Spectre

Returning from a routine mission to repair a damaged subspace relay, two inexperienced officers soon find their runabout badly damaged and adrift

Adrift – 1

Runabout, edge of the Romulan neutral zone
October 2399

“What the hell happened!?” Matthews demanded as he stumbled across the runabout from the rear compartment towards the helm.

“I don’t know, external sensors didn’t detect anything” Miller replied, her fingers hastily tapping across the controls.

The runabout rocked again from another impact causing the operations console to explode in a shower of sparks and debris, uprooting the chair Miller was sitting in from its mount and sending her backwards onto the floor.

Matthews spun round in his seat, his hand covering his eyes as he struggled to adjust to the now darkened compartment. The only light illuminating the room was now coming from a small plasma fire from within the remains of the operations console.

“Miller? Miller are you alright?!” Matthews said shakily, struggling to get to his feet and maintain his balance.

Miller groaned as she sat herself up, wiping particles of debris from her uniform with her hands as she did so.

“I’m fine, but if we can’t get the systems back online and the shields up… a console exploding in my face will be the least of my worries” she said as she extended her arm for Matthews to help her back to her feet.

Miller pulled herself up and Matthews made his way back to the helm.

“Main power is offline, we’ve got nothing. Weapons, shields, propulsion. All shot.” Matthews said. “At this point, I couldn’t even tell you if there’s ship out there.”

The runabout began to shake violently and suddenly veered to the side, as if being pulled by a powerful unknown force.

“Great, what now?!” Matthews exclaimed dragging himself back into his seat.

“I don’t know, but it can’t be good.” Miller replied as she fumbled with a panel next to the transporter pad at the rear of the compartment. The panel clicked open and Miller tossed it to one side before reaching inside and removing a small grey case.

Miller opened the case and removed a tricorder and torch tossing them both to Matthews. Matthews caught the tricorder in his right hand however the torch went sailing past him and bounced off of the bulkhead, clicking itself on as it landed.

“Nice aim” he said as he flicked the tricorder open, the torch now dimly illuminating the room.

“Academy softball pitcher of the year, don’t you know” she smirked as she removed a plasma extinguisher from the space behind the panel she had opened.

“It shows” Matthews said sarcastically as he moved the tricorder around, trying to ascertain what limited information he could from its limited range.

The tricorder pulsed and beeped in his hand as he moved around the room.

“I’m detecting some kind of residual subspace radiation, nothing harmful to us as far as I can tell,” the tricorder began to beep impatiently, interrupting Matthews. “There’s something out there.”

“What? A ship? Something… else?” No sooner had she said that the runabout settled, the shaking subsided and the chaos was filled with an eerie stillness.

Miller paused, her eyes slowly and cautiously looking about the room. Matthews lowered his tricorder and reached down, picking up the torch Miller had so haphazardly thrown to him earlier. He shon it around the room, it’s light shining through the smoke from the plasma fire that was now dancing its way around the otherwise still compartment.

“Come on,” he said walking over to Miller. “No use sitting here playing 20 questions in the dark. We need to get power back online.”

Matthews made his way to the rear of the compartment, forcing open the doors separating the flight deck from the living quarters and engineering section.

Miller ran her hands over her face, sighed and made her way through the partially opened rear door behind Matthews. In her wake the wispy smoke that resulted from the plasma fire in the operations console began to swirl and contort, creating the menacing outline of a figure. It had no features, and stood cloaked in darkness, the smoke in the room appeared drawn to it.

Miller began to feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, and a coldness crept into her, as if permeating her very being. She turned abruptly and faced the open door, but she saw nothing. The figure had vanished, absorbed back into the darkness, but the cold. The cold remained.

“Hey Miller, you coming?” Matthews enquired as he stumbled over a piece of debris blown out during the initial impacts.

“Yeah… I… I just thought I saw… nevermind, it’s nothing.” Miller replied, not convinced herself that it had been nothing.

Matthews flicked open his tricorder and it hummed calmly.

“I’m not reading anything mate. Not even that residual energy signal from before.” He said closing the tricorder.

“Yeah, probably nothing. Trick of the light or something.” She replied, trying to compose herself.

Matthews nodded and turned to continue through towards the rear of the vessel.

 

Adrift – 2

Runabout, edge of Romulan neutral zone
October 2399

As Matthews made his way through the heavily damaged runabout he too was starting to feel the cold. He could see his breath Infront of him, all the while compartment continued to fill with a whispy haze.

