Paradise Interrupted

by John S. Drew

DANGER. WE ARE IN DANGER.

  “What? How?”

  MUST PROTECT US. MUST PROTECT SELF.

  Eddie felt an energy surge build around him.

  “What are you doing?”

  I WILL NOT ALLOW ANY HARM TO BEFALL US.

  Eddie felt as though every nerve was on fire. Whatever Sparky was going to do was affecting him as well.

  “Please! You’re hurting me!”

  ONLY FOR A MOMENT.

  Sparky released the surge and Eddie screamed worse than the time he broke his leg in three different places and had to have it set without painkillers.

  And then he blacked out.

  Chapter

  16

  David Gold had sat with any number of different species in the observation lounge since taking command of the da Vinci, from the usual array of Nasats, humans, Bynars, Tellarites, Atreans, Vulcans, Bajorans, and so on, to the Klingons of the Qaw’qay to representatives from worlds all across the quadrant.

  This, however, definitely qualified as one of the strangest. He was speaking to two energy masses that were currently in humanoid form only as a courtesy. They had even taken seats, in order to make the proceedings appear more normal.

  But they were far from that.

  Gold knew that he was conversing with two beings powerful enough to wipe out an entire star system. Despite their cordial appearance, he kept up his guard, waiting to see if the other shoe was going to drop.

  Lauoc and Krotine were stationed on either side of the conference room door, ready to offer assistance should the situation warrant. But given the power the two possessed, Gold wasn’t sure what kind of aid they could offer.

  CAPTAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND HOSPITALITY, BUT WE COULD HAVE ARRIVED AT THIS PLANET IN MUCH FASTER TIME.

  “I’m sure you could,” Gold said, “but it is not that often I get to engage in a first contact situation, especially one of such importance. Now, how did you happen to lose your, well, for lack of a better word, your child?”

  WE EXIST WITHIN STELLAR NURSERIES. YOU DESIGNATE THEM NEBULAE. WE HAVE OCCUPIED WHAT YOU CALL THE KELLER NEBULA FOR SOME TIME. THERE CAME A TIME WHEN IT WAS DECIDED THAT WE CREATE OFFSPRING.

  “And it is your offspring that we believe is on Risa.”

  IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY, BASED ON WHAT YOU HAVE TOLD US OF THE SITUATION THERE. IT WILL BE IN NEED OF LARGE AMOUNTS OF ENERGY TO SUSTAIN ITSELF. THE NEBULA PROVIDED SUCH SUSTENANCE ADEQUATELY.

  “And how did the child come to leave the nebula?”

  THERE WAS A VESSEL, SCANNING THE NEBULA. THE CHILD WAS ATTRACTED TO THE ENERGY OF THE SCAN AND WENT TO INVESTIGATE. WE ONLY REALIZED WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THERE WAS A DISRUPTION IN THE NEBULA. WHEN IT ENDED, THE CHILD WAS GONE. IT TOOK SOME TIME TO DETERMINE ITS WHEREABOUTS.

  A chime from the intercom interrupted them. “Now entering orbit of Risa, Captain.”

  “Very good, Wong,” Gold said. He noted the two entities sitting straight up in their chairs. “What’s the matter?”

  THE OFFSPRING IS FEEDING WILDLY. THERE IS GREAT STRESS TO THE ECOSYSTEM OF THE PLANET.

  Gold nodded. “It has affected the weather control station.”

  THERE IS MUCH MORE. THERE IS GREAT DANGER. Before Gold could say another word, the two winked out of view.

  Within the caves, the two energy beings materialized.

  YOU CAME! an excited voice called out to them.

  They surveyed the number of bodies about the caves.

  WE HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR YOU FOR SOME TIME. They stepped forward and scanned their offspring. WHAT IS YOUR STATUS?

  WE’RE FINE.

  WE?

  The younger energy being made itself more translucent, revealing a young human boy inside. THIS IS MY FRIEND, EDDIE.

  THE HUMANOID IS NOT A PET.

  I KNOW THAT. EDDIE IS MY FRIEND.

  DO YOU SEE WHAT DAMAGE YOU HAVE CAUSED? ARE YOU AWARE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE?

  The voice changed as Eddie answered. IT WAS NECESSARY, SIR—MA’AM. SPARKY WAS FEELING THREATENED BY EVERYONE. HE WAS ONLY PROTECTING HIMSELF.

  SPARKY?

  THAT’S MY NAME FOR HIM.

