Paradise Interrupted

by John S. Drew

  “Then there are two of you?” Gomez asked.

  YES, MA’AM. The voice was singular once again. MY FATHER IS RAY JOHNSON. WE’RE HERE FOR A CONFERENCE.

  “Eddie,” Gomez said slowly, trying to make sure she didn’t lose control of the situation, “where is your father now?”

  PROBABLY AT SOME BORING LECTURE OR SYMPOSIUM. I’LL BET HE DOESN’T EVEN KNOW THAT I’M GONE.

  “I’m not so sure of that,” Gomez replied. “Eddie, are you aware that you’re disrupting many of the services on Risa?”

  I KNOW. ISN’T IT FANTASTIC?

  “Yes, it is,” Gomez said, “but, it’s also dangerous. The weather control station has been shut down and a storm is brewing that could destroy this entire region.”

  The being pulsed another moment. Probably discussing this with each other, Gomez thought.

  WE ARE SORRY FOR THE PROBLEMS WE ARE CAUSING. The voice was once again plural.

  “We appreciate that, Eddie, but you have to do more than that. You have to stop feeding on the planet’s energy.”

  WE MUST FEED TO SURVIVE.

  “And you can survive,” Gomez continued. “We can help you. We can take you to a world where you can feed all you want. There are countless stars full of energy orbiting dead planets. But you have to stop here.”

  The being pulsed somewhat brighter as the argument between the two began to become more intense.

  NO. The vocal tone was singular again, but different in its pitch. NO HELP FOR SPARKY. HURT SPARKY.

  “Eddie! Please listen!”

  EDDIE IS NOT SPEAKING NOW.

  The pulse erupted into a bright light strobe, causing Gomez to fall back and cry out in pain. Pattie dropped quickly to her side.

  “The light!” Gomez said with tears falling down her cheeks. “It’s blinded me!”

  THERE IS FIGHTING. WHO WILL TAKE SPARKY? NOBODY! I…WILL NOT BE TAKEN! WE WILL NOT BE TAKEN!

  Chapter

  15

  The bridge crew of the da Vinci sat in tense silence as they watched the growing masses quickly approaching on the main viewscreen.

  “Captain, I can give you shields again. It’s limited, though,” Conlon reported from engineering.

  Gold rose from his chair and approached the tactical station. Shabalala looked up at his commanding officer and asked, “Shields, sir?”

  Gold nodded. “Modulate frequencies so we make it difficult for them to get through. Weapons on standby.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  Gold turned toward the viewscreen. The twin energy fields slowed their pace.

  “I think they’re aware of what we’re doing, sir,” Wong said.

  “Thank you, Wong,” Gold said with a wry grin. “Let’s look sharp, people. Stand ready.”

  Shabalala’s station suddenly lit up and a low beeping sound filled the bridge. “Sir, we’re getting a signal. It’s coming from the energy masses.”

  “Can we make it out?”

  “It appears to be…” Shabalala shook his head. “No, wait a minute. It’s in Standard.”

  Gold raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Let’s hear it.”

  An electronic tinged voice echoed from the ship’s speakers. GREETINGS, WE WISH TO INITIATE CONTACT WITH YOU AND YOUR SHIP.

  “I am Captain Da—” Gold began.

  DAVID GOLD, CAPTAIN OF THE U.S.S. DA VINCI. WIFE IS RACHEL GILMAN. FIRST OFFICER IS COMMANDER SONYA GOMEZ.

  “You have me at a disadvantage,” Gold replied. “You know who I am. Who are you?”

  WE HAVE NO NAME AS YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY US. WE ARE WHO WE ARE. WE WISH TO SPEAK WITH YOU. MAY WE ENTER YOUR SHIP?

  Gold looked about the bridge. The crew waited to see what move he would make next. They did ask, he thought. Aloud, he said, “Drop shields. We look forward to meeting you.”

  Shabalala cut off communication at a gesture from Gold. “Sir—”

  “I know, son, but you see the power they’re generating. They asked if they could come aboard when they could just as easily barge in. Let’s see what they want.”

  “Captain!” the voice of Laura Poynter, the transporter chief, called from the speakers. “My console just came alive—something’s beaming aboard.”

  “Don’t touch anything, I’m on my way. Security to the transporter room. Wong, you have the conn.”

