A mysterious Entity threatens the Bozeman!

STAR TREK
The Entity

By: Derek Kestner and Brad Fore

Based on Star Trek� created by Gene Roddenberry

     Captain's Log Stardate: 51688.7. The Bozeman is enroute to Starbase 53 to pick up supplies. The confrontation between Lieutenant Commander Derek Kestner and Lieutenant Commander Brad Foreman has me worried. Something tells me that if something is not done about it, it could grow into a bigger problem, which may not be reversed. End of Log Entry.

     Lieutenant Commander Derek Kestner found himself lying on the floor. The scenes he had witnessed flooded his brain, but he didn't understand them. He slowly got to his hands and knees and saw that Lieutenant Commander Brad Foreman was doing the same. They helped each other climb slowly to their feet. Brad said, "That's really not fun anymore."
     Kestner nodded and rubbed the back of his neck. "I see what you mean." He looked around and saw Lady Q sitting on a chair watching them. "What is the meaning of all of that?"
     "Those were scenes from the future, a future that will happen if something isn't done about it," Lady Q explained. "If we do not keep Derek on the Bozeman over the next few days, then the scenes that you just saw will be put into motion."
     Brad asked, "What event sets this in motion?"
     Lady Q replied, "As far as I can tell, Derek leaving the Bozeman, because if he leaves, the Eclipse will enter Volshin space, and set into motion the Volshin War."
     Derek cut in, "I have no intention on leaving the Bozeman."
     Lady Q had a worried look on her face and said, "Derek, I don't believe that decision is in your hands."
     Derek looked confused and asked, "What do you mean?"
     "I get the feeling that there is an outside force affecting your judgment, Derek," she answered.
     "Do you know who or what?" Derek asked.
     She shook her head. "I don't know, there's a void in my knowledge of the timeline."
     Brad had a grim look on his face and said, "I believe we need to have an officers meeting."
     Derek nodded. "I agree." He then tapped his combadge and said, "Kestner to Bateson."
     "Bateson here," Captain Morgan Bateson said over the comm link.
     "Captain Bateson, Brad and I need to talk to all the officers in the Observation Deck, sir. It is very important," Kestner said.
     There was a pause, and then Bateson said, "Very well. We'll met you there in a moment."
     "Thank you, sir. Kestner out." With that, the three of them walked out of Derek's quarters walking toward the turbolift. As they walked an announcement over the comm system said, "All officers to the Observation Deck."

     All of the officers, Captain Morgan Bateson, Commander Gabriel Bush, Lieutenant Andy Welch, Lieutenant Michael Dennis, Captain Montgomery Scott, Lieutenant Commander Brad Foreman, Lieutenant Whitney Foreman, Lieutenant Commander Derek Kestner, Counselor Ashley Rickman, Dr. Karl Hayter, Lieutenant Michael Sheffield, with Lady Q as a guest, sat around the table in the Officers Lounge.
     Lady Q briefly explained to all the upcoming Volshin War. "Captain Bateson, to make it as brief as possible, in two years the Federation will be destroyed."
     Mrs. Foreman asked, "What are you talking about? What force is powerful enough to destroy the entire Federation?"
     Lady Q answered, "The Volshins are now building up a fleet, and if nothing is done about, events in the next few weeks will cause the Volshins to declare war on the Federation."

