*****
3. "The Sphere Signal"
Like Alan Lomax collecting roots music from the American countryside of the 1930s, Hunter Rheinhardt preserves the music of alien species, especially those that are losing traditions or facing extinction. Along the way, Hunter has discovered a common construct that she calls the "universal song"--a harmonic pattern found on thousands of worlds--and she believes it has cosmic significance. The Enterprise is assigned to escort Hunter to a hostile world where all language is based on this song; Hunter believes this world could be the song's birthplace. The trip is a tense one for Spock, who as a young man had an intimate relationship with Hunter, his music teacher on Earth. She was the "older woman" who brought Spock out of his shell and eventually broke up with him. Forced to deal with her again, Spock is colder than usual and gives her the bare minimum of assistance, which leads to friction between them.
When the Enterprise reaches the "universal song" planet, Hunter beams down with a landing party. While tracking clues to the song's origin, the party ends up having to fight for survival among the warlike natives. The friction between Spock and Hunter nearly leads to disaster, but Kirk intervenes and saves the team. At the end of the trail of clues, the landing party finds that the "universal song" did not originate on the planet. Instead, evidence points to a nearby pulsar emitting radiation in extraordinary patterns. The landing party returns to the Enterprise, which travels to the pulsar for an incredible discovery: an ancient alien device created the pulsar as a transmitter of the "universal song" in the form of radio waves and radiation. Enterprise crew members attuned to the signal nearly destroy the ship by taking it too close to the pulsar...but Hunter gives her life to save the ship. The crew makes another amazing discovery: the pulsar device transmits a data burst including a map of other beacons located in the Milky Way and beyond. These beacons broadcast the "universal song" through space; this true "music of the spheres" might have been left behind long ago by an ancient civilization to draw sentient species from their homeworlds and entice them to explore the great unknown.
As Spock processes the treasure trove of data from the pulsar beacon, he struggles to reconcile illogical feelings of regret. Kirk offers words of advice that help him make peace with Hunter's memory.
FAIL CALL: Star Trek: The Manga: 3 proposals – FAIL or UNFAIL?
FAIL! The editor chose "Hailing Myself" as the strongest candidate for inclusion in the manga book. I continued to polish it to his specifications...but ultimately, the story didn't make the cut.
However, I did get another chance at the world of Trek manga. The editor informed me that I could pitch for the next volume, a Next Generation collection, if I liked. This time, I recycled two pitches from Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Sky's The Limit: "The Five-Minute Captain" and "What Was Lost and Can Never Be Found." The editor said he'd like to see a new version of "What Was Lost and Can Never Be Found," incorporating a series of changes he'd suggested. As requested, I developed and submitted the new, retitled version:
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Manga: "The One Who Was Lost" – FAIL or UNFAIL?
"The One Who Was Lost" - An Ishara Yar Story Set During Season 5 of Star Trek: The Next Generation
Turkana IV is the last place the crew of the Enterprise-D wants to visit. This violence-plagued hellhole of a colony was the childhood home of the crew's lost colleague, Tasha Yar. On their last visit, the crew was duped by Tasha's lying sister, Ishara, who used them to gain an advantage over her enemies ("Legacy"). The hard-luck place isn't any better this time around. In fact, it's even more of a nightmare than before, for one reason: Turkana IV was assimilated during the Borg incursion into the Alpha Quadrant ("The Best of Both Worlds").
Actually, Turkana was only partly assimilated, which is why the Enterprise-D is back. Something stopped the assimilation process midway through; Picard's team has orders to find out what it was, in case it can be turned into an anti-Borg weapon. In the process, the crew will apply the reverse-assimilation experience they gained while retrieving Picard from Locutus to restore the colonists to their pre-Borg selves.
It isn't a popular mission. Some think the anarchist colony would be better off abandoned. Some, including Picard, worry that close contact with the Borg will reactivate Locutus. Then there's Ishara. Seeing her stirs up resentment and suspicion among those who were fooled by her during the crew's last visit. Data, in particular, wrestles with a unique range of responses, as he once trusted and cared for Ishara.
But there isn't much time to dwell on hurt feelings, as the clock is ticking. A massive Borg Angel of Death is fast approaching; this mega-weapon, designed to dispose of malfunctioning hives when all else fails, will destroy all life on Turkana IV.
Only Ishara can save the day. The colonists blame her for summoning the Angel of Death, since she seems to be the most assimilated among them...but behind her exterior, she's been fighting the hardest. Since the crew's last visit, Ishara has had a true change of heart; she wants nothing less than redemption...and she gets it, with a little help from her late sister, Tasha.