“I think our priority is gonna be getting environmental control up and running” he said as wiped loose debris from the console in front of him with his forearm. 

 “We should have a portable power cell in equipment storage. If we can connect that up to the computer core, we should be able to see where we’re at. Can you go and grab it, and I’ll get the interface ready” he continued as he knelt down Infront of the computer interface and pried the access panel from beneath the console.

Miller nodded and looked reluctantly towards the door towards the crew compartment and lounge area of the vessel. Normally she wouldn’t hesitate, but she felt as though something was watching their every move. It was probably just a concussion as a result of being thrown across the room when her console exploded in her face, she thought as she began to walk towards the door.

She had had concussions before, but there was something different about this. Miller placed her hands on the centre of the door and began to push the two sections apart. As it began to open the light from Matthews torch which he had sat down on the console he was working on shon through the gap. Illuminating only a small area of the lounge, Miller could just about make out the table in the centre of the room.

She continued to pry the door apart until it was wide enough for her to squeeze through. Miller pushed her way through and on into the room, the only light source that of Matthews torch in the previous room.

This compartment was in no better state that the previous, debris littered the floor, the chairs that had once sat around the table now upturned and scattered around the room. The torchlight cast long shadows across the room, interrupted only by the occasional cascade of sparks from a damage power relay in the ceiling.

Miller made her way towards a long silver crate that sat along the rear wall. Matthews had left it there following their previous mission, he never did properly stow equipment away. He had been this way ever since they were at the academy together.

Miller knelt down on the floor beside the crate and wiped clean the small access control display with her hand.

She input her 4 digit access code and the locking mechanism clicked open. Reaching inside she removed the small power cell and sat it down next to her.

“Have you got it?” Matthews called impatiently from the next room, “the computer core itself doesn’t look like it’s damaged.”

“Yeah I’ve found it, give me a second,” she replied as she turned around to face the sound of Matthews voice.

Turning her attention back towards her task Millers gaze was met by a menacing figure, sat not two feet directly opposite. It’s face contorted into a sinister smile, eyes fixated and unblinking, violating Miller’s very being. 

She was unable to call out, unable to move, unable to scream. This was what it wanted. 

 

Adrift – 3

Runabout, edge of former Romulan Neutral Zone
October 2399

Matthews reached inside the open access panel under the computer core interface and inserted removed a damaged isolinear chip from its row of neighbours. Normally clear in colour this one was so badly charred it was almost opaque. He moved his hand along the exposed chips, selecting the last in the row swapping its position with that of the damaged one, hoping that his jerry-rigged bypass would work.

Matthews reached up and took hold of the console above, pulling himself to his feet. As he turned to face the doorway Miller was already there standing in front of him. He hadn’t heard her approach,

“Bloody hell, you always sneak up on people like that?” He exclaimed while straightening his uniform.

Miller stood and stared at Matthews, expressionless and vacant, her arms hanging at her sides like weights were tied to her wrists.

The runabout was eerily still, the damaged power conduits that periodically sparked and crackled into life had fallen silent. It was as though a great emptiness had washed over their vessel.

“Miller?” Matthews said, his breath once again visible as he spoke. Miller remained silent, her gaze fixed.

Edging forward Matthews reached out with his hand, he could feel the cold emanating from Miller. Just as his hand was about to touch Miller’s shoulder her eyes locked with his. He could feel something staring back at him, but it wasn’t Miller. It was something else, something malevolent.

It began to speak through her, it’s voice sounded like a thousand whispers twisting together.

“The first has been released…” it said, staring through Miller’s eyes. “The others will come. When the light is extinguished… darkness will wash over the stars.”

“The first? The first what? What others? Who are you?” Matthews demanded.

It looked at Matthews for a few seconds, contorting Miller’s mouth into a sinister grin.

“I am the end.”

Miller screamed in agony, throwing her head back on her shoulders, a thick black smoke fled her body in every direction. The runabout’s damaged systems, which had sat dormant, now exploded into life sending showers of sparks down into Matthews causing him to take cover under the console.

Miller collapsed to the floor, her body broken and violated, but she was still alive and a stillness settled over the runabout again.

 

 

Adrift – 4

Runabout, edge of Romulan neutral zone
October 2399

Matthews pulled himself up and out from under the console he had taken shelter under and immediately ran over to Miller. 

