A Captain Decision Ch. 09

We were an hour away from the destroyed fleets, when I managed to get another ten percent of the growth pods up. I was glad when the trans-warp rose to forty-five percent. Almost a quarter of our weapons were up, and stealth was at ninety percent

At least we were almost completely hidden.

"John!" Rommie said as she appeared. "I am detecting no less than twenty starships when we were."

"Maintain stealth, with any luck we can get far enough away," I said, as I hoped that we were.

I had Rommie keep track of Picard's ship. I was somewhat upset that I couldn't do the repairs on everything myself. I guess that I didn't know exactly how they were put together, so I couldn't fix them.

It was bad enough I had my own government after me. Then there was this energy race between the realities. Here? I had three of the four races that were war-like after me.

This was all especially after I had destroyed no less than thirty of their ships. Some of them their very heavily armed, defensive ships. Yeah, they were a real fan of me right now.

Then there was the fact that the federation was starting to become interested. Shit! The one I needed to be friends with, and they were afraid of me.

I thought about it more, I had destroyed a hell of a lot of ships, with just one ship. OK, I can see their caution now, fear and caution ok.

A tone let me know that another repair pod was finished as I started it on the trans-warp. The weapons were at fifty percent and climbing rapidly. Stealth was at ninety-five percent, with tram-warp at forty-nine percent.

I was starting to get antsy, I needed to return this weapon as fast as possible. My world, no my universe, was depending on it. The bad thing was that no one would ever know just how close to dead they were.

Here I thought that the stress of the headaches I had before I had these powers was bad. No, I thought, this is by far a lot more stress. Plus the fact that no one knew or probably cared.

I could only shake my head at the thought of all of this. I had drawn in as much information as I could about this situation. It seemed that a lot more was at stake than just my universe, so no real pressure, ha, ha.

Another tone a minute later let me know we had partial trans-warp. "What are you reading on trans-warp?" I asked.

"Reading now fifty-one percent, enough for a minute," Rommie said.

I thought of the trans-warp, seeing that the last pod had repaired more than I thought. Concentrating, I felt it rise and heard Rommie say, "trans-warp now at fifty-two, three, four, five, six. Now stabilizing at fifty-six."

I nodded, "take us as close to that ship as you can get," I said.

It wasn't too long after we exited the portal that we caught sight of Picard's ship. The only problem was that their warp drive was putting us to shame. Well, at least we were a lot closer.

Again, as I had thought before, I might have to disable that ship to complete this. "Rommie, is there anyway that we can disable them without destroying anything?" I asked, though I was a little pissed off at that moment.

"John," Rommie said in a strained voice. "Your levels have started to spike again. You need to calm, if you keep at this, you'll pass out again."

I took a deep breath then felt my body relax, though I was still tense as could be. "Sorry Rommie, as much as we have to do, and they are running from us. It makes me mad as hell," I said.

"I am sorry John, I am attempting to shut down their engines. Ah! It appears that I have managed to drop them out of warp, though they are still running," Rommie said.

"Damnit! I might have to go with my first suggestion. Are we at least catching up with them?" I asked.

"It appears that we barely are, we are having trouble with our warp and sub-light. It seems that the trouble we have with our trans-warp has affected them. I am attempting to repair the problem now," Rommie said.

Damnit I thought, I thought of the three engines. Then I really got upset when I couldn't find anything wrong with them. I knew that I couldn't take them apart cause I didn't know them or their parts.

I sat as I thought over and over what might be wrong with them. I suddenly smacked myself in the head. I had made these I didn't really need to know what they were or their parts.

I thought of the sub-light being new, and it started to work like new. I then thought the same thing about the warp-drive. It, too, started to work like it was brand new.

That was all fine and well 'til I got to the trans-warp. This was an idea I had when all this had started. I wasn't sure that thinking about it like that would work.

Taking a deep breath, I thought about the trans-warp being completely brand new. To my complete and utter amazement, the trans-warp started up, running as if nothing was wrong with it.

