Here There Be Dragons Part 1

Here There Be Dragons.

by John Peel.

Chapter One.

COMMANDER WILLIAM RIKER eased forward, gently pushing aside a handful of the huge swamp weeds as he did so. Even this slight motion sent ripples through the dark green water and released bubbles that broke with noxious effect by his legs. Fighting back an urge to cough his lungs up, he strained his ears for the slightest indication that they had heard him.

Nothing.

Then again, according to legend, you never heard a 'tcharian warrior unless he wanted you to-and that was as he delivered your deathblow. But it had to be just a legend, or else how would anyone know it and remain alive?

Riker tightened his grip on the hilt of the double-edged sword he carried, then shifted his other foot forward. More disgusting bubbles broke on the surface of the water in front of him. For his money, this holodeck simulation was getting much too uncomfortably real. It was harder to restrain the cough building up inside his raw throat.

Behind him, Alexander moved with greater ease. The water came up to the Klingon boy's stomach, so he didn't cause as many ripples as he walked. The bubbles of swamp gas didn't seem to bother him; to his Klingon nose, Riker thought, they might even have the fragrance of perfume. He held his smaller thrusting sword over his head to keep it dry. There was a faint smile on Alexander's dark face. He was enjoying himself.

Typical, Riker thought. Only a Klingon would think of this as fun. Alexander might only be a child, but he was a Klingon child, and they were born to fight. Riker had long ago come to the conclusion that he was a lover, not a fighter. And there was nothing in this benighted swamp to love. Another step and he stopped to listen. Still nothing but the gut-searing stink and the icy water, up to his thighs to make him uncomfortable. Despite this, he knew the 'tchariani had to be around here somewhere. Three experienced warriors couldn't have been put off their trail this easily. Riker reviewed what he knew of the species as he edged his way through the weeds and around the thick treelike growths. Each branch seemed to trail a sticky liana, and avoiding them was a major ha.s.sle. He couldn't afford to get caught on one, though. It would shake the trees and alert the 'tchariani for certain.

The warriors were a grim bunch of characters who loved to fight more than anything. Their idea of a pleasant evening was to sit around a blazing campfire and toast someone's feet. If that person screamed, he was immediately killed for displaying less than warriorlike behavior. If he didn't, he had to learn to get through life minus his feet. The 'tchariani were so humorless they made even the Borg look like a race of stand-up comedians. Their favorite food was the heart of a ichkhari-a kind of armor-plated lionlike monster-which they ate not merely raw, but freshly torn from the chest of a dead beast they had personally slain seconds before lunch. And here I am with three of these warriors tracking me, Riker thought. Maybe Beverly Crusher was right, maybe I am way overdue for a mental checkup.

Riker cast a quick look over his shoulder to make certain that Alexander wasn't falling behind. It must have been the slight loss of concentration that the warriors had been awaiting.

The reeds beside him exploded outward as a 'tcharian hurled through them. The warrior scream howled from its double throat as it raised its weapon for the kill. This was not just to terrify its prey but to let the other warriors know it had located Riker-and warn them to stay back until one of them was dead.

Riker threw himself to the left, heedless of the stench and frigid waters. As he did so, he swung his sword up in a backhanded blow that intersected the downward sweep of the 'tcharian spear. The force of the impact almost broke his arm.

Hissing in fury, the warrior leapt back several paces to ready another attack. Riker was half-submerged now, thin, puke-green weeds trying to cling to him. He pushed down at the cloying mud to right himself. Another bout of noisome bubbles shattered on the surface of the swamp. Their stench burned his nasal pa.s.sages as he gasped for breath.

The 'tcharian balanced on its four legs and held its spear flat in both hands. It wasn't simply a stick with a point-instead, the pole was capped with a curved edge, like part of a sickle. The idea was to catch your prey with the thrust, then twist so as to disembowel it. It made the prey's death much more agonizing and therefore more entertaining for the warrior. It was looking for an opening to gut Riker.