Guided by memories of Tasha, Ishara leads the crew to a cave full of strange energy sources. Tasha had said the flashing, floating lights were angels that would grant wishes...like her wish to leave Turkana forever (which came true). The "angels," however, turn out to be energy-based lifeforms capable of disrupting Borg assimilation. In fact, they're the same kind of emotion-devouring energy forms that set Kirk's crew against the Klingons onboard the original Enterprise in "Wink of an Eye." The energy beings have been the cause of the colonists' violent anarchy through the years.
Ishara and the crew convince the energy beings to make a concerted effort to repel the Angel of Death...and it works. When the energy forms finish, they leave Turkana for good. Thanks to Ishara, the colony has been saved from its energy-form induced madness as well as from the Borg.
As for Ishara herself, she has finally made up for deceiving the crew, and she gets the wish she made to the "angels" long ago with Tasha. Escorted by Mr. Data, she leaves Turkana behind and heads for the stars, just like her beloved sister once did.
FAIL CALL: Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Manga: "The One Who Was Lost" – FAIL or UNFAIL?
FAIL! The editor seemed to like the new version, but it didn't make the cut.
Seven Stars
Though my attempts at selling authorized Trek fiction were bearing no fruit, I did develop a special tribute story that I thought might make it into print. "Seven Stars" was a tribute to Star Trek: The Next Generation on the occasion of its 20th anniversary. I wrote and submitted it for use in the official convention program at Creation Las Vegas.
Creation Las Vegas Program: "Seven Stars" – FAIL or UNFAIL?
Seven stars of a science fiction universe warp through twisted changes on the final frontier. Driven by forces they can't understand, the magnificent spacefaring Seven--Baldy, Beardnik, Mannequin, Dragon, Four Eyes, Princess, and Red--charge through bizarre transformations and battles beyond imagining. Each victory leads to fresh conflict, but the truth remains out of reach. With no memories of the past, how can the Seven recall their true identities? Only Royal Pain, a mischievous, all-powerful being from beyond the stars, seems to hold the answers. But will his amazing revelations open the gateway to illumination...or death? The power of the Seven may hold the ultimate key to an uncharted destiny that lies beyond the bounds of space, time, and reality itself. Within this destiny waits a tribute to all generations of treks past and future and the dreamers who bring them to life in our imaginations.
FAIL CALL: Creation Las Vegas Program: "Seven Stars" – FAIL or UNFAIL?
FAIL! The Creation team gave me the go-ahead to write the story but changed their minds about using it in the program.
The Final Frontier?
Looking back at all the Star Trek material I've written over the years, I'm kind of amazed. There are enough pitches and proposals to fill this entire book of over 55,000 words, i
n fact. So much of it led to fails, epic and otherwise...but now, thanks to the magic of e-books, I'm finally able to show it to you. And that, after all, is one of the main reasons why I write: to be read.
Maybe someday, I'll get the chance to write new Star Trek books including some of these stories and ideas. But even if I don't, at least I'll know that you got the chance to share the stories behind the stories. You got to peek under the hood of my writing machine and glimpse some of the process that drives my work. That was the reason I pulled together this book, and I hope it served its purpose.
Where do I go from here when it comes to Star Trek fiction? For now, nowhere. The Trek line of books has dwindled over the years, and I've turned my writing in other directions. I've written non-Trek short stories for magazines, podcasts, and websites around the world. I've written over 25 e-books, now on sale for the Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Sony E-Reader, and other formats. My young adult fantasy novel, My Favorite Band Does Not Exist, is scheduled for publication on July 11, 2011 from Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. I've written comic books for DC Comics, too. I'm putting my work out there, everywhere I can, in every format available.
Star Trek fiction was a step along the way. Writing all those pitches, proposals, stories, and books helped me hone my skills and reach the level of professionalism that made my later successes possible.
For that, I'll always be grateful to Star Trek, Pocket Books, and everyone who's been a part of my journey into the final frontier of writing fiction for fun and profit. To all of them and all of you, I say, "Live long, prosper, and keep reading!"
The adventure is just beginning.
*****
Trek It! Part Four:
Trek Script!
A Grain From A Balance
By Robert T. Jeschonek
CAST OF CHARACTERS
(in order of appearance)
SYNTH, an android helmsman aboard the star cruiser ESS Infinitude
RUDY RENEAU, the ship's chief engineer, a blind man wearing a sight-restoring device
ENSIGN FERRIS, a female friend of Synth and Rudy's
JEAN-CLAUDE PHILIPPE, captain of the ship
JAMES HARBINGER, the ship's first officer
ERIN MCNALLY, the ship's doctor
TORK, the ship's security chief, a member of the warlike Gorlack species
MALE VISITOR/ONE
FEMALE VISITOR/TWO
ATHENA, the ship's counselor, an alien Synodd female with empathetic powers
NURSE
*****
TEASER
INT.: LAST CALL LOUNGE ABOARD THE STAR CRUISER ESS INFINITUDE
SYNTH and RUDY are seated at a table with a drink or two. They are discussing one of the crew’s recent poker games.
