SEASON FOUR

EPISODE 10: WHAT PRICE DUTY...
PART ONE

By: Elektra

SPACE: THE FINAL FRONTIER. THESE ARE THE VOYAGES OF THE WWF TITANPRIZE. IT'S MISSION: TO EXPLORE AND ENTERTAIN NEW SOCIETIES AND NEW CIVILIZATIONS.  TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO WRESTLER HAS GONE BEFORE!

TITANPRIZE CREW:
Captain Vincent K. McMahon
First Officer, Commander Shane McMahon
Chief Engineer, Commander Stephanie McMahon
Chief of Chiefs, Commander Linda McMahon
Chief of Security, Commander Kane
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Taker
Communications Officer, Lieutenant Rock
Counselor Al Snow (assisted by H.E.A.D.)
Diagnostics Officer, Lieutenant Commander Jericho
Tactical Officer, Lieutenant Commander Austin
Transporter Chief, Lieutenant Commander Debra McMichael
... And many more!
 

WWF TITANPRIZE-CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM

      "Captain's log, stardate 062121.00. I am very pleased with results from Commander Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and Lt. Commander Jericho's work in Engineering... although it is baffling to me why both officers are constantly at each other's throats. It seems they are purposely avoiding being civil to one another for reasons as yet unknown..."  The Captain shook his head, and made a quick mention of the Engineering crew's requests for Dr. Taker's hyposprays. Apparently, Jericho and Stephanie's little spats had been causing Engineering more then their share of headaches. He sighed, "In good news, however... we have been free of enemy threats for a month now. End log..."

    The Captain closed his log book, and headed to the bridge.

UNIDENTIFIED CUBE SHIP

    The cube ship floated dead through space. Within the cube, however, life surged through every wire and relay. Successful repairs were being made as 10,000 shiny silver automatons milled about busily. 10, 000 left... on a ship that once held 500, 000 .

    One stopped, and spoke,  "We are damaged..." it said.  "We are beyond repair..."

    "We are not beyond repair..." another replied, "Quitting is futile..."

    "We are no longer able to attack the Titanprize..." the first one continued.

    "We are healing..." the second replied. "Soon, we will no longer be damaged..."

    The first one turned to the second one, "Our controller is gone! We are of seperate minds now. We are no longer collective. How can we function?"

    "We will function! We will find the Titanprize, and it's doctor and Y2J Unit! We will avenge the destruction of our controller..." the second one looked at the first, "Resistance will be futile..."

WWF TITANPRIZE - ENGINEERING

    Lieutenant Jeff Hardy rubbed his temples, willing his headache to go away. Jericho and Stephanie were arguing again. It was driving everyone in Engineering crazy.

   Lt. Commander Jericho was ranting, "Maybe if you wore more then a micro-mini to WrestleFleet social functions, the crew wouldn’t think you were a skanky, dirty---" suddenly he stopped.

    "What's wrong? You forgot the insult? I believe it goes something like skanky, dirty, disgusting, brutal, bottom feeding, trashbag 'ho. Is that it? Huh?" Stephanie replied.

    Unit Y2J didn't move. His mind seemed to be elsewhere, "They're coming back..." he said.

    "Coming back? What are you talking about? Snap out of it, Chrissie!" Stephanie shouted angrily, "Do you have a lose wire or something? Geeeez!"

    Jericho looked at her, "As much as I enjoy insulting you, Stephie... right now is not the time! I have to talk to the Captain!" he said, "and don't you eeeeeeeeeeeeeever call me Chrissie again!" With that, he headed to the bridge.

    Stephanie was left staring at the spot where Jericho had been, somewhat disappointed that their argument had been cut short.

CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM

       "Now explain to me exactly what it was you sensed in Engineering? I didn't know you were telepathic, Lt. Commander..."

    "Not telepathic, Cap... just very sensitive to other computers... or, in this case... automatons. Especially ones that give off as much power as the PTC!"

    "PTC!" McMahon paled, "Damnit, I thought you and Dr. Taker destroyed the controller!!"

    "We DID!" Jericho explained, "But... we didn't destroy THEM!"

    "You mean there are PTC roaming about now with no controller? With no collective?"

    "Exactly. And I have a feeling they'll be after Dr. Taker and myself..."

    "Do you know if they'll attack? Or when? How?"

    Jericho shook his head, "I just sensed them... rebooting for lack of a better word. Restarting. When I destroyed their controller, they shut down -- temporarily. Their ship was damaged beyond repair... yet I think they've somehow managed to put the pieces back together..."

