x
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4czVzndg8
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjVb39oP59
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyh5YFSuSV
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PrVvsgPKd
Immediately after Archer put his security lid on the whole mess, Ben had moped around for a little while; later that evening, visiting with him and Marlena after dinner, Jacqueline was glad to see him brighten up, then busy himself at the keyboard and print out some message flimsies. "Here, Jacqueline, Marlena---take a look. Then tell me: do these in any way violate Archer's order to report nothing of the intruder incident off ship?
On all three, separately addressed to Bolt Park and Yamato and Stargazer, the texts were similar. To both ships: 356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDcD4cN8Ca
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wfdd8KH1y
This is to confirm that no authorized personnel departures have been made through this C-Gate.356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoH2AnqNg7j
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2LZYnMa0m
Earth's copy, naturally, specified that no one had C-Gated home since the return of Dolores's party.
On her first reading, Jacqueline wasn't sure what Marlena was breaking up about. By the time she finished a second, she couldn't talk for laughing. Finally, "It's great. Unless something strange has happened at their end, they'll think it's just more dumb official crap. No reason to answer, even."
"You hit it, Jackie. That's just what I'm hoping. But if someone did show up, any of those places, the alert's out."
Ben took the messages down to the C-Gates himself. Marlena said, "Don't you just love it when he goes out in left field and hits paydirt?"
Jacqueline hadn't thought of it that way before, but the tall woman was right., "Yes. Yes, I surely do."
Moreau smiled. "That's just one of the things I like about Ben. You're lucky to have him for your dad."
Well! If Marlena had no idea how things had been for Jacqueline the previous 6 years on Earth, just leave it that way. But for the time now, on Arrowprize, she was absolutely right. So, "I know."
When Ben came back from his errand, just as Jacqueline was leaving, he may have got a bigger hug than he expected.356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZR5asYEzf
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjlPIduIAR
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33Y5bxupUD
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9t2quCuPM
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqQGZV5dci
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPl6bYbBUhQ
Returning to his Bolt Park office from a weekend down on the Gulf. Director Allbright found his "In" basket backlogged. As always, though, Monica had sorted out the Now stuff for him.
The top item was definitely Now: medical emergency on Arrowprize, with a crewmember offGated; she had arrived here Monday morning and was in surgery by noon. Well, it beat the last time a ship sent crewmembers back unscheduled---the three, ten---eleven years ago when Allbright was basically a glorified clerk, that Stargazer had returned: this on e was neither dead nor in restraints.
Allbright looked past the authorizations and so forth to the important part. Okay, Kynon Nagada was going to be all right. But not ready for duty just now, if at all.
So, a replacement. That assignment, subject to his approval, was on page five. Allbright looked, then got on his intercom. "Monica? Who in hell picked this guy for Arrowprize?" Then, "No, it doesn't matter; just kill it, is all. And screen me up a list of qualified candidates."
Because whoever had been holding down the fort had ignored the principle of balanced crews and chosen a man to replace Kynon Nagada. Not good thinking. On second thought, Monica, I do want to know. Anyone capable of that grade of mistake is in the wrong job." But not for long....
The screen showed him more people, more data, than he really had time to study at any length; he began skipping. Then one entry caught his attention: Christine Chapel, specializing in instrument installation and maintenance. He checked those qualifications against the Nagada file: close enough.
But what struck him about this one was that although she was barely of legal age, Chapel had lived in high orbit, the last 2 years working with an installation crew wiring the sensors and electronic nervous system into the uncompleted structure while would eventually become macroC-Gate 1. She'd gone out with her parents some time ago, in dependent status, but later applied for an apprentice slot and then made the most of it.
