Tag: borg

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Journey Through Wonder ships

LS-19 Juggernaut

The Juggernaut is a standard Dreadnought-class Borg Cube. Its main functions are for battle and assimilation, though it’s toned down the last part since this particular cube works for the Lord Collective instead of the Borg. It measures at 3,040 meters by 3,040 meters by 3,040 meters and has a crew complement of roughly 130,000. Like other Lord ships, this one has a Captain, a Cardassian Lord named Ziddet under the pseudonym of Empress Terminus. Even with all the Lords woven into the ship, it’s still considered not alive.

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Journey Through Wonder ships

LS-01 Imperium

After the Author introduced individuality into a mini Borg Collective and rechristened them into the Lords, they got to work creating a new ship where they took a Borg Diamond and attached triangular pyramids to each face of the Diamond. The first of its class, the Imperium is a Cluster-class ship and serves as the Lords’ flagship. Its intended use is for fleet command. Its measurements are 3,500 meters by 3,500 meters by 3,500 meters and it has a crew complement of 420,000. Its Captain is the Lords’ leader, the Author and is considered not alive.

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Weaver's Journey

Weaver’s Journey 9

The hidden probe followed the group of villains as they were given a tour of the Oni’s castle. “And this here,” cheered a red woman in a yellow dress as they reached a large room, Ral Turgyt, “is our ballroom!”

“It’s where we host our daily balls,” explained a blue man in red dress, Tor Uroguf. “You can never go wrong with having skirts rustle up to one another!”

“If you lot are good,” suggested Tan Kelgyt, “we’ll let you dance with us!”

“Yay,” muttered Hiro. He looked to his wife and child, then to the Terrorcons, then to Intrag. Just then, the lights went off.

“What the?!” spluttered Yem Mefguf. “Argh, the lights! I swear!” He turned sweetly to the villains. “Don’t go away,” he said. “Rally and I will be right back!”

“Jat Kuttaw, you and your copies see to it that our guests are all right,” Ral Kelqen directed the butler’s red-skinned, blue-wearing, right-side monocle using copy.

“Very good, Ma’am,” replied Jat Kuttaw. As the masters of the castle left, the butler looked to the villains. “Tea?” he asked.

All the two Oni’s parts came together into their greater black forms to investigate the power failure. “I swear!” growled Yemtorpai.

“Don’t do that,” chided Rallamtan. “It’s a bad habit.” They made their way to the fuse box and checked it. “…That’s funny. Nothing’s tripped. Everything is fully on.”

“Did someone cut the wires?” muttered Yemtorpai. He pulled his phone out of his parasol and tried to call someone. “What the?! No signal?!”

“Wait, if there’s no signal-!” gasped Rallamtan. Yemtorpai realized what was going on.

“THE ANKLE BRACELETS!” the two Oni yelped.

“So, are we just standing here with our thumbs up our noses?” grunted Lord Dominator as she idly twirled part of her hair.

“Looks that way,” remarked Hiro’s daughter, Hana.

“Might I advise something?” offered Jat Kuttaw.

“What’s that?” asked Igura.

“I would advise NOT going down below to the dungeon and NOT removing your ankle bracelets in the process. I would also advise you, once you do NOT go to the dungeon, do NOT turn left and open the armory where your weapons are currently stored. I would also advise AGAINST fighting me and my duplicates to make the act more convincing until you do NOT regain your weaponry.” Even the slowest of villains got that hint. Hiro grinned as the butler’s other duplicates arrived, getting into fighting stances.

“Away we go!” called Hiro. That was all the villains needed to attack the butler. During the fight, the ankle bracelets came off. Once they were freed of those devices, they all dashed to the dungeon and found the armory.

Rallamtan and Yemtorpai found their butler’s individual selves sprawled all over the ballroom. They quickly brought all the selves together into Jatturlan Najkutlentawyug. “Jatturlan, what’s happened?!” asked Yemtorpai.

“I’m afraid the fiends took advantage of the power outage,” replied Jatturlan, “and took down all my copies while disposing of their ankle bracelets. They managed to get the location of their weapons from me and left me to suffer alone!”

“The Villain Vault!” hissed Rallamtan. As the Oni trio dashed to the armory, Rallamtan and Yemtorpai changed their dresses into what looked like a cross between a military person’s kit and clothes and samurai armor complete with oni masks. They drew their kanabō and increased their speed.

The three oni arrived at the armory too late. The villains had regained their weapons and those that were shrunken had regained their original sizes. That bit applied to Primacron, Starscream and his Trine, and six of the Terrorcons. Nemesis Prime simply plugged himself into the purple car. “Time to see if it still works!” he chuckled. “Nemesis Prime, TRANSFORM!” The car changed shape and assumed the form of a massive purple robot with the organic pilot concealed in an orange canopy. “Still fits!” cheered Nemesis Prime.

“Now, those letters,” recalled Hiro, “said we should thank the one who gave us the opportunity.”

“What letters?!” demanded Rallamtan.

“They’re referring,” explained Jatturlan, “to the letters my real employer sent out to inform them on how to regain their power.”

“Did you cut the power?” asked Saruman.

“Indeed, Mr. Saruman.”

“You bastard!” snarled Yemtorpai. “You gave the wolves their fangs back!”

“We prefer snakes to wolves,” chuckled Primacron.

“I’ve split the skulls of both!” growled Rallamtan as she readied her kanabō. “They explode all the same!”

“I say, madam,” warned Jatturlan as he held a kunai to her throat, “would you terribly mind lowering your kanabō?”

“You’re gonna regret this betrayal!” snarled Yemtorpai.

“I think not. You see, my employer has promised that, in exchange for betraying you, I would take over this sector of Hell.”

“…About that,” remarked Starscream. Everyone leveled their weapons as Jatturlan.

“You can’t be serious!”

“Come on! What did you expect? It’s what our letters promised.”

“That was NOT the bargain! I gave you your weapons’ location in exchange for power! You surrender yourselves to me and I command an empire!”

“Ah, yes, not so good a bargain. How about this one? My army, my empire!”

“About that!” snarled Lord Dominator. Everyone then pointed their weapons to Starscream, who had the nerve to be surprised!

“Why you beef-witted, five-faced scrubs! Khan promised me an empire!”

“Khan?!” yelped Yemtorpai. Everyone then heard a dog barking. It was a little chihuahua that had found her master.

“Why in the Pit is there a chihuahua here?!” demanded Starscream.

“She’s our Hellhound!” explained Rallamtan and Yemtorpai. The chihuahua’s head then expanded and clamped her jaws around Starscream’s hand. After a struggle, Starscream pulled the dog off and realized his hand was missing. There was only one thing he could do in that instance…scream in horror. At that scream, there was the biggest brouhaha among villains ever! Hiro and his family rolled their eyes and made their way out of the fight and up the stairs. The Terrorcons, Dr. Borg and her fellows, and Intrag followed them as their letters gave them different instructions in finding a way out. After their attempts, I would swoop in and rescue them.