    "Then they'll be coming after US, won't they?!" Captain McMahon said.

    "They'll be coming after ME..." Unit Y2J replied, then frowned, "And no doubt they want to reprogram my beautiful positronic brain!"

    "But... don't you have the Walls up?"

    Jericho turned to the Captain, "Every wall can be broken, Vinnie-mac. Even mine!" With that, Unit Y2J headed back to Engineering.

SICKBAY

    "You will take care of the PTC, will you not?" Nurse Bearer asked Dr. Taker.

   "I can take care of them, yes. But..."

    "But...?" Nurse Bearer asked.

    "But.... I don't know when or where they're going to attack---"

    Suddenly, the ship shook violently and the red alert claxons began to sound.

    Dr. Taker raised an eyebrow, "Well... that answers THAT question..."

ENGINEERING

    Ensign Crash gasped as a PTC drone energized beside him. It held a phaser on him, turning away for a moment as it awaited it's comrades. When the drone turned back, Crash was gone. No matter. It wasn't after that small Houdinian anyway.

    It scanned Engineering for it's target, and found it... with his female superior officer cowering beside him.

    As its commrades downloaded what information they could from the Engineering computers, the drone went towards the Y2J Unit.

    "Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated... Unit Y2J,"

    "You are NOT assimilating MY gorgeous program!" Lt. Commander Jericho replied.

    "Go ahead! Assimilate him!" Commander Stephanie said, "Maybe you can give him a better personality!"

    Jericho looked at her, "Stephie, assimilating me is like trying to get you to keep your pants on.... not gonna happen!"

    "Shut up!" Stephanie snapped, "You don't know anything about me... or what I do regarding my pants."

    "I may not know, but about half the crewmen on this ship do!" Jericho replied.

    The PTC drone seemed confused, "Are you making sexual innuendoes?" it asked.

    Stephanie looked at him. That was quite a forward question coming from a PTC drone.

    Odd.

    The PTC drone seemed to shake it's head... as if trying to clear cobwebs. A very human gesture. Again... odd.

    It raised it's phaser at Commander Stephanie, "We have no need of you..." it spoke, and pressed the button.

SICKBAY

    Dr. Taker looked at the PTC drone before him. It held its phaser point blank at his head... yet its hand seemed to be shaking somewhat.  "Feeling ill?" Dr. Taker asked calmly.

    "Illness is irrelevent... you will be assimilated..." the drone said.

    "And how do you plan on assimilating me?"

    "You will come with .... us....."

    Dr. Taker furrowed his brow. The drone seemed to have trouble with the term "us". Nurse Bearer looked at Dr. Taker.... waiting.  But Dr. Taker knew better. Why take out this one drone... when he could take out a whole ship?

    The drone grabbed Dr. Taker by the arm... and quickly beamed away with him.

ENGINEERING

    Commander Stephanie looked at the unmoving Y2J Unit at her feet, "Chris..." she thought, "Why...?"

    Lt. Commander Jericho was sporting a large phaser hole in his uniform. It penetrated through his synthetic skin, but luckily was unable to burn through the no-selling titanium metal body that encased his inner functions.

    Stephanie stared in disbelief. Had the stupid android really jumped in front of her when the PTC drone fired? But... he HATED her!

Didn't he?

    A groan escaped Lt. Commander Jericho's lips. He seemed to be trying to speak...

    Stephanie knelt down beside him and brought her face close to his, "Are..." she paused, not believing she was going to ask, but... "Are you all right?" Her voice was quiet, trying not to be heard by anyone other then Jericho, "You took that shot.... for me..." she said, "Why?"

    Unit Y2J looked at her... his face hidden in a mess of blonde hair, "Don't flatter yourself," his voice was hoarse. The drone that had attacked him busying itself with the rest of the Engineering crew, "I need to get aboard the PTC ship. I need to destroy it once and for all..."

"But…" Stephanie started.

"Tend to the others. NOW!" Jericho said, "I need the PTC to take me!"  Although his eyes were partially hidden by his hair, Stephanie could have sworn she saw a flicker of pain.

    Stephanie shook her head. No matter WHAT the reason, he had saved her life. Was it really just an attempt to get on the PTC ship and destroy it?

       Stephanie decided not to think any more of it, and did as he asked, tending to a fallen crewman, allowing the PTC drones to beam Unit Y2J's unmoving body to their ship.
 

