Trek It!
Page 28
PHILIPPE
Counselor, I’d like you to come along as well. Are you up to it?
ATHENA
(still frowning, rubbing temples)
Yes, Captain. Their broadcasts of thought and emotion are still painful to me, but I am now managing to block out much of it. I will be all right.
PHILIPPE
Good. James? I want you to stay here and help Rudy make sure that Synth’s all right. Then, I want you to do some research. Run through Astrofleet records, find out if there are any accounts of encounters with beings like this.
HARBINGER
Aye, sir.
PHILIPPE
And contact Astrofleet Command. Tell them of our situation. I want them to know what’s going on here.
HARBINGER
I’ll take care of it, Captain.
PHILIPPE
(wryly)
This is either a rather astounding first contact…or a rather elaborate bit of hocus pocus.
PHILIPPE, MCNALLY, and ATHENA leave Medlab.
TORK
Hocus…pocus?
*****
ACT II, SCENE 2
INT. LAST CALL
PHILIPPE enters, followed by ONE and TWO, then MCNALLY and ATHENA. ONE and TWO gape at the people and surroundings, still beaming with delight and amazement.
ONE
This is beautiful. So…complex…and different.
TWO
You eat and drink here?
PHILIPPE
Yes, but primarily, we come here to relax.
TWO
To sleep?
PHILIPPE
No. We sleep elsewhere. Here, we rest. We take a break from our work and talk with friends. We find this place…soothing.
ONE goes over to a table where a man and woman are seated. He takes the man’s colorful drink and raises it to observe it.
ONE
This…reminds me of a universe we have seen.
PHILIPPE
Which one?
ONE continues to gaze at the drink. He moves it, causing the colorful swirls to shift and flow.
ONE
I could not tell you. It had no name…and its location would have no meaning to you. It was beautiful, though. There were many colors like this.
TWO
Oh! Come here! Come here!
TWO has found the windows, the view of space; she rushes to the windows, eyes wide, enraptured. ONE follows at her summons.
TWO
Look! I have never seen anything like this.
ONE
So different.
ONE puts his hands out, trying to touch the space that he sees…but he is stopped by the window. Surprised, he taps and touches the window.
ONE
I cannot…reach out.
MCNALLY
It’s a window…a solid mass that you can see through. Without the window to protect us, we would all be sucked out into space, where we would die.
ONE
You cannot live…out there?
MCNALLY
Not without protection.
ONE
But…most of your universe…is space…is it not?
MCNALLY
Yes, it is.
ONE
All that…emptiness.
PHILIPPE
There are stars and worlds, of course, and many other phenomena filling the void.
ONE
But most of your universe…holds no life. It is so empty.
MCNALLY
We don’t usually think of it that way…I suppose, because we’ve never visited another universe that we could compare it to.
ONE continues to stare into space.
TWO
It is empty. From what I sense, and what I know from your thinkings, I believe that this might be the emptiest universe we have ever visited.
ONE
But it is still beautiful.
TWO
Yes.
As the visitors gaze wonderingly at space, PHILIPPE draws aside MCNALLY and ATHENA for a quick consultation.
PHILIPPE
Well? What are your thoughts on these two?
ATHENA
Their emotions are so alien, I am still having little success in reading them. However, I believe that they may be hiding something.
PHILIPPE
Like what?
ATHENA
I don’t know. I don’t even know if this is an accurate assessment. It’s more an intuition on my part than anything. When I focus on these beings, most of what I pick up is garbled…but some of it seems…consciously shielded. I sense that something is there, but I cannot judge the shape of it.
PHILIPPE
And this is different from the other impressions you’re receiving?
ATHENA
Yes. I just don’t know if it means what I think it means. It could be a sign that they are intentionally concealing something…or it could simply be a non-threatening emotion or thought process which I have never encountered before. Trying to read these beings’ alien emotional states is like trying to translate a foreign language.
PHILIPPE
Doctor?
MCNALLY
Their story’s incredible, Captain. It’s hard to believe…but if it’s true, the implications are staggering.
PHILIPPE
I agree. Entire universes within elementary particles contained within every atom of our own universe. It changes our whole outlook on the cosmos…if true.
MCNALLY
We might have an amazing opportunity here…a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn.