     Captain Bateson asked, "The Volshins will declare war on the Federation?"
     "Correct, Captain," Lady Q said.
     "And you said that some event would spark this war?" Bateson continued.
     She nodded. Bateson then asked, "What event?"
     With that question, Lady Q proceeded to explain everything that she showed Kestner and Foreman in their vision. As she did this, Bateson looked around to see the impact of this information on his crew's faces. Oddly enough, Mrs. Foreman, who normally kept quiet at these meetings, was speaking up, asking questions, and objecting to everything Lady Q was saying, insisting that the Federation had a large enough fleet to handle anything the Volshins could take.
     Bateson next looked over at Rickman. Her face looked at one deep in thought. He wondered what she was thinking. When both Lady Q and Mrs. Foreman had calmed down Bateson asked, "What are we to do about all of this?"
     Lady Q shrugged and said, "I do not know. I do know that there has been tampering with the timeline for several months now by an unknown source of immeasurable power."
     Bateson noticed that this statement brought Rickman out of her deep thought. She said, "Derek, what if this tampering has something to do with your jealousy?"
     Derek replied, "Could be."
     Foreman suddenly cut in, "In that case, we need to find Crewman Lefler."
     With that, Bateson stood and said, "Tell no one of what was discussed in here. For now this is confidential. Now, let's get to the bridge and have a talk with Crewman Lefler."
     With that, the officers stood. Bateson led the group toward the door. When the doors opened, he noticed a crewman he did not recognize walking down the hallway. Commander Gabriel Bush said, "Captain, I need to go to my quarters for a moment. Do you mind?"
     "No, Gabe, go ahead," Bateson said. Bush then walked toward an aux turbolift while Bateson and the other officers walked toward the main turbolift.

     "Lefler to Bridge," Bateson called out when all the officers had reached their stations on the Bridge. There was no reply. "Lefler to Bridge," he called out again. Still no reply. "Crewman Lefler, report to the bridge, please." Still no reply. Bateson got aggravated and finally called out and said, "Computer: Locate Crewman Lefler."
     The computer replied, "There is no such crewman aboard this vessel."
     Bateson suddenly didn't understand. Before anything could go wrong Welch reported from helm, "Captain, we are coming up on Starbase 53."
     "Very well. Take us to warp one. Ashley, Derek, Whitney, and Gabe will beam down with me."
     Sheffield suddenly spoke up and said, "Um�Captain, may I go down also?"
     Bateson looked back and asked, "Why?"
     Sheffield said, "Well�uh�sir, I have a cat waiting for me on the station."
     Bateson suddenly smiled, noticing that it was almost embarrassing for Sheffield and said, "Ah, don't worry Sheffield. You may beam down with us to the station."
     Lady Q then said, "Captain Bateson, I ask that you let me beam down also. This Entity has been attacking Derek's mind, and for a time, I believe I can protect his mind until the Entity finds out what I am doing."
     "Very well, you may beam down as well." He then looked up and called out, "Bateson to Bush."
     "Bush here," was the reply.
     Bateson said, "I want you to come down to the Starbase with me. Are you ready to beam down?"
     In reply Bush said, "I am on my way to the Transporter Room now, sir."
     Bateson nodded and said, "Very well. Bateson out." He turned and walked toward the turbolift, the officers on the away team turning to follow him. Bateson stopped near Dayton and said, "Wizz, let Starbase 53 know we are beaming down."
     "Aye, sir," Dayton said.
     Bateson then called out, "Bateson to Foreman."
     "Foreman here."
     "While we are gone, I want you to look through the ships computer and find out who Lefler is, or was," Bateson ordered.
     "Aye, sir," Foreman said. "I am on my way to the Bridge."
     With everything done that Bateson needed to do, he boarded a turbolift bound for the Transporter Room.

     The Officers and Lady Q materialized on the Transporter pads of Starbase 53. Captain Brandon Blankenship immediately walked forward toward Bateson to shake his and said, "Hello, I am Captain Brandon Blankenship of Starbase 53. We are honored to have the Bozeman's crew aboard our base."
     Bateson nodded and said, "We are honored to be aboard, Captain Blankenship. I heard you were getting command of a ship soon."
     "Yes, the Prometheus-Class starship U.S.S. Cobalt. I take command of 'er in three months," he explained.
     Bateson said, "Congratulations, the captain of a starship is one of the highest honors I can think of."
     Blankenship smiled and said, "Come, we have to discuss this maintenance parts. Your crew is welcome to anything my starbase offers."
     Blankenship then led Bateson out of the Transporter Room. When they were gone Sheffield said, "Well, I have to go pick up my cat now."
     Rickman said, "I'll go with you Michael." They then turned and walked out through the doors.
     Kestner turned to Lady Q and asked, "You want to get a drink in the Officers Lounge?"
     She nodded and said, "Yes, of course." Hand-in-hand they walked thought the doors turning right headed toward the turbolift.
     Mrs. Foreman stepped off the Transporter Pad a few minutes later. The doors slid open and she saw Kestner and Lady Q headed back the other way. As they passed Kestner was saying to Lady Q, "Well, on the Bozeman you go right to get to the turbolift."

