Star Trek: The Next Generation: Unorthodox Procedures

[Deciviel]

Chapter 1


With a slight twinge of pain, Picard lifted his head as far up as he could manage. Groggy from reasons unknown to him, he slowly opened up his swollen, irritated eyes as best he could. His eyelids remained partially suspended over his eyes, allowing only a paper-thin slice of light to meet his pupils. It was then he noticed the pulsating pain surging through his head, like a photon torpedo ripping it�s way through an exposed conduit. And then, at that moment, the reason for his discomforting agony began to surface slowly in his mind.
�Captain,� a voice sounded through the haziness of his still dismal eyesight. He turned his face abruptly to the direction of this very familiar voice, and in his mind he managed to match it�s tone with a certainly familiar face.
�Number one,� he said groggily, �What in the hell happened? I feel as though I�ve just been caught in a supernova.� Riker let a small chuckle escape his lips before replying.
�You don�t remember a thing that happened last night, do you?� He said.
�Should I?� Picard questioned him, his eyesight returning by twenty-five percent. And as he sat for a moment, thinking to himself, his recollection of the night before returned by ninety. �I do remember a�social gathering taking place in Ten Forward.� He stood up slowly, regaining his vision almost completely. Facing Riker, he said, �I believe it was Mr. Worf�s birthday.�
�And a very merry one at that,� Riker chuckled. �I�ve never seen a man drink so much Romulan Ale in my life.� Romulan Ale! The pieces were coming together now, fitting like a glove with each other.
�Number one, what time is it?� He asked sharply.
�09:30. You�ve been down for nearly twelve hours.� Picard jumped with a bit of shock.
�09:30?� It was then that Picard noticed that he was in sickbay, along with his first officer, Doctor Beverly Crusher, and android Data. �Are we-�
�We have plenty of time,� Riker reassured him. �Our rendezvous with the T�Kir isn�t for another four hours.� Picard let out a sigh of relief, and his racing heart slowed to a standard tempo.
�Captain,� Data spoke up from behind him, �I do believe you are suffering from a human condition known as a �hangover�, a condition brought on by the over-consumption of alcohol.� Ah, Data�s never failing logic seemed almost Vulcan at times.
�I�ve never questioned your logic, Mr. Data,� said Picard, turning round to Data with a small smile on his face, �And I�m not in any position to do so now.� He then turned his attention to Doctor Crusher. And as soon as his eyes met hers, she spoke.
�Jean-Luc, I say this as your friend, as well as your doctor: You need a hefty dose of relaxation. Report to holodeck one for a long, relaxing break.�
�Your concern for my well-being is noted, Doctor,� said Picard, �But I�m afraid I haven�t got the time for rest. I must prepare myself for our meeting with the T�Kir.� He was just about to leave sickbay when he felt the firm hand of Doctor Crusher grasp his shoulder. �Don�t make me order you Jean-Luc,� she said, knowing all too well how stubborn her captain can be when it came to medical matters. �As chief medical officer, I outrank you when it comes to matters of a medicinal nature. Thereby, I reserve the right and authority to order you to report to the holodeck.� These words were nothing new to Picard. He had been reminded of this fact time after time by his faithful medical officer.
�Perhaps I am due for some relaxation,� admitted Picard reluctantly. �However I�m afraid I can only spare an hour of my time.�
�Make that and hour and forty-five minutes.� Crusher corrected him.
�Doctor�� he began, but before he could finish Doctor Crusher said the three words he dreaded the most to hear from her.
�That�s an order.�
With a heavy sigh, Picard said, �Very well.� He turned his attention back to Riker. �Number one, you have the bridge until my�medical treatment has concluded.� He held his head for a moment, his piercing headache only tapering off slightly. �I�m sure you�re better suited for it for the time being.�
�Aye captain,� Riker replied, struggling to suppress a grin. Picard then turned and made his way out the sickbay doors and to holodeck one, where the action filled and riveting world of his Dixon Hill program awaited.