RUDY
Synth, I’ve gotta’ stop playing poker with you. It’s just too hard on my ego.
SYNTH
Rudy, I am not sure that I understand. I thought that you enjoyed our poker games.
RUDY
Well, I do. It’s just that lately, I’ve been on this awful losing streak, and you…well, you’ve had an amazing winning streak.
SYNTH
Would you enjoy it more if I did not win as often?
RUDY
No no, Synth. I just wish my luck would improve. I can’t seem to get a decent hand anymore.
SYNTH
(thinking)
I see.
(pauses)
What can be done to improve your “luck,” Rudy?
RUDY
Nothing that I know of, Synth. That’s the whole problem.
As SYNTH and RUDY talk, ENSIGN FERRIS approaches. FERRIS is an attractive young woman, a casual acquaintance of SYNTH’s and RUDY’s; she is wearing an outrageous hat, something high and overloaded, like something Carmen Miranda might wear.
FERRIS
(excited, fidgeting with the hat)
Rudy, hi! Look what I got on shore leave on Perlis VII!
RUDY
(awkwardly but politely)
Oh, yeah. That’s really..an interesting hat, Ellen.
FERRIS
I just adore it! The shopkeeper said it’s the latest style in the system, but this particular one is one of a kind!
RUDY
I’ll…bet it is, Ellen.
FERRIS
So, do you really like it? It’s not too much, is it?
RUDY
(after a good, long look)
No, no…I mean, uh, yeah. I like it. It’s very…unique.
FERRIS
You really think so?
RUDY
Yeah. I really do.
FERRIS
(delightedly)
Oh, thank you! Wait…I’ve got to go show it to Lieutenant Bell!
(she hurries off)
RUDY
(to SYNTH, in hushed voice)
Boy, that was some hat, huh? Wow.
SYNTH
It was unique.
RUDY
It was a little TOO unique.
SYNTH
What do you mean, Rudy? Did you not like it?
RUDY
“Like’s” a strong word, Synth.
SYNTH
But you told Ensign Ferris that you liked it.
RUDY
Well, I did, Synth…but I guess I sort of told a little white lie.
SYNTH
I did not know that there were different types of lies. What is a “little white lie,” Rudy?
RUDY
It’s…it’s a small lie, one that shouldn’t cause anybody any harm. In this case, I used one so I wouldn’t hurt Ensign Ferris’ feelings.
SYNTH
Why would you have hurt her feelings by supplying an accurate assessment of your opinion of the hat?
RUDY
Well, I could see how much she liked it, Synth. She was really enjoying that hat, and if I’d told her what I really thought of it, she might not have enjoyed it so much anymore. It might’ve made her self-conscious and unhappy.
SYNTH
I see. So what you are saying is that a “little white lie” is socially acceptable, and that it can be beneficial in certain circumstances.
RUDY
(uncomfortable)
I suppose. Sometimes, you just can’t tell someone what you really think. Sometimes, the truth does more harm than good.
SYNTH
How do you know when a “little white lie” is
appropriate, though? If you should not always tell the truth, how do you know when to tell the truth and when to lie?
RUDY
(sighs)
It’s pretty complicated, Synth. It all depends on the person, the situation, a lot of factors. I guess it’s just something that you have to learn from experience.
SYNTH
(after a thoughtful pause)
How will I do that, Rudy? Would experimentation be of use? Should I apply a “little white lie” in various situations and the truth in various situations, then compare the results?
RUDY
(at a loss)
I don’t know about that, Synth. That might not be such a good idea. Maybe you oughtta’ just stick to the truth.
SYNTH
But if this is a common element of human interaction, and I function within a human society, then should I not understand and practice it?
RUDY
Not necessarily, Synth. You’ve gotten along okay without it so far, and…
Still bubbly and breathless, ENSIGN FERRIS swoops back to the table. She is still wearing the hat, but has rearranged and adjusted it into a new and even sillier configuration.
FERRIS
Rudy! What do you think now? I changed it a little!
RUDY
Uh…well…
FERRIS
The hat’s convertible! It has over a hundred different configurations, and they’re all so EASY to create! What do you think?
RUDY
Well, Ellen…to be perfectly honest…
SY
NTH
Ensign Ferris.
FERRIS
(turning to listen)
Yes, Commander?
SYNTH
I find that your headwear has a pleasing symmetry. In both this and its earlier configuration, its form and color have produced a subtle visual effect which has served to highlight and enhance your features.
FERRIS
(thrilled)
Oh, THANK YOU, Commander Synth! Thank you for saying so!
SYNTH
(seen from behind)
You are welcome, Ensign Ferris.
FERRIS
(as she hurries off)
Oh, I can’t WAIT to try the matching epaulets I got!
RUDY
(lifting glass for a drink, then stopping to stare at Synth)
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