TRIAD
Summary: The Big Three are whisked away by a powerful transporter to an unknown world to rescue a young woman. With no Enterprise to help them, can they interpret the clues to find her and restore her father's faith?
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek, but I love to put the characters in interesting situations and see what they do. It's so much fun!
A/N: This is the first Star Trek story I ever thought about writing. The title comes from an old VHS 2-episode Star Trek TOS tape I rented many, many years ago (remember those days?). I don't remember the episodes, but the description on the back of the box said something about "the triad of Kirk's leadership, Spock's intellect and McCoy's compassion." I always liked that idea, and somehow I came up with this story. After keeping it alive only in my head for several years, I finally started to write it. As with all good stories, it changed and grew and changed some more. And now I've decided to share it with all of you. Please let me know what you think.
A/N2: This story takes place before, during, and mostly after the events of ST:V The Final Frontier. It uses several lines of poetry – some well-know, some not. All titles and authors are referenced by the characters in conversations concerning them.
The Voice
Woman much missed, how you call to me, call to me,
Saying that now you are not as you were
When you had changed from the one who was all to me,
But as at first, when our day was fair.
Can it be you that I hear? Let me view you, then,
Standing as when I drew near to the town
Where you would wait for me: yes as I knew you then,
Even to the original air-blue gown.
Or is it only the breeze, in its listlessness
Traveling across the wet mead to me here,
You being ever dissolved to wan wistlessness,
Heard no more again far or near?
Thus I; faltering forward,
Leaves around me falling,
Wind oozing thin through the thorn from norward.
And the woman calling.
Thomas Hardy
SEEKERS
The Seeker hovered over Earth's Yosemite National Park, taking in the beauty of the rocks and trees and waterfalls. The Seeker was smaller than a common gnat; but inside it was a sophisticated microcomputer that recorded everything it saw and heard and transmitted the information to a slightly larger, more complex computer orbiting the Earth. From there, the information was relayed to a massive computer on a distant planet. Orders were transmitted back to the tiny Seeker – orders to continue exploring the rugged landscape.
The Seeker did as it was instructed and descended to just above tree level. It soon encountered familiar looking beings, similar to those once found in abundance on its home world. It moved in closer, still transmitting every sight and sound. Suddenly, an alarm began to sound within the little computer – an alarm that it had never heard before, but understood instantly: the object of its search had been found. The Seeker switched its programming to the next task – find the one that could interpret the Scroll and change its planet's future.
An hour after the discovery, five more Seekers joined the first one. They separated and scoured the park; all transmitting their findings back to their home planet. They watched as more beings entered and left the park in strange looking vehicles. The beings were of similar size and shape, but had different features. Some of the beings erected odd structures, while others gathered in groups led by an individual who pointed off into the distance while describing the features around them. Still others merely walked about as though examining the rocks and plants. The Seekers listened and recorded, constantly transmitting information.
Soon the master computer, known as Hatia, was able to understand the language spoken by the beings. Many of the words they used were indeed found in the Scroll. But they were out of order; and they were never spoken together line by line as the Scroll indicated. This would require further investigation.
After listening for some time, Hatia discovered that this area was a place of recreation and the beings they were watching were enjoying the experience of being away from the busy cities that had already been observed. The decision was made and sent to the Seekers – stay in this area, continue the search. Surely the One would be found among these people. And it was time to pass on the information.
A lonely figure stared unseeing at the view on the console screen before him. After all this time, he still could not bear to look at the endless sea of sand, the heat waves obscuring the distant mountains, and the cold, dead stone of his castle - his prison. He found himself remembering his life before; his daughter, his friends, trees, animals, and rain. Rain. It hadn't rained in so long, he could barely remember the last time. He knew it would not rain again until the task was completed and the scourge removed from the land - not until his daughter was returned to him.
He focused on the image on the screen and watched as the sun sank below the horizon, its green glow giving every grain of sand and every stone an unnatural pallor. Unable to bear the close of another day without the child of his heart, he turned away from the scene, his eyes shining with unshed tears. His only hope was to solve the riddle his foes had left him. Once that task was completed his home would again be lush and beautiful and "she" would be returned.
"May I speak, Sir" asked a slightly feminine, mechanical voice.
"You may," he said, bleakly.
"One of my Seekers has found those who speak the language of the scroll."
Slowly, he raised his head, his eyes suddenly dry. "Show me," he demanded in a carefully controlled voice. A spinning globe appeared on his view screen. Clouds swirled above its blue and green patterns as a yellow sun shone brightly behind it. The planet grew larger as the view zoomed in on a large land mass. Features of the land became visible, then bodies of water and roadways appeared. The view continued to zoom in until a group of trees and rocky outcroppings became its focus. A carved stone sign came into view bearing strange markings:
WELCOME TO
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
The image continued past the sign toward a red brick building. He watched as the Seeker entered the building and saw beings that were at once familiar, yet strange. One of the people on the view screen became larger as the computer enlarged the image and cut out the background. The person gave no indication he knew he was being watched; which was as it should be. The watcher was overjoyed. "They are like us, Hatia*!" he exclaimed. Then catching his mistake, he quietly corrected himself, "They are like me." He watched silently as the being on the screen went about his business. "Show me more," he urged. Image after image flashed on the screen. Snippets of conversation were played and replayed. The observer grew more confident as he watched and listened.