[Deciviel]

Chapter 2


Worf stay where he stood, a fierce look of incorruptible determination in his eyes. His lips curled back into a snarl, exposing his rigid, sharp teeth. In his hands he held the traditional weapon of a Klingon- a bat�leth, curved and sculpted into a unique design that reflected the battle hungry essence of a true warrior�s soul. The blades of this magnificent weapon shimmered as they caught the moonlight on their sleek metallic surface. He held this blade with unswerving skill and might, and it transformed him from an ordinary Klingon into the very likeness of Kahless himself.
In front of him stood a tall, dark figure about six foot five inches tall, also wielding a bat�leth but with a different curvature. The blades on this weapon extended out a few meters more, with more robust curves. They were adorned with scratches ranging from two meters long to six, indicating the extensive use this weapon has seen in battle. It�s wielder was of equal pertinence, with eyes that bore deep into Worf�s soul, taunting him with their unflinching stature. The long, untamed hair of this Klingon was as black as the midnight sea below them, and just as still.
Then, with a quick and sudden jolt, the warrior lunged forward, bat�leth extended. Worf caught the blow of the bat�leth with his own, exerting an inhuman amount of energy just to keep it from carving his chest like a Targ. He gave a quick and forceful push forward, pushing his opponent back a few meters. He then started an assault of his own, making a swift and agile swipe intended for his head. And yet all that was swept was air as his opponent ducked and rolled past Worf. Back on his feet just behind him, the Klingon made a go at his head as well, not giving him time to turn around. But that was unneeded, for Worf equipped his blade in his right hand and swung with one hand behind him, his blade clenching with his adversaries.
He then turned round quickly, withdrawing his blade and then swinging it from left to right at his foe. His heart was pumping wildly, and he could feel the true power of a Klingon warrior surging through him. His lust for battle was now immersed in a wild, violent frenzy of fisticuffs that would leave even the most courageous human trembling. Worf knew nothing of cowardice, his primal urges taking over his body. His opponent showed an equal lust for battle as he caught each blow with his bat�leth. Worf continued this strategy until they neared the edge of the cliff, the waters below as deep as Worf�s desire for victory. He repositioned the blade so that it was held in both hands, and he forced it in front him, only to be met by the other blade, just as Worf had planned. With all the strength he could muster, Worf growled like a ferocious beast and pushed forward, sending the other Klingon to the sea below and to his death. Turning around, Worf hardly had time to catch his breath as another Klingon lunged at him, this time a slightly shorter bat�leth in hand. Worf stepped quickly to his left and turned around as the Klingon came after him, bat�leth in one hand. He began to swing it viciously, forcing Worf to nimbly dodge each thrust.
Left, right, left, left, right. The Klingon continued his assault in this fashion, beads of sweat dripping profusely down his dark face. And Worf continued his defense, matching each blow with one of his own. He swiftly lunged to the right, rolled quickly past the Klingon, and got up behind him, swiping at him fiercely. And with no more than a seconds notice, the Klingon disappeared, leaving behind not even a trace of himself. And then within mere seconds another one appeared, standing just a few feet from where Worf stood.
�Impressive,� a voice behind Worf said in a calm demeanor, �I haven�t seen you fight like that in a long time.�
�Computer, freeze program,� Worf ordered just as the new Klingon in front of him charged forward. As soon as the command had left Worf�s lips, the Klingon froze immediately, feet a few inches from the ground. Worf then turned and acknowledged the new presence.
�Captain,� Worf said.
�New holoprogram?� Picard asked inquisitively.
�Indeed,� replied the sweat covered Klingon, breathing hard. He wished that he hadn�t interrupted him. He then took notice that the captain seemed to be in discomfort as he put a hand to his head. �Are you all right?�
�I�ve been better,� Picard half-chuckled, laying his hand back down to rest at his side.
�Do you require the use of the holodeck?� he asked, �You are in obvious need of rest.�
�Doctor Crusher would be one to agree with you,� the captain said, a smirk appearing on his face. �I�ve been ordered to report here for nearly two hours of rest.�
�Then I shall postpone my training for another day,� said the Klingon. �Computer, end program.� And in an instant the cliff, the sea, the moonlight- they all vanished into thin air, being replaced by the criss-cross of the hologrid. �I hope you feel better, sir.� He was about to exit when Picard stopped him.
�Leaving so soon?� he asked with genuine curiosity.
�You need to relax,� said Worf, his stern, deep voice unflinching, �I do not wish to interfere.� Picard smiled at him.
�You wouldn�t be,� he said, �I could use the company.�
�Very well,� said Worf, a little wary but willing to comply. "Which program do you wish to run?� And at that instant, Picard issued a command to the computer, and the hologrid transformed into the familiar scenario of mobsters and detectives- the world of Dixon Hill.

