Date: Wed, 6 Apr 1994 23:39:00 -0600 Reply-To: Highlander TV show stories Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Michael Smith Subject: Treklander Part 10 (Highlander/ST:TNG Crossover) (There can be only one...These are the voyages...) T R E K L A N D E R Copyright 1994 John F. Moore III Part 10 Councellor Troi quietly entered from the turbolift and watched the events from the Science stations. Data was, of course, the epitomy of calm on the bridge. The rest were young officers who would have been replaced by the more experiences department heads, were they able to report to the bridge, but the Captain and Will were handling the hostage situation in the brig and Lt. Worf was recovering from his wounds in- flicted by Sancho Marin. These were mere babes, hinging on Data's every command and counting on him to save them. She didn't need to be an empath to feel their fear of making a mistake that could cause the deaths of every man, woman, and child on the Enterprise. `Picard to Data. We're ready to transport.' "Understood Captain. We will lower shields momentarily." Lt. Kaal pressed a few buttons on his station and indicated that he had lowered shields. "Hail the vessel," Data said. The bridge of the vessel came up. It was filled with Clarians. Marin still had Lt. T'dor in his grip. "Ah, Enterprise. Muchos gracias for freeing me...now I shall have the honor of destroying you," Marin said as he effortlessly snapped T'dor's neck and tossed him aside. "Shields up! Red Alert!" Data ordered as the screen shifted back to the vessel. The vessel fired phasers and photon torpedoes, the Enterprise shook violently. "Shields down to 35%, Mr. Data!" "Helm, evasive maneuvers. Mr. Kaal, return fire. Data to Captain Picard." As the Enterprise fired its weapons, the vessel disappeared. "Cloaking device activated, sir." Kaal reported. `Crusher to bridge' "Data here. Go ahead Doctor." `Data, that attack seems to have knocked the Captain and Commander Riker unconcious.' "Are they injured?" `They appear to have concussions, but I don't know how bad yet. There are a lot of casualties coming in that are more serious.' "Understood Doctor. Keep me informed. Data out." Dianna felt the tension on the bridge climb even higher as the bridge crew realized they were on their own. "Damage report, Mr. Kaal?" Kaal looked at the readouts coming in. "Warp Drive damaged; we can only get to Warp 2 until repairs are made...Impulse engines also seem to be hard hit as well...communications are out...Decks 10 through 19 report heavy damage...they hit us hard, sir. Data stroked his chin in a fashion that he saw other crewmen do when they were deep in thought. "Bridge to Sick Bay." `Crusher here.' "Doctor, transfer all wounded to the saucer section. I am taking the drive section back to Clari III while the saucer section is taken to the nearest starbase." Data then turned to Troi. "Councellor, I want you to assume command of the saucer section--" "Data," Dianna said, "Why are you separating the ship?" "Because I must protect the lives of the injured and the crew's families--" "But Data, these people aren't battle-experienced. Wouldn't it be better to--" Data looked squarely at Troi, and she thought she could almost feel a glimmer of concern from him. "Councellor, no one is ever ready for their first battle. Most hope they never have to face another being in a contest where there is a good chance only one will survive. But Embassador MacLoud's group is back at Clari III, and the Clarians are trying to achieve peace...a peace that can not happen if Mr. Marin returns. For the sake of a world's safety, we must place our own safety aside." Dianna had never seen Data like this. If she didn't know better, she would have thought that Data was trying to avenge a blow to his pride in allowing the Enterprise to be crippled under his command. "All right, Data. I'll get them to safety. You do what you feel is right." Data turned to his bridge crew. "Please report to the Battle Bridge and prepare for seperation." Duncan sat by the entrance to the shelter. He couldn't understand why Julia had sent him away. All he knew was it hurt...he hadn't felt so hurt in almost 400 years...since Tessa's death. He could almost feel her body in his arms...and the bodies of all the others he'd loved and lost in his 800 years of existance. He couldn't begin to count the people that he cared for, male and female, lovers and friends, mortal and Immortal, who died despite his best efforts to save them. (The Alamo: Duncan heard the charge of the Mexican army as they stormed the fort. The brave Texans and their allies valiantly fought to keep their enemy out, but eventually it proved to be to no avail. He saw the body of Davy Crockett fall from the platform above to his feet. He checked Crockett's pulse, already knowing there would be none. Suddenly, the Mexicans burst through the doors of the fort. Duncan charged the onslaught and wound up fighting alongside Pierre. "Quite ze fight, eh mon ami?" "Just watch your back and don't let them in!" Suddenly a shot hit Pierre square in the chest and he crumpled. "Pierre!" Duncan knelt before his friend. "Please....mon..ami.......do an old..Quebecois proud.......Do not...let ze Mexicans......ween........" "Don't die on me, Pierre! Please don't die...") "Duncan?" Duncan slowly lifted his head to see Julia looking at him. "Hi." "Listen, I'm sorry I was hard on you like that--" Duncan placed a finger over her mouth. "Shhhh....you don't need to explain. If it's what you want..." "I don't, but I'm just afraid of seeing you die." Duncan held his hand out to her. As she accepted it he pulled her down and held her close. "I know. It's one of the prices of Immortality." =========================================================================