Babel Trek Open Project

My other Just-in-Time-Fest fic is now live!

“That Galipotan freighter was scheduled to be here at oh-seven hundred and it still hasn’t arrived yet. Well, I suppose that’s the price of doing business with a culture that refuses to even acknowledge the concept of time.” - The Wire

Can you ever go wrong with the fake married trope? It’s certainly a good way for two dumbasses to stall for time! This entry by @ectogeo-rebubbles is sweet and a lot of fun.

“Eddington to Bashir and Garak. It’s taking longer than we thought. You’ll have to stall for another 10 minutes or so.”

Ten more minutes! Julian had been about to deliver a final snappy one-liner and press the big red button, but now they needed another much longer delay. He cast around in his mind but he was completely out of ideas. He threw a pleading look at Garak.

“Doctor,” Garak said, and Dr. Noah turned around to look at him. “Before you end the world and kill us both, Mr. Bashir and I have a favor to ask.”

“You are in no position to make demands, Mister…?”

“Garak. I do realize that. This is merely a humble final request. You see, Mr. Bashir and I are engaged to be married in a few months, but if we are to die today… I’d like to reschedule our wedding to right now.”

My other Just-in-Time-Fest fic is now live!

“That Galipotan freighter was scheduled to be here at oh-seven hundred and it still hasn’t arrived yet. Well, I suppose that’s the price of doing business with a culture that refuses to even acknowledge the concept of time.” - The Wire

And here we have a good old-fashioned time travel crossover fic for Timefest! Doctors Phlox and Bashir, together in one place at one time. 

Dr. Julian Bashir was laughing, his eyes crinkling at the obvious displeasure of his lunch companion.  “You see,” he said, catching a breath and trying to form a coherent sentence, “what he meant was—”

“Dr. Bashir to medical emergency in Quark’s,” chirped a voice from Julian’s combadge.

Julian threw an apologetic look across the table and dashed off, his long legs carrying him briskly across the Promenade and away from the sigh of resignation from Elim Garak sitting still behind him.

“What’s the emergency?” Julian asked as he entered Quark’s and pushed his way through the gathered crowd.  He held steady as the station tilted and righted itself, another in a series of shakes that morning that left everyone unsettled.

“Ruptured plasma relay,” said Miles O’Brien as Julian knelt next to him and the crew member writhing on the floor.  “This damned ion storm is making the systems go haywire and one of them overloaded.”

Julian looked over the burns on the crewman and tapped his combadge.  “Emergency medical transport; two to beam out.”  Miles stepped back as the pair shimmered into light—

–and Julian pitched forward onto his hands on an unfamiliar surface.  A transporter pad?  He looked up and met the very confused eyes of a man he’d never seen before in a blue jumpsuit with red trim.

On the third day of Timefest we’re delighted to have @aurora-nova-fic‘s 100th DS9 fic on AO3! Featuring a transformative experience with the Prophets and, as always with AuroraNova, a fascinating insight into the characters’ thought process (In this case Garak. Mostly.)

Garak was not one to let minor unpleasantries derail him from his purpose. Therefore, when he noticed his hands started to itch, he compartmentalized the feeling away and went right on working with the dreadful Cheltian wool he’d been commissioned to turn into a suit. Business was slow since he’d reopened, a consequence of his six-month absence and of Starfleet’s disapproval of his quadrant-saving methods. He could not afford to lose a customer over a trifling inconvenience.

After an hour he had to admit to himself that the rash was a mildly troubling development.

Half an hour after that, he looked at the welts breaking out on his palms and decided perhaps it would be wiser to visit the infirmary. He might be able to enjoy few moments of rousing conversation with Dr. Bashir, which was infinitely preferable to a lecture on taking better care of himself and the importance of asking for medical help when needed. Garak had a lunch scheduled with the doctor for the following day, and such a lecture was surely in his future if he showed up with his hands in this state.

Now, for our third story on the fest, and a bit more on the comedic side: a take on the groundhog day, trek style.

A loosely inspired story about getting things right — or at least having a good time when you can’t.

