Captain Barclay, savior of the universe
Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to Paramount studios and UPN and no money is being made from this story. This story is written for entertainment purposes only.
Summary: The very shy Reginald Barclay has to learn to live in the real world.
Author’s note: This story is based on the Star Trek: The Next Generation series and most of the story takes place during the series run.
CHAPTER 1
“This is Captain Reginald Barclay of the U.S.S. Enterprise…alien vessel..we mean you no harm…we are explorers…”
The empathy who could sense other people’s beings turned to her Captain with a worried glance in her brown eyes as she declared “Captain..I sense their hostility..they intend to..”
Geordi Laforge broke through with an announcement of his own “Captain.sensors indicate that they are preparing to shoot us..”
Just then an energy blast rocked the Enterprise. The Captain was knocked out of his chair while the other crewmembers held on to their posts to avoid falling down.
Captain Barclay yelled at the chief engineer “LaForge..damage report!”
LaForge reported back “No heavy damages sir..able to evacuate the affected decks sir..”
Troi answers back “I sense overall tension from all crewmembers sir..but everyone is alright sir.”
Captain Reginald Barclay released a sigh of relief that the intrepid crew of the Enterprise survived another alien attack. “Worf..aim your torpedos at the alien ship and blast them to kingdom come.”
Worf, the token Klingon wearing his honorary golden sash across his broad chest like a badge of honor, pressed the correct buttons sending several torpedas targeted directly at the enemy ship. On the viewscreen the Captain and the rest of the crew watched as the torpedos hit their target and the enemy ship exploded .
Worf smiled as he finishes his assignment and reports “Captain..we were able to save all aboard..they have all been transported to Transporter Room 2.”
“Very good job Worf..I will go down to the Transporter room myself and interrogate them personally.” The Captain leaves the Command deck to head for the elevator. “Counselor Troi..you will come with me to help me read their thoughts and report back to me what they are thinking.”
Counselor Troi replies “Aye sir” Both of them step into the elevator and leave the deck.
The aliens with their green skin and yellow eyes ressemble reptiles with their long scaly backs and long scaly tails. They are all huddled together in the brig which is where they were transported prior to their ship’s explosion. Both the Captain and Counselor Troi walk into the brig and look through the force field where the prisoners are being held and get ready to interrogate them.
Captain Reginald Barclay is the first to introduce himself “I want to know why you were trying to shoot down my ship after we had announced to you over the intercom that we were peaceful explorers!” yelled the angry Captain.
The aliens cringe at the angry tone of the imposing looking human standing in front of them. One of the aliens who appears larger than the others replies “I am the Captain of the Drada. We are known as Dradians. Please do not harm us any further, master. We are now your slaves to do with as you please. We beg your forgiveness.”
Counselor Troi turns to the Captain and says “They are being sincere, Captain. They are pleading with you. They are afraid of you. I sense fear emanating from their very skin pores.”
Captain Barclay gives a rough nod to Counselor Troi as he orders into his comp badge “Laforge..head the ship to the nearest Federation prison camp and tell them we have some new prisoners to drop off heading 5999. Warp 10”
Laforge’s voice can be heard over the communication system as he replies “Aye Captain”
Captain Barclay then announces into his communication badge “I want all senior staff to meet me in my ready room NOW!”
Various crew members from around the ship all acknowledge Captain Barclay’s order as each crewmember announces “Aye sir” or “Right away sir” or “Understood sir” or “On my way”.
Barclay gathers his senior staff in his ready room. He looks at his senior staff: Lieutenant Commander Jean Luc Picard, his first officer, Lieutenant Data, Starfleet’s only android officer, Counselor Troi, the Betazed Empath, Geordi Laforge, chief engineer, and Worf, his weapons bridge officer. Each crewmember look expectantly at their captain expecting the Captain to give them an important order at any minute.
Barclay stands up from his chair and looks fondly at his crew before he rubs the bridge of his nose in a nervous gesture and announces “I’m afraid I’ve been transferred. I will no longer be serving as the Captain of the Enterprise. I want you to know that it has been an honor and a privilege serving as your Captain.
Counselor Troi with unwept tears in her eyes is the first to gather her wits at this surprising news as she exclaims “Captain, I think I speak for the crew when I say that it has indeed been an honor to serve with you. You are a great Captain, Reginald Barclay. Thanks to your extreme bravery and courage, you have single handedly saved the Enterprise from the Romulans, the Borg and so many others that I just can’t name right now..you are our hero..you are as great a Captain as Kirk..Archer..or any of the other Enterprise Captains..we will miss you”
Geordi Laforge pipes up with “Yes, Captain Barclay..you have taught me so much..there will never be another Captain as great as you..your knowledge of the engineering of this ship is more than mine.”
