Once Upon a Time in Enchancia
Welcome to Chapter 58 of "Once Upon a Time in Enchancia". I'm doing something a bit different this time around - Dorrie, Sofia, and two others having an adventure on a Voyager holodeck, with the holodeck program taking place in the 23rd Century and revolving around the classic "Star Trek" episode "Journey to Babel".
Chapter 58: Adventures
October 29, 1870
It was a Saturday afternoon at Enchancia Castle. Inside the castle, Violet was inside of her office when seventeen-year-old Candice knocked on the door.
"Come in," Violet invited.
Candice walked into Violet's office and closed the door behind her.
"Any idea where Dorrie is?" Candice asked, curious.
"She's at Voyager Command with Princess Sofia," Violet answered. "The two of them are going to get in some holodeck time."
"Ah!" Candice acknowledged with a smile.
At Voyager Command (the headquarters of the time traveling society known as Voyagers), at one of the Voyager holodecks, seventeen-year-old Dorrie and seventeen-year-old Sofia were waiting at the entrance. Both were dressed in 23rd Century Starfleet female duty uniforms (the very short mini dress uniforms). Dorrie had on a blue uniform, and Sofia had on a red uniform.
"You ready?" Dorrie asked Sofia
"Just a minute, Dorrie," Sofia began. "We have two other people joining us. They've been recently recruited for Voyager training."
"Who are they?" Dorrie asked, curious.
"You'll see," Sofia winked, smiling.
In a few moments, a seventeen-year-old girl wearing a red mini dress uniform, and a seventeen-year-old boy wearing a tan top and black pants uniform walked up.
"Nella! Garrett!" Sofia joyfully called out.
"Princess Nella? Sir Garrett?" Dorrie asked, taken off guard.
"Nella and Garrett were recruited into Voyager training a few weeks ago," Sofia explained.
"Hi," Nella smiled.
"Since Nella and I started working for Warehouse Ten, we showed up on Voyager Command's radar as it were," Garrett revealed.
"Well, nice to have you aboard," Dorrie acknowledged, pleased.
"Nella and I are looking forward to this holodeck simulation," Garrett said with a smile.
"Indeed," Nella agreed. "From what we've read, the 23rd Century is an interesting place."
"And I'm really looking forward to seeing the inside of a starship," Sofia happily added.
"Well, let's get started then," Dorrie announced as she used a computer terminal to look through a list of programs available. "Starship Voyager tour. Deep Space Nine tour. NX-01 Enterprise tour ... oh! I remember that. Something Candice came across."
"What was that about Candice?" Sofia asked. curious.
"The NX-01 Enterprise tour," Dorrie responded. "Mid 22nd Century. Candice occasionally uses that program. She has an interest in that time period."
"I'll have to talk to Candice about that sometime," Sofia smiled.
Dorrie continued to look through the list of programs available. "Here we go!" Dorrie announced. "Starship Enterprise NCC-1701 tour - 2267."
The door to the holodeck opened, and Dorrie, Sofia, Nella, and Garrett walked onto the holodeck where they found themselves on one of the decks of the Starship Enterprise.
"Computer," Dorrie instructed. "Simulate normal starship activity."
At that moment, starship crew members suddenly appeared and started walking on their way to duty stations.
"There's a lot of activity on a starship," Nella noted.
"A starship is a big place," Dorrie acknowledged. "A lot of people are needed to run it."
As the four stood off to the side, the Enterprise's top officers (Captain Kirk, Mister Spock, and Doctor McCoy) walked past, all wearing dress uniforms.
"A formal reception tonight, a hundred and fourteen delegates aboard for two weeks, thirty-two of them ambassadors, half of them mad at the other half, and the whole lot touchier than a raw antimatter pile over this Coridan question," McCoy remarked.
At that point, an intercom whistled as Kirk walked over to answer it. "Kirk here."
"Shuttlecraft approaching with Ambassador Sarek's party," Mister Chekov reported over the intercom. "Estimate arrival one minute."
"Bring them aboard, Mister Chekov," Kirk directed.
"Let's follow along," Dorrie suggested. "This should be interesting."
Kirk, Spock, and McCoy gathered in front of the doors leading to the Enterprise's hangar bay as an honor guard approached and took up their positions. The doors to the hanger deck opened, and Kirk and the honor guard walked onto the hanger deck as McCoy and Spock held back. At that same moment, Ambassador Sarek and his party stepped off of the shuttlecraft.
