Star Trek: The Next Generation: Starfleet Academy #4: Capture the Flag

by John Vornholt

  “Hi,” said Jack Pettey with a big grin. “I just thought I’d join you for dinner. What have you got?”

  Altos pulled a package out of the box. “Beef stew? I would guess you are a meat-eater.”

  “Good guess,” said Pettey.

  Altos tossed him the pouch, and he twisted it to heat the stew. Normally, Geordi hated to be unfriendly to anyone. But this was the enemy, in more ways than one.

  “I watched the log of your match,” said Pettey, seating himself out of T’Lara’s reach. “Very impressive. I never would’ve thought of making nets. I’m sort of a brute-force guy.”

  Geordi smiled. “We noticed.”

  “Still,” said Jenna, “you used trickery to win. You got Takama to chase that one guy you sent to taunt him.”

  Pettey shrugged. “If the enemy is stupid, you’ve got to exploit it. That won’t be the case with you guys tomorrow. You didn’t make any mistakes. Plus, you’ve got a built-in advantage.”

  “We do?” asked Kareem.

  “Sure,” said the blond kid. “La Forge’s VISOR.”

  Geordi shook his head. “I never thought that being blind was an advantage.”

  “I watched the log,” answered Pettey. “You and the Vulcan went right toward their flag. You didn’t have to look for it. Are you gonna tell me that wasn’t because of your VISOR?”

  “It doesn’t give me X-ray vision,” said Geordi. He was going to explain that he only detected some excess heat, and it turned out to be the Red team having a meeting. But he stopped himself. That’s what Pettey wants—to find out what advantage the VISOR gives me.

  Pettey scowled. “You can’t deny that you have a piece of electronic equipment that we don’t have.”

  Geordi smiled. “Would you like to have a VISOR? I’m sure Lieutenant Pantano could make one from the replicator aboard the ship.”

  “Yeah!” said Pettey righteously.

  “Before we do that,” Geordi added, “why don’t you try on my VISOR to see how you like it?”

  There were a few gasps as Geordi took off his VISOR, and he remembered that his pale, sightless eyes looked strange to most people. He held the VISOR out for Pettey to take. Then he waited. It wasn’t long before he heard a horrified scream.

  “Yoww!” shouted Pettey, yanking off the VISOR. “Man, that thing is like knives sticking into your brain!”

  “Yes,” agreed Geordi. “It took me several years to get over the headaches. Several more years to sort out and interpret all the signals. If you started right now, you might master it in a few years. Do you still want a VISOR?”

  “No,” answered the big cadet “I, uh, I’m really sorry I bothered you.”

  Geordi put the VISOR back on, and he saw that the Gold captain really did look sorry. “Jack,” he said, “I know we’ve had our differences, but we are different people. We’ll never be very much alike. But we want the same thing$mdash;to be in Starfleet. In that way we’re alike.”

  “No!” said Pettey, jumping to his feet. “I don’t want just to be in Starfleet—I want to be the best that’s ever been in Starfleet! I want to get through the Academy with top honors. I want to rise through the ranks faster than anyone. I want to command people like you.”

  Geordi was stunned for a moment by the cadet’s fierce ambition. But he supposed ambition was just one more reason to join Starfleet. He hoped he would never be like Jack Pettey. “I wish you luck” was all he could think to say.

  “I don’t need luck,” growled Pettey. “I need to be better than you. That’s why I have to beat you tomorrow.”

  Geordi remarked, “I hope you’re not too disappointed if you don’t.”

  Pettey smiled. “We’re not going to take it easy on you just because you’re a bunch of …”

  “Shrimps?” offered Kareem. “And we’re not going to take it easy on you just because you’re a bunch of jerks.”

  Pettey frowned. “We’ll see you tomorrow. On the battlefield.” With huge strides he bounded off into the darkness.

  Jenna slammed her fist into her palm. “I really want to beat that guy.”

  “So do I,” said Geordi. “But we have to remember that we’ve accomplished a lot. The worst we can finish is second, with two teams behind us.”

