Star Trek
Charlie Y
Captain Kirk opened his eyes to find a green face on the wall above his bunk.
"My apologies for interrupting your reproductive activities, Captain," the Thassian said.
Kirk was unphased by the interruption, having learned to stay on his feet (so to speak) no matter what the universe had to throw at him. Likewise there was no point in arguing about protocol: the Thassian had apologized for barging in, and an omnipotent being didn't have to apologize to anyone. Kirk realized that acting put-out would be the pinnacle of pettiness.
(Pump, pump, pump)
"Not at all, is there something I can help you with?" Kirk said.
"Who are you talking to?" Shelly said, lifting her head from the pillow.
"Charlie Evans has once again escaped from our custody, and he has somehow discovered a way to avoid our surveillance. We believe he will find his way to you, Captain."
(Pump, pump, pump)
"What makes you think that?" Kirk asked. Sherri let out a gasp as she saw the face on the wall.
"After he returned with us, he proved to be obsessed with your ship and its crew. We created a special viewer so that he could follow your adventures. Unfortunately that only increased his obsession," the Thassian said. "He used the knowledge he gained from controlling your vessel to build the craft with which he made his escape."
"We'll keep an eye out for him," Kirk said. "I take it you're on your way?"
"Yes, we should arrive within one of your weeks, Captain. Please be careful, and gentle, with Charles,"
The face faded away.
"Sherri, we're going to have to wrap this up, I'm needed on the bridge," Kirk said.
Sherri laid her head back down on the pillow and let out a long sigh. "Of course, I'm only the mistress, Jim Kirk is married to his ship, everyone knows it."
Out on the Perseus arm, almost 1000 light years from Earth, a rogue planet meandered
through the cosmic gulf. The planet was many times larger than the Earth, and was what is known on Earth as an ice-giant. There was no solid surface and its core was composed of methane and ammonia mush crushed under the pressure of 10 atmospheres.
High up in this blue-green planet's atmosphere glided a slab of stone, perfectly smooth and symmetric. A shaft of oxygen-nitrogen gas penetrated the hydrocarbon atmosphere until it reached the vacuum of space. A ship that looked identical to the U.S.S. Enterprise, but only a hundredth of its size, flew down the shaft and hovered over the slab. The observation bubble on top of the saucer section flipped open, a ladder descended, and a young fellow crept out.
"Hello?" he called. "Is anybody home?"
A moment passed in silence, then a green sparkle of energy materialized above Charlie.
"Hello Charles, to what do we owe this unexpected pleasure?" a female voice said from the sparkle.
"You know me?" Charlie said, bewildered.
"We have observed your passage here, and have learned many thing about you. Again, why are you here?"
"This is where Trelane lives, right?" Charlie said.
"Yes, this is where Trelane dwells," the sparkle said.
"Well, I've learned a lot about him, and I was wondering if he'd like to spend some time with me," Charlie said, a gleam in his eyes.
"I'm afraid not. Trelane has been abusing his powers, and has yet to show any remorse for his actions. He will not be allowed to leave this place until he has learned his lesson." the sparkle replied.
"But he's young, he should be around other people like him; like me. We could learn an awful lot from each other," Charlie said.
"I'm afraid not Charles. I fear you must find the companionship you seek elsewhere," the sparkle said.
"But you can't just confine him like that! He's got to have fun, he's got to live!" Charlie said.
Suddenly he was bathed in red light, he covered his eyes. When the light was gone, he discovered that he was back in his ship, floating free in space, with the rogue planet nowhere to be seen.
"Go home, Charles," the sparkle's voice said from all around him. "The Thassians may not be to your liking, but they're the only family you've got."
Captain's Log, Stardate 6289.2
I have been informed by a member of the Thassian race that Charles Evans may be returning to the Enterprise. I often find myself mourning the young boy who had the powers of a god, but the understanding of a child. I was unable to help him, and even though his return may prove a danger to my crew, I can't help but hope that I have been given a second chance to reach this troubled soul.
"So I am thinking, this is the perfect opportunity. The ambassador was not only a guest instructor at the Academy when I was there, she also spent five years teaching at the University of Moscow. I am, as they say, in like Flynt. Then I plan to talk to her at the reception, and she's an old girlfriend of the Captain's!"
Sulu grimaced. "Of all the bad luck. Of course, I think the probabilities are against you."
"What makes you say that?" Chekov said.
"The Captain lives up to the old saying: a girl in every port. Do you know how many populated planets there are in this quadrant alone?" Sulu said.
The turbolift hissed open, Chekov looked over his shoulder and blanched. He then turned back to his console.
"I think my ears are burning, gentlemen," Kirk said as he sat in his command chair.
"Strange, since Chekov is the one with bright red ears," Sulu noted.
Chekov grimaced, but said nothing.
"Mr. Spock, are you picking up anything on long-range sensors?" Kirk asked.
"Nothing out of the ordinary, Captain," Spock said.
"Keep me posted, I have been told to expect visitors," Kirk said.
