Author Christopher J. Valin

Since Fanlib.com was bought and dismantled by Disney, they took down all of the Kirk v. Picard pages, including the final script made up of the winning entries. I thought I’d post mine (Round 3) here so that it can actually exist once again in cyberspace, and I hope the other winners do the same so the story can survive.

EXT. SPACE

The two Enterprises orbit the giant, crimson Guardian Planet. Waves of colorful energy continue to ripple from the planet, revealing the outline of the Enterprise-D’s shields surrounding both ships as they break against them.

KIRK (v.o.)

Captain’s Log, supplemental: Having been rescued by a future Enterprise, Mr. Scott and their chief engineer have managed to link the shield emitters from the two ships, buying us more time to discover what can be done about the malfunctioning Guardian of Forever…

INT. ORIGINAL ENTERPRISE – KIRK’S QUARTERS

Kirk sits at his desk with a glass of Romulan ale in his hand, while McCoy stands next to him with his own glass of blue liquid.

KIRK (v.o.)

…and for me to figure out how to cheat history.

 

MCCOY

Destroyed? How?

 

KIRK

You can bet the Guardian has something to do with it.

 

McCoy downs the rest of his drink.

MCCOY

Big surprise there.

 

KIRK

I can’t let it happen, Bones. What you said back on the planet…about how we should–

 

The intercom whistles and Kirk flips a switch on his desk.

KIRK

Kirk here.

SCOTTY (over comm.)

Captain, ye better get up here. Something’s gone wrong on the planet…

Kirk and McCoy exchange concerned looks.

INT. ENTERPRISE-D – BRIDGE

Picard is in the captain’s seat with the primary bridge crew, minus Data, at their usual stations.

PICARD

Did you say pulled into the Guardian, Lieutenant?

 

WORF

That was the message, although communications are erratic due to interference.

(reacts to a blinking light on his console)

Sir, we’re being hailed by the other Enterprise.

 

PICARD

Let’s see if Kirk knows anything more than we do.

 

The image of the original Enterprise’s bridge fills the giant screen. Kirk appears agitated.

PICARD

Captain, I—

 

KIRK

Is this how it starts, Picard?

 

PICARD

I’m afraid I don’t understand.

 

KIRK

The destruction of my ship. Does it have something to do with Spock’s disappearance?

 

Picard lets out a deep breath as Riker gives him an “I told you so” look.

PICARD

I’m sorry, Captain, I don’t know the details. But I assure you we will do everything we can to make things right.

 

KIRK

I’m not sure if I like the sound of that. Our versions of “making things right” probably don’t match up.

 

PICARD

I will let you know immediately when we have more information about the disappearance of our officers. Until then, we should assume they are alive and well somewhere in the past…

INT. APARTMENT ON EARTH – 1968

Spock and Data take a moment to get their bearings and realize they’re not in Kansas anymore. Next to them are their older counterparts and a BLACK CAT, which runs off into a bedroom.

Out of the bedroom walks a MAN wearing an expensive 1960s-era suit and the distracted look of a person with a lot on his mind.

MAN

Welcome, Mr. Spock…Mr. Data.

 

Data looks at Spock, then back to the man.

 

DATA

Might we inquire as to your name?

 

MAN

My name is irrelev—

 

SPOCK

Gary Seven.

The man allows the slightest look of surprise to cross his face. Data’s eyebrows knit together in his simulation of a confused look.

GARY SEVEN

We’ve met then.

 

SPOCK

Indeed.

 

GARY SEVEN

I’ll look forward to it. Assuming we get through our current crisis.

Data turns to the older version of himself.

DATA

And you are our future selves?

 

OLDER DATA

In a manner of speaking.

 

DATA

How did you come to be in this time and place?

 

VOICE (v.o.)

Hell, he’s been here even longer than we have.

Data and Spock look to a corner of the room, where a large chair turns to reveal an octogenarian Dr. McCoy.

 

OLDER DATA

Since 1893 to be exact. I was trapped here during a mission on Stardate 45959.1.