Aboard the Imperium, I smirked. “We’re almost there,” I chuckled.

“Incoming transmissions from New Mordor and Shocker Umbra’s base of operations,” reported the Collective.

“Put them through,” I replied. Gorshagh and Metaltron appeared on screen.

“Khan, we’ve made our decision,” said Metaltron with a smile.

“We’re in!” supplied Gorshagh.

“Excellent,” I praised. “I’ll call you when I need you. For now, I need to wait until our last batch of allies is ready. See you when everything’s set.”

“Understood,” replied Metaltron. The call then ended.

“Maintain cloaked holding pattern,” I ordered the Imperium as the probe followed Hiro’s group out of the cul-de-sac and into the wasteland surrounding it. “We wait until they’re near the end of their rope.

Categories
Weaver's Journey

Weaver’s Journey 8

With Anansi having fled and my donor and his parents out of the way, I could continue my plans unimpeded. I had to make alliances and I knew where to start. There was a universe called N-3-W-M-0-R-D-0-R, run by Orcs, Trolls, and wicked Men. I asked to meet their Dark Lord for a meeting with another person. I then contacted 5-H-0-C-K-3-R-U-M-8-R-4 and requested to meet with their leader. We decided on holding the meeting aboard the Imperium. Sonavok, Ziddet, and I waited patiently until the Collective gave a report in our heads. “Two vessels have been detected,” it said. “One Ancalagon-class vessel. One Predator-class vessel. Both on intercept course.”

“Let them come within transporter range and hail them,” I ordered. The Ancalagon-class vessel was shaped like the first of the flying dragons Morgoth created for his armies and the Predator-class vessel was a purple saucer. Once the vessels were close enough, I hailed them. “This is the Imperium. You are cleared to send your ambassadors aboard.”

“This is the Gorgoroth, sending over our Dark Lord,” replied the Ancalagon-class vessel. Just then, Gorshagh shimmered into view.

“This is the Relentless, sending over our Great Leader,” answered the Predator-class ship. Metaltron appeared.

“Welcome, my friends, to the Imperium!” I greeted the two. “May I offer you two refreshments? Grog or some wine?”

“Save it,” grunted Gorshagh. “You said you wanted to meet us.”

“So, what prompts the Borg to want to negotiate?” asked Metaltron.

“Strictly speaking, they’re not Borg,” I corrected.

“As far as I can tell, you’re the only individual on this ship.”

“I can assure you,” interjected Sonavok, “we’re all individuals where it matters.”

“The Lords are quite different from our original Borg masters,” supplied Ziddet.

“…Okay, you’re more free thinking than I thought,” muttered Metaltron.

“Tell me, you both wish to command the multiverse, yes?” I asked.

“Yeah, your point?” grunted Gorshagh.

“What if I were to tell you I have the means to do so? To make you lot gods of a new multiverse?”

“…I’d back away slowly and call the nearest insane asylum.”

“Even if I had, say, the Tome?” Metaltron snorted in disbelief.

“That thing?” she asked. “That’s just a myth.”

“It’s no myth,” explained Sonavok. “We’ve been guarding it at the behest of Anansi.”

“Now that’s a lie!” scoffed Gorshagh. “Anansi doesn’t exist!”

“He does,” replied Metaltron. Gorshagh turned to her in confusion.

“I thought you don’t believe in legends.”

“I don’t, but Anansi is real. I saw him.”

“And I was his student at one point,” I supplied. “And the Tome is real.”

“Then show me the proof!” challenged Gorshagh.

“…All right. I have something in mind.” I then opened the Tome up, turned the pages to a passage I wrote, and read it aloud. “‘After the Tome snapped shut, the Relentless and the Gorgoroth reported that they had ended up hovering over a barren wasteland with a single cul-de-sac as the defining landmark.’”

“…What?” asked Gorshagh. I smirked and closed the Tome. After the Tome snapped shut, the Relentless and the Gorgoroth reported that they had ended up hovering over a barren wasteland with a single cul-de-sac as the defining landmark.

“Well?” I asked.

“…Okay, I’m convinced,” muttered Gorshagh.

“Godhood, you say?” asked Metaltron.

“It’s going to require the resources of Shocker Umbra and New Mordor,” I explained.

“Why the negotiations?” quizzed Gorshagh.

“You’re the only one that doesn’t fit with the Borg norm,” observed Metaltron.

“Strictly speaking, this entire mini-Collective doesn’t,” I corrected. “We only assimilate those that want to be assimilated.”

“Even then,” supplied Ziddet, “we still pursue our individual pursuits.”

“Besides,” I continued, “your resources aren’t exactly ones we can take like the Borg. Hence why the negotiations.”

“I see,” muttered Metaltron.

“And these resources are?” asked Gorshagh.

“Multiversal maps,” I explained. “Different types of starships. Soldiers. I need them to find the Sources of the Apocalypse and Flourishment, as well as the Master Wand, the Time Amethyst, and the Mirror of Reality.”

“Don’t you have the resources you want?” asked Metaltron. “This ship isn’t exactly standard Borg design, and you have Cubes, Spheres, and Probes with the necessary man-power for those ships.”

“For all the Lords’ superiority,” I replied, “we’re not exactly the most…inconspicuous of people. Even the Imperium’s outer hull gives away its Borg origins. We need people who can blend in somewhat.

“And that’s where we come in?” asked Gorshagh.

“Yep. Besides, you’re more experienced in multiversal travel. Your mutual defense compact allows one of your two factions to succeed where the other went wrong. And the size of your armies are definitely nothing to sneeze at. So, what say you? Join me and become gods?” The two sides looked to each other.

“…I don’t know about Metaltron,” muttered Gorshagh, “but I say neither Yea nor Nay. I must consider this message and what it means under its fair cloak.”

“He’s right,” remarked Metaltron, “you talk very prettily and have a lot of power, but we need to be careful. We’ll tell you when we’ve made our decision.”

“Consider well,” I said, “but not too long.”

“The time of my thought is my own to spend!” snarled Gorshagh.

“For the present.”

“Let me warn you right now,” growled Metaltron, “rush our decision and, Tome or not, you WILL have a war on your hands. We have various anti-Borg strategies at our disposal.” The two summoned their ships to beam them out and leave. Once the ships left Hell’s skies, I smirked.

“We’ve got them,” I chuckled.

“Got them?” asked Ziddet. “They don’t seem convinced.”

“But there’s a chance for power,” I replied. “They won’t pass this up.”

“You’re sure about that?” asked Sonavok.

“One is a former Dalek; the other is a Middle-Earth Orc. They’re VERY good at choosing power.”

“…Very well.”

“In the meantime, I believe the denizens of Hell are currently enacting the plan. On screen.” A hologram of the cul-de-sac below us then showed the Oni gathering everyone up for a field trip. For some odd reason to the Oni, everyone looked compliant.

