A Ghost from the Past

A Ghost from the Past1

by Jim T. Henriksen2

Part 13

Chip had gone to the finest restaurant on the K1 promenade, had a better meal, and some fine French wine. He noticed the restaurant had been re-designed since he was here last time. 4

His energy levels began to get normal again, as his food was transformed to energy when he ate, almost the opposite of the way the replicator worked. He also needed sleep, to rest his delicate computer brain from overloading. He was tired now, and decided to head for the bed. 5

Chip called the waiter over, and paid for the meal. The prices here on the restaurant was stiff, but it was worth a couple of extra credits. He stood up and headed for the exit. "No androids allowed," it said on a plaque by the door. "Well, who could tell?" Chip asked himself, smiling. 6

It should be good with some sleep now. He wondered if he should activate the dream-circuit, but decided not to. As he entered his room, he heard he was not alone. Someone was in the shower. Someone was singing. A woman. Who could it be? 7

Chip could not shower, as the water could damage his circuits, so he sat down in the sofa, and waited till the lady that occupied his shower came out. "Computer, dim lights," he said, planning to surprise his uninvited guest as she came in to the livingroom. 8

Only wearing a bathrobe around her, the mysterious guest entered the livingroom. She didn't notice the light had been dimmed, or that Chip was in the room. She walked over to the replicator and ordered a hot cup of tea. She took a sip of the tea as she turned toward the sofa. "OH!" she jumped of surprise and dropped her tea in the floor. 9

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," Chip said as he put a cold wrap on the lady’s ankle, which she had burned on the hot tea. 10

"My own mistake... I shouldn’t have been so careless," she replied. She studied Chip's face. "Minister Toran?"11

Part 212

Chip had never expected this. In front of him sat Veno, his, or rather minister Toran's wife. 13

Chip was originally created to replace minister Toran. Chip had acted as the minister to spy on the Imurians, and to report what he found out to the Cintorians. Information that Chip stole led the Cintorians to victory over the Imurians. Chip was then attempted terminated. 14

Chip was found by USS Endeavour, and revived. In gratitude to the Federation, Chip joined the Academy, and later got assigned to USS Majesty. When USS Majesty by accident was pulled into an alternate reality, Chip resigned from Starfleet, after he had found out that Imur in this reality still had not lost for the Cintorians. 15

Chip travelled to Imur, only to discover that minister Toran of this reality was missing presumed dead. Being a perfect copy of the minister, Chip took the role of Toran, and gave the Imurians victory over the Cintorians. Chip now quietly disappeared from Imur again. 16

Imurians were a very simple race. They had not discovered interstellar travel, and thus were off-limit to federation vessels. Chip had thought he was safe from meeting any Imurians whom could recognise him as minister Toran, and he had certainly never expected to meet Veno. 17

"Veno," Chip said, "when, err... how did you get here?" Chip was so surprised he had to sit down. 18

"Toran, I am so glad I finally found you," Veno replied, "I've searched all over the quadrant for you, hoping to find you alive somewhere." 19

"Veno," Chip said, taking a short pause, "I am not Toran." 20

"Not? You must be. You look exactly like the man I married." 21

"I think you better hear the whole story," Chip said, "please sit down, and I will explain everything." 22

Chip told Veno the entire story, from his creation and till now. Veno listened interested to Chip's story, but started crying when she realised her true husband was still lost. 23

"By the way," Chip wondered, "how did you find me? How did you get into my room?" 24

"I didn't," Veno explained, "this is my room. You mean you got this room too? It must be our destiny that brought us together." 25

"Or someone acting the role of destiny. Computer, list residents of room B-47," Chip said. 26

The computer chirped, searching its archive. "Room B-47 is registered to Lt. Chip and ambassador Veno of Imur." 27

"Ambassador?" Chip asked surprised. 28

Part 3 29

Chip looked at Veno. She was now ambassador for Imur. 30

"Yes," Veno said, "I was elected one year ago. Shortly after we had won the war over the Cintorians, our scientists discovered interstellar spaceflight. We have been trading Imurium for other metals and minerals with the Federation." 31

"Imurium? That's the orange metal there was so much of on Imur, correct?" Chip asked. 32

"Yes, only that it is a meld of gold, titan and carbon. We even use it in our spaceships, from the hull to the circuits in the computers. Our scientists found that it is super-conductive, and that we can block any radiation on the spectrum, including visible light by regulating the power." 33

