The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 116
Sarah started to tell Admiral Frances about Ernie's feelings and idea
about getting rid of VP Scarlett. Also having noticed in past few
weeks that Ernie seemed to being relying more and more on his natural
sonar to avoid hitting things even in the daylight, she asked
permission to take Ernie to be examined by the Alice C's holographic
doctor. Unlike bats of some planets, Ernie's species of bats had keen
eyesight and only relied on their "built-in" radar to fly at night or
to track movement in absolute darkness. Sarah was very worried about
Ernie. He was extremely anxiety about the Red Stain and she didn't
want to think her little friend might be going blind too. Sarah knew
her little friend needed to be in top physical shape if he was going
to help them find out what VP Scarlett might be up to or if they
decided to "neutralize" him.
Admiral Frances was not sure how much the holographic doctor knew
about bats, but she told Sarah to have Ernie examined.
Once Sarah explained to the doctor what was going on and who
his "patient" was, she was informed that the doctor was not a vet and
his priorities did not include treating "flying rodents"! Sarah
informed the "doctor" that in addition to her other duties she was
responsible for erasing useless "data" in the ship's system and she
would be happy to rub him out of their computer's programs. The
doctor being part of a program that knew it needed to "adapt" to any
situation--and avoid such problems like ceasing to exist--
asked, "State the nature of the problem."
As Sarah went into detail concerning Ernie's visual difficulties, the
doctor begin to download any subfiles that might help determine a
diagnois. The doctor had Sarah place Ernie on an examination table to
be scanned. Sarah was surprised that Ernie did not seem to like the
Sick Bay facilities. She finally coached him to be still for a
medical scan by promising him some leeches. Plus if he was really
good she would ask the doctor for a rootbeer lollipop for Ernie. The
doctor was not use what a lollipop was but he affirmed a treat would
be forth coming if Ernie would cooperate. Ernie, always thinking of
his stomach and being a natural glutton, finally settled down. His
red eyes focused on the medical scanner, watching its every move,
just in case it made any threatening moves. Sarah mentally assured
Ernie the scanner would not "put any moves" on him.
After reading the feedback on the scan, the doctor ruled out any
tumors or growths, though he was surprised of the large amount of
theta waves detected from such a small creature. He preceived must be
more to this flying rodent than seemed obvious. With Sarah's help the
doctor tested Ernie's vision. It became apparent that was really a
simple problem, Ernie needed glasses or refactive surgery. Sarah
mentally shared the findings to Ernie. He felt he was too handsome
to wear glasses (not too mention too small) and he certainly wasn't
going to have any surgery! His mother had told him stories about a
cousin who went under the "knive" and ended up being an appetizer at
a Farscape bar. The doctor seeing the agitated movements of Ernie
when seeming to converse with Sarah said there was one other
possibility. He might be able to fashion a pair of self cleaning &
self correcting contacts for Ernie. Sarah managed to present the idea
of contacts to Ernie in such a way to flatter his vanity and to hint
might give him extra special vision so to help in the fight against
the Red Stain. Ernie consented to be fitted for the contacts and see
how he liked them. Sarah sighed in relief and told the doctor to see
what he could design.
Once the tiny contacts were prepared and very carefully placed in
Ernie's eyes, he flew to a mirror to "admire" himself or as Sarah
suspected to make sure his nature beauty was still intact as far as
he was concerned! He seemed to be "preening" and Sarah asked him what
he thought. Ernie asked "Why were his eyes blue and not red?" The
doctor said this was because of the color of the materials he used to
create the contacts. Doctor asked Sarah to find out if Ernie could
see better. Ernie said it was wonderful and asked Sarah to think the
doctor for his new blue eyes. While red eyes for bats were the height
of perfection, he would be willing to go in disguise as "Old Blue
Eyes" to fight the Red Stain. As Ernie flew off to show Admiral
Frances his new "eyes", he wondered if his lady bat friends would
find him more seductive!
