Sunday, July 22, 2007

The Lurkers (Part One)

"Captain," says Data, "We have just received an Emergency message from Starfleet Command."

"Very well, Mr Data." I reply, "I'll take it in my Ready Room."

"No, sir." he adds, "Admiral Jensen is insisting that it is heard on the Bridge by all the staff."

This sounds serious. I hope Starfleet are not planning to send any auditors on board.

The screen flickers to life with the face of Admiral Jensen.

"Captain Picard, members of the Enterprise." he starts, "Starfleet is facing a serious problem from a mysterious race called the Lurkers."

I try and keep a straight face and listen further. Jensen spots the slight smile on my face.

"This is no laughing matter, Picard!" he tells me firmly, "The Lurkers are a shadowy race that are threatening the very fabric of the Federation. There is no way to detect them, but they just remain in the shadows observing all that we do. We fear that once they have, they will invade us."

"How did we find out about them, Admiral?"

"One night in Starfleet Headquarters." Jensen answers, "A cleaner was looking around and he noticed a dark figure looking through the secret Federation databases."



"Couldn't he be caught?" I ask.

"No." replies, Jensen, "The Lurker just told the cleaner that the Lurker race will be supreme over the galaxy then disappeared into thin air."

"This is a grave threat. What can we do?" I ask him.

"We have noticed that Lurkers are being more prominent in the area of space you are in now." he replies, "Their home planet may be around there. You must find a way to stop them before it is too late, Captain. The future of Starfleet depends on you. The Lurkers cannot be allowed to win!"

The screen flickers off.

"We always get the tough jobs." comments Riker, "How are we supposed to fight against darkened figures? Shadow boxing?"

"I don't know, Number One." I reply, "Any suggestions?"

"I think we need to get hold of one and see what their weakness may be." Data tells me.

"That might be true., Data." Deanna says, "But how does one catch a shadow?"

For once, Data is stumped for an answer, just as if he were trying to understand a joke that Geordi might have told him.

"I say we assimilate all the Lurkers!" Seven of Nine tells me firmly.

"It would be interesting to see how you get a shadow into an Assimilation Chamber, Seven." I reply, "And fitting implants might be quite a challenge for the Borg Queen."

Seven looks digusted at me in her typical 'Borg-are-supreme' look.

I decide to do my pep talk to get them ready for action.

"The Lurkers cannot be allowed to defeat us." I tell them, "They are everywhere, in the darkest corners. Look out for them; they are watching what we do. But we can defeat them together, as we stand firm!"

Everybody looks blank when I finish.

--------------

Several hours later, we arrive at the Twilight Cluster, a group of planets with hardly any sunlight.

"There could be a good chance the Lurkers are here." Riker tells me.

"Yes, Number One." I reply, "Let's investigate."

I take an Away Party down consisting of myself, Riker, Beverly, Deanna, Worf, Data and Geordi.
We look around; everywhere seems very dark, except for a few light shafts.

"How can we find shadowy creatures in this darkness?" Worf declares in disgust.

"By turning around, Klingon." says a voice from a shaft of light behind.



To be continued...


26 comments:

Bobkat said...

Beware the lurkers! I've been known to do some lurking myself :)

I will have to come back to see who these lurkers are though.

Michele sent me again!

susan said...

Got visions of the Borg Queen trying to assimilate a shadow - brilliant.

Linda said...

If these turn out to be the same Lurkers who have been hanging around my sector of the Blogosphere I ask that you give them a message from me to stop lurking around and just leave a doggone comment once in awhile!

Lavender said...

Eeep! Whats Worf gonna do - if he cant scare a shadow I dont know who can.....(what a great idea for a story!) Its no use now lurkers, best to just de-lurk now :)

Tawnya Shields said...

I agree with the rest of the crew commenting. I think the lurkers live on a Planet called the Blogosphere. They are lurking around my hub also. Drats! What can we do? :o)

Nepharia said...

Hey, Google analytics does a good job of identifying where the lurkers are!

Nancy Wu said...

Awwwww, scary!

dragonflyfilly said...

i dunno, this sounds like a case of some being afraid of their own shadow, but then maybe i am just suffering from a severe case of "transference" -- after my narrow escape from the "body snatchers" (no seriously, i was beginning to think that those people from the Landmark Forum are none other than....you know!)...

sorry, but i'm having a hard time keeping myself from laughing out loud: "lurkers?....hmmmmm....

later, i have to go check under my bed, i think i heard a funny scrating noise!

pj

Real Life Drama Queen said...

Definatly be back for part two!

Great job!

Nienke Hinton said...

I am a lurker, and you'll never get me! We will rule the world!

Nienke Hinton said...

Oops, shoulda gone anonymous, eh?

Mother Jones RN said...

I can't wait to see what happens next!

MJ

The Curmudgeon said...

Shadow boxing? Brilliant!

Jean-Luc Picard said...

We have to expose the Lurkers, everybody. Nienke Hilton has been caught!

All you Lurkers out there...we are after you!

SassyAssy said...

Well, I would never ever want to be accused of being a lurker!

Jon the Intergalactic Gladiator said...

Darn lurkers.

*shakes fist*

Maybe you can shine a light or something on them.

dragonflyfilly said...

Off topic: but in answer to your comment at The Blethering Place:-I have exhausted Agatha Cristie so don't suggest her...but anything else is worth a try. If i don't like it i will simply go back to the Library.

Looking forward to your suggestions.

dragonflyfilly said...

chuckle chuckle chuckle....honestly, all this "lurking" lunacy is making me laugh and laugh and laugh...which is a GOOD thing!

i love it! (and i'm sorry if i can't take it seriously, but, on the other hand, maybe i'm not supposed to take it seriously)

*sigh*
i think i need to get out more often!

Amanda said...

LOL! I'm laughing too! That picture of that 'lurker' looking at the PC gave me a good chuckle.

Nancy Wu said...

Looking out from my highrising room, i can see so many highrise building in front of me with tight curtains. That makes me remember captain's post. The worry for The lurkers with hidden agenda must be one of the main reasons for the almost air-proof curtains.

The world we live in.

dragonflyfilly said...

....something was "lurking" in my sub-conscious, so i had to pop back. That shadow look very familiar...

......

......

......

it looks like ME!

{OH MY GAWD, i'm the lurker!

Anonymous said...

Hey Captain,

I have an award for you - see this post:

http://www.bobkingsley.co.uk/blog/?p=119

The Mistress of the Dark said...

Uh oh...no more lurking.

Summer Dawn O'Ciardha said...

Wait, am I a lurker?

And Captain, to fight a shadow, I might suggest a little, Light? I know: I've been a little dark my whole life.

Jean-Luc Picard said...

As you can see from Part Two, light may well be the answer., as Summer & Jon say.

Dragonflyfilly, you don't look like a Lurker to me.

Somerset Bob, thanks for that Award.

Lansy, good thoughts about the Lurkers.

Amanda, the picture made me laugh as well.

dragonflyfilly said...

hhehhhheheheh, *evil chuckle*