After the entire building had been investigated, the Seekers began focusing on different areas outside the building, always watching, always recording, always transmitting. One Seeker caught a movement in the distance, halfway up a large, flat-topped rock. The watcher ordered the Seeker to investigate. Zooming silently toward the rock, it watched as one of the beings seen previously, made his way up the face of the rock, making use of small outcroppings or cracks in the surface.
"What is this one doing?" Hatia asked.
"He appears to climbing that rock," the Watcher answered. "This being is both very strong and very brave. Also somewhat fool-hardy, since he is using no ropes or safety devices. Hatia, I believe this one bears closer observation. Assign a Seeker to stay with him."
"Yes, sir," came the mechanical reply.
The Seeker continued to watch the being climb and was nearly knocked off its course as another being suddenly ascended into its range, floating easily beside the one on the rock face. They conversed briefly, then the being climbing the rock slipped and plunged toward the ground. The other being swiftly reversed his position and dove after him. The Seeker followed quickly and witnessed the second being catch the first being by the foot just before he impacted with the ground. A third being ran toward them and began arguing with the pair.
The Watcher expelled a huff of air. "That was close, Hatia. We nearly lost him. The one that saved him showed remarkable courage and agility. And the third one is obviously concerned for both of them. We must continue to watch these three beings.
"Agreed, Sir. I will assign more Seekers to stay with them."
The Seekers followed the three as they settled in their encampment and consumed a simple meal. When a flying vehicle landed and disturbed their sleep, and a female being gathered them inside the craft, the Seekers hurried in after them. Their transmissions were interrupted when the flying craft entered a much larger craft high above the planet, but the Seekers continued to record everything as the three beings joined many others. It soon became evident that the one who had climbed the rock, who was identified as both 'Admiral' and 'Jim' by the other two, was in command of the large ship. The rescuer, known only as 'Spock' showed himself to be quite knowledgeable, and the third one was some kind of healer referred to as 'Doctor McCoy' by one and as simply 'Bones' by the other.
Recording continued as a crisis on another planet unfolded and was resolved by these three, with the assistance of many of the others on the ship. When the crisis was over, the three beings returned to Yosemite National Park and resumed their outdoor activities. The Seekers sent their reports back to their home world and awaited further instructions.
"Sir, the Seekers that were lost are back on-line. I have their reports ready for your viewing."
"Excellent, Hatia," said the Watcher as he sat at his console. He watched the images on the screen as the beings fulfilled their mission and effected the rescue of those who were held hostage, despite the events that complicated and diverted their efforts. Then the watcher saw something truly amazing.
The Seeker following the different one – the one known as 'Spock' – showed him lounging on his bed reading a book. The view changed as the Seeker moved around to focus on the book. And there they were! Though the Watcher could not read the words, he recognized them as being the same words that began the scroll that was left him – the scroll that would help him get his daughter back if he could only unlock it's meaning.
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
The next words were different, but that didn't matter. These words were the same. This being knew the words that were on the scroll. He understood them. If he understood the first few words, then he would understand the rest. This being could find Hatia. The Watcher was certain of that.
He continued watching, and when the images once again showed the three beings sleeping around a small fire, he sat back and pondered what he had seen.
"Sir," began the feminine mechanical voice, "I have studied the information sent back by the Seekers. I believe I have a solution."
The Watcher turned his attention to the view screen as the faces of the three men they had been observing came into view. He was full of hope now, as the task of finding his daughter now seemed possible. "What is it, Hatia?"
"Sir, I propose a Triad. It has been observed that the one called Admiral Kirk is both strong and courageous, but I do not think he is capable of completing the task alone. The people of his planet are dependent on one another and require each other's companionship. These men are friends and work well together. He is also a natural leader and the others willingly follow him. The one called Spock understands the forces at work in the universe and how to use them. He is a logical thinker and shows much intelligence. He also has knowledge of the words of the scroll. The one called Doctor McCoy has knowledge of healing and has great compassion for all living things. He is often a sounding board for the other two. All of these traits are valuable assets. Together these three may be able to complete the undertaking."
The Watcher thought about this. He had seen how these three related to each other. Each had his strengths and weaknesses, but together they could accomplish much. But how would they cope with the wilderness that his planet had become? Could they survive long enough to locate the child of his heart?
Suddenly he remembered the 'camping trip' the Seeker had observed. "Hatia," he started, "play back the data recorded on their camping trip. The computer complied and the screen shifted to show the three men as they set up camp, prepared their food, and explored their surroundings. "These men also know how to survive in the wilderness, Hatia. They have all the gear they need, and the skills required, for subsistence outside of civilization."
"Yes, Sir," the computer replied. "I can transport their gear as well as the Triad.
"Yes, I agree. Make preparations to bring them here at once. Let me know when you are ready."
* Pronounced "hah-sha"