“Miller?!” He said desperately checking for her pulse. He felt nothing, Miller lay lifeless where she had fallen.  “No no no no. C’mon mate, don’t die on me” 

Matthews clambered on his hands and knees over to a medical kit that had been knocked from its position on the bulkhead wall during the commotion. Returning to Miller he fumbled with its locking mechanism and unclasped it, opening it and grabbing the medical tricorder from inside. Hastily he flipped the tricorder open and it let out a steady continuous tone.

“Damn it!” He exclaimed, setting the tricorder down next to Miller, “heart, got to get your heart going. We’ll worry about the rest after.”

Matthews placed his hand inside the kit and removed two small square devices and attached them to Miller’s upper torso. Picking up the tricorder he tapped it’s controls, causing a surge of electricity to pulse between the two devices. Millers body contracted into a momentary spasm before again going limp.

“Come on!” He shouted, smacking the controls again and again sending another shock through Miller’s body. 

“Yes!” He shouted as the tricorder’s continuous shrill tone changed to a sequence of short beeps.

Matthews picked up the tricorder and hastily tapped at the controls while cautiously moving it over Miller. 

“Okay, okay. You’re not dead. That’s good. But we’re both going to be unless I can get this bloody ship running.” Matthews looked around the darkened room towards his torch which lay on the ground several feet from him.

Jumping to his feet he ran over and picked it up, it’s beam illuminating the room as he moved. Matthews made his way toward the doorway into the next compartment stopping just before he went inside. He turned and shon his torch toward Miller who lay unconscious on the floor. 

Matthews knew something had happened in this room and he felt a wave of anxiety come over him. Pressing on Matthews pushed the doors further ajar and went inside, moving his torch around the room, it’s light casting shadows on the wall from the debris that lay strewn throughout the compartment.

Locating the power cell, Matthews picked it up and moved back through the room toward the doorway. The cell was cumbersome and difficult to carry, causing Matthews to drop the torch as he stepped through the door. Rolling on the floor the torch came to rest illuminating Miller as she lay on the deck.

Not stopping to retrieve it, Matthews left the torch on the ground and walked over toward the console he had previously been working on. Gently lowering the power cell down next to the console’s interface, Matthews knelt down and connected it.

Just as he was about to bring it online, he heard a noise behind him, turning to face its source he saw Miller standing directly behind him holding a length of dislodged metal piping.

Miller swung it, connecting with his head and causing him to collapse to the ground and lose consciousness.

Matthews slowly opened his eyes, the bright light took a minute to adjust to. His head was pounding and the gentle noise of the doctors and nurses going about their business around him felt like someone was stabbing his eardrum with a needle.

A figure stood over him and began to speak, struggling to bring their features into focus. Matthews grimaced and raised his hand to shield his eyes.

“Take it easy,” the voice said reassuringly, “you’ve been through quite an ordeal.”

 “Wh… what happened?” Matthews said, his voice breaking as he did so.

“We were rather hoping you could tell us, Lieutenant,” said the stations chief medical officer scanning Matthews with a small medical probe from his tricorder.

Matthews pulled himself to sit up on the bio bed. 

“The runabout, Miller? Where’s Miller?” He said looking around sickbay hoping to see that she too was being treated.

“We don’t know,” the doctor replied, “when you didn’t make your scheduled check-in we sent out a search team. Your runabout was founding drifting in space, you were the only one onboard.”

Matthews stared at the doctor, he didn’t know how to explain what had happened.

 

The Investigator

Starfleet Headquarters, Earth
November 2399

Commander Brendt sighed as he tossed another PADD onto the mounting pile of reports that sat on his desk. Though the role of an investigator was that which he had deliberately sought out, he found himself increasingly tied to his desk reading intelligence reports rather than conducting investigations himself. Now he oversaw the work of others and while there was no doubt that those he oversaw were more than competent in their role it left him wishing that someone would make a mistake, at least that would give him cause to leave his office.

Brendt rose from his chair straightening his uniform as he did so.

“Coffee, black.” he commanded, walking towards the replicator that sat on the wall to the right of the office.

The replicator hummed and a black and silver coffee mug materialised in a swirl of light. Picking it up, Brendt turned and walked to the window at the rear of his office. At least the view was decent, he thought to himself, something to break up the monotony. But even that was starting to become all too familiar. 

Brendt raised the mug and took a sip. Replicated coffee wasn’t the same as the real thing, synthesized carbohydrates and reconstituted proteins… It tasted close enough, but it was always lacking something. Authenticity? Perhaps. Everything had become too artificial in his view, we had lost something in our relentless pursuit to better our lives he thought.