Onscreen he highlighted the listing. "Monica? Send this one a query. If you get an affirmative, start the paperwork."356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4JZM0guQm
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWphd6Bgfgr
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLwrxSMVfH
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBemWBhFpfz
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9i5weCL5C
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HTzldMfkA
The fat envelope, Rick Berman saw, was from Sisko. To the best of his knowledge the man was out of the woods now; what else could happen? Opening the packet, Berman's first alarm gave way to relief. Here was no personal problem; rather, some of Arrowprize's people had an idea they wanted to try out. Berman had read further:356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLSSc5qgaO
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG9ipAH9d6
".....vary thrust according to a sine curve, beginning positive for yes, negative for now, amplitude plus and minus 10% of normal, the cycle needing about 40 minutes here or slightly over 16 hours at your terminal, ending with all conditions back to normal. The initial change predicts the result, but only the completed cycle can confirm a purposeful answer rather than fortuitous maneuvering. See attached suggestions for a Benati modification at your metering point, which might shorten the needed signal length to some extent.356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICp6onhTVE
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqvpAOuW7Q
Well, Drive Chief Paul Stamets appended some thoughts on optimum detection methods. And maybe, thought Berman, some of his WASA specialists might have even better ones.
He skimmed through the last paper: Jonathan Archer signing off as the official sponsor of the suggestion, and "we shall be ready to try the experiment on receipt of notice to the effect."
Good for you, El Capitan...
Berman switched on his intercom. "Heloise? Would you see if you can get me Dr. Zephram Cochrane, up at Columbus Tech."356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOyTlHYkme
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfQAdYn1hJ
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQXBaNeIOF
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDykcpBle0T
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOw1Y3A094K
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLL3o27Sc0
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBOxGwOSKu
"Like a basset hound, you know? Those big sad eyes." Sitting across the small table in a corner of the lounge, Odessa Vangelos gestured, "Well, and you remember, J.M., how he and Kynon and Hikaru and I first made a foursome all together. But then we separated into couples like everybody else, and that was fine, too. Less complex. You got it?"
J.M. hoped so; he wasn't entirely sure. "And?"
"And with Kynon sent home sick to Earth, Bruno wants to go back together as before. Except, now there's just the three of us."
When it come to expressive shrugs, Vangleos was tops. "I wouldn't mind. Bruno's a nice guy. Could lose a little weight off the middle but he's young yet, plenty of time if he doesn't let himself go like some do. But...." Her widened eyes rolled to rake for horizons. "Hikaru says we decieded; he came wiht me, Bruno went with Kynon, the deal's made and no fair asking for new cards if you lose one."
"Ummm, yes, I can see his point...."
"But poor Bruno, he's got nobody." Odessa leaned forward. "Not even friends, really. As four together we were something different; everybody gave us extra distance, you see what I mean." And with a resigned shrug, "i don't think we ever closed it up very well."
J.M. began simmering. This was getting out of hand; whatever she said, Vangelos shifted and took the other side. All right: "Well, maybe Ben and I could help out with that. I'll check; next time the duty skeds fit together right, we can invite him to have dinner with us. Sit around and talk, make him feel at home. You think that might do his problems any good?"
"Some, I guess." Odessa looked dubious. "Not with the horny part, though."
J.M. Colt put on his officer's face. "I don't consider that subject any of my business." So there!
Still, as he left to meet Moreau and Ben after their watch, J.M. wondered how it would all work out. Because in a small closed society, loneliness could be a very destructive condition.356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORaSo2XONW
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL46rLJOqV2
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhuZAEs11Y
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJeGfUO89s
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ih95SV7rc
"No, senator. The C-Gate fields don't notice what goes through; some kind of standard flow sensor, you want." He paused. "Ummm---this Benati tube squinch, you get some extra out of that, I think. It heats the liquid where it skootches through the narrow part, going to expand it some, right there. Give you a little more push. So you measure just coming out from the throat part, you understand me?"
"Right. Thank you, doctor." A few more exchanges and the call was complete. Next Berman called the fuel supply depot that fed all 3 starships and was gearing up for the next one. "Adam? Rick here. Look, I'm imaging over to you some stuff that came in from Arrowprize. I don't want to go into detail on a public circuit, but you're on board, here's the gist: detecting minor changes of flow rate in the feedpipe. How easy is it?"
"Dunno, Rick; we've never tried it. All we measure is volume provided over a month's time, for payment purposes." After a moment: "That's always been good enough before. What's going on? Somebody trying to prick holes in our procedures?"
"No, no---nothing like that. This is all scientific, not political. Can you get some people on it? I'll send the ship's material right away, with a cover letter to authorize you."