     Sheffield and Rickman walked down the corridor toward the Recreation Deck on Starbase 53. They were going to pick up a cat that Sheffield was getting. They walked into one of the many shops Sheffield said the cat was supposed to be. When they got inside Rickman began to look around while Sheffield walked up to the counter. A fat Ferengi was standing behind it. Sheffield said, "I am Lieutenant Michael Sheffield. I have come here to pick up a cat you have for me."
     The fat Ferengi looked down at him then looked at a computer terminal then said, "Ah, yes, Sheffield, Michael, we have the cat here. It's in the back, I will be right back." With that the Ferengi turned and walked into the backroom. He came out a few minutes later with a black, brown, and white cat and said, "Yes, here it is. Now, I believe that we need to talk price."
     Sheffield nodded and said, "Yes. How much is it?"
     The fat Ferengi thought for a moment then said, "It will cost you seven credits."
     Sheffield thought for a moment then said, "I will give you four credits for it."
     The fat Ferengi laughed and said, "Please, sir, I cannot take any less than six credits."
     Sheffield said, "I will give you five credits and that, sir, is my final offer."
     The fat Ferengi said nothing for a moment and rubbed his chin. He finally smiled and said, "You drive a hard bargain, sir. Very well, I'll give you five credits."
     With that, Sheffield gave the Ferengi the credits then took his cat from him. He let Rickman pet him and she asked, "What are you gonna call her?"
     Sheffield looked at the cat for a moment then said, "I believe I will call her Athena."
     Rickman smiled and looked at her, "Athena, I like that."
     With her name established, Rickman and Sheffield walked out of the shop with Sheffield carrying Athena.

     Although there was great excitement on the Bridge of the Bozeman, Lieutenant Commander Brad Foreman paid them no mind. He was sitting quietly in front of a computer watching as information scrolled up. He was searching the library computer to see if a Crewman Lefler had ever served on the Bozeman. He had found that there was one, Crewman Mark Lefler. The photo on the screen seemed to match the face of Crewman Lefler that he had seen a few days earlier.
     As he read on his hopes were shattered. It said on the computer that Crewman Mark Lefler was killed two years before he or Kestner had been assigned to the Bozeman in an engineering accident. Foreman scratched his chin, then who was this Lefler? He decided he had better report to Captain Bateson.
     He tapped his communicator and said, "Foreman to Bateson."
     An aggravated Bateson answered, "Mr. Foreman, this is not the time. I am just now starting the meeting with Captain Blankenship."
     Foreman said, "My deepest apologizes, sir, but you need to hear this."
     Bateson said nothing for a moment then said, "Very well, Mr. Foreman. Hold on one moment." Foreman waited for a few moments. He waited for Bateson to give him the go-ahead to talk once more. Finally Bateson said, "Alright, Mr. Foreman. It'd better be good."
     Foreman replied, "It is good, sir. I was looking up on Crewman Lefler, and his photo matched that of the man I saw a few days ago. When I read on down it said that Crewman Lefler died two years before Derek and I joined the Bozeman crew, before you jumped 78 years into the future."
     Bateson said nothing for long moments. Foreman could almost see Bateson's puzzlement. Finally Bateson said, "Mr. Foreman, I apologize, this is worth my concentration. Until we get back onboard, tighten up security. No one else is to beam down to the station. When the meeting is finished we will beam back up. Bateson out."
     Foreman sat there in silence. He didn't know what was happening, but he had to follow his captain's orders. He turned and began to call the attention of the junior officers.