"That mean your ships can cloak," Chip reasoned, "better than any known cloak-technology used by the known species." 34

"Exactly," Veno answered. "We get some resources from our mines on Cintor, but it is not sufficient, and recently we've had some problems." 35

"Yes, you said you had been searching for me. Why?" 36

"We have problems back home," Veno explained, "the Cintorians are rebelling. They sabotage our spaceships, and destroy our mines." 37

"Can't Imurian security take care of them?" Chip asked. 38

"They have, but one group," Veno said, "is resisting. Their leader is Oteg Okam." 39

"Oteg?!" Chip said, clenching his fists. "Oteg tried to kill me in the reality where I was created." 40

"He and his followers have spread terror among the Imurians. You have to come with me back to Imur," Veno said, "and lead us again. The Imurians still believe Toran is alive." 41

"I will come with you, but we can't travel tonight. We won't get the clearance to leave until tomorrow," Chip said as he rose from the sofa. "I have to go get a different room." 42

"No, stay and keep me company," Veno said. 43

Chip stayed, and he and Veno talked until late night. Veno found that she had feelings for Chip, being so similar to Toran, and they fell asleep close to each other. 44

Part 4 45

Chip and Veno woke up early. Chip took a sonic shower, and changed to some traditional Imurian clothes he had replicated. 46

"You look good, Chip," Veno said when he exited the bathroom. "Everybody back on Imur will take you for being Toran." 47

"Good. Are you ready? We should get going," Chip said. 48

Chip and Veno left the room, and started walking. When Chip turned off in direction of the shuttlebays, Veno stopped him. 49

"We travel with a Ferengi ship," she said, "we don't travel much outside our region with our own spaceships. They are not fast enough." 50

"Sorry, I just assumed, eh..." Chip smiled. 51

Veno laid her arm around Chip's back, and they walked toward the docking area. As they came to the Ferengi ship, they were already preparing to take loose. 52

"Ambassador Veno and minister Toran of Imur," Veno said to the Ferengi that registered passengers. 53

"Ambassador, minister," the Ferengi bowed, "welcome aboard. You will be met by someone that will show you to your quarters." 54

Shortly after, they were lodged into their quarters. The next couple of days, during the flight to Imur, was uneventful. Chip and Veno enjoyed each others presence, ate good food, and took long walks on foreign places in the holodeck. 55

When the fourth day came, Chip and Veno went up to the bridge to see the ship closing in on Corona. Soon they could see the planets, all seven of them. As the ship slowed down when it entered the system, Veno whispered to Chip that he should look out to the sides of the ship, and see if he could see something. 56

"No," Chip whispered back, "but I guess there is." 57

"We are now being escorted by a dozen Imurian fighters. They are cloaked, and no known sensors can detect them." 58

Had Veno known the Ferengi were good listeners, and that they often eavesdropped when someone whispered, she would have understood why the captain suddenly started looking a little spooked. Chip understood, and smiled. 59

"We are being hailed," a younger Ferengi said. 60

The captain looked at the screen. "Open," he said. 61

"Ferengi trading-ship", a voice said, "please enter standard orbit. You will be met by an orbit-shuttle." 62

As Chip and Veno left, Chip recognised the voice. It was Zwor, Venos brother, chief of the security forces. 63

Part 5 64

"Toran, good to see you alive," Zwor said as Chip and Veno exited the shuttle. Chip was about to explain he was not Toran, but Veno stopped him by talking first. 65

"Have the ministers house been repaired?" she asked. 66

"Repaired?" Chip wondered. 67

"Yes," Zwor said, "some terrorists fired a tachyon-rifle at the house last month. They believed it would weaken the Imurian peoples belief in you." 68

"Belief in me?" 69

"The people think you have been sent by Coron back to save us. Twice. First in the Cintorian war, and now to stop the Cintorian terrorism." 70

Chip already understood. He had to play his part. 71

"They believe that you died in the beginning of the war, that you are the second son of Coron, and that you were sent back to help us. That is what they believe." Zwor explained. 72

"But," Chip said, playing along. 73

"Yes, naturally, you are alive. And you do not look a day older than during the war," Zwor said. Still, he was not quite sure. 74