SETTING: Soon after his arrival aboard the Alice Cooper-B, attending
a briefing in Captain Kalee's private conference chamber (all of
Starchild's crew attending said meeting alongside Admiral Arthur,
Colonel Theys, Captain Kalee and a couple of his senior-most
officers), there was likewise an official reception held in honor of
Federation V.P. Fleet Admiral Philippe Silas Scarlett in the Alice
Cooper-B's grand ballroom.
However, Sarah informing Frances of what Ernie and she encountered
when reading Scarlett's mind (telling her all she and Ernie
experienced once able to catch Frances all on her lonesome), Frances
made her apologies to all concerned -- finding then both Karn,
Elayna, and Prince Roshi (filling them all in on Sarah's mental
encounter with Scarlett once reaching her shipboard quarters --
feeling at last confident they could talk in private safe behind
closed doors).
And by the time Sarah took Ernie to sickbay, noting something the
matter with him, Frances had finished cluing everyone in (also
informing Karn, Prince Roshi, and Sarah, too what this "Federation
Scarlett's exact duplicate, their version of Scarlett, did back in
her own universe over 900 years ago on her and Elayna's version of
Earth) -- Frances requesting Karn and Prince Roshi escort Sarah and
Ernie to and from sickbay upon learning Ernie wasn't feeling well
(noting the way Scarlet kept looking at her like some ravenous tiger
smelling a fresh kill), not wanting anything bad to happen to such
important members of their little team.
However, returning from sickbay with Ernie clung to her tunic (Karn
and Prince Roshi flanking her on either side), it wasn't hard at all
to hear two voices raised in anger --Frances and Lt Katz involved in
some really hot and bothered debate -- all three of them passing by
Admiral Straker's closed door on their way to Sarah's quarters right
next to Frances'.
And not bothering to ask first, concerned that something was
seriously wrong, Karn made his way into Admiral Straker's private VIP
stateroom (Sarah and Prince Roshi close behind), both women turning
around quick when hearing them come in (their faces frozen in a
expression of angry surprise):
ELAYNA (snapping at the new arrivals, her face flushed with
fury): "For #@*!&% sake close that @$!&%*&@ door!!"
FRANCES (equally angry, snapping at Lt. Katz instead, the door to
Admiral Straker's quarters now shut and locked. secure): "That will
be enough, Lt. Katz!! Don't take it out on them just because you know
Sarah and Ernie are right!"
ELAYNA (hissing back at her superior): "With all due respect I'll say
it again: You can't just go around killing high ranking officials
belonging to alien governments well beyond Commonwealth jurisdiction.
Don't forget that, without Maccs here anymore, we're all trapped here
for better, or worse the rest of our lives -- lives we might end up
spending in some Federation prison should you carry on as you are".
FRANCES: "Better a Federation prison for doing what's right than
living in this universe out of prison only to. to.. <<>>
"Do you want to see that. that. FREAK get away in this universe what
he got away with on our Earth only on a galactic level instead of
just global level. I say `wack `im' before he has the chance. As far
as I'm concerned there's a body bag out there with that that. THING'S
name on it and I'm doin' up the zip!!"
KARN: "Excuse me, but I'm a bit lost here. Got to admit that guy
gives me the creeps, too but what exactly did he do where you come
from?"
FRANCES (thrusting out her hand in the direction of Karn's voce
guessing someone like Karn, Sarah, and/or Prince Roshi might ask
that. handing Karn one of those "Ei-pads" he saw back on Starchild
while still giving Lt. Katz an angry stare that, on its own, looked
able to kill): "Here. read for yourselves!"
<<>>
ELAYNA (angry at Frances, but snapping at Karn): "Not this Scarlett!!
That's the whole point". <<>> "You can't kill a man in this universe for something his
double did over 900 years ago in ours. something this Scarlett
hasn't even done yet. For all we know this man could be the exact
opposite of our ."
FRANCES (cutting Elayna off with an angry snarl): "Don't give me
that!! You saw the way he looked at Sarah -- that expression on his
face just like the herstorical Pics of him back."