"Sir, I wasn't aware of any incoming transmissions," Uhura said.
"This information came through… other channels, lieutenant," Kirk said.
Kirk rose from his chair and strode out in front of the viewscreen. The entire bridge crew gave him their attention.
"It has come to my attention that we may soon be entertaining an unexpected guest. Some of you weren't present the last time he was here, so I feel the need to warn-" Kirk's eyes turned to Spock, who had responded to a beep on his console, and was now looking through his scope. "Something, Mr. Spock?"
"A spacecraft, heading towards us at Warp Factor 6," Spock said.
Kirk rushed back to his command chair. "Put it on the viewscreen."
The screen filled with the blackness of space, there was a silver speck moving across it.
"Magnify," Kirk said.
"Is that a Constitution class?" Sulu said in fascination.
"Negative, appearances aside it is only twenty meters in length," Spock said.
"That's impossible!" Chekov ejaculated. "You can't get to warp 6 with nacelles that small!"
"The ship is decreasing speed," Spock said, and began verbally counting down to Warp Factor One. "The ship is at impulse, it is moving along an intercept vector."
"Captain, I've gotten a request from the vessel, text only, asking for permission to dock," Uhura said.
"Permission granted," Kirk said, and flicked a control on his command chair. "Bones, meet me in the hangar bay."
"Acknowledged," the tired, possibly hungover, voice said from the intercom.
Kirk flicked the switch again. "Security, send a team to the hangar bay, but wait for me to get there before you go in. There is no need to be armed."
Kirk rose from his chair, the entire bridge crew was looking at him, confused.
"Some of you were here the last time we had an encounter with Charlie Evans. For those who weren't, he is a troubled young man with extraordinary powers, who couldn't quite manage to fit into human society. I ask that you treat him with compassion, while still maintaining decorum and following protocol," Kirk said.
"Mister Spock, you're with me," Kirk said as he strode to the turbolift.
As soon as the turbolift doors closed, Spock turned to his captain.
"Permission to speak freely, sir," Spock said.
"Of course," Kirk said.
"I question the wisdom of allowing Charlie Evans to return to the Enterprise," Spock said. "He is responsible for the deaths of 17 people, for which he has never shown remorse. In addition he is responsible for the temporary displacements of two crewmembers, the defacing of one other, and the transformation of yet another into a reptile."
"Noted. But you do realize, Spock, that I couldn't have stopped him from coming aboard, even if I wanted to," Kirk said. "There is an old Earth phrase from the island of Japan. 'A bend of the neck will not cause your head to fall off.'"
Spock furrowed his brow. "I do not argue with the statement's truth, but I fail to see the relevance."
"It means, Mr. Spock, that we lose nothing by being polite," Kirk said "... and kind." He added, remembering the Thassian's request.
Several moments passed in silence.
"A most curious proverb, captain. Am I correct in assuming that there is a veiled threat within it?" Spock said.
"I doubt it, the warriors that came up with that phrase only beheaded people they considered honorable," Kirk said.
"Fascinating," Spock said.
Captain Kirk, Commander Spock and Doctor McCoy stood before the miniature version of their ship.
"NCC-1702," Kirk read off the saucer section.
"U.S.S. Charlie," McCoy finished, with a smug grin..
Ben Carter, the captain of the Columbia, the real NCC-1702, would be pissed Kirk thought.
"His duplication of the ship indicates a vast technical knowledge, but little imagination," Spock said.
"Some things don't need to be said, Spock. Especially when there's an omnipotent child within earshot," McCoy said.
As if on cue, the observation dome on the saucer section flipped back and Charlie Evan's head popped through the opening.
"Hello Captain!" he said with a smile.
"Hello Charlie, that's quite a ship you've got there," Kirk said.
"It sure is! I tightened every bolt on her myself, she's the best ship in the fleet!" Charlie said.
Spock raised an eyebrow. "There are more ships of this type?"
"Well, no," Charlie said, looking uncomfortable. "It's just, that's what the captain always says about the Enterprise… Anyway, permission to come aboard, Captain?"
"Only on the condition that you don't use your powers while you're aboard my ship," Kirk said.
"Sure," Charlie said.
Kirk was taken aback. "Charlie, you aren't just saying what I want to hear, are you?"
"No, honest I'm not," Charlie said.
A tense moment passed in silence.
"Very well, permission granted,"
Charlie ducked back into his ship, and threw a chain-link ladder was over the saucer, he climbed down it and dropped to the deck below.
"To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit, Charlie?" Kirk said.
"I want to join your crew!" Charlie said.
McCoy and Spock exchanged glances; Spock with upraised eyebrow, McCoy with a sigh.
"You want to join my crew?" Kirk said.
"Yeah. The Thaasians built me a viewer so I could see what you and the crew were up to, and I began to understand what this ship and its mission are all about. You seem to have gotten into a rut in the last year, so I thought I'd join up and liven things up!" Charlie said.