Remember there's still time to submit your stories!

Day 5

“I tripped on that yellow fruit’s skin you’re so fond of, doctor, what is its name?”

“A banana, Garak. Quite symbolic of what got us into trouble.”

Day 6

“A tribble ate me.”

“That’s certainly a new one, doctor.”

“It was a pretty big one. What about you?”

Delighted to have a rarepair! In @icykalisartblog​‘s submission, Weyoun and Damar encounter a Lethean. The dialogue is brilliant and it might convert you to Dayoun, if you don’t ship them already!

The non-aggression treaty with Bajor that Weyoun had wanted to secure was inevitably going to be signed. Partitioning the Federation’s potential allies was like clockwork, and Weyoun had assisted the Dominion’s dismantling more ancient empires in the past. However, even though his negotiations with Kai Winn were proceeding smoothly, Gul Dukat’s grandstanding had alerted Deep Space Nine to the Founder Leader’s plans. Fortunately, it was not a great loss—it helped keep Weyoun’s work out of the public eye—and he was excited to be making one more diplomatic visit to the station. It had such a diverse array of attractions! He watched the lights flicker and form patterns through the glass dome of the dabo wheel as it beeped to life. Since the Founder was confident about his progress, he had been free to scream “Dabo!” until his throat was sore. With this latest win, he simply chuckled at the little show.

He heard Damar walk over to him. “You scared away the dabo girls,” Damar said. “I didn’t know you were physically capable of making noises like that.”

Weyoun cocked his head to the side, enough to see Damar in his periphery but not so much that he could not watch the colorful ring of lights flare again. “I think they left because they realized I don’t need to be encouraged to play,” he said. “You know, their title ‘dabo girls’ sounds quite belittling. Tell me, why don’t there seem to be any dabo boys?” He knew why, but if he was going to spend his day having as much fun as possible, he needed to include pushing Damar out of his comfort zone on the itinerary.

An experiment in non-linear storytelling by @sapphosewrites. The chopping up of the timeline add to the disjointed nature of the situation, so I’d say the experiment was a success.

There was a distinct advantage, Garak realized, in Julian’s uncanny ability to keep track of time.

He didn’t know exactly how the scientists had ensured that. Was there a specific gene combination for timekeeping? Had it been designed purposefully, or was it an accident?

Ultimately, of course, the why was immaterial. He could ask, “How long has it been?”

And Julian would answer “36 hours,” immediately and accurately.

It was a well-known trait of Cardassians that they liked to keep track of such details. There was a comfort to it.

The first day of Star Trek: Just in Time Fest is finally here! We’ll be revealing a few works each day from now until 8th Feb, 2021. Our inaugural work is this piece by @syaunei that will rip your heart out. It’s easy to tell yourself you have time, until you just…don’t. 

I have time.

That’s what Julian used to tell himself.

There was time – to wear down the Chief’s gruff defenses, to keep Jadzia’s mischievous brand of friendship, to earn his peers’ respect.

There was time to get to know Garak.

Over lunches and endless friendly debates.

There would always be time. Even if he had to reschedule occasionally. Even if there was the odd mission.

I have time. He reassured himself, ignoring the niggling voice in the back of his head.

Despite the threat of infiltration. Despite the war.

Despite a girl younger even than him practically hanging off of Garak.

It was to be expected.

The first works for Star Trek: Just in Time Fest will be revealed on Monday, 18th January! But we’re running until the 8th of February 2021so there’s still plenty of time to get your submission(s) in!

Counting down the days to Star Trek: Just in Time fest!

First works will be revealed on Monday, 18th January 2021, but you have until the 8th of February to submit your works! 

It’s not just time travel!

slang to serve a prison sentence 

Just a reminder that works for Star Trek: Just in Time Fest don’t have to be about time travel! Got a good prison fic? We’d love if you submitted it!

More time expressions here!

Star Trek: Just in Time Fest bingo prompts number 4!

May this inspire you to create your Star Trek work on the theme of time for January/February 2021!

Star Trek: JUST IN TIME FEST!

Star Trek: Just in Time Fest