“Captain Kirk is trapped in Smallville,” the giant one said. “In an altered timeline that was my doing. Thanks to Clark Kent.” He grinned with bright red lips. “An easily manipulated Clark Kent once he was on the red K.”
As two figures in black looked up at the tall thin pale figure with the ghoulish face, the giant being looked off as he continued speaking in his raspy voice.
“Captain Kirk is having a dream,” he said in a sing-song voice as he waved his gloved fingers. “Yes, he's dreaming a dream. A sweet lovely little dream. A dream in which he is on trial on Krypton.”
A high-pitched giggle followed. Then, adopting an even more manic look, the white one leaned down, bringing his head close to the figures in black. All his yellow teeth were on display in his broad sinister smile.
“I am the one who planted that dream in his head,” he said. “That means I can have the two of you invade his dream, First, you will attempt to discourage him. If that doesn't work, you kill him. Once he dies in his dream—my dream—he dies in real life.”
The pale giant, dressed all in purple with a green tie, leaned back on his throne. The ornate silver chair was festooned with painted styrofoam clown heads and marble jester figures.
“Once Kirk is eliminated,” he said, “the multiple universes are ours.”
THE TRIAL
“Captain Kirk. You stand before Jor-El and the Krypton High Council on charges of dereliction of duty and gross negligence.”
“Gross negligence on an intergalactic scale,” said one pale floating head.
One pale head bobbed up and down. “Gross negligence!”
“And a cold conscience,” declared the Council's sole woman. “This altered timeline is destabilizing multiple universes. A breakdown in reality is causing all kinds of strange and unusual beings to appear in many unusual places. Even people's dreams!”
James T. Kirk looked up at the giant heads floating in midair against a black background. Three chalk-white men and one wrinkle-faced woman, each one with eyes swallowed up in shadow. They reminded Kirk of the Organians, who looked like aged harmless humanoids but were actually very powerful alien beings. They ended conflict between the Federation and the Klingon Empire by making weapons and equipment on both sides give off extreme intense heat.
What, Kirk wondered, would these “Kryptonians” do to him?
“Please,” Kirk pleaded. “I did what I could, what I was supposed to, my duty.” He remembered the anguish he felt as he held McCoy back while the truck headed toward Edie. In that moment he felt shock and surprise followed by relief. Now he felt worry, anxiety, and dread.
Not just now but every day.
“I can't help it if this Clark Kent intervened,” he said. “That's not my fault.”
“But the way you have responded since then is,” said a puffy-cheeked man with an unusually deep bombastic voice.
“Or rather haven't responded,” the woman said. She also had a deep voice.
“Please,” Kirk said.
“Silence!” the woman thundered.
Kirk's shoulders sagged slightly. This, he decided, would be much worse than the mock trial held by Trelayne, a being who could manipulate matter and bend space while possessing the temperament of an unruly petulant child.
Trelayne might offer “greetings and felicitations” as a non-optional social protocol (as Doctor Sheldon Cooper once described in his book on charm, etiquette, and making friends). (Cooper was one of the great minds of Earth's history along with Shakespeare, Einstein, Xavier, and Zelnon.)
But the powerful Trelayne was not quite as benevolent as the Organians. Trelayne tried to go on the hunt for each member of Kirk's crew.
All 428 of them, Kirk thought. All of them now presumably gone along with the Enterprise.
“Let's review the basic facts of the case,” a voice said. “Doctor McCoy had accidentally overdosed on cordrazene, This made him insane, and he went through a time portal called the Guardian of Forever.”
“Yes, we're familiar with the case,” the woman said in a bored voice. “While in the past, McCoy did something to change history so the Enterprise ceased to exist. And all of Starfleet as well. Presumably.”
“Kirk and his science officer Spock used the Guardian to go back in time,” one man said, equally bored. “Spock discovered a woman named Edith Keeler had to die to return the timeline to normal. Otherwise, Germany would rule the world.”
“Kirk stopped McCoy from saving Edith Keeler.” This Kryptonian man sounded genuinely sad. “At least in the original timeline.”
“Now this 'Clark Kent' has intervened. And Captain Kirk lives in Smallville married to this woman.” This Kryptonian sounded sarcastic and sneering.
The deep-voiced man spoke.
“Captain Kirk, you will now be interrogated by Jor-El.”
A figure stepped out of the darkness. At first, Kirk saw a gray-haired man who was pale and wrinkled like the Council members. This “Jor-El” bowed toward the four heads. He had spiked hair, a prominent nose, and lines on his face. Very sad eyes, too. Like he was carrying the weight of all of Krypton.