"Hoo-kay." Another move began. The senator shook his head; why did all managers view any new endeavor as a threat?"
Meanwhile, just for the hell of it, why not do a tryout before all the improvements went in?"
As it happened, though, once the project work started the facility was no place for would-be experimenters getting underfoot. Rick Berman had to cool his jets just like anyone else.356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1n2ORagtxX
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIGbpdzyjb
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyX1rvdauEj
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4FPU6HcGx
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahr7isrC2p
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoTU9IUDHF
"And once you have your first one," Dolores had said more than a few times, "you're not a girl anymore; you're a woman." Then she'd nod a time or two. "Everything's going to be different---the way you act, the way you feel. You'll see."
Well, Jacqueline had had her first period and might be considered due for her second. Of course the early ones could be irregular and usually were; 5th grade SexEd had covered all that stuff, so she was ready for a certain amount of leeway.
What bothered her was the feeling part. Feel like a woman, not like a girl? Well, did she or didn't see? And how was she supposed to know how a woman felt? As near as Jacqueline could tell, she didn't feel any different after all.
Except for being saddled with this worry about how she was supposed to feel....
For two weeks (and more) when nothing more immediate occupied her mind, Jacqueline had fretted over the question. Then one morning as defined by her own duty schedule s he woke up early and for a time half dozed, drifting on a quiet tide between awareness and something cozier. Until she came surfacing with an incompletely formed thought she struggled to hold. Most of it got away; all she could remember solidly were the words: "Dolores didn't know."
Blinking, Jacqueline sat up. There'd been a dream, partly warm, partly grim; no details remained. Except that like a coin, the phrase had two sides. The grim side---that would be Arthur, and it made sense that Dolores hadn't known the dangers of him. But the good side, the warmth---all the subliminal associations were here. So here and now, what didn't Dolores know?
That Jacqueline was still safely aboard? Obvious, but no cause for worry. Surely nothing to dream about.
Then: of course! Dolores didn't truly know and never had, how Jacqueline might feel or was supposed to feel. Let alone how she did feel."
Getting up now, how Jacqueline felt was really good!356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUP9RKjsp8
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBcUBdJv18
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngm9t4dnZF
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZTvv5iKpR
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpBUymfnt8
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ299m8dxKhE
The complex planning of design and timing needed to introduce experimental procedures into a major pipeline C-Gate operation was truly impressive. But, Rick Berman began to realize, barely a patch on the sheer mulework needed!
Build your alternate pipe, with the fancy Benati which by God they better have it right the first time because doing it over without affecting the flow is going to cost like a small war, and the budget won't hold still to swallow it twice.
Considering everything, the job got done damn fast.
Berman himself became so involved, and his staff with him, that he came near missing deadline to file candidacy for re-election. But once past that formality he put thought to what answers he really wanted from the starship Arrowprize.
On their side of the C-Gates, the senator reflected, all the work here had taken only about 2 days. So he could spend a few more hours getting his message just the way he wanted it.
He wished he knew when, if ever, some of Cochrane's ideas for more-advanced techniques would make it to the hardware stage.356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCPd6nBVaH
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAGEMamv33
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52xJ0FVBjc
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBabQwY5dTa
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJiHJao4Eq
"Bruno, yes," said Marlena. "Odessa was saying how he goes around like a lost puppy; I thought we could invite him over some evening. Dinner and all that. Some time when it's more or less the evening for all three of us, I mean. With everything that's been going on, I forgot. But now...."
It made sense. Ben nodded. "All right, ask him, whenever you wish. We can spare a little time for morale purposes."
As it turned out, Ben himself ran into Eustace a few hours later and made the invitation. The younger man hesitated. "Well thanks, Mr. Sisko. I'd like to. But could it be another time? I, I'm, uh, busy after this next watch, and...."
"Sure thing. We'll try again." Mildly curious, Sisko didn't pursue the matter. For one thing, he felt the need of some full-G exercise, and these days that facility was scheduled in 1 hour periods. Unless the unit happened to be vacant during a giving hour, you had no choice but to wait for the next one. And right now that next one began in about 3 minutes.