A true smile came to my face as I opened my mouth to issue Rommie orders, then fell on my face. Shit I thought, bet I freaking did it again.

I wasn't sure how long it was before I awoke, though this time, the headache wasn't as bad as it had been. I groaned as I tried to get up, "it's about time," I heard Rommie.

Again, I groaned, "how long, I said, barely in a whisper.

"Almost five hours, what happened? When I felt your energy drop, I barely had time before you hit the deck," Rommie said.

"As far as I can, I did way too much. I thought I hadn't 'til I went back over all I had done. Then I tried to completely redo all the engines, I might have to get you to monitor me. Can't afford to pass out at a critical moment," I told her.

"I also think that might be an excellent idea. I know that you have been raising your power, though I think it's still not enough," Romie said.

"Yeah," I said with a smirk, "that is a good idea."

"So how far ahead of us are they?" I asked.

"Well, since the engines are working like they did. We have been trailing slightly behind them for the last five hours. They just got their warp drive back a few minutes ago," Rommie said.

I sighed as I watched the ship warp out, "alright Rommie follow them." I thought about it, why in the hell was Picard's ship seeming to be running from me, from us?

"Do you wish us to stay out of their sensor range?" Rommie asked.

"Yes, that would be prudent right now. Still, you know," I started, "it almost seems that the ship is trying to avoid us, doesn't it?'

Rommie appeared seeming to be in thought, "it does, now that you put that forward."

"Is there any way that you can find out what the hell is going on?" I asked Rommie.

"I will do the best that I can sir," Rommie said.

On board Picard's ship not long after that, several alarms were going off. "Sir," an officer said to Picard. "We have a computer breach. I have never seen anything like it." The officer was typing as fast as he could, to no avail.

"Hmmm," Picard said. "It appears that as fast as you or the computer counters, it breaks it. It's almost as if it is alive. Shut it down as fast as possible, reload with all new parameters and antivirus."

The officer did as instructed, then found that the computer took longer to shut down than it should have. "Sir, the computer almost refused to shut down. I haven't seen this in my entire career."

"This is Picard, computer emergency shut down Picard, alpha, delta, 1100210, enact," Picard said.

It was a moment before the computer replied, "command request understood," then the whole system shut down.

"There," Picard said, "now then you need to load all the new parameters."

The young officer could only look at Picard as if he were almost a god. Then he shrugged and did as he was ordered.

Picard made his way to his ready room, immediately calling the Admiral. "Sir," he said as soon as the man's image appeared. "It appears that we had a specific breach. This was an extremely powerful computer, which made it difficult to shut down. I had to use my executive code to do it."

The Admiral was nodding all through the explanation. "It appears that whoever this person or entity is, they have found you. Considering the damage, they did to the Romulans, the Klingons and the Cardassians? Extreme caution is advised, though you still need to avoid them as much as possible."

"Yes sir, I understand this though, if they are as powerful as you say they are? Might it be a mistake to keep avoiding them?" Picard said.

"The fact that they infiltrated your computer as easily as they did. They didn't take anything, shows us that they were after something. What that is seems very unclear at the moment," the admiral said.

Rommie had, of course, detected this communiqué playing it for me. This, of course, was starting to irritate the hell out of me. I almost broke into it, then thought I need information, so I listened.

I was sure that Rommie was proud of me that I held my tongue as well as my temper. The more they went on though, the angrier I became.

"Sir," he went on, "so far they have made no move on the federation, nor any of our ships. Might I try to stop and talk to them?"

"As with any first contact, I don't think that is advisable," the Admiral said.

This, of course, finally did it as I started to type. You dear Admiral, are an idiot!

Both the Admiral and Picard had shocked looks on their faces. "Who the hell is this!" the Admiral said.

I typed again. I think you know who this is. As you said, if I was an enemy of Starfleet and the Federation, you'd know by now.

"What is it you want? Picard asked. "It seems that you have been after my ship for a while now. Is there something that is on it that you want?"