That was how he appeared at first. Then Kirk watched as suddenly Jor-El morphed into a tall dark-haired man.
And the clothing changed. The clothes of old Jor-El had consisted of a white robe with a black “S” encased in a shield. This young Jor-El wore all black: shirt, pants, long coat. The encased “S” on his chest was white.
Kirk knew the face.
“Clark Kent,” he whispered in shock. The former starship captain lunged forward but swirling concentric circles forming a diagonal “X” pattern held him back.
The “S” man spoke.
“Members of the High Council,” he said. “I am prepared to demonstrate James T. Kirk is guilty on all charges. A Starfleet captain has a responsbility to a higher calling.” Jor-El whirled and faced his opponent. “But not you. The great Captain Kirk can do whatever he wants!” .
As Kirk held up open palms to the Council heads in a beseeching gesture, Jor-El pointed an accusing finger.
“Captain Kirk. You knew that if Edith Keeler did not die, Germany would rule the world, isn't that correct?”
“Germany is not ruling the world,” Kirk insisted sharply. “I fought in World War Twoi. I helped prevent that.” Kirk stabbed the witness stand with his finger.
“Yes, Captain Kirk,” Jor-El scoffed. “By doing what you've always done: ignoring regulations.” With the circles gone, Jor-El leaned on the stand, towering over Kirk. “And you influenced others to do the same, did you not?”
When Jor-El glared, Kirk was reminded of his sinister other self when a transporter accident split him in two. How nice to be in Smallville where the residents did not experience double lives. And no one got split in two.
And there were no harsh Kryptonians around.
Jor-El looked annoyed. “Captain Kirk, did you encourage others to ignore regulations?”
“We won the war!” Kirk shouted, pounding his fist on the stand.
“Ah, so you may do whatever you want then! What about this other war, Captain Kirk?” Jor-El shouted back, though he had his back to Kirk. His soaring majestic voice bounced off ice-covered walls. “What about the war to restore a timeline? What are you doing?”
“What I can!”
“You won the war, you say!” Jor-El waved his hand at the ice-covered ceiling. “But isn't it true that the world is now ruled over by this 'United Nations?' Which grew out of the peace movement your wife started. And isn't Earth in danger of being ruled over by a great global dictator?”
Nervously Kirk rubbed his hands together. “Yes...I don't know.”
Finger pointed, Jor-El marched stridently toward him. “Is it not true that Starfleet is in danger of not existing?”
“Yes,” Kirk said meekly. “But...”
Waving his hand dismissively (or was it triumphantly?), Jor-El marched in front of the floating heads. “And so you thought that you would just get married to the woman you love. One of the many women you have loved. Was that it, Captain Kirk?”
“It's not that simple,” Kirk said impotently. “I had the sense that somehow this, too, would work out for good.”
“Oh, how convenient that your happiness should work out for the greater good.,” Jor-El said with mock triumphalism. “'Uhura and Scotty are missing. And your two men from security. Whereabouts unknown. And you're just living in wedded bliss.” He shook his head. “Why, Captain Kirk, should you live happily ever after with an entire timeline in danger and millions of lives at stake? Multiple universes even!”
“What was I supposed to do?” Kirk asked. “Kill her? The way Spock wanted? That would have made things worse. I felt it. I sensed it. We all would have changed in terrible ways.”
The formerly strident Jor-El gave Kirk an uncertain hesitant look. “I see,” he said. Then, hands behind his back, Jor-El casually paced before the Council for several moments in silence.
Finally, the “S” man spoke again.
“Captain Kirk, think on this: you shall not interfere in the history of Earth.” Jor-El stabbed the air with his finger again and again as he spoke. “Why not be more like your friend Spock? Get rid of attachments to this new timeline. Reduce your impact on the timeline. Do it all for the greater good.”
“I'm doing what I can,” Kirk insisted.
“Are you, Captain Kirk?” the now strutting Jor-El retorted. “By being a football coach at Smallville High? By influencing hundreds of young people and polluting the timeline even more?” Fists clenched, he turned toward the captain. “What are you really doing to change the timeline back? Do you even really want to change it?”
“Of course I do!”
“But if you do, your wife is gone. She dies!”
“I know!”
“Captain Kirk, do you even care if this timeline becomes permanent?”
“Yes!”
“No!” Jor-El roared. “Admit it, Captain Kirk. You are a selfish man concerned with your own happiness and pleasure. More than your duty to Starfleet. Or the millions of lives at stake! Or the many universes in danger!”