The only other person waiting was Hikaru Sulu. As the ring revved up, Sisko asked. "How's it all going?" and was surprised when the chunky man gave him a flat, inquiring stare.
"Like what?"
Ben shrugged. "Nothing special. Just, you know..."
Rotation steadied, presumably at 1G and Ben's muscles surely felt like it. Sulu said. "You mean Odessa? All right, I'll tell you. Four of us together worked fine on Earth, but here with all different schedules, the sharing was too hard to even out. Sometimes people got their tail in a knot, so we gave up on the idea and split pairs. Into pairs," he added.
"Yes, I know."
"And maybe, you know, with Kynon gone..."
"I might have heard a little something."
"Well. Nothing against Bruno but my life's complicated enough without mixing up two other people's schedules in our quarters. So I said no."
Umm-hmmm; Sisko nodded.
"Work it out for yourselves, I said. Just don't mess with my skeds; they're hard enough to keep track of as it is."
And so? Ben let his eyebrows do the asking.
"So every now and then, once in a while when I'm on watch anyway and they're not, she goes to see him." The man's scowl was intent. "I don't mind that, you see. I like Bruno, always did. And how can I cherish Odessa's kind heart and begrudge what it tells her?"
Apparently relieved to have his attitudes spelled out clearly, now the man smiled. "You understand?"
"I think I do."
"All right then. Anybody asks, you can tell them."
The discussion seemed to be over. It was now time for some exercise.
When Ben re-visited Marlena she said, "We'll invite Bruno once more, anyway. If he shrugs off again, we'll just forget it, 'kay?"356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtrdaKLatn
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiswm7lPcJg
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPyZuAWs81
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlnXKa2az3
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIN2MucL5T1
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Teh0kLeEn
Throughout the all-plenum, in which each point-locus lies contiguous to every other one, uniquantal movement of volitional entities or inert masses between point-loci groupings is and must be wholly causal in nature.
Yet in recency have been noted displacements of indeterminate origin. Normally such phenomenon would hold just abstract interest. Unanticipatedly, however, movement of the anomalous nature gives rise to vastly irritative stimuli.
Inert mass doesn't displace of itself, nor without cause. But at and proximately prior to nowtime along the consensual chronal-prime vector, masses unexpectedly change their dimensionalities at random only to revert to initial frameworks at equally illogical loci, each momentary obtrusion leaving traces that resonate severe malaise. Communication by spatial admixture confirms that these effects become growingly widespread among certain specific loci groupings.
Additionally, other mass aggregates so displace themselves and remain thusly, admixing with normal configurations in manner both invasive and discomfiting. And finally, of most recency, some few impulses have manifested in opposition to normal chronality. These latter have particularly disruptive effect, causing actual pain of seldom precedented magnitude and posing eventual threat to orderly causation.
Origins of such anomalies must be sought, and its activities ceased. First need is to identify those specific dimensions, among all existing, which correspond to trans-plena movement traces. Such groupings constitute sub-continua of n dimensions, such that only n+1 point-loci can be mutually contiguous. Long known to exist, such sub-plena lie loosely entwined within plenum-major and normally cause no disturbance. Only when, as in currently progressing nowtime, components achieve extension into dimensions non-innate to themselves do their movements aberrate process in contextual reality. Such displacings create anomalous discontinuities in the affected sub-plena, reflecting disorder on the quantum level into the fuller continuum. Causative anomalies result, making further effects both noticeable and unpleasant.
Still, since pain emphasizes trace impressions, dimensional identifications are simplified. The specific demi-continuum involved proves to be one previously noted for other baffling phenomena; in particular, a locus wherein part of the sub-plenum itself is destroyed and recreated, that locus possessing an inordinate rate of spatial/chronal progression.
This phenomenon, recently ceasing for no apparent reason, had carried no danger, being confined to the sub-plenum itself, and of magnitude easily subject to detection and thus avoidance. But since mass in the newer disruptions repeatedly obtrudes to exploit parasitic congruity, a drastic dissociation from the all-plenum emerges as the least effortful solution. The probable effect on the lesser sub-plenum is a matter wholly unknown and therefore of very little concern.
