Crossover Through the Portal

                       Here is another type of fanfiction story. This is a real crossover story as it includes Western TV shows and modern TV shows. It is drama with comedy. It is mostly a combination of Bonanza and Star Trek but includes several other shows. Hope you like this one as much as I enjoyed writing it. 

               

                       Crossover Through the Portal

          A chilly fog poured through the opening in the strange, rocky doorway known as the Portal. Ancient city-like ruins can be seen all around it. The Portal showed flashes of distance places. Some were isolated and far-away and some very close. There were historic places, and insignificant places shown. Past as well as future times were shown in the doorway. If one wanted one could go through to any time or any place.

          A Romulan man appeared near the door a small pack and a phaser held in his hands. He looked back over his shoulder as if he was being followed. He watched the places and times flicker by for a few moments. He wondered where his acquaintance had gone when he had sent his small shuttle craft through this contrivance. Maybe the Portal would make the time and place right for him. He and Tova had heard about the Portal while in prison and had decided to try to make an escape to go someplace far away.

          “How does this work?” asked the man in the Romulan language.

          “All that is – is shown here,” said a disembodied voice in a gruff tone.

          “Who are you?”

          “I am the Guardian of Forever.”

          “Where did the shuttle craft with Tova go?”

          “He went where he went,” said the eerie voice. “He made his choice.”

          “Can you send me to the same place?”

          “You must go where you must go,” said the voice.

The Romulan thought that any place might be better than be captured again by the Federation. It really didn’t matter where Tova had gone. Making a decision he jumped through the Portal.

          He vanished just as Captain James T. Kirk and his First Officer Mr. Spock appeared near the Portal.

          “He jumped,” stated Kirk. “Do we know when, Spock?”

          Spock looked at his tri-corder. “I believe so, Captain.”

          “We have to get him back. Makele-11 is as immoral criminal as there is. Him and his prison mate, Tova. There is no telling how much havoc he could cause where ever he went.”

                                   **********

            “Adam, would you go into Virginia City and mail these letters to Congressman Harrolson? They need to get to him as soon as possible.”

          “Sure, Pa. I’ll be glad to.” Even at his age Adam had to give a nasty smirk at his brothers behind his father’s back at the thought that he had been chosen, this time, to go to town. He knew that each time Ben sent one of his younger sons that there was always trouble.

          “Hoss?”

          “Yes, Sir?”

          “Will you go out to the south pasture and make sure that the hands are moving those new cows over to the north corner where the grass is better?
          “You bet I will, Pa.”

          “And Joe?”

          Oh, no, thought Ben’s youngest son, Joe. Wonder what he’s got in mind for me. “Yeah?”

          “Joe, I’m sure you don’t want to but I really need someone to ride over to the Widow Akers place and check on her and her granddaughter. Make sure they’re place is in good shape for the winter. Check the roof for leaks and the barn and make sure they had a good supply of firewood.”

          Joe swallowed hard. “The –the Widow Akers?”

          “Yes, Joe. The Widow Akers.” Ben looked at Joe with a ‘don’t back talk me’ look, causing Joe not to say what was on his mind.

          Hoss and Adam headed for the front door grabbing their gun belts, hats, and jackets while snickering at the thought that Little Joe was the one that had been chosen to do the dreaded chore of going to the Widow Akers. The old women greeted everyone with a loaded shotgun and would use it anyone tried to disagree with her. Ben was the only person that she seemed to like. Of course he had saved her life once when she had been thrown from her horse while trying to round up some wild cows and maybe that was why.

          Of course there was the Widow’s granddaughter, Louise. The girl was cute but she was as wild and untamed as a yearling filly. Many of the boys from the area had tried to tame her but so far none had succeeded.

          All three of the Cartwright boys saddled up and rode in the different directions that they needed to go to do their respective chores.

                                      **********

          “Captain’s Log. Star Date ----,” Kirk swiveled around in his chair at the center of the bridge and shouted at his first officer. “Spock, what the devil is the star date now that we’re doing this dang time travel thing again?”

          The pointed ears on the half Vulcan twitched, and he calmly recited a string of numbers.

With a swish the door of the bridge opened. “I never figured we would have to be using that danged Portal again to go back in time,” said Dr. McCoy as he entered the bridge. “It just isn’t right going back and changing what has happened in the past.”

“We aren’t changing things, Bones. We are going to catch a criminal. That renegade Romulan, Makele-11 could do more changes to history than we could think of if we don’t get him back.”

“The Captain is correct,” said Spock. “We have to get Makele-11 and take him back to the prison colony.”

“Did I understand you correctly, Mr. Spock, that we are going back to the date 1875?” asked Captain Kirk.

“No, Captain. The date is 1975 – er –.”

“Well, which is it, Mr. Spock? 1875 or 1975?” asked Kirk looking around at his first officer.

“I am getting to the reading, Captain. Both dates, 1875 and 1975, are showing as our destination.”

“Hummm,” muttered Kirk. “I was hoping to land in a time of cowboys and Indians. I know that in 1875 there were still several Indian wars going on and most of the states west of the Missippi  River were being colonized by farmers and ranchers. San Francisco, California and Denver, Colorado were the biggest cities at that time. That was the time when the hero gunslingers became known and there were so many outlaws in the West. So what was happening during the time 1975?”

Chekov spoke up. “In 1969 Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on Earth’s moon starting a lot of the exploration of space. But in 2012 space exploration was stopped by the United States government but taken up by private enterprise.” Chekov snickered to himself at his play on words since their starship was named the Enterprise.

“I see no humor in your choice of words, Mr. Chekov,” reprimanded Spock.

“Understood, Mr. Spock. It won’t happen again,” said Chekov paying more attention to the data banks in front of him.

Sulu decided to add to the information, “It was about that time that the Viet Nam Cold War ended, I believe.”

“Quite so, Mr. Sulu,” agreed Kirk.

Dr. McCoy spoke up, too. “And science was finally starting to make a few inroads into better medical procedures.”

“Mr. Cekov. Warp speed 10.”

“Aye, Captain. Warp speed 10.”

                           **********

Joe rode his pinto horse across the mountain landscape at a slow pace. He wasn’t in any rush to get to the Widow Akers little ranch and see what he could help them with. Of course he didn’t mind the Widow, even with the shotgun, but it was that granddaughter of hers. Louise had a shape tongue and used it every chance she got.

Joe reined in Cochise at a stream and dismounted to eat a bite of the lunch Hop Sing had packed for him and to let the horse have a drink and eat some grass. The pinto nickered his pleasure at having the saddle loosened and the bridle off so the bit was out of his mouth. Joe tied a short piece of rope around the neck of the pinto and dropped it on the ground. Cochise was trained to ground tie so he wouldn’t go more than a few feet with the rope dragging. 

After eating his sandwich Joe lay back on the ground and stared at the sky, watching the clouds drift by. He wondered what went on up in the sky beyond where man could see. Were there really all those stars that could be seen at night just hanging out there in a big open space that probably put to shame any area that he could imagine? Area’s like this mountain he was on. It was so huge. Miles and miles of forest, rocks, grass, and wildlife. It wasn’t even good grazing for cows. But there were lots of deer and elk. And he had seen a bear earlier. And the tracks of a cougar by a different stream. And squirrels. There was a squirrel chattering at him in the tree over his head. A pinecone dropped down beside him. Joe grinned at such a small creature fussing at him being in its territory and throwing the pinecone at him.

He remembered Adam telling about how some people back east were trying to make wagons with engines that didn’t need horses to pull them. How these people and others said that eventually men would be able to fly in machines with similar engines. He remembered how he and Hoss had scoffed at the idea of men flying. But as he looked up into the sky he wondered if maybe men could fly in machines someday. As he watched the sky it suddenly got dark as if a shadow had passed over the sun but there were no clouds near the sun. And it felt as if the earth shook slightly. Joe thought that maybe his imagination was getting out of hand as his family said it did.

Joe looked over to where the pinto was grazing. “Time to go, Cochise. Pa would say we’re wastin’ daylight.” Joe stood but swayed with a slightly dizzy feeling, and again it felt as if the ground under his feet wobbled. Again there was a second of darkness all around him. “Whoa? Guess I laid there to long.” The dizziness left and he walked to the horse. He put the bridle back on and then tightened the cinch. Cochise sidestepped away from Joe not liking something and at the same time Joe felt dizzy again as if everything was spinning around him. He lurched forward and then almost fell back. Reaching out he was able to grab hold of a small tree trunk and keep standing. It went dark again and again there was the feeling that the ground was swaying.

“All right. What’s goin’ on. I don’t feel sick. Just dizzy or more like the ground is dizzy.” Joe was thinking he felt like the ground had shifted under his feet. “Couldn’t be,” he muttered. “Come back here, Cochise.” The horse had come back to Joe but was almost shaking with fear. He nuzzled Joe seeking comfort from him since he couldn’t understand what was happening. “You felt it, too. Didn’t ya? Maybe it was just one of those earthquake tremors Adam says happen now and then. But I don’t remember him saying that it went dark when they happened.” Joe rubbed the pinto’s neck and the horse settled and gradually calmed down as did his rider. After a few minutes Joe mounted the horse and rode away from the stream and back onto the road that lead to the Widow Akers.

A few minutes later he saw someone on the road coming toward him. He drew rein and waited, finally recognizing Louise Akers. The young woman was bareback, and barefoot. She was wearing a mans shirt, and pants that were ragged and patched. “Ain’t you Joe Cartwright?” she asked when she came up to where Joe sat on his horse.

“That’s me,” said Joe.

“What ya doin’ here?”

“ My pa wanted me to come out and see if you and Widow - - er – your grandma needed any help around the place ‘fore winter sets in.”

The girl giggled. “We don’t need no help. But your welcome to visit for a spell, if you want.”

Joe figured Louise might be about eighteen now. And he was surprised at her welcoming him to visit. Usually she ran and hid from anyone that came around. Maybe the girl was growing up. “Sure, I’ll stay for a visit and do any work that needs to be done while I’m here.”

Louise giggled again. “Come on, Joe Cartwright. I think Granny was making fresh bread to go with the plum preserves she made yesterday out a the wild plums I picked the other day.”

“That sounds good to me.”

Joe and Louise rode side by side toward the small house that was peaking through the evergreens that were doing their best to hide the house.

But before they could reach the house a man stepped out from behind a big tree at the edge of the road and pointed a gun at them. He spoke to them in a foreign language that sounded more like guttural mutterings. He dropped the pack he was carrying on the ground.

Louise looked at Joe wondering what to do.

Joe raised his right hand but kept his left near his revolver. “Sorry,” he said. “I don’t understand. Do you speak English.”

The man cocked his head as if trying to understand. Then he slowly spoke the same words Joe had. “Sor-ry. I don ‘t un der stand. Do you --- speak --- Eng-lish.”

Joe didn’t like the man mocking him. “What kind of game are you playin’? You tryin’ to hold us up or what?”  By now Joe had taken a better look at the man and his gun and wondered what kind of gun it was. He had never seen one like this one, and he had never seen a man that looked like this one. His clothes were strange looking as if made from strange materials, maybe even a kind of very thin metal. Joe remembered the stories of the knights that wore metal armor. Maybe this was some sort of armor. He did wear a kind of boot but didn’t have any kind of hat and it looked as if his ears were pointed.

“Joe,” whispered Louise reaching over and touching Joe on the arm. “Joe, he’s got blood on his face and – and – are his ears pointed?”

“Yeah, I think they are. You just keep still and let me handle this. I don’t have any idea what nationality he is but maybe we can get out of this without any shooting.”

The man had been listening intently as they talked. Now he spoke in halting English. “Get off --,” he motioned to them, “an-a-mal.” He pointed at the horses. “You have - - ,” he looked around as if trying to see something. “Have – transport -- ship?”

          “Ship?” questioned Joe.

          “Transporter. Ship --- shuttlecraft -  travel carrier.”

          Joe looked at Louise and her at him. “Any idea what he’s talkin’ about?” she asked.

          “None.”