Returning to his desk he sat the mug down on the glass desk and picked up the PADD he had tossed aside earlier. Another mission report, several crossed his desk each day, forwarded on to him for his attention by his staff after they were filed by the reporting officer. His department was responsible for scrutinising mission reports that involved significant loss or damage to ships or equipment. Unfortunately they were also responsible for investigating incidents that resulted in loss of life.

“Mission report, Devron Fleet Yards, Dean Matthews, Stardate…” he read aloud and then began to mumble the rest to himself. As he read the report, a look of concern fell over his face. This was one of those reports, the kind that nobody looked forward to reading. A serving officer was missing following an unexplained incident during a routine runabout mission.

Brendt sat down at his desk and continued to read the report in silence. It didn’t add up, he thought. Where was the associated sensor data from the runabout? Why was the report so incomplete when it dealt with such a serious matter? These were the questions that warranted further investigation, and indeed, they were questions that could not sit unanswered.

“Computer, display service record and biographical data for Dean Matthews.” he said placing the PADD down.

The computer chirped in acknowledgement of his request and a holographic display appeared from the emitter embedded in his desk displaying the service record of Matthews. Brendt scrolled through it, nothing out of the ordinary he thought. No reprimands or disciplinary actions, nothing to suggest why the report filed would be so incomplete. 

“Computer, display all mission reports filed by Dean Matthews and query for any reports flagged to this department previously,” Brendt said, raising his hand to his chin and rubbing his short beard. 

“No previous reports by this officer have been flagged for review,” the computer responded bluntly.

“Hmm,” he said softly as he tapped the controls of the small interface on his desk. Brendt pressed the intercom with his finger causing it to sound a soft double tone indicating the channel was open.

“T’Prim,” he said, speaking to his personal assistant who sat at a desk outside of his office, “recall all level 2 investigators and schedule a meeting in 30 minutes”

“Yes sir,” the disembodied voice replied through the intercom, “what is the nature of the meeting?” his assistant enquired.

“I will explain that in the briefing.” Brendt replied, “I’m sending you a report, please ensure it is disseminated to those attending.” he continued, tapping the controls of his interface once more and sending the report through to T’Prim.

“Acknowledged.” T’Prim replied.

“Thank you,” Brendt said, terminating the call.

Picking up the PADD containing Matthew’s mission report, Brendt stood up and walked over to the LCARS display on the wall of his office. He tapped on the controls and as he did so an overview of the flight plan filed by Matthews appeared. It showed that the runabout was to travel from Devron Fleet Yards to a subspace relay and then return one day later along the same route. Tapping the controls again a second map was overlaid, showing the runabouts actual route and the location it was found adrift.

“Three light years. A three light year deviation,” Brendt said aloud to himself, “How did you get there?”

Brendt tapped his PADD and the maps displayed cascaded closed and the LCARS display locked, displaying the United Federation of Planets emblem. He then turned and walked towards the door of his office and exited out into the small adjacent waiting area. Nodding to T’Prim he exited into the corridor and walked towards the turbolift.

The corridor was busy, officers coming and going all occupied with their own tasks, their own investigations, their own questions. Brendt entered the empty turbolift at the end of the corridor.

“Reception.” He commanded as the turbolift doors slid closed. 

Exiting into the large open reception area, Brendt made his way past the security checkpoint.

“Commander,” one of the security officers nodded in recognition of Brendt.

“Gregg,” Brendt said as he walked past “kids well?” he enquired. Brendt made a point to be approachable and to get to know the people he saw daily, regardless of their role. It was this approachability that made Brendt well liked among his subordinates.

“Doing well sir, softball on Saturday. Are you able to make it?” Ensign Gregg Burr replied.

“Pencil me in.” Brendt replied, chuckling as he continued walking towards the large glass doors of the exit.

Burr smiled and nodded, resuming his duties.

The large glass doors slid open and Brendt walked outside into the quad, it was a clear day, like every other day in San Francisco. Brendt continued along the footpath which was flanked on either side by open grass areas and water features.

Directly opposite the security complex was the Starfleet Intelligence building. It shared much of its appearance and layout with the security complex however it’s entrance was flanked on either side by two security officers. 

Brendt approached them and handed over his PADD.

“Commander Jacob Brendt to see Captain August Remmington.” he said in a matter of fact tone.