"Captain James Kirk," Kirk introduced himself.
"Captain," Sarek acknowledged.
Kirk and Sarek walked off of the hangar deck, as Sarek's party followed behind.
"My First Officer, Commander Spock," Kirk introduced Sarek to Spock.
"Vulcan honors us with your presence. We come to serve," Spock acknowledged.
"Your service honors us, Captain," Sarek said to Kirk.
"Thank you," Kirk acknowledged. "Chief Medical Officer Doctor McCoy."
"Ambassador," McCoy diplomatically acknowledged.
"My aides and she who is my wife," Sarek announced as his party stepped forward.
"Captain Kirk," Sarek's wife, Amanda, greeted Kirk.
"Our pleasure, madam. As soon as you're settled I'll arrange a tour of the ship. Mister Spock will conduct you," Kirk announced.
"I'd prefer another guide, Captain," Sarek cut in.
"As you wish, Ambassador," Kirk acknowledged, before turning to Spock. "Mister Spock, we'll leave orbit in two hours. Would you care to beam down and visit your parents?"
"Captain, Ambassador Sarek and his wife are my parents," Spock revealed as everybody walked off, leaving Dorrie, Sofia, Nella, and Garrett behind.
"Wow!" Garrett observed. "That was tense."
"There's bad blood between Mister Spock and his father," Dorrie explained. "Most Vulcans choose to attend the Vulcan Science Academy. Mister Spock broke Vulcan and family tradition and decided to enroll instead in Starfleet Academy. That decision created a rift between Spock and his father."
A visit to Engineering
Captain's Log, Stardate 3842.3. We have departed Vulcan for the neutral planetoid code-named Babel. Since it is in our sector, the Enterprise has been assigned to transport ambassadors of Federation planets to this vitally important council. The issues of the council are politically complex, the passengers explosive.
As Dorrie, Sofia, Nella, and Garrett walked down one of the Enterprise corridors, Dorrie had an idea.
"Computer," Dorrie instructed. "Go to stealth mode."
"What did you do, Dorrie?" Nella wanted to know.
"From this point forward, we'll be able to walk along without being noticed by those around us," Dorrie explained.
"I've heard of this," Sofia approved. "It's like reading a book."
"Exactly," Dorrie agreed.
Dorrie, Sofia, Nella, and Garrett made their way down to Engineering where Kirk was giving a tour to Ambassador Sarek and Amanda. Spock was already in Engineering taking care of a technical issue.
"This is the engineering section," Kirk began. "There are a number of emergency back-up systems for the main controls. Over here are a number of control computers."
At that point, Amanda wandered away from Sarek and Kirk and made her way over to Spock.
"After all these years among humans, you still haven't learned to smile," Amanda noticed.
"Humans smile with so little provocation," Spock pointed out.
"And you haven't come to see us in four years, either," Amanda added.
"The situation between my father and myself has not changed," Spock admitted.
"My wife, attend," Sarek called over to Amanda.
"Mister Spock. A moment, if you please," Kirk requested.
"Yes, Captain?" Spock responded as he walked over.
"Explain the computer components," Kirk requested.
There was an awkward silence for a few moments.
"I gave Spock his first instruction in computers, Captain," Sarek revealed. "He chose to devote his knowledge to Starfleet instead of the Vulcan Science Academy."
"If you will excuse me, Captain," Spock said as he left Engineering.
"I'm sorry, Ambassador," Kirk apologized. "I did not mean to offend. I thought that ..."
"Offence is a human emotion," Sarek countered. "I'm returning to my quarters. Continue, my wife."
"Mrs. Sarek, I just don't understand," Kirk said, perplexed.
"Amanda. I'm afraid you couldn't pronounce the Vulcan name," Amanda responded.
"Can you?" Kirk asked, curious.
"After a fashion, and after many years of practice," Amanda revealed. "Shall we continue the tour? My husband did request it."
"It sounded more like a command," Kirk observed.
"Of course," Amanda acknowledged. "He's a Vulcan. I'm his wife."
"And Spock is his son," Kirk pointed out.
"You don't understand the Vulcan way, Captain," Amanda began. "It's logical. It's a better way than ours. But it's not easy. It has kept Spock and Sarek from speaking as father and son for eighteen years."
"Spock is my best officer, and my friend," Kirk informed Amanda.