"Come," Veno said, "let us take the hovercraft to the city." 75

Chip would naturally not look any older, as he did not age. So, he had been risen to divinity. Good, it could help his plan. While looking out on the green sky above and blue hills below, Chip remembered the first time he saw this. He had just replaced minister Toran, and his treason would soon begin. But that was in another reality, twenty-four years ago. 76

When the hovercraft arrived to the house, Chip saw it was changed. The entrance was completely re-built after the attack, and the entire house was covered in Imurium. It had more Imurium than the emperor’s castle. 77

Chip and Veno was met by the Master of Servants, and welcomed home. Small spheroids hovered in the air around them, holo-cameras, and not until now did Chip notice there was a huge crowd of people gathered there. They were all kneeling, bowing their heads to the ground. 78

"Stand up, please," Chip said, but the mass did not obey. 79

"Rise," the Master of Servants said with a loud voice. Everyone rose. "Toran, second son of Coron will talk." 80

A little embarrassed, Chip spoke up. "Listen. Coron have seen your suffering, and have sent me to help you fight the evil creation of Cinn." A cheer rose among the people. "Have faith in Coron and pray, and I will give us victory!" The crowd went wild. 81

Veno looked at Chip and smiled. He was so much alike Toran, she could not believe it. Chip turned around, and they both walked into the house. 82

Chip had called Zwor to his chambers. "Minister," he said as he entered, bowing deep. 83

"Come in," Chip said. "I wonder about one thing. How can I still be minister if you think I died and came back as the second son of Coron?" 84

"It's the emperor, minister. He have never accepted your death, and declared you should have the title of minister when you came back." 85

"Oh, I understand. Now listen, I have a plan how we can get to Oteg and his men," Chip said. He started explaining his plan, and Zwor listened carefully. 86

Part 6 87

Chip had had a hunch. Neither Zwor nor any of the Secret Intelligence guys had managed to locate Oteg's hideout. Chip thought that it might be the same location Oteg's gang of the other reality hid when Chip was created. Chip had teleported to the hideout of the real Toran's kidnappers before he was killed. 88

The hovercraft bounced slightly up and down in the air as it held its position. Chip knew the hideout was close, probably just over the hill, but telling it to Zwor at once would be rash. He walked up to the cockpit, leaving the door behind him open. 89

"Minister Toran," the surprised pilot said quickly as he saw Chip enter. 90

"Please, sit... I don't want you to crash the hovercraft only because you don't give it your full attention," Chip said calmly. 91

"Minister, what an honour to have you here," the pilot said, "what can I help you with?" 92

"Let me have the controls, Coron will lead my hands so we steer to the hideout." Chip replied as he sat down in the co-pilot seat. To add the effect he closed his eyes and folded his knuckles as if he was praying. He smiled to himself while he steered the hovercraft. As Chip steered the hovercraft directly to Oteg's hideout, Zwor came up. 93

"Shall we call it off?" Zwor asked. 94

"No, prepare your men," Chip said, "Oteg is hiding there." Chip pointed at an old house standing alone at the foot of the hill. 95

The team teleported down and heavy fighting started between the security force and Oteg's gang. Soon the terrorists were overpowered, and those still alive were arrested. The holo-screen activated. 96

"Minister," Zwor said, "I'm afraid Oteg is not here... he is not among neither the live nor dead." 97

"I will have to take care of Oteg," Chip replied and closed the holo-screen link. 98

Chip walked to the teleport chamber, and programmed in the location he remembered Oteg himself had hid when he gave him instructions. Chip compared the location with their current position, and calculated Oteg was hiding in a sealed bunker inside the hill. Chip pressed a final button, and vanished in a spiral of energy-particles. 99

Oteg never imagined anyone would find his hideout. The security forces had come surprisingly on them, and he had barely teleported to his bunker in time. His heart almost stopped of shock when he heard a voice behind him. 100

"Oteg!" Chip said, "You will pay for your evil work!" 101

"Minister Toran? You are alive?" Oteg said bewildered. 102

The hate glowed in Chip's eyes, and as he laid his hands around Oteg's neck, he smiled. Finally he would get his revenge. No, he could not kill Oteg. 103

"Why? You can't kill me, Toran, why?" Oteg asked. His neck was still held in lock by Chip's android hands, and he felt the strength in them, knowing his neck could snap any minute. 104

