Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Path: maverick.ksu.ksu.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!news.cs.indiana.edu!ariel.unm.edu!nunki.unm.edu!rory
From: rory@nunki.unm.edu (Rory K. McManus)
Subject: The Serpent in the Silence part1
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM
Message-ID: <1991Feb26.181451.4369@ariel.unm.edu>
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 91 18:14:51 GMT
Lines: 162

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]                                          []                                []
[]  Star Trek: The Next Generation          []  Chapter one:                  []
[]             The Serpent in the Silence   []                                []
[]                                          []  An old aquaintance            []
[] Written by: Rory K. McManus              []                                []
[]             rory@triton.unm.edu          []				      []
[]                                          []                                []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Captain's Log:  The Enterprise has just departed from Starbase India after 
		a brief stop for shore leave and minor maintenance. The 
		ship is in top shape and my crew is happy to be out on
		our mission again. Our new orders will be sending us to 
		the Rastaban star system, one with which the Federation
		has had little contact.

Picard: Mr. Data, can you enlighten us as to this system into which we
	are headed?
	 
Data: 	Yes sir. The Rastaban system has been mapped by unmanned probes.
        None of the planets are capable of sustaining human life, nor
        has any other life been discovered in the region.
        However, two of the planets of this system, of which there
	are seven, contain excellent mineral deposits of elements
	used by the federation. This includes some Dilithium Crystal 
	deposits.

Picard: Very good, Mr. Data. You have the bridge, Number One.  If you
	need me, I'll be in my quarters.

Riker:  Yes sir. We'll keep things running up here.

[Picard leaves the bridge and Riker moves into the command seat.

Riker:  Ensign Crusher, lay in a course for the Rastaban System.
	Warp factor 7.

Wesley: Course and speed laid in, sir.

Riker:  Engage.

[The enterprise leaps into warp drive]

Riker:  Mr. Data, what is our estimated time of arrival?

Data:	We should reach the system in approximately 14 days time at
	current speed.

Riker:  Looks like we've got a long, quiet trip ahead of us.

[8 days later...the Bridge]

Picard: Counselor Troi, how is the crew dealing with the long journey away
	from known space?

Troi:	Well Captain, most of the seasoned crew is getting along just fine.
	They rather enjoy the adventurous spirit of exploring a new area.
	A few of the newer crew members are a bit nervous, but not to
	any great degree.

Picard:	Good. Make sure and schedule plenty of recreation time for all
	crew members. A long, uneventful trip like this is likely to cause
	severe boredom, and that is just the thing that will change a 
	crew that is in tip-top shape into an unmotivated, careless bunch
	of amatures.

Troi:   Yes Captain, that is...

[Suddenly, a bright flash of light appears on the bridge and the entity]
[Q appears in the First Officer's seat]

Picard:	[Jumping to his feet] Q! What the hell are you doing on my bridge?

Q:	Captain Picard!  It is always such a pleasure to pop by here. I
	get such gracious welcomes.

Picard:	Well I am sorry to dissappoint you Q, but you are NOT welcome here
	on the Enterprise!

Q:	Calm down, Mon Capitan.  I'm just here for a visit, not to hatch
	some fiendish plot as you no doubt believe I am.

Picard:	And when have you given us reason not to believe so?

Worf:	[Under his breath] I'd like to give him a welcome he would not
	soon forget.

Q:	What was that, Worf? I didn't know you could speak in complete 
	sentences yet. You have my congratulations.
	
Worf:	[Begins growling]

Picard:	At ease, Lieutenant.  Now Q, what is your purpose here this time.
	
Q:	No purpose Captain! As I said, I am simply here for a visit.

[Riker enters the bridge from the aft turbolift]

Q:	Aah, Commander Riker, so good to see you again!
	
Riker:	[Looking at the Captain] What the hell is he doing here?

Picard:	I honestly don't...

Data:	Captain, you may wish to turn your attention to the viewscreen.

Picard:	[Turning to face the screen] What is it, Mr. Data?

Data:	See for yourself, Captain. [He magnifies the image on the screen.

[On the viewscreen there is what appears to be a hole or a gigantic ink blot]
[in the middle of space]
        
Picard: Q I am not interested in playing anymore of your games.  I must
	ask you to leave my ship.

Q:	I told you Captain, I'm not playing games.  I only want to spend
	more time with your delightful crew. 

[Q snaps his fingers and with a brilliant burst of light, is suddenly clothed]
[in a rather gaudy Hawaiian shirt and Burmuda shorts]
                                                     
Data:	Captain, I am unable to get a fix on the dark image
	on our viewscreen.

Q: 	Very clever, Captain.  But surely you must realize I'm not the fool
	you take me for.

Picard:	[Concentrating on viewscreen]  What the devil are you talking about, Q?

Q:	Obviously Data is playing around with the computers or the screen 
	or some other silly little gadget to cause that spot to appear.
	There is nothing real out there.

Data:	Sensors read nothing, Captain.

Riker:  Could this be the same entity we encountered before, Mr. Data?

Data:	Uncertain, Commander.  It does seem to display the same properties
	as the being we encountered before. Or the lack of properties, as
	the case may be.

Q:	What are you all yapping about? There's nothing out there. I should
	know.

Picard:	[Turning to face Q]  Q, is this some kind of trick of yours?

Q:	Oh, come now Captain.  Play a little joke and then try to blame
	it on me?  That's not very sporting of you, Jean luc.

Riker:	I wouldn't trust Q any farther than I could throw him, but if he
	isn't causing this then...

Picard:	Nagilum...

			[To be continued]
--
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[] Rory K. McManus  [] University of New Mexico [] Gravity: Not just an idea, []
[]  Asian Studies   [] rory@triton.cirt.unm.edu []        IT'S THE LAW!       []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Path: maverick.ksu.ksu.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!news.cs.indiana.edu!ariel.unm.edu!phobos.unm.edu!rory
From: rory@phobos.unm.edu (Rory K. McManus)
Subject: The Serpent in the Silence (part 2)
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM
Keywords: story
Message-ID: <1991Feb26.205624.857@ariel.unm.edu>
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 91 20:56:24 GMT
Lines: 206

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]                                          []                                []
[]  Star Trek: The Next Generation          []    Chapter Two:                []
[]             The Serpent in the Silence   []                                []
[]                                          []    Darkness enfolds            []
[] Written by: Rory K. McManus              []                                []
[]	       rory@triton.unm.edu	    []				      []
[]                                          []                                []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Captain's log:	We have encountered a strange void in space that would appear
		to be the same one the Enterprise encountered once before, 
		in another quadrant of the galaxy.  To complicate matters,
		the strange and troublesome Q is on board the vessel.  I 
		am uncertain as to whether there is any connection between
		Q and this void or not.  
		
Q:	What are you talking about? Now tell Data to quit fooling around
	with the controlls and get that silly thing off the viewscreen.

Riker:  Mr. Crusher, plot us a course away from that thing and make it quick.

Wesley:	Aye aye, sir.

[The Enterprise veers away from the blot in space]

Q: 	It won't work, Jean Luc.  I'm wise to your tricks.

Picard:	Q! Either help us to determine what that is, or SHUT UP!

Q:	What what is, Captain?  Surely you don't expect me to buy this
	little joke of yours, do you?

Riker:	Q, do you mean to tell us that you can't sense anything out there?

Q:	Nothing. This game is growing tiresome. Gentlemen, I would have
	thought better of you. Especially you Riker. I always thought
	you had a good sense of humor. It looks as though I was wrong.

Data:	Captain, the void is remaining stationary. It is not attempting
	pursuit.

Picard:	Good. [Turning to Deana] Counselor, did you feel anything from
	the void?

Troi:	No sir, but last time we encountered it, if indeed this is the
	same phenomenon, I did not feel anything until we were actually
	inside of it.
	
Q:	Really!  I think this little joke of yours has gone far enough,
	Picard. I'm leaving!

[An instant before Q can snap his fingers to vanish, the enterprise is]
[enveloped by the mysterious void]

Q: 	What happened?  Captain, I demand that you tell me what you 
	just did!

Picard:	Q! Be Quiet!  Mr. Data, status?

Data:	It is just like our previous encounter, sir. We are inside of the
	void.  Sensors show nothing.

Riker:	Just like last time.
	
Q:	This is indeed interesting. Ha ha, Picard. It looks like you've
	gotten yourself into more trouble. Tsk tsk tsk. Too bad I can't
	stay around and enjoy this with you.

[Q raises his fingers and snaps, causing a burst of bright light. When the]
[flash dissapates, Q is still standing on the bridge where he was before]

Q:	What?!?

[Q frantically snaps again and again, with the same results each time]

Picard:	Q, what is happening?

Q:	This simply can't be! I'm omnipotent, omniscient! I can't snap 
	away! I can't even tell where we are! [Turning to Picard] 
	Tell me, what is going on here?

Riker:	Sir, I think that Q is just playing more games with us. Either
	he is causing this phenomenon, or he knows what is happening 
	and is trying to lead us on. 

Picard:	I am inclined to agree with you, Number One.

Q:	[Snapping his fingers furiously, causing brilliant flashes of]
	[light to fill the bridge!]  Impossible! I am Omnipitent!

Riker:	Knock it off, Q!  

[Q snaps his fingers and causes the bridge to be filled with ice cream,]
[dripping over all the displays and the Officers as well]

Picard:	Q! Stop this nonsense!  Either tell us why you are playing this
	little joke on us, or leave!

