The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 114
Captain Raz Kalee looked about the otherwise silent bridge of his
ship, the stunned faces looking back at him saying more than mere
words ever could -- his crew likewise complying along with the other
two surviving ships with the Federation Vice President/Fleet
Admiral's last official orders....
Then again Captain Kalee had never liked the Federation Vice
President to begin with -- meeting him several years ago at a
diplomatic function before he was Vice-President, back when he
was "only" Lord Fleet Admiral of Starfleet Command. Raz likewise a
Federation Ambassador way back them. the two men meeting at a
presidential reception for the new Klingon ambassador there to sign
an exchange of technology treaty between the Federation and Klingon
Empire.
Striking Raz even then as a hard, cold, cynical man with a hidden
cruel streak a parsec wide, the Now Federation V.P. had an air of
barely concealed madness about him that bordered on the edge of
megalomania (if not having already crossed that line). a probable
sociopath to boot..
Heck and damnation, even Ambassador K'Jorg of the Klingon Empire -- a
seasoned campaigner who faced heroically death on many an occasion in
the tireless service of his people -- seemed visibly disturbed,
nervous even, just being in the same room with the man.
However, no matter how strong his dislike of the Federation V.P.
might be, Captain Kalee was bound by his Starfleet oath to obey --
his ship flanked protectively on either side by both the USS Ajax and
Strike as all three retreated from the advancing swarms in pursuit of
them, leaving behind that same solar-system in which their comrade
from that other reality likewise fell in battle.
"Sir, the swarms have abandoned the chase", Gav Tiral announced from
his position on the Alice Cooper-B's main bridge -- his post at
Security.
"In fact the swarms seem to have vanished into oblivion on the very
edge of their system"
"Turned around?" Raz questioned Gav further, noting the surprise in
the old (but still quite capable) Tellarite's voice.
"No, Sir", Gav explained further.
"Just disappeared as if they never existed to begin with, winking as
it were out of existence all together"
However, before he could push the matter further, Lt. Cmdr. Judy
Sarah Skwyr likewise announced the arrival of the Vice President's
private cruiser appearing several thousand kilometers ahead of them.
"Necrostella appearing off our port bow -- the Federation V.P. and
Lord Admiral requesting permission to come aboard", she added, as if
Raz would refuse him permission.
"Granted", Raz snapped a bit more harshly than he ever planned.
"Tell him we'll meet him in transporter room 2, deck 7!!"
Still trying to make sense of the feeling within her at the passing
of Yong Maccs Starchild. that numb sensation like some mental state
of shock where all reality turns into a bad dream of sorts. the
Celestial all-the-same felt herself duty-bound by her very own still-
active sense of common decency to answer Sarah's call for help via
Ernie -- not sure how much she should tell either of them, hoping
that Sarah could be trusted to keep secret whatever the Celestial
asked her to keep so.
Making her way to transporter room 2, deck 7, aboard the Alice Cooper- B. Frances, Karn, Elayna, and Prince Roshi likewise at her side. Sarah listened to Erie's message now being sent her from the
Celestial:
"I haven't much time before he arrives aboard the Alice Cooper-B so I
must trust you with what I'm about to say, hoping you will likewise
keep certain items I'm about to divulge secret at least for the
moment."
"This Federation V.P. coming aboard the Alice Cooper-B is in
possession of a tear, Sarah -- one of those you seek in this
particular universe, this particular reality -- the strange time
distortions disrupting this particular reality the result of two
tears here in this universe instead of just one (one of those
likewise damaged), two tears lacking the keystone around your neck
you started out on your present quest with back in your original
reality back on Endor.
"It is that keystone that provides balance to the tears you seek so
diligently, prevents them from causing the temporal disturbances
occurring here when brought together, the Federation Vice President
using that very same temporal instability to his own evil purposes --
and I mean EVIL all in capitals here.
"Nor is he ignorant of the crystals you possess as well, already
tuning in on them with his own considerable powers the like of which
you can't imagine -- more in tune with the dark side than anyone you
could care to name back in your own universe -- only one other in my
universe. that very same universe both Frances, Elayna, and Maccs are
likewise from. possessing that same demonic force within him, nearly
destroying that entire Earth my people come from.
"In fact this Federation official you're about to meet is this
alternate reality's version of that very same new-age tyrant whose
successful dabblings in the occult led in the end to the death of
all, but a few million people in the year 2038 A.D. -- that very same
darkest of all warlocks existing here in this alternate reality as
the Federation Vice President and Supreme Starfleet Admiral you are
about to meet."