          “How you – go from this place --- to another place?” asked the man. He seemed as if he was understanding more and more of their language or maybe he had just been pretending he didn’t know English at first. But the question still baffled Joe and Louise.

          “Go from one place to another,” repeated Louise. “You silly man. We use horses, of course, or horses hitched to wagons or we walk like you been doin’.”

          Joe hadn’t answered as he was thinking about what the man had said about transporters, ships, and shuttlecrafts. He knew what a ship was but what about a shuttlecraft or transporter.

          The man seemed to think about what Louise had said. “Get off animal,” he demanded waving the strange gun at them. It looked as if it was made out of the new material called plastic. It had a thicker barrel and handle to it and Joe couldn’t see any place to put bullets into it.

          “No,” said Louise. “I raised Mable from a baby. You can’t have her.” She backed the bay mare up a few steps.

          He pointed the gun at Joe. “Off --- Animal.”

          “Sure,” said Joe getting of his pinto. He wasn’t sure someone that spoke like this would know how to ride a horse, and if he didn’t Cochise would soon buck him off. He dismounted and offered the reins to the man.

          Not taking the reins the man walked around the horse as if he had never seen one before. Finally he took the reins but didn’t divide them and put one on each side of the horse’s neck as he should have He kept both together. He looked at the saddle, grabbed hold of the saddle horn and pulled himself up, never using the stirrups, until he was lying on his belly and then he throw his leg over and sat up in the saddle. Once up on Cochise he sat as if unsure of what to do. “Make – go.”

he demanded of Joe.

          Joe sighed, took the reins and put on one each side of the horse’s neck then handed them back. “Cluck to him. Touch him with your heels and he’ll go.”

          “Cluck?”

          “Yeah, cluck.” Joe made a couple of clucking sounds and smacked Cochise on the rump.

          Cochise had already been flicking his ears back and forth and tensing his muscles. He wondered why Joe was letting this – well Cochise knew this thing wasn’t a real human and he could since both fear and anger in it. To Cochise this man was like a predator on his back. When Joe clucked and smacked his rump the horse jumped forward throwing the man against the saddle horn where he slipped on off the horse and onto the ground. Cochise walked a few feet and stopped waiting for Joe to tell him what to do next.

          Joe and Louise laughed at the man having forgotten that he had been trying to hold them up and take their horses. He snarled like a wild animal and jumped to his feet. He was still holding the odd gun and he pointed it at Joe and a thin, stream of fire spit out of it with a whining-whistle sound. Joe crumpled to the ground. The stranger ran back into the forest after grabbing his pack.

                                        **********

          Makele-11, the Romulan, ran through the trees. A look of disgust crossed his face at the place he had landed on earth when he jumped through the Portal. He still wondered where Tova had landed when he had sent his small space shuttle he had stolen through the Portal. At the time he and Tova had only been trying to get away from Earth ship The Enterprise and the two men he hated the most, Captain James T. Kirk.

          He had been knocked unconscious when he had jumped and landed on some of the boulders that littered this forsaken land of trees. When he had first come to he hadn’t been able to remember who he was or what he was doing. He had a bad headache and blood dripped down his face. He had cleaned off the blood and used some of the medicinal tablets he had found in kit he had brought with him. He had eaten some of the rations and then started walking. Eating and the tablets had helped with the headache and the blood loss. Within a few minutes he remembered he was Makele-11, a Romulan, who had been put in a prison colony by his most hated enemy, Hans Solo. He hadn’t known where he was but he suspected he was on Earth. He thought it was as good a place as any to try to escape from Kirk. But surely there were better modes of transportation that those disgusting animals those peasants had been riding. He would find a city where there would be flying ships of some sort that he could steal and get to a safe place.

          The outlaw Romulan ran on through the trees and rocks. His stride was long and his strength amazing even though hurt as he continued on. Every once in a while he would stop long enough to take a reading with the detailed tri-corder that he had stolen from the prison. This tri-corder was meant to track escaped prisoners any where in the solar system. Now he used it to direct him to the nearest large population of earthlings. But the tri-corder could pick up no kind of flying ships any where. Again Mikele-11 wondered where he had landed on the repulsive planet.

                             **********

          The buckskin horse and the almost white appaloosa walked side by side as they crossed the mountain.

          “How much farther, you reckon?” asked Trampas.

          The Virginian looked at his friend. “I wouldn’t think it would be much farther. That feller said this shortcut should get us there faster. But I’m beginning to wonder if he wasn’t funnin’ with us.”

          “Yeah, me, too,” agreed Tramps. “Hey,” he pointed at something to the side of the trail. “What the heck’s that?”

          They rode to the shiny object and dismounted to look it over. Someone had piled a few tree branches over it as if trying to hide it so they pulled them off.

          “Looks like a strange sort of shed,” said the Virginian.

          “Maybe,” agreed Trampas, “but I can’t see what you would keep in it. It’s too small, except for maybe a few chickens.

          “Or maybe, - uh, I was readin’  ‘bout them cars some a them scientist been buildin’. Maybe this is one of them,” suggested the Virginian.

          “I – I just don’t know,” muttered Trampas. He had crawled inside of the metal shed and saw a lot of buttons and knobs. Wonder what these things are for.” He pushed on one and it buzzed at him and a green screen lit up before him. He jumped back, and the screen disappeared. “What ever it is I think it’s broke.”

          The Virginian agreed, “Yeah, the sides all bent in anyway. Sure don’t look like much anyway.” He looked around him. “And who ever was here seems to be long gone. Maybe we better do the same. If we ever get to the Ponderosa Ranch maybe they can tell us about it.” He and Trampas mounted their horses and rode on. “Hey? You don’t suppose this thing had anything to do with that big shootin’ star we saw last night, do you?”

          “This? And a shootin’ star? Hahhhhh. How could it?”

          “Well, the scientist don’t know for sure what them shootin’ stars or meteorites really are. So who know’s for sure.”

          Trampas laughed. “Boss, you been readin’ to many of those dime novels the boys leave layin’ ‘round the bunkhouse.”

          “Well, maybe so.”

          A couple of miles farther they saw two people sitting in the narrow trail that passed for a road. “Looks like someone’s hurt,” stated the Virginian.

          “Yeah,” said Trampas riding toward them.

          Both the man and the girl didn’t look very happy to see them, as if they might be afraid of them. Especially the girl. The man held a pistol in his left hand as if he knew how to use it and it was pointed right at the Shiloh foreman. “Hold it right there,” said Joe.

          “We don’t mean no harm,” said the Virginian raising his right hand. “Looks like you’re hurt and we thought we could maybe help.”

          Not waiting to be asked Trampas dismounted off his buckskin knelt by Joe. “Put that thing away. You’re hurt and we can help.”

          Realizing that the men meant what they said Joe slid his revolver into his holster. He almost passed out when Trampas pulled his shirt back from his shoulder to see how bad the wound was.

          “He – he’s lost a lot of blood,” said Louise. “I tried to stop it but don’t know if I did or not.”

          “What happened?” asked Trampas.

          “Some man tried to hold us up and when Joe’s horse threw him off he shot Joe with this odd lookin’ gun and ran off into the trees.” She pointed they way the man had gone.”

          “What did he look like?” asked the Virginian.

          “He – well – he – real strange like. He had kind shiny clothes and well his ears are pointed.” Louise knew what she said didn’t sound reasonable.

          The Virginian turned his horse. “Trampas stay here and do what you can to help. I’m gonna go see if I can catch this feller.”

          “Right, Boss.” Trampas turned back to Joe. “I’ll get some bandages from my saddle. You got a name?

          “Cartwright, Joe Cartwright.”

          “Cartwright. Me and the Boss are tryin’ to find a ranch owned by a Ben Cartwright. We’re supposed to get some cows from him that Judge Garth done bought from him.”

          “Yeah, I remember Pa sayin’ something about sellin’ some cows to a Judge from Wyoming and that some of the Judge’s men would be comin’ to get them.”

          “My names Trampas, that other feller’s called the Virginian. He’s foreman for the Judge. And who might you be Miss – Miss –,” Trampas was looking at Louise.

          “This is Louise Akers,” said Joe. “I was on my way to her and her grandma’s place to help them with some of the chores when we ran into that horse thief.”

          Trampas tipped his hat to her giving her a big grin. “Nice to meet you, Miss Akers.”

          A long half hour later the Virginian returned to find Joe leaning against a tree and not looking good.

          “We need to get him to a doctor,” said Trampas. “They both swear he was shot with some sort of gun but it looks more like a big gash and he’s lost lots of blood.” He walked closer to the Virginian where he could whisper. “He ain’t doin’ good at all. Don’t know what it will do to him to move him. Louise says her grandma’s house isn’t but about a mile down the road. Guess we better try it.”

          “Let’s get him on his horse,” said the Virginian.

                                       **********

          “What happened, Louise,” said Mrs. Akers holding a shotgun at her side when she saw her granddaughter, and the three men approaching the house. She could see that one man that she recognized as Joe Cartwright was being held on his horse by the other two men.

          “Grandma, Joe Cartwright got shot by a man who ran away. These two men helped us.”

          Mrs. Akers raised her shotgun and pointed it at Trampas. “You sure, Girl. You sure it weren’t one a these two that did the shootin’. You tell me the truth, Girl. If it was one a them that did it I’ll blast him out a his saddle right now.”

          “No, Grandma,” Louise assured her. “It was another man. Weird lookin’ feller. He had pointed ears.”

          “Pointed ears?”

          “Ma’am, can we get down and help Joe into the house. He’s in bad shape,” asked the Virginian.

          Mrs. Akers considered, then motioned them in. “Bring him in. I ain’t gonna let a Cartwright die if I can help it. I owe Ben too much now.”

          Trampas and the Virginian helped Joe off his horse, into the house and onto the bed that was pointed out to them in a bedroom.

          Mrs. Akers took over taking care of Joe while Louise made coffee and fixed some food for their unexpected guests.

          “How is he?” asked Trampas when the older woman came into the kitchen.

          She poured herself a cup of the coffee and sat down at the table. “He don’t look good. That’s for sure. Can’t see why Louise keeps sayin’ he was shot with a gun when it’s a big gash. He’s lost blood but it seems like there’s somethin’ else wrong with him, too. I’ve done all I can. Either we can wait and see how he does or we can take him on to the Cartwright’s ranch and get the doctor from Virginia City.”

          “How far is it to the ranch?” asked the Virginian.

          “Just a couple of hours by horseback,” answered Louise. “But for Joe in a wagon maybe it would be a half a day or so.”

          The Virginian walked to the door and looked out over the pasture with a couple of cows and horses grazing peacefully. As he watched the sky darkened and he felt the house tremble. Within seconds the sky was bright blue again and the sun was shining. The horses had run to the far side and stood shivering as if they were cold.

          “I sure wish I knew what was causin’ that to happen,” said Mrs. Akers. “I ain’t never seen nothin’ like that in all my born days. It’s enough to give me the hee-bee-jee-bee’s.”

          “I know, Grandma.” Louise rubbed her arms. Like the horses she was shivering. “It happened several times today when I was out ridin’.”

          “I’ve never seen the like either,” agreed the Virginian.

He went back in to check on Joe. He didn’t like the way the young man looked. He really needed a doctor.

          “I think we need to get him to a doctor,” said Trampas from where he stood in the doorway.

          “We could put some hay and quilts in the wagon. It’s got good springs and maybe wouldn’t be to rough for him,” suggested Louise.

          The Virginian nodded. “I was thinkin’ along those same thoughts.”

          Trampas agreed. “Let’s do it.”

          Mrs. Akers already had an armload of quilts and was headed for the door.

          It didn’t take long to hitch the team, pile straw in the wagon and layer some quilts on top of the straw. Then Joe was carefully laid in the wagon. Louise rode beside him, while Trampas drove with Mrs. Akers on the seat beside him. The Virginian rode his appaloosa in front of the wagon keeping an eye out for the strange man with the pointed ears and strange gun.