“All right, everyone!” called a red Oni woman in a blue dress, Lam Kelgyt. “It’s time for the wonderful castle tour!”

“You will see how we conduct our wonderful operations here!” said a yellow Oni woman in a blue dress, Tan Kelgyt.

“And don’t forget, any misbehavior will result in the removal of certain privileges!” warned a yellow Oni man in a red dress, Pai Urokeh.

“So follow us,” called a blue Oni man in a yellow dress, Tor Mefguf, “and let’s have fun!”

“That’s it,” I chuckled darkly, “go on and give them the means to free themselves.”

Categories
Weaver's Journey

Weaver’s Journey 7

I continued fighting Daiku and Ddraig as the Lords looked onwards. They were acting naturally and stood around with a few movements instead of standing like statues. I kept only the necessary voices in my head as I needed as much data as I could on how they even got onto my ship in the first place! The shields were up, for a start! The fleet outside was constantly updating its software, but I felt confident that I would break through it sooner or later. The Lords are still Borg in that regard.

“The Borg are still trying to break through our data encryptions,” warned M’Row’s Chief Engineer, a Vulcan man. “Altering encryptions once more.”

“I’ve noticed a distinctly longer pause between your reports,” remarked M’Row. “Is something up?”

“In this instance, what is ‘up’ is that the Borg seem to be toying with us like-”

“Like us Caitians?”

“I was going to say a Naussican, but your analogy will suffice, Captain.”

“I don’t like it, this isn’t normal Borg behavior,” I muttered. “…Unless…oh no!” A horrible thought went through my head.

“Sir?” asked M’Row.

“Get me the Tholian Ship!”

As I continued fighting, I could feel a form of panic in my bones. Oddly enough, it didn’t come from me, it felt like it came from somewhere else. Just then, one of my Cubes, the Juggernaut, got all the data I wanted. …Well, I may have wanted it originally, but that feeling died…almost as bad as my original’s parents will! With my supposed familial connections proven wrong, I stopped holding back. That forced them to fight harder. “Son, I promise you,” urged Daiku, “you won’t be harmed if you just surrender!”

“Surrender to the likes of you?!” I replied as I pulled out a light and dark Elementrigger. “I’d never be able to show my face!” I connected the two, then pressed the button.

“What’s the word?” asked my belt.

“Balance!” I replied. I then split the Elementriggers and swapped my base ones out for the paired ones. Light and dark then surrounded me.

“BALANCING ACT!” announced my belt. “WEAVER: YIN YANG FORM!” My suit became a blend of white and black.

“Son, you’re not thinking clearly!” urged Ddraig.

“I think you mean Clone!”

“…What?”

“A Cube got every scrap of data of my origins on Kamino!” I explained. “You used their cloning techniques to create a practice dummy just so you could learn how your son fights if he ever turned evil! Well, let me tell you now, your definition of good and evil, the one you instilled in him, is ANTIQUATED! You two will have no choice but to bury him!” In hindsight, since I’m the Author’s clone, I should have known better than to say that around a woman like Ddraig.

“NOT MY SON, YOU BASTARD!” She swapped out the device in her belt with a green one.

“Daeargryn!” (Earthquake!) announced the belt. Her armor became green and evoked Toph from the Avatar universe. She then charged at me and slammed her fist right into my solar plexus. Should have blocked that. I was winded temporarily, giving Daiku enough time to pull out a device. He pulled the Fandom Shield out and inserted it into the new device.

“PRIME! TRANSFORM!” called the device. He then inserted the new device into the belt and opened the Fandom Shield. New panels then extended from the device, depicting Primus and Unicron.

“Transformers: Prime!” called the belt. It then played the last segment of Transformers: Prime’s opening theme. His suit looked like that series’ version of Optimus and he gained the Star Saber. He raised the blade above me.

“You wouldn’t kill your own son, would you?” I asked.

“No, just pathetic copies!” replied Daiku. That bit of talking was all I needed to turn the weapons dial of my belt.

“ONINI SABER!” it called. My sword then blocked his, then wrapped itself around the blade and threw him across the deck!

“Should have kept your mouth shut!” I taunted.

“Have you examined yourself recently?!” replied my own voice from behind me. I turned to see my donor’s armored fist go straight across my face. When I recovered, I leapt to a balcony overlooking the whole thing.

“There he is!” I laughed. “The OG Kamen Rider Weaver, himself!”

“You don’t have any clue what OG means!” snarled my donor.

“Original Gangster,” I replied. “A similar phrase would be ‘old-school’. You know, backwards idiots like Mama and Dad!”

“KHAN!” roared Ddraig. “I’ll show you backwards!”

“Come down here and get your spanking!” snarled Daiku.

“SHUT YOUR MOUTH, YOU MORONS!” I finally shouted. “This is now between me and your son!”

“Then do as Dad said and come down here so we can end this!” growled my donor.

“Nah, patience!” I chuckled. “This is just the beginning! First, it has to HURT!” I punched my hand for emphasis. “Then, if one of the Lords beats you to the point that your transformations are cancelled, so much the better!” The Lords then moved around the three. “But if they don’t, well, that’s when the real fun starts!” The Lords, now no longer shackled by the original Borg programming, went on an aggressive attack pattern. The attack was too much for my duplicate and his parents and it knocked them out of their transformations. I cancelled my own as the Lords held them down. Anansi was surrounded as I pulled the Tome out.

“ANANSI!” called my donor. “HELP!” Anansi looked back and forth between the Lords and my donor…then vanished. “ANANSI!”

“That worthless arachnid won’t save you now,” I remarked. I opened the Tome to an entry I had written earlier and read it aloud. “‘Once the narration was finished and the Tome was closed, the original Author and his parents turned, rather painfully, into denizens of Arsha’s world, a Sea Dragon woman, a Sky Elf man, and their Blender son, then they passed out until they were brought to the Realms with a new past that worked within the Realms.’”

“What?!” yelped my donor. Once the narration was finished and the Tome was closed, the original Author and his parents turned, rather painfully, into denizens of Arsha’s world, a Sea Dragon woman, a Sky Elf man, and their Blender son, then they passed out until they were brought to the Realms with a new past that worked within the Realms. I turned to a Turei Lord.

“Get that fleet out of here,” I commanded him. “Sonavok, Ziddet, take my donor and his parents to the Realms. They will wake up in their home of Varshenta Beach and will have forgotten their old lives as humans, remembering only that they are Leumas Venchitak and his parents, Petramel Venchitak and Noletam Farginta.”

“What about their original universe?” asked Sonavok.

“…Destroy it. I want no further attachments.”

“As you wish.” I could see through the Collective that the combined fleet was pushed back into 5-T-4-R-T-R-3-K-0-N-L-1-N-3 and that a single Cube was making its way through the rift to find my donor’s old universe. Meanwhile, Ziddet dropped Leumas and his parents off at Varshenta Beach just a few years before Arsha began her tour. When they woke up, they wondered what the heck they were doing napping on the beach and headed to their respective jobs. All that was left was to watch the Civil War of the Damned.