Q:	[Breathing hard, lifts his head to look at the Captain]  I can't
	believe this...

Picard:	And please, clean up this mess!

Q:	Very well, Captain Picard.  [He snaps his fingers and the ice 
	cream on the bridge dissappears. Q appears confused and
	rather nervous]

Riker:	Mr. Data, are your sensors showing anything yet?

Data:	Negative, sir. Continuing to scan.

Picard:	Q, come with me.  Commander Riker, you have the bridge. Notify me
	if anything whatsoever happens. [Heads toward the ready room, Q
	slowly follows]

Riker:	Aye aye, sir.

[The Captain's ready room]

Picard:	Now Q, tell me the truth. Are you playing another one of your 
	cruel jokes on us?  Because if you are, I'll not...

Q:	My dear Captain, I am as lost and blind as you are.  I have no
	need to play such silly little games with you anymore.

Picard:	Then I take it that you at least are not the cause of this 
	incident?  If that is the case, then I must ask you to tell
	us what you know of what is out there. As you recall, it was
	one of your little "lessons for humanity" that caused the
	federation to become engaged with a devastating conflict with
	the Borg.

Q:	[Head in his hands]  Jean Luc, you must believe me.  I am as
	much at a loss to know what is happening out there as you are.
	It is as if the entire universe just dissappeared.
	That is why I can't snap out of here. I need some point of 
	reference in space.

Picard:	If what you are telling me is the truth, then I must conclude
	that we have been captured again by an entity named Nagilum,
	who, as far as we can determine, dwells in a different dimension.

Q:	[Rising to his feet and slapping his forehead] Of course! Another
	dimension!  As far as I know, if other dimensions even exist, no
        one from this dimension would be able to even perceive them.
	It is beyond our senses and the physical boudaries of this
	Universe.

Picard:	That might explain some things...[looking at Q, skeptically]
	that is, if you are telling us the truth.

Q:	My dear Captain Picard, what reason would I have to lie to you?
	If I wanted to torment you, I could easily have created horrors
	so real and disgusting that you would be frightened to your
	wits end, not some silly lack of sensor function.

Picard: Then, I wonder if we are to be tested again...

Q:	Tested? [Raising an eyebrow]

Picard:	Yes, as if we were in some sort of gigant labratory.  It is hard to
	explain.  Eventually, we were confronted by the image of an entity
	which dwelled within this void.  

Q:	[Standing up and pacing nervously]  Yes, yes I can understand
	that happening to you puny humans, but it should not be happening
	to me. I should not be blind! I'm omniscient!  Just because we
	of the Q cannot willfully traverse the dimensions shouldn't mean
	that we cannot know what is in them if taken there.
	I should know everything that is happening here, and yet I
	know no more, perhaps less that you.

Picard:	I don't trust you Q, you know that.

Q:	[Smiling cynically] But of course, Jean Luc.

Picard:	Nevertheless, I feel that we must cooperate to find an end to this
	crisis.  This Nagilum killed one of my crewmembers and was prepared
	to take the lives of a third of the ships complement to satisfy
	its curiosity about our species.  I cannot allow that to happen
	again.

Q:	Oh, bother with you and your petty concerns for your crew!  I could
	possibly be in great danger!  Me! A member of the Q continuum!  Things
	like this simply don't happen!

Picard:	[Standing up, glaring] My primary concern is for the safety of this
	vessel and it's crew!  Your survival is your own concern, Q, but I
	am willing to cooperate with you to achieve both ends, if you are 
	willing.  If you don't cooperate, then you had better leave my ship
	and get out of our way!

Q:	[Turning away from Picard and biting his lip] ...It would seem I
	have no choice, Captain.  I am as much at the mercy of this void
	as you.

Riker:  [Over the communication channels]  Captain, I think you'd better 
	get up here...

			[To be continued]
--
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[] Rory K. McManus  [] University of New Mexico [] Gravity: Not just an idea, []
[]  Asian Studies   [] rory@triton.cirt.unm.edu []        IT'S THE LAW!       []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Path: maverick.ksu.ksu.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!news.cs.indiana.edu!ariel.unm.edu!triton.unm.edu!rory
From: rory@triton.unm.edu (Rory K. McManus)
Subject: The Serpent in the Silence (part 3)
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque N.M.
Message-ID: <1991Feb27.025749.11231@ariel.unm.edu>
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 91 02:57:49 GMT
Lines: 129

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]                                          []                                []
[]   StarTrek: The Next Generation          []  Chapter Three:                []
[]             The Serpent in the Silence   []                                []
[]                                          []  Into the shadows              []
[] Written by: Rory K. McManus              []                                []
[]             rory@triton.unm.edu          []                                []
[]                                          []                                []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Captain's log: 	As has happened once before in our experience, the Enterprise
		has been enveloped by a great black void, which we believe
		to be inhabited by an entity known as Nagilum, or another
		like Nagilum.  Our frequent "guest", Q, is on board ship
		as well.  Q, while being an entity of great power, appears
  		to be unable to leave this void or ascertain what is in
		it, if anything at all.  He appears to have his powers still
		but cannot use them to leave or understand the region. 
		Perhaps this is due to it being another dimension, or perhaps
		Nagilum, or whatever else may be out there, is more formidable
		than even Q himself.

Q:	I heard that log entry, Jean Luc.  I can assure you, if there is
	something out there with the ridiculous name of "Nagilum", it is
	certainly no match for me.  I'm just a little confused right now
	from being in a new neighborhood, that's all.

Picard:	Be silent, Q.  What is it Commander Riker?

Riker:	[Points to the viewscreen]  Commander Data has informed us that
	there is something out there...our old probe beacon.
	[A droning bell sound is heard as the Enterprise passes a Federation
	probe...]

Picard:	Commander Data, are you certain that this is the same probe that
	we launched before?	

Data:	Yes sir, unless it is a reconstruction of the one we sent.  Signal
	strength, identification codes, and exterior markings all confirm
	that it is the same probe that we launched the last time we were
	here...if in fact this is the same place.

Picard:	That was light years from here.

Data:  	Yes sir.

Q:	Well, what does this mean? Do you know where we are?  

Picard:	Well Q, I can't say as I am sure of anything right now, except that
	I am hungry.  Number one, will you watch the bridge while I get
 	myself something to eat in my ready room?

Riker:	Of course, Sir.  I'll call you if anything developes.

Q:	That's it?  You're stuck in some disgusting, formless dimension
 	and all you can think of is your stomach?  And I thought I was bad!

[Picard exits to the ready room, not even bothering to acknowledge Q's] 
[comments.  Riker takes his seat in the Captain's chair.] 

Riker:	Mister Worf, try and hail Nagilum or whatever, if anything, that's
	out there.  We need to find some answers.

[In the Ready Room, Captain Picard sits down in front of his small computer
screen with a hot plate of curried rice and lentils covered with shrimp,
and of course, a steaming mug of his favorite, Earl Grey Tea.  Suddenly,  
the small screen is filled with a hideous aparition, resembling a small
child with its facial features strangely out of place, and out of proportion.
Its mouth moved as if it were disconnected from the rest of its face as
the warped image began to speak]

Nagilum: Hello Captain Picard.  I am pleased to see you again.

Picard:	 Nagilum.  I hadn't expected to see you again, until we were enveloped
	 by your void again.  Our intentions in this part of the Galaxy
	 are peaceful Nagilum.  We do not wish any trouble with you again,
	 and I entreat you not to harm any more of my crew...

Nagilum: [Cutting him off]  There is no need to be concerned, Captain. I
	 have no desire to harm either you or your crew.  I learned much
	 durring our last encounter.  I have come to have a great respect
	 for your species.  And I understand why you cherish your existence
	 so greatly, as it is not a permanent one.

Picard:	 Then may I ask why you have brought us here, into your...void,
	 again?

Nagilum: Of course, Captain.  And please, continue with your meal.  I find
	 the metabolic processes of your species very interesting and would
	 observe more.  The reason I have come to you is to study the being
	 who is sitting on your ship's bridge now.  The one you know as
	 Q.  He is very different from you, perhaps more similar to myself
	 in some ways, but vastly different in construction and in ability.
	 Tell me what you know of him please.

Picard:	 Well, Nagilum...I'm afraid I know very little about him as a being
	 or as a species...My main understanding of him is through his 
	 personality.  

Nagilum: [Nodding]  Please continue.

Picard:  Well, he seems to have the menality of what we humans would call
	 an "arrogant, spoiled brat".  He feels he has some right to   
	 interfere in the lives of any being he so chooses.  Unfortunately,
	 his powers allow him to do just about anything he likes.

Nagilum: Interesting.  Very interesting.  Thank you for this information,
	 Captain.  I shall now make my own observations and judgements.
	 Please do not interfere, Captain.  I do not believe that my   
	 experiments will cause too much inconvenience...or danger to
	 your crew.

[Nagilum's image dissappears from the screen]

Picard:  Nagilum!  Wait!  Commander Riker...

[Riker's voice comes over the ships communications net]

Riker:   Yes sir?

Picard:  Take us to yellow alert.  Raise the shields, and prepare for...
	 anything...
                    