ELAYNA (likewise cutting Frances off): "Fine, then. Lets put it to
the test, then. Maccs." <<< then, remembering where she was>>> "Oh
s&#t -- `Computer'!!"
COMPUTER: (the Alice Cooper-B computer, responding as would the
Enterprise computer on "Star Trek: The Next Generation", Elayna still
not used to a "female-sounding" computer): "Yes?"
ELAYNA: "Brief Federation dossier on Federation Vice President
Philippe Silas Scarlett -- place of birth, upbringing, family, etc."
COMPUTER: "Vice President Philippe Silas Scarlett: Born; Stardate
0386.36 in Bristol, England, Earth -- seventh son of ex-Starfleet
officer, Erin Byron Scarlett; himself the seventh son of Corbin Ryan
Scarlett.
"Entered Starfleet training at the age of 18, showing a special
talent for intelligence work, recruited by then Commodore Stephan
Krieger for service in the Starfleet Secret Service. believed to have
later recruited into the covert organization; "Section 31"; although
the allegation couldn't be proved after Scarlett's service file
mysteriously vanished before a proper investigation could be
conducted -- allegations denied by then Vice President Frederic
Alfred Boeuldallier. present Federation President Boeuldallier.
despite accusations of involvement still unproven.
"Later."
FRANCES (cutting the Alice Cooper-B computer off, mid-
stride): "Computer; any public information concerning V.P. Scarlett's
philosophical/spiritual beliefs and any close female/male
relationships?"
COMPUTER "Seen often in the company of a Lady Cassandra P. Robertson,
a Wiccan priestess graduated from the University of London,
Scarlett's religious affiliations involve no particular organized
faith although he is an avid student of occult belief and practice
showing special interest in such topics as witchcraft lycanthropy,
vampirism, demonology, and necromancy -- he and Lady Robertson often
seen together in attendance of major pagan events and pubic
celebrations in their own native England including the."
FRANCES (giving Lt. Katz a triumphant glance, an "I-told-you-so" look
on her face): "Enough, computer." <<>> "Need you hear any more? I
know I sure don't!!"
ELAYNA (still objecting to Frances' plan to assassinate
Scarlett): "All right; admitted: there are certain similarities
between."
FRANCES (sarcastic, a definite sneer on her face): "Similarities,
Lieutenant? How about everything identical right down to Cassandra
Robertson, all that seventh-son-of-a-seventh-son crud, and
even `President Frederic Alfred Boeuldallier -- the same name as
Premier Boeuldallier, the elected leader of the `United European
Commonwealth' who Scarlett himself had assassinated in a military
coup d'etat back in 2031, founding right after that the `United
European Empire' with the.".
ELAYNA (almost screaming in reply):"Our Scarlett. YES!! However, as
you can see, President Boeuldallier is still quite alive and well in
this universe. YOU CAN"T KILL A MAN IN THIS UNIVERSE FOR SOMETHING HE
HASN"T DONE BASED ON WHAT HIS ANCIENT DOPPLEGANGER DID IN OURS!!!!"
FRANCES (cooling down. somewhat. her expression now that of cool
determination giving Lt. Katz a somewhat sarcastic glance): "Fine,
Lieutenant. So what do you suggest?"
ELAYNA (nodding, somewhat calmer herself now): "Well, as I remember
it, it seemed to me Captain Kalee wasn't too thrilled to see Fleet
Admiral Scarlett aboard his ship. Maybe we should start there. let
him and maybe Admiral Arthur in on what Sarah and Ernie read in this
Scarlett's mind as well as everything we know about our Scarlett
and his uncanny similarity to this one in both personal herstory and
(so it would seem from Sarah and Ernie tell us) personality -- let
the Federation machinery take over".
FRANCES (still upset, but willing to give Elayna's suggestion a fair
chance): "Fine by me if Master Karn, Sarah, Prince Roshi, and
Ernie... too. likewise agree. After all, this is as much their
concern now as it is ours". <<< Then; turning to Karn, Sarah, Prince
Roshi, and Ernie>>> "So, how about it?"
