CHAPTER 4
The most accepted theory for explaining Miri’s Planet is that it was a rogue solar system from a parallel universe. This didn’t sit well with Undine. For one, though parallel universes were confirmed, each one had a slightly different energy signatures. So either Miri’s planet had been in this Universe long enough for it to sync with this Universe’s energy frequency, or the Universe from which it was from was so close in terms of frequency range that it was imperceptible. Perhaps not improbable, and maybe spill over between universes was more likely the closer they were in terms of frequencies, but without a resonant signature, the theory was virtually impossible to confirm. There were other theories, mostly absurd to those with any science training.
“When considering Miri’s planet, in effect Earth 2, Hodgkin’s Law of Parallel Planetary Development simply fails to satisfy any scientific sensibilities and my own understanding of planetary development,” Undine said, updating her log. “I am up to date on the literature surrounding the world, from Kirk’s first visit to present, including reports from Star Fleet colonies that were sent to help the remaining inhabitants rebuild their world. The fact that the planet is an exact duplicate of Earth, down to the fault line, with an exact moon, with an exact solar orbit, with a species that is genetically indistinguishable from homo-sapiens, I find Garcia’s explanation, that this is an artifact of Preserver intervention and meddling in sentient development and diversity much more probable,” Undine said, updating her personal logs. Of course, as a scientist, she had to admit that even Garcia’s theories had the virtue of not being testable. Until they met a Preserver God that would step up and say, I did this, and show the copying machine, involved, the theory would likely not ever be in the running.
Over three hundred years ago, the society on Miri’s planet had developed a microbiological tool for prolonging human life, which actually worked; for the children. If you were a child, the virus slowed the aging process down drastically. One century was one month of biological time. After puberty, the aging accelerated, racking their body with pain and scar tissues, until finally they were driven mad, attacking anyone and everyone. The Children, “the Onlies,” quickly learned to avoid the grownups, “grups,” so much so, that on seeing Kirk’s landing party, the hid, they plotted, they attacked. Grups were dangerous.
There were no adults left from the original crisis. Kirk’s landing party was attacked by a grup in his last moments, but the grup was no doubt one of the onlies that had transitioned into young adulthood. Had McCoy not found a cure, there would be no people left on Miri’s planet.
“We are five days out at warp five. Our mission, to determine why we have lost contact with the Starship retired Admiral McCoy dispatched to investigate a report of Preserver Technology,” Undine said. “Special note, Garcia’s childhood friend, a dolphin name Star, was assigned to this mission. Had we used the transwarp drive, we would have already arrived, but, by Garcia’s orders, trasnwarp is limited to escape maneuvers only, due to an engineering problem that could leave us stranded should the system fail.” Undine was re-reading her log when a call from the Bridge came in. She opened a side screen so that she could see the Bridge and Lt. Brel.
“Yes?” Undine asked.
“There is a ship on an intercept course. Its present velocity should have it catching up with us in ten minutes,” Brel said.
“Hail them,” Udine said.
“They’re hailing us,” Brel said. “They’re asking us to heave to in order to speak with Captain Garcia, in person.”
“And you responded how?” Undine asked.
“I have not responded, Captain,” Brel said. “I would prefer not to speak with them.”
“Because?” Undine asked.
“Because they are,” Brel began, and stopped, forcing himself to breathe. He decided to go with the most applicable label that wouldn’t violate Garcia’s policy of disparaging a species based on social or biological differences. “They are Pakled.” Undine frowned, pushed herself to her feet, walked from her desk to the door of her Ready Room and stepped onto the Bridge. The lighting on the Bridge was subdued, night shift, and only key personal were on the Bridge. She turned to the communications officer and was surprised to see Trini.
“Where’s Owens?” Udine asked.
“I switched shifts with him,” Trini said. “He’s working the Pathfinder.” “I don’t remember approving this,” Undine said.
“I did, Captain,” Brel said. “I saw no issue with the request.”
“There’s not,” Undine said. Clearly Trini was released back to duty, but was she avoiding working on the Pathfinder because of the proximity of Garcia? Ultimately none of her business, but a potential problem in the making. “Open hailing frequencies, both audio and visual, please.”
