Guess Q (TOS Star Trek story)

Chapter 1

"First officers log, Stardate: 21154.6. Because of the recent events we are travelling on warp 4 to the closest Star Base for a dilithium refill and other minor repairs on the enterprise. The estimated time of arrival is 2.57 earth days. The ship is still functioning adequately without the repairs and we will be able to make it to Star Base 76 in good time. The U.S.S. Enterprise is planning no side missions, just direct travel to the Star Base. End log."
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Spock is sitting at his post on the bridge, only 2 more days until they reach the Star Base. Everything seems calm, almost too calm. Captain Kirk is just calmly sitting in his chair watching the view screen. The bridge is buzzing with chatter from the happy, illogical humans. Spock glances down at the chronometer to check the time until his shift is over. Ever since the fight with the klingons he has been working overtime to make sure the ship functions properly considering its injuries.

The clock reads: 1756. Both Kirk and his shifts are meant to end at 1700 yet both of them decided the day earlier to stay an extra hour to try and help out. Spock obviously offered to get there earlier but Kirk had decided it was not the best idea. After all, Captain Kirk is not a morning person. 4 more minutes then back to my quarters. Spock thinks to himself.

Suddenly Spock's console starts to flash, he quickly looks over to the console. He attempts to reinitialize the console, his fingers moving deftly across the unresponsive controls. The faint hum of the inactive system confirmed his suspicion, power to his station was completely severed. The lights on the bridge flicker then fully shut off. "Captain, it appears that there has been a power surge which has effected some of the power on the bridge and deck 17 and 18," Spock reports, his voice steady and fully controlled.

Captain Kirk glances around the bridge checking to see if all of the crew is okay. "Is everyone okay?" The crew nods slowly, Kirk gives everyone a smile then continues speaking,"Spock, can you locate why the power surge happened?" Everyone on the bridge has stopped talking by now, the sudden flickering of the lights has efficiently shut them up.

Spock looks back over to his console, still not turning on. "Captain, it seems my station is malfunctioning. not responding to activation commands," He states, his voice calm yet he stares at the unresponsive console a fraction longer than his usual, his expression remaining composed.

Kirk glances over to Spock slightly surprised that his console would not work since every other one was. He pauses then uses the intercoms to contact Mr. Scott,"Scotty, we need power back to the bridge, specifically the science station. I don't care how you do it."

Scotty replies, his response slightly chopped up by the communications system,"Aye Captain, we can have it back up in 10 minutes."

Kirk glances back over to Spock, almost as if trying to tell him it would be alright. He turns his head to face Uhura. "Sound yellow alert Lutinute Uhura, notify engineering and security to stand by for possible system anomalies." Kirk calls out then looks back over to the functioning view screen. Nothing is on it, just empty space, nothing out of the ordinary. "Sulu, magnify the view screen, let's see if we can locate what caused the power surge."

"Aye Captain," Sulu replies then magnifies the view screen. As Spock expected there is nothing to be seen. Captain Kirk squints his eyes as if expecting that would help locate what made the power surge happen.

Suddenly the ship shakes, tossing Uhura, Sulu and Kirk out of their chairs. Spock who has recently stood up stumbles slightly so he could grab the bridge railing. His dark eyes are fixed on Kirk, as if trying to ensure the captain's safety.

The ship shakes again yet this time much more violently. Spock's grip on the railing is so tight his knuckles are almost white. Despite his best efforts he falls to the floor along with everyone else. Just as quickly as he falls, he stands back up then tries to make his way back to his station. The station is still not functioning..

Randomly the ship goes still and quiet, to quiet. Kirk stands up quickly then goes back to his chair, all of the other crew members copy his movements and make their way back to their stations. Every station but Spock's work, still Spock's station is unresponsive.

A bright, blinding, white light suddenly engulfs the room, so bright it seems to leave faint warmness on the skin of the people in the bridge. As it fades away Spock's eyes are left seeing red spots. Everyone else is frantically rubbing their eyes, trying to see correctly again. Spock blinks rapidly, his usual composure faltering slightly as the world blurs in front of him. He squints slightly, thankfully his vision starts to return to normal after a few seconds.

By the time he can see effectively again he gazes across the bridge at the humanoid figure standing in the room. The normal happy energy of the bridge is now laced with tension. The figure in the room which is currently standing in the shadows, seems to be a humanoid, about 6'4". The figure snaps their fingers and the lights come back to the bridge, Spock's station starts working again. Spock's fingers fly across the keys trying to figure out what this strange life form is.

Kirk frantically reaches for his phaser then stands up, he adjusts his footing, trying to look more threatening. "Who are you?" He calls out.

No answer, just the humanoid stepping forward with a predatory grace, their sharp features illuminated under the bridge's lights, an unsettling smirk curving their lips. It seems this creature is more illogical than humans, fascinating.

Kirk, who is panicking slightly, decides the best course of action would be to fire his phaser. As he fires the fire the phaser melts in his hands, he quickly drops it to the floor and steps away from it. The humanoid steps out of the shadows, they resemble a humanoid male with dark hair and sharp features. The creature is wearing a red star fleet uniform, matching the one Scotty wears. Strangely it seems that the creature was the one which caused the power surge and other strange anomalies which have been happening on the bridge. Fascinating. Captain Kirk steps away from the creature and his melted phaser which is now on the ground.

Uhura moves forward holding her own phaser but Kirk raises his hand to tell her to step away. She obeys and reluctantly steps away from the humanoid. Kirk steps forward again, more wearily this time. "Who are you and what do you want with my ship? What did you do to my phaser?" Kirk asks again.

The creature smirks and leans against the bridge railing, he replies in a smooth tone of voice carrying a hint of mockery,"Such hostility Captain." The humanoid sighs dramatically and waves his hand which dims the lights on the bridge slightly. "I am Q, you can thank me later for this delightful interaction," Q continues as he starts to walk around the bridge looking at everything and everyone on it.