Categories
Weaver's Journey

Weaver’s Journey 6

It took a few years and a lot of secret-keeping, but I finally got my own, personal ship! It’s built like a Borg Diamond, but the faces had triangular pyramids on them. It was roughly 500 meters longer on all sides compared to the 3,000-meter sides of a Borg Cube. I called her the Imperium, registry LS-0109. As is typical on a Borg ship, there were corridors lined with Drones and multiple redundant systems, including personal quarters for myself when I need some space. Each of my quarters had a bed, a kitchen with replicator, a bathroom, an art and writing station, and a tv with game consoles. As I was admiring the handiwork, the Collective’s voice rang throughout the ship. “A cross-faction fleet has been detected. Five Starfleet vessels. Three Klingon Defense Force vessels. Three Romulan Republic Vessels. Three Dominion vessels. One Tholian vessel. All are on an intercept course.”

“Alter course to meet them!” I ordered. I sat in the central throne as the Borg surrounding me stood in their alcoves, commanding the Imperium through their will.

“All stop,” reported the Collective. “The USS Jerome Horwitz is hailing us.”

“Open a channel,” I ordered. The Captain of the Jerome Horwitz appeared on the screen. She was a human that, judging by her prosthesis, was liberated from the Borg.

“This is Cassandra Harold of Starfleet,” she introduced herself. “Khan, we know what you’ve done after I retrieved my Captain’s Yacht. Surrender at once or your ship will be destroyed while you are taken into custody.”

“I won’t be surrendering any time soon,” I replied. “My ship’s hull has neutronium in it and nothing would make me happier than you giving me an excuse to prove it!” Anansi’s face then appeared. Judging by the Tholians surrounding him, I’d say he was on the Tholian ship.

“I trained you better than this!” he hissed.

“The Tome will finally give us all what we want without consequence! Wrongs will be corrected! Bad guys will fall like dominoes-!”

“And good guys will get the happy endings they deserve,” interrupted Anansi, “and everything will be wonderful! …Except, that’s where people like you get it wrong.”

“There are no people like me!”

“Sorry, but there ARE. You’ve become the two-bit terror you once hated!” How dare he!

“I am the hero the multiverse needs! With the Lords at my side, we’ll finally bring harmony to every single universe!”

“My own son!” hissed a woman’s voice that I could recognize while asleep. I whirled around to see my parents standing there!

“…You just had to get me to talk!” I snarled at Anansi. Mom growled as she stormed towards me.

“I raised you better than this!” she said. “I thought the Borg were your biggest nightmare!”

“And I made this mini-Collective into something greater!” I insisted. “I gave them all emotions and I installed creativity into them! They have their own identities now! Yes, they’re still a hive mind, but it’s not an oppressive one! I made these guys Lords!”

“Somehow,” remarked Dad, “I could hear the capital ‘L’. Boy, you’ve crossed the damn line!”

“…My own parents?!” I hissed, livid at this betrayal.

“You’re not thinking right!” urged Mom. “Come back!” Anansi’s replacement hopped onto my shoulder. It was a purely mechanical spider with the necessary power to maintain my suit and its various forms. It took a lot of trial and error, but I finally had it perfected. I brought out my base Elementriggers and the spider formed my belt.

“What’s the word?” it asked.

“Henshin!” I replied as I separated the Elementriggers and attached them to the belt. I transformed into Kamen Rider Weaver. Dad brought out his belt.

“FANDOM SHIELDRIVER!” it announced. He then brought out his base Fandom Shield and pressed the button.

“TRANSFORM!” it called out.

“Henshin,” said Dad. He didn’t sound like his heart was in it. He inserted the Shield into the ShielDriver, then pressed a button to open it.

“THE TRANSFORMERS!” called the belt. “Autobots wage their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons!” He became Kamen Rider Daiku. Mom then brought out her own belt, sighing in grief.

“My own son, throwing away what we taught him,” she mumbled.

“When did YOU become a Kamen Rider?!” I asked.

“Believe it or not, this is my first fight. I just wish I had a different opponent.” As she put the belt on, I noticed it had a dragon motif to it. It looked like three circles with two dragons about to chomp on a circle each. She then pulled out a long card that looked like a dragon breathing fire. She slid the card into her belt and the circles glowed, alternating in different colors. “Henshin,” she said.

“Llosgi!” (Burn!) called the belt in Welsh. Flames surrounded her and her Rider suit formed. It looked like a classic flying dragon. In fact, the helmet evoked Draco from Dragonheart. I assumed my beginning pose, as did my parents. Dad started it.

“All the world’s a stage, but I’M editing this script! Kamen Rider Daiku!” I decided it was time for my new catchphrase.

“You face Kamen Rider Weaver, the Author of all Reality!”

“Kamen Rider Ddraig,” said Mom, using the Welsh word for Dragon. “You sure about that, Cupcake?”

M’Row, the blue haired Caitian Captain of the USS Tiger, tapped her finger on her armrest. She felt a little on edge. “This is nuts,” she hissed to herself.

“Captain?” asked her First Officer.

“Let’s just say I have a little…history with the Borg.”

“You’re fine around your XB Captains,” I remarked as I stepped onto the bridge. M’Row looked at me.

“Look, are you sure this was a good idea?” she asked. “Cloning yourself and letting it loose with Anansi like that?”

“To be honest, no,” I replied. “But I asked Mom and Dad to keep me in check one way or another and Anansi thought this would be the best way. There’s no way this is easy for them, though. I mean, they KNOW it’s a copy, but it still has my face.”

“I’m just surprised,” remarked M’Row’s Helmsman, “that the Borg aren’t attacking us.”

“Yeah, a little surprising,” I muttered. “I need to talk to Anansi, see what’s going on.”

Categories
Weaver's Journey

Weaver’s Journey 5

I had struck a friendship with Sonavok and an assimilated Cardassian woman named Eshett Ziddet. We usually had meals together, each one of us assigned a day when we cooked. I must admit, Romulan and Cardassian cooking is quite good, and they seemed impressed with the dishes I made so far. It was breakfast time, and I was the chef. I made some chocolate and banana pancakes (real healthy, I know. I had fruit prepared as well.) and set the table. The door chime then rang. “Enter,” I said. Sonavok and Ziddet came in. Ziddet sniffed the air.

“Do I detect chocolate?” she asked. “Hardly the healthiest of breakfasts.”

“Well,” I replied, “the Lords have been expanding quite nicely. Why not celebrate?” Ziddet chuckled.

“Fair point,” she conceded. I then served up the pancakes. Sonavok then put ketchup on his stack, like he does on all his foods, something Ziddet and I found odd.

“You’d be surprised how tasty it actually is,” remarked the assimilated Romulan.

“Well, you do you, I guess,” I muttered. “For me, though, I prefer the good old fashioned Vermont Maple Syrup.”

“I was under the impression that Canada produces better syrup,” mused Ziddet.