PTC CUBE SHIP

    Lt. Commander Jericho awoke wired into an alcove. His body had been repaired. He looked at the alcove beside him, only to see Dr. Taker sleeping... or dead...

    "Stop staring, Lt. Commander...." Dr. Taker spoke, eyes still closed. His voice made Unit Y2J jump. Dr. Taker offered a cold smile, "What's wrong, boy... did you think I was dead?"

    Jericho cleared his throat, "Of course not..."

    "Of course not, my ass..." he replied, then opened his grey, lifeless eyes and looked at Unit Y2J, "I am not surprised they took both of us."

    Jericho nodded, "So... any idea how to get out of here?"

    "No."

    The two stopped talking as a PTC drone came up to them. It was a female... or at least, HAD been at one time.  It looked at Dr. Taker, and scanned him, then it headed towards Lt. Commander Jericho... and paused. It looked at him, somewhat confused.

    "Yeah, I'm a robot too... ok? I figured you'd all know that by now!" he snapped.

    The drone blinked and tilted its head. It then reached out and touched his hair.

    Jericho jerked back, repelled that this thing was touching him.  The drone quickly returned its hand to its side, and walked on.

    If Jericho didn't know better, he would think he had hurt its feelings.

WWF TITANPRIZE - BRIDGE

    "Ensign Angle, any sign of the PTC ship?" Captain McMahon demanded as he stood behind the so-called Olympic hero.

    "No sir... not yet."

    "Keep looking..." McMahon replied.

    "Yes, sir!"

    Stephanie yawned noisily as she lounged in the Captain's chair, "Does it matter? Do we CARE if we never see that stupid Y2J Unit again?"

    Captain McMahon turned to her, "Stephanie, sweetie... YOU may not like Lt. Commander Jericho, but he's a very valuable member of this ship. And don't forget -- they have Dr. Taker too!"

    Stephanie shivered at the mention of the Chief Medical Officer's name. She really COULD live without seeing Dr. Taker again... especially after what she had seen in a holodeck long ago, on an alternate Titanprize that had been violently destroyed by its enemies.

Stephanie closed her eyes, and wondered if she would ever get over the hellish experience.

If she would ever get over HIM -- the other Jericho.

The one her doppelganger had loved enough to marry…

    "Besides..." her father continued, snapping Stephanie out of her dark thoughts, "Shouldn't you be busy doing something in Engineering instead of up here?" Captain McMahon looked at her questioningly, "Why ARE you up here anyway...?"

    "I just wanted to be on the bridge when you find Chr---the PTC ship! " Commander Stephanie said quickly.

    Counselor Al Snow, who had been sitting in the chair left of her, spoke, "You miss him." he stated suddenly.

    Stephanie stared at the slightly unnerving man with the H.E.A.D. in his lap, "What are you talking about? Miss WHO? The PTC?"

    "You miss Lt. Commander Jericho," Counselor Snow said.

    "That...that's just... r... ridiculous!" Stephanie sputtered, "Why would I miss that... that..... ROBOT!"

    Counselor Snow continued to stare at her, "H.E.A.D. told me they sensed you missed him..."

    "Well your stupid H.E.A.D is wrong!" she snapped angrily, then stood up, changing the subject, "I'm needed in Engineering. Excuse me!" she replied, and rushed off the bridge.

PTC CUBE SHIP

    "Now is it just me... or are the drones acting somewhat strange today?" Jericho asked the dark doctor beside him, his voice no more then a whisper.

    "They have lost their controller..."  Dr. Taker replied just as quietly.  "They are now feeling what it is like being of different minds..."

    Suddenly, a horrible high-pitched screeched echoed a few feet away. Jericho and Dr. Taker looked to see a drone lashing out at its fellow automatons with a phaser, leaving many crispy circuits.  Within seconds, it held the phaser to its own head, fired, and collapsed to the ground.

    The drones that were still on their feet dragged it away as if it was nothing more then garbage to be tossed through an airlock. All was silent once again with only the hum of the ship in the background.

    "What the HELL was that...?" Unit Y2J shouted, not bothering to be quiet any longer.

    "You, of all people, should know, Lt. Commander..." Dr. Taker said.

    "It just... destroyed itself!"

    "Would you not do the same if you found someone was reprogramming your brain and you were unable to stop it?" Dr. Taker asked.

    Jericho looked at him, "Reprogramming?"

    "In essence, that is what losing the controller has done to the PTC. Their brains are being reprogrammed for individual thought... yet they are still connected to one another..."

