Chapter Text
Bruce looked at his watch once more, ticking away the seconds, and minutes before he approached the black sleek door, punching the codes directly at the machine right in front of him, hissing at his arrival.
He hadn’t seen the creature in quite a while, not knowing the full extent of what he can do, but he was a warm welcome throughout the entire journey they were taking into space.
Some of his crew members are still scared of the creature. He wouldn’t blame them as this creature supposedly killed a starship, indicating the pure malice and hate as it poses a threat to the ship, its crew members, and mankind entirely.
At the same time Bruce was curious about it, approaching the vicinity of the unknown creature encased with class.
The shape and couture of the creature’s body, feet, hands, face, or even the features of the eyes and lips itself dawned out to be a human, hair waving upright as if it had been falling, and its skin.
While most species they have encountered were mostly cream toned color skin, this creature was completely intriguing. Painting the whole body, even the little cover he has on his shoulders enveloping his body but still, it moved.
Stars, galaxies, cosmos. Those were their daily encounters, if not planets, then the entire Gamma Quadrant. He had seen it all, but he digressed as he was seeing this the first time, as it enveloped the entire star charts, maps, or their starbases entirely.
The patterns were the same, stars shooting in its naked form, galaxies swirling steadily like it was meant to be there and its beautiful mesmerizing eyes that flickered with sadness and despair, yet in some way it was a beautiful sight to see.
Bruce felt like he found the whole galaxy in a human form, completely cased in a box that made him feel like he was on a tour of the whole space, but it didn’t feel like that. Not in the case of where he found the creature.
The communication lapel on his left beeped. He sighed and pushed the lapel.
“I already told Engineering and Medical about this.” Bruce said. “What do you want?”
“Don’t be crass, old man. I’m just tryna help others.” The man on the communique said as he continued. “We’re nowhere near any Starbases. So, we’re fucked.”
Bruce sighed. “Did you send out–” he was cut off when the voice irritably sighed and talked.
“Yeah, yeah. I already sent them out. still no response. ” The voice said. “Gee I wonder why!” He said sarcastically. “Maybe because we’re in the far reaches of the delta, maybe even the gamma quadrant? who knows!”
“Jason, there were–”
“Circumstances, I know.” He paused for a while, and then continued. “Tim and Ensign Damian are still stable. Don’t know when they’ll eventually wake up, but they're still stable.”
“Thank you. Let me know if anything happens.”
“Maybe go to sleep?”
Bruce scoffed. “Sure, later.” he paused for a moment, pushing his lapel once more and ending the conversation.
–<v>–
For the past couple of weeks they were stranded in the Delta Sector of the Federation Star Charts, trying to find something capable of killing an entire Starbase and Starship completely before sending a signal through their communications. It was apparent that Bruce would know the extent before reporting, he was a decorated Captain afterall. It was his duty to the Federation.
Since the Creature’s arrival, the staff and officers alike were trying to communicate with the being, trying everything they could to make it understand anything, but to no avail.
He told the officers that he would handle it completely by himself. Many didn’t like what he proposed, but as he always said; ‘Captain’s orders’
Bruce thought he could communicate with the being, opening the glass door completely for the Creature to move around or to trust him bit by bit. It was a hard, tedious few weeks until he had grasped the idea of what it is.
During Bruce’s breaktime, he would lounge at the creature’s vicinity since it roamed around frequently.
Through the shuttlebays, to the battle bridge, up until their observation lounge, the creature would spend a day entirely over one place and another tomorrow.
The Entity slowly trusted him, which enlightened Bruce completely, but still a long way into trusting someone again.
He suspected that the attack on the Creature’s previous Starship traumatized him, which wouldn’t stay far from the truth.
He needed to know.
Bruce was adamant.
–<v>–
Bruce finally had the report after hours of scouring through the other vessel that was destroyed prior to meeting the Creature. Inside of the report contained the exact Stardate the Creature boarded the counterpart ship.