                                       **********

         

          The Starship Enterprise bounced and then leaned to the left and then to the right throwing the crew on the bridge around like the wind blowing leaves. Kirk slide from side to side in his chair but managed to stay in it. Doctor McCoy bounced of the rail around the bridge and into Mr. Spook causing the First Officer to stare at him but not say anything.

          “Captain,” shouted Chekov, “I think we are in for a rough ride.”

          “I certainly agree, Mr. Chekov. Mr. Spook? Do you think that it is the Portal causing this or maybe Mikela-11, or just a space anomaly?”

          Spook looked at the information on the computer in front of him. “I do not know, Captain. I am not getting enough information. I doubt if it is Mikela-11. But it could be either the Portal or a space anomaly. I will try to keep the Enterprise on track.”

          “Thank you, Mr. Spook.”

          Again the huge window in the front of the bridge showed the unending space they were flying through get darker than it usually was. The stars disappeared. There was no sign of anything in the system. The Enterprise lurched causing several crew members to tumble to the floor. In moments the ship righted it’s self, the stars showed through in their proper places and all seemed content for the moment.

                                        **********

          Dixie McCall leaned against the counter by the emergency center station of Rampart Hospital and wrote on the forms in front of her. She didn’t notice when two men walked up to the desk. She jumped when one of them spoke.

          “Been a busy day, hasn’t it, Dixie?” stated Johnny Gage. Seeing he had startled her he put a hand on her arm to steady her. “Whoa, there. We didn’t mean to scare you.”

          “What’s wrong, Dixie?” asked Roy DeSoto. As he asked the question the building begain shaking slightly.

          “Oh, it’s just these earthquake tremors,” said Dixie going back to the medical form she was filling out. “They just keep going on and on. And everyone seems to be having all kinds of crazy things going on. Lots of accidents and people having medical problems that they’ve never had before.”

          “Yeah, I’ve noticed a lot of that on our runs, too. And more runs than normal,” said Roy. He held his radio to his mouth. “This is Rescue 51. Available.”

          A doctor came out of one of the examination rooms. “Dixie, would you finish putting the cast on the arm of the boy in Room 3. I want him to have a dozen pain pills, too.”

          “Sure thing, Dr. Brackett,” she answered him but he had already disappeared into Room 1 to take care of another patient.

Dixie shook her head and went to do as he had requested.

          The radio cackled. “Squad 51? We have a traffic accident with injuries - - - - - .” The radio cut off and the lights in the room flickered. The building shook and their was a grumbling sound as it got darker when the sun seemed to disappear for a few seconds then everything returned to normal.

          The radio continued. “I repeat. Squad 51. Traffic accident with injuries. Intersection Washington Street and Broadway.”

          Roy spoke into the radio. “Squad 51. We’re on our way.”

                                      **********

          The steam engine whistle sounded as the special train pulling a special car pulled into the town of Virginia City, Nevada. Special Agent James West woke from his nap on the sofa of the special train car at the sound of the whistle.

          His partner, Artemus Gordon, set a cup of steaming coffee on the small table at the head of the sofa.

 Jim took the cup and sipped at the hot, fragment brew. “I take it we’re near Virginia City?”

“Yes, we are. But you have time for some breakfast, if you want. You’re horse should be ready after you eat.”

“Good.” Jim rose from the sofa and went to the kitchen in the end of the private car to eat with Artie following him.

There was a knock at the door so Artie turned back to answer it. “Briscoe County, Jr.” he exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

Jim West had turned back to greet their visitor when he heard the knock, too. “County? What brings you here? And where are your friends? Lord Bowler, Socrates, and – and, oh, yes, Professor Albert Wickwire.” As he spoke he was trying to look out the door into the dark. There was a hint of dawn to the east but not enough to see by yet.

“Oh, I sent them on ahead. Although I do have Comet with me. He’s out talking to that black devil horse of yours.” Briscoe entered the train car. “Something smells good.”

Artie looked back toward the kitchen. “Yeah, our cook has breakfast ready. I suppose you would like to join us?”

“Sounds like a good idea.” The sometimes lawman-sometimes bounty hunter tossed his hat on the sofa and headed for the kitchen. He picked up a plate and filled it full of bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast.

“What are you doing here, Briscoe?” asked West again.

“Come to see what kind of experiment that Dr. Loveless has been up to now. The reports of that huge meteorite has been all over.”

“Now how would you have heard of that?” asked Artie.

“Oh, I have my ways,” answered Briscoe taking a mouthful of eggs. “Hey, these are good.”

Jim had filled his plate and was eating but paused to ask. “And how can you be sure it was something Dr. Loveless did. We were considering it might be an experiment by your friend Professor Wickwire.”
          “Because I have spoken with the good Professor and he assured me he didn’t do it. And if he didn’t it would have to have been Loveless. Unless you know of another mad scientist.”

West had to agree with his visitor. “No, no, we haven’t heard of any others. But I’m sure there must be.”

Artie had filled his plate and was eating. “Of course there are some of the so-called learned men or scientists that say there might be life out on some of the other planets that rotate around the earth. And that, that – ahhh – that ‘life’ from out in the universe might come to earth now and then in some sort of a space ship.”

“Now you can’t really believe that there is little men from Mars, can you, Artie?” asked Jim.

“Now I wouldn’t be making light of that thought, West,” said Briscoe. “With all I’ve seen of the strange things that go on in the world I wonder if it isn’t possible that there might be spacemen.”

Jim set his empty plate in the small sink in the kitchen where they had been standing to eat. “I think we’ll find that it is a nutty scientist that has done something stupid and caused a big explosion. Are you ready to ride, Briscoe?”

“Let’s go,” said County setting his plate on top of Jim’s.

“Artie, if we’re not back in twenty-four hours send a telegram to the President and let him know that it is unlikely we’ll be back and he needs to send someone else to take care of an exceedingly large and volatile problem.”

For a moment Artie looked at his friend with fear in his eyes. It passed as quickly as it had appeared. “You take care, Jim. You and Briscoe, both.”

As they left the train car the ground shifted under their feet. The two horses, Briscoe’s sorrel, Comet and the black that Jim West preferred to ride sidestepped trying to get away from ground that moved. Not understanding the total silence that filled the air around them. Neither did the men. The looked at each other and Jim said, “We’ve got to do something to stop this. And quickly.”

          “Let’s get at it then,” said Briscoe.

Moments later the two men had mounted their horses and ridden off.

                          **********

          It was late night when Trampas drove the wagon carrying the injured Joe Cartwright into the ranch yard waking the inhabitants inside. Ben, Adam, Hoss, and Hop Sing came running out with guns drawn to see what was going on. Ben and Adam had thought to pull on robes over their night shirts but Hoss had on only the long white shirt that he normally wore in bed. Hop Sing had on an elaborately embroidered red robe covered with Chinese symbols. Trampas, the Virginian and the Akers women started at the four men in amazement. They had never seen a group of men dressed like this before. Especially with guns draw and pointed at them.

          Taking a deep breath the Virginian asked. “Is this the Cartwright home?”

          “Yes, I’m Ben Cartwright. Why?” He still had his gun held ready incase these were outlaws.

          “Ben, put that gun down,” said Mrs. Akers. “It’s Martha Akers, my granddaughter, Louise, and a couple a cowhands that happened by at the right time to help with your son, Joseph.”

          “Joseph?” questioned Ben.

          “Mr. Cartwright, I’m afraid your son has been badly hurt,” said the Virginian. “We thought it best to bring him here so he could get care from a doctor.”

            “Yes, yes, of course,” said Ben who had already gone to the wagon bed to see Joe laying on a pallet of quilts. He turned to his two older sons. “Hoss, Adam help Joe into the house.”

              Joe moaned with pain as his brothers lifted him from the wagon and carried him into the house. “Where am I?” he asked as they laid him on the sofa in front of the huge fireplace in the livingroom.

            “Your home, Son. Lay still and we’ll take care of you.” He opened Joe’s shirt and looked at the thick bandage encircling his shoulder and chest. “What happened?”

            Martha Akers spoke up. “He was shot, Ben. Louise said some strange man came out of the trees where they were ridin’ , and tried to take Joe’s horse and when the man fell off of that pinto he shot Joe with a strange gun.”

           “A strange gun?” asked Adam. “What kind was it?”

            “I don’t know,” said Louise. “I ain’t never seen one like it. It was real thick and made a strange noise when it was fired. Didn’t sound like a gun. Made a whistling noise and spit fire.”

             “All guns spit fire to a degree,” said Adam.

              “I know but this one really spit fire and --- and --- well, it seemed to make a === .”

               “Spit it out, Girl,” said Ben. “It did what?”

                Louise screwed up her face as if thinking. “It whistled and pinged instead of making the noise a normal gun makes.”

                 The Virginian spoke up. “Louise might not have really seen what happened. Or not very well, is what I’m thinkin’.

              “And who are you?” asked Ben and Adam at the same time.

            “I’m the foreman for Shiloh Ranch up near Medicine Bow, Wyoming. I’m supposed to pick up some cows from you, Mr. Cartwright. Cows that Judge Garth bought. This is one of my hands, Trampas.”

            “Yes, I remember the Judge said someone he called the Virginian would be coming. I take it that’s you?”

           “Yes, I’m called the Virginian.”

            Ben calmed slightly. “Thank you for helping my son. Adam, I want you to ride to town and get the Doctor.”

           Adam didn’t even answer as he had already bounded up the stair to change so he could leave.

          Hop Sing came in with a large bowl of hot water. “I take care of Little Joe now ‘til Doctor come.” He set the bowl on the large coffee table in front of the sofa and returned to the kitchen to get fresh bandages.

           “Thank you, Hop Sing,” said Hoss. “I’ll help you.” He eased his brother’s soiled bandage off and began bathing the nasty looking wound in his shoulder. “Pa, this looks more like a big cut, or some sort of gash instead of a bullet.”

           “That’s what I been tryin’ to tell you,” said Louise. “There didn’t seem to be no bullet.”

            Everyone in the room looked at the young women as if she had said something horrible.

          “How can a gun make a gash like a knife and not shoot a bullet?” asked Hoss.

  “When it’s not the kind of gun that we are used to,” said a voice at the door.

             Unknown to any of the Cartwrights, or their guests another man had opened the door and was watching the scene in front of him in the ranch house.

               As soon as the man had spoken the Virginian and Trampas had pulled their guns. Ben grabbed his off the coffee table where he had laid it as did Hoss.

             “Who are you?” asked Ben.

              “Name’s James West. I didn’t mean to intrude.” He tipped his hat to Martha and Louise. “How is your son doing, Mr. Cartwright?”

             “Holding his own. And how did you know my name?” answered Ben.

              “I make it a point to know the name of the owner of a ranch before I contact him. I’m a special agent appointed by the President to find and arrest the man that is causing so much trouble right now. Probably the man that shot your son.”

              “Do you know who he is?” asked Adam.

              “No. We just have a description. He is tall, and has pointed ears. Very pointed ears. Like an elf, from what I’ve heard.”

               “Yes, he has pointed ears,” said Louise. “Joe and I got a good look at him before he shot Joe. He is tall with the pointed ears and very black hair. His eyes are black, too. And he has a – a – well he acts as if he can’t talk well, or at least he doesn’t know our language very well. At first he talked in another language then he gradually switched to ours.”

              “Did you recognize the other language?”

              “Sure didn’t. It didn’t sound like Mexican, or Indian, or even the German or Irish that I’ve heard.”

              Thinking to himself West spoke out loud, “Hummmm.”

He turned to the Virginian. “And who are you?”

            “I’m the foreman for Shiloh Ranch up in Wyoming. Me and Trampas,” he indicated the cowboy, “where on our way here to pick up some cows Judge Garth bought from Mr. Cartwright when we found his son and brought him here with help from Mrs. Akers and her granddaughter.”

            West looked at the girl and older women and grinned the grin he was so famous for that made women of any age swoon at his feet. The girl didn’t even seem to notice as she stared at Joe wondering if he was going to get better. With an offended look that quickly disappeared West turned back to the injured man.