  “Geordi’s right,” said Kareem, and they all nodded their heads in agreement. “But it would be so much fun to beat them!” A cheer greeted that remark.

  Geordi chuckled. “I don’t know how much fun it’s going to be tomorrow, but we’ve made our plans—now we have to execute them. Vernok, will you tell Zemusta to come in and get some rest? Keep your voices down, and brief him on our plans.”

  “Yes, sir,” answered the little Saurian. He dashed off.

  “You aren’t worried about spies?” asked Jenna. “After that?”

  “If they want to come over and watch us sleep, that’s okay with me,” said Geordi. “Because that’s what we’re going to do next. I want everybody to be well rested for tomorrow.”

  In silence they finished eating their dinner, then they retired to their tents. But saying they were going to sleep didn’t make it so. Geordi lay awake, listening to Vernok purring softly beside him. Maybe it would be good to be cold-blooded, he thought.

  “Geordi,” said Kareem, “I can’t sleep.”

  The captain sighed. “I know, but we’ve got to try. Whatever happens tomorrow, it’s not going to help if we stay awake worrying about it.”

  “You’re right,” answered Kareem. “And no matter what happens tomorrow, I’m very proud to be on this team. This is what I dreamed of when I was accepted to the Academy.”

  “Winning?” asked Geordi.

  “No. Competing as an equal.”

  Geordi smiled. “Get some sleep, my little brother. You’ll need it.”

  After a few minutes he couldn’t think of anything else to worry about. So Geordi took off his VISOR and surrendered to the complete darkness that engulfed him.

  When Geordi emerged from his tent the next morning, he was troubled to see that the sky was gray and gloomy. He wanted it to be sunny like the day before—when they had won.

  Altos seemed pleased with the gray sky. “Ah,” said the Andorian, “a good day for battle.”

  Geordi looked at the coup meter on his chest, wondering if his luck would hold. Would he score a coup, or would he be captured today? If he was captured, would his team fight on or be demoralized?

  He watched his teammates as they came out to eat their breakfast. Each of them looked determined and serious. No, thought Geordi, they would fight on no matter what happened to him personally. They knew this was the championship. They knew it was the last day of Capture the Flag. The last day of the Green team.

  He remembered hearing that less than half of first-year cadets actually finished all four years of Starfleet Academy. He was saddened to think that some members of his team might not make it to Starfleet. Some of them would make it to Starfleet but discover they weren’t cut out for such a demanding life. Some might even die while on duty in Starfleet.

  Nobody could say what the future would bring for any of them. But today, right now, they had a chance to prove themselves.

  They discussed the plans in hushed whispers, but nobody had any questions or doubts. They knew what they had to do. They were scared but relieved when Geordi’s comm badge beeped.

  “Pantano to La Forge,” said the familiar voice. “Are you ready to beam up and start the game?”

  Geordi looked around at his team and smiled. “We’re ready.”

  CHAPTER

  9

  The importance of the championship was highlighted by the fact that Captain McKersie met them in the transporter room. The flight instructor was beaming as he greeted them.

  “Congratulations to you, La Forge, and to the rest of your team,” he said. “I’m looking forward to quite a match this morning.”

  “Thank you, sir,” answered Geordi. He was glad somebody was enjoying the matches.

  Li
eutenant Pantano entered the room, carrying the Green and Gold flags. “Good morning,” she said briskly. “Please step back while we bring the Gold team on board.”

  Geordi and his teammates did just that, and Geordi found that his heart was already beginning to beat uncomfortably fast.

  “Energize,” Pantano told the operator.

  They watched as the Gold team materialized on the transporter platform. Geordi heard Megan gasp, and he could scarcely believe his VISOR. It appeared as if Jack Pettey and his team were wearing camouflage makeup on their faces.

  “Are they wearing makeup?” he whispered to Jenna.

  “Looks more like war paint,” she answered. “They’re just trying to scare us.”

  And they’re doing a pretty good job of it, too, Geordi thought as he looked around at his team.

  Pettey swaggered as he stepped off the transporter. “Captain McKersie, Lieutenant Pantano, it’s an honor.”