"I'm glad he has such a friend," Amanda said, pleased. "It hasn't been easy on Spock. Neither human nor Vulcan. At home nowhere except Starfleet."
"I take it that Spock disagreed with his father on a choice of career?" Kirk asked.
"My husband has nothing against Starfleet," Amanda volunteered. "But Vulcans believe that peace should not depend on force."
"Starfleet force is used only as a last resort," Kirk countered. "We're an instrument of civilization. And it's a better opportunity for a scientist to study the universe than he can get at the Vulcan Science Academy."
"Perhaps," Amanda agreed. "But Sarek wanted Spock to follow his teachings, as Sarek followed the teachings of his own father."
"They are both stubborn," Kirk pointed out.
"A human trait, Captain?" Amanda asked with a bit of a smile.
As Amanda and Kirk continued their conversation, Sofia watched as Dorrie walked over.
"Sof?" Dorrie inquired.
"It's sad that a family has to be torn apart because of a disagreement," Sofia sadly observed.
"It is," Dorrie sadly agreed.
Meanwhile, in Cinnibar
Lucinda and Candice had been summoned by Queen Scarlett. Lucinda and Candice looked at Scarlett, who sat at her desk, hands crossed as she nodded.
"Lucinda, Candice," Scarlett started. "This regards our current problems with the Witch Revolutionary Front. We all know about the Mystic Isles. It's basically our home away from home at this point."
"Of course, Scarlett," Lucinda acknowledged as Scarlett nodded.
"But Lucinda, let me ask you a question. Have you heard of the Boiling Isles?" Scarlett wanted to know.
Lucinda raised an eyebrow.
"I have," Candice remarked. "Unlike the Mystic Isles, they're impossible to get to without the proper portal."
"And I know how to make it," Scarlett revealed. "We need a little bit of help. Which is why I want you to recruit my old friend Eda Clawthorne."
"How do you know how to get to the Boiling Isles?" Candice asked as Scarlett sighed and poured herself a shot of tequila from her drawer.
"Trust me," Scarlett started. "Not having any formal training in magic only makes me hungrier. That's why I strive to be one of the best sorceresses in the world."
"Have you ever been to the Boiling Isles?" Candice asked Scarlett, weary.
"I have," Scarlett confirmed. "Why do you ask, Candice?"
"Well, excuse me for saying this, but ... the Boiling Isles are an inflamed boil on the buttocks of the world," Candice pointed out.
"You've been there, then?" Scarlett asked Candice, taken off guard.
"Only once," Candice confirmed. "It was shortly after Maleficent created me. I was sent there to scope out the lay of the land as it were. Let's just say it didn't go as planned and leave it at that."
"Understood," Scarlett acknowledged. "Still, I'm going to need you and Lucinda to go there and recruit Eda."
Diplomats ... and unexpected company
Captain's Log, Stardate 3842.4. The interplanetary conference will consider the petition of the Coridan planets to be admitted to the Federation. The Coridan system has been claimed by some of the races now aboard our ship as delegates, races who have strong personal reasons for keeping Coridan out of the Federation. The most pressing problem aboard the Enterprise is to make sure open warfare doesn't break out among the delegates before the conference begins.
Aboard the Enterprise, various diplomats and Enterprise crew members were enjoying beverages and snacks in a large room. A male Tellarite (Ambassador Gav) walked up to Sarek.
"Sarek of Vulcan, do you vote to admit Coridan to the Federation?" Gav wanted to know.
"The vote will not be taken here, Ambassador Gav," Sarek responded. "My government's instructions will be heard in the council chambers on Babel."
"No! You! How do you vote, Sarek of Vulcan?!" Gav demanded.
At that moment, a male Andorian (Ambassador Shras) walked up. "Why must you know, Tellarite?" Shras asked, curious.
"In council, his vote carries others," Gav responded. "I will know where he stands and why."
"Tellarites do not argue for reasons. They simply argue," Sarek countered.
"No. You ..." Gav started before Kirk walked up.
"Gentlemen. Ambassador Sarek is quite correct when he points out this is not the council chamber of Babel. I'm fully aware that the admission of Coridan is a highly debatable issue, but you won't solve it here," Kirk pointed out.
"You are correct, Captain. Quite logical," Sarek agreed.
"My apologies, Captain," Shras apologized.
"You will excuse me," Gav said as he stormed off.
At a food table, Dorrie, Sofia, Nella, and Garrett were enjoying some cube-shaped snacks.