           “He seems somewhat better, or at least his breathing is easier now. But we have to get a doctor out here,” said Hoss as he checked his brother’s pulse again.

            “I was wondering if you wanted me to send the doctor out when I reach Virginia City?” asked West.

            “That would be kind of you,” said Adam. “But I think I’ll ride along with you. Just in case something should happen and you don’t make it.” He had a look on his face that said he wasn’t quite sure he believed this special agent would let the doctor know he was needed.
            Ben and Hoss also wondered about Mr. James West and were glad that Adam was going to get the doctor. “Adam, you be careful, but get the doctor back as fast as you can,” said Ben as his oldest son disappeared out the door behind West. Minutes later they could hear the horses galloping out of the yard.

            Joe groaned and sat up on the sofa holding his head with his left hand. “Oh-h-h-h- wh-what happ-ned?” he asked.

           “Now, Joe, you lay back down there and rest,” said Hoss trying to stop his brother from getting up without hurting him. “Adam’s gone to get the doc and he’ll be back soon. You just need to rest.”

           “Do as your brother says, Joe. Lay back down and rest.”

           “But Pa, what happened?” asked Joe again.

           “You been shot, Little Brother. But if you’ll just lay there and rest you’ll be alright.”

          Joe put his left hand up to his right shoulder. “Don’t feel like any kind a gun shot I ever had before. Feels more like – like – ah – well I ain’t sure what it feels like but it sure does hurt.” Joe’s face turned paler, if that was possible and he moaned and lay back down. “I remember,” he muttered. “What about Louise?”

         Louise came to the sofa and knelt beside of it. She took Joe’s hand and stroked it. “Lay still, Joe. I’m fine. Just lay there and rest like Hoss said.”

         “Needs a good stiff shot a whiskey,” said Martha. “That’ll help with the pain ‘till that doc gets here.”

          “Might help,” said Trampas who had been standing with the Virginian and watching everything that was going on while the special agent was there.

          “Martha’s right,” said Ben. “Hoss, get Joe some whiskey. No, there’s a bottle of brandy in the study. Would you get it.”

          “Sure thing, Pa.”

         “I get brandy, Mist-ter Cartwright. I get for Little Joe,” said Hop Sing who had been standing near the kitchen watching what was going on. He was as concerned about Joe as everyone else was. He had helped raise the Cartwright boys as much as Ben had and loved them as if they were his own. In a minute he was back with the bottle of brandy and was pouring some into a shot glass that he had collected with the bottle while in the study.

            “Mist-ter Ben, I think I see someone out the window while in study. I not recognize him.”

            Ben, Hoss the Virginian and Trampas all trooped into the study to look out the window.

            “Now them’s some strange lookin’ clothes that hombre’s got on,” said Hoss.

            “You got that right,” echoed Trampas.

            They watched as the man in the tight, black pants with the loose pull-over, gold shirt and the strange looking symbol, almost like an arrowhead, on the upper left shoulder of the shirt seemed to be trying to sneak around the barn. He held an odd looking gun in his right hand. It was bigger around, but shorter than a normal size pistol. The grip was more toward the center of the underneath side of the gun. There didn’t seem to be a cylinder for bullets, plus it seemed to come to a point at the front of the barrel, if it could be called a barrel.

          “Better not let him get away,” said Ben as he turned and left the study. He walked through the living room and opened the front door. While the Virginian followed Ben, Hoss and Trampas went out through the kitchen and out that door.

          “I don’t see him now,” said the Virginian.

          “Me, either,” agreed Ben. “Hoss went out the kitchen so he can see if he’s in sight there.”

           “I’m gonna go to the barn,” said the Virginian stepping off the porch and across the front yard to the big barn. He opened the door and slipped inside and went on through to the back. He peaked out and there was the man standing at the corral staring at the horses. Another man, dressed similar in the strange clothes, walked up to the first man.

          “Captain, we need to find Makele-11. Not stare at these – these ---,”

          “Horses, Mr. Spook. They are called Horses. And they are the most beautiful, magnificent, intelligent, spirited, courageous, wonderful creatures in the universe.” The man stepped up to where he could lean on the wooden corral fence. He extended a hand toward a dun horse that was the nearest one to him. The animal smelled his hand and then turned away.

          Spock looked harder at the four-legged beasts. He wondered why if the Captain could see all those great things he had listed in the horses that he couldn’t. “Illogical,” he muttered. “Later Captain. Right now we have a job to do. To find Makele-11. If we don’t there is no way to know what might happen to history as we know it.”

          Hearing a sound behind him the Virginian saw Ben behind him out of the corner of his eye. He nodded his head at the two strange men. Ben nodded back. Both had already drawn there guns. Now Ben spoke, “Would you gentlemen like to drop your guns and then tell me why you are looking at my horses?”

          Both men spun around in surprise. They raised their weapons.

          “Drop ‘em!” said the Virginian rasing his own a little higher. “And put you’re hands up.”

          The one called Captain grinned submissively and dropped his gun to the ground and raised his hands shoulder high. “Didn’t mean any harm.” He glanced back over at the horses. “Beautiful animals. Haven’t seen any for some time and couldn’t help but admire them.”

          “You, too,” the Virginian motioned at the other man. “Drop it.”

          “Mr. Spock. Do as the man says.”

          “Yes, Captain,” said Spock letting his weapon slide down his leg to the ground instead of dropping it. Then he raised his hands. He had hoped to catch the men off guard and stun them with his phaser but these two were very watchful.

          Trampas reached down and picked up the two strange looking guns. He turned one over and around in his hand. “Where do you load it at?”

          Kirk reached for the gun but Trampas pulled it back out of his reach. “P – Please – be careful with it,” said Kirk frowning at the way Trampas was handling the gun. “It can go off quickly if you’re not careful.” He reached for the gun again and Trampas gave him a dirty look and pulled it farther out of Kirk’s reach. “If you’ll let me I’ll turn it off.”

          “Turn it off?” asked the Virginian.

          “Ummm – well --- put the safety on,” muttered Kirk. “I sure wouldn’t want it going off accidently.”

          “You tell me how and I’ll do it,” said Trampas.

          “Well – these p--- guns are new and it’s hard to figure out how. I really don’t want to get shot by it accidently and neither do you.”

          “Let him,” said Ben. “But don’t try anything, Kirk.”

          Trampas handed him one of the odd guns and Kirk did something to it and passed it back. They repeated with the other gun, but Trampas couldn’t tell what he had done with either of them. Neither could Ben, Hoss, or the Virginian.

          “Hoss, take those weapons and put them in the safe when we get to the house. I couldn’t figure out how it was used and don’t want it in anyone’s hands.”

          “Yes, Sir.”

          Kirk wondered how to explain why they had the phasers instead of the revolvers like these Western men used. “Ahhh – these are new guns being used by the Fed – Government. They are very different from what you are formilar with.” He wondered if it felt like as lame an excuse to these men as it did to him and Spock. He could almost see a smile on Spock’s emotionless face.

          “Who are you and what do you want here?” asked Ben.

          The man in the gold shirt took a step closer. “Name’s Kirk. Jim Kirk and this is my – friend Spock. We are – Special Agents for the Federation --- for the Government. And we’re looking for an – escaped criminal. Have you seen any strangers around lately?”

          “I’m Ben Cartwright and this is my son, Hoss, and the foreman of a ranch in Wyoming, and his friend.” Ben sighed in exasperation. “Seen any strangers? How can many do you want? There’s the two of you. This fella here and his friend. And some other stranger shot my son. Which one do you want to start with? And how about some identification? There was another stranger here claiming to be a Special Agent, too. And you?” He pointed at Spock. “The man that shot my son had pointed ears. Were you the one that shot Little Joe?”

          “Sir, I can assure you I did not shoot your son.”

          “And what kind of clothes are those?” asked the Virginian.

          “Ahhh – these,” said Kirk picking at his shirt. “Ahhh – well –

These are something new in the way of government uniforms. We’re trying them out. Aren’t we Spock?”

          “Yes, Captain. New uniforms.”

          Hoss and Trampas came around the barn. “Pa? I see you got ‘em.”

          “What are they doing here?” asked Trampas.

          The Virginian smiled. “Said they were admiring those wonderful horses there.”

          “What?” asked Hoss? “Them broomtails?”

          “Broomtails?” echoed both Kirk and Spock.

          “Ahhh – I remember. Mustangs are sometimes called broomtails cause there tails are usually matted like they been using them for brooms.”

          “I done separated the good ones to make ranch horses out of. These are the mares I plan on turnin’ out with my stallion to maybe get some better horses in a few years,” explained Hoss.

          Kirk looked startled. “NO! Don’t turn them out with some other stallion. You’ll just cross them up and they won’t be mustangs any more. You’ll ruin the bloodlines.”
          All four of the cowmen laughed at the thought.

          “Bloodlines?” crowed Hoss. “Mustangs don’t got no bloodlines. That’s why I want breed them to my registered Thoroughbred. Then you might get some good horses.”

          “But that will loose the true bloodlines of the horses that were first brought over by the Conquistadors,” Kirk tried to explain. “Years from now there won’t be any true mustangs.”

          “Enough of this,” said Ben. “Go to the house. I need to check on Little Joe.”

          Kirk and Spock walked in front of the Ben, Hoss, Trampas, and the Virginian. “Spock? What happened to that knit cap that you’re supposed to wear when we go back in time?”

          “Captain, I hate that thing.”

          “Hate? Spock, hate is an emotion. You don’t have emotions, remember.”

          “At least we know that Makele-11 is here. Maybe we can convince these men we mean them no harm and just want to catch the criminal,” said Spock ignoring Kirk’s comment about emotions.

          The group of men walked into the barn, out of it, and into the house. Ben spoke to his prisoners. “Kirk? You and Spock sit down over there on the ledge in front of the fireplace. Don’t move or we’ll tie you up.”

          Louise had stared at the men. Suddenly she screeched. “That’s him. That’s the man that shot Joe. See the pointed ears. Just like I told you.”

          Martha moved closer to Spock looking closely at his ears. “You’re right, Granddaughter. He does have pointed ears. I ain’t never seen no one with ears that pointed before.”

          Spock allowed the woman to look him over without ever blinking an eye. Once she stepped back he went to sit on the ledge beside the Captain. Out of the side of his mouth he whispered. “What are we going to do, Captain?”

          “Nothing for the moment.” He saw the still figure of a man lying on the oversized sofa. He assumed this was the Cartwright son that had been injured. He watched as Ben leaned down and checked his son’s pulse. He seemed satisfied. Little Joe moaned and tossed on the sofa. For a moment he opened his eyes and stared at his father. He tried to say something but couldn’t, then he closed his eyes and seemed to sink into either sleep or unconsciousness.

          Hoss looked down at his brother. “Sure hope Adam gets back with the doctor soon,” he mumbled more to himself than any one else.

          “I been doin’ for him what I could,” said Louise. “Me and Grandma can’t figure out what else to do. That wound is awful nasty.”

          Spock stood and approached the sofa. “May I look. I didn’t shot your son, Mr. Cartwright but the criminal we are looking far has pointed ears like I do. It is possible Makele-11 shot your son with one of our – new guns. I can tell if I see the wound.”

          “Good idea, Spock,” agreed Kirk advancing so he could see the wound, too.

          Carefully Ben pulled back the blanket covering Joe and then the bandage.

          “Yes, I was correct. Captain, this wound was made with a ph – one of our guns. Doctor McCoy should be close by now. If we can contact him he should be able to help this young man.”

          Ben spun around to face Kirk. “You say there is a doctor nearby?”

          “Yes, I do,” said Kirk. “If you will allow us to look for him. We will leave our weapons here with you. And as you suggested, Mr. Cartwright, they should be locked up.”

          Ben nodded. “Hoss, put the weapons in the safe. Alright Mr. Kirk. If you have a doctor close go find him and bring him back. My sons are more important to me than anything. You can leave. Please, get the doctor.”

          Kirk and Spock looked at each other and quickly left the house.