Now Kirk pounded both fists on the witness stand. “That's not true!”
Jor-El practically charged toward him. “Then why aren't you working every moment to change the timeline back?”
“I'm only human!” Kirk cried. “I can only do so much!”
“Yes, of course,” Jor-El sneered, throwing his hands up. “But what about this? Earth is run by dictators. Oh, low-level dictators perhaps. But dictators nonetheless. You know that. Is that why you and your wife have not adopted children?”
Kirk's eyes were full of fire. “You leave that out of this!”
“I guess it's just fortunate your wife couldn't have children,” Jor-El said with mock boredom. “Would you want children ruled over by the U-N's tin-plated dictators?”
'STOP IT!” Kirk roared. He grabbed Jor-El by the neck but the Kryptonian showed no reaction. Instead, he casually removed the captain's hands from his neck.
“No, Captain Kirk,” he said grimly. He was no longer the Clark Kent duplicate but the gray-haired man once again. “You stop it. Admit it. You're doing nothing.”
Kirk spoke through gritted teeth. “What do you want from me? I don't have a starship!”
Crossing his arms, Jor-El gave him a scolding look. “Starship or no starship you can do much more. 'Captain.'”
“I'm...trying.”
Jor-El thrust his face into Kirk's. “Trying, nothing! Do! Or do not! There is no try!” He stabbed the cold air with his finger. “I want you to do your duty, Captain Kirk.”
“I'm not in the captain's chair any more!” Though he banged his fist on the witness stand, Kirk looked tearful and wounded.
“You could do much more. If you had the will!” Jor-El thundered away as he strode across the chamber. “Do you have the will, Captain Kirk?”
“I do!” Kirk yelled as he raised clenched fists. “And somehow this will all work out all right. I can't explain it. I just know it.”
“Ah, yes,” Jor-El said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “One of your famous hunches. So we should just place millions of lives in jeopardy based on your hunch!”
“Yes! That's what I do!” Kirk shouted. “I make command decisions! And what happened was not my fault. It was Clark Kent!”
For a moment, Jor-El looked uneasy then he made a face. “Huh,” he grunted.
“You don't understand!” Kirk tried to leave the witness stand but the circles appeared again. From inside the circles, Kirk held his hands up as he pleaded.
“No matter what I do,” Kirk said tearfully. “No matter what I do, I lose. If I keep my wife, I lose Starfleet. But if I find a way to get Starfleet back, she dies.”
Kirk bowed his head. The Kryptonians simply scowled and glared.
“Precisely,” Jor-El said. “You have too much invested. Too much at stake.”
As Kirk looked up, he made no eye contact. “Why can't I be with her? For now.”
“You have a duty, Captain. To command!”
“I'm not in command!” Kirk yelled.
As Kirk looked away, silence filled the chamber.
Finally, Jor-El spoke.
“No more needs to be said.” Jor-El looked up at the four heads. “What say you, Council members?”
One after another they said it: “Guilty.” The word reverberated throughout the icy chamber and then echoed in Kirk's mind.
“Guilty.....guilty....guilty.”
“Could I say something?”
A petite blonde stepped out of a white wall, almost like she was a ghost. If she was, she was a ghost dressed in a blue Starfleet uniform.
“Chloe Sullivan for the defense, Your Honor.” Chloe's smile twitched slightly. “Sorry. I mean, your Honors.”
“This is most unprecedented,” the woman said.
“This is a closed hearing,” one man said pointedly.
“Still, we have no other defense lawyer,” the deep-voiced man said.
The remaining man nodded his pale head. “Proceed.”
Wearing a slight grin, Chloe nodded in return. “Yeah, Johnnie Cochran wasn't available,” she said as she opened her briefcase. “So here's the thing: Captain Kirk has been on Earth for fifteen years now, in Smallville for nine years.”
“We are aware,” the woman said in a bored voice.
“Well aware,” said the man with the deep voice.
“Is it too much to ask that Captain Kirk have this woman to support him in a very difficult situation?”
“How does that help restore the timeline?” asked one Kryptonian, sounding much like the cartoon dog Droopy.
Hearing the odd voice, Chloe at first blinked in confusion then continued on. “With Edie at his side, offering encouragement and support, Captain Kirk is more likely to find a way to restore the timeline to normal. Especially if it's going to take years..” She walked before the floating heads. “I'm not saying Spock's way of doing things is wrong. Both of them doing things together in different ways may lead to the solution.”
While the four heads nodded silently, Jor-El looked contemplative as he sat on a stone bench.
