From rob4654@webtv.net Tue May 18 20:19:13 1999
Spectre Of The Mask
by Rob Morris
Premise : Return with us, now....
Chekov was apparently dead and the news was only getting worse in the
Melkotian Re-Creation of Tombstone, Arizona. The gunfight at the OK
Corral was more unwinnable than ever. Spock shook his head.
"Captain, the Melkotian illusion is far too intrusive. I cannot make
this unreal place unreal enough. I fear we are lost."
McCoy made a fist and Scotty prayed. If Spock couldn't help himself,
then every last bullet would find its mark. But their Captain never gave
up.
"We can't get out of town. We know that. But can we get a message out?"
"All respect, Captain, but I hardly think the Melkotians'll allow us
to be callin' the Enterprise for help."
"Not the Enterprise, Scotty. The Old West had brutality, and hatred.
But there were those who served the cause of justice and the law. Two
people in particular."
Spock nodded.
"Indeed, and our foes would have no choice but to respect these men,
since all in this era did."
"Aye, but can those two be gotten here in time?"
McCoy grinned.
"Mister Scott, those two ALWAYS arrived on time."
The message was sent, and Sundown finally arrived. The gunfighters
stood across from the Enterprise crew.
"You Clantons ready to die?"
Kirk shook his head.
"Nope."
Just then, two figures on horseback arrived and shot the guns out of
the would-be executioner's hands. Doc Holliday was angered.
"This ain't your fight. Now get out of Tombstone!"
But the white-hatted man on a silvery horse, wearing a blue cowboy
outfit that looked like it had never seen a stain, stood firm.
"Doc Holliday, you and I have had occasion to stand side-by-side. Now,
these Clantons have agreed to turn themselves in, and answer for their
crimes. Let the law decide these men's fates."
"This is the way the law works, here in Arizona."
The man's companion, a Native American of regal bearing, shook his head
at that.
"Such a law is no law at all, as many of my people can attest. You
cannot claim to bring law to this land and also do what you planned to
do. Do not let your Constitution become as empty as the promises made to
those who once held these lands in trust."
"Well said, my Old Friend. Doc, which path do you choose?"
The Melkotian illusion vanished when Holliday's group walked away. The
two heroes waved at The Enterprise's crew, including a revived Chekov,
before vanishing as well. Chekov stared at something he held in his
hand. The Melkotian spoke once more.
"Through shrewdness and logic, you have bested our illusion, and shown
yourselves to be much less barbaric than we thought. We shall talk again
when we are ready."
Back on the ship, Chekov showed Kirk what he had in his hand--a single
silver bullet.
"Keptin, just who VAS that masked man?"
Kirk smiled. Spock spoke up.
"That Was No Masked Man, Ensign. That Was The Lone Ranger."
With that, Kirk and company, using their silvery ship with many times
the speed of light, went----AWAY!!!
A Little William Tell, anyone?
****
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