Based On STAR TREK Created by Gene Roddenberry
Original Characters created by Jason Cleaver and Derrick Ferguson
Nobody seemed to have much to say after Smith’s pronouncement. But as far as Eve was concerned, everything that came out the agent’s mouth was most likely 70% lie or at least a bending of the truth. It wasn’t that thought Starfleet Intelligence wasn’t to be trusted or respected. But they had their own agenda to follow and they did so.
Smith appeared to be pleased that there were no questions. In that case we can continue with our briefing now that our Hebigon advisor is here.” The door opened again and Smith smiled. "May I present Malarian Mi Marl, Justicer of The High Lords of Hebigo."
Eve Mallory was not easily impressed. Not after all the things she'd been through and the worlds she'd seen. But she had to admit, Malarian Mi Marl made quite the imposing figure.
The High Lord stood at an even six foot six inches. His simple garments consisted of a dark one piece bodysuit that was belted at the waist with what looked like some kind of metallic fibers interwoven with oblong crystals. A fiery red sash crossed his chest, intricately embroidered with his family name and status. An ankle length heavy coat with a high fur collar completed his garb. Like many High Lords, his skin was slate grey and his platinum hair was held back from his face by a headband of purest crystal. A tall silvery-grey staff was held in one sinewy fist.
Taylor Smith made introductions all around and Marl nodded pleasantly to each and everyone. When introductions were completed, the High Lord said in a surprisingly warm, rich baritone, "I extend to all of you the thanks of the High Lords and of all Hebigonese still loyal to their true hereditary rulers. It was not easy for us to ask for help...but after so many years of benevolent rule, we were ill prepared for war."
"What I still don't comprehend is why with your telepathic/telekinetic abilities, you need Starfleet's help?" Dianora spoke up. The Marine XO looked impatient with all this talk.
"The High Lords are not warriors, Lt. We have not had to use our powers in that manner for thousands of years. For example, I am a Justicer of my people. In your culture, you might say that I am a judge or peacekeeping official. I use my abilities to resolve disputes among my people who are not telepathic. I intervene only when the truth cannot be found in conventional manner."
Smith hastily said, "Justicer Marl has given his word not to use his telepathy while on Federation vessels unless requested."
Marl nodded. "It is well known that humans are fiercely protective of the privacy of their minds. I find speech quite slow and laborious, but we Hebigonese are an ethical people and are eager to prove our goodwill to those so willing to aid us."
JoAnn whispered to Eve, "laying in on a bit thick, don't you think?"
Eve nodded. Not that she had a suspicious nature, but she also didn't believe in taking anything or ANYBODY for that matter, at face value.
Captain Judd was speaking. "Now that Justicer Marl is here, can we be told exactly what this artifact is that's so important and why it's going to put the High Lords back in power?"
"Of course." Malarian Mi Marl looked around the assemblage with coal black eyes. "What I am about to tell you has been known only to the High Lords. It is something that we have guarded from other races of telepaths for centuries. In truth, if anyone with telepathic abilities gained control of this artifact, the consequences could be most horrifying for every single intelligent species in the galaxy."
Hector Longtree's square, handsome face was dark and heavy with concern. “We were told that this thing is dangerous only to your people.”
Marl nodded his large grey head. "The artifact is called The Dominus. But you see, Captain Longtree, The Dominus is...well, it is an artifact, yes...but a living artifact. It came to Hebigo over six centuries ago...a creature that traveled between galaxies as easily as you or I walk across a room. The Dominus accomplished miracles by the sheer power of its mind."
Eve Mallory spoke up. "When you say a living artifact, what exactly do you mean?" She tried to keep her tone professionally neutral but there must have been something in her tone that didn’t sound quite right because The Justicer turned those sparkling, burning black eyes on her as if to silently say; for some reason, young lady I think that out of any in this room YOU would know EXACTLY what a living artifact is…
But what came out of his lipless mouth was something quite different "I mean that The Dominus, while allegedly being humanoid in appearance, it's physical makeup is composed of artificial and synthetic components. There is nothing organic about it. In fact, it is because Hebigonese scientists were able to synthesize the artificial cells of The Dominus that the High Lords gained their powers."
Eve nodded, hoping that she was presenting the image of a dutiful Starfleet officer seeking as much information as possible before a mission. But inside her brain, one thought was burning like a white-hot disruptor beam: was this Dominus, whatever it was, somehow a Replicant of some kind?
"I'd like to know why you haven't tried to find The Dominus on your own," Judd asked.