                              [To be continued]
--
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[] Rory K. McManus  [] University of New Mexico [] Gravity: Not just an idea, []
[]  Asian Studies   [] rory@triton.cirt.unm.edu []        IT'S THE LAW!       []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Path: maverick.ksu.ksu.edu!unmvax!ariel.unm.edu!nunki.unm.edu!rory
From: rory@nunki.unm.edu (Rory K. McManus)
Subject: The Serpent in the Silence (part 4)
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM
Keywords: story
Message-ID: <1991Feb27.071941.16935@ariel.unm.edu>
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 91 07:19:41 GMT
Lines: 242

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]                                          []                                []
[]   StarTrek: The Next Generation          []  Chapter Four:                 []
[]             The Serpent in the Silence   []                                []
[]                                          []  In the coils of the Serpent   []
[] Written by: Rory K. McManus              []                                []
[]             rory@triton.unm.edu          []                                []
[]                                          []                                []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

First Officer's Log:   The Enterprise is at full yellow alert with shields
		       raised and all crew standing by for any possible
		       danger.   Aside from that, all we can do is wait.
		       Our friend "Q" is nervously pacing the bridge, his
		       brow furrowed deeply, apparently concentrating his
		       powers upon trying to gain any information on our
		       current situation.  Undoubtedly, he is more concerned
		       with his own welfare than that of the crew, but any
		       information he could provide us with would be welcome.

Q:	Allright William, why did Picard order a yellow alert?

Riker:	I'm sure the Captain has a good enough reason.  He'll let us know
	when he comes out.

Q:	I haven't got time to wait around for him.
	[He snaps his fingers and in a burst of light, Riker vanishes from
	the command chair and reappears in the first officers seat.  Picard
	flashes into view where Riker was, spitting out shrimp curry in
	his shock!]

Picard: Q!

Q:	Yes, yes, I know...I spoiled your precious dinner.  Now why did
	you go to a yellow alert?

Picard:	[Cleans himself off a bit, sits back in his chair, and then looks
	Q directly in the eye]  
	Because...I just had a conversation with Nagilum.

[Several members of the Bridge crew shudder visibly]

Q:	Well, since you two are obviously such good friends why don't you
	simply ask him to let us out of here.

Picard:	Well, I don't think he would mind, but he would rather keep us here
	a while.  It seems that we have something here that arouses his
	curiosity.

Q:	Well give it to him then, Picard.  Then we can all get back to our
	business.  

Riker:	What is it Nagilum finds so interesting, Captain?

Picard:	Why, our guest.  Q.

[Q turns around, somewhat pale]

Q:	How dare he!  He thinks he can study me as if I were some puny 
	insignificant life form?  Like a human?

Picard:	Yes.  Apparently, he is extremely curious as to what you are.  
	He intends to test you like a laboratory rat to see how you
	react.

Q:	I will not stand for this!  This "Nagilum" of yours is about to
	discover what it means to mess with a member of the Q!

[Q snaps his fingers and the viewscreen is filled with a blinding light
and loud, terrible sounds of explosions and power!]

Picard:	[diving to the floor] Maximum shields!  Bring all sonic and light
	filters to full power!

[The ship rocks with the sounds of explosions. Then, the filters come on
line and the Bridge dims back to normal lighting.  
Then Riker leaps up and tackles Q, throwing him to the ground.  The explosions
stop, but Riker is hurled at the wall, his body encrusted in ice.
Worf whips out his hand phaser, but it vanishes with a snap of Q's fingers.]
                                                                           
Picard:	Sickbay!  Medical emergency on the bridge!

Voice of Dr. Crusher:  I'm on my way.

Q: 	[getting back to his feet]  
	Cancel that order, Beverly.  I have the situation well in hand.
	[He snaps and Riker is thawed and revived.]
	Now, my dear Will, why did you attack?

Riker:	Because you don't know your way out of here and neither do we.	You
	may very well have just destroyed our only chance of ever leaving
	this nightmare hell!

Q:	You have a point Riker.  Too bad it is on your head.  But the deed
	is done.  Nothing could have survived that attack.  I can assure
	you, this Nagilum is dead.

Picard:	And how do you suggest we get back to our own space?

Q:	Well Picard, if I were you, I think I'd have my extensively trained
	crew get their butts behind their tremendously sophistocated   
	instruments, and try and figure that out themselves.

Picard:	[Glaring at Q]  Mr. Data, I would like a full scan of this area...
	look for any kind of clues or hints you can find.  Anything of use.
	It appears that it will be up to us to find a way out of here.
	Ensign Crusher, please assist him.

[Data and Wesley both nod and turn quickly to their instruments.]

Riker:	Do you really think he destroyed Nagilum, sir?

Picard:	If anyone had the kind of power necessary, it would be Q.  But 
	there is a lot that we don't know about Nagilum.  I find it rather
	hard to speculate.

Riker:	Agreed, Captain.

[Several hours pass as the crew busily scans and analyses as much as they
can.  Unfortunately, thier instruments show next to nothing so finding clues
and information is difficult.]

Data:	Commander,  I am picking up something on my long range scanners.

Riker:	Can you Identify it?

Data:	Not at this range, Commander.

Riker:	Mister Crusher, take us on a heading to intercept the object, warp 2.
                       
Wesley:	Aye sir. 

[The ship lurches forward]

Riker: 	Captain Picard, we've picked up something on our sensors at extreme
	sensor range.  I've instructed Mister Crusher to take us closer.

Picard:	Understood Commander.  I shall join you on the Bridge shortly.

[Q bursts on to the bridge in a burst of light]

Q:	What have you found, Mr. Data?

Data:	Uncertain at this point, Q.  

Riker:	We're moving in to investigate.

Q:	It is a small planetoid...a large asteroid actually.  I'd say from
	its construction that it is artificial.  Not real.

Riker:	You seem to be able to sense these things before we can read them.
	How is it that you couldn't sense the presence of Nagilum?

Q:	To be perfectly honest with you William, I don't believe there is
	or was for that matter, a Nagilum.  I think you must have scared
	yourselves silly the last time you were trapped in here, and imagined
	this big, scary boogeyman.  But don't worry Riker, I can get us
	out.

Riker:	One of our crewmembers was killed by Nagilum.  I don't call that
	hallucination.

Q:	Oh, pish tosh.  Crew are expendible.

Riker:	Obviously that's what you think.  You didn't seem to think much
	of the crewmembers we lost to the Borg when you introduced us to
	them...nor the thousands of Federation personel lost when the Borg
	went after the earth.

Q:	Well, if you had been smart you would have been born to a species
	that wasn't so mortal Riker.

Riker:	Right.  [Turns away from Q in disgust]  

Data:	We are within scanning range, Commander.  The object appears to
	be a small planetoid.  Preliminary sensor scans would indicate that
	it has a class "M" atmosphere.  No vegetation or life forms detected
	as of yet.

Riker:	Thank you Data.

[The turbolift opens and Captain Picard enters the Bridge.  Riker stands
to greet him and turn command back to him.  He gives Picard a quick run
down of their current situation.]

Wesley:	We've arrived at the planetoid, Captain.

Picard:	Thank you Mister Crusher.  Establish standard orbit about the 
	planetoid.

Wesley:	Aye aye, sir.

Picard:	Commander Riker, establish an away team to investigate this planetoid.
	I suggest you arm yourselves, and take along Lieutenant Worf.

Riker:	[Smiling]  I had the same Idea, Captain.  With your permission I
	would also like to take along Lieutenant Commander Laforge
        and Ensign Crusher.

Picard:	Granted.  Good luck, Number One.

Riker:	[Entering the turbolift with Worf and Wesley]  Thank you sir.

[Before the turbolift doors close, Q jumps to his feet.]

Q:	Certainly you don't expect them to go and not me as well?

Picard:	Whether or not you go is none of my business.  You are not a member
	of my crew, and regardless of whether you wanted to go or not,
	I don't think that I could make you even if I wanted you to.

Q:	Aah, you're beginning to learn respect for me, Jean Luc.  I like
	that.

Picard:	Not so much respect as a desire to avoid adding any extra dangers
	to this ship or its crew.

Q:	Whatever.  I will of course, lead the away team.

Riker:	You may accompany us Q, but I lead.

Q:	Humans.  You're always so hung up on these power trips.

[Picard and Riker look at each other, roll their eyes, and then motion for
Q to get into the turbolift.]

Q:	I'll let you take your transporter alone this time, Riker.   I'll
	see you on the planet.  [He snaps, and with a flash of light, is
	gone]

Picard:	Keep an eye on him, Number One.  If he starts being foolish, return
	to the ship at once.  We can't risk his unpredictability.

Riker:	Aye sir.  [The turbolift doors close as Riker, Worf, and Ensign
	Crusher leave to meet Geordi to head to the planetoid's surface]

                             [To be continued...]
--
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[] Rory K. McManus  [] University of New Mexico [] Gravity: Not just an idea, []
[]  Asian Studies   [] rory@triton.cirt.unm.edu []        IT'S THE LAW!       []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Path: maverick.ksu.ksu.edu!unmvax!ariel.unm.edu!nunki.unm.edu!rory
From: rory@nunki.unm.edu (Rory K. McManus)
Subject: The Serpent in the Silence (part 5)
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM
Keywords: story
Message-ID: <1991Feb27.155520.1646@ariel.unm.edu>
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 91 15:55:20 GMT
Lines: 172

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]                                          []                                []
[]   StarTrek: The Next Generation          []  Chapter Five:                 []
[]             The Serpent in the Silence   []                                []
[]                                          []  Stones and Shadows            []
[] Written by: Rory K. McManus              []                                []
[]             rory@triton.unm.edu          []                                []
[]                                          []                                []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Captain's Log:	Commander Riker, Lieutennant Comander LaForge, Lieutennant 
		Worf, and Ensign Crusher are preparing to beam down to
		a small planetoid which we have discovered within the  
		void.  Q has already traveled there by his own methods.
 		We are presently uncertain whether or not Nagilum
		was destroyed as a result of Q's outburst.  I fear that
		if the entity has indeed been destroyed, we may be trapped
		within the void for all time.

