SEASON SEVEN

EPISODE 9: THE PAIN OF MEMORY

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/NYTRON CREW:

Captain Vince Russo (aka High Commander)
First Officer, Commander Jeff Jarrett (aka The Chosen One)
Chief Engineer, Commander Stephanie McMahon
Chief of Chiefs, Commander Linda McMahon
Chief of WrestleFleet Security, Commander Kane
Chiefs of Nytron Security, Commanders Hall, and Nash
Chief WrestleFleet Medical Officer, Dr. Taker
Chief Nytron Medical Officer, Dr. V. M. Piro
Diagnostics Officer, Lieutenant Commander Jericho
Tactical Officer, Lieutenant Commander Austin
Transporter Chief, Lieutenant Commander Debra McMichael
Communications Officer, Lieutenant Rock
Counselor Al Snow (assisted by H.E.A.D.)

... And many more!

WWF TITANPRIZE - CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM

    "Captain's log, stardate 072920.00. Due to a little unexpected behaviour from Lt. Loco, Dr. Piro has had to take drastic measures. We've erased his memory of the incident in Cargo Bay 6, and the knowledge of my ultimate plan. Dr. Piro said that Loco's little attack of conscience won't bother us again..."

    Russo turned to Bishoff, "I hate it when my Nytrons flirt with ideas of rebellion. It annoys me so..." he smiled, "So, Eric... what game do you want to play today? Hockey? Darts? Or bowling?"

   Bishoff paled. Russo smiled, then laughed... his laugh echoing throughout the ready room

BRIDGE

    "Catpain Roody poo, there's a message coming in from WrestleFleet for McMahon!" Lt. Rock said.

    "Answer it, Rock!" Russo replied, not appreciating the nickname, "Tell them McMahon is unavailable at the moment!" Russo motioned for Hall and Nash to train their weapons on the communications officer, just in case he told WrestleFleet MORE then he was supposed to.

    Rock frowned at them, then called up the communication to his station, "This is Lt. Rock of the WWF Titanprize. McMahon's candy ass is unavailable right now!"

    "Rocky?" a voice spoke over the comm, "It's Chief of Chiefs, Linda McMahon, calling on behalf of WrestleFleet High Command. They were going over EO Richards report regarding his last visit to the Titanprize during the Viacaman talks, and they didn't like what they read..."

    "The Viacomans candy asses were here MONTHS ago!" Rock replied.

    "Well, yes... sometimes it takes a while for things to come to WrestleFleet's attention," Linda replied, "Regardless, they feel that EO Richard's presence is still much needed aboard the ship. Please prepare to rendezvous with him tomorrow at 15:30h, co-ordinates 66.13.25, and welcome him on board!"

    Lt. Rock looked at Russo, and Russo signaled the communications officer to mute the com.

    Russo turned to Commander Jarrett, "Well?" he asked.

    "We can welcome EO Slapnuts aboard, and fake his WrestleFleet communications like we do with McMahon!"

    Russo thought about that, and nodded, "WrestleFleet would get suspicious if we refuse. Very well..." he nodded to Rock.

    Rock unmuted the comm, and spoke, "Just... bring him!" he replied, and cut the communications.

    Russo sighed. Just what he needed. ANOTHER WrestleFleet officer aboard the Titanprize.

ENGINEERING (03:00h)

    Commander Stephanie studied the schematics on the monitor before her. She nodded to herself as she followed the outline of complex wires. Stephanie studied the tools on the table in front of her -- microchips, programming codes, she had everything she needed ... except sleep. This late at night, however, none of the Nytrons were in Engineering. If they found out what she was planning...

    Stephanie shook her head. Well, they just WOULDN'T find out, would they? She had spent many nights in here lately, working on her little 'project' with her heart skipping a beat at every sound, every shadow, and praying the Nytrons wouldn't catch her.

    She wouldn't rest! Not until she finished her task... no matter what!

LT. LOCO'S QUARTERS

    Loco bolted upright in bed, his chest screaming in pain. Why did it hurt so much? It burned, in fact! He had spoken to Dr. Piro about it, but the doc claimed it was psychological. According to Piro's medical records, Loco had never had a chest wound.

    Loco had seeked out Nytron Counselor Daffney, but her assistant, Counselor Crowbar, had said she was too busy pining for her ex-fiancee David to be of any use. Loco decided to speak to Crowbar instead. The counselor claimed the pain in Loco's chest was caused by a sub-conscious memory that had either been blocked out, or erased.