“Ah, don’t listen to them! Vermont’s the best!” The syrup came in a can, and I poured it all over my pancakes. Ziddet did the same with a different can (I don’t remember replicating two cans of syrup) and took a bite. As she chewed, her expression changed to one of confusion. It then turned into a look of panic as it looked like she was trying to open her mouth!

“M! MM MMMM M MMM!”

“What did you say?” asked Sonavok.

“MM MMMM M MMM!”

“That’s what I thought you said!” Sonavok then stood up and went to assist Ziddet.

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

“Her mouth’s stuck!” replied Sonavok. I got up and the two of us tried to get her mouth to move. Our efforts were just like the Borg usually called resistance; futile.

“Maybe it’s something she ate,” I muttered. Ziddet then pointed at her plate. I got the hint! “Not my pancakes!” I took her plate and took a bite out of one of her pancakes to prove there was nothing wrong. …Didn’t work out too well. “Okay, I admit the pancakes ain’t exactly hot, but this is Vermont Maple Syrup! You can’t say no to that!” I scraped some of the syrup and gulped it down.

“Wait, which can did you use?” Sonavok asked Ziddet. She pointed to the can she used and Sonavok read the label. Just then, I noticed something was wrong with my mouth. Sonavok’s eye then popped open. “Er, which part of this ‘Vir-mont’ does Stix-fast glue come from?!” Glue?! Oh no! I had a can of glue out to work on an art project! I didn’t put it away. Ziddet read my thoughts through the transceiver and mumbled a flurry of Cardassian curses and swears. I mumbled an assurance and put the kettle on. The steam should melt the glue. The steam came out, then Sonavok took the kettle. Confused, I followed him. “Good idea, Khan!” he said. “The hot water should do the trick!” Ziddet and I read his thoughts and tried to stop him! He managed to hold us both down and poured the contents of the kettle all over our mouths! The glue melted enough to let our screams of pain out! “There, you see?” chuckled Sonavok.

“Got something against Cardassians, do you?!” snapped Ziddet.

“The steam would have been sufficient!” I supplied. “What did you think we were, lobsters?! You trying to boil us?!” We were about to continue berating him when an alert rang through the Collective.

“Target universe located,” reported the Collective’s voice. “Incursion ready.” I replicated ration bars and the three of us abandoned breakfast to get to our stations.

I had a small spy probe, shaped like an octahedron, fly into the universe and look at what was going on. Right now, it seemed like a cul-de-sac within a barren wasteland with people just wandering the area. The probe looked around and saw what looked like red, yellow, and blue clones of a man and a woman wearing dresses of the same colors. They seemed to have the personalities of eager psychiatrists, but I had a feeling that, given the nature of the universe, they were actually prison guards. The people WERE Oni (Japanese ogres). The men in dresses acted rather flamboyant, but very affectionate with everyone, man or woman. The ladies were just as affectionate and flamboyant as the men. The rest of the people were various villains wearing some form of ankle bracelet. I could spot Lord Dominator (the main antagonist of Wander Over Yonder’s second season), Aku (the big bad of Samurai Jack), Fire Lord Ozai (the villain of Avatar: The Last Airbender), Sauron, Saruman, the Nazgûl, Starscream, Skywarp, Sunstorm, the Terrorcons, Primacron, Oyed, Dr. Borg and her fellow Councilors, Intrag, Lord Vortech, Hiro, Igura, and a woman in a pink dress. “They’re all milling around,” remarked Ziddet as our cloaked cube hovered over the area. “I’m giving the order to attack.”

“I wouldn’t recommend that,” called an assimilated Bajoran woman.

“Why not?”

“Those ankle bracelets deaden the powers of everyone wearing them. We won’t be able to test their skill.”

“We’re not testing their skill,” I interjected. “We’re recruiting them as free agents. We won’t be assimilating them.”

“Why not?!” protested Ziddet and the Bajoran.

“They’re a little against assimilation. I won’t add them to our Collective if they don’t want it.”

“Won’t they work better as part of us?!” asked the Bajoran.

“…I was under the impression your old Borg programming was deleted.” That silenced her. “But you ARE right in that the ankle bracelets are a problem. The probe’s saying that they have a means of tracking their wearers on top of deadening their powers. The Oni are also a problem.”

“Especially their combined forms,” remarked Ziddet. …That was new to me.

“Combined forms?”

“According to the probe, the reason the men and women look the same is because they’re each twelve parts of one man and one woman. The women are all Rallamtan Ferkelturgytqen and the men are all Yemtorpai Uromefyekgufkeh. They can each combine into orange, green, and purple versions of themselves, and they all combine into a black version that makes up their greater whole.”

“There is a potential ally to help cause some chaos in that regard,” observed Sonavok through the Collective. Jatturlan Najkutlentawyug, the butler for the Oni running this place.”

“He has designs?” I asked.

“Designs of civil war in this universe. Particularly this sector.” I couldn’t resist a smirk.

“A Civil War among the damned,” I chuckled. “Sonavok, Ziddet, work your manipulation magic. I want Hiro and his family, Dr. Borg and her councilors, Intrag, and the Terrorcons ready to join us. The rest can squabble to their hearts’ content.”

“As you wish.”

Categories
Weaver's Journey

Weaver’s Journey 4

My shuttle approached the coordinates for a nice-enough tear through the dimensional barrier. It was a nice Captain’s Yacht that I, er, “borrowed” from the USS Jerome Horwitz. “Computer,” I said, “calculate optimal coordinates for a photon torpedo to open the tear.”

“Coordinates calculated,” replied the computer. “Fire at will.”

“Thank you.” I entered the coordinates for the torpedo, then pressed the launch initiator. The photon torpedo flew out from my shuttle’s underside and hit the tear, opening a vortex for me. I then flew the shuttle into the vortex. It was a very smooth ride.

“Approaching exit aperture,” reported the computer. I then steeled myself, preparing for the eventual Borg encounter.

“Raise shields and ready weapons.”

“Shields raised. Weapons ready.” I kept one hand near the navigational console while my other hand hovered over the weapons. The shuttle left the vortex and arrived at a Borg Unicomplex. Two cubes rushed out to greet me. “Enemy vessels are scanning this shuttle,” reported the computer. I then looked at the monitor and arched an eyebrow at the results.

“That’s weird, Borg scanning shouldn’t be so erratic.”

“Enemy Unicomplex hailing us.”

“Open a channel.” The Borg came through.

“We-We-W-W-We are-We are-We are the-are-are-are the Bo-the Bo-Bo-Bor-Borg-g-g-g-g. Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-You will b-will-will-w-w-w-will b-b-be ass-be assi-assi-assi-assimila-milated-ed-ed-ed. Resi-Resi-Re-Re-Re-Resis-is-is-istance i-i-i-i-is fut-t-t-tile.” The Cubes then activated their tractor beams, but the shuttle barely jiggled.

“…Computer, analyze tractor beam wavelength,” I ordered.