“Aye, Captain,” Trini said, pushing it to the main screen.
The Pakled Bridge was now visible, a view that allowed them to see at least four of the Pakled Bridge crew. The shared facial characteristics, such as prominent forehead, puffy cheeks, wide eyes, suggested a specific, inherited trait, such as Down Syndrome, or more likely, for their species, that they were all identical siblings or clones with autistic tendencies.
“Our Captain will speak to Garcia,” The closest to the screen said.
“Yes,” the second Pakled, left and behind the first said. “We have an exchange for him.”
“He will want this,” the third said.
“Okay, well, that’s nice and all, but Garcia is not available,” Undine said. The Pakleds frowned in unison. “Our Captain will speak to Garcia now.” “We have an exchange,” the second said.
“Well, perhaps you can tell me about it,” Undine said.
“No,” the third said.
“Our Captain will speak to Captain Garcia only,” the first said.
“Only exchange with him,” the second said.
“Well, I am sorry, but he is not available,” Undine said. “And we are on a rather important mission.”
The Pakleds seemed severely disappointed. “This is not good.” “He will want this,” the second said.
“I am sorry we are unable to help you,” Undine said, and waved Trini to cut the signal. “That was exhausting.”
“They are pulling a long side, matching velocities,” Brel said. “Should we contact Garcia?”
“We’re not calling Garcia every time we have a situation,” Undine said. A sensor alarm went off on Brel’s panel. “Weapon systems just went active,” he announced.
“Shields up, red alert,” Undine said.
The Pakleds fired an energy weapon which knocked the New Constitution out of warp. The Pakled ship dropped out of warp next to them, pivoting their ship so as to bring their main weapons to bear.
“Damage report,” Undine said. “Helm, bring us about.” “Permission to return fire,” Brel said.
“Hold,” Undine said, taking in the damage report scrolling across Brel’s screen. “All they did was knocked us out of warp?”
“They’re hailing us,” Trini said.
“On screen,” Undine said.
“Fire at us again, and we will return fire,” Undine said, very clearly, as if speaking with children.
“The Captain will speak to Garcia now,” the first Pakled said.
“It is urgent,” the second said.
“There is an exchange,” the Third said.
Undine sighed. “Stand by,” Undine said, motioning for Trini to kill the transmission. “Page Garcia.”
♫♪►
Garcia lifted the two manifestation orbs out of their cradle and held them up. He only had to think their names and the personality in his head would step forward, taking control of the orbs. Lal and Rogue Troi solidified in front of him. The orbs, somewhere inside of them, were no longer visible. Troi took in a deep breath. Lal tilted her head, engaging diagnostics protocols.
“Operating within normal parameters,” Lal said.
“So, what’s up?” Troi asked, kissing Garcia lightly on the cheek. “Away team adventures?”
“Not today. For now on, I want to run the orbs 24/7,” Garcia said. “You guys have the first tour. Troi, I would like you to go spend time with Riker. Lal, go be with your father.”
Lal didn’t have to be told twice. She was out the door. Troi lingered.
“Are you sure you don’t want my company?” Troi asked.
His communicator badge rang. He motioned one moment to Troi. “Go ahead.”
“Sir, your presence is requested on the Bridge of the New Constitution, urgent,” Owens said.
“Copy that,” Garcia said. “Owens?”
“Yes, admiral?”
“Did Trini not take her shift?” Garcia asked.
“We traded, Sir,” Owens said.
“Okay,” Garcia said. “Let Undine know I’m on my way, and notify Tomoko my change in schedule.”
“I guess you don’t need me,” Troi said. “Good thing the orbs work via the Preserver communication crystals, because I doubt Lal would have tolerated further delay in seeing her father.”
“Yeah,” Garcia said. “I’ll try and be more attentive to all of you. If you’ll excuse me, there is a crisis somewhere with my name on it.”
“Have fun storming the castle,” Troi said.
Garcia laughed as he departed. He yelled back. “It will take a miracle!”
