“Five thousand kilometers.”
“Interesting,” Mendon said. “The being completely absorbs the chaos zone’s radiation. As far as I can tell, there’s a complete balance inside its… body.”
“The eye of the storm,” said Adams.
“In a manner of speaking, yes.”
Roaas got up from behind his tactical console and stood beside the captain. “Captain,” he said quietly, “what are we going to do if the being doesn’t stop but engulfs the Prometheus instead?”
With a weak smile, Adams looked up to his first officer. “I guess we better hope that such an event won’t bring any harm to either party.”
“One thousand kilometers,” Carson reported. “Five hundred.”
The energy entity now covered the entire viewscreen—glittering white, blanking out the chaos zone behind.
“Reduce magnification factor,” Adams said.
The image sprang backwards but less than ten seconds later the glittering cloud filled the viewscreen again.
“One hundred kilometers,” Carson said. “Fifty. Ten. Contact!”
All the crackling noise along the outer hull of the Prometheus stopped instantly. The slight but permanent vibration they had been experiencing since entering the chaos zone had stopped. It seemed as if they were floating through a glittering bank of clouds.
“Shield energy is rapidly decreasing.” Carson’s fingers danced across the console. “Ninety percent. Eighty percent.”
“Switch polaron modulator to full output.”
“The loss of energy is slowing down—but only marginally.”
“Ambassador Spock?”
“It is not a malicious attack, Captain. I believe the being is attempting to get through to us, and it is confused by the energy barrier.”
Adams rose. “Fair enough. We’re going to chance it. Mr. Chell, power down the shields.”
“Right away, sir.” The Bolian engineer touched some of his sensor buttons.
“Mr. Winter, relay those orders to the hull sections.”
“Understood.”
Immediately, the bulkheads, the deck, everything on the bridge took on a white glow.
At the same time, Adams felt a tingle spread through his legs as if high electric voltage flowed through the deckplates. The others seemed to feel it as well because they uttered noises of surprise and astonishment.
He turned to face his science officer. “Mr. Mendon, what’s going on?”
The Benzite tried to touch his console for an analysis but he jerked back when he touched the sparkling light aura. “I… I’m not sure, sir. I believe the energy being has swallowed us. It seems to permeate through the entire ship.”
“Mr. Chell, is there any imminent danger to the Prometheus?” Adams was particularly concerned about the antimatter containment field in the warp core.
The Bolian glanced back insecurely before he reached out into the light aura to begin a query. Squinting, he tried to read the results. “Negative, sir. The phenomenon… it seems to be purely optical. Neither the bio-neural circuitry nor the computer core nor the secondary engine rooms seem to have any issues.”
“Engine room to bridge.” Kirk’s voice came from the loudspeakers.
“Adams here.”
“Sir, something weird is happening here. We’re noticing an intense energy phenomenon.”
“I know, Commander. We have established contact with the energy life form. According to Lieutenant Chell, this hasn’t led to any problems so far. Can you confirm that?”
“Uhm, yes, it seems as if our instruments are not affected. I still don’t like it. We can neither locate nor analyze this light phenomenon.”
“Understood, Commander. Stay vigilant and watch the readings. If we run into trouble, we will attempt to break free from the being.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Captain, careful!” Zh’Thiin’s exclamation made Adams whirl around. He winced when he found himself facing an almost head-high flickering light tentacle. Zh’Thiin rushed to his side, her phaser raised and pointing at the sparkling fog apparition.
“No, leave it.” Adams raised his hand defensively and looked at Spock. “Do you think that’s another attempt to make contact?”
Spock had opened his eyes, curiously regarding the wriggling energy phenomenon. “I believe we are about to find out.” Slowly, he walked towards the tentacle, cautiously reaching out with his hand. Adams had the impression of someone approaching a shy dog, allowing it to take a sniff.
Much to everyone’s surprise, the flickering light column shifted away from him, across the bridge towards Carson and ak Namur. Both watched the apparition with wide eyes.
Sarita Carson stiffened. “Hey, don’t you get too close to me, I’m allergic to energy columns—even if they sparkle as beautifully as you do.”
“Don’t move,” Adams said sharply. “We don’t want to scare it. So far, the being has not done us any harm. Let’s assume it’s just curious.”
“I hope it knows how much electrical charge the human body can take before the synapses snap,” Carson said dryly.