PHILIPPE
Yes…or perhaps we are being duped. Perhaps these beings are telling us exactly what they know will fire our imaginations…and cause us to lower our guards.
MCNALLY
They seem so genuine, Jean-Claude, so guileless. They’re like children.
PHILIPPE
I share your impressions of them, Doctor, as well as your enthusiasm for their story. Still, I think it would be wise to remain vigilant. We will try to find out more about them…and we will stay alert for any anomalies within or without the Infinitude.
At the window, ONE and TWO stare blissfully into space. TWO finally looks away, turns to address her companion.
TWO
This is beautiful, is it not?
ONE
Oh, yes. I am…overwhelmed by it all.
TWO
I feel the same…and yet…
TWO’s perpetual smile turns to a slight frown.
TWO
…and yet, I must remind you that we have much to do.
ONE
(vaguely troubled)
I know.
TWO
Our time here is limited, and our work will be difficult. Our new hosts will not freely give what we need. We will have to take it.
ONE
(more troubled)
I know. This is clear to me.
TWO
By…deception or force, we will take what we need.
ONE
I like these people. I do not wish them to come to harm.
TWO
That is a very noble sentiment…but one that you must set aside. Some of them will be harmed. That is a fact.
ONE
(resignedly)
Yes.
TWO
You know the extent of the cosmos. You know how insignificant these people are. Do not concern yourself with their well-being.
ONE
I will try not to.
TWO
We must take what we need from them. If they resist, and some of them die, the infinite cosmos will not miss them. Keep that in mind.
ONE
(unsettled, displeased)
I will try.
They again turn their full attention to the view of space.
*****
ACT III
FADE IN:
INT: A PERFORMANCE HALL ABOARD THE INFINITUDE.
A performance by a string quar
tet is in progress. PHILIPPE, HARBINGER, RUDY, SYNTH, MCNALLY, ATHENA, ONE and TWO are in the audience.
Everyone is clearly enjoying the concert…but ONE and TWO are enraptured. The piece draws to a close. The audience gives a standing ovation; awkwardly, ONE and TWO join in the ovation. Quickly, they adapt, and ONE ends up providing the most enthusiastic applause of anyone.
Finally, the applause dies down and the audience separates. ONE turns to PHILIPPE.
ONE
Captain, this…music. I have never experienced anything like it!
PHILIPPE
I’m glad you enjoyed it.
ONE
I loved it! I would never have imagined that a pattern of vibrations could be so beautiful!
TWO
I, too, am overwhelmed. When we first arrived on your ship and absorbed knowledge from some of you, I learned of the existence of music…but I had no idea how truly wonderful it would be when I experienced it first-hand.
ONE
Can you all make music?
ATHENA
In one way or another, yes. We require special training to make music with instruments like those of the quartet…but we can all make some kind of music…by singing, or whistling, or humming, or snapping our finger.
ONE
Why do you make this music? Just because it is beautiful?
ATHENA
Sometimes. Sometimes, for other reasons, many other reasons…and there are different kinds of music for each reason.
ONE
I want to hear them all! All the kinds of music!
PHILIPPE
That can be arranged. We have an extensive library of musical recordings aboard the Infinitude, and regular concerts like the one you have just seen, as well. I am sure that we can provide you with at least a sample of each known musical style.
ONE
Thank you, Captain! Thank you very much!
TWO
And thank you for allowing us to attend this concert also, Captain. It was an excellent idea. It was very thoughtful of you.
PHILIPPE
We want you to feel welcome. We want to give you a wide variety of experiences, to enrich your exploration.
TWO
You have certainly done so. Our exploration so far has indeed been rich. We have learned much.
HARBINGER
You seem to have learned how to speak our language especially well. A few hours ago, you had to struggle to express yourselves… and now, you speak fluently.
TWO
We have adjusted. It took some time for us to familiarize ourselves with these bodies and fully digest the information we obtained from your minds when we joined with you…but now, we are finally in control.
HARBINGER
You keep saying you absorbed information from our minds when you joined with us. Is that the only time you can read our minds…when you “join” with us?
ONE
No. That’s not the only time.
As ONE answers, TWO shoots him a cautioning look; he makes eye contact with her and falls silent as she speaks up.