“Enemy tractor beam is unable to maintain cohesion,” replied the computer. I then got an idea.

“Computer, given all possible data on the Borg, is it possible that being in a separate universe would make their micro-collective decay and their own cohesion fall apart?”

“The available facts and data support your theory.”

“Thank you, I think I have a plan.” I then went on the comms with the Borg. “Borg Unicomplex, this is Khan, a human. You have been sent here by a person known as Anansi, yes?”

“C-C-C-orre-orre-orrect-ct-ct,” replied the Borg.

“You’ve been tasked with guarding a book called the Tome, yes?”

“C-C-C-orre-orre-orrect-ct-ct.”

“And your connection to the Collective has all but vanished, leading to chaos in your current micro-collective, yes?”

“C-C-C-orre-orre-orrect-ct-ct.” I grinned, then stood the shuttle down from red alert.

“I have a plan, but I need your resources. If you allow me access to the Tome, I will be your new…Queen, as it were. I can show you what real perfection is where your old one can’t.” The Borg were silent for a minute. Just then, a green glow flashed from behind me. A hand then yanked me out of the chair! The Borg had sent over a Drone to try and pick my brain!

“We will begin.” The Borg sounded more cohesive.

“What’s the idea?!” I demanded.

“A neural transceiver is required for maximum communications.” The Drone then took a small device from its clamp arm and put it onto my neck. “We will work as one mind.”

“Hold on! Yes to the transceiver, but you have to let me program it myself!”

“The neural link will be temporary. It will disengage when you receive the Tome. You will not be damaged.”

“I don’t care! I prefer to get into your Collective my own way!”

“Your methods would be inefficient.”

“That’s the exact same line of thinking that defeats you in the long run! Janeway’s clashes with you would be proof enough!”

“Irrelevant. You must comply.”

“I must do nothing of the sort! If you assimilate me in your usual fashion, my computer is instructed to wipe my mind!” The Drone stopped, then took a look in the computer core. It found the program, then stood at attention.

“You may enter the Collective at your own pace.” I sighed. The Borg of this universe must be desperate.

“Thank you,” I said. I took the transceiver off, then set it onto a console. “Computer, initiate Program 9 Alpha Tango.”

“Password is required,” replied the computer. Good, just like I wanted it to.

“One Seven Three Four Six Seven Three Two One Four Seven Six Charlie Three Two Seven Eight Nine Seven Seven Seven Six Four Three Tango Seven Three Two Victor Seven Three One One Seven Eight Eight Eight Seven Three Two Four Seven Six Seven Eight Nine Seven Six Four Three Seven Six Unlock.” I then panted after rattling off that password.

“Program downloaded to neural transceiver. Attach when ready.” I handed the transceiver back to the Drone.

“Now you can put it on.” I pulled my hair back as the Drone attached it just above my spine. The instant it did, the Cubes turned violently and the Drone spasmed before collapsing. “Uh oh!” I rushed to check the drone out, then a small HUD appeared in my vision, just on its top. It was showing my own health, then an identifier string, telling me that the Borg Drone was a representative of Species 3783 and that it was Four of Eight, Secondary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero Nine, then the HUD showed a mini-map. The Drone then groaned. I looked up what other names Species 3783 was called, then saw the word “Romulans”! I gulped at that and saw the Romulan Drone stand up. It was male…and had an angry look to his face! His normal arm grabbed my shirt and he pulled me up close to him. His eye appeared to bore into both of mine, then he released me.

“The only thing worse than seeing a human,” he grunted, “is having to be grateful to one!”

“I got your Borg designation, but not your name,” I replied.

“I am Commander Sonavok. Your friend, Anansi, lured my ship here and we were assimilated on the spot!”

“Anansi…did that?” I checked his memories. They confirmed what he said. “I don’t believe it! Anansi?!”

“You said you would use the Tome and fix our little collective!” challenged Sonavok.

“…I think I can improve it along the way,” I mused as I checked the memories of the rest of the Drones. Very few were assimilated as infants, so the rest of the current Collective had clear memories of Anansi throwing them here. “Tell me, how does revenge against Anansi and travelling to other universes with ease sound to you?” The Collective appeared to consider. Sonavok grinned after a second.

“You have our undivided attention, Mister…”

“Come on, we’re all part of the same hive mind.”

“I guess I’d like to hear some form of verbal introduction. Besides, I gave you my name.”

“You’re right, it’s only fair I give you mine. I am Khan, the Author of Reality!” My words were then directed to the Collective at large. “You, my friends, shall become the Lords of all Creation! With the Tome, victories shall be glorious! We shall carve our legacy across every star sustaining every planet in every universe! From this moment on, WE ARE THE LORDS!”

“WE ARE THE LORDS!” repeated the newly christened Lord Collective.

Categories
Kamen Rider Vortex Kamen Rider Vortex Chapters

Chapter 54

“Another Apocalypse Driver?” I yelped when Sheela finished her story. “There can’t be two! Lacey said it would be catastrophic!”

“I have a feeling Heather doesn’t care,” mused Emily. “She’s now bent on bringing life down with her!”

“Doesn’t care about what?” asked a voice. It was Lacey. She was still in her student uniform, as she decided, but her petticoats and ascot were purple. “I wasn’t here for the story, what’s going on?”

“Heather just took a part to make another Apocalypse Driver,” I answered.

“What?!” yelped Lacey. “She can’t do that! What part did she take?!”

“Some quarter-circle from your old home,” answered Ben.

“No, not that!” wailed Lacey. “That’s part of the Apocalypse Weapon Dial! The circle on my belt buckle! That universe, because of hair-raising, deadly scenarios, hides the one for Death Scythe!”

“What could she want with it?!” I asked.

“If I were a betting girl,” answered Lacey, “to get a body.”

“Do you have any ideas where the other Weapon Dial parts are?” asked Emily.

“Indeed, I do,” replied Lacey. “The belt itself is in Dimension G-0-D-Z-1-L-L-4, a bunch of giant monsters run around in that one.” My eyes went wide and I gave a big, fat grin. If I got the naming convention of dimensions down, the belt is in…

“Godzilla’s dimension?!” I squealed. “EEEEEEEEE!!!!”

“I’m that big of a fan too,” chuckled Lacey. “Continuing, the War part is in Sludgiona’s current home, the Pestilence part is in the retro video game dimension, and the Famine part is in 8-4-C-K-T-0-T-H-3-F-U-T-U-R-3.” I then formed a plan.

“X-PO,” I directed, “fire up the Rider chance for Back to the Future. We have four dimensions to strike at. Lacey and I will go to Godzilla’s home, Xiomara and Emmanuel are going back to work with the Ghostbusters, Livia and Hiroki are heading into the game world, and the next two rider team will go back to the future.”

“A little sting operation?” chuckled X-PO. “All right! All Riders, to the Gateway room!” Everyone assembled in the Gateway room and I told them the situation. I assigned teams and X-PO set up the Rider Chance for Back to the Future. The hands rotated. “And the Riders are…Haitao!”