U.S.S Haley’s logs were scattered, alongside the corpses and malfunctioning Warp Core and Computer Terminals. It was a hull to get the personal logs from the Captain themselves and The Official logs that were nearly terminated, but was saved by the Chief engineer only to be then put into coma because of another malfunction from the Life support on the Starship.
He was entirely grateful, but blamed the near demise of the Chief Engineering and Ensign’s actions entirely in his hands.
Chief medical already had ensured it wasn’t entirely his fault, but he’s the Captain, and responsibilities of a well decorated Captain should’ve taken precautions before.
He sighed, the PADD which was saved entirely because of the people who have risked their lives is now in his hands.
He scoured through the Official Logs, trying to find the exact Stardate the Creature boarded, or even so far as making sense of what happened to the crew, how it happened, why they were on the farside of the Starchards, or why is the Creature even there to begin with.
He spent hours on the Official logs himself, counting down the dates and taking notes on important encounters until he had finally found it, but vaguely interpreting the scenario.
Bruce carefully listened to the audio, as well as the written ones.
The explanation, as it describes, is an unknown entity floating around space. Captain Grayson and Commander Haley took their time to examine the species, even so far as to check their vital signs outside the spaceship with the help of their Chief Medical and Chief Security on a shuttlebay.
To their surprise, the creature was alive, barely as it was struck by something unknown and treated it into their ship for further analysis and inspection. The Captain nor the other Officers found out how it was struck as their ship unceremoniously malfunctioned the moment the creature arrived.
As the logs pertained certain elements to the creature, it didn’t cause the warp core nor anything inside the ship. They were headed on a Starbase 301 to repair the damages they acquired while going back to the Alpha Quadrant.
Once the repairs were fixed, their Starship went onto their Prime directive which was lost to the logs.
The other Official Captain logs were the same as every other; Reporting and Examining. No other mention of the creature once they departed to Starbase 301.
Bruce seemed to notice that every other mention of the creature has been either never heard from again, or erased from the databanks of their Starship. Nonetheless, he scoured through the multitude of audio recordings but nothing stood out. Same logs, same findings, none in which the creature was even brought up.
He was finishing up the entire Official databanks to ensure he didn’t miss anything, taking him weeks to read and listen to their everyday lives when something stood out. He was about to pour himself coffee when suddenly he had heard a particularly sounding voice.
“Robin, stop it!” The audio said. “I’m doing an Official log, you can go find John and play with him.” the woman said, chuckling.
The personal Captain’s log.
It felt like a violation of privacy from someone who’s already dead. Bruce thought to himself, but if this so-called Robin creature was dangerous enough to kill all of the boarding officers and staff on one vessel entirely, he needed to know.
He connected the PADD through his computer and scoured through the Stardate of when the creature was on board. Sure enough, he found only written recordings of the encounter.
Captain’s personal log, stardate 11230.11
The creature was entirely made out of nothing, and everything in this universe. Somehow, this creature.. is too fragile. I had forsaken to never interact with it once we came into contact with the creature a few weeks prior, but through the persistent cries of the Chief Medical, and her woes within being my partner. I had decided to resent all logical explanations of why I needed to stay away and visit the creature.
Once I had laid eyes on the creature, it dawned on me on how beautiful it was. The shimmering stars glittered into his skin, the comfort of its only source of cover through his naked body as it approached the glass that was shielding me and the creature.
Robin was the only thing I muttered.
As his eyes flickered with curiosity, batting his glittered eyelashes like it was telling me something.
Captain’s personal log, stardate 11510.20
Since Robin’s arrival, This starship has been immensely grateful, even so far as to wake up everyday and greet every single one of us through our quarters.
We learned a little more about Robin in these past few months since it boarded.
Turns out that Robin can float through surfaces of every nook and cranny there is to pass through. With much to our surprise, Mary, the Chief Medical, had grown to love the creature, even naming him Robin. I didn’t even tell her that I had already done the naming for her.
I haven’t seen Mary this happy since our departure, ever since… Our son had passed on.
I know the consequences of keeping an unknown entity into a starship, unknowingly putting every passenger and officers altogether.
Just a little more time, Maybe I can compromise.