Riker:	  Energize

O'Brian:  You got it, sir.  [He activates the transporter and four figures
	  shimmer and vanish.]

[Down on the planet's surface, they materialize in a small depression in
the surface of the planetoid.]

Riker:	Tricorder readings Mister Crusher?

Wesley:	It is a class "M" planet sir, oxygen nitrogen atmosphere.  No life
	forms registering.  I detect only the four of us and one other 
	humanoid life form which I assume to be Q.

Riker:	How far away is Q?

Wesley:	He is roughly 250 kilometers due east of us, sir.

Riker:	Well, at least he's out of our hair for a few minutes.  Let's get
	to work.  Geordi, can you see anything of interest?

Geordi:	Yes sir.  This planet is definitely artificial, although without
	some serious investigating, my visor, or Q, it would be nearly 
	impossible to tell.

Riker:	Is it of the same material as you saw on the replica of the
	Yamato, when we were here last time?

Geordi:	Not exactly sir, although the patterns of its molecular construction
	are very similar.  I would be willing to say it was constructed
	by the same...er, entity.

Riker:	[Grinning]  Seems as though we have our hands full of "entities"
	this time.

Geordi:	[Smiles back]  Yes sir.

[The Bridge of the Enterprise]

Picard:	Counselor, have you been watching Q since we were enveloped by the
	void.

Troi:	Yes sir.  In fact, I've been paying close attention to him.  He
	is having a very difficult time in dealing with this situation.

Picard:	Is it to the point of Panic?

Troi:	It was at first, and then he calmed down a bit.  I believe that
	if we do not find our way out of here soon, however, that stage
	of panic may return, and to a greater degree.

Picard:	Wonderful.  Having a mischivious entity on board is bad enough,
	but one in a state of panic?  I confess that I have no desire to
	experience that.  Mister Data, have your scans come up with  
	anything more that we may be able to use?

Data:	No sir.  This planetoid is the only thing that even registers  
	on my equiptment.  Even this void itself does not register.

Picard:	Thank you, Data.

[Riker's voice is heard over the ship's communication system]

Riker's voice:	Captain, this is Riker.  We have finished making our
		preliminary investigations.  This planet is a fake, like
		the "Yamato" we encountered last time we were here.

Picard:         Interesting Number One, although not terribly surprising.
		Speculate...do you think that Nagilum may still be alive?

Riker's voice:	Difficult to say, sir.  We didn't detect this planet until
		after Q got carried away, but then again, we don't know
		how big this place is.  It also seems to warp distances
		and courses, as we know from our last encounter.

Picard:		Agreed.  Keep me informed Number One.  Picard out.

[Back on the planet's surface]

Wesley:	Sir, my tricorder says that this planetoid is hollow.

Riker:	Well!  That is interesting.  What's down there?

Wesley:	I can't say for sure, sir, but I'd be willing to bet it would be
	worth checking out.  Perhaps there is machinery that keeps this
	planetoids atmosphere going or something like that.

Riker:	My thoughts exactly.  Good work, Wes.

[Crusher smiles]

Riker:	[Hitting his comm badge]  Riker to Transporter Chief.  Ensign Crusher
	is sending you some coordinates for the interior of this planetoid.
	Prepare to beam us there.

O'Brian's voice:   Just let me know when you are ready, sir.

Riker:	[Looks at Wes, who nods]  Energize.

[The crew suddenly vanishes in a sparkle of light as the transporter engages,
sending them inside of the planet.]
                                 
[Q is sitting there, on a large stone when the away team arrives.]

Q:	Welcome Commander Riker.  I was wondering if you were planning to
	join me or not.

Riker:	Wes, Geordi, give the place a serious going over.  [Looking at Q]
	What have you found here?

Q: 	[Pointing arouond]  Well, there's some rocks here, a few stones
	over there, a boulder or two that way...

Worf:	[Growls slightly]

Q:	What's the matter wonder brain?  Am I being too technical for you?

Riker:	Knock it off Q.  Do you mean to tell us that there is nothing down
	here?

Q:	Nothing but these fake rocks.  There's a perfectly simple explanation
	for it all.  Obviously, this planet was cloaked somehow, and Nagilum
	lived here.  When I destroyed him, he obviously couldn't cloak the
	planetoid any longer, and ta daa, there you have it.

Geordi:	But Q, if you destroyed Nagilum then wouldn't the planet have been
	destroyed as well?

[Q's face suddenly turns red with fury!]

Q:	He is making a fool of me!
	[He snaps his fingers and the away team is instantly back on the
	bridge!  Then the planetoid suddenly explodes with another snap
	of Q's fingers!]

Picard:	Number One, what happened? 

Riker:	It would seem that the labrat didn't care for his maze, sir.

[Q glares at Riker, and then faces the viewscreen]

Q:	Nagilum!  Come out and face me!
                                  
[Suddenly, the screen is filled with the Image of Nagilum, his unnatural
appearance sending waves of fear and nausea through the crew of the 
Enterprise...]

                              [To be continued]
--
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[] Rory K. McManus  [] University of New Mexico [] Gravity: Not just an idea, []
[]  Asian Studies   [] rory@triton.cirt.unm.edu []        IT'S THE LAW!       []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Path: maverick.ksu.ksu.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!news.cs.indiana.edu!ariel.unm.edu!triton.unm.edu!rory
From: rory@triton.unm.edu (Rory K. McManus)
Subject: The Serpent in the Silence (part 6)
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque N.M.
Keywords: story
Message-ID: <1991Feb28.184500.20493@ariel.unm.edu>
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 91 18:45:00 GMT
Lines: 193

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]                                          []                                []
[]   StarTrek: The Next Generation          []  Chapter Six:                  []
[]             The Serpent in the Silence   []                                []
[]                                          []  A clash of Titans             []
[] Written by: Rory K. McManus              []                                []
[]             rory@triton.unm.edu          []                                []
[]                                          []                                []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Captain's Log, Stardate 44201.7:
		The Away Team has returned, via Q, to the bridge as Q 
		destroyed the small planetoid.  His fury alarms me, for
		one with the power such as he has could be extremely   
		dangerous in this state.  Our situation is further 
		complicated by the appearance of the entity known as 
		Nagilum on our viewscreen.

Q:	  Nagilum!  Come out of your hiding place and face me, or are you
	  a coward?

Nagilum:  This being is one possesed of great powers and according to your
  	  machines, Captain Picard, great intelligence.  Yet he allows 
	  his arrogance cloud his judgement as well as his ability to put
	  those powers to their best use.  Interesting.

Picard:	  Nagilum, have you completed your studies of Q?  My crew is   
	  uncomfortable in this domain of yours and we wish to leave.

Nagilum:  So I have observed, Captain Picard.  Yet, there is still a great
	  amount of information about your species that I still have not
	  discovered.  Observing the reactions of you and your crew in 
	  this situation is proving to be a worthwhile study.

Picard:	  You told me that you were only interested in Q, Nagilum, and that
	  the rest of us would not be harmed.

Nagilum:  But I have not harmed you, Captain Picard.  Your ship holds all
	  of the nutrient compounds which your species needs to sustain
	  its existence.  Therefore, there is no danger to any of you.
	  You will remain here so that I may study you further as I study
	  the one called Q.

Q:	  [Stepping forward]  Obviously, you don't realize who I am, Nagilum.
	  I am a member of the Q continuum!  I am Immortal!  Omnipotent!!!

Nagilum:  Indeed.

Q:	  You don't believe me.  Very well, Nag.  I shall show you the 
	  true power of Q!

[Q snaps his fingers!  Nagilum gently fades from the viewscreen to allow
the enterprise crew a view of what is happening outside.  Bursts of light
begin to come together a distance away from the ship.   They approach from
all directions and begin to form a great shpere.]

[Picard turns to Deanna and whispers to her]

Picard:	  What is Q's current mental and psychological status?

Troi:	  His mind is experiencing extremely high levels of stress, Captain.
	  He feels like his position as an "Entity" in the eyes of the 
	  Enterprise crew is at stake.  He feeds on the awe we all hold
	  for him, even though that awe is also mingled with hatred on the
   	  parts of most of the crew.  In short, he doesn't want to loose
	  face to another being.  I think he is even beginning to fear for
	  his life.

Picard:	  And Nagilum?

Troi:	  I sense nothing from him.

Picard:	  No stress?

Troi:	  No, I mean nothing at all.  There is a total lack of any feeling.
	  I cannot even sense his presence here.  I am totally blind to
      	  him.

Picard:	  And it would seem that Q is also blind to Nagilum.

[They look up to the screen again and see that the sphere of light has 	
formed itself into a planet.  Within moments, oceans and continents can
be seen.]

Data:	  I am getting sensor readings on the new planet now, Captain. 
	  It is approximately 1.3 times the Earth's diameter, with a complete
	  oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere.  I am also detecting a multitude of
	  life forms.  Representive forms include many plant species, mammals,
	  birds, fishes, Cnidarians, Poriferans, Mollusks, bacteria...

Picard:	  Thank you, Data.