    Lt. Loco thought Counselor Crowbar was… well... loco! How could a memory be erased? Impossible!

    Loco crawled out of bed and went to the mirror. He studied the painful section on his chest, but saw nothing.

    A flash of phaser fire. Eddie screams. Pain! Great pain!

    Loco let out a shout and reeled back. What was that?

    The pain and image disappeared as soon as it had come.

    Lt. Loco shook his head. He needed sleep. He quickly headed back to his bed and lay down.

    Yes, sleep would make everything go away...

SICKBAY  - the next day

    Dr. Taker studied the monitor in front of him. He knew his Nytron counterpart had been snooping in his office, Ensign Angle had told him as much -- but of course, the Olympic Ensign had played it up as if he had been a hero and scared ol' Vampy away.

    Dr. Taker looked out his office window and watched as Ensign Angle was busy kissing up to the Nytron doctor, who seemed less then patient with the man.

    Either way, at least it kept Piro occupied long enough for Dr. Taker to look over the communications McMahon had written before the occupation.

    Something caught Taker's eye -- a high security communication McMahon had been unable to send before the ship was boarded.

    Taker checked out his window again -- Piro was still trying to get Angle away from him.

    The dark doctor turned back to his monitor, and hacked into the communication. On his screen, McMahon stared out at him, looking quite professional in his Armani WrestleFleet uniform.

    Taker played the message:

    "This is Captain Vincent K. McMahon of the WWF Titanprize to Captain P. Heyman of the ECW Extremeship. If you are receiving this communication, then it means the WWF Titanprize has been boarded by Nytron rebels and a member of my crew, most likely Dr. U. Taker, has found a way to get this message to you as I am probably either incarcerated, or dead. Please inform WrestleFleet of the situation and take action. I ask that you save my family and crew, as I will gladly go down with my ship. I do not need to inform you that speed and discretion is of the utmost importance in this matter. Thank you!"

    Dr. Taker sat back in his chair. McMahon knew his chief medical officer would find the message and send it.

    Unfortunately, McMahon DIDN'T know that Russo would cut off all ship communications save for those on the bridge.

    Of course, Dr. Taker could find a way around such an annoying obstacle. He always did.

TRANSPORTER ROOM

    Lt. Commander Debra McMichael energized the transporter, and soon EO Richards appeared on the platform with his bodyguard, Mr. Buchanan. He looked at Commander Shane McMahon as the Titanprize heir studied him carefully.

    "Where is your father? Why isn't he here to greet me?!" EO Steven Richards demanded.

    Shane smiled and pulled his phaser out, aiming it at the EO officer and his bodyguard, "Pops is currently unavailable!".

Mr. Buchanan tried to make a move, but Richards held him back, "What is the meaning of this?" Richards asked.

    "The meaning..." a voice said as the transporter room doors opened, "Is that you are currently on a Nytron-run ship!"

    "RUSSO!" Richards' eyes went wide, "What the..."

    "The Titanprize is MINE now, Richards," Russo replied, holding his own phaser on the Etiquette Officer.

    Richards tapped his comm badge, "EO Richards to the Censor-ship! Come in Censor-ship!"

    "They can't hear you. All communications, save for internal and bridge, have been blocked!" Russo smiled, "Sorry Stevie!"

    "It's STEVEN!" Richards snapped.

    Russo rolled his eyes, "Whatever!" he said, "Now feel free to roam the ship... but don't expect to find any means of escape..." Russo laughed, "I truly love being a tyrant!" and with that, he left.

    Richards turned to Shane, "Es tu, Shane?" he asked.

    "Hey, who am I to turn down power?" Shane said.

    Richards made his way to the doors. He took a quick look at Debra, and frowned. "Zip that up!" he snapped angrily. She had her tunic zipper part-way down revealing the lacy outline of women's lingerie.

    Occupation or no occupation, Richards would still teach this ship about proper WrestleFleet conduct!

THE SMACKDOWN

    Chyna and Ensign Eddie Guerrero watched Lt. Loco as he chatted with Major Gunns and Corporal Cajun, "After what they did, I can't believe he still talks to them!" Eddie fumed, hitting his hand on the bar.

    "I don't think he remembers, Eddie..." Chyna said.

    "HOW can he not remember a phaser to the chest?!" he asked angrily.

    "The mind works in funny ways. It blocks out painful memories, such as getting shot by a phaser your friends meant for a family member!" Chyna replied, not hiding the bitterness in her voice.