Now what? Riker thought. Should he wait for it to attack again-and hope he could defend himself? Or should he attack and try not to leave himself open for a thrust? Which was better? Another clutch of bubbles erupted behind him as Alexander drew closer. Their stench helped Riker to decide-he had to get away from it. Whirling his sword, he leapt toward the warrior.

It danced aside with astonishing agility for a creature of its ma.s.s. d.a.m.n those four legs! As Riker halted his charge, he realized he was in a bad position. Then the 'tcharian struck. It didn't have the time to reverse its spear and use the cutting edge, but it made do. The hard wooden edge slammed across Riker's ribs, knocking him from his feet and back into an even harder tree trunk. A sharp dagger of agony buried itself in Riker's side, and his back was a searing fire of pain. His sword hand slumped numbly, and great red flashes filled his vision.

Sensing victory and death, the 'tcharian threw back its lizardlike snout and keened the deathsong.

With all of his remaining strength, Riker jerked back his arm and threw his sword.

The warrior had time for a startled look of astonishment as the blade ripped out its throat. It coughed up blood. Its legs spasmed in agony, then it fell lifeless into the water.

That was the good news; the bad was that Riker's sword fell in a tangle of tree roots with a loud splash. There was no way for him to find it again in time... .

The second warrior whipped from the reeds, its own spear at the alert. Riker tried to move aside, but he stumbled over something in the dark waters. He twisted as he fell, and fresh pain whipped up his entire side. The fall saved his life. The blade of the spear slashed through his jacket, leaving a foot-long bloodred trail across his back, and adding fuel to the fires of his pain.

Riker fought to remain conscious. The body of the first 'tcharian had stopped thrashing, but its blood was still gushing into the filthy swamp waters. It was bound to attract predators, most of which had mouths overfilled with long, sharp teeth. And he wouldn't be able to see them coming... . Ignoring the pain, he grabbed the dead warrior's spear and wrenched it from the lifeless grip. Then, with as much speed and agility as he could muster, he turned to fight.

Alexander had beaten him to it. The warning he wanted to cry died unuttered in Riker's throat. It was too late and would only distract the Klingon youngster. His thrusting sword held firmly and proudly, Alexander darted in for the 'tcharian before it could take advantage of Riker's clumsiness and finish him. The warrior twisted to meet the new foe. It let go of the spear with one hand and swung it in a lethal arc toward Alexander's head.

Possibly the warrior was unused to striking at so small a victim. Possibly Alexander was faster on his feet than Riker had ever imagined. Either way, Alexander shot forward, ducking under the darkness of the foul swamp waters, and the spear blade missed him by several microseconds.

The 'tcharian reared back slightly, obviously puzzled by this maneuver. When Alexander failed to surface, it began stabbing at the water with the nasty end of the spear. Riker took advantage of the distraction to get the b.u.t.t of his spear into the mud and use it to lever himself to his feet. Pain zigzagged up his side. It felt as if his back had been snapped in at least two places. Fighting down a wave of nausea, he stumbled a step forward. His vision wavered and it took every ounce of concentration he could summon up to make his other foot slurp forward through the mud and water.

The sound made the warrior snap around to face him. It hesitated in mid-thrust, wondering which foe to tackle. That second of uncertainty was sufficient.

Like a dolphin leaping from the sea, Alexander shot out of the filthy swamp, his sword held firmly in front of him. His whole body was as part of the weapon, and he lunged below the guard of the 'tcharian. The blade of his sword struck home below the creature's breast-bone. There was the sc.r.a.pe of metal on bone, and the warrior reared back, its forefeet flailing wildly. The spear fell with a splash from its nerveless fingers. It screamed and then fell, dead, into the water.

And then there was- A wild howl filled the air as the final warrior hurtled out of hiding. Alexander was too startled to react in time. The sword was wrenched from his grip by the falling 'tcharian, and he was left defenseless before the onslaught of the final warrior.

Riker pushed himself into action. With a primeval yell of his own, he staggered forward, grimly ignoring the pain. He lifted the spear and thrust as hard as he could. The point lanced home in the 'tcharian's side, slicing a great gash that fountained blood onto the weapon. Gritting his teeth, Riker threw his remaining strength into twisting the blade.