[Q looks on, satisfied, and then sits down next to Riker]

Q:	  Now you can see, my dear Capitan.  It is obvious which of us is
	  the more powerful.  Which one of us is truly above all others, even
	  in this dimension.  His "planet" was a small, lifeless, artificial
	  construct.  Mine is a large, real, living world!

[Nagilum's image appears again in a corner of the viewscreen.

Nagilum:  Interesting.

Q:  	  [Jumping to his feet]  Interesting???  Is that all you can say?
	  Interesting???  Why don't you admit it, you weak, insignificant
	  coward?  I am by far the superior one here! I am the more powerful!

Nagilum:  Why do you alter your appearance to that of the human form?

Q:	  [Obviously furious]  I do what I wish!  When I wish!  Where I
	  wish!  And how I wish!!!

Troi:	  [To Picard]  Captain, he is at a level of stress and tension that
	  would cause most humanoids to have a nervous breakdown.  We must
	  try to calm him.

Picard:	  [Standing up]  Q!  Please try to control yourself.  I'm sure we can
	  resolve this situation far more quickly if we all remain in
	  control of ourselves.

Q:	  So!  You do think he is more powerful than me!  Control yourself
	  indeed!  Well Captain, here's a little something to help correct 
	  your lack of faith in me!
         
[He snaps his fingers and Picard is throw against a wall in a burst of 
light.  Q snaps again and vanishes from the Bridge.]

Riker:    Doctor Crusher, medical emergency on the Bridge!

[Riker, Worf and Data all run over to the fallen Captain.  Nagilum again
fades from the screen.  Worf turns Picard's body over and finds that it
is stiff and unmoving.  Beverly enters from the Turbolift and rushes to
him.]

Riker:	  Data, can you locate Q?

Data:	  [Sitting down at the Ops console]  I believe so.

Crusher:  I can't believe this!

Riker:	  What is it, Doctor?

Crusher:  [Looking up at Riker]  Every tissue in his body has been turned
	  to glass.  And all of his bodily fluids as well.

Riker:	  Is there anything you can do?

Crusher:  Not unless I become a medieval alchemist.  If we don't get Q to
	  return him to normal, he may stay this way forever.

Data:	  Commander, I have located Q.  He is on the surface of the planet 
	  which he just created.

Riker:	  Can you tell what he is doing there?

Data:	  Sensor reading suggest that he is randomly destroying large  
	  areas of terrain...mountains, forests, etc.

Riker:	  Sounds like he's throwing a temper tantrum.

Data:	  That would be a reasonable assumption.

Troi:	  Yes, I can feel his rage.  It is very strong, even from this 
	  distance.  

Riker:	  Ensign, take us out of here, warp 8, any heading.  I want to get
	  this ship as far out of his range as possible, especially if he
	  decides to start throwing rocks at us.          

Wesley:	  Aye sir, course and speed set.

Riker:	  Engage.

[The ship bursts into high warp and streaks away into the inky depths of the 
void]

Crusher:  I'm going to move the Captain into sickbay, where I can monitor
	  him...if there is anything to monitor.

Riker:	  Agreed, Doctor.  And something tells me that things aren't about
	  to start getting better any time soon...
                        
                              [To be continued]

Note:	Special thanks to Dhanapong "Mouse" Saengrussamee
(mouse@vaxb.acs.unt.edu) for info about Stardates in ST:TNG, and for
suggesting that I use them in the "Captain's Log".    Thanks mouse! :)

--
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[] Rory K. McManus  [] University of New Mexico [] Gravity: Not just an idea, []
[]  Asian Studies   [] rory@triton.cirt.unm.edu []        IT'S THE LAW!       []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Xref: maverick.ksu.ksu.edu rec.arts.startrek:57695 alt.startrek.creative:188
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek,alt.startrek.creative
Path: maverick.ksu.ksu.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!news.cs.indiana.edu!ariel.unm.edu!nunki.unm.edu!rory
From: rory@nunki.unm.edu (Rory K. McManus)
Subject: The Serpent in the Silence (part 7)
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM
Keywords: story
Message-ID: <1991Mar04.190611.17253@ariel.unm.edu>
Date: Mon, 04 Mar 91 19:06:11 GMT
Lines: 194

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]                                          []                                []
[]   StarTrek: The Next Generation          []  Chapter Seven:                []
[]             The Serpent in the Silence   []                                []
[]                                          []  A Moment of Silence           []
[] Written by: Rory K. McManus              []                                []
[]             rory@triton.unm.edu          []                                []
[]                                          []                                []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]         Copyright 1991 by Rory K. McManus (rory@triton.unm.edu)            []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
                                                                               

First Officer's Log, StarDate 44202.3:
		Captain Picard has been rendered helpless by Q who appears
		to have turned the Captain to glass.  Doctor Crusher is
		unable to find a cure for him.  It is highly likely that
		only Q himself has the power to restore our Captain to 
		life.  We have moved the ship out to maximum sensor range
		from Q's new planet, where Q himself is currently located.
 		We are frustrated, for it seems, at this moment, that there
		is little we can do to either save our Captain or to escape
		from the void.

Crusher:  I've got the Captain in sickbay now,  being continuously monitored.
	  Unfortunately, there's really not much to monitor.  

Riker:	  Nothing?

Crusher:  To my medical equipment, he reads no differently than an oversized
       	  paperweight.  There's nothing I can do for him in this state.

Riker:	  Keep me informed.  If anything changes with him, I want to know
	  about it right away.  [Turns to the front of the Bridge]
	  Data, I want you to scan this void for anything that is even 
	  remotely familiar from our Universe.  Check for Radio waves, 
	  radiation bands, light waves, anything whatsoever.

Data:	  Yes sir. [He pushes away the Ops console and walks over to one
	  of the science stations]    
                                      
Riker:	  Geordi, I'd like you to head to an observation port and just look.
	  I realize that this is not a terribly scientific or intellectually
	  stimulating assignment but with your visor...

Geordi:	  No problem, Commander.  Right now just looking and trying to find
	  a star or something sounds like just the type of job I need.

[Ensign Crusher appears to swoon slightly in his chair for a moment.]

Riker:	  Wesley, are you allright?

Wesley:	  I think so, sir.  I just felt a little weak there, but only for
	  a second.

Riker:	  Why don't you take a quick break and run down to 10 Forward to
	  put something in your stomach.  You'll feel better.

Wesley:	  I'll be fine, Commander. Really.

Riker:	  Wes [smiling], that's an order.

Wesley:	  Yes sir.

Crusher:  [Watching her son exit the Bridge]  He probably forgot to eat
	  breakfast again and in this kind of stressful situation, the
	  body can't afford not to eat.  Honestly, I just don't understand
	  why young men and women his age skip breakfast so often.

Riker:	  [Grinning]  Oh come now, Doctor.  Don't tell me that you didn't
	  somehow miss a few morning meals when you were his age?

Crusher:  [Blushing]  Well, maybe a few...

Riker:	  Then I'd say that in lieu of his nutritional habits compared to
	  previous generations up to this point, he is exceptionally well
	  qualified to enter StarFleet Academy next month.

Crusher:  Good grief!  I'll have to hire a valet for him to see that he
	  eats right!

Riker:	  He'll do just fine, Bev.  

Crusher:  If we ever get out of this void, that is...

Riker:	  I intend to get this ship safely back to our dimension, even if
	  I have to go outside and push.

[Wesley enters "10 Forward", the ships main lounge and snack stop]

Guinan:	Hello Wesley, what can I do for you?

Wesley:	Hi Guinan.  I guess I need to get something to eat.  Commander
	Riker's orders. [he grins]

Guinan:	Hmmm...sounds like a fairly routine assignment.  If you tell me
	what sort of "equipment" you need for this mission, I can send
	you on your way to carry out those orders.

Wesley:	Well, since you're the ships leading expert on this sort of  
	assignment, I was hoping you could suggest something.

Guinan:	[Looking him over]  Hmm...for this type of mission I don't think
	you anything too heavy.  How about...a nice big Reuben sandwich
	with fries and coleslaw?

Wesley:	Add a blueberry shake to that order and you've got a deal.

[She gets his order together and sets it in front of him.  Wesley hungrily
dives in.]

[Sitting on a table a couple of meters away, two crewmembers are discussing
the enterprise's situation]

Mandak:	[A lieutenant]  We're doomed.  Here we are, stuck in some strange
	dimension, in the middle of a fight between two entities, either
  	of which could destroy us all in an instant, and we have to face
	them without a Captain to lead us.

[The other lieutenant nods, agreeing with Mandak.  Mandak been aboard ship
for only about a month and a half.   Wesley, who can't help but overhear,
tries to give them a reassuring word.]

Wesley:	Sorry to interrupt, but I just wanted to let you guys know that
	Commander Riker is a good leader.  If anyone can get us out of
	here, he can.

Mandak:	[Turning to face Wes]  Commander Riker is not the Captain, Ensign.
	Just the first officer.  There's a big difference between the
	two, and I really don't think that Riker is anywhere near Picard's
	class.  Face it Ensign, we're gonners.    

Wesley:	What kind of talk is that?  Commander Riker has led this ship
	before, and he has always brought us through safely and successfully.
 	
Mandak:	Listen Kid, I know you really like him, and the two of you are
	probably good friends, but that doesn't make him a leader.  We're
	done for here.  Riker can't possibly do it.

Wesley:	[Standing, getting a little upset]  I don't think you have a very
	good attitude toward this.  We're supposed to be supporting our
	Commanding Officer, no matter who he or she may be.  Our leaders
	need our support so they can confidently make the right decisions.
  
