Beta Antauris III

Beaming planet side, you usually expect a scene from 21st century Earth's nature landscapes. If we had a credit1 for every time someone is proven wrong for that assumption, we'd all be trillionaires. Beta Antauris III, a class M planet (the class that usually sustains life), smack dab in the middle of a 6 planet solar system (the Antauris system), at the very edge of the beta quadrant, was no exception to this theory of being un-terrene2 . When my vision cleared of the sparkling atoms that had engulfed me, I was speechless. The ground was made of clay like substance except a deep violet color and more flexible, causing my boots to sink slowly upon contact. Vegetation was everywhere, black, green and orange flowers sprouted upon indigo and scarlet stems. Curious, I walk, or at least try to venture towards the flower I like most. My black, leather, Starfleet issue boots nearly getting stuck twice on the way. Finally I am able to take a closer reading of the flower with my tricorder, after reconfiguring it to science mode (I own a Medical tricorder), the reading indicates the flower is the Antauris equivalent of a rose. The 'Antauris rose' has neon green and black petals, connected to a deep scarlet colored stem with indigo leaves. The rose is thorn less so I believe it no harm to take a whiff of the aroma, a sweet scent, much like an orange blossom. The smell takes me home, back to the orange groves of Florida. I take another sniff; this time sinking my nose deep within the blossom, only to rapidly bring it out again, the thorn was in the center of the flower, go figure! Rubbing my nose I peer up into the endless sky, which surprisingly is a baby blue like our own sky on Earth except the clouds are all a deep yellow and a blue sun3 was marking high noon. I realize how deeply perplexed I look when I heard a voice from my left "If you find that weird, check out the natives." Turning to discover the source I realized the voice belonged to Ensign Ricky from the security department. I smile as I allow myself to be pulled to shady spot near an indigo and orange tree, overlooking a golden sea. Near the water, the native beings of the planet thrive. Looking like Oompa-loompas from the 21st century movie "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory" they work. Orange skin, Green hair, measuring to an average estimate of 3 to 4 feet tall they, in the sense, ARE Oompa-loompas. They are talking in a native dialect that resembles Latin to my ears, but I'm a nurse not a communications officer, so how would I know. Taking a step towards the scene I realize the Ground is no longer a squishy, clay like substance, but is now a gray sand-like substance. Not even trying to resist the urge I run several feet forward and stop. Abruptly, a scream follows emanating from Ricky. Suddenly I am at Ricky's side, taking readings, administering hyposprays3, anything I thought would help. Coming into my peripheral vision I see three pairs of men's boots coming towards me. "What happened?" Dr. McCoy demands, shortly afterwards followed by a gentle voice "Lieutenant? Report." My eyes follow the pair of boots directly in front of me all the way up to the face of my commanding officer Capitan Kirk. "Sir," I say, in a meek yet serious tone as my eyes return to the arrow wound the Ensign is bearing "Ensign Ricky is dead."