“Yes!” cheered Haitao.

“…And Joshua!”

“ACE!” called Joshua.

“All right,” I muttered. “Anyone have studs?”

“Studs?” asked Reinrassic.

“They are the main currency here,” explained Rook. “They are little discs that come in either silver, gold, blue, or purple.”

“Oh, these things!” said Reinrassic. He drew out a bag. The studs inside totaled 275,000, making our total 2,972,000. “Have you spent any of them?!” asked Reinrassic.

“There’s nothing TO spend them on,” sighed Joshua.

“All right, everyone,” I called, “If we could step away from our finances at the moment, I want everyone properly trained up and rested for the mission tomorrow. If Vortech decides to attack the dimensions for more Foundation Elements while we try and stop Heather, I want to be ready.”

“I recommend you take one of us with you,” suggested Batman.

“You raise a good point!” I called. “Batman, you’re with me and Lacey. Wyldstyle, you’re going with Joshua and Haitao. Gandalf, you need to go with Livia and Hiroki. Hongo-san, I want you with Emmanuel and Xiomara.”

“Nice!” cheered Wyldstyle. “I kind of liked that dimension!”

“In that specific time period, maybe,” mused Haitao. “Wait until you see Hill Valley in 1955 and 1985.”

“Yes, lovely areas to visit,” called a voice. It had a slight English accent. We whirled around to see a man in a white coat with epaulets, a cane, and a cybernetic right hand. I got ready to fight, but Gwen stopped me.

“Professor Paradox!” yelped Ben.

“You know this man?” asked Reinrassic.

“Ah, Ben!” called Professor Paradox. “And we’re on Vorton, too! So, the Vortech Wars are in full swing! How’s Klawjektor working out for you?”

“Who?” asked Ben.

“Klawjektor!” insisted Professor Paradox. “You were supposed to have unlocked him a while ago! Or, is my Chrono Navigator running fast?”

“What are you doing here?” asked Rook.

“Oh, just travelling the multiverse,” answered Paradox. “Bumped into the Doctor, by the way. How he gets around with that scarf is beyond me.”

“What scarf?” I asked.

“The Doctor wore a ridiculously long scarf in his fourth incarnation,” explained Michael.

“So, what, you’re a universe traveler?” I asked.

“After a fashion,” mused Professor Paradox. He held up his robot arm. “My Chrono Navigator is the multiverse’s GPS.”

“And the whole thing happened in the 50’s,” muttered Richard.

“Professor Paradox and the U.S. Military were working on a Time Travel experiment,” explained Emily. “Something went awry, and the professor was flung into the Event Horizon. He spent…oh, I don’t know…thousands of years in there. He didn’t eat, sleep, age, nor went to the bathroom. He just existed. Of course, he did the only logical thing and went bananas, that’s putting it mildly, yes, but became bored with that after a few millennia, went sane, and learned.”

“I now have complete understanding of the Space-Time continuum and can go anywhere and anywhen I want, within reason,” continued Professor Paradox.

“So, why are you here?” I asked.

“Just needed to ask a question,” replied Paradox. “You haven’t seen a pair of twin girls yet, about yea high?” He reached up to his chin. Everyone was confused. “No? I must be thinking of another moment. Ta-ta!” He then seemed to teleport away.

“Time travelers,” muttered Batman, “always seem to go loony in some way.”

“We’ll discuss that later,” I remarked. “For now, we need to train and rest up.”

“What do you want the rest of us to do?” asked Turretorg.

“Keep the defenses on standby in case Hiro decides to come knocking,” I directed. “I need us ready for him too.”

“All counter measures will be prepared,” promised Reinrassic.

“You intend to stay?” I asked.

“This requires Atasian Technology,” replied Reinrassic. “And I will provide it. I require the use of your communications terminal.” We allowed access and Reinrassic spoke in growls.

“I never heard the Atasian language,” remarked Max.

“I did, when I changed their DNA,” answered Ben. Reinrassic finished and turned to us.

“My planet, Augstaka, needs a portal to send the fleet,” he reported. I gave the go-ahead and Atasian ships flew into Vorton’s orbit. More growls came over the comms. “Fleet Admiral Asoorma requests to be beamed down,” requested Reinrassic.

“Your mom’s a Fleet Admiral?!” gulped Ben.

“Correct,” confirmed Reinrassic. “As such, she is my First Lieutenant in Military matters.”

“She’s free to come on down,” I granted. Reinrassic relayed my approval and a blue, female Atasian beamed into the Gateway room.

“Home looks a lot more civilized than when I last saw it,” sighed the Atasian woman. Asoorma, if I got Sheela’s story right. “Ah, Ben. I understand YOU had a helping hand in it,” remarked Asoorma. “Now that I see the full scale of your help,” she held her hand out. Ben shook it. “Thank you for saving my people, Ben Tennyson.”

“No biggy,” assured Ben.

“Are you the one in charge?” asked Asoorma.

“No, that would be Megumi, there,” replied Ben as he pointed to me.

“Queen Megumi Hishikawa, at your service,” I introduced. “Walk with me, I’ll brief you on the situation while your son addresses the Atasian troops.” I led Asoorma away as the rest moved to get themselves ready.

“Admiral’s Log: Stardate 53159.932. I had just received word that an anomaly was making frequent appearances in orbit above New Unity, a colony founded after final events with Data’s brother, Lore, had taken place. I am concerned that the inhabitants of New Unity, freed Borg Drones, would be under attack by their former Collective, but Hugh, the leader of the colony, and personal friend of mine, said that the Borg do not deal with generating these types of anomalies. The new Enterprise H is on its way to the Colony and will be entering orbit shortly. End Log.” The computer chimed that it finished recording what I said. I got up from my chair, moving towards the door. This Enterprise is certainly…flashier…than the one I commanded. I made my way to the bridge. I was hoping to not get caught, but someone said, “Admiral on the bridge!” Everyone stood to attention.

“At ease,” I assured. I noticed the Captain’s chair was empty. “Whereabouts is Captain Sh’Kar?”

“In the Captain’s Ready Room, sir,” replied the Helmsman, a Caitian man.

“Thank you,” I said. One thing I WILL say, the Captain’s Ready Room is not all different from what I’m used to, just behind the bridge instead of beside it. I chimed my presence.

 “Enter,” boomed an Alto voice. The door slid open and I saw Captain Sh’Kar, daughter of Nor’theen. The Klingon woman stood when she saw me. “Admiral Picard,” she noticed. “I was unaware you would be coming here.”

“Just a small visit,” I assured Sh’Kar as I sat in the chair across from her. She sat back down. “How’s the ship getting on for you?”

“So far, it’s going well for the crew,” replied Sh’Kar. “Many of them would have sold their soul to be on a ship named Enterprise.”

“What about you?” I asked. Sh’Kar then understood.