Of permanent importance is ridding the greater continuum of painful intrusion. Among other possibilities, therefore, dissociative measures are a prime consideration.356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzdI2xG4N2
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhx7owr0x6r
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzt0DxvHNq
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TdM4RAXM3
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibkuhN2Ubv
Rick Berman went to Bolt Park in person to put his message into the C-Gate for Arrowprize; then he flew to the fuel staging base to see with his own two eyes what the newly installed flow sensors would show. After waiting two days with no decisive results, the senator gave up and came home.
He should've done that sooner, and he damn well knew it! Early in his career he'd lost one wife but just being away all too often; he couldn't let that happen with Magda, his bride of just a few mere months. Well, part of the time she'd been off to Alma-Ata with her university's cultural exchange team---but any sensible man would have made a point of meeting her upon homecoming.
Trouble was, he'd been practically glued to the sensors, watching for any word from Arrowprize, from the future. And hadn't been able to bring himself to leave. Not until it became a clear case of back to the 'ol drawing board.
Had something happened to the ship? No, he wouldn't think that. For the time being he wouldn't think about any of it.
Now, entering the Georgetown residence, their in-session domicile, he carried the traditional offerings of the ardent swain or wayward husband; flowers and 1999 champagne. They stocked the latter for parties, of course, but betting a bottle out of the case didn't swash enough buckle.
"Magda?" Walking through the spacious, uncluttered living and dining rooms, he repeated his call. As he reached the smallish kitchen and set his booty on the dinette table, she came in by the back door. "Hi!" And they had their homecoming kiss.
He stepped back and looked at her. Well, she'd said she was going to do something about the slight but growing encroachment of gray in her hair; its coloring was a slightly darker brown than he was accustomed to. At least it wasn't shortened noticeably, which was something salons tended to do as a matter of principle or some dumb thing; the smooth sweep still reached well below her jawline. She smiled. "Home with your shield? Or on it? how did the experiment work out?"
The last phone talk: how many days ago was that? No matter. "It didn't, I'm sorry to say. And I've got no idea why. I haven't been able to raise Cochrane; maybe I'll fly up there tomorrow. Or...."
He quit; what the hell was he saying? "Hey, forget I said that." He handed her the flowers. "Welcome home. How was Alma-Ata?"
For now, the hell with subspace communications; he orchestrated a homecoming evening no prodigal son could fault.356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQDRqRpd3A
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn08tsNqLOq
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsmCHnlEPn
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAJGq42uMO
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID3WYkcNsv
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvczF8SaxX
They'd tried to plan for anything that could happen, Ben reflected, but how do you allow for the way tension builds up? Assuming the intruders really lay doggo between the C-Gates in control, known timing put their coming emergence at some time near the end of the next watch or early in the one following.
For those shifts, then, normal skeds went up the spout. Ben himself drew the first, along with Hikaru Sulu and Alfred Nightgazer. On the second, Johnathan Archer had Ed Straker and Nick Leger for backup. In Ben's estimation either Beverly Crusher or Odessa Vangelos could beat Ed's reflexes, but the captain didn't believe women should be permitted into possible combat situations. The armed forces, yes, Jonathan Archer, no.
Arguing the matter would have made a good distraction from the suspense of waiting, but the watch team couldn't work up sufficient disagreement on the issue to keep the discussion going., Ben, for example, found it difficult to keep focused.
He fiddled with the short kendo staff leaning against his chair; it wasn't a ball bat and he was no kind of expert at the martial art associated with it, but he suspected it might do him some good in a pinch. Nightgazer had something similar, but longer; Hikaru made due with a pair of heavy leather gloves and didn't say what they were good for.
Sitting with seats turned sideways, restraining belts snapped closed yet left unclamped in the interest of sudden mobility, the three took their routine instrument readings in quick glimpses stolen from strained, staring surveillance of the the local Ass. If and when somebody appeared back there, the idea was to act quickly. And not get punked with whatever kind of pigstickers had zapped the watch crew one ship's month ago.
What he expected, Ben didn't know; who could be out here with destructive motives? The world was full of protesters and even terrorists, but how the hell could any of that kind get through Bolt Park to start with? Especially without being noticed, and no word had come. It didn't make sense!
