Trek This!

By Robert Jeschonek

Seven stars of a science fiction universe warp through twisted changes on the final frontier. Driven by forces they can't understand, the magnificent spacefaring Seven charge through bizarre transformations and battles beyond imagining. Each victory leads to fresh conflict, but the truth remains out of reach. With no memories of the past, how can the Seven recall their true identities? Only a mischievous, all-powerful being from beyond the stars seems to hold the answers. But will his amazing revelations open the gateway to illumination...or death? The power of the Seven may hold the ultimate key to an uncharted destiny that lies beyond the bounds of space, time, and reality itself. Within this destiny waits a tribute to all generations of treks past and future and the dreamers who bring them to life in our imaginations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Jeschonek
• Release date: Dec 3, 2018
• ISBN: 9781452350424

Robert Jeschonek

Robert Jeschonek is an award-winning writer whose fiction, essays, articles, comic books, and podcasts have been published around the world. According to fantasy and science fiction luminary Mike Resnick, Robert "sees the world like no one else sees it, and makes incredibly witty, incisive stories out of that skewed worldview."Robert's young adult urban fantasy novel, MY FAVORITE BAND DOES NOT EXIST, is due in 2011 from Clarion Books, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. A collection of his fantasy and science fiction stories, MAD SCIENTIST MEETS CANNIBAL, is available from PS Publishing in England. Robert has written for POSTSCRIPTS, ESCAPE POD, DRABBLECAST, SPACE AND TIME, PODCASTLE, DAW Books anthologies, and many other publications.His credits include STAR TREK fiction published by Pocket Books. His work appeared in three volumes of STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS, winning the grand prize in Volume VI. He was also nominated for the British Fantasy Award for his story, "Fear of Rain." His story "One Awake In All the World" was called out in a Publishers Weekly starred review of the anthology DESTINATION FUTURE in 2010.His comic book work has appeared in JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA 80-PAGE GIANT 2010 #1 from DC Comics. He has also scripted stories for various indie comics, including WAR from Saddle Tramp Press and DEAD BY DAWN QUARTERLY and COMMERCIAL SUICIDE in the UK.Jeschonek is based in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. His website, www.robertjeschonek.com, features fresh daily updates on the world of writing and other alternate realities.

Book preview

Trek This

TREK THIS

TWO TREK TALES

ROBERT JESCHONEK

Blastoff Books

CONTENTS

Also by Robert Jeschonek

Seven Stars

Star Trick: The Slow-Motion Picture

About the Author

Special Preview: Universal Language

TREK THIS

Copyright © 2023 by Robert Jeschonek

http://bobscribe.com

Cover Art Copyright © 2023 by Ben Baldwin

www.benbaldwin.co.uk

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved by the author.

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Published by Blastoff Books

An Imprint of Pie Press

411 Chancellor Street

Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15904

www.piepresspublishing.com

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ALSO BY ROBERT JESCHONEK

A Grain from a Balance: A Trek Screenplay

Sticks and Stones: A Trek Novel

Trek Fail

Trek Off!

Trek You

Vendetta: A Trek Screenplay

SEVEN STARS

"I have a creation in mind. Baldy smiled as he forced Red's sword back with his own. The creation of a bloody stump where thy head 'twas once affixed."

Red shook as she struggled to press back Baldy's blade. "Thou wilt not takest my head nor my kingdom! Mine knights shall repel thy foul rebellion!"

Red tossed her fiery scarlet tresses and gazed across the castle's throne room. Her knights, as expected, fought Baldy's troops with savage grace, easily triumphing over superior numbers.

Baldy leaned forward, torchlight gleaming on his hairless scalp. "Thy knights wilt beg to surrender once my dragon gets done with them!"

Dragon? said Red.

When Baldy laughed, his sonorous voice boomed through the throne room. Have a look, thou fallen queen! E'en now, he charges forth upon the battleground!

Suddenly, a new figure burst into the chamber, spinning a huge, curved blade in one hand and a blazing torch in the other. Within seconds, he had Sir Beardnik and Sir Mannequin both at bay, scrambling to fend off his blindingly fast assault of steel and flame.

He breathes fire, does he not? Baldy said with a chuckle. "He couldst massacre any traditional dragon any day of the week."

As Red watched, Dragon roared and struck a mighty blow with his sword against Sir Beardnik, driving him to the floor. At the same time, Dragon lunged at Sir Mannequin with the flaming torch, barely missing his expressionless face.

Red ached to run to the aid of her knights, but she had to give her full attention to Baldy. He was inches away from killing her--and, therefore, taking her throne and kingdom.

Yield! said Baldy, pressing harder with his sword.

Red gathered her strength and surged forward, breaking her sword free and sending Baldy stumbling backward. How many times do we have to do this? How many times is enough?

Baldy regained his footing and unleashed a flurry of strikes with his sword. "Art thou weary of this conflict, then?"

Red parried his every thrust and slash. I take the kingdom, you take it away, I take it back, you take it away again. Who wouldn't be weary?

I promise, thy fight shall be brief. Baldy grinned, then called out over the clash of steel. Four-Eyes! Hast thou captured the Princess yet?

Yes! said Baldy's ally, Four-Eyes the wizard.

Red locked her sword with Baldy's and looked toward the voice. She saw Four-Eyes, complete with magic all-seeing spectacles, holding the kingdom's dark-haired princess in a bear hug.

The hug didn't last. As Red watched, Princess stomped on Four-Eyes' foot. With a shout of pain, Four-Eyes released her--and Princess plunged both elbows into his sides.

"I mean no!" said Four-Eyes as he doubled over.

We shall not surrender, my queen! Princess scooped up a fallen soldier's sword and ran to Sir Beardnik's side. In thy name, we shall defend this blessed kingdom of Ni!

And then what? With a surge of angry might, Red forced Baldy's sword away and shoved him to the floor. "Do it all again, only I get to be the rebel leader, and Mannequin's the king?"

Mannequin ducked Dragon's swooping torch, then popped back up and cocked his head to one side. Didst someone die and makest me king?

Enough! Red hurled her sword to the stone floor with an echoing clang. "I say 'tis time for a change!"

I'm with thou! said Sir Beardnik, punching his sword skyward. "Let us maketh that change, fellow lords and ladies!"

"And dragons," roared Dragon.

Wait! said Red. "Let's make sure we're on the same page before we..."

Her sentence went unfinished as the castle and everyone in it flashed out of existence.

When Red opened her eyes, she found herself staring at someone's shiny purple tights.

Looking up, she saw that the tights belonged to Beardnik. On his chest, he wore a silver number--a wildly stylized one framed in a lemon yellow oval. His eyes looked out from a purple domino mask, and a yellow cape