Singularity – by Brett Botbyl

SCENE 1

FOUCETTE

(As lights come up from black) Mission log. Backward encryption grade Alpha six. Authorization AF2900 – G. Space Station Praemos. Alann Foucette – Command Marshal. Day 17 (beat) I, think.

I’m not sure how much longer I can hold on. I feel so sick. My crew? They’re all… The station is quiet. Too quiet. Too fucking…quiet.

(long pause)

I was trapped inside the Singularity Chamber when a catastrophic grid breach triggered a lock down. The shielding of the S3 cell is too dense for the radiation to penetrate. Great little safety feature.

(bitter chuckle)

Star Trek 001 – Klingons on Ice

“You’re late.”

Martin looked up at the Klingon towering a half-meter above him. Shaktaar stood next to a noticeably trembling Ensign. Martin nodded at the other officer.

“Your partner on this exercise, Ensign Tarluk beat you here by about forty-five seconds. So much for Klingon punctuality. Unfortunate.”

“Apologies, sir.” Shaktaar handed the lieutenant his PADD.

“But you’re only half-Klingon, isn’t that right?” Martin smiled as he noticed the brown stain on Ensign Shaktaar’s uniform. “You finished almost all of your coffee, Ensign?”  Martin grinned.

“Aye, sir”,  Shaktaar grunted with a mixture of embarrassment and anger.

“Don’t worry about it, Ensign. You’ll need something a little warmer when you get in there.” The lieutenant gestured slightly toward the holodeck doors. “Shall we?”  Lieutenant Martin approached the holodeck console. “Computer. Holodeck training simulation Zeta Five-001.2.”

The two large Ensigns stood at attention while Martin briefed them on the particulars of the simulation. Two technicians moved to meet them with a cart stacked with heavy parkas, boots and equipment. After assessing the supplies, both men dressed for cold weather and hastily equipped themselves.

Star Trek 001: On Deck

With the hiss of the Admiral’s closing door, Shaktaar made a mental notch on the back wall of his brain.  “One down…”.  He walked briskly to the turbo lift which would send him toward Holodeck 7.

As Shaktaar rounded the corner just before the lift his nose caught the inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee. His Klingon ancestors were kind enough to include a keen sense of smell in his genetic package.  Against the wall, near the restroom doors, waited an old fashioned, non-replicator refreshment cart – the kind afforded by high ranking
officers and civilians with far too much disposable income. He stared at the chronometer near the lift, then quickly back at the unattended cart.  With barely a second’s debate, the half-Klingon invaded the cart.

“Real coffee. I can’t pass this up.”

Shaktaar waited for the lift with his back against the wall, watching the restroom door with a trace of anxiety. He smiled, swirling the last luscious gulp of Terran Java in the Starfleet-branded cup. As the lift opened, he raised the still-swirling brew to his lips, and…..

“DAMN!” A rogue drop of coffee jumped the brim of the cup and crash-landed about 7.5 centimeters from his Starfleet comm-badge.  “No!” Shaktaar spun and regarded the chronometer. He’d already lagged far too long. He was sure the Admiral’s office alerted Holodeck 7. Lieutenant Martin was sure to notice the time lag.

Star Trek 001: Reporting for Training

SD: 90530.0830

Shaktaar was ushered out of the reception area and into a large, fairly impressive office dominated by a massive antique desk. Seated behind it was a stern red-haired woman in full dress uniform.  She smiled slightly as Shaktaar entered and stood at full attention.

“Ensign Shaktaar reporting for duty, sir!”

Vice Admiral McGeehon nodded, accepting the PADD the young Klingon officer handed her. This was the second Klingon to pass through her office that day.  “At ease,” she instructed. She scanned over the small screen as the details of the Ensign’s record scrolled past.

“I am not surprised ensign, that the bulk of your training prepares you for tactical and security duty. You must make your father proud.”

Shaktaar subtly bit into his lower lip. “Yes, sir. I…would imagine.”

The Vice Admiral betrayed a slight grin. “Though I am disappointed by your disciplinary record. I trust we’ve seen the end of your…wilder days.”

Shaktaar bit harder into his lip – the taste of blood beginning to flow into his mouth. “Yes, sir.”

McGeehon nodded and handed the PADD back to Shaktaar. “Well, Ensign, everything looks to be in order. I’m going to assign you to Holodeck 7.  Lieutenant Martin will be your instructor.  Report to him right away. Any questions?”

Shaktaar nodded. “None, sir.”

“Very well. Dismissed.”

The ensign turned sharply and exited.

Star Trek 001: Reporting for Duty

Shaktaar felt something move on the tree he was braced against. He knew it was hunting him, but not how close it had gotten.  The night was laden with moisture, and the fires from the Great City exhaled thick smoke into the sky.  The wind was full of scents…death the most real and overbearing. Shaktaar took three deep but silent breaths, pulling his dagger smoothly from its scabbard on the third. He held his breath and bit deeply into his lip to hold back the suffocating fear. All at once, he opened his mind to one instinct…to bring down the predator before it did the same to him. With a rage of sudden fury, Shaktaar spun around the tree to face the beast. “GGGGRRRRRRANNNNNNNGRRRRRRR”.  It’s roar pierced Shaktaar’s ears like white hot needles. The Rakrhaat snapped to its haunches in an attempt to add gravity to the strength of his next blow. Double claws struck at Shaktaar like summer lightning. Without thought, Shaktaar simply fell to his knees. As the Rakrhaat’s claws exploded into the dense bark above his head, Shaktaar closed his eyes and thrust with all the strength his muscles could command. The dagger split the Rakrhaat’s chest bone with a nauseating snap, releasing a torrent of black blood into Shaktaa’s face.
“GGGGGGGRRRRRRRRAAAAANNNNNNNNNNGRRRRRRR”

“Ensign?”