I laughed, then typed, your ship is somewhat antiquated, at least to me. No, I am not a Q as you thought, they have already made me angry.

The Admiral and Picard could only look at each other, "are you saying that they are your enemy also?" Picard asked.

Not as much an enemy as a nuisance, ah here we go, I typed as I thought of Picard's Q.

"What?" The Q said as it appeared next to Picard. He tried to wave his hand, then looked around with a shocked look. "Was this really necessary? You could have just asked."

Like you would have done it willingly? I said to him.

"Ah! Point taken. What is it that you require?" The Q asked.

Tell them that I am a friend to them, that I am not out to make enemies. Huh, just a second. A moment later, four more Q appeared right after the first Q conveyed what I had said.

Not only Picard and the Admiral were shocked, the first Q, then the other four Q were also. I thought I told you to not try anything, here the first Q told them what I said.

Again, like the first Q, they waved their hands surprised when nothing happened. "You can't do this, the continuum will," the oldest of the four Q started.

They won't do a thing, as I asked, they stayed out of this, you four thought that I wasn't truthful. Now then, need I remind you and the continuum of what I said before? I thought to them.

They all hung their heads 'til the first Q said, "I think that he wants an answer."

"No," all four of them said. "We will no longer interfere."

Good, I thought. I have already informed the continuum, they, it seems, are not pleased. Now then be gone, then all four vanished as the first Q had a smirk on his face.

"I never thought that I would see a day when the continuum would get, as you say, taken to school," he said, then turned to Picard. "I suggest that you quit trying to run and talk to him. Oh, he says that you have met him before, bye." I then blinked the Q out.

I then turned to the next thing I had to do. So I typed, to stop running and stop long enough for us to finish what we started long ago. Picard started a moment as a memory came to his mind, then a small smile came to his lips.

He then turned to the Admiral, "Sir, under the circumstances, I think I should meet with him."

The Admiral could only stare a moment, "what guarantee do I have that I will get him back?"

Admiral I typed, If I had wanted to take him? I already would have. So, when he disappears for a short time? I don't want the entire fleet looking for us. Am I clear?

The Admiral again just sat there not really used to being dictated to. "I guess I don't really have a choice, do I? Neither does the Captain."

Oh, there is always a choice, it's just if you take the right one or not, I typed.

"So you are saying that we can refuse? Though you seem to want to meet with the Captain, why?" The Admiral asked.

I thought a moment, then decided to tell him a little, though not all.

It is a matter of life; my mission is to save not only my universe but four others. This one being one of them, I can't tell you how, though it deals with a type of energy unknown here, I typed.

Both the Admiral and the Captain were both shocked at this.

The Admiral turned toward the captain, "Well, Captain, I guess it's up to you. I am assuming that, after this, you will disappear again?"

Well, I typed, as far as I know it will be though, the way things are going, I don't know. If I have to? I'm not sure if it will be near here.

The Admiral sighed and looked at Picard. "For some strange reason, I have a feeling that I know you. If this will end all of this, then yes, please let's proceed," Picard said.

I smiled as Picard's ship slowed, then stopped a few moments later. I reached out to him feeling all the hardware that they had on him, then pulled.

A very surprised Picard appeared on my bridge a moment later. "So, I finally managed to catch up to you," I told him.

"You, you're the human that I and the others met, John," he said as I nodded my head. "I thought you weren't coming to our universe."

"Well," I started, here I reached into a drawer nearby, taking out a phaser. "It appears that when I sent all of you back, each one of you left a weapon behind in my universe. I believe that this one is yours?"

Picard took the weapon, staring at it. "This was a special one made for me. It doesn't really work, understand though it is somewhat functional," Picard said. "This is what is causing the possible destruction of so many universes?"

"Well, it and another four. I still have another to return one more, then I hope that this will be over. I am a little tired of being chased as the three races found out," I told him.

Picard smirked, that is still unprecedented, them banding together, they are scared of you," Picard said.

"Yes well, they fired on me for no reason other than they didn't recognize my ship. Hell, the Klingons called me a demon," I told a smiling Picard.