  “My,” said Pantano, “that is unusual paint you are wearing. How did you make it?”

  “Charcoal, a little limestone, some clay,” answered Pettey.

  “Oh,” said Kareem, “I thought you guys were just messy eaters.”

  The laughter that erupted from the Green team put them all back at ease. Geordi could’ve hugged the Neo-pygmy.

  “We’ll see who’s laughing later,” the big cadet warned them.

  “Shake hands,” said Emma Pantano. Her tone made it clear that was an order.

  The teams shook hands, without much enthusiasm. Pettey saved a nasty glare and a firm handshake for Geordi.

  Pantano handed the flag to Geordi and said, “The Green team was chosen at random to beam down first. Good luck to both of you.”

  “Thank you,” answered Geordi. He had a feeling she was wishing his team a bit more luck.

  Captain McKersie rubbed his “hands together and grinned. “I’m looking forward to this. I’ll see you in the lecture hall—the ones who are captured, of course.” He strode out of the room.

  Geordi looked at his teammates and nodded. They slowly took their places on the transporter platform.

  “Coordinates locked in?” asked Pantano.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Energize.”

  They materialized in an unfamiliar part of the playing field. Perhaps, thought Geordi, it wasn’t even the same playing field as the day before. Since what they had seen of Saffair all looked the same, there was no way of telling.

  He handed the flag to Altos. “You know what to do.”

  “Yes, sir,” said the big Andorian. His antennae twitched. “The flag is safe with me.” He dashed off with tremendous leaps toward a boundary marker in the distance. Soon he was out of sight.

  Geordi, T’Lara, and the others scanned the horizon, looking for a tall formation on which to plant the decoy.

  “There,” said Zemusta, pointing toward a weathered peak that could barely be seen against the gray sky. It wasn’t as good as the archway they had defended the day before, thought Geordi, but it was the best they had.

  “Let’s all go over there,” he said. “We want to see what direction they’ll be coming from.”

  They began an earnest race toward the small peak, and Geordi, T’Lara, and Vernok scrambled to the top. They found a small depression in which Vernok could sit. He turned his back on the playing field, craned his long neck downward, and held out his arm. His loose sleeve flapped in the breeze like a flag.

  “Are you sure you can hold that position?” Geordi asked. It didn’t look very comfortable.

  The little Saurian managed a lopsided smile. “It was my idea, wasn’t it? Please, just protect me. I don’t want that blond ape jumping on my back.”

  Geordi nodded. “We’ll do our best.” He turned to survey the desolate plain. Thankfully, there was no sign yet of the Gold team. He hoped they, too, were having a hard time finding a place to put their flag.

  “Captain,” said T’Lara, “visibility is poorer today than yesterday. I believe their attackers will spot our decoy at about a hundred meters. That would put them on the far side of that small ravine. They should be running fairly fast as they try to cross it.”

  “So,” said Geordi, “if we hide in the ravine, maybe we can catch them there. But where will they cross it?”

  “That is a problem,” the Vulcan agreed. “The farther away we mount the ambush, the more likely we will miss them. The closer to the decoy we mount it, the better our chance of success. However, you wished to have the battle in the middle of the field, away from the decoy.”

  Geordi was barely listening to her. He was beginning to worry about the time they were wasting. Here they were, doing the same thing that the losing Red and Blue teams had done—having a discussion when they should be taking action.

  He pointed down to his teammates. “Kareem and Zemusta,” he ordered, “go out about half a kilometer and keep watch. I don’t want them to surprise us.”

  “Yes, sir!” they answered.

  They dashed off into the field, and Geordi felt better. But he still had a decision to make. If he made the wrong decision, it could be disastrous.

  “All right," he said, “we’ll plan the ambush in the ravine. If they run past us, we’ll chase them down.”

  T’Lara nodded. Geordi almost wished she would make a comment—tell him whether he was right or wrong. But it wasn’t in a Vulcan’s character to question the decision of a superior. She leapt down to the ground.

  Megan bounded up the rock and took her place near the little Saurian. She was already stripping leaves from a vine, and she used part of the vine to tie her hair back.