  IT IS NOT A PET FOR YOU EITHER, EDDIE.

  NO, SIR. NO, MA’AM, Eddie stuttered.

  THE STARFLEET HUMANOIDS WOULD NOT HAVE HARMED YOU. THEY HELPED US FIND YOU.

  THEY DID? Sparky asked, surprised.

  TOLD YOU SO, Eddie said, matter-of-factly.

  YES, AND NOW WE MUST REPAIR THE DAMAGE YOU HAVE CAUSED. WE WILL START BY RETURNING THESE HUMANOIDS TO THEIR SHIP FOR TREATMENT. THEN WE SHALL CORRECT THE ECOSYSTEM.

  Sparky/ Eddie rumbled slightly. ARE YOU THINKING WHAT I’M THINKING? They asked simultaneously. Without another word, Sparky/ Eddie winked away.

  WAIT! one of the two elder beings called out.

  NO. The other realized what was happening. LET THEM GO. THEY MUST MAKE AMENDS.

  Its companion thought over this for a moment and nodded. VERY WELL. WE SHALL TRANSPORT THESE.

  A soft glow filled the two chambers as the energy beings, the away team, and the Gorn faded from view.

  On the bridge of the da Vinci, Shabalala reported to Gold that a force-five gale was brewing and increasing in strength at Monagas. It was enough to wash the entire peninsula away if something wasn’t done about it.

  Gold twitched in his seat as he watched the viewscreen, which was filled with the image of Risa from orbit. He was startled, intent as he was on the screen, by the sound of the intercom.

  “Sickbay to bridge.” Dr. Elizabeth Lense’s voice sounded over the speakers.

  “Yes, Lense, what is it?” Gold asked a little more tersely than he intended.

  “Captain, the away team has just—well, materialized here. They’re being treated, but otherwise they’re unharmed. Soloman appears to be worst off. He’s in a self-imposed type of coma, which I am monitoring. It appears he will come out of it.”

  “Appears, Doctor?”

  “Well, for lack of a better explanation, Soloman is going through some kind of systems check. His vital signs are improving slowly, so I’m hesitant to administer any treatment to him. I’ll keep you posted. I am going to need a couple of people from security to handle the three Gorn we have here as well.”

  “Gorn?” Gold repeated. Suddenly, a swell of cloud cover, moving rapidly into the northern region, caught his attention. “Very well, bridge out.” He turned to the tactical station behind him. “Have Lauoc and Krotine report to sickbay, then get whoever’s next up on the duty roster, along with Stevens and Conlon, and have them report to the transporter room.”

  As Shabalala moved to carry out the orders, Haznedl said from ops, “Sir, we can’t transport down there. That storm is out of control. It’s ionized the region, making transport impossible.”

  Gold frowned for a moment, before snapping his fingers with the realization. “The energy beings. They can take us down.”

  Shabalala said, “Sir, I’m getting a signal from Risa.”

  “Put it through.”

  HELLO. CAN ANYONE HEAR US? IS THIS THE DA VINCI?

  Gold frowned. “Yes, this is the da Vinci. Who is this? What are you doing playing on an official Starfleet channel?”

  FANTASTIC. I TOLD YOU THIS WOULD WORK IF YOU CONCENTRATED HARD ENOUGH. SIR, MY NAME IS EDDIE JOHNSON AND I’M AT THE WEATHER CONTROL STATION WITH MY FRIEND, SPARKY.

  As the voice spoke, the senior two energy beings faded into view before Gold.

  “Do you know anything about this?” he asked the two.

  OUR OFFSPRING AND ITS HUMANOID COMPANION ARE TRYING TO CORRECT THE ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE THEY HAVE CAUSED.

  “They sound a little young. What can they do?”

  The young voice said, THAT’S WHY WE CONTACTED YOU, SIR. IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN TO US WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, WE CAN MAKE THE REPAIRS.

  Gold rolled his eyes in frustration and looked at the older beings. “Can you just help us to beam down a team that can work on the problem?”

  WE COULD, CAPT
AIN, BUT THEN WHAT LESSON WOULD BE LEARNED? THEY NEED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IN ORDER TO LEARN. HOW ELSE WILL WE AVOID THE SAME SITUATION IN THE FUTURE?

  By locking them up in their rooms until they’re ancient, Gold thought. He nodded, knowing full well he didn’t have time to argue the point. “Very well. Shabalala, get Stevens up here.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  Eddie/Sparky walked about the small room, which was lined with banks of consoles and computers. A number of Risans lay about the floor, unconscious.