Adams had also thought about that. Peaceful intentions or not, during first contacts there was always the danger of a misunderstanding or simple ignorance being lethal.
Behind him, he noticed the familiar humming of a tricorder. When he looked over his shoulder he saw Mendon, who had pulled out his device and was trying to analyze the energy life form.
Frustrated, the Benzite shook his head. “I simply can’t get any decent readings.”
The tentacle hesitated between Carson and ak Namur, swaying to and fro undecidedly. Finally, it slithered away from them.
“It would seem our friend here has the same problem we do,” Roaas said. “It wants to talk to us but doesn’t know how to.”
Winter at the communications station snapped his fingers. “Of course!”
“Ensign?” Adams looked at him quizzically.
Excited, the communications officer turned to face him. “Sir, Lieutenant Commander Mendon’s tricorder gave me an idea. How about if we call Trik to the bridge? Maybe he can serve as some kind of communications interface.”
The captain looked around. “Lieutenant Chell, Lieutenant Commander Mendon—opinions?”
“I think that’s an interesting approach,” the Benzite replied. “However, I’m uncertain how the being would get along with the programmed personality of the EMH. Trik has no emotions, and this species seems to define itself for the most part through psychoactive radiation.”
The Bolian shrugged. “Well, it can’t do much harm. We’ve got backup copies of Trik’s personality matrix.”
“Let’s try it,” Adams said. “Computer, activate Emergency Medical Hologram.”
Trik materialized less than three meters beside the light phenomenon. “Please state the nature of the medical—What is that?” Perplexed, the doctor stared at the glittering energy tentacle. He pulled out his tricorder instinctively, pointing at his opponent.
“That’s a resident of the Taurus Dark Cloud, and we wish to establish contact with it,” Adams said. “Whatever it does, please let it proceed.”
“What it does?” the EMH echoed. “What could it possibly—”
With the speed of a pouncing predator the tentacle shot toward Trik, piercing his chest. Of course, there was no wound. Except for a brief flickering of Trik’s holomatrix at the point of entry, no immediate effects were noticeable.
Stunned, Trik stared at the glistening energy current that connected him like an umbilical cord to the light aura that hovered above the bridge.
“Oh,” he noted, confused, “that feels extremely weird…”
Suddenly, his body stiffened, and his face became completely void of expression. His body started to glow, and his eyes turned into two small points of light, glistening and glittering.
The EMH slowly circled around, regarding all those present. Finally, it opened its mouth and spoke in a tone that was most definitely
not Trik’s. “WHO ARE YOU AND WHY ARE YOU DISTURBING OUR SPHERE?”
Spock raised his eyebrow. “Fascinating.”
21
NOVEMBER 30, 2385
U.S.S. Prometheus, in the Taurus Dark Cloud
“I’m Captain Richard Adams of the Federation starship Prometheus,” Adams said. “We come in peace, and we need your help.”
“WE CAN HEAR YOUR WORDS BUT WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THEM,” replied the being with Trik’s voice.
Spock said, “It might be beneficial to upload data about the Federation into Trik’s memory. He needs to not be a doctor, but rather a diplomat.”
“Good idea,” Adams agreed. “Computer, delete medical database from the EMH and load general information about the Federation. Keep it to college level, and do not include armed conflicts. Concentrate on peaceful research missions and first contacts.” He didn’t want to take any risks. The events of recent years didn’t paint a good picture for someone who didn’t know the ins and outs.
The computer confirmed with a chime. “Deleting medical database. Transferring educational material of selected Federation history.”
Tilting his head, Trik stared at the ceiling for a moment, which made him look alarmingly like one of the living dead.
“Can you access the information we are making available for you?” Adams asked.
The EMH blinked twice before staring at him again. “WE CAN SEE MANY IMAGES. WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING. BUT WE SEE THAT YOU TRAVEL ACROSS THE GREAT VOID IN ORDER TO MEET OTHER LIFE FORMS AND LEARN FROM THEM. THAT IS A DESIRE WE CAN RELATE TO.” Trik tilted his head again, this time curiously. “WHY DO YOU REQUIRE HELP?”
Adams heard Mendon breathe heavily behind him. It sounded as if the Benzite was close to collapsing with excitement. During all the years they had been serving aboard the Prometheus, they had never been in a first contact situation. Being at this exotic location that seemed to defy all laws of nature and speaking to a representative of an entirely alien species was an extraordinary moment. This is the reason why Starfleet was founded, Adams thought, overcome by a mixture of awe and melancholy. But then he realized that this being was waiting for an answer, and he cleared his throat.