[shrek man]

Very nice story!

[Saoirse_Granger]

Ooh! I like! Keep going!

[Deciviel]

Chapter 3


�Begin multi-phasic scans of the region ahead,� commanded a booming voice. �Catalogue any anomalies and store them in file matrix twenty-one J twenty-three.�
�Acknowledged,� was the command�s response, in the form of a monotonic and lifeless synthesized computer voice. After a few brief moments, a tiny beep emanated from the console, then stopped.
�Well, it looks like I was correct after all,� said the voice, which emanated from a tall and slender humanoid of about six feet in height. The tendrils protruding from his cheeks made him look fishlike in a way. He took a seat at the console and punched up the file matrix. In it he viewed the anomaly which was converted into a data file just moments ago. With a strong and watchful gaze, he viewed the anomalous reading that was displayed.
�Interesting, very interesting,� said the humanoid, and then he took his eyes away from the console�s screen and in the direction of his colleague, another fishlike creature. �Cha�tral, come here a moment,� he said, watching his partner rise from where he sat and make his way over to him.
�What have you found?� Cha�tral asked, curious as to why his partner had called for him.
�I just began scanning of the space ahead, and this is what I�ve found.� He moved aside a little, allowing Cha�tral to gain a better view of the screen.
�Interesting,� said Cha�tral, intrigued by this discovery, �What do you make of it Sha�tok?�
�A subspace anomaly, of course,� Sha�tok snapped a bit, frustrated by his partner�s ignorance.
�Obviously,� quipped Cha�tral, �But look at the misalignment of the particle flow here. It�s due to a phase variance of twenty-three point one gamatrenes.�
�Twenty-three point one gamatrenes?� echoed Sha�tok, a hint of puzzlement in his voice, �How could a misalignment by that much not show up on our sensors without us having to upgrade them?�
�That�s something that�s puzzling me too, but it�s a good thing that we did upgrade.� said Cha�tral, giving a quick glance to his colleague, and then back to the console. And then after a second or two of silence, another beep emanated from the console, and another file appeared on screen.
�Another one?� said Sha�tok, now fully immersed in the screen�s readouts. �Look at this, this one shows a decreased particle density in nebula J-24. It looks like it�s being caused by another phase variance, this one of thirty-five point nine gamatrenes.�
�This is incredible,� said Cha�tral, disbelief in his voice, �We should report these findings to the Talmodian High Order as we were instructed to.�
�We were ordered to report to them when we found something of importance. Two anomalies hardly counts as important.�
�Are you insane?� said Cha�tral, in disbelief by his partner�s response, �These anomalies are huge. We haven�t come across any like these before.�
�We haven�t,� said Sha�tok, �But that doesn�t mean that our friends in the High Order haven�t either. They would simply dismiss them as trivial and-� He was suddenly cut off by the beeping of a nearby console.
�What is that?� questioned Cha�tral, hurrying over to the console from which the beep came from. �I�m detecting a vessel approaching at warp seven. They will be in visual range in twenty-two minutes.�
�Designation?� Sha�tok demanded.
�Unknown,� reported Cha�tral. And then without a moment�s notice, a shrill tone came from his station. �They�re hailing us.�
�Onscreen,� said Sha�tok, turning his gaze to the viewscreen to his left. And within seconds the image of man dressed in red sporting a beard came into view.
�Identify yourself,� demanded Sha�tok.
�I�m Commander Riker of the starship Enterprise. We come in peace.�
�General Sha�tok of the Talmodian survey ship Demoltai. How may we help you?�
�We�re on our way to a rendezvous with a Vulcan ship. We detected your vessel along our present course, so we decided to take a minor detour to introduce ourselves.�
�It is a pleasure to meet you,� said Sha�tok, bowing slightly. "I�ve no doubt that you have detected the spatial anomalies we have?�
�Anomalies?� hazarded Riker, �I�m afraid we haven�t detected any along our current course.�
�Well, Mr. Riker, if you don�t mind taking a short time off of your trip, I�d be happy to share our findings with you.�

[Sphen]

That's a good story.

[ussshorty]

very nice if i do say so myself.