TWO
We are beings of pure thought. Of course we can sense the thought energy emanating from your minds. However, it is only when we “join” with one of you, when we submerge ourselves completely in your mental energies, that your thoughts are clear to us. Otherwise, we receive only vague impressions and occasional flashes of what you are thinking.
HARBINGER
I see.
ONE is uncomfortable during this exchange. He cuts short the discussion by turning to grab RUDY’s arm.
ONE
Rudy, I want to see more of the ship. I want to explore.
RUDY
One, you’ve already seen just about everything. I’m not sure if there’s anything left for you to explore.
ONE
This ship is enormous! There must be many things I have not yet seen.
SYNTH
Rudy, if I may make a suggestion. I do not believe that One has yet been inside the Vivideck. Perhaps that would be a good place to start.
RUDY
(snapping fingers as he remembers)
You’re right, Synth. He hasn’t been through the Vivideck.
ONE
Please take me to the Vivideck, Rudy. I know of it from your thoughts, and I am certain that I would find it stimulating.
RUDY
Okay, then. Let’s go.
As ONE and RUDY exit the performance hall, TWO turns to MCNALLY.
TWO
(eagerly)
Erin, will you take me to see the flowers?
MCNALLY
You mean you want to go to the Botanical Deck again?
TWO
Yes. Very much.
MCNALLY
(quizzically)
But you were already there for quite some time this afternoon.
TWO
I very much want to see the flowers again. They are so beautiful. I believe that they are my favorite things in this universe so far.
MCNALLY
Well, all right. I guess I can’t argue with your taste in “favorite things,” anyway.
TWO and MCNALLY exit. PHILIPPE, HARBINGER, ATHENA and SYNTH huddle.
HARBINGER
Captain, I wonder if it might not be wise to restrict the visitors’ movements a bit more.
PHILIPPE
We have ensured that they cannot wander the ship unsupervised, and they are under surveillance at all times. I see no need to do more unless they give us cause for concern.
ATHENA
Captain…I believe that there is cause for concern.
PHILIPPE
Explain.
ATHENA
I am still having difficulty reading them, but I am now certain that they are concealing something important from us. I am also certain that Two has lied to us.
HARBINGER
Lied about what?
ATHENA
About reading our minds. You asked if they could only read our minds when they are “joined” with us…and One said “no.” Two became extremely agitated. She broke in before One could say anything else, and she denied that they could read minds with any clarity outside of a “joining.”
HARBINGER
Two was lying?
ATHENA
Yes. She deliberately tried to mislead us.
HARBINGER
Does this have anything to do with what you said they’re concealing from you?
ATHENA
I don’t know. All that I can say for certain is that they are concealing something important, and Two lied about the extent of their mind-reading abilities.
HARBINGER
I wonder what else they’ve lied about.
PHILIPPE
James, you’ve had no luck searching Astrofleet records?
HARBINGER
No luck at all. There is no record of contact with beings like these, or beings claiming subatomic origins.
PHILIPPE
So, all that we have to work with is what they’ve told us.
HARBINGER
And we know they’ve lied about at least one detail.
PHILIPPE
Still, we do not yet have reason to believe that they are dangerous…and I do not believe that further restricting their movements aboard ship would be helpful. I think we might have more success in obtaining information from them by continuing our present course – allowing them to explore and spend time with the crew. Perhaps, Rudy and Erin will be able to get them to open up.
*****
ACT III, SCENE 2
INT. BOTANICAL DECK
TWO and MCNALLY have stopped at a rose bush. TWO is caressing the flowers, inhaling their scent.
TWO
This…sense of smell that you people have. It is so wonderful. In all my travels, I have never experienced anything quite like it.
MCNALLY
How long have you and One been traveling?
TWO inhales from another rose
. She smiles blissfully.
TWO
I do not know. In each universe that we visit, there is a different flow of time…in some cases, no progression of time. When we travel between universes, and each one runs by a different “clock,” time truly becomes meaningless.
MCNALLY
You must have some sense of how long it’s been since you first set out, though. You must have a subjective impression of how long it’s seemed.
TWO
It seems…that we have been traveling for a very long time. We have explored many, many universes since leaving our own.