  “Now do you see the damage you’ve caused?” Eddie asked. “These people meant you no harm.”

  WE DO NOT KNOW THAT.

  “And you don’t know that they did either. You never gave them the chance the way you did me. You never talked to them. You never…” Eddie stopped and chuckled. “How do you like that? I think this is what a counselor would call a breakthrough.”

  EXPLAIN.

  “I’ve been so wrapped up in my own guilt and sorrow over my mom’s death, I never really gave any thought to my father’s. I never really talked to him. All we’ve been doing is talking the same talk, the same speeches, avoiding how we really feel.”

  DETERMINED THAT?

  “Yeah, isn’t that something? Now I really want to set things right here and see my dad again.”

  “Hello, my name is Fabian.” Eddie could hear the Starfleet engineer’s voice clearly through the link Sparky had established. “Can you just give me a rough description of the consoles before you?”

  I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT, SIR. SPARKY, TAP INTO MY MIND AGAIN. I’VE GOT AN IDEA.

  On the bridge of the da Vinci, the view of the northern hemisphere faded from the main screen to be replaced by a level view of the main monitors and computers of the weather station. The image was in monochrome.

  “How the hell—?”

  FANTASTIC. RIGHT, CAPTAIN?

  “Yes, very fantastic,” Gold replied. He looked to Fabian Stevens, who was now seated at one of the aft consoles.

  Stevens smiled. “It works for me.” All the monitors were dead. What lights lit up the consoles were all blinking a dull, dark red. Stevens’s smile quickly faded. “This isn’t good. This isn’t just a case of repowering the system. It looks as though they may have fried a number of them as well. I need to get a look at the thing’s innards.”

  HOW DO WE DO THAT?

  “I want you to walk behind the environmental console and remove the backing. It’s the large console with the silver trim.”

  ALL RIGHT. The image shifted slightly as Eddie/Sparky moved around to the rear. They easily removed the back panel, exposing a network of wiring and circuits. Many of the circuits were dark and burned out. The wiring appeared to be intact.

  “Eddie, can you touch the larger blue wire leading into the console, please?”

  A glowing hand reached out and grabbed the wire, producing a spark.

  “Good. We don’t need to worry about replacing that one. Can you feed a little juice into the system from there?”

  There was a moment’s hesitation. IT’S ALL RIGHT, SPARKY. WE CAN DO THIS. LET’S JUST TAKE IT SLOW.

  “Yes,” Fabian said quickly, “just a little. We don’t want to damage the system any more than we already have.”

  The hand’s luminescence increased slightly, and the bridge crew heard a sparkling sound coming from the speakers.

  IS THIS GOOD?

  “I really can’t tell from here,” Fabian replied. “Can you see any of the monitors coming back on?”

  NO, BUT SOME OF THE RED LIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF.

  “Primary circuitry is fried,” Shabalala said softly from tactical.

  “I know,” Fabian said, “but why didn’t secondary systems kick in?”

  Shabalala shrugged. “Probably the same reason.”

  “Which means we’re going to have to rewire the system and we don’t have time for that.”

  AM I TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU NEED A CONDUIT FOR THE TRANSFER OF POWER TO THIS EQUIPMENT?

  “That’s right,” Stevens replied, trying not to think about the fact that he was talking to a glowing ball of light.

  THEN WE VOLUNTEER OURSELVES AS A CONDUIT. WHERE MUST THE POWER FLOW?

  “That wiring you were looking at. You must discharge a steady flow of energy at three thousand joules.” Stevens turned to Gold. “I need to get down there, sir.”

  One of the “parents” said, WE CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE, CAPTAIN.

  Gold pointed to Stevens. “Take someone from security with you.”

  A few moments later, Stevens and Security Guard Frank Powers appeared in the center of the weather control room. Monitors were coming online as well as a number of the consoles. While power to the lighting hadn’t been restored, the room was well lit thanks to the glow emanating from Sparky.

  “That’s it,” Stevens said encouragingly. “Keep it up. I’m gonna start initiating the weather pattern program.” Settling into a seat before the main console, he added, “Thank goodness nothing’s burned out here.” He began to tap in a series of instructions.

  On the viewscreen above, a topographic image of the peninsula appeared, covered by a grid. Various areas of the grid, normally green in color, were a deep maroon.

  “How are we looking?” Powers called out, sounding nervous.