The older of the two security officers took hold of the PADD and examined it’s content.

“Yes sir. Level 4, use the Turbolift on the right of reception.” replied the officer.

“Yes, I am aware, I have been here before Lieutenant.” Brendt replied bluntly collecting his PADD that the officer handed back.

The doors slid open and Brendt walked through, turning right as instructed and entering the turbolift.

Exiting on level 4 Brendt made his way down the corridor towards Captain Remmington’s office at the end of the hallway. Unlike his own offices, which were a hive of activity, the hallways and corridors of intelligence were much quieter.

On entering Remmington’s office, Brendt was greeted by Remmington’s assistant. 

“He’s expecting you. Go on through.” The assistant said, gesturing towards the door on his right.

Brendt nodded and walked through to Remmington’s office.

“Jacob,” Captain Remmington said welcomingly, “What brings you by? Have a seat.” he said as he motioned towards the chair opposite his desk.

Sitting down Brendt handed Remmington his PADD“Bill,” he said with a concerned look on his face, “we have a problem.”

“What kind of problem?” Remmington replied, taking the PADD in his hand and looking through its contents.

“The four.” Brendt paused. “They’re back.”

Remmington stopped reading and look up at Brendt.

“Are you certain?” he queried, his demeanor changing instantly to concern.

“Yes,” Brendt responded, “I’m certain.”

“Who else knows?” asked Remmington, placing the PADD down on his desk.

“At this point, you and I. That officer’s superiors are going to have questions though” Brendt said, pointing at the PADD. “They’ve lost one of their own. If that were me, I wouldn’t stop digging until I found answers.”

“Go to Devron, make sure any answers they find are the ones we want them to. We can’t have this getting out.” Remmington said. “Speak to this… Matthews. Dress it up as a misconduct investigation if you have to. Find out what he knows and then erase any record of it.”

“Yes sir.” Brendt nodded.

 

Nightmares

Devron Fleet Yards
November 2399

Something felt off, Matthews thought to himself. The corridors of Devron Station were normally a hive of activity. People going about their business, returning to their quarters following long shifts, there were even occasions where crew members would exercise in the corridors for lack of a better space. Not tonight, the whole station was filled with an eerie stillness as though everyone had just got up and left.

And the sound, what was that sound? It was discordant, unorganised, unsettling and it was… everywhere. Matthews could feel it in his very core, as though it was coming from the fabric of space. It was like a nail being driven through his temple, scratching at his thoughts.

As he neared the end of the corridor the sound changed. Less chaotic, more organised, softer. Still though, it called to him.

Matthews took a deep breath and rounded the corner at the end of the corridor. 

There it was, the source of the dread he felt inside. A figure stood ten meters away, cloaked in darkness. Thick black oily tendrils reaching out from it absorbing the bulkheads around it.

Matthews stood paralysed in fear. He had seen this before on the runabout just before it took Miller.

“Find me.” A voice whispered from the shadows. “It hasn’t found the others… it can still be stopped.”

The sound began to swell again, getting louder and louder until it felt like a needle in his ears. Matthews gasped in pain clutching at his ears.

The figure grinned, it’s face contorted into a demonic smile.

“She is mine.” It growled as its boney hand snapped up around Matthew’s throat.

Matthews woke in a panic and sat bolt upright, his bed was drenched in sweat and he was shivering.

“Shit,” he exclaimed “not again.”

Matthews exhaled and leant over to his bedside table, pressing a control and illuminating his quarters. 

“Computer, time?” He said as he rubbed his face with both hands.

“03:00 hours.” The computer chirped.

“Same time every damn night,” he said as he swung his legs out of bed, placing his feet on the soft carpet. Pulling himself up and out of bed he picked up his dressing gown from the back of a nearby chair and draped it over himself. 

Matthews walked over to the small sofa in the corner of his quarters and picked up a PADD from the several scattered around it.

He began to read it as he collapsed into a heap on the sofa. He had spent a lot of his time researching various databases, looking at duty reports of starships that had passed through the area, historical texts and even folklore. Looking for anything that could explain his ordeal and help him find his friend.

Attention to Orders

Earth Orbit, Sol Syste.
November 2399

The crew of the USS Norway had assembled in the mess hall, they had been told there would be an announcement at 14:00 hours. They were scheduled for their shakedown cruise the following morning so most of the gathered crewmen assumed they would be hearing from their new commanding officer. One of those inspirational pep talks that all new CO’s seem admanent on delivering.