          Hoss had put the strange guns in the safe and walked over by the door. He looked at Ben. Ben nodded and Hoss left the house to follow the men in the strange uniforms that were Special Agents.

          In moments Hoss was within hearing distance of the two men. They had walked out behind the barn again and the one called Kirk was again watching the horses. After a moment he touched the strange symbol on his shirt. There was a clicking sound. “Kirk here.”

          Hoss almost jumped when he heard another voice. “Jim, is that you? What’s going on down there?”

          “Bones, we think we are close to finding Makele-11. But he has shot a young man with a phaser. The man may die if we don’t help. He is badly injured. Bones, get some of your equipment and have Scotty beam you down so you can do what you can for this kid. If we save the kid these people might be willing to help us find Makele-11.”

          “All right, Jim. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

          Hoss had watched the exchange between Kirk and the invisible man who’s voice he could hear. He couldn’t help but ask. “Who was that you was talkin’ too, Mr. Kirk. What kind a thing is that on your shirt?”

          Spock and Captain Kirk spun around when Hoss spoke unaware that the big man had sneaked up on them. “You surprised us,” said Kirk.

          “Sorry, but Pa wanted me to keep a watch on you and bring that there doctor back when you find him.”

          “Doctor McCoy will be here in a few minutes,” said Spock hoping to divert the big man’s attention away from the communicators.

          “Good,” said Hoss as walked closer to the two men. “But what is that thing on your shirt? And how can it have a voice? I heard some of them gramophones, or phonographs, that take them little cylinders and turn ‘em round and round to play music but they’s a lot bigger than that little bitty piece. It looks more like a jewelry thing a woman might wear.”

          “It’s a – well --- like the phaser - guns. It’s new. A fancy kind of communication. You can talk to people over it,” said Kirk vaguely.

          “Well, I’ll be. What won’t they think of next? I done heard about them auto-mobles and them flying machines. And they got all kinds of new stuff for farmin’ any more. Like them new hay balers. But somethin’ you can talk over. That’s a right good idea.”

Hoss reached out and gently touched the inverted, silver V. “But right now it’s most important to get that there doctor here so he can take care of Little Joe. I don’t want a loose my brother. So where is he?”

          Hoss was watching Kirk and the shimmer of light was behind him and Spock. “He’s here, Captain.”

          “Good,” said Kirk and went to meet Bones. “Dr. McCoy let me introduce you to Mr. Hoss Cartwright. It’s his brother that’s been hurt. He’ll show you the way to the house.”

          Hoss saw another man in the strange looking uniform but the man also held a small case that might be a doctor’s bag. “This way,” Hoss said and led all of them to the house.

          But before they could get to the house they saw another man wearing one of the new uniforms entering the front door.

“Captain,” said Spock. “That’s Makele-11.” He started running to the door with Kirk behind him and McCoy following.

Hoss stood rooted where he was wondering what was going to happen now. If the group of strangers were in the house, he thought, maybe it would be better if he stayed outside. Maybe he could get the drop on one or all of them again. He wondered when this nightmare-like-day would end and if his brother would still be alive when it did. As he stood there he felt the little tremors that seemed to indicate another earthquake might happen soon. Couldn’t anything go right today, he thought, as the sun seemed to dim behind a chilling bank of foggy clouds?

Kirk, McCoy and Spock slid to a stop at the sight that greeted them in the house. Makele-11 had surprised Ben, the two women, the Virginian and Trampas. The criminal held them at phaser-point uncertain what to do next. When he saw the Captain he spun around, but the injured man on the sofa had struggled to his feet and stood in his way.

“No - you don’t,” said Joe. “Y - you dr - op th - at gun - and stay here. We – we’re gonna a – a – arrest y – you.” He fell forward toward Makele-11 who shoved the phaser into his belly while he grabbed his arm and hauled him out the door.

As Makele-11 and Little Joe cleared the doorway the earth shook again more violently. A huge, black cloud seemed to float over the sun. The outlaw pulled Joe to where the wagon stood with the two horses hitched to it that had brought injured Joe to the ranch house.

As the earth shook again the agitated horses snorted and stomped. They took several steps pulling the wagon a few feet.

“Get in,” commanded Makele-11, shoving Joe at the wagon. “You make beasts move. Take us away from here.”

Joe struggled to climb into the wagon with Makele-11 right behind him. When they were on the seat Joe picked up the reins and shook them while clucking to the horses. The horses took off at a trot as Ben, Kirk, and the others crowded out into the area in front of the house. They saw Joe and Makele-11 on the wagon but then the earth quake came again with a dark, foggy mist that seemed to obscure everything and when it started to clear the wagon and horses with their passengers had disappeared.

First Ben and everyone else stared wondering where the wagon was, but only for a moment. “Saddle up,” yelled Ben. “They can’t have got very far.”

Kirk suddenly looked very excited. “Show me were the saddles are and a horse and I’ll go with you. Come on Spock, Bones. It’ll be fun to ride a horse again.”

“Not me,” said Bones swearing a cuss word. “You can’t get me on one of those creatures.” He started backing up toward the house.

“Captain, with your permission,” said Spock. “The doctor and I will stay here and try to contact the ship to see if they can find where Makele-11 has disappeared to. I may be wrong but I don’t think a horseback ride will yield anything on the criminal. I think he may have gone on to another time period.”

Kirk thought he should agree with his First Officer but he wanted to ride a horse so desperately it was overpowering this thinking. “Stay here Spock, and see what you can find out. But just in case I’ll go with the Cartwrights and these other men.”

Moments later Captain Kirk, was mounted on a bay mare that Hoss had thought might suit the man, Hoss knew this mare was one they usually gave to visitors who weren’t good riders, but he didn’t tell Kirk that. The Captain, Ben and Hoss Cartwright, Trampas, and the Virginian rode out in a cloud of dust.

Spock, and Doctor McCoy wondered around the barn to where they could contact the Enterprise in some privacy. Louise, Martha, and Hop Sing went into the house to await the return of the riders and hopefully Little Joe.

                               **********

Following another series of earthquake shudders and the massive clouds of murkiness that obscured the sun for several long seconds, the wagon and team appeared on a dirt road northeast of the city of Los Angles, California. A rural area of the county. Exhausted the horses just stood wondering what their driver wanted them to do next. Little Joe Cartwright slumped in the seat while Makele-11 sat next to him as stunned as the horses were. After a few long minutes his head cleared and he knew that for what ever reason he and his companion, plus the horses and wagon had shot through one of the time occurrences again. He wondered briefly where he was this time. And what was wrong with the Portal that it was not functioning as it should? Was he still on earth or on another planet? He hoped he was still on earth as he figured he had a better chance of staying ahead of Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise. Even though it was Kirk’s home planet earth people had a more easy-going attitude toward the unusual. Or so he thought. 

The escaped outlaw took the reins and shook them. The still dazed horses only stood there. Makele-11 turned to the man beside him and shook him roughly. “Wake up. You must do this. I can not make these beast go.”

But Joe only groaned and rolled his head so that it was lying on the shoulder of the criminal. The man pushed him away. Still holding the reins, Makele-11 shook them again, and the horses started walking slowly down the road.

A jogger came around the corner and stared at them as he ran on by. Several school children were waiting for their school bus when the wagon went by causing them to forget about their gossiping. The pointed and jabbered about what they were seeing, wondering why a wagon pulled by horses was on their road.

 “Wow,” said one boy, about fourteen. “Did you see that?

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said the girl next to him. “Wish I could go for a ride in a wagon pulled by horses.”

“Ha ha ha,” laughed another boy. “You’d be scared out a your wits.”

“Would not,” retorted the girl.

“Would so,” responded the boy.

By then the wagon had gone on. A woman getting into her station wagon to go to work had to stop backing out of her driveway to let them go by.

A man in a faded orange Dodge Powerwagon watched the wagon as it approached him. Rick Simon had been almost dozing while he was staking out the house down the street waiting to see when the woman that lived there would leave and where she would go today. He had been hired by a suspious husband to find out what the man’s wife was doing while her husband was at work. The wagon was a nice diversion. He like horses and was a fan of the old TV Western shows. He had noticed horses at several of the homes in the rural area and supposed someone had a wagon and was going for a ride in the cool of the pleasant morning.

As he watched he noticed that the driver didn’t seem very experienced at driving a team and the man next to him was slumped over as if he didn’t feel good or maybe was hurt. Suddenly Rick was mistrustful of the rig. It just didn’t look right.

All right, he thought. Now I’m getting just like A.J. Suspicious of everything. But after all their years as private detectives anything that looked strange was a reason to be wary. He and his brother had been nearly killed too many times not to be apprehensive when they saw something out of the ordinary.

Simon watched a moment more. Maybe they don’t have any other transportation, he thought. He got out of his pickup truck and walked over to meet the wagon, putting out a hand to catch the bridle of the near horse and stop it. It didn’t take much as if the driver didn’t know much about driving horses. “You need help, Mister?” asked Rick.

Makele-11 just stared at the man who had stopped the four-legged beast.

As Rick watched the sick man sat up a little and muttered something. Again Rick was struck by the thought that something was off here. “Let me get you some help.” He looked down the road and saw an elderly women standing near her door watching the strange sight in the road. She held the end of a water hose as if she had been thinking of watering the jungle of plants in her yard. “Hey, Lady, do you have a phone?” he yelled.

After a moment of hesitation she answered. “Yes. What’s going on?”

“I think this man is sick or hurt,” answered Rick. “If you could call an ambulance maybe we could get him to a doctor.”

Again she hesitated. The breeze blew her graying hair in a whirl. She dropped the hose and entered the house.

As soon as she did Makele-11 pulled out his gun and pointed it at Simon. “I will shoot you as I did this one.”

“Now wait a minute, Fella. I was just tryin’ to help,” said Rick as he lifted his hands shoulder high. “I ain’t gonna get in your way.” He stepped back from the wagon and the man jumped down. After only a second he turned and ran down the road, around a curve and disappeared. Again the sick man moaned and tried to talk.

“Take it easy, Mister. I’ll get you some help.” Rick climbed up on the wagon seat and held the man from falling off.

Moments later the woman returned. “I called the police. They said they would send the paramedics and an ambulance.”

Rick called his thanks to her and wondered how long it would take for the help to come. He had no idea how long it took ambulances to respond here in the L.A. area. His own stamping grounds were in San Diego where he and his brother, A. J. had their detective agency. He knew that in San Diego sometimes cops and ambulances were quick to come and sometimes they weren’t.

He heard a vehicle pull up beside the wagon and looked over to see a gold Pontiac Firebird. A man about Rick’s age but slightly taller got out of the car and came to the wagon.

“What’s happening here?”

“Rockford?” questioned Rick. “Is that you?”

“Rick Simon. I thought that was you. What you got goin’ on?”

“Man’s hurt or sick or somethin’. The woman in that house called for an ambulance.” Rick turned back to the sick man. “Hey, who are you? What’s your name?”

The man moaned, opened blue-green eyes and looked up at Rick. “Cartwright. Joe Cartwright. Where are we? Are we still on the Ponderosa?”

Rick thought a second. “On the Ponderosa? A tree?”

“Ranch,” muttered Joe. “Ponderosa is my Pa’s ranch.”

“No we’re not on no ranch. This is Santa Rosa St. in some little minor part of Los Angles County.”

“Los Angles County? Isn’t that in California?” asked Joe. “How did we get here, ah – there – er – where ever this is?” He closed his eyes and if Rick hadn’t held onto him he would have fallen. “All I want is to go home,” mumbled Joe.

The sound of a siren wailing in the distance reached Jim Rockford’s and Rick Simon’s ears. “Ambulance on it’s way,” said Rick.

“Ambulance?” questioned Joe. “Oh, one of those wagons that the Army uses to take men to the doctor when they get hurt.”

Simon thought that statement over and shook his head. “You sure are a strange one or maybe you’re hallucinating.”

“Might be on drugs,” said Rockford.