Chloe nodded in return. “I'd like to call to the stand Cosmic Jonathan Kent.”
A tall blond-haired man entered. “Hello, Council members. Jor-El.” Cosmic Jonathan smiled as he nodded cordially. “I'm a cosmic being at Cosmic Medical where we treat Heroes who have been through great trauma. Right now I'm taking the form of Jonathan Kent because we're expecting Clark Kent at any moment. We're going to help him through what he's been through.”
Cosmic Jonathan paused briefly. “Chloe is absolutely right. Captain Kirk's been to Cosmic Medical quite a few times to recover from some pretty awful stuff. While he's going through this altered timeline business, he's going to need all the help he can get.” His eyes squinted as he offered a big white smile. “I think Edie can help in that.”
“My lord will not allow that,” someone said. A hooded figure entered. Under his black hood, he had a gnarled face and red eyes.
“The Emperor from 'Star Wars?'” Chloe said. “What are you doing here?”
The Emperor raised his hands and fired blue electricity at them. Both Chloe and Cosmic Jonathan lay on the floor.
Doctor Leonard McCoy suddenly appeared and knelt next to Cosmic Jonathan. After a brief tricorder reading, he looked up and gave his solemn pronouncement.
“He's dead, Jim.”
Cosmic Jonathan sat up and smiled. “No, not actually, doctor. Nice try, though, Emperor.” He and Chloe both vanished.
The red eyes of this “Emperor” were focused on the captain. “I want you to stop what you're doing, Jim Kirk. Stop trying to fix the timeline. Stop having a positive influence on young people.”
Kirk thought for a moment. Why was some evil force trying to discourage him, stop him? It must be that his work with young people, his efforts to correct time, even his marriage to Edie: all these things were somehow important. They mattered. He mattered, starship captain or not.
What he was doing wasn't for nothing. Somehow it would all work out. Just like he said. Like he always believed.
“Give up,” t he Emperor said.
“I won't,” Kirk said defiantly.
A glowing buzzing saber suddenly appeared in the captain's hand, and Kirk looked up to see a tall figure in a black helmet. Kirk heard some kind of breathing noise as this tall figure in black held a glowing red saber.
The Emperor spoke. “Then, Jim Kirk, you....will....die.”
In that moment, Kirk thought how Sulu, his navigator/fencing expert, would be a lot better at this. The figure in the black helmet raised his red saber.
“Ah ah ah,” someone said. “No, no, no.”
Au automatic weapon fired, and the dark-helmeted figure collapsed, He lay on the floor, rasping and groaning, smoke rising from his black armor.
“Ha!” said a man with white sideburns as he kept his weapon on the dark figure. “Take that, Darth Vader!”
From the witness stand, Kirk raised his hands. “Who are you?” he asked.
Bold white block letters suddenly appeared identifying each one of the new arrivals.
“We're S-G-one, sir,” Major Samantha Carter said with a nod as she held her weapon off to the side.
“The time-traveling S-G-one,” Colonel Jack O'Neill clarified, holding up a finger.
“And apparently we invade people's dreams now,” Daniel Jackson said, looking around uncertainly.
An invisible orchestra played triumphant music as the white block letters identified the one called simply “Teal'c.”
“You shall cease your efforts.” Teal'c lifted the Emperor above his head and tossed him into a chasm-tunnel. There the Emperor plummeted until he vanished in a bright blue explosion.
“Nice work, Teal'c,” O'Neill said.
Teal'c responded with a slight bow. “I have seen 'Star Wars' seven times.”
“Uh, guys?” Daniel said. “Anyone else find this a little strange?”
Carter approached the witness stand. “Don't worry, Captain Kirk,” she said with big bright eyes and a slight smile. “You're safe now.”
Wait, Kirk thought. They seem familiar. We met before somewhere. I'm sure of it. But where?
Behind the witness stand, Sam Winchester looked around nervously. “What are we doing here?” As music played, he looked up at the ceiling and made a face. “And why are they playing the theme from 'X-Files?'”
“Just go with it, Sam,” Dean Winchester whispered. He looked off to his right and winked. “Hey, Major Carter. How you doing?”
With a kind of half-frown, half-grin, Carter shook her head.
Behind the Winchesters, Leonard Hofstadter had a look of both confusion and mild annoyance.
“Guys?” he said. “Someone want to explain to me why we're inside Captain Kirk's dream?”
“And why is Captain Kirk on Krypton?” Howard Wolowitz asked. Sheepishly, he waved to the four floating heads. “Hello again, Council members.”