Commander Teknat stood at the front of the mess hall, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed out of the window. He hated waiting, he always had done. Teknat wasn’t an impatient man, or at least that’s what he told himself. Truth is this was probably one of the most important events in his career, his first command.

The mess hall doors slid open. This was it, he thought to himself, the moment he had been working toward his entire career.

Captain Remmington entered the mess hall followed closely by a second officer. Both men walked toward the front of the room where Commander Teknat was standing.

Remmington extended his hand to Teknat, grasping it firmly.

“Commander,” Remmington said quietly, “there’s been a last minute change in plans.”

Teknat’s expression changed instantly, furrowing his brow.

“Sir?” Teknat replied, looking visibly concerned.

“The Norway has a new mission, one that requires a more… experienced officer for the time being.” Remmington said releasing the commanders hand.

Teknat stood there in disbelief, he had been replaced. Replaced before he had even officially taken command.

“Attention to orders,” Remmington barked, the assembled crew falling silent.

Remmington lifted the PADD he had been carrying and began to read from it.

“Effective immediately the USS Norway will be under the command of Captain Jacob Brendt.” Remmington paused, looking up at the room. “Computer, transfer all command codes to Captain Brendt, voice authorisation Remmington Alpha Two.”

“Command codes transferred. USS Norway now under command of Captain Jacob Brendt” the computer responded.

Teknat stood there, quietly humiliated. Nobody had told him of this ahead of time. Why was he even here? To be made a fool of? Had he fallen foul of the brass some how?

“Command Teknat will serve as XO for the duration of the mission.” Remmington said, acknowledging Teknats visible frustration.

Brendt nodded, stepping forward.

“Thank you, captain.” Brendt looked toward Remmington and Teknat before returning his attention to the room assembled before him.

“Our orders have changed,” he continued “the Norway will no longer be embarking on a ‘shake down’ cruise. Instead we will be departing for Devron Fleet Yards at 21:00 hours this evening. I expect the ship to be ready to depart by then. Dismissed.”

Brendt turned to Teknat as the crew began to filter out of the mess hall.

“Commander, a moment,” he said.

“What is this?” Teknat said bluntly. “Why wasn’t I informed about this change? I was assur…”

“Because, quite frankly Commander, the nature of our mission requires a more… informed officer in the chair.” Brendt interrupted.

Teknat was angry, and he knew it was showing. He had to consider the next words out of his mouth carefully.

“And that mission is?” He said, his face betraying his frustration.

“Ensure this ship and her crew are ready to be underway by 21:00.” Brendt replied, a smirk crept up in the corner of his mouth.

“How delightfully non-specific,” Teknat sighed in response.

“You have your orders, commander. I suggest you get on with it.” Brendt snapped in reply. “Before I find someone who can.”

“Yes. Sir.” Teknat replied bring himself to attention. “Am I dismissed?”

“Absolutely.” Brendt replied, not breaking eye contact with his new XO.

 

The End is the Beginning

USS Norway
December 2399

The End Is The Beginning

The corridor was littered with the lifeless bodies of the engineering crew. Their remains lay contorted and broken, bloody handprints lined the walls and doors. Desperate to escape their fate, to get away from it by any means necessary.

The pulsing sound of the red alert klaxon pierced the silence, the strip lights that lined the corridor flashed red illuminating the darkness and periodically revealing the horror of it.

With each flash Matthews could begin to make out images on the LCARS panels on the walls. He edged closer towards the panel, his eyes struggling to adjust to the darkness that followed every pulse of light.

Matthews reached out and touched the panel, his fingers instantly wet and cold. These pictograms weren’t being displayed by the computer, they had been scrawled directly onto the walls… in the blood of the dying crewmen.

Matthews recoiled in shock, stumbling backwards, tripping over and falling to the floor.

His eyes met the gaze of one of the the bodies that lay inches from his face. Their eyes fixed lifeless in terror, their last moments written all over their face.

Matthews gasped and scrambled to his feet trying to catch his breath when he began to hear it. That sound, that discordant ugly sound that he heard in his dreams. It was getting louder, infiltrating his mind, drawing him to it. He wished he was dreaming it all, he wished it was some terrible nightmare, but it wasn’t. It was happening, it was real.

Cautiously he made his way toward the source of the sound, stepping over the corpses of the crew as he did so. The sound appeared to be originating from main engineering.