    Lt. Loco looked towards Chyna and Eddie, and waved happily. They waved in return. Loco looked back at his friends, "They've been staring at me all day. I don't know why..."

    They probably don't like you joining up with rebels," Gunns replied.

    "Well that's--" Loco stopped, his face suddenly going blank.

    "Loco?" Gunns asked, "Hey ... Loco?!"

    "Chavo!" Eddie cries. "Why did you jump in front of that phaser?" Tears are falling down his cheeks.

    "Because... you're family!" Loco replies. The pain burns. Why does his chest hurt so much?

    "Loco? Hello?" Major Gunns called out.

    Loco blinked a few times... and furrowed his brow. "Sorry..." he said. "I've been having weird dreams lately... just kinda tired..." He stood up, "I think I'm going to go back to my quarters now. I'll talk to you guys tomorrow..."

    With that, Lt. Loco left the Smackdown

ENGINEERING (03:30)

    Stephanie gasped as she heard footsteps coming towards Engineering. She tried to clear off her station, but the doors swooshed opened before she could.

    "Commander?"

    Stephanie spun around to see Lt. Commander Jericho staring at her. "Uh... hi!" She said as she stood in front of the station, hiding the screen and tools from him.

    He walked up to her, "Do you need assistance?"

    "No no!" She said quickly, "I don't need anything, Lt. Commander..."

    He leaned forward as he tried to look over her shoulder. She leaned back, still blocking his view. "May I ask what you're doing, Steph?" he asked.

    Steph? Ever since his emotion chip had been fried, he had been calling her Commander. Truth be told, she HATED it -- unless, of course, she was trying to pull rank. Under the occupation, though, it seemed pointless.

    "I'm working on something top secret!" she said quickly, Please, go away! She thought. I can't do this with you here!

    "Be careful," Lt. Commander Jericho said, "If the Nytrons catch you--"

    "I'll be fine!" Stephanie interrupted, "But why are YOU here?"

    Lt. Commander Jericho took a step back, "I came here to run a few Engineering diagnostics," he said, and headed to another station.

    "No no, you don't need to do that!" Stephanie said. She quickly shut off her monitor, lest he see the schematics she was studying and try to stop her. He would say it wasn't worth the risk.

    Stephanie went up to the Y2J Unit and grabbed his arm, trying to pull him towards the doors, "I did lots of diagnostics earlier today. No sense in doing them again. You might as well go back to the shuttle bay. You need your sleep!"

    The Y2J Unit looked at her and furrowed his brow, "I don't require sleep, Commander..."

    "Uh… well... you do sleep sometimes! I’ve seen it!" Stephanie said.

"True, my eyes close and I appear to sleep, but I am not actually---"

"Whatever. Just go back!" she interrupted.

    "But--"

    "Go go!" Stephanie insisted.

    Jericho nodded, "Yes commander... if it's an order..."

    Well, she didn't want to pull rank, but what the hell? "Yes," she replied, "it's an order!"

    Lt. Commander Jericho nodded, and left Engineering like a good little WrestleFleet officer. Stephanie took a deep breath, and turned back to her station. She flicked the screen back on, and studied the schematics once again.

    The Chief Engineer picked up her tools and continued.  She silently cursed Matt Hardy. She was doing this on the fly! HE was the one who knew IN DETAIL what needed to be done! Damn him and his secrets! Why did he have to put such high security on his research? She was lucky she got what she did!

    Stephanie sighed.

Who knew making an emotion chip would be so stressful?

TITANPRIZE CORRIDORS - the next day

    "Pimps up, hoooooooooos down! Two for one special for Nytrons tonight!" a voice echoed through the hall.

    EO Richards spun around to see Ensign Godfather advertising his ladies to the men gathered around him. Within a few minutes, the ladies were gone, and Godfather was counting his credits.

    Richards and Mr. Buchanan went up to the man, frowning, "This behaviour is UNACCEPTABLE!" Richards snapped.

    "Aww man... you back again?!" Godfather asked.

    Richards allowed a smirk, "Yes. I am," his face then grew serious, "And you and I have to talk!"

    "Talk about WHAT, man? All I know to talk about is my ladies! You want one or what?" Godfather asked.

    EO Richards snapped his fingers, and Mr. Buchanan quickly grabbed Godfather from behind, wrenching one tattoed arm behind the man's back.  "We have some business to settle," Richards said, then turned to his bodyguard, "Bring him, Mr. Buchanan. We're going to have a nice little discussion..."