Time crawled by; he got up for coffee. It crawled some more; he had a snack. so, at one time and another, did Sulu and Nightgazer----though of course never any two at once. Alfred did a small dance and lifted his squeeze flask of coffee in a toast for the benefit of the four wide-angle vidcams aimed diagonally downward from each upper corner of the room, relaying the scene to the team monitoring in control's Daily Supplies room two doors forward along the corridor. Either they or the watch crew could report by intercom to the rotating belt, where the transfer ring car was held blocked except for designated movement of personnel going on or off duty.
After the watch shift passed midpoint it seemed to go even slower. Was something going to happen, or wasn't it? Finally the shift ended; the bridge door was unlocked from the outside and the relief group came in like people in a cop holonovel, peering in all directions. As if any of the room could pose a threat, other than the Ass itself...
Archer led the way; behind him Ed and Nick moved quietly. "Pretty dull, isn't it?" the captain said, belying his SWAT team manner, and moved over to sign in.
"Just the way we like it," Alfred said, straight-faced.
"Do the monitors work okay?" Sisko asked.
"Total coverage," said Straker. "The action wasn't much, though. You should fire your writers."
"I'll consider it." In a hurry to use the 0G toilet across the way, Ben left. Being locked in the bridge for long hours without breaks wasn't something he was accustomed to.356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dJAIVC9qh
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffE2Zs4YDW
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1IgeA5qeM
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYAYkwnHnB
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYb15vm37bM
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJJmOcg82v
J.M. relieved Paul Stamets on the monitor team about 1 hour before the bridge watch change. Observing dutifully, she didn't find the surveillance all that interesting. It perked up a little when Archer and company relieved Sisko's team, but for another two or three minutes after the first group left, that was the high spot.
Then at the Ass the colors flared. J.M. sat bolt upright. The main feature was starting; his pulse raced.
The chromatic display faded to reveal several people but just one woman standing; all the rest lay sprawled together, shifting gently in 0G as the woman gestured left-handed and said, "Medics! The C-Gates----something went wrong...."
But when Archer and the other two stepped from their seats to help the sturdy woman with the frizzed-out blond hair, she crouched; her right hand came into view holding some kind of handgun. Three rapid aims, three apparent firings, though no sound accompanied them: first Jonathan Archer poised between steps on one toetip, then Ed and finally Nick came to weaving halts and swayed against the tag of their Velcro anchors.
Pacing quickly from one to another the woman paused to pick something off each; from Archer's cheek, her touch dislodging his shoe's grip on the deck, then from Straker's neck and Leger's jaw. At the room's door she paused for a moment; her body hid whatever her hands did there. Then she moved to tow one of her limp companions from the Ass over to the Mouth.,
Unfreeezing, J.M. hit the intercom to the bridge. "Stop! You're covered!" and then, just to throw in a little confusion, "Tactical squad! Assault!" He waited to see no more; standing, he pushed free of his chair. To his left Nyota Uhura scowled and muttered something Colt didn't catch; on the other side Bruno Eustace was saying "But he can't..."
The hell he can't! Damn. Nobody had thought of anything like this, and it was too late now. Blaming wouldn't help, J.M. Colt ran to the door and yelled down the corridor. "Ben! Anybody! Unlock the bridge and get the hell in there. But watch yourselves!"356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOo7FLDzwF9
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvq2TLewCJ
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3pg3gDUMW
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy234r0VGh7
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtJPIXlmf1
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXB5hQUbBt0
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5PGlHvBVD
If J.M. said it, he had a reason. Emerging from the latrine cubicle, Ben lunged across the corridor. The outside lock disengaged but the door held firm. Locked from inside; damn and blast! He had a key, everybody did, but nobody carried them because who, forgodsakes, ever needed it?
"J.M.? You got your key here?"
Well, he would. "Thanks."
Inside the bridge Ed Straker and Nick Leger more or less stood, both out cold and both breathing. Along with two floating strangers, a man and a woman.
But no Jonathan Archer.356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzCpfPnJ19
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfFQjNG4bo
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHy3jMXFEG
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFOpnARNWp
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwm4csbZ6F
First things first; Ben called the lounge: "Cawthorn! Watch relief; you and Stamets and Crusher. On the double." Time enough later to report what had happened and was happening.