     Kestner stood at the bar with Bush, Lady Q, and Mrs. Foreman. Kestner tapped the bar and said, "Bartender, a round of drinks for me and my friends."
     The Bolian turned to look at him and said, "I would ask you not to pound my bar like that, and you will wait your turn." He then proceeded to whipe down the bar and pour a few people who came up to the bar a drink.
     Kestner cleared his throat and said, "Excuse me, sir, but I believe I ordered my drink before they did."
     At this the Bolian bartender walked over to Kestner and grabbed him by the front of his uniform and said, "You, sir, will hold your tongue. I will serve you when I feel it is time to serve you. You Starfleet officers think you can just waltz in here and take whatever you want, whenever you want. Well, sir, not anymore." With that, he pushed Kestner away with a force that almost sent him to the floor.
     Bush and Lady Q helped him to his feet. As he stood he thought, Maybe if I left the Bozeman, things wouldn't be so bad. The bartender finally poured them their drinks. They drank from their drinks for a few moments until Sheffield, Rickman, and Bateson walked up to the bar.
     As they were walking up, the cat under Sheffield arm began to act strange as they came closer to the bar. It began hissing while the hair on it's back stood up. Kestner looked over at Bush to see an agitated look on his face. Sheffield turned and walked toward the door. As he walked by Bush the first officer cringed. "I never liked cats," Bush stated.
     Bateson said, "Brad found out that Crewman Lefler died two years before Derek and Brad came on the Bozeman. I had him put the ship on full security alert. We need to be getting back."
     The others said, "Yes, sir."
     Bateson tapped his comm badge and said, "Bateson to Bozeman, party to beam up." With that, beams of light surrounded them and they were gone.

     Bateson, Kestner, Rickman, Mrs. Foreman, Lady Q, Sheffield, and Bush materialized on the transporter pad. Bateson and Rickman led the party out of the Transporter Room. As they were walking toward the turbolift Rickman whispered to Bateson, "Sir, I am getting an unusual feeling from Commander Bush."
     Bateson said, "Explain."
     "Well, sir, his mind seems to be focused entirely on what he is doing, not wondering like yours," she explained.
     Bateson thought for a moment and said, "I don't know, Ashley. Let's take it one step at a time. We'll check his quarters first, since before beaming down that was his last known position." Bateson then fell back to where Sheffield was stroking his cat still trying to calm it down and said, "Michael, send a security team to Commander Bush's quarters. Tell them to search it and report anything unusual."
     Sheffield looked confused but said, "Aye, sir." Sheffield stopped and allowed for the party to board the turbolift before he got a security team down to Bush's quarters.

