of white light announced Q’s presence.  He smiled and walked over to Lady Q.  “Well, I see they have drafted you into Starfleet.”

            “No, I wanted to be apart of Starfleet,” Lady Q said.

            “Well, then it is time,” Q said.  “You must now become human.”

            “I’m ready.”

            “Very good,” Q said.  He snapped his fingers.  A white light surrounded Lady Q.  She closed her eyes.  The white light quickly disappeared.  Lady Q snapped her fingers, but nothing happened.  She grabbed Kestner and quickly gave him a kiss.

            Q shook his head.  “I don’t understand it.  You give up being a Q for this.”  He shook his hand again.  He snapped his fingers again and was gone.

            Lady Q smiled.  “I guess the first thing I should do is pick out a name for me.”  Bateson and Kestner Nodded.  Lady Q thought to herself for a moment then said, “I think my name should be Lindsey.  I wont pick a last name, because I know it is a custom to take the last name of your husband.”

            Kestner smiled.  “I think it’s a beautiful name.”

            Bateson also smiled.  “As do I.”

            Kestner and Lindsey stood.  Kestner said, “Well, Captain, I have to take Lindsey down to the Transporter Room.”

            “Of course,” Bateson said.  He watched the two walk out the door.  He thought for a moment.  He was happy for both of them.  He looked out the view port behind his desk at the stars, and the future.