Reaching the large double doors that led to engineering Matthews paused. The doors that would usually slide effortlessly apart as someone approached them were fixed and closed. A large hellish pictogram covering both doors, still wet and dripping toward the floor.

He reached out to press the manual release, his hand trembling as he did so.

Pressing it the doors jolted and shuddered, opening only part way. Through the gap Matthews could see into the chamber beyond. The warp core illuminated the space, it’s reassuring blue was instead a malevolent red.

Matthews forced the doors apart just wide enough for him to squeeze through, grunting as he did so.

Slowly he entered engineering, even more pictograms covered almost every surface, every console. Old wax candles were scattered throughout the chamber, their flames flickering, their light casting long shadows against the walls.

That sound, that music, if you could even call it that, this was the source.

“Welcome.” A voice echoed from above. “You’re finally home.”

Matthews looked toward the source of the voice. Suspended from the ceiling by writhing oily tendrils. The tendrils appeared to infiltrate every system of its body, connecting it directly to the warp core.

It’s arms were outstretched on either side, it’s long boney fingers contorting on the ends of its rotting hands.

“Chloe!” Matthews exclaimed.

“She is mine!” It screamed, its jaw cracking out of place revealing rotten black teeth.

“I… I have what you want.” Matthews stammered.

“The Grimoire.” It said.

“I’ll tell you where it is… let her to and I’ll give it to you.” Matthews replied anxiously.

“Or we could simply take it from you,” Brendt said as he revealed himself from the shadows. “As you have taken it from us.”

Brendt stood under the figure, revelling in its presence, breathing sharply in anticipation.

“Receive your reward, disciple,” the figure said as its tendrils descended from its core towards Brendt below.

The tendrils perforated Brendt’s skin, his veins turned black and pulsated at the surface, like a thousand insects squirming along his veins.

Brendt’s eyes turned black and his mouth twisted into a smile.

“Return the Grimoire, and we will allow you to live, in service to us.” Brendt demanded his voice echoing. “Refuse us, and you will suffer for eternity in the void.”

12 Hours Earlier…

“Computer, time?” Matthews queried as he stood in the conference room onboard Devron.

“06:58,” the computer replied.

Matthews exhaled deeply in anticipation. He had received orders from Captain Brendt, the CO of the USS Norway to report to the conference room for a formal debrief.

Debrief, that’s what they were calling it, but Matthews knew it was an investigation. People looked at him differently since he returned, alone.

Nobody believed him that Miller just disappeared on their last mission, there had to be something he wasn’t telling them, although nobody would come out and say it to him directly. But he felt it, there were hushed whispers whenever he walked past in a corridor. People would stop conversations until he passed. Maybe he was just being paranoid, maybe he wasn’t.

The doors to the conference room slid apart as Brendt entered the room.
“Lieutenant Commander Dean Matthews?” Brendt said as he approached Matthews, extending his hand.

“Yes sir,” Matthews replied grasping Brendt’s hand firmly and shaking it.

“Pull up a chair Commander,” Brendt said as he gestured towards the chairs at the conference table.

Matthews nodded pulling out a chair and taking a seat.

Brendt slid out a chair opposite and sat down, placing a PADD down on the polished mahogany desk.

“Before we begin, let me try and alleviate some of your concerns. This is a formal interview, yes. But, having said that, it isn’t designed to catch you out and nobody’s accusing you of any wrongdoing.” Brendt said, smiling.

“I’m here to explore the incident, and to clarify a few points in your report,” he continued.

“Everything I need to say I’ve already said.” Matthews said bluntly, folding his arms, “and while nobody is officially accusing me of anything, try living with it. I know people think I’m nuts. I know they don’t believe me, why else would you be here?”

Brendt leaned forward, clasping his hands together neatly on the desk.

“What if I were to tell you that what you saw was real?” Brendt said, leaning forwards.

“What?” Matthews replied in disbelief.

“What if I were to tell you that what you saw is the very embodiment of evil. An evil so primordial that it’s been written about by countless species across the galaxy, including our own?” Brent continued.

“Who the hell are you?” Matthews demanded.

“Officially, I’m a Starfleet captain sent here to find out what you know. Unofficially, I’m the only one who can help you see your friend again.” Brendt responded, picking up a cup of coffee and taking a sip.

“What do you want?” Matthews said, unsure if he should trust this man.

Brendt looked up from his coffee cup, his eyes once again meeting Matthews’.

Brendt smirked.

“To end it.”