Pegasus: The Beginning - Chapter One

     The clothes he was wearing did not look right in the setting of this ancient castle, but it bad been a long time since Arthur Pendragon had engaged in a sword fight. With the magical sword Excalibur in his hand he slowly walked through the empty halls of this strange castle. Then suddenly he was attacked. He only just had time to bring his sword up in front of him. The man who was attacking him was wearing bright shiny silver armour.

    The battle began in earnest. The sound of clanging swords rang out throughout the hallways. Thrust and parry was met by thrust and parry as Pendragon showed his might sword skills. Then Pendragon gained the upper hand. Soon his opponent was on his knees.
    “Please, spare my life!” he said. “I yield!”
    Pendragon raised his sword high above his head, and he was about to bring it down upon his opponent when he heard someone behind him.
    “Computer, freeze program. End.”
    The surroundings began to shimmer, they were soon replaced by the walls of the holodeck. Pendragon turned around to see Ambassador Magus standing behind him.
    “You did well Captain Pendragon.” he said.
    Pendragon smiled.
    “How long have you been standing there?” he asked.
    “Long enough.” Magus replied. “Captain Spalding asked me to tell you that we are approaching the Time of Legends. We should be docking with the Pegasus in ten minutes.”
    Pendragon reached down for his towel and wiped the sweat from his brow.
    “I’d better go take a shower. I don’t want to step into my new command smelling like this!”

    After taking a quick shower Pendragon arrived on the bridge of the Pinafore. When he arrived Captain Spalding smiled. The image of the Pegasus space station appeared on the screen.
    “It’s a beauty, isn’t it?” said Spalding.
    “It sure is.” Pendragon replied.
    “Transmission coming in from the station.” reported the ops manager. “We have permission to dock.”
    The Pinafore slowly approached the station, and the docking was complete a few minutes later. Pendragon stood in the airlock as the doorway opened. When the door was fully open a familiar face in an unfamiliar uniform greeted him. It was the station’s first officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Archer Greenleaf.”
    “Permission to come aboard.” said Pendragon.
    “Granted Captain.” Greenleaf smiled. “Granted.”
    Pendragon and Greenleaf were soon walking down the station’s promenade, the sight where traders had their establishments.
    “There are still quite a few units to be taken.” said Greenleaf. “There are rumours that a Ferengi delegation are arriving soon to discuss the possible leasing of a few of the units.”
    “The Ferengi is the last thing this station needs.”
    They continued to walk down the promenade for a few minutes until Pendragon stopped.
    “What’s wrong?” Greenleaf asked.
    “I can hear singing.” replied Pendragon. “Where is it coming from?”
    “From down there.” Greenleaf pointed. “The inn, the Prancing Pony.”
    “The songs sound familiar.”
    Pendragon then marched off towards the inn with his first officer in hot pursuit. Pendragon soon found the inn, and he was very surprised. It looked as if the inn was made of wood. It did not fit in with the rest of the surroundings. Pendragon turned the handle and what he saw inside was a sight that brought a smile to his face. Everyone inside seemed to be making merry and standing around one table. From that table Pendragon could hear singing. He recognised the song. It was a Shire song. As Pendragon listened he was approached by a portly gentleman wearing a dirty apron and carrying a tray.
    “Hello, I’m Oswald Butterbur, innkeeper. Can I offer you a drink?”
    “No thank you. I just came hereto listen to the song.”
    “If you’re not here to drink then go away!” Butterbur snapped.
    It was then that the innkeeper noticed the four rank insignia on Pendragon’s collar.
    “Please forgive me.” he said. “You must be Captain Pendragon! I do beg your pardon!”
    Pendragon did not answer, he just continued to listen to the singing. A short time later the gathered crowd began to clap and then disperse. It was then that the singer saw him.
    “Ambassador Baggins!” said Pendragon. “Surely one such as you should not be singing on pub tables!”
    “Nice to see you Captain Pendragon!” said Baggins. “And please, none of this ambassador nonsense! Just plain old Bilbo will do!”
    Pendragon held out his hand to help Baggins off the table, but Baggins jumped down onto the floor.
    “Welcome to the inn Captain.” said Baggins. “This is the one place on this station I feel at home. Even my quarters mirror this century we are in.”
    “This technology is here to help Ambass…sorry, Bilbo. There is much you can learn from us.”
    “From what I understand it is your Federation that wishes to learn from us!”
    Pendragon then joined Baggins in a drink, and a new friendship was formed.

    Pendragon left The Prancing Pony some time later, and he was slightly the worse for wear so he decided that it was best if he went to his quarters. When the door opened he found he had a visitor.
    “Merlin!” he said. “What are you doing here?”
    The wizard leaned on his staff and got to his feet.
    “I came to welcome you to the Time of Legends.” he replied. “And because I wanted to speak to you. Come, let us sit and talk.”
    Pendragon walked over to the replicator.
    “Water, five degrees.”
    A few seconds later a glass of cold water appeared. Pendragon swallowed it on one go.
    “You’ve been drinking.” said Merlin. “The White Knight always did that after he’d had a few too many.”
    Pendragon sat down in one of the armchairs.
    “You said you wanted to talk to me. What about?”
    “In all truth I just wanted to welcome you here, though really I am nothing more than a messenger.”
    “Who for?”
    “King Arthur. He wishes to speak with you.”
    “King Arthur wishes to speak to me? What about?”
    “He would not tell me exactly, but I have a feeling I know what it is about.”
    “What do you think?”
    “It is not for me to say. The King realises that you will be busy for the next few days, so he will see you whenever it is convenient.”
    Merlin got to his feet.
    “I must be going now. It is good to see you again Captain. I hope we will see much more of each other.”
    “Wait, I’ll escort you to the transporter room.”
    “Transporter room? Why my boy, if I wanted my molecules scattered all over the place I’d do it myself! I cam by shuttle.”
    A broad smile appeared on Pendragon’s face.
    “Merlin you old fool, you’ll never change!”

    Pendragon soon decided it was time to show his face in the Operations Room. To that end he soon made his way to the promenade en-route to Ops. He soon saw something that caught his eye. In the distance he saw a rather ugly looking orc bothering a young woman dressed in a Starfleet uniform. He could tell that the orc’s attentions were not wanted and he was about to offer his assistance when the young woman began to fight back. The woman raised her leg and connected with a kick to the back of the orc’s head. She then connected with another blow to the orc’s knee, and then another to the orc’s sizeable mid-section. She then activate her communicator.
    “Maris to Security. I’ve got an unwelcome guest here on the prom. Please deal with him.”
    She then noticed Pendragon approaching her.
    “Security? That was quick!”
    “I’m not security. I’m Captain Arthur Pendragon.”
    She smiled as she realised her slight error.
    “Forgive me. I’m Lieutenant Sevrina Maris, your Chief of Security.”
    The two of them shook hands.
    “Sevrina Maris, of Enigma Force?”
    “The one and only.”
    “After a display like that I can see that security will not be much of a problem for you!”