  Gold raced for the turbolift as it opened to admit him. As the doors closed, Wong rose from his station and settled slowly into the captain’s chair. He looked around the bridge at his fellow crew members.

  Susan Haznedl turned in her seat at ops and looked up at him. “How does the chair feel?”

  Wong shifted slightly. “It’s not very comfortable.”

  Haznedl shook her head. “I don’t think it’s ever supposed to be.”

  Wong stopped moving and leaned forward in the chair with a sigh. “I guess so.”

  The doors to the transporter room parted and Gold reached up to cover his eyes. The intense glow from the transporter platform reflected off some of the surfaces in the room, making vision next to impossible.

  “Any way to tone down the light?” Gold asked.

  There was a moment as some consideration on the matter was given.

  YOU MAY REMOVE YOUR HAND NOW, CAPTAIN GOLD.

  Gold slowly lowered his hand, surprised at how the lighting was now near normal. A soft glow emanated from the platform. Gold was even more surprised as his eyes adjusted. He noticed that Lauoc and Krotine from security were already present, phasers at the ready, flanking Poynter at the transporter console.

  The two energy beings now assumed humanoid form.

  “Lower your weapons,” Gold said to the guards.

  Krotine placed her weapon back in her holster. Lauoc did the same, but his hand remained poised over the weapon.

  AH! THIS IS A PERSONAL VERSION OF YOUR SHIP’S ARMAMENTS. INTERESTING.

  “Yes,” Gold said slowly.

  One of the figures stepped forward and extended a hand to the captain. Gold wasn’t sure what to do. It withdrew its hand slowly.

  I MERELY WISH TO GREET YOU IN A MANNER YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH, CAPTAIN. IT WILL NOT HARM YOU.

  What the hell, Gold thought, and accepted the handshake. A tingle went up his arm, but that was all. “Would you care to follow me? I would like to give you a tour of the ship, give us a chance to get to know each other a little more.”

  THANK YOU, CAPTAIN, BUT THAT IS UNNECESSARY. WE ARE MORE THAN FAMILIAR WITH YOUR SHIP. WE WISH TO DISCUSS OUR CURRENT SITUATION WITH YOU AND TO SEE HOW YOU MAY BE ABLE TO HELP US.

  “To be honest, I’m not going to be much help at the moment as you have incapacitated my ship.”

  The being nodded its head and turned to its partner. A low hum filled the transporter room as the instrumentation panel came to life.

  “Captain, this is engineering,” Chief Engineer Conlon’s voice sounded quite relieved. “We have full power again.”

  “Thank you,” Gold replied. He turned to the entities. “I think I can help you.” He tapped his combadge. “Bridge, set course back to Risa.”

  “Aye, sir,” Wong replied.

  Gold stepped up to the doors, which parted at a gesture from him. “If you’d care to follow me, we can discuss your problem in my conference room.”

  TIME IS CRITICAL, CAPTAIN.

  “I’m aware of that, but I also feel that I need to know a little more about you. As I’ve said, you have me at a disadvantage.”

  The two stood silent for a moment.

  They must be telepathic or something, Gold mused. I wish I knew what they were saying.

  One being looked to the other and giving a nod, they stepped out into the corridor.

  Bander winced at Tonais’s shrill scream, uttered as a large chunk of the ceiling above him came crashing down. The rains had become so heavy that the roof could not hold up under the pressure.

  “What was that?” Tonais asked angrily.

  Bander shrugged. “I’m just thinking how remark
able our world was.”

  “Was?” Tonais sounded outraged. “What do you mean, was? Is. It is a remarkable world and it will be again.”

  Bander shook his head. “No, sir. I’m not speaking of Risa now, but of a time before we introduced technology to it.”

  Tonais rolled his eyes. “Please, don’t tell me you’re one of those naturalists who want to return the planet to its original state.”

  “No, sir,” Bander repeated. “We cannot return the planet to its natural state as you can see by the view outside. There was a time when Risa was like a paradise.”

  “It’s a paradise now, Bander.”

  “I’m sorry, sir, but it’s not.” Bander could see the anger rising in his director’s eyes. But uncharacteristically, he felt the need to press on with his thoughts. “What we have now is an illusion. Risa has been unstable for centuries. Our atmospheric, meteorological, and tectonic equipment keep it from sliding over the edge.” Bander pointed out the window. “This is the real Risa.”