Using the Gateway he crossed over from the Pathfinder and made his way to the Bridge. The Red Alert Klaxons were on. Crew were bustling. Niki was in the corridor and on seeing him, she was suddenly next to him.
“What’s going on?” Niki asked him.
“I don’t know,” Garcia shrugged. He touched her braid which had a noticeable tech attachment. “Are you wearing a cam?”
“Yeah. Is that okay?” Niki asked. They arrived at the turbolift and Niki pushed the call button for him.
“Kind of against protocols,” Garcia said. “What are you recording?”
“Just crew. I’m putting together a montage for music videos,” Niki said. “Umm, make sure you get people’s permission,” Garcia said, stepping into the turbolift that arrived. “And don’t publish anything without running it through Undine.”
“Okay,” Niki said. “I’ll mass email the crew for consent.”
“Sounds good. Carry on,” Garcia said, blocking her from getting in the lift. He pointed up. She hugged him and then jumped back.
♫♪►
Garcia arrived on the Bridge of the New Constitution. Undine started to update him, but he held his hand up. He walked immediately to Trini. “Are you okay?”
Trini nodded. He touched her arm, knowing it wasn’t really an appropriate time and place to speak, but still, he whispered and assured her they were well. She looked away. They were clearly going to have to speak further, but at another time. From there, he joined Undine, center stage.
“You’re not at warp,” Garcia observed. “No, we’re not,” Undine said.
“And you’ve not arrived…” Garcia said.
“We were knocked out of warp by Pakleds,” Brel explained.
“Really? Pakleds?” Garcia asked, giving Brel a look that said: ‘you were bested by Pakleds?’ “They want to speak with you,” Undine said.
“Really?” Garcia asked. He was surprised and puzzled all at once. “Did you tell them I was busy?”
“Apparently, they won’t take no for an answer. Additionally, we are trying to keep up the appearance that you are in charge of the New Constitution. So, the quickest remedy is for you to speak with them, unless you prefer Brel to shoot them,” Undine said. “I think there is a rule against shooting retards,” Garcia said.
“I think the appropriate terminology is mentally challenged,” Undine corrected. “Until mentally challenge becomes just as disparaging as retard and we have to come up with a new term, so why not just stick with retards?” Garcia asked.
“Idiot savant is more appropriate in this instance,” Sendak offered.
“Yeah,” Garcia agreed. “Sans savants.”
“If I may point out, your orders were to expressly avoid stereotypical labels that might diminish or disparage others based on biological or social factors,” Undine said.
“I stand corrected,” Garcia said. He still didn’t like these guys, but they did deserve respect. His bias was they shouldn’t be a space faring civilization, but then, stealing and borrowing and putting things together wasn’t unheard of in the schemes of nature.
“They did shoot first,” Brel pointed out.
And, they were armed idiots. It’s why we have parents. Children shouldn’t play with matches, he thought, but continued to hold his tongue. He mentally sorted through the Prime Directive looking for a loop hole.
“Their antimatter containment system is unstable,” Brel continued. “It would only take one torpedo.”
“There’s no honor in this kill,” Garcia said,
“The Klingon Empire considers them a reasonable threat to be eliminated,” Brel argued. “Children who play with guns learn faster when they get shot at.”
“The Empire also thought Tribbles were a threat,” Undine pointed out. “They were,” Brel said. “We wiped them out.”
“No one is getting wiped out today,” Garcia said, sighing, hoping his inner sentiments wasn’t affecting Brel’s tone. “Trini, would you put us on?”
Trini made the signal live. Garcia stepped forward. Before speaking, he took in the randomness of their control system. He noted a Ferengi control dome next to the main console. When one considered the piecemeal, patchwork design, it was amazing it flew at all. Not to mention the effort in acquiring all the tech revealed a subtle cleverness to lie, steal, or bargain. He wondered if their looks and demeanor was simply camouflage. Bottom line, Garcia had to emit the Pakleds were a space faring enigma.
“Howdy,” Garcia said. “Sorry it took so long. I was, um, occupied.” “Garcia,” the first Pakled said. “We found you!” “You need us,” the first said.