I wanted to see her smile again.
Captain’s personal log, stardate 11525.12
Our Chief Medical and the Creature Robin are now inseparable for just a couple of weeks prior to his appearance into our lives. Everyone adored Robin entirely, even so far as to become an acting ensign on my behalf.
Much to my surprise, he had grown and lived like any other human in this ship.
Daily routines, daily mockups, learning the Federation languages amongst our peers and other lifeforms, and most of all; had finally been communicating with us through his hands.
It was adorable, to say the least.
One thing that we couldn’t make Robin do is to put on human clothing, which in Robin’s response; had irritated his skin and hated it.
Safe to say that not all of Robin’s human body structure was naked as Mary had convinced Robin that it was our way to say a welcome greeting for every species.
She always had a say about humanity, about our progress and merit through others, how we are more advanced than we look like, even if she’s not one.
Captain’s personal log, stardate 11537.22
Our growing concern about Robin was the amount of species and other worldly life forms that had indicated that Robin was some menace. Even if we explained to them the circumstances and preferably giving the context necessary, he was still shunned by many while others were openly about Robin’s situation.
It became a growing topic for a week before we had decided to Officially register him as one of the Federation Officers, and for the other life forms boarding over our starship that Robin never meant no harm, even if he’s different.
We already accumulated the situations regarding Robin, some are willingly giving him lessons while others are training Robin to adhere to any circumstances given.
We were nearing Starbase 110 when we came across a malfunction that made us detour on Starbase 225 for further inspection of our Warp Core.
Fortunately, Admiral Percival and Admiral Bailey were there, giving us an opportunity to make Robin official to our Officers, with the help of my own as well.
Captain’s personal log, stardate 11640.12
I had a talk with the Admirals at Starbase 225 about Robin and the certain agreement my Officers had, thinking that they would agree to my observation and deduction. To my anticipation, they agreed and asked if they could meet Robin, I agreed.
The moment they had laid eyes on Robin was the moment they disagreed with the notion and reprimanded me, thus giving them the permission to cease my vessel.
Thankfully, My wife had given them a piece of her own mind by telling them that they could not cease my Starship by the Federation Order that was given to her a few weeks before we had taken off.
They were adamant that, in their words. ‘Never should have encountered the being’ and ‘Its species are most dangerous’ and ‘should be kept in a cage, captured and interrogated.‘ which infuriated the Chief Medical and Myself, telling them that every species must be respected as we walked out in that Room with a sour taste in our mouths.
I didn’t know why, I just had the feeling.
A feeling where.. if dismissed, could potentially ruin me as one of a Decorated Captain of the Federation.
‘Being controlled’ is one way to put it.
I told Mary about this feeling, but only told me they were, in her words, 'just dick Admirals who knew nothing but to sit in their chairs and tell orders to others.’
I had a little laugh about it, telling her that it was the same Job description as mine.
‘You work your ass to get on top, while they have money. That isn’t the same.’
I laughed for a while before going to my Quarters to have this Personal Log.
I’m still skeptical of their decision, not entirely sure what this feeling is, but I'll have to research it further.
Captain’s personal log, stardate 11770.60
Grueling months of convincing Admirals and signed paperworks, even so far as to privately investigate Starbase 225, I’ve come to a conclusion.
My suspicious allegations surrounding the Admirals being controlled was entirely true; They were being controlled in some sort of advanced technology the Federation had not seen yet. The entity, whichever it was, wanted Robin’s origin. Which federation planet species it was, was none of our concern because of the inevitability of our departure the moment we had learned the details regarding Robin’s planetoid homeworld.
Robin’s homeworld, in a sense, is everywhere else.
The Entire galaxy.
It echoed through my mind the reasonings and explanations that one Captain can conjure up, but none had given any leeway. Shocked and surprised, these were the two factors upon discovering this fact.
Reports on the investigation indicated that they had caught one a century and a half. An entity like Robin.
The report continued and had given it a name; Nightwing.
Since it was injured, the officers had given this being everything that it could survive with.