As Nyota started to help Hikaru with their own casualties, Ben stared at the comatose interlopers. "Sulu, get some flex cord; we'll tie this duo up, for now."
Even potentially they didn't seem to be all that dangerous, but what the hell. He gave them a closer scan. The man was youngish, medium-sized, with crewcut dark hair; unconsciousness left his face clear of any definable expression. His companion was a slim young woman, delicately beautiful, with fluffy brown hair now totally frizzed out. Oh well; Ben secured her wrists behind her back as Nightgazer did the same for her comrade.
"Okay, let's get everybody out of here; the watch won't need us underfoot." As Cawthorn led the relief team inside, Sisko said, "Elyse, you handle the report to downcraft. The intruders were here; they must've gone back in the C-Gate because there wasn't anywhere else they could have. They zapped the watch, took Jonathan with them, and left two of their own. When I know more, so'll everyone else."
"What do you mean, they took Johnathan?" Elyse Cawthorn.
Oh bloody hell. "Elyse, all I know is what I just said. People came out the Ass, coldcocked Ed and Nick, and ducked back into the Mouth. You see who's here and who isn't; Jonathan has to be on ice in the C-Gates. Perfectly safe."
Ignoring her further protests: "C'mon, let's clear the place." So the zapped-out quartet was towed out to the corridor.
"Now where?' asked Hikaru. Sisko thought it was over.356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0bhcBp6if
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDtzsejU4f
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNp6Zc3AkG
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMuZIVm8bT
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvn50v0yKhs
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWicppIkGU
"....two unconscious prisoners are under restraints; I expect Mr. Sisko plans to interrogate them. Ed Straker and Nick Leger got knocked out but they'll likely be all right, the same as all 4 of us were the last time." Over the intercom Jacqueline heard Elyse Cawthorn clear her throat. "I have to report that Captain Archer is missing, no doubt kidnapped by the other intruders. Control was locked tight; the only place they could've taken him is back into the local C-Gate, so...."
The voice quit; Cawthorn could be heard breathing but that was it. She then spoke once more. "Mr. Sisko says, as soon as he knows anything else, you all will, too."
And that was that. In the lounge, sitting with Beverly, Tucker, Odesssa, and Marlena, Jacqueline stewed in frustration. Everybody else was upcraft where things were happening, and she was stuck here!
She couldn't sit still any longer; up and pacing, she tried to avoid the snack table and couldn't. She'd already made up and eaten two sandwiches; she wasn't hungry, not at all. Yet here she was putting a third together! Oh no! This one she zipped into a sealbag and tucked away for later.
There had to be something she could do to keep her mind active. "Hey, Beverly, wanna shoot some pool?"
Crusher shook her head. "I'm worried about Nick."
"Why? Getting zapped didn't hurt you any. C'mon."
Distracted or not, Beverly had a feel for anisotropic ballistics. Jacqueline kept it close, but lost by 2 points.
By that time, though, she felt a lot better. When he could, Ben would fill her in.356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94JX8oh9yB
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxlO4gewIZ
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofjOA1DT8l
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAxR8EjGVg
Regardless of how many times Ben viewed it, normal speed or slowed, the sequence ran the same and still it didn't make any sense to him. The Ass flared and produced six persons, one awake and aggressive, the rest in drugged sleep. The bushy-haired blond, her features a bit too heavy for prettiness, made her plea for help, then potted the watch team. Suddenly Ben stopped the playback. "A goddamn dart gun! Gotta be. What she's doing, right there, is retrieving the darts so we wouldn't know. Just like the last time, we thought it was a hypo, maybe. Something handheld, at least.
And why hadn't anyone thought of this alternative. Just stupid, obviously.
But wait a minute here----"Nyota. You and Charles. Suit up and get the hell back here." As DM specialists they'd have had more suit drill than most.
Tucker stared. "They can't be outship. And at this speed it's tantamount to suicide...."
"Last time there was nearly 1 hour unaccounted for; there could be more than one group. I'll want you both in control with the watch. A suit just might stop one of those darts."
"Oh. Gotcha!"