Data adds “You have taught me so much about humanity..and if you hadn’t found that emotion chip..I” Data chokes up and starts to weep. “Sorry Captain..I guess I’m still not used to my emotions.”
Counselor Troi tries to console the inconsolable Data as she gently pats Data’s shoulder and cooes “We will all miss Captain Reginald Barclay so don’t be upset or you will get everyone in tears.”
“It has been an honour to…
Suddenly Geordi Laforge’s voice can be heard over the intercom”Reginald Barclay get your butt down to Engineering at once. You are spending way too much time in the holodeck. You are late for your shift.If you don’t get here right away I will demote you to an Ensign. This is an order. Captain Picard needs all personnel to be at their stations NOW..the Borg are attacking the ship. NOW Reg..NOW”
Reginald presses his communication badge and mumbles incoherently “Yes Yes ssssir”
Reginald faces the computer “Freeze Captain Barclay Program.” All the characters of his Captain Barclay fantasy world freeze in front of him. Reginald wipes the sweat from his brow as he realizes how late he is for duty shift change. “End program Captain Barclay” Computer save holodeck program.” Reginald Barclay, the shyest officer in Starfleet abandons his fantasy world to answer the call of duty and hopes that Geordi does not skin him alive for not being at his station in time.
Reginald Barclay walks briskly out of the holodeck trying to regain his composure as a panic attack is imminent.Barclay can feel his body trembling with fear as the hairs on the back of his neck prickle. Gosh..Georgi is going to be so mad at me. I’m late again. I am such a loser. How will I explain to Geordi why I’m late? Or why I spend so much time in the holodeck? It’s just so hard to talk to real people or to look them in the eye to say anything. Barclay’s breath begins to quicken and his heartbeat starts to race as he reaches Engineering and sees Geordi’s scowling angry face. Geordi is looking at h is timepiece and at the same time pointing angrily at Reg’s chest stating “YOU ARE LATE AGAIN. I AM DEMOTING TO FROM ENSIGN TO CREWMAN…You aren’t even Starfleet anymore. One more lateness and you will no longer serve on the Enterprise. Am I making myself clear Mr. Barclay?”
Barclay almost hyperventilates as he manages a “Yyyess Sssir”
“And Barclay..no more holodeck privileges. I just don’t see why you are so enamored with that Captain Barclay fantasy anyway..”
Barclay blushes a deep shade of red as he mutters “How did you know? I mean it’s private..my holoprograms are private..you’re not supposed to see my files..whwhwhwy wwerew”
“Look Barclay yes, most everyone else’s holodeck files are private..but you practically live in the holodeck it’s just not healthy..for your own safety and for the safety of the Enterprise..I had to investigate to make sure you are fit for duty and that you are not having a mental breakdown. You have to learn to live in the real world and until you do, you are not allowed into the holodeck..am I making myself clear? Crewman?
Suddenly Barclay finds the floor a fascinating place to stare as his eyes are riveted to his feet “Yesss Sssir” Barclay feels so embarrassed that he wants to crawl under the floor.
Epilogue
Ten years later…
Barclay stops in his speech and looks up at the expectant stares of the graduating class of Starfleet Academy. Amazingly enough all the students looked sympathetic and none were laughing at him. Barclay continues his speech:
“I was such a screw up because I was so shy. It was so hard for me to get along with anyone because I was so afraid of them. I would get panic attacks just walking into a room full of people. Medication was no help. It was just my brain chemistry I guess to be so shy.Luckily for me I had other skills that Starfleet needed. I was able to prove my worth in battle to my crewmates because I was a whiz with circuitry..when it came to engineering and fixing overloaded circuits in the heat of battle I was a whiz..Eventually my CO respected me for my skills and was willing to over look my lack of social skills. Whenever the Enterprise was down for the count, Geordi could depend on me to fix whatever was broken. Even my holodeck skills were useful. One time the enemy boarded the ship. Worf was able to trap them in the holodeck. Then I created a program to make the enemy think that the Enterprise crew consisted of thousands and thousands of officer. The enemy were so overwhelmed by the holodeck soldiers in my program that they surrendered. My point is..if I can succeed in Starfleet..and boy what a loser I was..so can you. You’re only a failure if you don’t try. Once I gained more confidence I realized that the world was not always laughing at me. I was even surprised to learn that everyone on board Enterprise actually respected me. I didn’t know that because I had been too shy to ask..too shy to take the risk of making friends. So lesson number two, never be afraid to make friends for a man with many friends is the richest man in the world. I cannot emphasize this enough..if you don’t try..you’ll never know.. you just have to believe hard enough that you can and then you will..”
As the newly minted Captain Barclay finished his graduation speech, Counselor Troi turns to Geordi and remarks “Reg has surely come a long way hasn’t he?”
Georgi responds “I am proud that he is truly a Captain Barclay in real life..not just in a holodeck program.”
THE END