The warrior screamed as the weapon dug in and eviscerated it. Riker screamed, too, because his ribs were a blaze of agony from the effort he had made. Completely drained, he fell forward into the embrace of the cold, disgusting waters.

"Terminate program," came Worf's voice, apparently out of nowhere.

Instead of breathing in the fetid swamp waters, fresh air filled Riker's lungs. His face hit the padded floor of the holodeck. He barely felt the extra pain it caused. With the termination of the program, all of the physical aspects of the battle vanished. The swamp was gone, replaced by the dark walls of the holodeck and the faintly glowing golden squares set into the walls and ceiling. The stench of the swamp was replaced by the scrubbed air of the Enterprise. The noises of water and combat gave way to the subdued humming of machinery.

It was a shame that none of the aching and stiffness went with the rest of it. It was almost impossible to tell the difference between the holodeck's environment and reality while a program lasted. Once reality was restored, however, the energy spent was real.

Riker was absolutely exhausted. He managed to roll over onto his back, gasping in lungfuls of cool, clear air.

"Did you see me, Father? Did you see me?" Alexander was almost hopping up and down in his eagerness.

"Yes, my son," Worf said with a grim smile on his lips and unmistakable pride in his voice. "I saw all. You acted very bravely and fought as a Klingon should." Then he glanced at Riker, almost embarra.s.sed. "You fought well, too, Commander."

"That was my first kill!" Alexander beamed with pride and self-confidence. "I took him well!"

"Very well," agreed Worf. "You are progressing well. But now it is time for you to prepare for cla.s.ses."

Alexander's face fell. "Aw, do I have to? I want to fight some more."

"Yes, you have to." Worf's stern tones couldn't mask the affection he felt for his child. "A Klingon must be prepared for his duty mentally as well as physically. Go and take your shower now. I will be along shortly."

"Yes, Father." Alexander gave Riker a big grin and bolted from the room.

The ceiling was finally slowing down its wild gyrations now. The ache in Riker's side was almost down to being simply unbearable. Any year now he'd be able to get back on his feet again. Riker frowned as a dark blotch floated across his vision. Then he managed to focus his eyes a bit and saw that it was Worf's face, gazing down at him.

"I am very grateful that you agreed to help my son with this simulation, Commander," he said. "Normally, it is one that Alexander would undertake as a cla.s.s exercise in a Klingon school with other youngsters of his own age. But as he is the only Klingon boy on the Enterprise ..."

"Think nothing of it, Worf," Riker said with some effort. "I'm glad to be of help."

"Thank you, Commander." Worf's face twisted slightly into what might have been a smile. "I would have felt very embarra.s.sed had I been forced to be his partner in this program. It is of a level reserved only for children. No offense intended, Commander."

Please don't rub it in any more, Riker thought. "None taken," he said aloud.

Worf inclined his head slightly. "Do you require a.s.sistance standing?"

"No, no." Riker waved his hand feebly. "I kind of like it down here."

"As you wish." Worf turned and left the holodeck.

Riker rolled his eyes. Only a Klingon could make a thank you sound like an insult. Though he was happy to help Worf with Alexander's education, he rather doubted the use of a combat simulation like this. The Klingons placed a great deal of stress on hand-to-hand combat, but it was an outdated mode of fighting. Nowadays starships and phasers were the more customary weapons to use. A man with a phaser could stun a 'tcharian warrior without mussing his hair. Why bother with obsolete arms like swords and spears? He sighed. No matter how hard he tried, he never really understood the Klingon mind.

The computer chimed softly. "Do you require medical a.s.sistance?" it inquired in its pleasant but unemotional tones.

"Don't you start!" Riker groaned.

He had a feeling that this wasn't going to be his day... .

Chapter Two.