THE SMACKDOWN

    Lt. Loco sat with his friends, nursing the drink Chyna had just brought to him. He was so tired! Those stupid dreams kept haunting him! What was wrong? Why did he have such horrible visions?! And why were Eddie and Chyna still STARING at him like that?

       "CHAVO!" Eddie screams. "You ARE loco!" Tears are falling down his cheeks, "Why did you jump in front of the phaser!"

    "Because, Eddie...You're family..."

    "LOCO!" Gunns shouts as she quickly runs to him, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!!" she cries.

    "Take him," Chyna hisses angrily, "Take him NOW! And you'd better pray your Nytron doctor can save him, or I swear I'll come after all of you! One - by - one!"

    Loco grabs his chest in pain, feeling sticky wetness. What was happening to him?

    "Gunns to Sickbay! Get Dr. Piro to cargo bay 6. IMMEDIATELY!"

    "Loco, you're daydreaming again..." Gunns smiled when she noticed her friend's far-off look.

    Loco looked at her, eyes wide. He jumped to his feet, tipping his chair over as he grabbed his chest.

    "Loco, what's wrong?!" Cajun asked.

    Suddenly, everything came back to him in a flood of images.

    Loco looked at Gunns, eyes wide, "YOU!" he gasped, "YOU did it!" he shook his head, backing away. "YOU tried to kill EDDIE!" he screamed. "YOU fired the phaser!"

     "He's not to remember anything," The General says. "It would be a disaster!"

    "Don't worry, little one..." the pale, skeletal Dr. Piro speaks, "This won't hurt a bit..."

    Loco grabbed his head, "NOOOOO!" he glared at General Rection, "You tried to make me forget!"

    Corporal Cajun jumped to his feet, "Loco, calm down... please..."

    Loco shoved his friend down, "Stay away from me!" he shouted, then looked at all the Nytrons in the Smackdown, "ALL of you stay away!" With that, he ran out of the bar.

    Eddie quickly went after him.

ECW EXTREMESHIP - BRIDGE

    "Oh my god! Priority Communication coming through on Captain Heyman's private line!" Styles said as he studied the monitor in front of him.

    "I'll take it in my ready room, Styles... and... calm the hell down!" Heyman replied, and headed into his office.

ECW EXTREMESHIP - CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM

    Heyman called the communication up on his screen, his jaw dropped as a pre-tapped message from Captain Vince McMahon greeted him.

    At the end of the message, an update on the situation was given by Dr. U. Taker.

    Heyman furrowed his brow He didn't doubt the validity of the communication, but Taker said all communications had been blocked by Russo save for the bridge... so how the hell had Taker gotten this message to him?

    Heyman shook his head. This was the doctor that stumped even the great minds at WrestleFleet.

    The Captain tapped his comm badge, "Styles, send a message to WrestleFleet - the WWF Titanprize has been boarded by Nytron rebels. EMERGENCY actions are in order. We will await their reply!"  Heyman turned back to the monitor, "Hang on, McMahon! We're going to get those Nytron bastards... or die trying!"

WWF TITANPRIZE - CORRIDORS

    "Chavo! Chavo, wait!" Eddie called out. He grabbed Loco's arm before the younger Guerrero could get too far. "What happened?"

    Loco looked at him, eyes wide, "I remembered! In the cargo bay! I remembered what happened! And they tried to erase my memory Eddie! They tried to...." he was breathing heavily, almost hyperventilating.

    "Chavo, do you see now? Do you see what kind of life you've chosen? Lies! Deceit!"

    "But... Gunns didn't MEAN to shoot me... she didn't mean it!"

    "And Russo WOULD mean it!" Eddie said, "Russo would kill each and every Nytron if it served his purpose! Do you really want to be a part of that? Do you want to follow a man who would do that?"

    Loco shook his head, "But ... I have no where else to turn too.  WrestleFleet would never accept me back---"

    "Yes they would!" Eddie said, "I am a WrestleFleet officer! And as a representative of WrestleFleet, I will accept you back! Please... Chavo! Come back!"

    Loco looked up at Eddie, and nodded, "Ok, Eddie..." he said, "I'll... I'll try. I'll try to leave the Nytrons behind," he smiled, "I'll make you proud, Eddie!" Chavo furrowed his brow, "Just one question -- Think I can get a WrestleFleet uniform in the colour of Army fatigues?"