Mandak:	[Also getting to his feet]  And I don't think you should be talking
	to a superior officer that way, Ensign.  Now just sit back down
	and shut up like a good little boy.

Wesley:	[Enraged]  I will not!  Somebody has to support our Commander,
	and even if you're too afraid to do it, I'm not!

Mandak: [Heading toward the door with the other Lieutenant]  I just hope
	you realize that this is insubordination, Mister.  If the Captain
	ever comes to, he's gonna be hearing about it.

Wesley:	Good!  Go ahead and tell him!  Maybe he can teach you a few things
	about having faith in his first officer!

[They leave, Wesley sits down, steaming]

Wesley:	Boy, did I blow it this time.  
              
Guinan:	I wouldn't worry about it, Wesley.

Wesley:	When word of this gets back to the Captain...

Guinan:	He'll find out that you were defending the Commander of the  
	Enterprise and trying to keep morale up during a time of crisis.
	Your faith in Commander Riker is what this crew needs to see so
	that they can stand behind Riker and back him and be ready for
	his commands when he needs them to be there.  This isn't a one
	person show, it is a team effort, and your example shows what
	it means to be part of the team. 

Wesley:	[Finishing up the last of his meal]  Do you really think so?

Guinan:	[Smiling]  Well, even if they do report this little incident to
	the Captain, there's one witness who's on your side.

Wesley:	Thanks Guinan.
	
[Riker's voice comes over the comm]  Ensign Crusher to the Bridge.

Wesley:	Whoops, gotta go.  Thanks again!

Guinan:	Anytime, Wes.  [She watches him leave, picking up his tray as
	10 Forward once again becomes a silent place...]

                              [To be continued]
--
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[] Rory K. McManus  [] University of New Mexico [] Gravity: Not just an idea, []
[]  Asian Studies   [] rory@triton.cirt.unm.edu []        IT'S THE LAW!       []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
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From: rory@triton.unm.edu (Rory K. McManus)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek,alt.startrek.creative
Subject: The Serpent in the Silence (part 8)
Keywords: story
Message-ID: <1991Mar14.085742.29229@ariel.unm.edu>
Date: 14 Mar 91 08:57:42 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Lines: 130
Originator: rory@triton.unm.edu


	For all you folks out there who were waiting for the conclusion 
to this story, it is finally coming.  Being on spring break all this week,
I have had plenty of time to scribble out the last 5 chapters of the 
series while surrounded by all the comforts of home, in front of an Amiga 
2000, enjoying a tall, cool pilsner of Killian's Red.  Aah.  Well, here it 
is.  The story has 12 parts in all (at last count at least :) and here is 
number eight.  I should have them all transfered from my notebook to the 
net by the weekend.  Enjoy!

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]                                          []                                []
[]   StarTrek: The Next Generation          []  Chapter Eight:                []
[]             The Serpent in the Silence   []                                []
[]                                          []  The Face of Fear              []
[] Written by: Rory K. McManus              []                                []
[]             rory@triton.unm.edu          []                                []
[]                                          []                                []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]                      Copyright 1991 by Rory K. McManus                     []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
                                                                               

First Officer's Log, StarDate 44202.9:
		For several hours we have been sitting here, at the edge
		of sensor range from Q's planet.  We have seen no sign of 
		Q or Nagilum since Q left the ship.  

Riker:	This waiting is driving me nuts.

Troi:	I believe that most of the crew is feeling the same way Commander.
	
Riker:	It's just such a feeling of helplessness, Deanna.  Knowing that there 
	is nothing I can do to get us out of here.  I just wish that something
	would happen to change our...

[As if on Que, Q bursts onto the bridge with a flash of light.  He stands for
a moment, his face filled with terror, and then he falls to the floor.]

Riker:	Dr. Crusher, to the Bridge.  Q is back and we may need your help.

[He walks over to the fallen Q and rolls him over, onto his back.  Q is
conscious, but trembling like a frightened child.  Meekly, he whispers,
"Help me"]

Riker:	Q, what happened to you?

Q:	[Shuddering]  Awful...so horribly awful...

Riker:	What?  What was awful?

[Q shakes his head, trembles, and then passes out.   Dr. Crusher arrives
on the Bridge and immediately begins to run medical scans on Q.]

Crusher:	He is suffering from some kind of Trauma.  We'd better get
	him to sickbay.

Riker:	[Looking at viewscreen]  What could Nagilum have done to him
	out there?

[A short time later, in the ready room]

Riker:	It seems as though Nagilum holds all the cards here, though  
	I can't imagine anything being able to do this to Q.  Now,
	our main problem...should we try to help him, or should we
	try to deal with Nagilum instead?

Worf:	I say we seek out Nagilum.  He has proven himself to be the  
	more formidable of the two.

Troi:	But what about Q's planet?  Nagilum doesn't seem able to do  
	anything on that scale.  I can't believe that Nagilum is more
	powerful than Q.

Worf:	Nagilum has won.  That is proof enough.  A human may be able to
	create a great many things with his hands, but against the claws
	of a tiger, those hands will still prove to be lacking.

Geordi:	I don't know.  It seems as though Nagilum is playing on Q's fears.
	Fears of losing, fears of helplessness, to keep Q from getting
	on the right track.

Crusher:	Let's not forget about the Captain.  As far as we know, only Q
	is capable of restoring him.  Perhaps if we were to help Q, he
	may return the captain to us.

Riker:	And risk having more of us turned to glass if Q throws another
	tantrum?  I'm not so sure that's a good Idea.  Mr. Data, we  
	haven't heard from you yet.  Do you have any opinions?

Data:	I find it difficult to decide in this situation, Commander.
	Essentially, we are trying to "choose" which of these 
	entities will be able, and willing to free us from the void. 
	I have little fact to go on, mostly speculation.

Riker:	And what is your speculation on this?
                                             
Data:	I must conclude that we would be wisest in attempting to deal
	with Nagilum. 

Troi:	But Data, why?

Data:	Q has shown himself to be a creature of mood.  His behavior  
	reflects the mood he is in.  Also, this behavior tends to be 
	mostly childlike in nature and rather unstable, as his treatment
	of Captain Picard would indicate.

Riker:	Go on.

Data:	Nagilum, however, appears to be motivated by curiosity.  In our
	previous encounter with him, were not his actions similar to 
	those of a scientist, experimenting with something new and   
	unfamiliar, with the goal of gaining information about it?

Riker:	Your point is well taken, Mr. Data.  I think we should try to
	contact Nagilum, get him to talk to us.  If that fails, then 
	we may have to turn to Q.  Questions?  Good.  Then let's get 
	back to the Bridge.

[They enter the Bridge and assume their stations.]

Riker:	Mister Worf, try to hail Nagilum, all channels, all frequiencies.
	I want to talk to him.

                              [To be continued]
-- 
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[] Rory K. McManus  [] University of New Mexico [] Gravity: Not just an idea, []
[]  Asian Studies   [] rory@triton.cirt.unm.edu []        IT'S THE LAW!       []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

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From: rory@triton.unm.edu (Rory K. McManus)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek,alt.startrek.creative
Subject: The Serpent in the Silence (part 9)
Keywords: story
Message-ID: <1991Mar14.193704.19392@ariel.unm.edu>
Date: 14 Mar 91 19:37:04 GMT
Article-I.D.: ariel.1991Mar14.193704.19392
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Lines: 106
Originator: rory@triton.unm.edu

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]                                          []                                []
[]   StarTrek: The Next Generation          []  Chapter Nine:                 []
[]             The Serpent in the Silence   []                                []
[]                                          []  Ghosts and Goblins            []
[] Written by: Rory K. McManus              []                                []
[]             rory@triton.unm.edu          []                                []
[]                                          []                                []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]                    Copyright 1991 by Rory K. McManus                       []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
                                                                               

First Officer's Log, Stardate 44203.0:
		After somehow being humbled by Nagilum, Q has reappeared
		onboard the enterprise.  We are now attempting to make
		contact with Nagilum, in the hopes of being freed.

Worf:	Hailing on all wavelengths...no response.

Riker:	I wonder if he really can't hear us, or if he's just playing 
	games with us.

Data:	Actually, it would be more appropriate to say he is conducting
	experiments with us.

Riker:	I don't care what you call it, I still don't like it.  Worf, 
	keep trying.  I'm going to talk to Q.  Deanna?

[He enters the turbolift.  Deanna joins him.]

Troi:	Will, you're under a lot of pressuer.  Perhaps you should take
	a couple of hours and relax, get your strength back.

Riker:	Q is on board, the Captain is glass, and Nagilum is still out
	there, somewhere, doing who knows what.  I can't afford to take
	any time off.

[They leave the turbolift and begin walking down a hall]

Troi:	I can sense your frustration, Will.  Please be careful.

Riker:	Don't worry Deanna, I will be.  But, [smiles] give me a whack
	over the head if I start getting out of line.

Deanna:	[smiling back]  You'll do fine.

[They enter sickbay.  Crusher is standing over Q's bed.]

Riker:	What's his condition, Doctor?

Crusher:	Well, there's nothing physically wrong with him.  That is, his
	human form is ok.  His problem is psychological.  He does nothing
	but sit there, babbling.

Riker:	Do you sense anything from him, councilor?
                                      
Troi:	Barely, Commander.  It would seem that he has drawn deep within
	himself...in sheer terror.

Riker:	What could Nagilum have done to him?
	A being with Q's power, terrified like this?