CAPTAIN JEAN-LUC PICARD sat back in the command chair, his fingers inches from the cup of tea (Earl Grey, hot), a feeling of deep satisfaction within his soul. Moments like these never failed to remind him why he had applied to join Starfleet in the first place. On the huge viewscreen that dominated the main bridge of the Enterprise was perhaps one of the most beautiful sights in all the universe.

The ship was cautiously approaching an interstellar cl.u.s.ter, and the screen showed the view ahead in all its majestic glory. The cl.u.s.ter was an immense cloud of gases, all tendrils and thunderheads, like some cosmic Rorschach test fresh-dripped from the fingers of G.o.d. It was out of matter like this that stars were born, as gravity and other forces acted upon the microscopic particles that made up the dust. The tiny particles and molecules would be drawn together, layered, and shaped until in one blinding instant they would explode with light and energy-the microsecond of stellar birth. Picard felt like an expectant father, waiting in the wards for news of a fresh arrival.

Dozens of stars had already begun their lives within the cloud. Light streaming from them danced and diffused off the particles of gas, casting strange and exotic hues into the cloud. Salmon pinks, intense magentas, glowing ochres, startling chartreuses, vivid sapphires-they all swirled and streaked and demanded attention. Rarely did such violent and savage forces as existed here come together to result in so much beauty. The individual particles were caught in the grips of fields of such strength that they were s.n.a.t.c.hed from their paths and dragged into the embrace of their fellow particles in a process that was almost a flicker on the cosmic scale. Yet the view that now entranced him would barely change in the next thousand or even ten thousand years. The cloud was so huge, the forces so slow by human standards that only their most delicate instruments could detect any changes at all.

Picard wasn't the only one affected by the sight on the screen. Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge, standing beside Picard, murmured softly: "Man, oh, man, oh, man." Picard couldn't resist a smile-and a flicker of envy. Geordi had been born blind, but the VISOR he wore over his sightless eyes more than compensated for his lost vision. Its technology enabled Geordi to "see" far more of the electromagnetic spectrum than the normal human eye. If the cloud looked this gorgeous to Picard, how much more wonderful did it appear to Geordi?

"When I was a boy," Picard said softly-to speak any louder would be unforgivably intrusive in the presence of this scene-"I was given a book by an aunt. It was some text on astronomy that my father said was far too advanced for a boy my age. He was right, too. But it had a section of color photographs that stole my heart. I loved looking through them and dreamed of being out here, amongst objects of such rare elegance." He looked again at the screen. "And here I am."

From his station at Ops in front of Picard, Data glanced around, an expression of childlike innocence on his face. "Maintaining our position, sir," he reported. "Scans confirm that the shields can easily withstand the forces we are now experiencing."

"Thank you, Mr. Data." Picard sighed slightly. Data could always be relied upon to bring even the grandest vistas down to practical reality. Lacking human emotions, the android tended to respond inappropriately at times.

Geordi shook his head ruefully. "Data," he said softly, "it's a shame that view out there doesn't mean anything to you."

Data looked back at the screen, then at Geordi, a slight frown on his face. "It means a great deal to me," he replied in all seriousness. "It means that proto-star formation is entering a scientifically interesting stage. It means that we are in an excellent situation to check Zingleman's Theory of Beta Tachyon Decay. It means that we must keep our shields raised as long as we are this close to the formation zone. It means-"

"Mr. Data," Picard broke in before the android could list every pertinent fact, "I think Mr. La Forge is referring to the beauty of the view."

"Ah." Data glanced at the screen once more. "It is aesthetically interesting."

Seated beside him at Navigation, Ensign Ro Laren snorted. "Trying to discuss beauty with an android is like trying to discuss business ethics with a Ferengi," she said. "No common ground."

"On the contrary," Data replied. "I have a great appreciation of aesthetics. I merely do not have an emotional response to beauty."

Knowing Ro's own appreciation of a good argument, Picard broke in. "Thank you. Mr. La Forge, perhaps you'd be kind enough to let the science teams know that they can begin launching their probes as soon as they are ready."

"Aye, sir."