“Might be,” agreed Rick as first a bright red paramedic squad pulled up beside them and then a fire truck.

The horses had been quiet until the trucks with their sirens came and now they were tossing their heads and pawing the ground. One whinnied loudly. Neither of them had ever seen anything like these monsters. They were very tired, hungry and thirsty but this was just too much. Rick grabbed the reins and started calling to them. “Whoa, whoa, whoa there fellas. Take it easy.”

Jim ran to their heads and grabbed a bridle but the horse tried to rear pulling the man off his feet.

“Cut that siren!” yelled Captain Hank Stanley and the noise was gone instantly.

Within a minute Rick and Jim had the horses under control. While they kept hold of the horses two paramedics had eased Joe Cartwright off of the wagon and laid him on the ground away from the dangerous equine hooves and wagon wheels in case the horses did start to act up again.

Captain Stanley wasn’t pleased to see the horses and wagon on a public road. “These animals belong to you?” he asked Rockford.

“Not me. No, Sir. I just stopped when I saw Rick Simon there tryin’ to help that man on the wagon. Guess their his horses. The guy that’s sick.”

“You got a name?”

“Jim Rockford.”

At that moment several county sheriffs vehicles drove in with sirens going upsetting the horses again. Stanley ran over to tell them to turn the sirens off. He and a policeman went back to where the paramedics were working on the sick man.

“What you got, Roy?” asked the policeman.

“Not sure yet, Vince.” Roy had removed enough of the man’s shirt to revile a nasty looking injury. “Maybe a knife wound.”

Vince knelt by the man noting the clothes that looked as if they had come right out of the Old West. Maybe an actor he thought which might account for the horses and wagon. “You got a name, Mister? Can you tell me what happened?”

“Cartwright, Joe Cartwright.”

Joe tried to get up but Roy held him down. “Lay still Mr. Cartwright. You’ve been hurt and we’re paramedics here to help you. I’m Roy DeSoto and this is John Gage and Vince is with the Las Angles County Sheriffs Office.” He turned to where Johnny held the receiver of the portable phone. He told his partner the injured man’s blood pressure and respiration.

Johnny spoke into the portable phone. “Rampart this is County 51.”
          “Go ahead 51,” said a women’s voice. “What have you got, Johnny?”

“Dixie we have a man that looks like he has a knife injury to his upper right shoulder.” He gave her the blood pressure and respiration, and pulse. “He’s bleeding some but not to bad now. But looks like he did loose a lot of blood before we got here. Shirt’s covered in blood.

A man’s voice came over the phone. “51 how is the patient’s pain level?”

“He’s in some pain, Doc, but holding his own. Smells as if he might have had a drink or two. Roy, has he had any thing to drink?”

“Mr. Cartwright, have you had anything to drink? Any kind of liqueur – whiskey?”

“Yeah, my – my brother gave me – a - couple a slugs of whiskey to – to -help kill the pain ----- a while a go.”

“Doc, he’s got some bleeding from the wound. Can’t say for sure it is a knife wound. Might be some sort of electrical injury that broke the skin.”

“OK, Johnny. Is their an ambulance available?”

          “It’s here, Doc.”

          “Use a compress to suppress the bleeding. Start an IV with D5W with Ringers, and transport as soon as possible. Rampart out.”

          “Compress to suppress bleeding. IV with D5W – Ringers. And transport. Got it Doc Brackett. Squad 51 – out.”

          While Roy and Johnny took care of the patient Vince asked a few more questions. “Mr. Cartwright are those your horses? What were you doing out here on a public road with them? They could have been hit by a car. Where’s your home? And where do you want us to take the horses?”

          Joe looked dazed at the bombardment of questions. “Public road? Home? ------ Yeah, there my horses. Or more rightly my Pa’s. ------ Guess you need to ---- take ‘em to the ranch.”

          “Ranch?” asked Vince. He knew there was the movie studio ranches near by where there were still a few Western movie and TV shows made. Maybe this man was from there. “You out here makin’ a movie? Where’s the rest of your crew and cameras?”

          Joe just stared at the policeman as if he was speaking a foreign language. “I – I was shot by that there strange fella with the pointed ears. Then --- some --- how I got to – the ranch. Then that – that – same fella pulled me out of – the house. And wanted – me – to drive him somewhere. Next thing I know – there was – a man helping me out--- out of ----.”  He looked down at his arm as Roy inserted an IV needle. His face paled and he almost passed out. “Why – why – are you – doin’ that?” Joe thought he might be dreaming – why else would he think someone was putting a needle in his arm.

          Roy interrupted Joe. “You’ve talked enough for now. We’ve got you ready to go to the hospital now. We’re gonna pick you up and put you on the gurney and into the ambulance.” He looked up at Vance. “I’m not so sure he’s not hallucinating, Vince.”

          “Yeah, it kind of sounds like it. I’ll follow you on in and see if I can get any more information later.” He turned to a policeman behind him. “Carter, call Animal Control and see if they can send someone out here to take these horses – well – where ever they take lost horses – I guess.”

          “I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout horses,” the young policeman waved his hand at the animals.

          Vince sighed and wondered why he was always the one that ended up with these strange cases. “Mr. Rockford,” he called. “Could I get you to stay here until Animal Control can take these horses somewhere they can be cared for until Mr. Cartwright can make arrangements to get them to his home?”

          Jim gave a dirty look at Rick Simon who had retreated to his Dodge Powerwagon and was watching the goings on with a grin on his face. “Why not,” agreed the private detective. He wanted a chance to talk to Simon before he got away anyway.

          Joe Cartwright had been loaded into the ambulance and DeSoto would ride with him while Gage drove the squad truck.

The ambulance driver turned on the siren as he took off for the hospital. Of course the horses tried to jump out of their harness and would have taken off if Rockford hadn’t had a tight grip on the bridle of one of them.

“Whoa, now, you loggerheaded critters. When you gonna get used to that damned siren. You act like you ain’t never seen a truck or heard a loud noise in your lives. Which makes me think you’re not movie horses.”

Seeing the situation Rockford was in Rick Simon jumped out of his pickup truck and ran over to help. In a few minutes they had the team of bay horses settled down again. “What they gonna do with these idiot horses?” asked Rick.

“The cop said someone from Animal Control should be here soon to take them somewhere,” said Jim. “What were you doin’ here, anyway, Rick?”

Rick turned to where the cop was just getting into his car. “Hey, Deputy. Wait a minute.”

“Yes,” said Vince getting back out of his car with a notebook in hand. “I need to get some information from you.”

“Fine by me. I wanted to tell you that the other fella that was with that Cartwright fella ran off down the road.”
          “The other man?” asked Vince.

“Yeah, when I first saw them there was another man on the wagon and when I tried to help them he pointed a gun at me, then jumped out of the wagon and ran off.”

“A gun? Do you know what kind?” Vince made notes in the notebook.

Rick shook his head. “I’m pretty familiar with guns but I didn’t recognize this one. Funny lookin’ thing. But it was a handgun.”

          “What’s your name?”

          Simon dug his wallet out of his hip pocket and pulled his ID out of it. “Rick Simon. I’m a PI from San Diego. Up here doing some research for a case.”

          Vince took the ID and made more notes about the man in front of him. Then he walked over to Rockford and took his ID and made more notes.

          “The man was already gone when I got here,” said Jim. “I didn’t see him.”

          Vince turned back to Rick. “Can you describe him?”

          “Yeah, but the main thing was he had real pointed ears almost as if they weren’t real. Maybe part of a costume. Other wise he was about six feet tall, maybe one hundred eighty pounds. I’d say he wasn’t Anglo, but I’m not sure what. He was dark skinned but not too dark with black hair and eyes. Maybe thirty, thirty-five years old. Had on strange lookin’ clothes, too. Slinky type material. Tight fitting tee shirt with long sleeves. Pants were same kind of material. Oh, he had on some sort of black boots, too.”

          Vince finished writing, closed the book, and thanked both men for their help giving them each a business card. After giving Carter an order to wait their until Animal Control came he got in his car and left.

          “So what are you doin’ here,” asked Jim again. “Doing research,” he snickered.

“Ahhh – I got roped into a divorce case and was stakin’ out a wife to see if I could catch her with her boyfriend for the husband.”

“Now isn’t that a heck of a deal. I’m here stakin’ out a husband to find him out with his girlfriend or what ever he’s doin’ while she’s at work.”

“Now that figures,” said Rick as he rubbed the neck and withers of the frightened horse he was holding. He laughed. “Wouldn’t happen to be the Roedales at 110011 Santa Rosa Street would it?”

“Now how did you know that?” said Jim joining his friend in laughing. “You got the wife and I got the husband. You find out anything?”

“Not yet. How about you?”

“Not a damn thing. Seems like she just stays home all day and takes care of the kids until it’s time for her to go to work at five in the evening. She’s a nurse.”

“Same with the husband. He just stays home all evening with the kids or goes to the store. At least this has been interesting.”

“Yeah, any idea where that other guy went when he left here?”

“Nope. And he sure did look strange. As that Cartwright fella said he had really pointed ears. Might be worth lookin’ into what he’s doin’. At least more interesting that stakin’ out the Roedales.”

          “Might be.”

          The Animal Control truck pulled up with a large stock trailer behind it.

          “Good thing they brought that stock trailer instead of a little two horse trailer. I got a feelin’ these guys ain’t never been in a trailer before,” said Jim. He began unhooking the harness from around the horses.

          The horses were too tired to cause any more trouble. They saw the little bit of hay that was in the trailer and walked right in.

                                    ***********

          “Exam room 3,” said Nurse Dixie McCall as Roy and Johnny came down the hospital hall beside the gurney the ambulance attendants were pulling with Joe Cartwright on it.

          Dr. Kelly Brackett came out of his office and followed the gurney into the exam room. “Put him on the table,” he said. “Johnny, Roy, can either of you tell me any more about what happened to him? What’s his name?”

          “Not really,” said Roy as he helped the ambulance men put the unconscious man on the exam table.

          “He said his name was Joe Cartwright,” said Johnny. “But he didn’t have any ID on him.”

          Brackett sighed. He hated to have to work with a patient when he didn’t even know for sure who the person was so he could get the patients medical information. You never knew when a person was going to be allergic to a medicine. Regardless he went to work trying to do what he could for the young man. His first thought was that the man was differently physically fit. He must do lots of working out at the gym he thought, to have muscles like these. But the injury was possibly life-threatening. He wasn’t sure what might have caused the injury but it was going to take lots of care to get him over it. He turned to Dixie. “Call Dr. Early. I want him to take a look at this.”

          “Right away,” said Dixie leaving the room.

          “Was he ever conscious?” asked Brackett. “Did he say what caused this?”

          “He was conscious for a while,” answered Gage. “He said he was shot, but that doesn’t look like a gunshot wound.”

          Brackett agreed. “No, it doesn’t.”

          Dr. Joe Early entered the room and took a look at the patient.

“Any ideas on what happened?”

          This time DeSoto answered. “He seemed to think he had been shot, but could it be a knife wound?”

          The nurse beside the patient recited his blood pressure, and respiration, then looked at the doctors. Even though she shouldn’t have she said as if to herself, “Not good.”

          “You’re right, Carol. Not good,” agreed Brackett.

          “Let’s get to it before we loose him,” said Dr. Early and began telling Carol what he wanted in the way of lab work and what he wanted the patient to have in the way of medication.

          “I think we need to alert surgery that we will have to operate soon,” said Kell Brackett. “I don’t see how we can not do an exploratory surgery and be able to treat him correctly.”

          “You’re right, Kell,” agreed Joe Early. He thought a moment. “You know we have those doctors from the conference coming through in an hour or so. How about we ask them to consult on this case?”

          Bracket looked up as if thinking he should have already thought of this. “Good idea. Marsus Welby is leading the conference and should have some good ideas.”

          “And I heard that Dr. Kildare is here, too.”

          “Oh, yeah. I hadn’t heard that. Well, let’s see if we can get them to come here as soon as possible. I don’t think this young man needs to wait.”