“We have discovered a being in another system that is very similar to you. It is stuck on a planet, and its presence is making the inhabitants on adjacent planets sick. We need to remove that being from there.” He hesitated briefly. “Wait, we will show you.” He turned to Mendon. “Commander, transfer our sensor recordings about Iad and the Son into the doctor’s memory. A picture is worth a thousand words.”
The Benzite needed two seconds before he realized that someone had spoken to him. He nodded eagerly. “Yes, sir. Right away.”
Again, Trik seemed distant, while the energy being sifted through the information it had received. When the EMH’s white glowing eyes stared at Adams again, it seemed concerned. “WE KNOW THAT ONE. HE IS ONE OF OUR YOUNG.”
“It is said he came to that space region that we call Lembatta Cluster some ten thousand years ago,” said Adams. “He caused a lot of devastation among the inhabitants there, before a White Guardian came to lock him away.”
“ALL THAT IS TRUE,” replied the being. “BUT YOU MUST NOT JUDGE THE BOY. HE DID NOT INTEND TO CAUSE ANY HARM. NONE OF US WANT TO CAUSE ANY HARM TO ANYONE.”
“But why does your companion provoke hatred and violence?” zh’Thiin asked. Her antennae stretched forward belligerently. “If he’s as intelligent as you are, he must know how much pain he is causing. He is the reason for thousands of deaths.”
Adams silenced her by raising his hand. “Commander, leave this to me, please.”
“WE REGRET WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW,” the energy being said. The aura surrounding Trik flickered slightly. “THE BOY IS CONFUSED AND ILL. HE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING.”
“Could you elaborate?” Spock asked. “We do not wish to cause harm to the boy, but we require a solution for this predicament before any more lives are lost.”
Trik turned away from Adams, facing the ambassador. “WE ARE CURIOUS. WE WANT TO TRAVEL THE STARS. IN THAT RESPECT WE ARE SIMILAR TO YOU. ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG ONES SOMETIMES RISK TOO MUCH WHILE DOING SO. THEY TRAVEL TOO FAR AWAY—AND THEN THEY DO NOT FIND THEIR WAY HOME.”
“So the—the boy had lost his way back then?” Adams asked.
“YES. BUT THE VOID IS DANGEROUS FOR US. WE CANNOT SURVIVE FOREVER WITHIN IT. WE NEED OUR SPHERE IN ORDER TO FIND NOURISHMENT. WE WILL STARVE IN THE VOID. THE BOY WAS STARVING. HE WAS WITHERING AWAY. AND THEN HE FOUND THE RED SUNS THAT LOOKED LIKE HOME. AND HE FOUND NOURISHMENT HE HAD NEVER TASTED BEFORE, STRONG AND INTOXICATING.”
“The emotions of the ancient Renao.” Spock nodded as he began to understand. “Their joy, their love, their anger.”
“THEY DID NOT DO HIM ANY GOOD. THEY MADE HIM ILL, CONFUSED HIM. HIS HUNGER GREW UNTIL HE COULD NOT HELP HIMSELF, AND HE HAD TO CONSUME INCREASING QUANTITIES OF THIS NOURISHMENT.”
“And that way, he became insane.” The old Vulcan briefly exchanged a knowing glance with Adams. “That would explain what I sensed in the Son’s presence.”
“That’s all well and good,” Adams said, “but can we focus on the Guardian again? A second being arrived at the red suns… white, just like you are. And it locked up the boy.”
“YES. WE BEGAN TO MISS OUR BOY. SO WE SENT AN OLD ONE TO SEARCH FOR HIM. HE LISTENED INTO THE VOID FOR THE BOY’S CALLS AND FOUND HIM AMONG THE RED SUNS. BUT HE COULD NOT TAKE THE YOUTH BACK WITH HIM. HIS ILLNESS HAD PROGRESSED TOO FAR. WITHOUT THE EMOTIONS THAT HAD BECOME HIS NOURISHMENT, HE WOULD HAVE WITHERED. BUT THE OLD ONE SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LITTLE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD AND HE FELT COMPASSION FOR THEM. HE LOCKED UP THE BOY AND RELOCATED THE LITTLE PEOPLE FAR AWAY TO THE EDGE OF THE RED SUNS IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE BOY’S HUNGER.”