"So, no chance of you remaining?" He asked.

"No, I have to go also," I said as I passed a hand over his forehead, "sorry," then he was gone.

I watched as the bridge crew ran to Picard as he appeared, then stumbled.

"Al right Rommie, we still have another to return, time we got back," I told her.

I heard all the bridge crew gasp as a portal opened in front of us, we appeared, then disappeared into it.

"Alright Rommie, I want you to watch for those energy beings that we encountered before," I told her.

"I have full scans going to detect them as of yet... I am detecting them in pursuit though they are staying at an equal distance," Rommie said.

Far from where we had entered the null space as I was calling it, the energy beings detected us.

"Supreme master!" An excited voice said, disturbing the being. The solid has been detected again it is moving through our space again. Although you have warned against it, some of the young are going to attack."

A deep sigh came from the supreme master, "as strong as I felt this solid. I am afraid that we will lose a few of our number. If you can again warn them, try, though I fear that it is too late."

We were rapidly approaching our exit when I felt several of the energy being move past my shields. Then I felt several of them trying to gain entry onto the ship. I immediately pushed against the first two as I felt them blink out of existence.

This seemed to make the rest hesitate, then they moved forward again. Again, I pushed against what I felt was trying to get in. This time I felt four blink out of existence.

This time I felt most of those that had managed to get past the shield falter. We were so close, though they were too close for comfort. This time I just reached out to four more, watching as they too blinked out of existence.

This made them drop ever further back, as I opened a portal, closing it as fast as I could behind us. Behind me, I swear that I could feel where the portal had been shake with a huge collision.

I looked forward to where we were. I could only shake my head where in the hell were we? This looked nothing like my universe, plus where in the hell was the Earth? I mean ther was nothing where it should be.

I started to shake my head, "Rommie, where in the hell are we and where is the Earth?" I asked.

"We appear to have missed our exit portal by a minute. The area you see in front of you is where the Earth was. I am only reading rubble and dust. It appears to have happened at least a decade ago," Rommie said.

"Did you manage to get any readings on whatever it was that was trying to get on board? Where in the hell did they go when I pushed on them?" I asked.

"John," Rommie said as she appeared. "For all intents and purposes? They ceased to exist as soon as your energy touched them. I am afraid that they are gone," Rommie said.

I just stood there a moment in shock. I knew I was strong, though I didn't think I was that strong.

"Shit, I guess I have another enemy to think about. Especially in the null space we have to go through. Damnit Rommie, I was just trying to keep them out not destroy them," I said.

"Are you OK?" Rommie said as I felt her hand on my shoulder. I rapidly turned to look at the hand on my shoulder. "I forgot, sorry Rommie."

"Forgot? What's that John?" Rommie asked.

"That you can become solid or real however you put it." I sighed as I thought of what we needed to do. "Alright, we need... I started when there was an explosion beside the ship.

That's when I heard a voice come over the radio, "unidentified ship, prepare to be boarded you are in a restricted zone."

OK, I thought, I was really getting tired of being dictated to by obvious pissant dictators.

"Rommie, open a channel, here's a little advice? Leave while you still can, you are far out matched," I said.

There was a laugh, then at least two hundred ships appeared, "It appears that you are the one that is outmatched," the voice said.

"Rommie? Are they stronger than us?" I asked.

"No sir, Rommie said.

"Good, fire enough to destroy most of them, then go to stealth," I said.

"Understood sir," she said.

I watched as well over half the ships disappeared, amid a lot of screaming. Though the best thing was when we disappeared.

We appeared behind them, taking out at least another seventy-five, then we vanished.

"Who are you?" I heard the first voice scream. "Where are you from!"

"As if it even matters, I am from right here, Earth. If you asses are the ones that destroyed it? Then it's a good day for you all to die, goodbye" I told him.

"Earth, NO! You are all dead, NO!" I heard him scream as I destroyed the last of the ships. I saved him for last, then disabled it. "Enjoy your death, as much as you obviously did the Earth."