Sunday, January 29, 2006

Stranded In 2006 (Part One)

Starfleet are doing a bold experiment. They want to try and see if time travel can be perfected.

I'm more than a little worried, as the Enterprise senior staff have been chosen to operate the machinery.

Starfleet chiefs are watching behind screens from above.

Well away from danger.

We are all in the Timewarp Chamber at Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco. Each of the staff has a role to play; Geordi is monitoring engine flow, Worf is checking for overheating, Beverly is on hand for any medical emergencies, Data is looking at the computers, Riker is checking the temporal flow, Deanna on standby for extra resources, and I'm err..... supervising it all.

"Switch on the time portal" I say with authority, as if I what I going on.

A few electrical sparks seem to flash, like they do in the 'Frankenstein' movies.

"Status?" I ask everyone.

"Optimum capacity" shouts Geordi over the loud machine.

"Heating level" declares Worf.

"Computers operating correctly." states Worf.

"Temporal flow working." says Riker.

"Medical Kit full." declares Beverly.

"Full resources still available." adds Deanna limply.

Then Riker starts to look a little worried. The sweat is showing.

"Temporal flow starting to exceed parameters" he says alarmingly, "Starting to head towards danger level."

I notice that the Starfleet officials have already ran away out of the building. They have left us here."

"Engine overheating, temporal flow in danger level, computers overloading." Data tells me, "Captain, I seriously suggest we evacuat..."

There is a blinding blue flash and I can feel all my atoms coming apart.

Suddenly we all wake up; we are no longer in the Timewarp Chamber, but a dusty old building.

"Where are we." I ask.

"Actually, Captain." states Data, "The correct question should be when are we, which according to my chronometer is 29th January 2006."

I open the door and see a busy 21st street of San Francisco. Old petrol-driven cars are crawling along in traffic hold-ups. The Golden Gate Bridge is there, but no Starfleet Headquarters.

As Jim Lovell said, "Houston, we have a problem."

"What are we going to do?" wails Deanna, "We can't stay in this time period. I'm not capable of surviving here. The don't have the sort of shops we have in the 24th Century."

"I don't know yet , Counselor." I honestly tell her.

A scruffy man walks past, looks at our uniforms and drawls, "Wow! Cool threads, man!". he then sees Worf and starts running away.

We close the doors and have an Emergency Conference.

We've got to face the fact that we may be here for some time, perhaps for the rest of our lives." I tell them, "It's essential that we lead very low key lives so that we do not upset the timeline."

All of them agree, and try to decide what their future careers will be.

"I shall be a doctor in a hospital" decides Beverly.

"I shall be a psychiatrist." declares Deanna.

"I'll be a trombone player in a jazz band." says Riker.

"I will be a teacher in a school" Data decides.

"I'll be a cool DJ in a nightclub." states Geordi, "It could be quite cool."

"I will be a wrestler," says Worf, "I'll let then think my Klingon face is a mask."

"What about you, Captain?" asks Deanna, "What will you be doing in your new life?"

"I intend to be a Shakespearen actor," I loftily tell them all, "Yes, I shall tread the boards of the local theatre. The 21st Century will have the privilege of seeing me playing 'Hamlet."'

Deanna suddenly has a fit of giggles for no apparent reason."

"We still have our Com badges" I tell them all, "If we need to locate one of us in the city, you will be able to. Good luck!"

We all depart out of the building, about to face the 21st Century and our new careers.

20 comments:

Vegeta said...

welcome back to our time capt and company

Jaime said...

Excellent!! I look forward to reading of their adventures! And if any of you make it to Baltimore, you're welcome to crash at my place.

Trucker Pete said...

Is that a shark I see in the distance? :P

Heheh. Just kidding, Jean-Luc. Can't wait to see how they get out of this one ...

Jen said...

Welcome! If you're in the Denver area, stop by and we'll make dinner or something. I promise I won't keep asking if you're that guy from X-Men, even though my backwards family is way more familiar with that than with Shakespeare (give us time...)

Shelley said...

Very suitable career choices for 2006 Captain. I especially like the Worf idea, he will be super wrestling for the W.W.E. Now at least you can try REAL Earl Grey tea! REAL FOOD! Whee!

Helen Louise said...

You'd be a great Shakespearian actor, Captain. You could grow a beard and be Enobarbus in Antony and Cleopatra. I can definitely see that.

(But really, how would Beverley cope with being a doctor in a hospital where people actually see blood and you can't cure things with a single instrument?)

I agree with Geordi. He'd be in Cool City, Arizona ;)

(Also, with your wisdom, could you please prevent a global disaster from climate change? Thanks, I don't want to die.)

Jon the Intergalactic Gladiator said...

Oh no, you're trapped in 2006. What an awful fate indeed!

Hey Captain, do you want to be a hero?

Captain Berk said...

This happened to me once.

Find yourself some Whales. They'll sort it out.

Trinity13 said...

Good luck Capt...can't wait to see how this situation turns out!!!

Ciera said...

Hmm, stranded in 2006........

Professor Xavier said...

"That guy from X-Men" has a name you know, Jen.

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles, Jean Luc. I know how disconcerting it can be to find yourself stranded somewhere. It seems like your technology often still has ticks in it. Let me know if you'd like me to send the X-Jet to pick you up. We have plenty of space here at the mansion. Perhaps we can convince Dr. Doom to let you use his time machine. (Though I admit that is a longshot.)

Master Yoda said...

"Extra resources". Very useful, Counselor Troi is.

Also, if work out wrestling does not, an exciting career in circus side-shows, Worf could have.

Anonymous said...

Well, I must say, I've never been a fan of Shakespere... So I'd probably giggle too.

Here via Michele today!

poopie said...

Hoo boy..stuck in 2006. Why don't you become President instead of doing Shakespeare. Both require the same acting skills ;)

Michelle said...

can't wait for Part Two! I had to move my blog (so far, so good) to the following address:

http://occasionalmelancholia.blogspot.com

ignore the boring template. I'm in the process of changing it. hope to see you there :)

Helen Louise said...

I had a dream about time-travel last night, and now I've got an idea for a story about it. So thanks for the inspiration ;)

no_average_girl said...

oh, wow...can't wait to see how they live their lives before all of their awesome technology!

Jana said...

This should be good! Eagerly awaiting part 2!

Jean-Luc Picard said...

Master Yoda, Have you been looking at Part 2?

Professor, I'm not using Dr Doom's timew machine. I remembered what happened to you.

Michelle, thanks for telling me of your blog change.

Helen Louise, thanks for the acting encouragement.

M. C. Pearson said...

I see I have quite a few posts to catch up on! Sorry I've been scarce for a while...recovering from pnuemonia I couldn't concentrate on longer posts...I can now! Yeah! And this is such a fun story...Shakespeare! Hee hee.