Rip Van Winkle (Part Two of Two)

Junora and Jackson brought the holobuffer containing ASHER into the lab and it was soon attached to the lab’s holo-emiiter systems. The lab was isolated from the main computer system, just like sickbay. Because of this, both still had working holo-emitters that hadn’t been effected by the cascade of malfunctions that had crippled the Leviathan.

"Computer, access holobuffer sixty nine." Jackson said.

[Accessing….] The computer replied.

"Can you determine the nature of the holomatrix stored in the buffer." Jackson requested.

[The matrix is an advanced holographic simulation, codenamed ASHER.] The computer replied.

"Activate the holomatrix in holobuffer sixty nine.] Jackson asked.

[Unable to comply. The start-up subroutines have been damaged.] The computer replied.

"Activate the holomatrix self-diagnostics." Jackson stated.

[Unable to comply. The holomatrix has not self-diagnostic capability.] The computer replied.

*A holomatrix with no diagnostic capability. For such a supposedly advanced matrix, why doesn’t it have a diagnostic program* Jackson thought to himself.

"OK." Jackson said. "Computer, activate the holobuffer’s diagnostic program and run on the matrix." Jackson said.

[Diagnostic in progress….] The computer announced. [Diagnostic complete.]

"Computer, can you activate the matrix." Jackson asked.

[Affirmative. The start-up sub-routines have been repaired.] The computer replied.

"Then activate the matrix." Jackson said. "Image only."

*Let’s see what we’re dealing with here.* Jackson thought.

In front of them the image of a male, standing about six-foot tall in a gold Starfleet uniform with a single gold pip appeared in front of them. Although he looked human, his skin was almost white, like an albino and some of his features resembled those of a Vulcan. Jackson thought back to the message they had received on the Bridge, this was the same Ensign ASHER, THIS was the missing pilot.

"Computer. Why are the hologram’s eyes closed ?" Junora enquired curiously.

[The matrix is currently in a state of energy conservation. The holographic image is mimicking that state.] The computer replied.

"You mean that he’s 'asleep' ?." Junora asked.

[Affirmative.] The computer replied.

"Can we wake him ?." Jackson asked.

[Affirmative. The holo matrix can now draw power from our systems. There is no further need for energy conservation.] The computer replied again.

"OK, let’s wake him up." Jackson requested.

Suddenly the still image opened his eyes. Jackson and Junora jumped as they saw the holograms eyes, scarlet and with no pupils staring back at them.

"Where am I ?" The hologram asked in a calm almost Vulcan-like manner as he looking around the lab.

"You’re aboard the USS Leviathan Ensign." Jackson replied, recovering his composure.

"And my ship ?" The hologram asked.

"Is in our shuttlebay." Junora replied. "It’s taken a lot of damage, but it’ s all fixable."

ASHER raised his right arm to his left shoulder, rubbed it then drew his hand back over his chest. To any onlooker it would have appeared that the hologram had just rubbed a sore shoulder. But ASHER was feeling for his comm badge, discovering it wasn’t there. Then he remembered, it was still on the helm console aboard the Interphase. Which could only mean one thing he was back in a holodeck and what’s more, he was trapped here without his comm badge.

ASHER now studied his two ‘captors’ more closely, one was a Human male in a standard Starfleet uniform, an Ensign like himself. The other looked Barjoran, but there was something odd about her. Having a Barjoran aboard didn’t incur that this vessel was from the mirror universe, but the fact that she wasn’t dressed in a Starfleet uniform could.

ASHER couldn’t be sure. He knew of the reports of the abduction of the Leviathan and the Ronin by the Q continuum. He also knew that the Ronin had returned safely, only to be eventually destroyed. The nature and facts about the Ronin’s destruction were never revealed, but it had something to do with a piece of technology known as the Gemini device, which was capable of duplicating objects.

ASHER had studied all of Starfleet records on the Gemini device, initially because of the reports of duplication or mirroring effect. As part of his core programming was to study all things pertaining to the mirror universe, the Gemini device fell into the fringes of that criterion.

He couldn’t be sure exactly where he was, he could still be in his own universe, or the mirror universe. He could even be in yet another universe altogether. For now he had to keep his true nature and abilities hidden, act like a normal hologram. Without his comm badge, that wasn’t going to difficult. If he was safe, then all the better, but if he was in danger then he would have time to try and form a plan, get his comm badge back and escape.

"If you don’t mind me asking, what are your names ?" ASHER enquired.

"I’m Ensign Jackson and this is Junora Loris." Jackson stated.

"Pleased to meet you." ASHER replied. By asking for their names, he was hoping that the female would divulge her rank, but this hadn’t happened. Was she just a passenger and therefore had no rank or was the Ensign far more intelligent than he looked and had deliberately not given away the female’s rank.

*How am I going to get out of this mess ?* ASHER thought to himself. *I know.*

Suddenly ASHER started to fade in and out and his whole skin turned blue.

"It appears my subroutines have been damaged." ASHER said in a mocking voice. "I need to shut down and run a diagnostic."

ASHER didn’t really need to shutdown, he’d just accessed the lab’s systems through his connection with the emitters and increase the spectrum range of the lighting into the ultraviolet range. ASHER knew what effect the UV rays would have on him, just as he knew concentrated magnetic fields affected him in the same way. It made it hard to interact closely with other holograms, but he’d never really been interesting in the inferior class holograms anyway.

"You don’t appear to have any diagnostic capabilities within your programming." Jackson remarked.

*This guy’s good.* ASHER thought. He already knew that his matrix contained no diagnostic code, that was all built into the comm badge.

"Then I’ll require an expert in holo-programming." ASHER replied having to think quickly. "Until then I’LL need to remain off-line."

"Our best expert in holosystems isn’t currently available." Junora remarked. "You could be waiting sometime."

"I have the time to wait." ASHER said. "But I must remain operating at peak efficiency or my holo-matrix degrades. The only way I can achieve that is to go off-line."

Ensign Jackson moved back towards the holographic systems console and shut ASHER down. Then Junora and Ensign Jackson left the lab.

As the door closed behind them, ASHER re-activated himself and walked around to the console.