Squinting through dark thick-framed Clark-Kent-glasses, Leonard made a face. “How do you know the Krytpon High Council?”
Clasping his belt buckle, Howard leaned in slightly toward Leonard. “Got in a fight with Supergirl once,” he mumbled quietly. “Like that time I tried to kiss Penny..” In response, Leonard made a face.
Due to the presence of Samantha Carter, Raj Koothrappali was unable to speak. Though he did have a great big smile all across his dark brown face..
“So again,” Leonard said. “What are we doing in Captain Kirk's dream?”
The tall pale thin Sheldon Cooper had black hair much like that of Astro Boy. His head bobbed slightly when he talked.
“Don't look at me,” he said in a voice that had a slight nails-on-chalkboard quality. “I don't have the Map. He does.”
Sheldon gestured to the red-haired freckle-faced Archie Andrews who mumbled phrases as if he were the insane Nelson Kent before putting on the Doctor Fate helmet once again.
“Captain Kirk,” Archie said. “Jack O'Neill...S-G-one...time-traveling S-G-one....guys from 'The Big Bang Theory'....Frank Castle Punisher....Team MacGyver.”
“Can I shoot someone?” Frank Castle the Punisher asked.
“Let's hope Captain Kirk wakes up soon,” Angus MacGyver said. “We've got more space-time tunnels to connect.”
As Jor-El sat on his stone bench looking much like the statue “The Thinker,” Sheldon walked over to him. “That's my spot,” he said in his slight East Texas accent.
“Daniel?” O'Neill said. “Want to explain to me again why MacGyver and I both look like Richard Dean Anderson?”
“Sure, Jack,” Daniel said with a tone that was both bored and friendly. “Across alternate worlds and alternate timelines there are currents or streams that imbue people with the same qualities. People who have similar heroic qualities can also have similar physical qualities. So it is with you, MacGyver, and your actor look-a-like. And when Richard Dean Anderson couldn't be a Hero in his world, he became an actor who played Heroes like you and our friend Angus.”
“Angus,” O'Neill said. “I mean, come on. What kind of name is Angus?” The colonel made a face. “And what's with the mullet?”
“Years from now our hairstyles may look weird,” Daniel said, rubbing his own hair with eyebrows up.
“It's true, sir,” Carter said.
O'Neill frowned. “We're not all going to be bald like Lex Luthor, are we?” He turned to Teal'c. “No offense there, Teal'c old buddy.”
Teal'c responded by raising an eyebrow. The look on his face might be called a frown except he always looked that way.
“We might,” Daniel said. “If we can't find Clark, then the Smallville/'Star Trek' timeline becomes permanent and Lex takes over the world. Oh, plus that thing where multiple universes get destroyed.”
O'Neill gave Daniel a look. “Thanks, Daniel. I always enjoy these talks of ours. They always bring me so much joy and such peace of mind.”
A fully activiated Stargate suddenly appeared in the room. Or maybe it had always been there. O'Neill and the others began walking up the ramp.
“Captain Kirk,” O'Neill said. “Nice seeing you again, buddy. But now like Ryan Seacrest might say, 'Time-traveling S-G-one is out!'”
“Sir, you really shouldn't tell him about the future,” Carter said.
“Come on, Carter. What could happen? Captain Kirk's going to win 'American Idol?'” He shook his head. “Not likely. I've heard Shatner sing.”
As the others walked ahead, O'Neill stopped, turned to Kirk, and lifted two fingers to his cap in a light salute. “See ya.”
“As we have seen you before,” Teal'c said.
“Yeah, nice seeing you again,” Carter said with a light smile.
“And we'll see you again later,” Daniel said casually without even looking back.
It's true, Kirk thought. We have met before.
From the witness stand, Kirk held up open palms.
“Wait,” he said. “When did we meet before?. Wait!”
One other figure also walked up the ramp. This tall dark-haired man looked back at O'Neill and smiled.
Clark Kent.
“I'll see you soon,” Clark said. “In Smallville. In your time.”
Stunned and shocked—much as he had been just before Edie almost died—Kirk only stared.
Looking angry and grim, his face lined and pale, Jor-El marched toward Kirk. “So you see, Captain Kirk, you have no real interest in restoring the timeline.”
“No!” Kirk shouted. “Wait!” He reached out his hand toward Clark and the Stargate.
“Too late,” Jor-El said. “You hesitated.” He bowed his head. “You have truly lost your ability to command. Even to command yourself.”
“No! Wait!” Kirk began running up the ramp but it disappeared, accompanied by a “bo-ing” noise with an echo.