“I will admit,” she sighed, “this is nerve-wracking. However, the crew doesn’t need to know that.”

“Most of the crew,” I suggested. “It helps to have an inner circle.”

“I suppose,” muttered Sh’Kar. Her Klingon values made her a bit guarded, but Worf recommended her highly. The Communications chime then came on.

“Sareth to Captain,” called a man’s voice. I nodded.

“Go ahead, Sareth,” boomed Sh’Kar.

“We are approaching New Unity,” reported Sareth.

“On my way,” replied Sh’Kar. We left the Ready Room and entered the bridge. She took her place at the Captain’s chair while I stood by Sareth, a middle-aged Vulcan and head of security. “Hail them,” ordered Sh’Kar.

“Hailing frequencies opened,” confirmed Sareth.

“This is Captain Sh’Kar of the Enterprise,” boomed Sh’Kar. “We are responding to a request for Federation help from this planet.” The viewscreen changed to show a young man strapped in by metal, wires, and tubing, the classic Borg Drone look. Normally, I would have flashbacks of when I was in such a condition, but this was a friendly face.

“And we are glad to see that our request was answered,” replied the Borg. “I am Hugh, leader of New Unity. We are glad to see a Federation ship, especially one with the name of Enterprise.”

“And we are glad we’re among friends,” answered Sh’Kar.

“I see that Picard is here as well,” cheered Hugh. “Good to see you again!”

“And you, old friend,” I replied. “I trust politics do not bore you?”

“No, I have fresh challenges every day,” chuckled Hugh. “Would you please come down? I would like to discuss this in person.”

“I see no problem with that,” I mused.

“Neither do I,” remarked Sh’Kar. “Send us the preferred coordinates and we’ll meet you there.” Hugh sent over the coordinates and ended communications “You two, with me and the Admiral. Transporter room 2,” Sh’Kar ordered two ensigns. We made our way to the transporter room and stood on the transporter pads. “Energize,” ordered Sh’Kar. The operator set the controls and beamed us to Hugh’s office. Hugh greeted us with handshakes all around.

“You look great, Cap…Admiral Picard! A Starfleet Admiral?” he realized.

“Things have changed when we last met,” I replied. “This is Captain Sh’Kar of the starship Enterprise H.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Captain,” greeted Hugh.

“The pleasure is mine,” reciprocated Sh’Kar. “Forgive me if I sound short, but I understand that there is a frequent anomaly?”

“No need to ask forgiveness,” assured Hugh. “We would like this matter dealt with as quickly as possible. If you would follow me.” Hugh led us out of his office and into the city that made up the Capital of New Unity. It was…intriguing…to see Borg acting as they did before assimilation. Still, there wasn’t an aura of menace that usually comes with the Borg. “As you can see, in the years since our last encounter with the Federation,” reported Hugh, “we’ve learned to work as individuals and as a group. It has sprouted a new civilization, your charter, if memory serves.”

“Yes, indeed,” I replied. All of a sudden, a blue hole appeared in front of us. “And THAT!” I said.

“That’s the anomaly that plagues us!” exclaimed Hugh. The Borg nearby were clearly scared.

“I don’t understand,” muttered Sh’Kar. “When you contacted Starfleet, you said it was in orbit.”

“It WAS,” replied Hugh. “This is the first time it’s ever been on the planet.” At that point, something seemed to go through. It looked like a man. I feared the worst.

“Q, if this is your doing…” I growled, wishing it weren’t. That was when the figure tossed a man through. The man that was tossed was the same member of the Q Continuum I frequently encounter. He appeared to be in a lot of pain.

“Picard…run!” croaked Q.

“Oh, how the mighty have fallen!” laughed the figure. It stepped out of the hole as it closed. The figure was a man made of…well…space. He was made of the blackness of space with stars studding his body. He clapped eyes on me. “Ah, Captain Picard!”

“Admiral,” I corrected. “Are you the one behind the blue holes appearing above New Unity?!”

“I am,” replied the man. “I am Lord Vortech, future ruler of the multiverse and master of Hypertime.”

“You are also terrorizing these people,” snarled Sh’Kar.

“I’m sorry, bumpy head, who are you?” asked Vortech.

“I am Captain Sh’Kar of the U.S.S Enterprise H,” said Sh’Kar, bristling.

“Ah, a new ship to carry the Foundation Element of this universe!” cheered Vortech.

“Picard,” gasped Q, “don’t let him take the ship!”

“Foundation Element?” I asked. “Multiverse? Hypertime?”

“I’m sure you understand the concept of parallel worlds?” asked Vortech.

“The Federation HAS had encounters with alternate universe versions of ourselves,” replied Sh’Kar.

“Splendid, a frame of reference,” mused Vortech. “Hypertime is like time, only it moves and flows like a river, branching off into tributaries, sometimes rejoining the main line. And, with each universe, there is something holding it together, like the foundation of a building, hence, Foundation Element. The name, Enterprise, is one such Foundation Element. This particular Element can transfer from ship to ship, but still carries the spirit of your universe, your charter. And I WILL have that ship! Terrorizing these mere playthings was needed to get you here!”

“You have committed an act of aggression on a warp-capable civilization and an ally of the United Federation of Planets!” I snarled. “If you do not cease your activities…” My threat was cut short as multiple smaller holes spat out various crew members!

“Ah, that went faster than I anticipated,” mused Vortech. He then activated a device, allowing a viewscreen to come up. The man he was talking to was in some sort of black armor and large helmet. He was on the bridge! “Ambassador Hell, I trust everyone is off the ship?” asked Vortech.

“Indeed, sir,” called the man. “Every single inhabitant of this vessel is now on the planet. The Enterprise is ours. All we need is a way back.”

“I’ll be up there shortly,” answered Vortech. “Is Engineering taken?”

“The entire ship is ours,” reported Ambassador Hell.

“Get off of my ship!” boomed Sh’Kar.

“Or what?” asked Ambassador Hell. “You’ll fight me?”

“I’m giving you the choice to get off my ship of your own free will,” growled Sh’Kar.

“Careful,” I warned.

“Why would I do that?” asked Ambassador Hell.

“So you don’t die in the explosion,” replied Sh’Kar. “I refuse to let Federation technology fall into enemy hands!”

“What explosion?” asked Ambassador Hell. Sh’Kar looked at me, revealing her intent. So new, yet so determined.

“Computer, this is Captain Sh’Kar of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Destruct Sequence 1, Code 1, 1-A,” she ordered.

“Vocal patterns not recognized,” reported the computer.

“What?!” roared Sh’Kar.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t block vocal access to the ship?!” asked Ambassador Hell.

“Splendid! Beam me up!” called Vortech. Vortech was beamed up and appeared next to Ambassador Hell. “I know you don’t have the capability to do so, but do NOT attempt to follow me. I have more power than Q over there.” We then saw the Enterprise leave through a large portal. Sh’Kar howled, the totality of her anger reverberating across the planet. Someone is playing a larger game, someone that terrifies people like Q.