"The blue ones taste like blueberries," Nella remarked, pleased.
"And the yellow ones taste like bananas," Garrett announced.
"The pink ones taste like strawberries," Dorrie observed.
"And the green ones taste like apples," Sofia smiled.
At that point, Mister Chekov's voice came over a nearby intercom. "Bridge to Captain Kirk."
Kirk walked over to the intercom and responded while everybody else went about their business. "Kirk here."
"Captain, sensors are registering an unidentified vessel pacing us," Chekov reported.
"On my way," Kirk responded in a quiet tone of voice. "All duty personnel on Yellow Alert. Don't alarm the passengers. Kirk out."
"That's my cue," Sofia said to Dorrie, Nella, and Garrett. "Computer, end stealth mode for me, and replace the communications officer on the bridge with me."
"Have fun, Sof," Dorrie smiled as Sofia followed Kirk out of the room.
Kirk went up a corridor and started to enter a turbolift when Sofia called out. "Hold please, sir."
"Of course, Lieutenant?" Kirk asked.
"Lieutenant Sofia Milledtion," Sofia answered.
"You're a bit young to be aboard a starship," Kirk pointed out.
"Yes," Sofia admitted. "I'm only seventeen. I'm quite smart for my age, and I was allowed to enter Starfleet Academy early. I was recently assigned to the Enterprise as a communications officer."
"I take it you know all about current communications protocols?" Kirk questioned.
"I do, sir," Sofia acknowledged. "I'm well versed in technical protocols, as well as in translation protocols."
"Excellent," Kirk smiled as the turbolift stopped at the Enterprise bridge. "Assume your station, Lieutenant Milledtion."
"Yes, sir," Sofia acknowledged as Kirk walked over to his command chair, and Sofia walked over to the communications station which was manned by Lieutenant Uhura.
"I'm just going off duty," Uhura smiled at Sofia. "We have an unknown ship out there, and I've been scanning for any signals. Have a good shift."
Sofia sat down at the communications station as Kirk sat down in his command chair. "Report," Kirk ordered.
"A small ship, Captain," Chekov reported. "It's been there five minutes, remaining outside phaser range at extreme limit of sensors."
"Identification, Spock?" Kirk requested.
"Sensors indicate the size of a scout ship, but the configuration is unfamiliar. Most unusual," Spock reported.
"Does she answer a hail?" Kirk wanted to know.
"I've just tried all frequencies, as well as hooking in the universal translator," Sofia answered. "No response so far, sir."
"Maintain translator broadcast," Kirk ordered, before turning to Spock. "Check records for authorized ships."
"Starfleet records no authorized vessel in this quadrant except ours," Spock reported.
"Care to guess what she is?" Kirk asked.
"Guess, Captain? I shall need more data for my estimate," Spock responded.
"Mister Chekov, plot course to intercept that vessel. I want to see what she looks like close up," Kirk ordered.
"Aye, sir," Chekov acknowledged.
The Boiling Isles
Back in Cinnibar, Scarlett had used her magic to create a magical portal to the Boiling Isles. In a few moments, Candice and Lucinda stepped through the portal and soon found themselves on the Boiling Isles.
"Watch yourself," Candice warned Lucinda. "The Boiling Isles can be a dangerous place. Lucky for me my appearance has changed since the last time I was here."
"What exactly happened back then?" Lucinda wanted to know.
"Maleficent sent me here to get a lay of the land," Candice started. "What Maleficent failed to tell me is that she and the ruler of the Boiling Isles, Emperor Belos, were bitter enemies. Well, to make a long story short, Belos found out I was here and had me captured. After a short while, I managed to make a break for it and escaped through the portal Maleficent created. The portal closed behind me, and that was that."
Candice and Lucinda soon came across a town and started walking through it. As they walked through the town, Candice noticed what looked like some late 20th Century human technology that had seen better days.
"I didn't have the knowledge back then I have now," Candice remarked. "I'm seeing junk around here that I now see as old TVs, old computers, and old household items all dating from at least the late 20th Century. Somebody around here must have a way of getting to that time."
"Isn't this a dimension onto itself?" Lucinda wondered.
"Yes," Candice confirmed. "Which means somebody here must have a magical portal to that time."
Suddenly, a group of guards started walking down the street as Candice quickly hustled Lucinda into an alleyway.