Kirk fell through a great white void, turning into a black-and-white negative image that flashed on and offer.
“Wait!” he shouted as he sailed through the void..
“Wait!” Kirk shouted as he sat up in bed.
Covered in sweat, Kirk looked around. Edie was gone. Off volunteering for Mobile Meals and then doing a book signing in Metropolis.
In a way, Kirk was relieved she was gone. Things he said in his sleep ended up in her books.
Groaning, Kirk held his head as he placed his bare feet on the floor.
This used to happen on the Enterprise, too.
Bad dreams and nightmares.
Some were not that serious. In one dream, he was simply covered up to his chest in tribbles.
Other times he had nightmares in which he failed in his ability to command: he made some wrong move in his gambit against the Romulan commander, the Gorn or some other menace.
In Smallville, the nightmares might not be frequent but they were intense.
He was glad Edie was unaware of the nightmares. Just like he was glad Edie was unaware of the way he held Bones back before Clark Kent saved her.
But what could he have done differently in “that moment?”
Nothing. He couldn't have seen Clark Kent intervening the way he did. He couldn't have stopped him.
What could he do now?
He honestly did not know.
What about this “Krypton?” Silently, Kirk laughed. Even if this “Krypton” actually existed, man would not land on the moon until 1969. And for decades after that any deep space flights would be unmanned.
Wiping his eyes, Kirk sighed. It wasn't like any Kryptonians would land in Smallville he could hitch a ride with. Nor was it likely some portal would open up between their two worlds.
But there was one thing he could do.
He could join Spock in his quest for the Stones of Power.
So far Spock had been unsuccessful in his trips to China and Egypt.
But, Kirk thought, maybe if he joined Spock on his trip to South America and the Mayan temple, the two of them together might be successful.
Besides, he and Edie were financing Spock's trips. Kirk had told his wife it was part of Spock's new calling as an archaeologist.
Kind of interesting. Factory worker in Metropolis most days. Adventurer while on vacation.
Since Kirk was paying the bills with the money from Edie's books, it seemed only fair he go with Spock.
It would be like old times.
Kirk rose to begin his day. He had made his decision.
JUST OUTSIDE NORMAL TIME AND SPACE
In the Monitor Room of Cosmic Home Base, the Cosmic Wall of Weird sat right next to the desk of Cosmic Daniel Jackson where he sat writing his latest update. .
A petite blonde, who looked exactly like our Miss Sullivan, walked into the room.
“Hey, Daniel. Looks like we found Clark.” Cosmic Chloe Sullivan held out a newspaper. “Check out this 'Wall of Weird' story in the Daily Planet.”
Cosmic Daniel Jackson squint-frowned as he scanned the headline. “'Belle Reve's First Patient Comes Out of Coma.'”
“Yeah, he's been there for eight years.”
Cosmic Daniel regular-frowned. “How could he be in Belle Reve for eight years and no one notice?”
“Apparently shortly after he arrived he slipped into a coma.”
“Oh,” C-Daniel said as he raised his eyebrows. “I guess that does happen to people from Smallville.”
C-Chloe nodded. “Yeah, well, Clark was a unique case. Before he went into his coma, he told his doctor how the Joker tried to turn him into Doomsday, the Green Goblin, and the Hulk.” She pointed to the article. “And get this: his arms and face were covered with green and gray splotches.”
“That doesn't sound good,” C-Daniel said slowly and carefully.
“Yeah. My guess is he's going to need a lot of Rest before he can change the timeline back.”
“Sounds like it,” C-Daniel said. “We'll send some Cosmic Men in Black to take him to Cosmic Medical. But it looks like this crisis will last a while.”
“Think so?”
“Yeah.” C-Daniel sighed. “Afraid so, Chloe.”
Posted: 28 Apr 2012 04:57
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Join Date: May 2006
TRANSCRIPT OF LIVE CHAT BETWEEN COSMIC CHLOE AND COSMIC DANIEL
(from when the search for Clark was still ongoing)
CHLOE: Yeah, Daniel, I noticed in your report you've got the date of Edith Keeler's death as October 7, 1939 (in the reality where Clark didn't save her, obviously). But I watched “The City on the Edge of Forever,” and Kirk and Spock and McCoy met her back in 1930.
DANIEL: TV script writers don't always get things right. They either misinterpret the visions they get from other worlds or they deliberately change things for a smoother story. '
A TV series can't always be taken as historically accurate. Consider, for example, if the characters from “Smallville,” the original “Star Trek,” and “Stargate” all live in the same universe on the same timeline their histories must intertwine in ways we don't hear about on the TV series.