Sarah assured Admiral Frances that she and Ernie were willing to help.
Sarah remembered listening to some records that Maccs had in his
files and had an idea that might settle there uncertainities. When
she had listened to the Herstory of Earth she remembered that 1000
years ago Earth had started requiring the registration at birth of an
person's DNA. While other artifacts of the original Scarlett might be
gone she wondered if they could locate the original DNA registration
of the "first" Scarlett and compare it to the DNA of "current" VP
Scarlett. Even in this century, it was required for all "legitimate"
representatives of different worlds and governments to have their DNA
on file as a means of identifying them--since DNA was the absolute
way to make sure the real individual was who he claimed to be. She
doubted if the current Scarlett would have bothered to try to destroy
a DNA record from 900 years ago. She proposed to the others the idea
of trying to get the original DNA records of the 1st Scarlett so they
could compare to the DNA records of VP Scarlett. And if he did turn
out to be the original Scarlett-no matter how impossible it might
seem--as a famous individual once said, "Once you eliminate the
possible, that only leaves the impossible!"
As the diner party ended aboard the USS Alice Cooper-B all of the guests went their own way. The Vice President of course was given the luxurious suite vor VIPs only. As all retreated to either their duties or their quarters, Admiral Arthur and Colonel Theys went to the Admiral's quarters, not that fancy of Vice President Scarlett, but more than sufficient. When the door of the room closed behind the Admiral, Colonel Theys was already checking on alien devices. This was just a routine examination they always did, even on other ships of the Federation. The room turned out to be clean.
"So what have you got?"
"Not much Arthur. Mostly family info. The Scarletts are a rather large family. It seems seven kids is a must. There is nothing special about Philippe Silas Scarlett. He had a normal career, like any other politician in the Federation. I have contacted some old friends to see whether they could come up with something, but there is nothing yet. I still can't figure out why the Vice President of the United Federation of Planets wants to come in person to this place, in the middle of nowhere. He did not even have a look at our ships, USS Ajax and USS Strike which are build with violating all Starfleet regulations. He didn't even look. I can only think that this man is up to something and the key is the USS Alice Cooper-B. That is where he settled down."
At this moment Colonel Theys pauzes for a moment to take a call on the terminal close at his right hand. An older man appeares on the monitor. It seems he is looking around alot as if he is scared of something. Then his face looks right into the face of the Colonel.
"Colonel. I think we found something. The rumors about our Vice President being active in Section 31, is true. We have found a confession from a Section 31 operative called Luther Sloan, in which he mentions Scarlett being active on at least seven missions himself. Unfortunately Sloan is dead and we only have this computerfile of which Scarlett will probably say it is a forgery. We cannot prove anything."
"Is this Luther Sloan to be trusted?"
"I worked with him for six years. He saved my life on more than a few occasions, and I rescued him as well on several occasions. Maybe that is why he send me his safety files. Sorry got to go. They are almost on to me."
Admiral Arthur who has been listening, still has some questions.
"Well Colonel Jan Theys, what was that all about? I know who that was. Kordoba Mostok, an extremely wanted spy of the Federation. I didn't know he was in Section 31 as well."
"I didn't either until now, but the only thing that matters is that at least we know a little bit more about our Vice President. Although I would not recommend doing a survey on all his actions. He probably has technology to discover just that so he would be alerted and act accordingly."
"I am sure Admiral Frances knows Scarlett as well. Her face told me already, but I thought it was because of the loss of the Starchild ship. The others had that same disturbed face. This is a small piece of this puzzle. Now I am sure this has something to do with Scarlett. But i cannot figure out what, how and why. come on. Let's go see Admiral Frances and just ask."
Both officers stood up and walked to the door. Admiral Arthur tapped his combadge and gave a last order before leaving the room.
"USS Ajax, USS Strike, this is the Admiral. Do not, I repeat, do not let Vice President Scarlett aboard. If he attempts to do so, shoot to kill. Is that clear?"
Aboard USS Ajax Droid 69 replied with an acknowledgement as did Droid 39 aboard the USS Strike...