With that pair gone, Sisko and Colt had custody of the four sleeping beauties all to themselves. Sisko unfroze the playback. Now the woman got three of her charges, two men and a woman, into the Mouth area. She began to go for the other two, paused, and seized Jonathan Archer instead. Then, quickly and competently she set the C-Gate for brief delay, jumped in, and seconds later was gone with the usual flare of colors. At the last glimpse of her, she was crouched and facing partway to her left, dart gun poised. Against what?
Ben shook his head; was he missing something here? All right, take it from the top again. When he reached a point where all six new faces showed on Vidcam 2 he stopped the action and ran up magnification, peering intently.
At first nothing clicked. Then: "I'll be dipped in butter and served on toast!" Yes; the unconscious woman in the other had taken along with her. Put gray hair in a smooth short straight-around cut in place of the pale blond curls sheared close at sides and back, and who did you get? "Old Iron Boobs!"356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaonomAUtpx
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBJbu422Ku
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwq3itz29LZ
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqEpvbqP3b
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fUQDDiRSI
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEi9uZl953n
J.M.'s brows raised: Ben said, "Captain Kathryn Janeway, United States Navy. UN observer on Jupiter II, the second Warp Drive ship and the first with C-Gates. Pavel Chekov commanded. Those two were on Stargazer later---relief cadre 1-B. Only that time she was captain."
He looked closer. "This one guy here could be Pavel, with his eyes shut and mouth open I can't be sure." Ben turned off the playback. "Let's dip into the computer. Johnathan had files on all the starship crews up to when we left. A hobby of his; maybe they include visuals. For Stargazer."
J.M. took the keyboard; as she made a file search, mentally Sisko began figuring back. All right, Janeway and 1-B hit Stargazer 2 years before this crew arrived here. How long ago? Earth time, Stargazer at 10 to 1 and Arrowprize at 25--be lost track and had to start over.
His time on here was roughly 7 Earth years so Kathryn Janeway started her 10-year hitch 9 years ago; she was 3 years shy of having any business here at all, let along appearing after an onboard C-Gate late. Hey, wait a minute....
To get here 2 years ago, Old Iron Boobs had to have been dragged off her ship at the 5-year midpoint of her duty tour, when relief cadre 1-A was due for rotation home. Now what...?
"I've got something," J.M. said. Onscreen came the ID plates for Stargazer's launch crew, sections A and B both, with full-face pics at the upper right of each.
Sisko vaguely recognized several of these, but they were irrelevant. "These people were all back to Earth long be fore we inGated." Even Luna Hohstadt and Pascal Helsing, and Xeno Ocano who had killed them both. "First relief cadres, please, J.M."
And there they were. Kathryn Janeway with the blond curls even that long ago, and yes the one gaping sleeper on the disc really was Pavel Chekov. But no other intruder came from 1-B.
1-A, though: gotcha! The heavy-featured haystack blond with the zap darts was Yasmin Armiger, and the other guy she'd hauled back into the C-Gate sure as hell her pairmate Lars Sabine. At one point, Ben recalled, he'd been in command, but of course Janeway had since taken over that job. All right: Armiger and Sabine were due to de-ship for home at about the same time the must've C-Gated here instead. But why...?
Arrowprize's two new unscheduled passengers weren't in the files. Sisko could guess why, but there was no need to. Dart-drugged people were starting to wake up; he could ask them directly.356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6u2ZDgWV12
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdjIZaBbZl
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyGm4c1p1p
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhgLedFBnY
356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbhGZUBZbU
Nick Leger was the first to show something approaching total awareness. "Hey, I'm due for intruder watch; I gotta go." Then: "Say, how'd I get up here to 0G?"356Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5A6zklY6q
So all they learned from Nick, and from Ed Straker when he came to just 2 minutes later, was what they already knew; that the drug, whatever it was, wiped memory for a time before the dart impacted.
At least now the limits were better defined: something between 20 and 25 minutes, likely varying with the individual metabolisms and maybe even with where the dart hit.
But that didn't explain why the 2 unknowns, who must have experienced more real time since being zapped, were still out.
What did was that upon inspection the woman turned out two have 2 puncture marks, and the man three.
It was when they woke up that things got very interesting, indeed.