“The transfer that Councilor ak Mousal mentioned during our talks on Onferin,” Spock said to Adams. “Fascinating that the Renao’s memory about the legend of Iad has prevailed with such precision.”
“Yes, who would have thought that the myth actually tells the story as it was,” the captain said. He turned back to their alien visitor. “What your Old One did back then saved the entire Renao race. But unfortunately, your boy has been freed from his prison by accident. Since then he’s been sitting on Iad, wreaking havoc. We would like to ask you to send another Old One to rebuild the prison around the boy. We’re asking for the welfare of all Federation people and their adjacent realms.”
“WE CANNOT SEND ANOTHER OLD ONE,” the energy being replied.
Adams hadn’t expected that answer. “Why not?”
“IT IS TOO FAR AWAY. THE ONE YOU CALL THE WHITE GUARDIAN STARVED ON HIS WAY BACK. HE HAD OVERESTIMATED HIS STRENGTH.”
“He starved? How did you find out about the events in the cluster then?”
“HIS LAST CALL STILL REACHED US. HIS ESSENCE WITHERED, THOUGH, BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO REACH THE PROTECTION OF THE SPHERE AGAIN.”
“But we can’t subdue the boy on our own.” Adams raised his hands, pleading. “Thousands may die if you don’t help us. Is there no way to give the Old One enough nourishment for his journey? We have extraordinary technologies at our disposal. Maybe we can invigorate him while he accompanies us.” Adams had the Prometheus’ s deflector dishes in mind. Mendon would surely find some form of energy that he could inject into the glittering white cloud in order to keep its strength up. The Benzite’s adaptive radiation filter was able to neutralize the dangers of the chaos zone. Maybe they could reverse the effect to make a tasty cocktail from rotating energy frequencies for these beings.
“WE BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE EXTRAORDINARY CREATURES,” the being said. “YOUR HISTORY PROVES THAT IN MANY IMAGES. WE TRULY REGRET YOUR SUFFERING BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW VALUABLE THE EXISTENCE OF EACH INDIVIDUAL IS. THAT IS ALSO THE REASON WHY WE CANNOT SEND ANOTHER OLD ONE. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. THE LOSS OF THE BOY AND THE OLD ONE HAS DEALT US A DEVASTATING BLOW. WE ARE FEW; WE MUST NOT LOSE A
NOTHER ONE OF US.”
Adams sighed. He didn’t know what else to say. He had no way of estimating the exact numbers of energy life forms. But they said that they could not risk the life of one of their own, even if it might save thousands of others, and he had to accept that decision. He didn’t have the right to judge them for it.
Is that it? he asked himself, downhearted. Did we undertake this journey in vain? Is our only option at the end of the day to deprive the Renao of any spacefaring capability in order to avoid the threat from the Purifying Flame? Or do we need to evacuate the entire Lembatta Cluster and declare it a quarantine zone?
“YOU ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER THIS,” the being in front of adams continued after a brief pause. “EVEN IF WE WERE TO LOCK AWAY THE BOY AGAIN, THE PRISON MIGHT BE DESTROYED ONCE MORE. OR COULD YOU GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD LAST LONGER THIS TIME THAN THE TIME SPAN YOU CALL TEN THOUSAND YEARS?”
That was something Adams had indeed not considered yet. Of course, Starfleet would declare Iad to be an exclusion zone once the crisis was over, but Starfleet had only existed two hundred years so far, and who was to know whether it would still be around in two hundred more? Besides, there were always men and women with a hunger for knowledge larger than their reason. And the Son’s influence was tempting and dangerous even when he was imprisoned, as the Valiant’s crew had established.
“No,” he admitted, “we can’t.”
Jassat ak Namur got up from his chair. “Requesting permission to speak, Captain.”
Adams eyed the young Renao. He didn’t believe that his words would make a difference, but he understood why ak Namur had to try. This was about his home, his people. “Permission granted.”
Ak Namur approached Trik and stood right in front of him. “My name is Jassat ak Namur. I belong to the people resident in the Lembatta Cluster—near the red suns, as you call them. They are my people, and they are dying because your ill boy is making them ill as well. And there are not only old people dying—men and women—but also young people… children, many children. Can you really allow that? Can you really stand by and say, ‘Their death does not concern us’?”
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