    Jericho scanned the ship quickly with his external sensors, and took note of a huge number of PTC drones, "There are almost 10, 000 drones on this ship," he said, "If they are still connected to one another, and each are experiencing individual thoughts..." he shook his head, "That is 9, 998 different thoughts and awakening feelings in ONE mind, unable to be blocked out!" he let out a low whistle, "Now that's gotta suck..."

  Jericho thought of Taker's earlier question. What would he do if someone tried to reprogram his brain...? What if they could break down his WALLS program? The drones were close. He could feel it. His defenses were slowly being overridden. He couldn’t let that happen

    He could NOT let the PTC learn everything he knew about WrestleFleet - every strength, every weakness... and the inside of every ship! ONE ship in particular...

    As a WrestleFleet officer, it was his DUTY to protect those secrets at all costs!

    Unit Y2J came to a conclusion. There was only one way to guarantee the PTC never learned of such things, and only one way to guarantee the PTC threat would end, once and for all.

    Jericho carefully reached under his fingernail, and turned his emotion chip off.  He didn't want to be 'awake' for what he had to do...

    Jericho turned to Dr. Taker, his voice void of any emotion now, "Doctor..." he began, "I have scanned the PTC Cube ship and found escape shuttles at various points. Deck Ten, forward. Deck five, aft. Deck 7, starboard.  Deck 9, forward.  Deck 11, aft... deck---"

    "Shut up already! Damn, you turned your chip off, didn't you, boy?" Dr. Taker shook his head, "Why are you telling me where the escape shuttles are?"

    "Because, Doctor..." Unit Y2J spoke, all business, "You need to know. Please apologize to Wrestlefleet, and the crew aboard the Titanprize..."

    "Apologize for WHAT, boy?"

    "Apologize that I will be unable to continue my duties aboard the Titanprize..."

    "What are you talking about?" Dr. Taker asked.

    "The PTC threat must end once and for all, doctor..."

    "Yeah... and..?"

    "And... I will end that threat," Unit Y2J looked at Dr. Taker, eyes void of anything but acceptance, "I am sorry... but I shall not be escaping with you..."

WWF TITANPRIZE - THE SMACKDOWN

    Chyna nibbled at a peanut butter sandwich as she took her break in The Smackdown. She looked a little ansy.

    "Ey, Mamacita! What's wrong?" Ensign Eddie Guererro asked as he sat beside the waitress. He had come to join her for lunch.

    She took a deep breath, "I'm just worried about Chris..." she said.

    Eddie furrowed his brow, "Chris? The Y2J Unit?" he looked suspicious, "You two... never had a... thing... did you?"

    "Me and Chris? No. Not really. I mean, we were close, yeah... but not THAT close..." She sighed, "It's just that... well... when I started dating you, Chris and I were a little on the outs, you know. We had an argument. He told me that I should be careful when giving my heart to someone because of what happened with me and Hunter... and I took offense," she shrugged, "We said some harsh things to each other..." she shook her head, "He was just concerned, and I treated him like he carried the plague..."

    "And now...?" Eddie asked.

    "And now... he's been kidnapped by the PTC... and I'm worried about him! I never did get a chance to apologize..." Chyna replied.

    "Ey, Mamacita..." Eddie's voice was soothing as he put an arm around her, "I'm sure you'll have plenty of time when he comes back..."

    "IF  he comes back..." Chyna thought.  "IF..."

PTC CUBE SHIP

    Lt. Commander Jericho was dragged from his alcove by two PTC drones, and taken into another room.  He was hooked up to wires trailing to a relay on the wall opposite him.

    "You will be reprogrammed," A drone spoke, "Resistance will be futile..."

    Another drone spoke, "We have adapted to your Walls program and deactivated it. You will be assimilated..."

    Jericho had been right. His defenses had been breached.

    It was now his duty as a WrestleFleet officer to prevent the PTC from finding out any vital information regarding the Federation, it’s ships, it’s allies, and it’s enemies.

    Logic lead Unit Y2J to believe that Dr. Taker would use one of the many PTC escape shuttles to leave the ship. He would be safe.

    Lt. Commander Jericho studied his surroundings. He was in the heart of the PTC ship. Unit Y2J concluded that a large explosion in this very section would finish off the PTC.

The Y2J Unit then proceeded to take the logical and dutiful course of action, his voice echoing loudly as he spoke the next 8 words.

    8 simple words that sent the PTC drones into a frightened frenzy.

    "Unit Y2J will self-destruct in T-minus 20 minutes..."