     Bateson took his seat on the Bridge as Bush sat down beside him. Bateson looked over Bush; he didn't seem to act any differently than normal. He continued to watch him carefully as he gave his crew orders to leave Starbase 53. Fifteen minutes later, Sheffield burst out onto the Bridge. "Captain, may I talk to you for a moment?"
     Bateson stood and said, "Of course." Bateson stood and walked to the back of the Bridge where he and Sheffield whispered quietly. When they were finished, Bateson walked back down to the lower level of the Bridge and stood in front of Bush. He said, "Who are you?"
     Bush looked up with an innocent look and said, "I am Commander Gabriel Bush, first officer of the U.S.S. Bozeman. Who else would I be?"
     Bateson said, "If you are Commander Bush, then why did we just find him unconscious in his quarters?"
     "What are you talking about," the imposter Bush asked.
     "I sent a security team down to Bush's quarters and they just reported that Commander Bush was found unconscious in his quarters and they were sending him to Sickbay," Bateson explained. "Now, I want to know who you are."
     At this the imposter stood. He said, "My name cannot be pronounced by your pitiful speech, you may just call me the Entity, as the Q said before. I come from a galaxy far to advanced for you to understand. I have come here to take over your galaxy and bring prosperity to it."
     "What if we like our galaxy the way it is?" Bateson asked in disgust.
     "You have no say in it. None of the races in your galaxy could possibly stop me, therefore there is no one to say that I can't take it as my own," the Entity explained.
     "We will stop you," Bateson exclaimed get angry.
     "You stop me? Ha," he said. He then threw his hand out toward Lady Q and a beam of light shot out from it. It hit her with a force knocked them back from her position onto the floor. Kestner quickly rushed to her side. Bush turned back to Bateson and said, "You see, the most powerful being in your galaxy is lying on the floor. Nothing in this pitiful galaxy can stop me."
     Bateson looked up to Sheffield to see him in deep thought but paid it no mind; he was too busy to bother with that. He was getting angrier. He said, "I hope you know, Entity, that the people of this galaxy will not take you taking over them to kindly. You will have to fight almost every race in this galaxy to take over it. Sooner or later, you will fall."
     Before the Entity could say anything else, Sheffield said, "Sir, may I please leave the bridge?"
     Bateson waved his hand. "Sure, yeah, whatever you want." He had bigger fish to fry.
     Sheffield turned and walked into the turbolift. While he was gone Bateson and the Entity continued to argue. The madder that the Entity got, the madder that Bateson got. Bateson was not afraid of the Entity. He saw what the Entity did to Lady Q, but that didn't stop him from speaking his mind.
     About fifteen minutes later, Sheffield returned, only he was holding his cat. Immediately the fur on the cat stood on end. The Entity, as well, became extremely uncomfortable. This came as a surprise to Bateson. He turned to Sheffield and asked, "What's going on?"
     Sheffield answered, "On the Starbase just before you walked up, when I passed what I thought was Commander Bush, the cat began to act strange, so did he. Bush said he never liked cats, but that is because they make the Entity uncomfortable."
     Bateson's face lit up and he even smiled. He said, "Michael, may I see Athena for a moment." Sheffield nodded and gave Bateson the cat. Bateson then turned with the cat.
     The Entity's face was one of horror. "You get that little menace away from me!" the Entity shouted.
     Instead Bateson took a step toward the Entity. As he did, the Entity stepped backward. Bateson said, "A little creature such as this, brining a powerful being such as you to its knees? How can this be?"
     Bateson continued to step toward the Entity; the Entity continued to step backward. With one more step, the Entity found himself forced against a wall. Bateson continued to step slowly toward the Entity. The Entity now looked like a pleading child, his eyes filled with tears, his voice full of rage as he said, "Captain, you will get that beast away from me."
     Bateson continued to press forward, his smile growing bigger. "Perhaps you would like it if I brought some of the other cats up to the Bridge, perhaps they will all like you."
     The Entity looked desperate. He said, "There is no use to take over a galaxy that has horrible creatures such as those. I will leave you, Captain, but I promise you this, there is nothing to say that I will not come back."
     With a flash of bright light, the Entity was gone. Bateson breathed a heavy breath. He then turned to Sheffield and said, "Thank you, Michael, your cat probably saved this entire galaxy." He gave Athena back to Sheffield. Bateson then looked around the crew and said, "I will go make my report to Starfleet at this time. I can almost assure you that they will keep it top secret. Until Starfleet says whether they will or not, I don't want you to talk about it." He then turned to Kestner. "Derek, any feelings of jealousy?"
     Kestner thought for a moment then shook his head. "No, sir. None. All feelings of jealousy are gone."
     Bateson nodded, "Very good. Andy, set course for our next mission. While we are enroute, I'll make my report to Starfleet. If anyone needs me, I'll be in my ready room."
     Bateson walked over to his ready room and let the doors close around him. The Bridge of the Bozeman was silent for a moment, the shock of all the happenings not yet set in. The happenings of the past few weeks wanted to burst out, and they were just ordered to keep it secret. Finally, one-by-one the officers returned to their work. Andy let them know that they had just entered warp, headed toward their next mission.

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