"Charlie… The question of you joining the Enterprise crew is neither here nor there. The Thassians know you left, they're coming for you," Kirk said.
"Don't worry about it," Charlie said.
Kirk wondered if Charlie knew something he didn't about the situation; if so, he wondered what it was.
"Very well, then. We can talk about joining Starfleet later. For the moment, there is someone I'd like you meet," Kirk said, motioning for Charlie to follow him.
As they walked through the corridors, Charlie rushed to keep up with him.
"I was wondering if you could tell me what happened to Janice, I haven't seen her on the viewer for over two years," Charlie said.
"She was transferred off the Enterprise during our last stop at Starbase 11," Kirk said. "The last I heard, she's back on Earth."
Charlie's face fell. "That's too bad, I was hoping I'd see her again."
Kirk said nothing; the less said about the doomed crush Charlie had on his yeoman, the better.
When they reached the conference room, someone was already sitting at the table, an attractive middle-aged woman with long dark hair and sparkling green eyes. She rose as they entered.
"Charlie, this is Ambassador Glasow, an old friend of mine," Kirk said.
"Please, call me Sherri," the ambassador said, as she offered her hand. Charlie shook it earnestly.
"The ambassador is hitching a ride with us to Cardassia Prime, where she'll open the Federation's first embassy. In the meantime, she has agreed to work with you, Charlie-" Kirk said.
"Work with me?" Charlie said. "What do you mean?"
"I have a solid background in psychology and sociology; it's what makes me a good diplomat," Sherri said. "Kirk has told me that you had trouble being in the company of other people because of your isolated upbringing."
"I don't need her help!" Charlie said.
"Charlie, you're being rude," McCoy said. "Apologize to the lady."
"I'm not like I was, captain, you have to believe me! I won't do anything like what I did last time!" Charlie said.
"Charlie…" Kirk stopped, he felt the dreaded tingling sensation that meant that Charlie was about to use his powers. "Don't! Remember your promise; if you use your powers, we're through. You can get the hell off of my ship."
The tingling disappeared, but Charlie continued to scowl.
"There is no shame in admitting that you can't do something" McCoy said. "The hardest part about learning is admitting that you aren't an expert. It's all downhill from there."
"Well maybe you better teach me to be a mechanic, so I can treat tin gods like you," Charlie said.
The table was swallowed in silence for a few moments, then McCoy burst out laughing. Charlie gave him a toothy grin.
"I'm afraid I don't understand," Spock said.
"Ask me some other time, Spock," McCoy said. "A good sense of humor will take you far, Charlie. It's encouraging you've grown one since we met last."
Charlie looked down, blushing.
"If you gentlemen will excuse us," Sherri said. "Charlie and I have a lot to talk about."
"Of course," Kirk said, rising from his chair. "We'll leave you to it."
It was just past 2300 hours when Jim's door chimed. He looked up from the print edition of Lieutenant Hornblower he had been squinting at. "Come in," he called.
Sherri strode in; she looked as lovely as ever, Jim noted.
"Good evening, can I pour you a drink?" Jim said.
"No thanks, it's too close to bedtime," Sherri said.
"Ah yes, I've taken more than my fair share of elbows to the ribs and face when you've had a few before turning in," Jim said.
Sherri took a seat on the lounger next to his bunk.
"So, what are you thinking?" Kirk said.
"He has a rudimentary sense of morality, as well as social skills. However I think he developed both from watching the Enterprise crew on the viewer. He's parroting things like the Prime Directive and civil rights without understanding why the concepts are important, or how we came to the current ethos. I suspect his social interactions will be equally shallow; whenever someone breaks what he accepts as protocol, there's no telling what he would do."
"There would also be situations where the expected behavior is not something he'd want to do; which is why I couldn't be happier that Yeoman Rand is back on Earth," Jim said.
"Jim, he wants to be part of your crew," Sherri said. "And I think it would be the best thing for him."
"Out of the question," Jim said, with a shake of his head.
"It would give him structure, and it would also keep him busy. Idle hands are the devil's workshop, remember," Sherri said.
Jim let out a long sigh of resignation. "It probably doesn't even matter, the Thassians will arrive soon, and all this will be academic."
"Do you have any idea when they'll get here?" Sherri said.
"They said it would take a week. At warp nine it would take them three days to get here, but they might be able to travel faster than that," Jim said.
"So for those three days at least, you let him have his dream. That'll help me prepare my defense," Sherri said.
"What's that?" Jim said, trying to hide a sly half-smile.
"Come on, Jim, you didn't get me involved just to be his baby-sitter. You're hoping I can make the argument to the Thassians that you couldn't. This time, you want to make sure they let him stay," Sherri said.
"Am I that transparent?" Jim said with a sultry grin.
"Luckily I'm going to let you get away with it," Sherri said. "The challenge alone is reason enough. But Charlie… he reminds me of another socially awkward boy I knew back at the academy."
"Fortunately I didn't have the powers of a god," Jim said with a grimace.
"You had that smile; it was dangerous enough!"
To Be Continued…