When people on Earth Prime watch a TV series, characters like Chloe and Clark and Jack O'Neill will make “Star Trek” references.
Obviously Chloe and Clark and Jack don't do that on Prime Earth because there is no “Star Trek” TV series there. That's because “Star Trek” actually exists in the future. So obviously it wouldn't make sense for someone in the 1960's to create a show about events that will actually happen hundreds of years later.
--So if Captain Kirk makes it to the 1960's, no one in Smallville will be asking why he'd like the guy on the TV show.
--Right. But since timelines are so fluid, who knows if he'll make it? Especially with You-Know-Who messing up reality so bad.
--Yeah, I'm getting reports our ultra-powerful clown prince is organizing armies of Klingons, Jaffa, Borg, Wraith, and even the Ori to move through the Guardian of Forever to invade Earth's past. As Lionel Luthor would say, we've got to keep our eye on the ball.
--Hate to admit it but Lionel's right, Chloe. What Jack calls “the Big Honkin' Breakdown in Reality” is a big deal.
--Yeah, it just affects all time and space, that's all.
--For now let's focus on a little Background.
Since characters on Prime Earth aren't exactly the way they are on TV on Earth Prime, it shouldn't be surprising other details might be different.
Even though “The City on the Edge of Forever” aired in Season One of “Star Trek,” if it accurately followed the “real” timeline (or Prime Universe timeline) it would take place at the end of Season Three.
After Kirk went through three years of the Enterprise's five year-year mission, the incident with Edith Keeler was the reason he almost left Starfleet.
--He was probably very vulnerable then.
--Yeah, Chloe, he was.
The good news is while he's in Smallville he has access to all the experiences he had in three seasons of “Star Trek.” That could be helpful to him as he tries to find a way out of the altered timeline.
--If he can, that will help all of us. But what about Edie?
--Edith Keeler Kirk has her own strengths. She was running the 21st Street Mission—later called the 21st Century Mission—while organizing her worldwide peace movement.
Just like Spock mentions in “City on the Edge of Forever,” Edith Keeler met with President Roosevelt on Feb. 23, 1936.
When she died in that traffic accident, the movement fell apart.
But when Clark saved her, the peace movement became so strong its members formed the United Nations and were able to dictate to the Allies how to fight the war. After the Big War, they disarmed America, banned smoking worldwide, and started telling everyone how to talk, act, and think.
--How'd it happen so fast?
--It may seem incredible but it was actually engineered by the Aschen with some Goa'uld in high positions. All sleeper agents.
--So Germany doesn't rule the world. But these tin-plated dictators sure do.
--Yeah, thanks to the Aschen.
----The Aschen. You mean those guys who visit other planets and give the people an anti-aging vaccine. Only what it really does it dramatically lower the birth rate.
--Yeah, Chloe, that's the Aschen, all right. And once they give out their vaccine, there's hardly anyone left so they basically have the planet to themselves. In another reality they tried to do it to Earth. Until SG-1, in the year 2010, sent a message back in time to prevent contact with the Aschen.
--Time travel saves us again. The sad thing is to change this timeline back Edith Keeler will have to die on October 7, 1939.
--Definitely very sad. But multiple universes are at stake here.
--Wait. October 7, 1939. That's exactly fifty years before the meteor shower. Any significance to that date?
--I'm no believer in astrology. But sometimes events of great personal and historical significance fall on the same date.
In this case, October 7th is when Edith Keeler dies and also when the meteor shower takes place. And Clark arrives, of course.
--Of course! But if SG-1 can't take Clark back to that day and undo that moment, Kirk and Spock aren't just stuck. We're all in trouble. But You-Know-Who is really interfering in our communication. No word on Clark yet.
--Yeah, it's a tough situation, to say the least. We just need to do what we can, Chloe.
--Interesting, though, that what happens on a TV series isn't always what happens in “real life.” Whatever “real” is. Especially now.
--Yeah, Chloe. An interesting example is Sheldon Cooper.
On the TV series “The Big Bang Theory,” Sheldon is a big fan of Spock. But on Prime Earth he can only be a fan of a Spock-like character on a TV show that's like “Star Trek.”
In this altered timeline, Sheldon is a fan of the Spock-like character created by Edie and Cassie. But in both timelines, he had an imaginary friend named Spock, exactly like the one in the “real” Starfleet in the Prime Universe.
That's because Sheldon, like other people, is a “sensitive,” someone who can tune in to alternate timelines and alternate worlds.