  “What’s the matter, Frank, worried about a little rain?” Stevens asked with a smirk.

  “I’m worried about the glowing balls of energy that fried the entire away team,” Powers said, putting a hand to his holstered phaser.

  “You security guys worry too much.” Stevens chuckled. “Anyhow, the program is engaged and running. The satellites are generating the proper low-pressure system to disperse the clouds and lower the temperature.”

  A low rumble from beyond the station filled the room.

  “Are you sure?” Powers asked.

  “This isn’t good.” Stevens leaned over and tapped further instructions into the computer. “We can’t generate a strong enough low-pressure system to combat the storm. It’s out of control.”

  THERE IS TOO MUCH ENERGY? Sparky/Eddie asked.

  “Yeah. Mother Nature’s got her hold back on this planet and she won’t let go. We need to reduce the temperature of the land and water, reduce the high humidity.”

  I CAN DO THIS. It was Sparky only speaking now. It detached itself from the console. PLEASE BE PREPARED TO TAKE CARE OF EDDIE. HE WILL NEED TO ADJUST TO BEING OUTSIDE MY ENERGY STATE.

  With that, Eddie emerged from Sparky, dropping to his knees. Stevens placed a hand on his shoulder to steady him.

  “Are you all right?”

  Eddie ran a hand through his hair, which was standing on end. “I think so. It’s a strange feeling being away from Sparky.”

  I SHALL RETURN.

  Sparky reduced its size to that of a marble before winking out of sight. The viewscreen registered the new energy source as a bright yellow on its grid. The yellow expanded across the entire grid field.

  Outside, the pitch-black clouds that covered the sky lit up with the expulsion of energy from Sparky. The wind began to pick up in intensity.

  “What’s happening?” Powers asked.

  “I’m not a meteorologist,” Stevens said, “but I think some of this storm will have to run its course. I should be able to control it now.” Stevens sat back down in his seat and tapped on the console. “Yes! It’s working. It looks like there’s gonna be rain throughout the hemisphere for a while.”

  “The entire hemisphere?” Powers repeated.

  “Just sharing the love.” Stevens smirked. “It has to go somewhere or else the peninsula will get washed away.” He winked at Eddie. “Nice work, kid.”

  A large smile crossed Eddie’s face. “Thank you, sir.”

  Stevens rose from his chair and held out a hand to Eddie. The young man was unsteady on his feet as he tried to walk to a nearby window. A gentle rain was falling, guided by a brisk wind.

  “I’ve always liked rainy days.” Ste
vens smiled.

  Chapter

  17

  Tonais stepped into the courtyard of the resort and let out a low moan of frustration. Parts of the ceiling had caved in due to the heavy rains. Deposits of mud, washed in by wind-swept floods, were scattered about the area. The courtyard’s main feature, a large marble statue of a nude couple holding hands, was missing a couple of appendages.

  “What do we do now?” Tonais asked with a groan.

  Bander entered from the rear of the courtyard, his nose buried in his padd. He looked up briefly to survey the damage and let out a low whistle before returning to his padd.

  “That’s all you have to say about this?” Tonais struggled to keep his anger in check. He knew, although he would never admit it, that he needed Bander.

  “We have a great deal of work to do, sir,” Bander replied, not looking up from his padd. “I would estimate repairs to take over a month to complete.”

  Tonais felt his knees go weak. “A month? We can’t remain out of operation for a month.”

  “I’m afraid we’ll have to, sir. Many of the complexes in the resort are structurally unsound. We can salvage a number of them, but some will have to be torn down and rebuilt.”

  “You can add this courtyard to the list of buildings to tear down, Director,” Commander Gomez called out as she and the Nasat entered the courtyard.

  “Commander,” Tonais said with only a halfhearted smile. “How are you feeling?”

  “Better, thank you,” Gomez said. “Dr. Lense was able to fix the damage to my eyes, and Soloman is recovering nicely as well. He should be leaving sickbay by the end of the day. Everybody else was patched up pretty quickly.”

  “Wonderful news.” Tonais looked around the courtyard and let out a sigh. “This courtyard was one of the first structures built when the resort was designed.”

  “I’m sorry, sir, but it can’t be salvaged. In fact, we shouldn’t be standing here now.”

  “Yes, yes, of course. Let’s step outside, Commander.”

  The four exited the courtyard where the view of the washed-out bay was still breathtaking on an early morning.

  “So much to do,” Tonais muttered.