[Deanna shudders slightly]

Riker:	We've got to reach him.  Q?  Can you hear me?  Q?

Troi:	I sense no change Will.  I don't think he can hear you.

Q:	[Grogily]  Incorrect, Deanna, I am here.

Riker:	Q, what hapened?  What did Nagilum do to you?

Q:	Nightmares...my worst fears...all of them, made real, brought
	before my eyes...ghastly...

Crusher:	Q, did Nagilum hurt you physically.

Q:	Yes, in...or did he...I'm...not sure...

Troi:	Commander, Q is still deep within his own mind.  I'm amazed that
	he can even communicate with us.

Riker:	Q, we need your help.  You have to snap out of it.

Q:	No!  Horror, pain...

Troi:	He is completely withdrawn, Commander.  

Riker:	Councilor, I need to reach him.  Do what you can.

Troi:	I'll do my best.

[Riker nods, then heads out toward the turbolift]

Crusher:	If we can't bring him back from this state...

Troi:	...then we may never get our Captain back...

                              [To be continued]

-- 
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[] Rory K. McManus  [] University of New Mexico [] Gravity: Not just an idea, []
[]  Asian Studies   [] rory@triton.cirt.unm.edu []        IT'S THE LAW!       []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

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From: rory@triton.unm.edu (Rory K. McManus)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek,alt.startrek.creative
Subject: The Serpent in the Silence (part 10)
Keywords: story
Message-ID: <1991Mar15.020223.26762@ariel.unm.edu>
Date: 15 Mar 91 02:02:23 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Lines: 165
Originator: rory@triton.unm.edu

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]                                          []                                []
[]   StarTrek: The Next Generation          []  Chapter Ten:                  []
[]             The Serpent in the Silence   []                                []
[]                                          []  A Thirst for Destruction      []
[] Written by: Rory K. McManus              []                                []
[]             rory@triton.unm.edu          []                                []
[]                                          []                                []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]                    Copyright 1991 by Rory K. McManus                       []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
                                                                               
Personal Log, Commander William T. Riker, Stardate 44203.3:
		I have just witnessed what is very likely one of the 
		most frightening things I have ever experienced in my    
		entire career with StarFleet.  The entity known as Q,
		perhaps the single most powerful being I have ever
		encountered, has been reduced to a babbling, frightened,
		almost childlike wreck.  I am utterly confused and 
		shocked over this, for I once held the power of the
		Q in my hands.  I know what it is like.  I can't   
		imagine anything doing this to Q, and yet, it has  
		happened.  It is something I shall lose sleep over 
		for many nights to come.

Riker:	[Arriving on the Bridge]  Gentlemen, have you come up with any
	Ideas for me yet?

Geordi:	Not anything you'd care to hear, sir.  We've looked at just about
	everything we could think of and couldn't find anything with a
	decent probability of working.  Our best Idea only gives us a
	fifty percent chance of survival, and even then we don't know
	if it could get us out of the void.  

Riker:	Let's hear it.

Geordi:	Well, according to our experience so far, everything on this 
	ship still works here in the void.  Warp drive, impulse power,
	even weapons systems are fully functional.  

Riker:	Go on.

Geordi:	Well sir, I believe that if our warp engines are functioning with
	no impairment, they should also be capable of doing everything
	that they would do in regular space...both the good and the bad
	things they're capable of.  

Riker:	Something tells me that your Idea is based on one of these "bad"
	sides of the engines.

Geordi:	Yes sir.  My Idea is to set up an imbalance in the warp engines,
	creating a wormhole effect.
          
Data:	We would have no way of guaranteeing we could survive the journey
	through the wormhole, nor that it would lead us back to familiar
	space.  It could simply lead us to another location here in the
	void.

Riker:	That sounds like a pretty slim chance, Gentlemen.  

Data:	Indeed sir.

Riker:	But as far as I'm concerned, it is better than waiting around,
	hoping that one of our two friends will be merciful and let us
	go.  Geordi, I want you and Data to begin working on the equations
	for the wormhole.  Try and see if there is any way to create one
	that is relatively safe, or somewhat stable at least.

[Dr. Drusher's voice comes over the comm.  "Commander Riker, Q has just
come out of his catatonic state.]

Riker:	I'm on my way, Doctor.

[There is a flash, and then Q is standing on the Bridge, along with Deanna
and Beverly]

Q:	No need, Commander Riker.   I can manage just fine, thank you.

Riker:	Q!  What happened to you?

Q:	I've been humilliated.  Embarassed.  Played for the fool!  And
	don't try and show me any of your weak, human compassion.  I don't
	need it.  My only need is to rid this universe of this Nagilum
	once and for all.

Riker:	But what did he do to you?

Q:	Do you really want to know?  Would it please you to gloat over
	my misfortunes and mistakes?  Fine.  I'll tell you what he did.
	He tricked me.  He conjured up images of my worst fears and  
	nightmares, flashed them through my mind, and made them so real
	that for a time, I believed them.  I was a fool for not recognising
	them for what they were...illusions, phantasms.  

Riker:	And I didn't think you had any fears.

Q:	Very few, William.  But go ahead, laugh.  Laugh at "Q, the buffoon".
	But when I'm finished with Nagilum, no one will be laughing anymore.
	I shall return shortly.  [He raises his fingers to snap]

Geordi:	Wait!  What about Captain Picard?

Q:	What about him? [He snaps and vanishes.]

Data:	Commander Riker, I am picking up extremely high energy readings
	coming from Q's planet.

Riker:	Even at this range?  Q must be trying to find Nagilum again.

Data:	I am now reading strong energy patterns throughout the void.

Geordi:	He must be blasting around again, hoping to hit Nagilum from 
	a distance.

Data:	I do not think so, Geordi.  These readings are in much different
	patterns than those coming from the planet.

Geordi:	Nagilum's response then.

Data:	The void energies are now beginning to migrate. The pattern of
	movement suggests that they are converging on the planet.

Riker:	Can you tell which is stronger?  Those from the planet, or those
	in the void?

Data:	I am unable to determine which is the greater.  Both sets of 
	readings are far beyond our the range of our instrumentation.

Riker:	Sounds like they're gearing up for the final showdown. 
	Commander LaForge, how long until you can create your wormhole?

Geordi:	We could do it now if you wanted.  The problem is, we would have
	no way of attempting to stabilize it.

Riker:	I don't want to be here when those two start to fight.  Commander
	LaForge, create the wormhole.

Geordi:	You got it.

Data:	Sir, without further calculations to insure a wormhole of stability
	sufficint to allow safe passage through, the wormhole could very
	well collapse while the Enterprise is yet within it.

Riker:	Understood Mr. Data, but I'd rather take my chances in the wormhole
	than to be in void when those two start throwing punches.

Data:	Throwing punches, sir?

Geordi:	He means when they start fighting, Data.  Well Commander, we're
	ready when you are.  Just get me a good, high warp velocity, 
	and we'll get you a wormhole. 

Riker:	[Sitting up full in his chair]  Mister Crusher.  Take us on a
	heading away from the planet, warp factor eight.

Wesley:	Course and speed laid in, sir.

Riker:	Engage...

                              [To be continued]
-- 
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[] Rory K. McManus  [] University of New Mexico [] Gravity: Not just an idea, []
[]  Asian Studies   [] rory@triton.cirt.unm.edu []        IT'S THE LAW!       []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

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Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek,alt.startrek.creative
Subject: The Serpent in the Silence (part 11)
Message-ID: <1991Mar20.005342.246@ariel.unm.edu>
From: rory@triton.unm.edu (Rory K. McManus)
Date: 20 Mar 91 00:53:42 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Keywords: story
Originator: rory@triton.unm.edu
Lines: 186

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]                                          []                                []
[]   StarTrek: The Next Generation          []  Chapter Eleven:               []
[]             The Serpent in the Silence   []                                []
[]                                          []  A Run for the Border          []
[] Written by: Rory K. McManus              []                                []
[]             rory@triton.unm.edu          []                                []
[]                                          []                                []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]                    Copyright 1991 by Rory K. McManus                       []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
                                                                               

First Officer's Log, StarDate 44203.5:
		The Enterprise is moving through the void at a speed of
		warp eight.  We need this kind of speed for Commander 
		LaForge to create a wormhole effect by causing the engines
		to become unbalanced.  It is a risky hope at best, for we
		do not know if we can successfully create one here in the
		void, nor if it will lead us out of the void, nor even 
		if we could even survive the journey through the wormhole.
		With Q and Nagilum preparing to fight however, this could
		prove to be our only hope.

Data:	Sir, sensors show that the void energies have coalesced into a single
	spherical unit of energy.

Riker:	Mr. Data, continue to monitor the planet while we are still in sensor
	range.  Geordi, how's it coming?

Geordi:	Looking good, commander.  I'm programming in the fuel ratios now.
	We should be able to create a wormhole within a few minutes.

Data:	Commander, the void energy unit just flared, temporarily blocking
	all scanning of Q.  It would apear that Nagilum has just obliterated
	the planet.

Riker:	As long as they stay occupied with each other we should have enough
	time to get out of here.
	
Data:	Perhaps not, sir.  A shockwave was created when Nagilum flared in
	power.  It will reach us in approximately 31 seconds.

Riker:	Geordi, how soon?

Geordi:	About another two or three minutes, sir.

Riker:	Mister Worf, engage shields, full power.

Data:	We will be unable to create the wormhole effect with shields in
	place.