"The Dominus freely gave of itself to allow the High Lords to gain power. Then, The Dominus wished to sleep, to be at peace. A special vault was constructed, made of Kerestrium-"
"What's that?" Longtree wanted to know.
"A very rare substance, sir," Eve replied. "In essence, it's a psionic suppressant." Eve looked at the High Lord. "I didn't think it existed in such large quantities this far in the Alpha Quadrant..."
Justicer Marl again fixed Eve with a burning stare and Eve wondered if she had just made a very big mistake by even admitting that she knew exactly what Kerestrium was and what it’s primary property was.
Fortunately, Captain Burton was speaking, bringing the attention of the briefing back to her and that included Marl who had seemed on the verge of asking Eve some very hard questions she had no business answering. Starfleet had went through a hell of a lot of trouble to keep her status a secret as well as her service about the doom haunted Grail. Oh, Eve could rattle off some plausible story about how she knew about Kerestrium but she wasn’t at all comfortable about trying to bluff with a telepath. Especially one as powerful as Marl was supposed to be. Eve decided it was best if she just focused her attention on Captain Burton and what she was saying.
“You’ve got your assignments. Needless to say, this is a mission that will be closely watched by Starfleet as well as the Federation Council. Good luck.”
Captain Longtree motioned at Eve, JoAnn and Dianora to follow him. The other Captains were contacting their ships, ordering them to make ready for immediate departure. "Well, this little jaunt is getting underway in fine style, ladies, wouldn't you say?" Longtree asked with that engaging grin of his. "Commander Mallory, you're going to have a lot on your plate your first time out. First thing I'll want you to do is review the information on this Fotheran character and present a full report to myself, Dianora, the Counselor here and the Tac/Sec Chief in one hour. Then I'll expect you to do some research on Hebigo and these High Lords. There's something not quite right about this whole deal and I hate to be surprised."
Eve nodded. "Then that's something we've got in common, sir." She looked up at the imposing Thymiscrian striding along the crowded corridor next to her. "I've had just about enough surprises already..."
Eve stepped onto the bridge of the Crazy Horse just as the ship cleared the perimeter shields of Starbase 212 and headed for open space. Eve had been supervising some necessary last minute adjustments to matter/anti-matter intermix conduits down in Engineering and had missed the departure from the base. But then again, Eve reflected, she had seen more than her share of departures and would no doubt see many more. many more.
Eve took her place on Captain Longtree's right hand. JoAnn St. John was already in the traditional Counselor's chair on the left. Longtree nodded to Eve as she seated herself, accessing her personal LCARS console.
"Everything satisfactory, Commander?"
"Yes, Captain. I think you'll find that the matter/anti-matter intermix has been improved by 20%."
"Excellent. Helm, lay in our course and take us to our first search section at Warp Three, if you please." Longtree got to his feet. "You've got the bridge, Number One....JoAnn, I'd like a few minutes with you in my Ready Room...."
Eve stood up respectfully as Longtree and JoAnn left the bridge. She slowly ran her eyes over the bodies and faces manning the bridge, seeing ghostly echoes of former crewmates she had known aboard the Grail. Perhaps the color scheme of the Crazy Horse bridge was different and there were some slight cosmetic differences, but that feeling of deja vu was so overwhelming that Eve forced herself to sit back down at her console to get her mind off of the Grail and its haunted mission....
Eve accessed the SFI records on Denys Fotheran. She had to admit, she was curious as to his background. His face appeared on the screen and once again Eve was gripped by the feeling of deja vu....she was gradually growing aware that she was in the hand of some celestial puppet master who was delicately puling strings that reached through space and time.
During her time serving on the Grail, the crew of that ship had been held captive by a race of aliens in a gigantic virtual reality chamber. Eve had experienced....well, visions was the only accurate way to put it. She had seen with absolute clarity the faces of those she instinctively knew would be a part of her life and destiny. She'd met Dianora and had recognized her at once. And now here was another face she had seen in her vision. Denys Fotheran.
Eve was too professional to show her surprise on her face, but inside, she was boiling with thoughts and questions. At least with Dianora, she had SOME idea as to how they were connected...but Fotheran? The man was a career opportunist who ran roughshod over any and all types of authority. He clearly respected no one and nothing save his own wildly dangerous impulses. It was a mystery to Eve as to how he had managed to live as long as he had. How could such a person be important to her? Eve continued reading his file, hunting for some clue that would give her insight.....
Dianora entered the mess hall and immediately noticed that the spacious room had divided itself into three distinctive and separate camps. Near the three exits crewmen and women from Engineering, Sciences, Medical and other scattered departments were quietly eating or drinking various beverages while throwing knowing looks at a contingent of Marines who were glowering at a equal number of Ship Security who glowered back with equal ferocity.