"So don't let him anywhere near you, Sarah, or the tears you have now
in you possession. Instead keep as far away from him as possible,
Frances and Lt. Katz sure to protect you should he try anything.
Believe me, when they see him they'll be more than willing to listen
to anything you might say about him and what you'll no doubt sense
inside that. that. animal:
"In fact Frances will protect you to her last drop of blood, knowing
her as well as I do -- she and I serving together aboard both Maccs
when he was only a baby on his first mission beyond our own solar-
system, as well as serving as her first officer later aboard the
CSC/CAF Chivalric together (although you might do better not to tell
her quite yet that I know her so well) -- Frances having a well-
deserved reputation as someone who knows more ways to kill with just
her little finger than most know how to with complete arsenals at
their disposal."
However, sensing her time running out for at least the moment being,
the Celestial told Sarah to stand strong and otherwise stay close to
both Frances and Elayna -- Sarah now joinng both Admiral Arthur,
Captain Kalee, and Colonel Theys in transporter room 2 alongside
Frances, Karn, Lt. Katz, and Prince Roshi as the transporter
technician announced the Federation V.P. ready to come aboard ship.
First voice: "Is he all right?"
Second: "Yes. luckily we got him out in just the nick of time"
First: "You call that the nick of time?"
Second: "Well, at least he survived".
First: "Just barely"
Third: "Be still, both of you. He's coming about. The next few
moments are the most critical of all!!"
First: "How do you think he'll take it?"
Young Maccs Starchild: "Take what?? Where am I??"
And piping him aboard the moment he and his trusted aid, Captain
d'Rabbitt, finished materializing on the transporter pads before them
it wasn't long at all after the transporter technician finished doing
so that Admiral Arthur stepped forward as senior officer present:
"Welcome aboard the Alice Cooper-B, Vice President Scarlett!!"
Admiral Arthur introduced both himself and Colonel Theys to the newly
arrived V.I.P. in their midst -- introducing as well Frances and her
party to both "Vice President Philippe Silas Scarlett" and "Captain
Harvey d'Rabbitt", quite unaware of the powerful impact Federation
V.P. Scarlett already had on both Fleet Admiral Frances Miriam
Straker and Protector Lt. Elayna K. Katz the moment they laid eyes on
the tall, blonde Englishman with the ice blue eyes now standing
before them like some nightmare come now to unholy life.
Even Sarah could sense the incredible evil, the hideous strength of
dark forces at work inside that insidious monster in human form, his
predatory smile when sighting her all the more fearsome for it --
able to detect on her person even before coming aboard ship the
precious tears hidden beneath her cloak even as she now picked up as
well on the tear he, too, wore around his neck hidden safely under
his Starfleet Fleet Admiral's uniform.
Much to her relief though he looked away from her as Captain Kalee
now spoke to Scarlett instead, welcoming as ship's C.O. the high-
ranking Federation official before them all aboard the Alice Cooper-B.
And not realizing the sudden horror now occupying both Frances,
Elayna, and Sarah's very thoughts (even though Sarah's fear had not
the same reason as both Frances and Elayna's) it started him little
hearing Elayna K. Katz hiss something right about then under her
breath -- only Karn, Roshi, Sarah, and Frances able to hear her say.
"... and I shall drown them all in their own blood and vomit, lay
barren all the land, and lay claim to the very throne of God Almighty
Himself over and upon their rotting bodies and bones".
And turning to look at her, looking up at her face in profile, Karn
got the shock of his life seeing the look of absolute terror in
Elayna's eyes. the woman pale, shaking like a leaf. her eyes bugged
out like some dear caught in the headlights of some oncoming truck
just starring at the Federation V.P. like she just saw death itself
come aboard ship.
"Philippe `Sanguinary' Scarlett", Frances hissed in an equally low
tone, recognizing both the quote Elayna just recited as well as the
man upon which her attention, too, was fixed like glue... the
expression on Fleet Admiral Frances Miriam Straker's face hard to
define but no less the fearsome for it...
A man known back in her and Elayna's universe as he ultimate in evil
responsible over 800 years ago for the near destruction of all life
on Earth.
A man known back there in the herstory books by such descriptive
monikers as "the Blonde Beast", the "Young God of Death",
the "Lawless One", the "Son of Perdition", "Sanguinary
Scarlett", "the Dark Warlock" , "the 666", and of course that biggie
of all.
"THE ANTI-CHRIST!!"