SEASON THREE

EPISODE 6: THESE DREAMS
PART ONE

 By: Elektra

SPACE: THE FINAL FRONTIER. THESE ARE THE VOYAGES OF THE WWF TITANPRIZE. IT'S MISSION: TO EXPLORE AND ENTERTAIN NEW SOCIETIES AND NEW CIVILIZATIONS.  TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO WRESTLER HAS GONE BEFORE!

TITANPRIZE CREW:
Captain Vincent K. McMahon
First Officer, Commander Shane McMahon
Chief Engineer, Commander Stephanie McMahon
Chief of Chiefs, Commander Linda McMahon
Chief of Security, Commander Kane
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Taker
Communications Officer, Lieutenant Rock
Counselor Al Snow (assisted by H.E.A.D.)
Diagnostics Officer, Lieutenant Jericho
Tactical Officer, Lieutenant Commander Austin
Transporter Chief, Lieutenant Commander Debra McMichael
... And many more!

STARSHIP TITANPRIZE - CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM

    "Captain's log, stardate 66613.13. All is well aboard the Titanprize. The last nebula we passed through left us unharmed. My wife and I are are preparing to celebrate our anniversary... End log.."

    The Captain turned to the dark-haired woman behind him, and offered a chilling smile... a smile that would freeze hell itself. It was the smile of a man long-since void of emotion. His cold black eyes and long red hair stood out against his deathly pale face. He held an icy hand out towards the woman, "Come now, my Bride of Darkness.... it is time to celebrate..."

    Commander Stephanie McMahon's eyes flew open as she bolted upright in bed, screaming.

    "Steph?!?! What the hell is wrong?! STEPH!!" a voice spoke.

    Stephanie stopped screaming and turned to the man beside her, relief filling her body. She grabbed him tightly, "It's ok, Hunter... I'm fine now..." she answered, "I just had a weird dream... that's all..." she replied,  "yes... she thought to herself, "just a dream... just a silly little dream..."

    Stephanie watched as her loving husband tended to the Smackdown's patrons, tray in hand. She smiled, realizing how lucky she was to have him in her life.

     Suddenly, Stephanie felt a chill at her back. She turned to see Dr. Taker entering the establishment. Without offering her a glance, he headed to the table at which Nurse Bearer sat.   The two began to converse about medical procedure and equipment.

    Commander Stephanie could not take her eyes off the frightening doctor as her dream the night before replayed itself in her mind.

    Dr. Taker turned away from Nurse Bearer for a moment, and looked at the Chief Engineer, "Commander..." he spoke, "May I help you?"

    Stephanie blinked quickly, and shook her head, "Help me?? What makes you think I need any help?!? No no.. don't need any help.. no help at all.. uh... I'm fine... just fine..." she sputtered nervously.

    "You were staring at me somewhat intently, Commander..." Dr. Taker replied, his voice cold and grave as usual.

    Stephanie quickly stood up, knocking her chair over, "No I wasn't!! Just stay away from me!!!" she shouted, and ran out the door... ignoring the questioning glances from the patrons.

    Ensign Angle had just walked into the Smackdown, almost getting knocked over by the Chief Engineer. He went up to Triple H, "What's wrong with Stephanie?"

    Triple H ignored Angle's question and handed him the tray as he ran out after his wife.

    Angle looked at the tray in his hands, then looked in the direction Triple H had gone, "Hey, does this mean you want me to wait tables?" he called out, but the man was long gone.

    "Steph!" Triple H shouted as he grabbed Stephanie in the corridor, "What the hell just happened?"

    Stephanie looked up at him, "Nothing happened, Hunter..." she smiled nervously, "Everything is fine... honest..."

    Helmsley didn't seem convinced, "Maybe you need some sleep..." he offered.

    "NO! I DON'T WANT TO SLEEP!!" she snapped, then her voice became softer, apologetic as she realized who she just yelled at, "I'm sorry, Hunter... you know, maybe you're right. Maybe I DO need some sleep..." she smiled, and blew him a kiss, "See you later tonight..." she winked, and headed on.

    Commander Stephanie was on the Holodeck... or... at least, that's what she THOUGHT.

    Wherever she was, it was night time. She was in a town. A ghost town.

    Commander Stephanie began to walk around, taking in the damaged houses. "Computer," Stephanie commanded, "What program is this??"

    "Unable to comply..." the computer replied.

    "You can't answer a simple question?! Maybe daddy should buy a new computer!" Stephanie snapped.

    "Unable to comply, " the computer repeated.

    Commander Stephanie sighed, and continued walking.  Soon... the houses began to disappear. The asphalt beneath her turned into an uneven grassy field. A fog was hovering a few inches above the ground. She saw something up ahead, and walked towards it. It looked like a stone of some sort.

    She quickly walked to the stone, and crouched beside it.  Underneath ancient layers of dust, something was written.  She brushed the dust off, and read:

    A small inscription was at the bottom:

    Stephanie jumped away from the stone,  "DIED??" she gasped. "But... that's impossible!!"

    "Is it?" a voice said behind her.