"The Emperor's guards," Candice whispered. "They'll automatically arrest any stranger. Best to keep out of their sight."
Lucinda nodded her head yes in understanding. In a few minutes, the Emperor's guards went on their way. With the guards gone, Candice and Lucinda continued across town until they reached a house on the outskirts of town.
"Well, according to the description Scarlett gave us, this should be Eda Clawthorne's place," Lucinda pointed out.
Candice knocked on the door, and an owl's head on the door came to life, speaking in a high toned voice. "What do you want?"
"We're here to see Eda Clawthorne," Candice announced. "Queen Scarlett of Cinnibar sent us."
"Scarlett?" a woman's voice came from the other side of the door as the door sprang open. Standing there was a younger Eda Clawthorne, a few years before Luz Noceda had come to the Boiling Isles.
"Yes," Lucinda confirmed. "She wants you for a mission in Cinnibar."
"What a minute!" Eda scoffed. "The two of you could be spies for Emperor Belos, wanting to draw me out into the open."
"Not likely," Candice winked. "I was here a few years ago. Belos captured me, but I was able to escape."
"Yeah, old Belos doesn't like strangers," Eda admitted. "Didn't you use to have brown hair, and work for Maleficent?"
"Well, Maleficent and I parted company, and I changed my looks a bit," Candice informed Eda.
"Ah! Went free agent, did ya?" Eda smiled. "Good for you!"
"So, you interested in going to Cinnibar?" Lucinda asked Eda.
"With the Emperor's guards always looking for me, a vacation from this place would be right up my alley," Eda accepted. "I didn't quite get your name, miss?"
"Princess Lucinda of Enchancia," Lucinda introduced herself.
"Oh, my!" Eda exclaimed in awe. "Royalty!"
"And I'm now known as Lady Candice of House Cosmarune," Candice added.
"Royalty and nobility," Eda acknowledged, impressed. "Looks like this is gonna be a first-class ticket."
"Shall we get going?" Candice suggested. "With the Emperor's guards around, I really don't want to stick around here too long."
"Can't say I blame you," Eda winked. "With you being a creation of Maleficent, Belos would love to dissect you and see what makes you tick."
"You seem to know a lot about me," Candice noticed.
"Belos has standing orders for you to be arrested on sight," Eda explained. "He always felt that one day you'd be back, and he told the Boiling Isles all about you so everybody would know you on sight. Good thing you changed your appearance. That'll throw his guards off a bit."
"We've better get going," Lucinda urged.
"Good point, Princess," Eda agreed, before turning to the owl on the door. "Take care of the house, Hooty. And tell King I'll be back later ... although, this could take a long while, knowing Scarlett like I do."
"What am I? Your messenger service?" Hooty complained.
"Just do it!" Eda snapped.
"Okay!" Hooty acknowledged, annoyed. "You don't have to get huffy. Geez!"
Candice, Lucinda, and Eda carefully made their way through town, and soon reached the area where Scarlett's portal was. As they were about to step through the portal, a woman's voice came from behind them. "Stop!"
Candice, Lucinda, and Eda turned around to see Eda's sister, Lilith, standing there with the Emperor's guards.
"Well, well, well," Eda scoffed. "Long time no see, Sis."
"I finally have you," Lilith smiled. "I'll take you back to the Emperor so you can join the Emperor's Coven."
"What? And have my magical abilities limited just so I can fit in?" Eda questioned.
"What's going on?" Lucinda asked Candice.
"The Emperor has this weird idea that nobody should be allowed to use his or her full abilities," Candice started. "So, the Emperor demands that each person join a coven, and be limited to using only the magic that the coven in question specializes in."
"And you are?" Lilith asked Candice. "You're strangely familiar."
"Just a stranger passing through," Candice answered.
"Wait!" Lilith exclaimed. "It's you! A little different, now with blond hair and wearing glasses. But it's definitely you!"
"Enough of this!" Lucinda barked, annoyed, as she raised her wand at Lilith and the Emperor's guards. "Starburst!"
A blinding flash of light shot from Lucinda's wand, temporarily blinding Lilith and the guards. At that same moment, Lucinda, Candice, and Eda ran for the portal. Suddenly, a small furry creature with a skull head ran up.
"Eda!" the creature cried out. "Don't leave me!"
"Follow us, King," Eda directed the creature. "We're getting out of here."
Eda, King, Candice, and Lucinda jumped through the portal. In a few moments, the portal disappeared as Lilith and the guards regained their eyesight.