Dianora walked over to her Marines and seated herself. Even seated, she was still taller than anybody else at the table. She helped herself to a pitcher of tsasa juice and asked Ensign Parker, "Are you boys behaving yourself?"
Parker, a wiry, auburn haired lad who looked barely old enough to be trusted to zip his tunic grinned back. "Aw, Lt., we were just ribbin' them a little...you know how it is...."
Dianora knew very well. The well known rivalry between Marine and Starfleet Security had been going on as long as Marines had been stationed on starships and starbases and would most likely go on until Kahless himself came back.
Dianora was more concerned with other things, however. Matters professional as well as personal. There was the First Officer, for one. Commander Mallory's look of recognition had not gone unnoticed by Dianora and the Thymiscrian had been vainly searching her memory to recall if they had ever met.
Dianora trusted her memory absolutely. She was a warrior and a warrior's life depended on remembering the face of a potential foe. She was convinced that she had never seen this Commander Eve Susan Mallory before, but Mallory had obviously seen Dianora before and had not expected to see her on Starbase 212. And that puzzled Dianora before. And if there was one thing Dianora HATED, it was to be puzzled.
She looked up as a rumbling from the Security people caught her ear. A woman had entered the mess hall and was striding toward the Security table. The woman had Lt. pips winking at her throat and was fully as tall as Dianora. Under her uniform, muscles coiled and bunched like pythons. Her platinum blonde hair was styled in a severe bowl cut.
"Who's that?" Dianora wanted to know.
"Patience O'Malley," Parker answered. "Security/Tactical Chief. I heard she comes from Deluros, a heavy gravity world near the Rim. They say she's strong and tough as hell."
Dianora smiled. "Is that so?"
"I got it from the CMO that O'Malley's banned from using the holodecks without supervision. Seems she likes to run through Klingon and Cardassian personal combat simulations with the safety protocols off."
Dianora's smile got even wider. "Is that right..."
Patience O'Malley had been talking to her Security people and now she turned her head to look right at Dianora. And Dianora knew exactly what she was thinking....
Dianora continued sipping her tsasa juice as Lt. Patience O'Malley walked over. The eyes of the Tac/Sec Chief were orange with dark flecks of obsidian. She stopped in front of Dianora and leaned on her huge fists, her face four inches in front of Dianora's.
"My name's O'Malley. I'm in charge of Security aboard the Horse."
"Interesting." Dianora replied, completely at ease. She smiled and her Marines cleared the table. "I assume we'll be working together during this mission."
"Yes, we will. And I suppose we should start with the traditional staff meeting between Marine and Security department heads."
"Quite right." Dianora threw the remainder of her drink in Patience's face. The Security Chief was far too experienced and savvy for such an old trick and evaded the blue liquid and her large hands sped out and grabbed Dianora by the shoulders and yanked her bodily out of her seat and flung her across the table, throwing her to the floor.
Dianora twisted like a cougar and came to a landing on her feet, drawing a gasp of amazement from onlookers, surprised at such agility in a woman of her size.
Dianora met Patience's charge with a backhanded smash that snapped Patience's head to the side. Patience recovered and ducked under Dianora's follow up swing. Patience reached down, gripped Dianora's leg and again sent the Thymiscrian warrior flying across the mess hall.
The Security and Marines had circled their leaders and were cheering and hooting as Dianora rolled, evading Patience's floor shaking stomp. Dianora's long leg licked out like the tongue of a striking snake and caught Patience in the ribs. Patience grunted and rolled with the blow. Dianora flipped lithely to her feet and her arms were a blur as she attacked with a flurry of strikes, all which were blocked by Patience, who retreated slowly, buying herself time to take the measure of the Thymiscrian.
Dianora changed tactics quickly, her leg lashing out to strike Patience in the same place as her earlier kick. Patience dropped to one knee, holding her side. Dianora dived in for the finishing blow, only to catch a backhand that sent her spinning to land on a table, sending plates, cups and uneaten food flying.
The Security staff howled with delight as their Chief came to her feet and slammed a fist into Dianora's lower back, her other hand holding Dianora down. "Meeting adjourned?" Patience asked as she pounded another blow into Dianora's ribs.
Dianora's answer was a war whoop as she bucked, loosening Patience's hold. She nimbly slipped free and her elbow cracked against Patience's jaw with stunning force. Patience stepped back and Dianora slammed her palms against the Security Chief's ears. Patience roared in rage and uppercutted Dianora.