Until the Nightwing Incident occurred.
The description of the incident gave it the name. The Admirals’ curiosity got the better of them, giving them a leeway to dissect and observe the origins of Nightwing.
It cried, cried and cried until the entity could cry no more, submitting into dissecting.
Further research posts suggested that their whole body was an entire galaxy. One that I.. won’t repeat in this personal log.
The Report’s most damnest part is the incident that occurred in the same place as we were; Starbase 225.
Its description describes how the nightwing creature destroyed the entire starbase with one swift motion until, some others in the report suggested; ‘dissipated like glittering stars’
Reading this illustrated my frustrations and fears entirely.
We must depart immediately.
For the sake of Robin and My wife.
I will do what I must to protect you both.
Captain’s personal log, stardate 11890.00
I’m sorry.
–<v>–
The moment Bruce had stopped reading the Captain’s personal logs, the entire ship shook, causing a massive wave of Red Alerts blaring through the entire ship, frightening most of the crew members awake.
Bruce immediately took initiative and called for help,
“Security!” He yelled at his lapel, rushing off of his quarters and through the main corridors and into the turbo lift.
“Yeah! I know, Old man. Now get the fuck in the Main Bridge!” The Male voice shouted at the communicator before it turned off.
The ship shook one last time before he had reached the Main bridge to see what was happening, not knowing the full extent of the situation as the lift’s door hissed, the main screen viewer displayed a variety of Starships firing their phasers at them.
“What’s happening?” he asked the Security Chief.
“Fuck if i know. They just showed up, guns blazing.” The Security chief checked his monitor and punched in a few codes. “We’re at 60% Shield Capacity.” He said, grunting as another phaser landed into their shield. “56% and dropping.” He said once more.
Bruce didn’t know what to expect of the Starships gunning over them, or even how they found out their exact coordinates, let alone through the Delta Sector.
“Evasive maneuver.” Bruce said.
“Got it Captain.” The other officer said.
“Brucie...” The Chief of Security said to him. “We’re not gonna last long here.” He pointedly said.
“Can we warp out of here?”
“With the Warp Core damaged?” One of the officers in the helm rhetorically asked. “Not so much.” She continued. “All we can do is Dodge and pray to god–”
“Great! praying to god!” The Security Chief said sarcastically. “Loving this new version of you, Steph.”
“Jason.” Bruce glared at his Chief Security. “Not now.”
“insufferable.” Steph muttered in her voice, continuing to do whatever it takes to dodge three Federation Starships right in front of them.
This felt like a brutal attack from the Federation itself, Bruce thought, and knowing why they were only brutally ambushing their starship.
It took half an hour before the Warp Core blew out of proportion before their Starship finally blew out.
“Captain..” Steph slowly said. “We–”
“Warp core is damaged all too well. Tim is still on Sickbay.” Jason said. “Why are they even here?” He asked.
“Is it because of the Entity, Captain?” Steph asked Bruce.
“Seems so.”
The communique through their comms. Bruce contemplated for a minute or two, thinking of the possibilities of escaping Three Starships right in front of them as the Communication signaling the apparent confrontation.
He couldn't think straight, can’t think of anything, anything, anything, anything–
They were doomed.
At least he thought of, when a powerful wave of air outside their Starship rocked them over once more, and outside of the main viewer was Robin.
The beeping communique stopped entirely, and the Starships focused on one Entity alone. Robin glanced through their own Starship as if to say goodbye. Its body turned slowly, like a man walking through the moon and waved its hands like it was carrying them.
“What is–” Steph tried to ask when her Captain cut her off by rushing through the main viewer.
He tried to call out for the entity himself, but was unsuccessful as Robin hauled their Starship as it put it into a warp drive for a few seconds until they had reached another part of a sector.
it happened all too fast, too soon and too quick for them to realize that it had been seconds since their arrival at..
“Where are we?” Bruce asked Steph.
Steph had finally broken through her stupor and nudged herself through reality, taking a while before she looked shocked once again.
“We’re in.. Starbase 001.” She muttered.
–<v>–