"Damn it!" Lilith screamed in anger.
Back aboard the Enterprise
Chief Medical Officer's Log, Stardate 3842.8. To say that the past few hours have been eventful would be an understatement. The Tellarite ambassador, Gav, has been murdered. Captain Kirk has been stabbed by a junior member of the Andorian diplomatic delegation. A mysterious ship is trailing us. And if all that wasn't bad enough, Ambassador Sarek has suffered a heart defect and needs immediate surgery. The only thing is that we need Mister Spock as a blood donor during the surgery. However, with Captain Kirk incapacitated, Spock has assumed command and will not step down because of the safety of the ship.
In the Enterprise sickbay, Kirk was lying unconscious in a bed. In the background, Dorrie had adjusted the holodeck program and had come out of stealth mode, replacing Nurse Chapel in the process. Nella and Garrett were still in stealth mode observing what was going on in sickbay. At that moment, Kirk started coming to.
"Doctor McCoy," Dorrie called out.
"I'd like to get my hands on the guy with the sledgehammer," Kirk commented.
"The one who hit you, sir?" Dorrie asked.
"No, the one inside my head. How long have I ..." Kirk started as he tried to sit up, but couldn't.
"Now let that be a lesson to you," McCoy advised. "Just lie there and be happy you're still alive."
"How's Sarek?" Kirk wanted to know.
"Not good. If I could only operate," McCoy responded.
"What's stopping you?" Kirk wanted to know. "I thought you were all ready."
"I was," McCoy explained. "When you became injured, Spock assumed command. He's going to stay there until you're back on your feet, even if it costs Sarek his life. Regulations."
"I can't damn him for his loyalty, for doing his duty, but I'm not going to let him commit patricide," Kirk said to himself.
"Jim, if you stand, you could start to bleed again," McCoy warned.
"Bones, Sarek will die without that operation, and you can't operate without transfusions from Spock," Kirk pointed out. "I'll convince Spock I'm all right and order him to report here. As soon as he leaves the bridge, I'll turn command over to Scotty and report to my quarters. Will that fill your prescription?"
A short while later, McCoy and Kirk arrived on the Enterprise bridge.
"Captain?" Spock asked, taken off guard.
"I'll take over, Mister Spock. You report to Sickbay with Doctor McCoy," Kirk instructed.
"Captain, are you quite all right?" Spock questioned.
"I've certified him physically fit, Mister Spock," McCoy spoke up. "Now since I have an operation to perform and both of us are required ..."
"Get out, Spock," Kirk joked before turning his attention to what was going on nearby. "Chekov, what's the status of the ship tailing us?"
"No change, sir. Maintaining its distance," Chekov reported.
"Any further transmissions, Lieutenant Milledtion?" Kirk wanted to know.
"None, sir," Sofia informed Kirk.
At that moment, Spock and McCoy left the bridge. As soon as the two had left, Kirk pressed a button on his command chair. "Call Mister Scott to the bridge."
"Captain, the alien vessel is moving closer," Chekov reported.
"Belay that order. I'll stay here," Kirk commanded.
"Captain Kirk, I'm picking up an alien signal, and it's coming from inside the Enterprise," Sofia announced.
"Specific origin?" Kirk asked.
"From the brig, sir," Sofia responded.
"Security to the brig," Kirk ordered. "Search the prisoner immediately."
Surgery and an attack
In Sickbay, McCoy and Dorrie were starting the operation on Sarek.
"Readings, Nurse," McCoy wanted to know.
"Mister Spock's blood reproduction rate is up over two hundred percent," Dorrie reported. "Sarek's heartbeat has risen to three hundred and twenty four. Blood pressure ninety over forty, dropping."
"I wish I knew whether that was good or bad," McCoy commented. "Initiate sterile field."
"Mister Spock!" Dorrie called out in shock as Spock started to sit up.
"Where do you think you're going?!" McCoy demanded to know.
"I must see the captain," Spock responded.
"My patients don't walk out in the middle of an operation," McCoy said to Spock.
"The alien ship," Spock started. "I've just realized that if their power utilization curve is not the norm, it should be possible to identify them this way. Very important."
At that point, Dorrie gave Spock a hypo injection which knocked Spock out. On the bridge, Kirk was receiving an intercom report from the brig.
"Security here," a male voice reported. "We had to stun the Andorian. He had some sort of transceiver. It was hidden in his antenna."