         

                                     ************

          Captain Kirk pulled his mount up in front of the barn at the Ponderosa Ranch yard and slowly dismounted with several groans.

          Ben, Hoss, Trampas, and the Virginian pulled their horses up to the corral fence and dismounted but without the groans that the Captain had made.

          Spock walked over to him as Jim Kirk bent over at the waist and rubbed his back, then repeated the process bending backwards as far as possible. “Did you see anything of Makele-11, Captain?”

          “No –ooo,” answered Kirk. “Not a sign of him or the wagon, or Cartwright’s son.”

          Dr. McCoy had followed Spock. “What’s wrong, Jim? Did you get hurt? I knew you shouldn’t go riding that animal.”

          “No, I didn’t get hurt. I just forgot there are muscles you don’t even know you have until you ride a horse for the first time in a very long time. I know I’ll really be sore tomorrow. Did you contact the ship?”

          “Yes, Captain,” said Spook, “and Chekov thinks the Portal is mal-functioning and making frequent skips in spurts, or leaps.  This is causing what feels like earthquakes here on earth and causing some massive storms.”

          Jim turned to his horse and un-cinched the saddle causing the mare to sigh with relief. He pulled the saddle off and hung it over the fence. He led the mare into the corral and took off her bridle turning her loose. She quickly sank to her knees and then on down to take a quick roll in the sand. She got up and headed to the water trough.

          “You didn’t have to do that, Captain Kirk. We would have done it,” said Hoss. “We got ranch hands to help guests with their horses. Or I could have done it for you.”

          “Where I came from a rider cares for his mount himself,” said Kirk. “But thanks, Hoss.” He hesitated a moment. “Please tell your father thank you for letting me go with you. But we’ll be on our way now and use some of our – of our – special – special – uhh,” he looked at Spock for help explaining.

          “Of our special tools for communication and finding – lost things and people.”

          “Oh,” said Hoss. “I understand. You ain’t allowed to talk about them special tools.” He put his finger to his lips. “Their hush, hush, secret. Right?”

          “Right,” agreed Kirk and Spock together.

          “I’ll tell Pa, but don’t ya need a ride to – ah – where ever it is your goin’?”

          Jim looked at Spock and Bones. “I think we’ll just walk. We prefer it that way.” He stuck out his hand and shook with Hoss. “By for now.”
          “Yeah, By for now,” said Hoss. He watched as the three men walked around the barn and disappeared from sight.

                                       **********

          Captain Kirk sank carefully down into his chair in the middle of the bridge aboard the Star Ship Enterprise. He tried to stifle the groan that wanted to escape. He was getting tired of trying to explain why he was having trouble doing the least little bit of walking after riding a horse for a couple of hours. He didn’t remember the ship having that many long halls that had to be walked. He had rubbed some sort of liniment on his sore muscle that Bones had given him but he still hurt. He, Spock, and McCoy had taken time to eat and rest after returning to the ship. “Any information on where Makele-11 is now?” he asked Sulu who was at the helm.

          “Yes, Captain. We have located him on earth at a city called Los Angles, California. I believe the year is 1971. He seems to be walking on a beech near the Pacific Ocean.”

          “Spock, I thought you said it would be 1975.”

          “That was the reading I got at that time, Captain. But as you know the Portal is not behaving normally. So 1971 is correct.”

          “When has the Portal ever ‘behaved normally’? Seems to me that thing is always out of whack,” said Dr. McCoy.

          “And if we beam down will we be in the year 1971 with him?” asked the Captain.

          “It would see so,” answered Spock. “I have instructed Mr. Scott to set the transporter so that we can beam down on the beech where Makele-11 is now.”

          “Good.” Kirk touched several buttons on the arm of his Captain’s chair. “Mr. Scott.”

          “Here, Captain,” answered a voice.

          “We are headed for the transporter now.”

          “All is ready, Captain.”

                                         *********

          Jim Rockford and Rick Simon had roamed the neighborhood near the area where Joe Cartwright and his wagon had been found, looking for the pointed-eared man that had run away from the scene. They finally decided it was a hopeless task and stopped at a Roach Coach to grab a bite to eat then drove to Rockford’s small trailer home that sat near the beach. After discussing the situation they used Rockford’s phone to call Mr. and Mrs. Roedale to report that there was nothing to report and that they would send written reports and a bill soon.

          The door opened to the trailer and an older man entered. “Hi, Rocky,” said Jim.

          “Howdy, Jimmy. Who’s your friend?”

          “You remember Rick Simon, don’t you, Dad.”

          “Rick Simon? Oh, yeah, that PI from San Diego. The one with the brother.”

          Rick stuck out his hand and shook with Jim’s dad. “Nice to see you again, Rocky.”

          But Rocky didn’t seem to really be listening to them. “Hey, did you see that weird lookin’ guy out on the beech? He’s sure causin’ a stir out there. He’s got the strangest pointed ears I ever did see on a fella.”

          “Pointed ears,” echoed Jim and Rick.

          “Where did you say he was?” asked Jim.

          Rick didn’t even wait for an answer. He was out the door at a run which came to a stop so he could look around at the people wondering on the beech. At first glance he didn’t see anyone that reminded him of the pointed-eared man. Then he noticed a group of people standing about a football field length from him. There seemed to be something going on with the group so he headed that way. He didn’t even notice that Jim was following him with Rocky bringing up the rear.

          At the edge of the crowd all three men watched for a moment. A couple of college age boys were heckling the man in the center of the group. All of them wore skimpy swim suits, but the man with the pointed ears who wore the same gold shirt and black pants he had on before. A couple of the crowd carried surf boards. They were calling Makele-11 names and asking him what planet he was from. The man with the pointed ears glared at them and tried to walk away.

          “Hey, Mister Funny Ears, don’t walk off.”

          “Where did you get them ears,” laughed a girl hanging on the arm of the first college boy.

          Another boy grabbed the arm of the strange man. “Come on, Mister. Tell us how you got them ears. Not everyone can claim ears like them.”

          The pointed-eared man had had enough. He put his hand flat against the boy’s chest and pushed. Pushed hard. “Do not do this,” he growled. “I do not like it.”

          That caused the girl to laugh even hard. “He don’t like it, he says.”

          Rick Simon grabbed the arm of one boy and pulled him back none too gently. “Back off. All of you. Leave the man alone.”

          “And who do you think you are?” asked one boy.

          Jim Rockford had made his way through the crowd and gave the young man a glare. “Cops are on their way.” At the words the group of hecklers scattered. “Thought that might do it.”

          Makele-11 wasn’t sure what to do. Where ever he had landed this time he wasn’t sure he wanted to stay. He turned to Simon and asked a question. “Is this earth?”

          Rick was taken aback by the question. “Yeah, it’s earth. Where did you think it was? What kind of drugs are you on?”

          The newcomer tried to turn away. “I was making sure.” He walked toward the ocean.

          “Mister,” said Rocky. “What kind a drugs are you on?”

          “Drugs?” asked Makele-11

          “Yeah. Drugs.”

          Jim tried to talk to him. “You were with the man on the wagon with the horses this morning, weren’t you?”

          “Beasts would not go, so I left.”

          “You’re gonna leave again,” said a voice behind the small group.

          Makele-11 jumped at the voice and started to run. First Officer Spock was quicker and caught the outlaw Romulan before he could get more than three steps.

Dr. McCoy pulled a hypodermic out of his pack and injected the criminal before the man realized what he was doing. Makele-11 slumped against Spock but didn’t completely go down. “That should hold him.”

“Thanks, Bones,” said Captain Kirk. He turned to the three men that had watched in fascination. “And thank you, gentlemen for detaining this – this – fugitive - for us. We will take care of him now.”

Rocky spoke up first. “You fella’s cops?”

“You have some ID?” asked Rockford.

Rick didn’t say anything just glaring at the men.

“Ah – yes, I – and my companions are – cops. Actually – ah Government Agents. Special Agents.”

“Ah – huh,” grunted Rocky. He still didn’t believe them.

Jim Rockford asked again. “Where’s your ID?”

“ID?” asked Spock.

“Your identification,” said Simon sullenly. “Rocky, why don’t you go back and call the real cops while we hold these men here?”

“Good idea,” agreed Jim wanting to get his dad out of the way if trouble should break out. He was glad to see that Rocky didn’t argue but let for the trailer and the phone. “Call Dennis.”

“Will do, Son.”

“You got a name, at least?” asked Rick.

“Of course. I’m Captain James T. Kirk and this is my First Officer Mr. Spook and our ship’s doctor, Dr. McCoy. And who are you gentlemen?”

“Names Rick Simon and this is Jim Rockford. We’re PI’s.”

“PI’s?”

Rick and Jim looked at each other. How could these men be so dense? “Private Investigators,” they said together.

“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Rockford and Mr. Simon but we really are Special Agents for the Government. This man is an escaped criminal that we have been trying to catch for some time. Now we’ll be on our way.” He turned to Spock and McCoy and touched his communicator. “Scotty, are you there?”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Scotty, beam us up. Now!”

A beam of light appeared blinding Simon and Rockford and by the time they could see again the four odd men were gone.

“What happened?” asked Simon. “Did you see where they went?”

“No,” said Rockford. “What did they use?”

“Maybe some sort of new smoke bomb or – or something - but no smoke. Not even any loud noise. Actually it was as if they just - just vanished.”

“Well, we sure can’t tell the cops that. No cop would believe this story.” Jim headed for the trailer. “Let me see if I can stop Rocky from calling them.”

Rick Simon continued to stare at the place the four men had disappeared from wondering how they had done it. A. J. sure wasn’t going to believe this any more than the cops would.

                               ***********

“Star Ship Log – Romulan fugitive, Makele-11 has been apprehended and is under armed guard in the brig. He is to be transported to Prison Colony Port Madison 12 within the next seven days.” Captain Kirk punched several buttons on the arm of his chair on the bridge of the Enterprise. “Mr. Chekov, prepare to take us out of orbit.”

“A moment, Captain,” said Spock.

“Yes, Mr. Spock,” said Kirk raising one eyebrow in question at his first officer.

“I am seeing that the man, Joe Cartwright, who was shot with a phaser by Makele-11, is not going to live unless we interfere in his treatment. The doctors caring for him are not advanced enough to treat the wound so that he will live. Plus he is in the wrong time period.”

 “Hummmm.” Kirk frowned in thought. “Mr. Spock, will the death of Joe Cartwright make a big difference in history?”

There was a swish of the doors and Dr. McCoy entered the bridge where he stood listening to Spock.

“I am not sure, Captain. In 1959 there will be a western television show entitled Bonanza that will feature a man named Michael Landon who will play the part of one Joe Cartwright on a ranch called the Ponderosa. This Landon, as well as the men that play the parts of Ben, Hoss, and Adam Cartwright will become well known names in the movie industry on earth. They will have an immense following as far as fan clubs are concerned. Even after their deaths. It may or may not make a different in the life of the Joe Cartwright we met.”

“Hummmmm,” commented Kirk again.

McCoy spoke up, “Jim, I hate to leave someone to die when it is our fault that he was hurt. And when I know I can help him.”

Kirk considered what the doctor had said. “And I suppose we should get him back to the right time in his life.”

“We should,” agreed Spock.

“Scotty,” said Kirk into his communicator. “Dr. McCoy and I will be beaming back down to the earth destination we were at before.”

“Aye, Captain.”

                               **********

The group of doctors crowded into the exam room and stood around the table with the man laying on it. Brackett waited until he had the attention of all the doctors. “Gentlemen and ladies. Thanks for coming. This is our patient, Joe Cartwright. He told the paramedics he had been shot. But the wound looks more like a knife injury or possibly he was either hit by a bolt of lightning or an electrical charge that split the skin in a way to look as if he had been cut. The patient has been unresponsive to any thing we have tried.” He went on to list all that he and Dr. Joe Early had tried. He had Nurse McCall give an up-to-date blood pressure reading, respiration, and temperature reading. She stepped back into a corner and watched as the group of doctors discussed Joe Cartwright. She wondered if there was any possibility he could hear what was being said. If he could, she wondered, what was he thinking.