"I can't," Chip answered, "I am not your evil creation anymore!" 105

"My-" Oteg was about to talk, but then he remembered the grip around his neck, hard as Imurium. He swallowed. 106

"Your double in another reality created me," Chip said, "to replace the real minister Toran. You know, in that reality, you won the war." 107

"You're an android?" Oteg asked, "Before the war, I played with the idea to replace you, eh, minister Toran with an android. Imxor told me it was impossible though." 108

"Imxor? Is he alive?" 109

"He is in your own prison." 110

"That's where you will go, until the court decides what to do with you," Chip said, as he released Oteg's neck. Chip grabbed Oteg's arm, and pulled him into the teleport chamber. 111

Part 7 112

Chip had returned home to his, no, Toran's house. Chip had found Oteg, and had nearly killed him. But he couldn't. He could not kill Oteg in cold blood. What Chip had ended up doing was to bring Oteg with him back to the hovercraft, and delivered him to Zwor. Oteg would stand trial, and the people would judge him. Death. 113

When Zwor had asked Chip how he knew where to find Oteg, Chip had not answered, but said he would explain later. Should he tell Zwor the truth? Maybe it was best Zwor knew the true story. He was a very determined person when it came to searching for it, and he would find it eventually. 114

"Chip, are you ready for the celebration?" Veno asked. She had come into the room without a sound. She had put on the most beautiful red dress, and her long, black hair was loosened. 115

"Soon, I just have to change," Chip replied, and walked into the bedroom. He found some nice, traditional Imurian clothes, and started to change. Suddenly he noticed Veno behind him. Veno had come into the bedroom and stroke her hand slowly over Chip's back. 116

"That dress was the one Toran wore when we married," she said. 117

Chip put on the jacket, and turned around. "Let us go," he said. 118

The celebration at the emperor’s palace was a grand one. Thousands of guests, from society to priests, from politicians to soldiers, all were eating, dancing, singing and laughing. The last band of terrorists and their leader were now captured, and everyone felt at ease. 119

Chip, Veno and Zwor sat by the emperor’s table. Chip decided this was the time to tell the true story, but only to the emperor and Zwor. Nobody else could hear what they were talking about, as the emperor’s guards kept the guests at safe distance. Veno smiled. Toran could neither keep a secret, if he knew it was best others knew it. 120

"Well, I suspected something," Zwor said after Chip had finished his story, "but never something that complicated. You're an android, created in a different reality, and your name is... Chip?" 121

"Cybernetic Humanoid Intelligence Processor," Chip replied. 122

"This can never be told to the people," the emperor said, "you are Toran, the second son of Coron to them now. You do not age, right? That will only strengthen their belief in you." 123

"What about the guards? They might have eavesdropped on us." 124

"They know they will be punished by death if they speak of things they have heard or seen, and if they do, nobody will believe them anyway. The story is just too crazy. It would be like saying Coron did not create the universe," the emperor said, laughing. 125

"By the way, is there a prisoner in the dungeons by the name of Imxor?" Chip wondered. 126

The emperor called over a servant, and told him to find out. 127

"Why do you ask that, Tor- eh, Chip?" 128

"Imxor in the reality I came from created me. I don't know what he has done since he is in the dungeons, but I want you to pardon him," Chip said. 129

The servant came back and whispered in the emperor’s ear. 130

"I am afraid the prisoner you seek is dead. Killed by Cintorians for his food. I'm sorry," the emperor said. 131

Chip could not believe that his creator, his father was dead. A tear rolled down his cheek. When he noticed everyone were looking at him, he wiped it away, and told that he had tear-canals, part of the camouflage he was created with. Chip suspected he had many more features installed, which had not been triggered yet. 132

The celebration lasted till late at night, but it eventually ended. Tomorrow Oteg would be tried, and Chip would then have to leave back for starbase K1 and Starquest. Chip lay in the bed and waited. Veno would come into his room soon. The stroke over his back earlier was the traditional mating-ritual. 133

Part 8 134

It was now only a few days till Chip had to be back on the Starquest. Veno would come with him, but would stay on starbase K1, where she was ambassador for the Imurians. Getting a ride with a Ferengi transport was not a problem either, when Chip promised to pay well for any inconvenience it might have caused. The Ferengi only looked at Imurium as a very valuable metal, and didn't know of the special abilities of it. That was a secret the Imurians would sell to the Federation, if they were given certain promises and goods in return. 135