  Tonais started to say something and then stopped. He folded his hands behind his back. “How many more transports remain?”

  Bander only nodded before looking down at his padd again. “Five, sir.”

  “Good. It will be nice to be somewhere civilized again. I am tired of all this humidity.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “What is the status of the Johnson boy?”

  Bander shook his head. “The teams have returned, sir. The storms are becoming too intense. The winds have reached a sustained strength of a hundred and twenty KPH. It’s impossible to maneuver people out there, especially without powered equipment.”

  Tonais grunted. “And nothing from the S.C.E. team either?”

  “Not a word since they beamed away from the landing bay. And the da Vinci left orbit a short while ago.”

  “Left orbit?” Now Tonais sounded startled. “Why?”

  “We don’t know, sir. We’ve had no contact with them for some time.”

  Bander followed Tonais’s gaze out at the storm. The complexes by the lagoon had been swept away. The very building they were standing in was on the verge of falling down. He turned his gaze toward Ray Johnson, trying hard not to meet his stare of expectation.

  “This can’t be the end,” the director whispered.

  Pattie gazed into Gomez’s eyes trying to see if she could identify any type of damage that may have occurred.

  “As far as I can tell,” she said, “I can see nothing wrong with your eyes. They’re not reacting to the light, but that is to be expected. How do you feel?”

  Tears were still streaming down Gomez’s face. “It stings a little. And I can’t see anything. Otherwise, I’m fine. What’s happening?”

  “The entity is still just hovering there,” Pattie replied. “Corsi and the others are keeping the Gorn at bay.”

  “Help me up,” Gomez said, reaching out with a hand, which the Nasat took. She rose slowly. “Now turn me in the entity’s direction.” Gomez cleared her throat. “Please, if you would give me a moment. I can explain everything. You’re friends with Eddie. I am sure he can tell you that you can trust us.”

  The entity did not reply immediately. TRUE. BUT EDDIE IS YOUNG. EDDIE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE DANGER.

  “You trusted Eddie,” Gomez said.

  HE IS YOUNG.

  “I would think compared to you, we’re all young,” Gomez said with a smile. “If nothing else, could you at least tell us how you came to be on Risa?”

  I…EXISTED. I WAS CONTENT. MY PROGENITORS WERE NOT PRESENT. I THEN FOUND MYSELF RIPPED AWAY FROM EVERYTHING I KNEW, WITHOUT ANY CONTROL. I FELT MY ESSENCE BEING DRAINED AWAY. I MANAGED TO ESCAPE AND DISCOVERED THIS WORLD. I DISCOVERED EDDIE.

  “And I’m sure his father is very worried about him,” Gomez said.

  The tone of the entity changed again. Eddie was speaking. SOMEHOW I DOUBT THAT.

  “Eddie, does your friend have a name?”

  SPARKY. I NAMED HIM THAT.

  “Well, Sparky,” Gomez began. First contact with an alien named Sparky. Can’t wait to write this report. “I think we may be able to help you. You have been taken from what we call a nebula. If you allow us to examine you, we could determine where you came from.”

  POINT OF ORIGIN? THIS IS POSSIBLE?

  “If that’s what you want.”

  I DO NOT KNOW.

  Within the mass of energy, Eddie squirmed excitedly. “What’s there to not know? Sparky, these people are the real deal! If they say they can get you home, they mean it. Besides, I can come along with you and see the actual insides of a starship!”

  BUT EDDIE, WHAT IF THEY ARE LYING? HAVE YOU EVER KNOWN A PROGENITOR TO BE ENTIRELY TRUTHFUL?

  “Well, my parents did keep me in the dark about Santa until I was six,” Eddie admitted. “But this is different! This is Starfleet!”

  I DO NOT TRUST THEM.

  “Look,” Eddie said, “you scanned my mind before. Do it again. See what I mean when I speak about Starfleet and its people.”

  VERY WELL.

  Eddie felt the slight surge tap the front of his mind once again. Images of Starfleet operations that he had viewed from newscasts began to flood his mental senses. The Dominion War. Wolf 359. Voyager Six. Captain Jonathan Archer and the launch of the first warp-five vessel called Enterprise. Zephram Cochrane discovering warp drive.

  YOU ADMIRE THESE PEOPLE GREATLY.