“I think he may be in a coma,” said Dr. Kildare.

“I’m sure of it,” added Dr. Marcus Welby.

“So are we,” said Brackett, “but we need to figure out what to do about it and repair the wound. At this point it looks as if we are loosing Mr. Cartwright.”

Dr. Welby turned to another doctor. “Mark, what do you think? You’ve had lots of experience working at St. Eligius in Boston. For those that don’t know him this is Dr. Mark Craig.”

“Yes, I have, Marcus. But nothing like this. It looks as if the wound is doing alright. But the patient isn’t regaining consciousness for some reason.”

Another doctor spoke up. He was short and sort of balding. “Dr. Craig, have you thought about that maybe the patient is in a coma on purpose so that he can recover from the injury.”

All the doctors turned to the one who has spoken as if he had said blasphemy. But one of the women doctors agreed with him. “I agree with Dr. Hartley. It is possible the patient is blocking everything from his mind which is causing the coma. I have seen natives in other countries do this in my travels to learn more about the human body and especially the human mind.”

“How interesting that sounds, Dr. Brennen. We will have to get together and discuss more about this and your travels,” said Dr. Bob Hartley.

“I would like to do that, Dr. Hartley.”

Dr. Early spoke up. “Dr. Hartley, we thank you for your input, but I do not think this is a case for a psychologist. Nor, Dr. Brennen, for a doctor who is a forensic anthropologist.”

“But – I – really think – I – have a lot – to offer ----,” stammered Temperance Brennen, who was a very young, female doctor. She was frequently misunderstood in her discussions on forensic evidence but had high ambitions of being the best forensic anthropologist in the world someday.

“Come, Dr. Brennen,” said Dr. Hartley, placing a hand on her arm and leading her to the door. He knew if he didn’t that Temperance would start talking loudly trying to make these doctors recognize the perfect person she was and make things worse for herself in this world of male doctors specializing in emergency medicine. As they stepped out of the exam room Dr. Leonard McCoy. from the Star Ship Enterprise, slipped in, un-noticed by the others.

A tall, older doctor walked over and looked at the patients x-rays. “You know, I’m wondering if it could be a wound caused by some sort of shrapnel during an explosion. We saw some similar injuries when I was stationed with the MASH unit in Korea. From what the x-ray’s show there isn’t anything in the wound, nor do I see excessive damage to his shoulder.”

“Do you think so, Hawkeye?” said Dr. Kildare.

“From what I can tell,” agreed Dr. Benjamin Pierce. His gray hair was as noticeable as his eyes had always been now that he was of an age to have gray hair. His behavior and conduct were the same as it had always been. He had been well know as a very good doctor but one who was very unprincipled and unethical as an Army doctor during the Korean War. He was still that way. And those that really knew him loved him for it.

“Appreciate you input, Dr. Pierce,” said Kelly Bracket. “What do you suggest?”

“Since Mr. Cartwright seems to be stable – his blood pressure, respiration, and pulse, and temperature are regular. I suggest we leave him for twenty-four hours and see if he comes out of the coma on his own and if the wound begins to heal.”

“And if he doesn’t come out of the coma?”

“Then it will be time to discuss more options. Right now I suggest we all think about the situation and come back tomorrow to discuss it.”

“Sounds good to me,” agreed Dr. Welby, and several of the other men who hadn’t said anything.

“I’m not so sure,” said another very young doctor.

“Why is that, Dr. House,” said Dr. Pierce.

“I have done a lot of work with patients that were experiencing strange or weird symptoms and wonder if maybe this patient is – well – ‘playing possum’. I have noticed him almost open his eyes several times.” He walked over to the exam table and pinched the patients arm. There was no response. “Or maybe not,” said Dr. Craig House.

“House, you really are nuts,” said one of the other young doctors who had been watching, whose name tag read Dr. James Wilson.

 As one, they all turned and started leaving the room including Dr. McCoy. When they had left Dixie McCall stepped forward and took Joe Cartwright’s blood pressure and respiration again softly giving the readings to Kelly Brackett and Joe Early who were still in the room.

“Dixie,” said Brackett, “I’m inclined to follow Dr. Pierce’s suggestion to give our patient a few hours and then see how he is doing.”

“I agree,” said Joe Early. “Dixie, would you see to it that Mr. Cartwright is moved to the ICU. I think he would be better off there instead of here in one of our exam rooms.”

“Yeah,” said Kell. “We may need it later and the ICU nurses can keep a better eye on him there.”

“I’ll get right at it,” said Dixie as she followed the two doctors out of the room.

As she started down the hall Paramedics Roy De Soto and Johnny Gage come toward her with ambulance attendants pulling a gurney behind them.

“This the heart attack?” asked Dixie.

“Yes,” said Roy.

“Exam room two.”

Gage looked behind him. “There’s a couple more coming in. There was a big car accident.”

“We’ll take care of them,” said Dixie.

McCoy and Captain Kirk watched everyone leave the exam room and get busy with several emergency cases that just came in. The stepped into the room and McCoy used his tri-corder to examine Joe Cartwright.

“How is he, Bones?” asked Kirk

“Alive,” said McCoy.

Kirk touched the commutater he wore. “Scotty?”

“Yes, Captain.”
          “Three to beam up,” said Kirk and a shaft of light lit the room as the three men disappeared.

          An hour later Dixie came back to check on Joe Cartwright. She was surprised to see that he was gone from the room. She shrugged, thinking that the ICU people had responded quicker than she had expected and had already moved the patient. That’s good, she thought, starting to clean the room for another patient.

The next morning when the doctors from the conference came again to see how their special case was doing in the ICU no one could understand how a patient could just disappear. A search of the hospital and area was started and continued for many long hours. The police were notified, and he was listed as a missing person. But he couldn’t be found. After the third day it was decided that he had come out of the coma and managed to walk out of the ICU and out of the hospital. That had to be what Joe Cartwright had done, they thought. The doctors, nurses, staff and the police force looked off and on for months, and wondered just who Joe Cartwright really was, and where he had gone. It was even suspected that he was a member of a gang, or outlaw group, drug dealers, or maybe even the Mafia, and his people had come and taken him away. It would be a mystery that would never be solved.

                                 ***********

Ben, Hoss, Adam, Trampas and the Virginian had spent five days looking for Little Joe, and the pointed-eared stranger that had kidnapped him. It was morning of another day and they were all quiet as they saddled up to ride out again looking for Joe.

“Mr. Cartwright,” said the Virginian. “As much as I would like to stay here and help you look for your son, Trampas and I will have to leave soon to take those cows up to Shiloh.”

“I understand,” said Ben. “I’m just thankful you have stayed as long as you have.”

“Well, let’s get goin’,” said Hoss. “Maybe today we’ll find him. I got a good feelin’ ‘bout today.”

Adam looked at his brother. He remembered other times when the big man had hunches that had paid off. “I sure hope so, Hoss.”

The rode out together for a couple of miles. They halted and Ben started to split them up to ride different directions when Hoss pointed across the meadow they were in and yelled. “There’s someone over there.”

There was someone standing at the edge of the trees and waving at them. They rode at a gallop to where Little Joe stood grinning. Hoss and Adam jumped off their mounts and grabbed their younger brother with whoops of joy.

“Where you been, Joe?”

          “What happened when you left in the wagon?”

          It took a moment before Joe could say anything he was so glad to see his family. “I’m – I’m not real sure. I don’t remember much. It’s – it’s more like a really strange dream. I remember being in the wagon with that stranger. And some other people came to help me. The stranger ran away. And the other people took me in – in – a – well, it was like the strangest dream I ever had. It was a wagon that went by it’s self - without any horses to pull it.”

          “Son, what are you talking about?” asked Ben.

          “I’m not – sure,” said Joe. “Like I said it was like a dream. And I was in a room with all kinds of – stuff – maybe equipment stuff - that I didn’t know what was. And there was a group of men and women looking at me.”

          “Joe, are you funnin’ with us?” asked Hoss.

          “No, Hoss. I wish I was. It would at least make since. What I remember doesn’t make any since.”

          “What about your wound?” asked Adam. “How are you feeling?”

          “Wound? Oh, yeah, I did get shot, didn’t I?” Joe felt his shoulder and a funny look crossed his face. “I – I. Well, it’s a lot better.”

          Joe didn’t even flinch as Ben examined his shoulder. There was a bandage on his shoulder held in place by an odd type of sticky substance. “Does it hurt?” asked Ben.

          “Only a little bit,” answered Joe.

          Ben grabbed him and hugged him tightly. “I thought I had lost you.” He tried to hide the tears in his eyes but gave up.

          “What happened to that there fella with the pointed ears, Joe?” asked Hoss.

          Joe thought for a moment. “I don’t know.” He shook his head. “I’ve no idea. Like I said it was all a blur. Like a bad dream.”

          Adam had to ask. “And the wagon and horses. Where did they go?”

          Again Joe just shook his head. “Darned if I know, Adam.”

          “Don’t worry about it, Joe. The main thing is that you are hear and safe. I’ll tell Sherriff Coffee to keep looking for the man. And the wagon and horses. Which we can assume he stole. That’s nothing to worry about,” said Ben trying to hug all three of his sons at the same time.

          “Hey, Joe. Louise will be glad to see you,” said Hoss.

          “And I’ll sure be glad to see her, and her shotgun totin’ grandma,” laughed Joe.

          The Virginian and Trampas had stood to the side allowing the Cartwrights to have their little family reunion. “Glad he made it,” said the Virginian.

          “Me, too,” said Trampas. “Now we can go home.”

                                        **********

 Special Agent James West and his friend Briscoe County, Jr. rode up to the special train and dismounted. A man came out of the stock car and took the horses. He led them into the stock car and unsaddled them. West and County entered the special train car and greeted Artemus Gordon who was already on board.

“So did you find the Pointed-Eared Outlaw,” asked Artie.

Jim West looked at the amused expression on Gordon’s face. “Pointed-Eared Outlaw? Is that what you call him?”

“I thought it fit him. Don’t you, Jim?” Gordon picked up a bottle of wine and poured a small amount into three expensive, cut-glass, long-stemmed wine glasses. He handed one to Jim and one to Briscoe and took up one for himself. They each took a drink.

“Very good,” said Jim.

“I think the Pointed-Eared Bandit would sound better,” said Briscoe. “And no, we didn’t find him or any sign that he was still in the country. It was as if he had disappeared into thin air.”

“I’m sure he’ll turn up again. Sometime,” said Jim. “And when he does we’ll catch him then.”

“So you’re off to another adventure, Briscoe?” asked Artie.

“I will be soon. And I guess you will be, too.”

“We always are,” said Jim West.

At that moment the train whistled and began moving down the train track picking up speed with each click-a-ty clack of the wheels. The whistle sounded again, long and loud, carrying for miles across the Nevada desert.

                               **********

Captain Kirk finished his ships log for the day. “Mr. Spock, are you sure that the Portal is working properly now?”

“Yes, Captain. For the time being, at least.”

And Mr. Spock, are we ready, this time, to leave this part of the universe?”

“I assume we are, Captain. Unless there is something to do here that I don’t know about.”

“I don’t think there is, Mr. Spock.”

Kirk looked ahead out the huge screen in front of him that showed the millions of stars that were in front of the Star Ship Enterprise. “Mr. Sulu, make ready to leave orbit, and plot a course for Prison Colony Port Madison 12 so we can deliver our prisoner.”

“Aye, Captain.”

                          **********

The End

In case you didn’t recognize them these are the TV shows in this story in the  order they first appear.

  

1. Star Trek

2. Bonanza

3. The Virginian

4. The Wild Wild West

5. The Adventures of Briscoe County, Jr.

6. Emergency

7. Simon and Simon

          8. The Rockford Files

          9. Dr. Kildare

          10. Marcus Welby, M.D.

          11. St. Elsewhere

          12. The Bob Newhart Show

          13. Bones

          14. Mash

          15. House