    Commander Stephanie turned around... only to the see the man whose tombstone she had just read, "What the hell is this?!" she shouted.

    Dr. Taker looked at her, "My tombstone..." he replied.

    Stephanie shook her head, "But you're not dead!!" she snapped.

    "Are you sure of that now, my bride?" Dr. Taker asked.

    Stephanie shook her head and began to back away, tripping over the tombstone, "I'm NOT your bride!! I'm NOT! I'm NOT! Just LEAVE ME ALONE!!"

    Dr. Taker began to laugh a cold laugh.

    Stephanie screamed.

       Commander Stephanie McMahon bolted upright in bed, and took in her and Hunter's own quarters. She shook her head, "This is ridiculous! I have to do something about these dreams... and SOON!"

COUNSELOR SNOW'S OFFICE

    "Commander Stephanie!" Counselor Snow quickly stood up as the Chief Engineer entered his office. He took in her appearance. It was obvious she had been having a few uneasy nights. He furrowed his brow, "What's wrong?"

    "I was hoping you could tell ME, Counselor!" Stephanie replied, and made herself comfortable on Counselor Snow's couch.

    "Uh... looks like you haven't been sleeping!" he replied.

    Stephanie frowned, "Gee... you're sharp!" she replied, then sighed, "I've been having weird dreams..."

    Counselor Snow sat in the chair across from her, H.E.A.D. on his lap, "Really? Well... would you like to tell me about them?"

    "No..."

    Counselor Snow blinked, "No? Then... why did you come here if you don't want to talk?"

    "Because I felt like it, ok?!" Stephanie replied.

    "Uh... all right then...." Snow answered.

    Stephanie looked at the ship's counselor, "I just want to know how to stop these stupid dreams!"

    "Are they nightmares?" Counselor Snow asked.

    "Duh!" Stephanie replied.

    "And you won't tell me what they're about..." Snow said.

    "It's none of your business! Just give me something to sleep, and I'll be fine!"

    "Well... I can't prescribe you anything to help you sleep. You'd have to ask Dr. Taker---"

    Stephanie jumped to her feet, "NO!! I am NOT talking to Dr. Taker!"

    Counselor Snow was about to say something, when he turned to H.E.A.D.  "Yes... you think so??" he asked it.  "That could be... judging from her reaction..." he continued to mutter to H.E.A.D.

    "What are you doing?? What is that THING saying about me?" Stephanie demanded.

    "H.E.A.D. says you've been having dreams of..." he paused, then crinkled his nose, "DR. TAKER?! Ewwww...."

    "Hey! I SAID they were nightmares, ok!?" Stephanie replied.

    "All right, all right!" Counselor Snow said, then looked up at her, "I don't know how to help you with your dreams, Commander. Maybe there's something in your subconscious that..."

    "Oh never mind!!" Stephanie interrupted, "You're totally useless!" with that, she turned on her heel and walked out.

CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM

    Commander Stephanie entered the ready room without waiting for permission, "Daddy!!" She started, "I want you to fire Dr. Taker!!"

    Captain McMahon looked up from the comm pad he was working on, "Fire him?? Why?!"

    "Because... I don't like him!! Get him off the ship!"

    "You know I would do anything for you, honey.. but I can't fire Dr. Taker..."  Captain McMahon replied.

    "Why not?" Stephanie asked.

    "Just because, Stephy honey," he answered, "Now Daddy's busy. Go play with Hunter or something..."

    Stephanie didn't seem happy, but left her father in peace.

    McMahon watched the door close behind Stephanie, and took a deep breath, "Heaven knows what Dr. Taker would do to me if I DID fire him...." Captain McMahon shivered slightly, then went back to reading the padd in front of him.

\STEPHANIE'S DREAM

    "Ok... if you died in the line of duty, how come you're HERE?"  Stephanie asked Dr. Taker.

    Dr. Taker looked at her, "I am more powerful then you can imagine," he replied, "A simple corporeal body is nothing to me!"

    Commander Stephanie McMahon looked at him, and raised her eyebrows, "Really? Your THAT powerful?"

    "Yes! And I shall make you my Bride of Darkness and share with you that power!!"

    Stephanie shook her head, "I said LEAVE ME ALONE!! I am NOT marrying YOU! You're ... like... 15 years older then me!! Ugh!" she shouted... then paused, "Wait... did you say you would share your power?"

    Dr. Taker said nothing as he disappeared into thin air.

THE SMACKDOWN

    Triple H was becoming increasingly concerned for his wife. He watched her out of the corner of his eye. She was sitting alone at a table nursing a drink, and staring nervously at Dr. Taker as the pale doctor spoke to Nurse Bearer.

    Stephanie had woken up countless times screaming. Helmsley wondered if the good doctor had anything to do with the nightmares she had been victim to.

    Suddenly, the lights on the Titanprize flickered out. Screams echoed throughout the Smackdown. All was pitch black.

    Finally, when the lights came back on, everything was where it should be... ALMOST.

    Three things were missing.

    Nurse Bearer

    Dr. Taker

    And Commander Stephanie McMahon.