“We have things for you,” the second said.
“You beam over, we make you happy,” the third said.
If the Pakled’s language set wasn’t so simplistic, he would have imagined sexual overtones in their message. He closed his eyes to allow his brain to sort through semantics and his subconscious to discern any subtexts. Undine waved Trini to mute the channel.
“You’re not going over there,” Undine said.
Garcia looked at her. “You think?” Garcia said. He told Trini to reconnect. “Um, that’s a really nice offer, thank you, but I must stay on board my ship. Would you like to come over here?”
They seemed sad. “No, you must come here,” the first said.
“We have things for you,” the third said.
“Preserver things,” the second said.
Garcia was a little more interested. Undine still shook her head ‘no.’ “You are safe to bring it here,” Garcia said. “Only the Captain can exchange,” the first said. “Exchange in person,” the second said.
“You will be very happy,” they all said in unison.
“Perhaps I could speak to your Captain. Which one of you is that?” Garcia asked.
“Not us, the Captain. You must come aboard,” the second said.
“A good exchange for you,” the third said.
“Yeah, well, I’m not coming over there,” Garcia said.
The three frowned. “You must exchange with the Captain,” they said in unison.
“Well, the Captain can speak via communication channels, or the Captain can come here,” Garcia began.
“No,” the first said, followed by the second, then third. The first continued. “The Captain cannot leave the ship.”
“The Captain cannot speak on an open channel,” the second said.
“Garcia can come here,” the third said.
“It’s a good exchange,” they affirmed.
“You will be very happy,” the first said.
“Well, your Captain isn’t coming here, and I’m not going there, so I guess we are done,” Garcia said.
The three of them looked at each other. A fourth entered, carrying a glowing cube. He placed it on the console next to number one, making it prominent on the screen. The box was thirty five centimeters by thirty five centimeters, and a luminescent gold.
“Yes, you want this,” they said.
“The Captain will make you happy,” the first insisted.
Garcia signaled to kill the conversation. He immediately turned to his science officer, Sendak.
“Is it?” Garcia asked, excited as kid about to have a birthday party.
“The energy signature indicates that it is indeed an unopened Stasis Box,” Sendak said. “However, the only way to be absolutely sure is to have another stasis box. Based on the fact that this one is glowing, we can presume there is another stasis box within a couple light years of this one.”
Garcia turned to Undine. “I want it.”
“You’re not going over there,” Undine said. “You know what that it is, don’t you?” Garcia asked.
“A stasis box, created by a race Star Fleet refers to as the Slavers,” Undine said.
“And you’re still not going over there.”
“There could be something in there we could use against the Preservers!” Garcia said. “This whole conversation is growing tedious. I’m so going over there.”
“It could also be an unexploded bomb that goes off in your face the moment you break the seal,” Undine said. “You’re staying.” “We have to have that box,” Garcia insisted.
“No, we don’t have to,” Undine said.
“Glowing Slaver Stasis Boxes are Star Fleet’s priority. We are required to take possession of any Slaver Stasis box discovered, document the location and situation, perform an extensive search for other Slaver technology that may have been unearthed, and safely open and determine the contents,” Garcia said.
“I know what the regulations are concerning Stasis boxes,” Undine said.
“We certainly can’t leave it with the Pakleds,” Brel said
“How do we know this isn’t some elaborate trap? Maybe the radiation leak on their ship is preventing us from discerning it’s a fake,” Undine pointed out. “Or maybe they already opened it and found nothing in it.”
“No one has been able to reactivate a stasis box once it has been open,” Sendak
said. “I doubt seriously the Pakleds have that knowledge.”
“You are not going on their ship, Admiral, and that’s final,” Undine said.
“Oh, come on,” Garcia said.
“You can have the box, as long as you don’t board their ship,” Undine said. Garcia motioned Trini to resume the transmission.
“I’m interested in negotiating the exchange,” Garcia said. “The caveat being, I will not board your ship.”
“We not hurt you,” the first said.
“You are Garcia the Great,” the second said. “The Captain loves Garcia,’ the first said “We love Garcia,” they all said.