  “They’re fantastic,” Eddie said.

  IS THIS A SUBSTITUTE FOR YOUR FATHER?

  “What?” Eddie asked, shocked.

  In the cavern outside, the phaser fire had stopped, thanks to the entity’s last power surge. Every weapon had been rendered useless.

  Tev was the first to throw down his phaser and lunge himself with a growl at the Gorn. He struck one of them with a balled-up fist to the jaw. The Gorn’s head jerked slightly. He laughed at the Tellarite officer before backhanding him against the wall.

  Corsi and Angelopoulos circled around the other Gorn, making sure they kept out of reach. At a signal from Corsi, Angelopoulos dropped to all fours. The Gorn, momentarily surprised by the odd movement, was unprepared for Corsi’s dropkick to his stomach.

  The alien fell down hard. Angelopoulos rolled and grabbed a large rock, bringing it crashing down on the Gorn’s head. He didn’t try to get up after that.

  Corsi turned her attention to the remaining Gorn as it made its way slowly to the cavern entrance.

  “Oh no, you don’t,” Corsi said as she tried to dropkick him. The Gorn reached out and caught her foot and twisted it just enough to hear a cracking sound. He then threw her like a rag doll against the cavern wall.

  Angelopoulos started to move to her side, but she held out a restraining hand. “I’m fine. Stop him.”

  The young security guard ran off after his target. Corsi turned and saw that Tev was coming around.

  “Are you all right, Commander?” Corsi asked.

  “Just tell me when the quakes have stopped. It is difficult for me to get my bearings.” He looked around. “Where is Crewperson Angelopoulos?”

  “Gone after the Gorn,” Corsi replied.

  “He stands little chance on his own without a weapon.” Tev spoke in his usual dismissive tone.

  Corsi snapped, “This is what he’s trained for, Commander.”

  Tev shrugged. “If you say so.”

  The Gorn lurched into the chamber, leveling a device that Pattie had never seen before. It was beeping softly and a small red light flashed in time to the sound.

  Pattie stepped up before the Gorn. “Stop.” What am I doing?

  The Gorn regarded the Nasat with a look of disdain. “Out of my way, insect,” he hissed threateningly.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Pattie spotted Angelopoulos entering the chamber and moving himself into position to attack. She took a step back, far enough away to keep her out of the Gorn’s reach, but still holding her ground.

  “You’re not getting through me,” she said,
trying hard not to let her voice quiver.

  “I have not killed anyone,” the Gorn replied, adding, “today.”

  “It doesn’t have to be this way,” Pattie said, steeling herself for what she had to do next.

  “Only if you let it happen,” the Gorn growled. “We discovered the energy being first. It is ours by right! With such an energy source at our command, we will rule the quadrant as we were meant to!”

  “You discovered him?” Pattie asked. “How?”

  “We found it in a nebula and followed it here after it fled the nebula.”

  “Are you sure it fled?” Pattie asked. “Perhaps it caught on to your sensors or maybe you were using a ram scoop?” Come on, kid. I can’t keep him talking much longer.

  “It doesn’t matter. The entity is ours. Stand aside and you can live another day.”

  Angelopoulos finally made his move. Racing forward, he launched himself at the Gorn. Pattie dropped into her spherical position and rolled away from the danger.

  The young security guard struck hard, startling the Gorn into dropping his device. It clattered on the ground and rolled toward Gomez.

  Angelopoulos tried a roundhouse kick that the Gorn caught. But before he could inflict the same damage he did to Corsi, Angelopoulos swung his arms out, slamming them into the sides of the Gorn’s head.

  The Gorn released the young man, who quickly ducked under and attempted to punch the Gorn in the stomach.

  That was his mistake. The Gorn connected with an uppercut to Angelopoulos’s jaw, lifting him off the ground and knocking him against the wall where he collapsed in a pile on the floor.

  The Gorn turned and advanced on Gomez, who was reaching out, trying to find the dropped instrument.

  “Give it to me!” the Gorn hissed.

  Within the energy mass, Sparky and Eddie continued to argue.

  “This is not about me!” Eddie said. “This is about you and your unwillingness to trust anyone!”

  I TRUST YOU.

  “Then why won’t you trust me when I say to trust these people?”

  Eddie felt a slight jolt run through him.

  “What’s wrong?”