The promises they wanted was that they, as a young race, would be allowed to trade with any race they came across, thus increasing their prosperity in their area of space. Further they wanted protection from pirates and others, and finally they wanted the newest state-of-the-art technology the Federation had. In return for this, the Imurians would teach the Federation how to use the Imuriums ability to cloak the ships. Veno was the one that would negotiate this. 136

Chip, Veno and Zwor had taken an orbital shuttle, and was now gliding up at the side of the Ferengi ship. An umbilical cord was fastened between the two ship's airlocks, and the airlocks were opened. 137

"Now you take care of my sister, Chip," Zwor said with a serious voice, but with a big smile on his lips. 138

"Don't worry, Zwor. Nothing will happen to her as long as I am there to protect her. Remember I'm an officer in the Federation, and have duties. But I will keep in touch with her," Chip promised. 139

Chip and Veno turned and left through the airlock, and soon after three Ferengi came the other way, coming to pick up the Imurium they were promised as payment for playing taxi. 140

When the airlocks were shut, and the cord were retracted, Zwor walked to the cockpit and looked as the Ferengi ship broke orbit and set course for Federation space. According to Imurian tradition, Chip and Veno were now engaged. When two unmarried Imurians mated, they had to be married in six months. But there was a problem. To the Imurians, Chip were Toran, the second son of Coron. Technically, he was still married to Veno. But tradition was tradition, and Chip and Veno had agreed to marry on K1, according to human wedding rituals. Zwor would be the "best man" of the "bride", Veno. 141

At the Ferengi transport the next few days was pretty much alike the ones they spent on another Ferengi transport when they travelled to Imur ten days ago. Chip and Veno ate good food, explored the holodeck, and enjoyed each other’s company. Chip had changed back to his uniform, and Veno wore now traditional Imurian dress, with the Imurians new emblem on the chest. 142

On the fourth day a Ferengi officer came to their quarters. "Ambassador, minister. We're docking at starbase K1 very soon now," he said, "if you are ready, please let me escort you on the way." 143

Chip grabbed the case Veno had insisted on bringing along. She would not tell what was in it, but said only it was something that would come to good use later. Chip lifted it easily, but it would be difficult to lift it for anyone else without zero-G. Even if it had been filled with Imurium, it would not be this heavy. 144

When they reached the airlock, Chip pulled an Imurian coin, made of pure Imurium out of his pocket. It had his image on one side, and Veno's on the other. Of old habit the Ferengi tried to bend the coin with his teeth, and suddenly ran off with a terrible toothache. Chip and Veno laughed, and continued. As they came to the passage leading to the Starquest, Veno stopped. 145

"Seems we have to part here," Veno said, "I have to stay here, and you have to go back to duty." 146

"I promise I will keep in contact with you when, and as often as I can. I don't know where our next mission will bring us, and for how long I will be gone, but I promise I will be here in time." Chip held carefully around Veno, comforting her. 147

"Go, Chip," Veno said, wiping a tear away, "and come back safe. I will pray to Coron nobody harm you." 148

"What about this case?" Chip asked. 149

"I will call someone to help me with it. Go now, before your ship takes off." 150

Chip put down the case, and started walking down the passage. He could hear Veno cry quietly behind him, but did as she said. It was better to leave without goodbye, as goodbye was something you said to someone you would never see again. 151

On Starquest there was full activity again. Most of the crew had returned, and Chip noticed some new faces. In the turbolift he overheard two ensigns talking about something that had happened in engineering, an accident of some sort. Or a bomb, the rumour said. As the two ensigns left, Chip decided to head directly for the bridge and report for duty at once. The turbolift continued, and as the doors opened on the bridge, Chip walked over to the science console. He activated it, and quickly estimated the damage. 152

Chip turned and said, "Lieutenant Chip reporting for duty, sir." 153

"Ah, good to have you back Chip. I hope you have had a good shoreleave," captain Jeph Fairchild said, "because it seems we will have lots of work on our hands from now." 154

"Yes sir," Chip said and smiled. He turned around to the console, took out something small from his pocket, and fastened it to his uniform. It was a gift from Veno. It was a small pin made of Imurium and black diamond, forming the name 'Chip'. 155

The end?156