  “I’ll be very visible,” she promised. “I’m making a wig out of these dark leaves.”

  Geordi gave her a feeble smile. He didn’t know why, but his confidence was sagging. Maybe we’re being too tricky, he thought. Maybe we should just get out there, and bump heads. We don’t even know where our real flag is, we don’t know where the enemy is, and we’re planning an ambush!

  He pushed the doubts out of his mind and touched Megan’s slim shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll do fine. If this spot is overrun, get out of here, find Altos, and help him.”

  She nodded grimly. “Yes, sir.”

  Geordi jumped down from the rock and joined T’Lara and Jenna. He was beginning to worry about how they were so spread out: Altos with the real flag, Vernok and Megan as the decoy, Zemusta and Kareem on watch, and only the three of them to mount the ambush.

  “What’s the matter?” asked Jenna.

  He shook his head. “Just a lot on my mind.”

  “Don’t worry,” said Jenna. “We’ll take them.” She pointed to their companion. “See, T’Lara doesn’t look worried.”

  The Vulcan remarked, “That is not within my capabilities.”

  Geordi had to chuckle. “All right, let’s get down in that ravine.”

  With no more talk they raced about a hundred meters and hunkered down in a shallow ravine. Geordi looked at the ledge above them and hoped that the Gold team would leap over it without thinking. He looked back at the decoy and saw what looked like the Green flag and a dark-haired guard. The guard moved out of sight, and a few seconds later a white-haired guard appeared.

  It looked convincing, thought Geordi, and he began to relax a little. T’Lara and Jenna took turns peering over the top of the ledge.

  Suddenly, Geordi’s communicator beeped. He held his breath and tapped it. “La.Forge here.”

  A frightened breathless voice came. “It’s Kareem! They snuck up on us! They’re all over Zemusta, and they’re, chasing me!”

  Geordi’s throat tightened, but he calmly replied, “You know where to go. Lead them to it. Out.”

  Jenna looked stricken with worry. T’Lara peered over the ledge and remarked, “This may work to our advantage. Kareem could lead them directly into our ambush.”

  Geordi was up in a flash. “I see him!” he whispered. “We need to get about thirty meters to our left.”


  Running in a crouch, Geordi, Jenna, and T’Lara scuttled along the ravine. Geordi stole a glance over the ledge and saw a small Greenshirt with three Goldshirts fast behind him. Kareem was running for all he was worth, but his shorter legs doomed him against his bigger pursuers.

  Jenna and T’Lara had passed Geordi and were moving into position. They looked back at him, and he motioned with his hands for them to stop. He peered over the top again and could see that the three Gold players were almost on top of Kareem.

  Just a little bit farther, Kareem! Just a little bit more!

  The brave Neo-pygmy dived over the ledge and sprawled in the ravine. At once a bald-headed Catullan was all over him, pounding his coup meter. Kareem vanished before anyone could do anything to help him. Just as quickly Jenna leapt out and grabbed the Gold player from behind in a bear hug. He disappeared in a swirling mass of light.

  T’Lara was wrestling with another Goldshirt, a big Centaurian. Geordi feared she would lose the struggle, but her incredible strength allowed her to pin back his arms and brush his coup meter. He swung a fist at her chest, and she stumbled backward to get out of the way.

  His fist disappeared in midair, quickly followed by the rest of him.

  The third Gold player, a bearded Argelian, threw Jenna to the ground and crawled on top of her, trying to reach her coup meter. Geordi rushed to help her, but it seemed like he was moving in slow motion. He heard Jenna scream, and he dived at her attacker at full speed.

  He knocked him sprawling to the ground and jumped on top of him. The Argelian fought hard, but Geordi was enraged at the way he had treated Jenna. They held each others’ arms, so Geordi butted the man’s coup meter with his forehead.

  He rolled off, and the enemy gave him a sad and surprised look before he disappeared.

  Panting, Geordi staggered to his feet. “Jenna …” he gasped. “Are you all right?” He looked around.

  “Jenna is gone,” answered T’Lara. “But the ambush was successful. Counting Kareem, we lost two players to their three.”