As the turbolift door to the bridge hissed open, Picard glanced up. His first officer, Will Riker, entered. "Ah, Will," Picard called in greeting. "Come to enjoy the sights?"

Riker looked up at the screen, and his face creased into a smile. "It's certainly worth a long, hard stare," he agreed. He seemed to wince momentarily as he took his seat at Picard's right hand.

"Are you all right, Number One?" asked Picard, concerned.

Riker shot him a pained look. "It's just a ... twinge," he replied. "Nothing to worry about." Before Picard could ask for details, Riker called out to Data: "What are the tachyon levels like out there?"

"Within predicted parameters," the android replied. "At this distance we will have no problems. Shields are holding at five percent carrying capacity."

Riker nodded. "And if the science teams want us closer in?"

Data c.o.c.ked his head slightly as he performed the calculations in his positronic matrix. "We could go another light-year closer before the shields begin to show strain," he reported. "Two light-years would definitely overextend their capacity."

"Well, there's little chance we'll have to worry about that," Picard said. "This is a nice, routine examination, and science section will just have to be happy with whatever they get from this distance."

Riker couldn't resist a grin. "Aren't you at all interested in getting some answers to the mystery of beta tachyon decay?"

"I might be, Number One, if I knew what it was!" Picard was willing to let him have his fun at the captain's expense.

Riker stroked his beard. "Data's been explaining it to me," he said. "Apparently a maverick scientist named Zingleman from Benecia has this theory that the forces at the heart of a stellar cl.u.s.ter like this are sufficient to funnel not merely alpha tachyons but the beta version as well. And beta tachyons seem to undergo some form of decay that n.o.body's been able to measure or explain exactly. They should have all evaporated or something when the universe was half its present age."

Picard was intrigued despite himself. "And yet they haven't?"

Riker nodded at the android. "Data?" he prompted.

Data swung about in his seat to face them. "No, sir, they haven't. There are a number of hypotheses that might account for this, but Professor Zingleman's theory is the most intriguing. He posits the idea that they may create a kind of s.p.a.ce-time tunnel that leads from their moment of creation to their eventual destruction-a form of very localized distortion that allows them to live on far after they theoretically should have decayed."

Struggling to grasp this, Picard asked: "You mean a kind of time warp reaching back to the instant of the Big Bang itself and then forward to the eventual end of the entire universe?"

"Precisely." Data raised an eyebrow. "An intriguing possibility, is it not?"

"Think of the ramifications," Riker urged. "If such corridors through time do exist, it might be possible to actually send probes back through them to the very instant of creation itself-and to the other end of time as well... . "

Ro had stayed silent longer than she liked. Ever practical, all the talk of theory rankled her. "Except that we know that tachyons can rip normal matter apart in seconds," she pointed out. "If the Enterprise tried to enter a tachyon funnel, we'd be annihilated instantly and our atoms scattered from the Big Bang to the Last Flicker." Then, recalling herself, she added: "Sir."

Picard and Riker exchanged smiles. When she had first been a.s.signed to the Enterprise, Ro Laren's records had labeled her a malcontent and habitual troublemaker. Picard, however, considered her a valuable addition to the crew-not at all the problem that her previous commanders had rated her. What some officers had considered to be her weaknesses-questioning orders, offering unasked-for recommendations, and sometimes simply acting without proper authorization-Picard felt were strengths that simply needed channeling in the right directions. She had proved her worth many times over.

"Then we had better be certain that our shields remain at full strength for this survey, hadn't we?" Picard said mildly. Then he noted that Data had swung back to study new readings on his board. "Mr. Data?"

"Sir," the android reported without turning his head. "I am receiving some very anomalous information from sensors." Ro busied herself checking the incoming data.

"Clarify, please." Picard leaned forward. What could possibly be happening out there that would register on the sensors? In a stellar cloud such as this, events took place over cosmic periods of time, not minutes.

"It appears to be another vessel, Captain," Data replied.

Riker frowned. Starfleet didn't have any other ships in this sector-which was why the Enterprise was taking these readings in the first place. "Where is it, Data?"