 

DATA

I am aware of that mission. Captain Picard was able to lead an away team back in time to rescue me.

 

OLDER DATA

In my version of events, the Captain and the others were unable to return to our time. We were trapped here.

 

OLDER SPOCK

As were we. Following our restoration of the timeline in 1930, we were unable to return through the Guardian of Forever.

 

SPOCK

Then we are from alternate realities.

 

GARY SEVEN

Actually, that’s not quite it. A paradox has been created in which you are both…you.

 

SPOCK

Fascinating.

 

OLDER MCCOY

Fascinating? You know how hard it is to try and not mess up the space time continuum for almost forty years?

 

GARY SEVEN

Once the Guardian began to malfunction, it prevented anyone traveling to the past to return to their own time. You had not yet been affected by it because of your proximity to the Guardian, but eventually you and everything else in the vicinity of the Guardian’s planet will be destroyed by the resulting time waves and this timeline will become your “true” reality.

 

DATA

How were you able to retrieve us from the planet?

 

Older McCoy pours himself a glass of Bourbon.

 

OLDER MCCOY

Show him your magic pen, Gary.

 

GARY SEVEN

(ignoring McCoy)

I was able to pinpoint this small window of time in which we may still travel back through the Guardian, but it will be closing soon.

(turns to Older Spock and Data)

Speaking of which, you gentlemen should be going.

Older Spock and Older Data don their EV helmets as a shining window appears to open in the wall. They step through and disappear.

DATA

What is to become of us?

 

GARY SEVEN

We’re just going to sit tight and hope your counterparts are able to complete their mission. If so, the timeline will be corrected and you’ll never know you were here.

 

SPOCK

And if they are not successful?

 

GARY SEVEN

Then very soon, you and everything else in your version of reality will cease to exist.

INT. ENTERPRISE-D – READY ROOM

Captain Picard sits in his ready room looking at his computer screen.

WORF (over comm.)

Bridge to Captain Picard.

 

PICARD

Go ahead, Lieutenant.

 

WORF (over comm.)

We just received word that Commander Data and Commander Spock have returned through the Guardian. The Hawking is on its way back to the ship.

INT. ENTERPRISE-D – BRIDGE

Riker shifts from the center seat over to his chair as Picard approaches from his ready room.

PICARD

Have they figured out how to repair the Guardian?

 

WORF

They did not say, sir.

 

RIKER

You don’t think they would be coming back if they hadn’t—

 

WORF

Sir…the other Enterprise is charging weapons.

 

PICARD

Hail them.

 

Kirk appears on the viewscreen.

 

PICARD

May I ask what you’re doing, Captain?

 

KIRK (on screen)

I’m not going to sit by and let my ship be destroyed.

PICARD

Let’s discuss this further so that we may—

 

KIRK (on screen)

I’m done talking, Picard. Now that my first officer is safely away from the planet, I’m going to destroy that thing before it destroys us.

 

PICARD

Surely you know I cannot allow you to do that. Mr. Worf, target their weapons array.

 

WORF

Sir, weapons are offline.

 

Picard and Riker exchange surprised looks.

RIKER
Looks like the historical database wasn’t the only system they accessed.

 

PICARD

Captain, please listen to reason.

 

KIRK (on screen)

Reason isn’t going to save the lives of my crew. Mr. Sulu, prepare to fire…

 

PICARD

But the timeline—

KIRK (on screen)
Who’s to say if your version of history is the right one? The problem with the Guardian could have changed everything.

 

GUINAN (v.o.)

He’s right, Captain.

Picard turns around to see Guinan getting off the turbolift. She turns and looks briefly at the officer manning the engineering station—it’s Gary Seven in a Starfleet uniform. She gives him a slight smile and looks back to Picard.

COMPUTER VOICE

Self destruct sequence activated. Warp core breach in ninety seconds…

Older Spock and Older Data exit the turbolift, holding phasers.

GUINAN

His Enterprise isn’t supposed to be destroyed right now…yours is.

 

COMPUTER VOICE

Eighty-five seconds…