Dianora backed off and the two women circled each other, grinning like two kids given unlimited holosuite privileges. Both were superb warriors and they had at last found what they were looking for: somebody who played just as rough as they did.
They had taken each other's measure, each other's strength. Dianora now knew Patience O'Malley had considerable hand-to-hand skills, but she made the same mistake most heavyworlders did: she depended too much on her brute strength and not enough on her skill. Dianora was not only strong, but fast and agile and THAT would make the difference.
Dianora let go with her keening war yell and took two steps forward and flipped completely over Patience, whirled and her leg whipped out to catch Patience in her back. Patience bellowed as she was sent flying over two tables, bowling over crewmen and tables in a cacophony of curses, yells, breaking furniture.
Patience came up with pure fury on her face and leaped right back at Dianora, her passion for fighting unabated....
Eve Mallory finished her scan of Fotheran's background and pushed away from her console. She had to admit, she was intrigued by the man. His parents were career Starfleet officers. His father was Chief Archivist of Starfleet Headquarters and his mother was an instructor in Survival and Strategic Tactics. His IQ was of almost genius level. With a background like that, he should have been a Captain of his own Starship by now, instead of a wanted fugitive. What could have happened to him to have given up a secure life to take up the freebooting ways he followed for so long?
The Communications Officer said, "Commander Mallory? I'm getting reports of a fight in the main mess hall. Lt. Dianora and Lt. O'Malley are having one hell of a donnybrook there. Shall I have Security break it up?"
Dianora fighting? Eve stood up quickly. "I'll handle it." She scanned the bridge quickly, her eyes lighting on the Chief Engineer, a wiry Bajoran named Vyvan Hol. "Mr. Vyvan, the bridge is yours while I check this out."
"Yes, sir."
"Please, Mr. Vyvan, call me Commander, ma'am or even Eve when we're off duty, but DONT call me sir, okay?"
Vyvan grinned as he took the center seat. "Yes, MA'AM. Good luck. I'd hate to have to be the one to break up a staff meeting between a Thymiscrian and a Delurosian."
Just before the turbolift doors closed, Eve said, "Oh, I don't think I'll have that much trouble, Mr. Vyvan....."
The fight had gone on much longer than anybody had thought. But given the near legendary stamina and endurance that Thymiscrians and Delurosians were well known to have, the combatants were just hitting their stride. They had ripped away their jackets and their arms and faces were thickly coated with sweat as they pounded away at each other. All strategy and tactics had been abandoned and the fight was down to a straight slugfest as Dianora and Patience settled down to simply battering each other.
Both women were smiling through bloodstained teeth as the blows landed. Patience was the stronger, but she simply didn't have the endurance of Dianora, who back flipped suddenly, her booted feet taking Patience in the face. Patience sailed backwards, crashing into a bulkhead, where she rested, gasping for air, wiping her face.
Dianora sagged to the floor, sweat dripping from her chin. It had been a long time since she had faced such a tough opponent and she was loving ever minute.
Eve entered the mess hall, only to encounter a wall of bodies. She shoved crewmen to the side, shouted for order. She had to take care not to accidentally injure anyone. Her Replicant strength was considerable and without care, she could break bones without even realizing it. "Sit DOWN!" Eve roared, forging a way through the crowd. Upon seeing the ship's First Officer herself, crewmen immediately snapped to attention, making a path for her.
Eve saw Dianora on one knee, breathing heavily, her magnificent black hair a tangled sweaty mess around her face. "Okay, ladies, this fight is over and I mean NOW." Eve ordered.
Patience pushed herself off the bulkhead and launched herself in a last fling at the Thymiscrian, who was looking at Eve and unaware of Patience's attack.
Eve yelled, "Dianora, look out!"
Dianora whirled, saw Patience in midair and her fist came up from the floor in a devastating uppercut that caught Patience flush on the jaw. Patience went up, up, into the air and landed on the floor flat on her back with a teeth rattling BOOM.
The mess hall was dead silent.
Patience O'Malley was as still as a Ferengi's conscience for five seconds.
Oh Lord, Dianora's killed her, Eve thought.
Patience stirred and her battered, bloody head lifted up and her eyes focused on Dianora. "Meeting adjourned," she croaked before falling into unconsciousness, her head falling back onto the floor
Dianora weakly whooped in triumph before toppling over on her side, out cold.
Eve sighed and said, "Get them both to sickbay, right now and everybody better hope they're both all right or everybody here will be cleaning Jefferies Tubes for the next year....."