--Just like SuperBear on the Smallville Message Board.
--Yes. Just like SuperBear and Sheldon both.
Ironicallly, Sheldon's friends Leonard, Raj, Howard, and Penny would argue that Sheldon is insensitive. But he's still a sensitive who can tune in to other worlds. It's one reason he's a great physicist.
And of course Sheldon and the guys don't talk about the comic book characters on Prime Earth like Superman, Batman, or Spider-Man. They talk about Warrior Angel and all his friends. Though once the Flash goes public for real, Sheldon will be a big fan of the “real” Flash.
--Interesting. But let's not forget this big crisis.
--Who could? But sometimes you need to take your mind off the heavy stuff.
--Yeah. On that note, Daniel: I've noticed when you write your reports about the altered timeline, you play the theme from “Star Trek.” Isn't that going a bit too far?
--I don't think so. I play the themes from “Smallville,” “Stargate SG-1,” and Stargate Atlantis,” too. Why does it matter, Chloe?
--You're right. Never mind. We've got bigger stories to watch.
Here's the biggest story of all (so far): with Captain Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Edith “Edie” Keeler Kirk living in Smallville, we could call this “Smallville on the Edge of Forever.”
--Yeah, we could. But I'm not going to.
Posted: 28 Apr 2012 22:12
Administrator Currently Offline
Posts: 3305
Join Date: May 2006
I tried to find some pics of Kirk and Jor-el that matched for this story, but I just had to throw something together real quick. I need to keep looking though I'd like to do a good mix for this one.
TRANSCRIPT OF LIVE CHAT BETWEEN COSMIC CHLOE AND COSMIC DANIEL
NEW SUBJECT: PRIME EARTH TWO
COSMIC CHLOE: Hey, Daniel. Still suffering a bit of a brain-drain from all the Joker's mental interference. Not as bad as a Brainiac download, of course. But I could still use a refresher course.
Some of the new arrivals are confused because those guys from “The Big Bang Theory” on Team MacGyver seem to know a lot about “Star Trek” and all the DC and Marvel superheroes.
But I thought people from Prime Earth didn't have “Star Trek” or those superheroes. At least not in comic book form.
COSMIC DANIEL: Hey, Chloe.
This might help clear things up. There's Prime Earth but there's also Prime Earth Two.
On Prime Earth characters from TV shows and comic books on other worlds actually exist. But they aren't exactly lthe way they are on the shows or in the comic books. Just like the history of Clark Kent on “Smallville” doesn't always match what's been in past comic books on other worlds.
--Right. Like you said before, the characters on “Smallville” wouldn't make “Star Trek” references because they don't have a “Star Trek” TV show on their world.
--And characters from other TV shows may have really big differences.
On Prime Earth, the guys from “The Big Bang Theory”--Leonard, Sheldon, Howard, and Raj—talk about Warrior Angel and his friends.
But there's also Sam Beckett. On the TV series “Quantum Leap” Sam Beckett can only leap into people who exist within his lifetime. And he can't control who he leaps into.
The Sam Beckett from Prime Earth is different. He can leap into anyone in time and space.
--Whoa. How?
--Lots of practice, Chloe.
Unlike the Sam Beckett on Prime Earth Two, the other Beckett controls his ability. He can leap into anyone just by thinking about the person.
---So he'd be like some meteor freaks in Smallville. Tina Greer could take the form of any person she wanted by thinking about that person. And Alicia Baker could teleport faster than Captain Kirk and go anywhere just by thinking about the place.
--Yeah, except the Chloe on Prime Earth would mention Captain Carter from the “Trek to the Stars” TV series.
--Whoa. “Trek to the Stars?” Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.
But what's Prime Earth Two?
---Prime Earth Two is where characters from TV shows on other worlds actually exist and they are exactly the way they are on the TV series. Leonard, Sheldon, Raj, and Howard are all from Prime Earth Two.
--So the guys from “Big Bang” know “Star Trek” and they know comic book superheroes. Superman, Spider-Man, Batman, Wolverine, whoever.
--It's the same for SG-1. They're also from Prime Earth Two. So you'll hear Jack making “Star Trek” references from time to time.
Hope that clears things up.
--Yeah, thanks. What would be some good episodes for us to watch?”
--Here's a few good ones..
Smallville “Hourglass” and “Perry”
Stargate SG-1 “1969” and “Window of Opportunity”
Star Trek: The Original Series “Mirror, Mirror” and “The City on the Edge of Forever”
Don't work too hard, Chloe. We want you to get better.
