Chapter 9
Protected from sight by her coating of black and gold dream sand carefully diffused among the layers of icy front curling delicately around her sides, the Enterprise flew away from her home towards the first place humans had set foot in space. It only took minutes, but when she got there everyone noticed something different about the moon. It seemed a little more- magical and mysterious.
"Captain," Sulu said, frowning, "it looks different now."
"Originally," Aster answered, "the moon used to be a ship piloted by a very happy family. They flew through the universe helping others."
"Here we go," Pitch murmured, moving a bit more into the shadows.
Aster glared at him. "When they came here, however, the ship was attacked and damaged by fearling under the leadership of Pitch Black. When it was over, the ship could no longer travel, and the child who became the Man in the Moon was the only family member left alive. It was at that time the ship became Earth's moon."
"You are also Pitch," Spock's dark gaze turned on the guardian Pitch.
"We are not the same person, and the history I have with your Captain and the other guardians is far longer then you know. If he did not trust me I would not have been allowed on board."
Jim glanced over, "he is not our enemy Spock. Once he was a noble man, and he is working on becoming one again. There are other things we need to be concerned about now."
The Vulcan turned his attention to his captain, gave a sharp nod and returned his attention to his station.
"Captain," Uhura said, "there's a transmission coming through, but I can't make out who it is?"
"Patch it through," Jim answered, shifting in his chair, "I have a good idea who it is."
The figure shown was a round man all in white with a smiling face, and sharp dark eyes. He smiled as he saw them, "Well, this is much better than play charades with moonlight silhouettes."
"Hello Manny," Jim said, "can you help us figure out what's happening? Bunny and Pitch say there's an emptiness that Spock believes is in the Delta Quadrant, and they're using telepathy."
"I don't know very much, but there are something's that you do need to know. The being causing the trouble are controlled by a central component that relays commands to all individual units. They also believe all life-forms should be brought under their control with no emotion or individual thoughts allowed. The Guardians might not have noticed them over the long distances, but the utter void of emotions will be the best way of finding their location. From my travels, and the ships that fly past here to Earth, everything as some type of emotion if they're creative enough to travel through space, even though they might suppress it with logic." Jim swiveled his chair to send Spock a cocky grin. Then turned back to MIM, who chuckled and continued, " follow this and you will save many people."
"Thank you," Jim answered as the communication ended.
"Right," Jim rose and walked a few steps forward. "Sulu keep us in orbit here until we have our heading. Spock and Uhura, both of you start monitoring for signals on all frequencies as best you can. Aster, Sandy, Pitch, you can go into the side meeting room and see if you can sense anything like what Manny just described. Chekov, you work with Scotty and McCoy to see if you can make it there and possibly have space for any extra passengers."
"Vhat about you, Keptin," Chekov asked.
"Ice can be really sharp Chekov. As long as it doesn't melt it should do some extra damage to any ship that tries to attack us," Kirk answered, a smirk on his face, "We'll need to be ready for anything."
"Captain?"
Too late, Kirk had grabbed his staff and Jack Frost had flown through the door and down the lift tube before heading back outside the ship. Spock glanced over at Bunnymund.
"We can't control him either," the Easter Bunny said, "it's usually best to just let him go as long as it's not completely suicidal."
It actually took several hours of work for Jack to create an ice-blade running the entire length of the saucer section of the Enterprise, plus areas on the bottom, sides and the nacelles. He had to use the ice that already been made and still make sure the ship itself was covered over completely. By the end of it Jack was very grateful to be done with it and sitting back in his room. Closing his eyes, he let himself breath in and out for a bit, before setting the staff aside. Warmth moved through him, uncomfortable at first, but then a very good feeling.
"Captain?" Spock's voice came through the door.
"Come in Spock," Jim called, "did you find anything?"
I did. There is a subtle signal that I picked up during meditation that is not any of the normal patterns telepaths usually can pick up. I could only hear it in deep trance, but Uhura heard a sound that had long and low waves to it along with the other guardians picking up an area in the Delta Quadrant. All of our sources point to one spot there as our target."
"What are your orders Captain?" Spock asked.
Jim didn't answer, just headed into the bridge and sat back down in the Captain's chair, "Sulu, set our course for the Delta Quadrant. Scotty, I need as much power as you can give. Everyone else buckle up, we're heading out."
The Enterprise passed once more around the moon, before speeding off towards the Delta Quadrant. Finally she flashed into hyperdrive and was gone from Earth's view.