Riker:	I know.  How long until that shockwave hits?

[The ship suddenly lurches about]

Riker:	Well, I guess that answers my question.  Data, are there any more
	of those things coming?

Data:	Negative, Commander.

Riker:	Mr. Worf, lower the shields.  Geordi, I need speed...

Geordi:	I'll do my best.

Data:	Sensors no longer detect presence of either Q or Nagilum.  We have
	gone out of range.

Riker:	Keep scanning.  I want to know if they start sneaking up on us.
 
Geordi:	Ok sir, she's ready.

Riker:	Create the wormhole.

[Geordi enters some commands on his console.  Suddenly, the enterprise lurches
forward.  A reddish orange glow appears on the viewscreen.  The ship then
lurches backward and the screen goes dark.]

Geordi:	Damn!

Riker:	I take that to mean it didn't work?

Geordi:	Negative, Commander.  At best all we did was to create a worm dent.
	It didn't go anywhere and it only lasted a second.  To get this
	to work I may have to dangerously imbalance the engines.

Riker:	Meaning?

Geordi:	Meaning that we could end up destroying the ship if it goes too
	far out of control.

Data:	Sir, I am picking up a large concentration of energy at extreme
	sensor range.

Riker:	Another shockwave?

Data:	No sir.  It is one of the entities.

Riker:	Q or Nagilum.  Can you tell which one it is?

Data:	Negative.  I am unable to determine which...sir, a second energy
	form has now appeared on ship's sensors.  

Riker:	How long until they reach us?

Data:	Four minutes, eleven seconds.

Wesley:	They must have seen our attemp to create a wormhole.  They could
	be trying to stop us.

Riker:	Geordi!  We need that wormhole.

Geordi:	I'm going as fast as I can, Commander.  If we're not careful here
	the Enterprise is gonna go up like a Roman Candle.

Riker:	How long?

Geordi:	A good five minutes, Sir.

Riker:	I need it sooner.

Geordi:	Impossible Commander.

Data:	Sir, the rear energy form is flaring.  The forward one appears to
	have been hit.  Its course and speed have been altered.  It is flaring
	now in return.

Wesley:	They're fighting.

Data:	Both entities are discharging great amounts of energy at one another.
	Their speed and trajectories are fluctuating as they continue  
 	attacking one another.

Riker:	If they keep this up, it just may buy us some time.  Do you detect
	any shockwaves from them this time, Data?

Data:	Yes sir, but they are of a lesser strength than the initial one.
	We should be able to ride them out without requiring the shields.

Riker:	Good.  Geordi, how much longer?

Geordi:	About another three minutes.

Riker:	And when will our "friends" intercept us?

Data:	If they continue at present speed, two minutes, thirty seven seconds.

Riker:	Geordi, I need that wormhole in two minutes.

Geordi:	Can't do it, commander

Data:	An attack from the rear entity has caused the being in the fore
	to be thrown off course.  Rear entity is pursuing first entity,
	not us.

Riker:	Could one of them be trying to help us?

Geordi:	Another minute and we're out of here.

Data:	The first entity is counter-attacking.  It is now reestablishing
	pursuit.  Estimate interception in forty seven seconds.

Riker:	Geordi...

Geordi:	Almost...almost...

Data:	The entity will be upon us in twenty four seconds.  Second energy
	form is too far behind to be likely to stop it this time.

Geordi:	...almost...

Data:	Interception will occur in ten seconds.

Geordi:	Ok!  We're ready!

Riker:	Now!!!

[The ship lurches violently forward as the screen is filled with a reddish
orange glow...]

                              [To be continued]
-- 
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[] Rory K. McManus  [] University of New Mexico [] Gravity: Not just an idea, []
[]  Asian Studies   [] rory@triton.cirt.unm.edu []        IT'S THE LAW!       []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Xref: maverick.ksu.ksu.edu rec.arts.startrek:59127 alt.startrek.creative:253
Path: maverick.ksu.ksu.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!news.cs.indiana.edu!ariel.unm.edu!nunki.unm.edu!rory
From: rory@nunki.unm.edu (Rory K. McManus)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek,alt.startrek.creative
Subject: The Serpent and the Silence (part 12)
Keywords: story
Message-ID: <1991Mar20.030541.15541@ariel.unm.edu>
Date: 20 Mar 91 03:05:41 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM
Lines: 143


Howdy!
	Well, here is the final chapter, the one that wraps up this story.
I've recieved a lot of email asking for missing chapters (especially chapter 
seven) and for huge chunks of the story (for those who have recently tuned in).
I am thinking that perhaps I should repost the entire series, all 12 in quick 
succession, so that everyone can get a complete set, all fresh and at the
same time.  Mail me if you think this is a good Idea.  Mail me if you think
it is a bad Idea and don't want to see the board all cluttered up with ancient
posts like this :).  
	Enjoy the ending.  I've already started to work on a new story, but...
nah, you folks wouldn't wanna see me post that one too, would youi?  hee hee...

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]                                          []                                []
[]   StarTrek: The Next Generation          []  Chapter Twelve:               []
[]             The Serpent in the Silence   []                                []
[]                                          []  For I have heard the Silence, []
[] Written by: Rory K. McManus              []  and it is a Sound that even   []
[]             rory@triton.unm.edu          []  the Darkness must Fear...     []
[]                                          []                                []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[]                    Copyright 1991 by Rory K. McManus                       []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
                                                                               

First Officer's Log, Stardate 44203.8:
		We have entered the wormhole...

[All is dark]

Voice of Data:	Commander Riker, can you hear me?

[Riker's eyes open to see Data standing over him.  He takes a moment to
try and focus everything.  Then he gets to his feet, noticing that everyone
except Data and Worf are still out, on the floor.]

Riker:	Data, what happened?  Where are we?

Data:	We have successfully traversed the wormhole, Commander.  The Enterprise
	is safe.

[Riker then notices the viewscreen.  The stars are once again visible. 
He begins to smile.]

Data:	When we entered the wormhole, the G forces which we subsequently
	encountered proved to be too much for most of the crew, which is
	why Lieutennant Worf and myself are the only ones, excluding yourself,
	who are currently conscious aboard the bridge.

Riker:	How long were we in the wormhole?

Data:	Approximately twenty minutes, sir.  Worf and I were able to avoid
	or destroy the few small meteorites which were in the wormhole.

Riker:	Good job, gentlemen.  How long was I out, by the way?

Data:	Forty three minutes, twenty seconds.

Riker:  Mister Worf, inform me when our crew begins to wake up and report
	in.

[Geordi begins groaning as he starts to wake up]

Riker:	[Looking out at the stars]  Where are we, anyhow?

Data:	We are at a position approximately 16 days from where we were captured
	by the void, based on a speed of warp 7.  There has been no sign
	of the void, Nagilum, or Q since we made our escape.

Riker:	Excellent.  Mr. Worf, contact StarFleet Headquarters.  Inform them
	of our situation.   Tell them we'll follow up with a full report
	as soon as we have enough of our crew awake.

[Riker enters the ready room]

Picard:	Well done, Number One.

Riker: 	Thank you sir, I...Captain???  Captain!  But...

[Picard anticipates the question and points behind his first officer.  Riker
turns around to see...]

Riker:	Q!

Q:	But of course, of course!

Picard:	Apparently, he followed the Enterprise through the wormhole.  He
	was just explaining to me how he brilliantly concieved the Idea
	as he was destroying Nagilum.

Riker:	I'm obviously going to have to retell the story, Captain.  It didn't
	work out exactly the way Q would lead you to believe it did.

Picard:	Of course not, Commander.  But until you woke up, his was the only
	story to hear.  

Q:	William, you don't really think that Nagilum did anything to me,
	do you?  Surely you realize that I had the power to annihilate him
	in an instant, and free us from the void.  I simply chose not to,
	in order to test your skills and courage.  I also wanted to throw
	Nagilum off, make him think I was weaker than I really am.

Riker:	Of course.

Q:	You don't believe me now, Commander Riker, but I'll prove it to
	you soon enough...when I bring Nagilum's head back on a platter.

Riker:	I'm from Missouri, show me.

Picard:	I thought you were from Alaska, Number One.

Q: 	Silence!  You really think the joke's on me, eh Riker?  Very well,
	laugh if you must.  I'll destroy him, I can assure you.  But for
	right now, I must leave.  I would advise you not to gloat over this,
	however...after all, I didn't have to restore your Captain...
	[He laughs and then snaps, vanishing in a burst of light.]

Riker:	Even after this, he is still so arrogant...

Picard:	Sometimes, those who show themselves to be the most arrogant also
 	prove themselves to be the biggest fools.  They refuse to learn
	from their mistakes.  It almost always catches up to them.

Riker:	Well, if it hadn't been for Geordi getting us out of the void with
	that wormhole, and Q deciding to tag along, he might have learned
	it sooner than he'd care to believe.  I just wonder if we truly
	escaped from Nagilum, or if he let us go, like last time.

Picard:	Nagilum is so different from us, so incomprehensible, that we may
	never really know, or even begin to understand his motives.  But
	tell me, Number One, how does the real story go?

Riker:	[Smiling]  Sit back, Sir.  You're going to enjoy this.

          [Exterior view of the Enterprise, jumping away into Warp]

                                   The End
--
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[] Rory K. McManus  [] University of New Mexico [] Gravity: Not just an idea, []
[]  Asian Studies   [] rory@triton.cirt.unm.edu []        IT'S THE LAW!       []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