"Captain, the alien ship has changed course and speed. Moving directly toward us at warp eight," Chekov cut in.
"Bring the prisoner to the bridge," Kirk ordered. "Deflectors on. Red Alert. Phasers stand by to fire on my order. Chekov, take over Spock's scanners."
"Aye, sir," Chekov acknowledged as he left his station, and another crewman replaced him.
The alien ship sped past the Enterprise, firing a powerful blast that rocked the Enterprise.
"Moving away," Chekov reported. "Turning now. He's coming around again."
"Fire as he passes," Kirk directed as the alien ship sped past again, rocking the Enterprise with another shot as the Enterprise returned fire.
"Clean miss, sir," Chekov called out.
"Report on his weaponry, Mister Chekov," Kirk directed.
"Sensors record standard phasers, sir," Chekov responded.
"Standard phasers. Good," Kirk acknowledged, relieved. "They may have more speed, but they're not giants."
"Captain, the intercoms are jammed," Sofia reported. "All the ambassadors are asking what's going on."
"Tell them to take a good guess, but clear that board, Lieutenant," Kirk ordered, annoyed.
"Aye, sir," Sofia acknowledged.
"He's coming around again," Chekov called out as the alien ship sped past once again, rocking the Enterprise with another shot.
In Sickbay, as he operated, McCoy became worried. "One more like that, and I'm going to lose both these men."
"Doctor, his heart's stopped," Dorrie reported about Sarek.
"Cardio-stimulate," McCoy ordered as another blast hit the Enterprise.
"The systems are off," Dorrie called out.
"Then get me that old portable cardio-stimulator," McCoy ordered. "Call engineering and have sickbay systems put on priority."
Back on the bridge, the bridge crew was dealing with the continuous attack from the alien ship.
"Number four shield has buckled, sir," Chekov reported.
"Auxiliary power," Kirk instructed.
"Switching over," Chekov acknowledged as the Andorian prisoner, a male, was escorted onto the bridge. "Shields firming up. Number four is still weak, sir. If they hit us there again, it'll go altogether."
"Your friends out there are good," Kirk said to the Andorian. "They'll have to destroy this ship to win."
"That was intended from the beginning, Captain," the Andorian responded, confident.
"You're not Andorian. Who are you?" Kirk wanted to know.
"Find your own answers, Captain. You haven't long to live," the Andorian boasted.
"Damage reports coming in, Captain. Every deck," Sofia reported.
"Damage control procedures, all decks," Kirk instructed before turning back to the Andorian. "That ship out there has phasers. At least our weapons are alike."
"Number two shield is gone," Chekov informed Kirk.
Kirk quickly walked over to his command chair and activated an intercom. "Engineering, this is the Captain. Cut power on port side except for phaser banks. At my signal, cut starboard power. Kirk out."
The Andorian looked at Kirk, puzzled at Kirk's orders.
"You're a spy, surgically altered to pass as an Andorian. Planted in the ambassador's party to use terror and murder to disrupt us and prepare for this attack," Kirk theorized.
"Speculation, Captain," the Andorian smiled.
"Engineering, cut power on starboard side. Maintain until further orders," Kirk ordered.
"What are you doing?" the Andorian asked, becoming worried.
"You speculate," Kirk responded.
"We're starting to drift, sir," Chekov reported, now back at his original station. "Shall I hold her on course?"
"No. Stand by your phasers, Mister Chekov," Kirk instructed.
"Aye, sir," Chekov acknowledged. "Phasers standing by. He's just hovering out there, sir."
"Looking us over. We're dead as far as he knows," Kirk said.
"You're baiting him," the Andorian observed, worried. "You're trying to lure him in."
"Here he comes," Chekov called out. "Range decreasing. Speed dropping close to sublight. Phasers locked on target. Range closing. Seventy-five thousand kilometers."
"Fire," Kirk ordered.
The Enterprise fired its phasers, hitting the alien ship dead on.
"Got him!" Chekov exclaimed in victory.
"Secure from general quarters," Kirk instructed before turning to Sofia. "Lieutenant, open the hailing frequency. If they wish to surrender ..."
Before Kirk could finish, the alien ship blew up in a blinding flash of light.
"They could not surrender, Captain," the Andorian informed Kirk. "They had orders to self-destruct."
"Lieutenant, relay to Starfleet Command. Tell them we have a prisoner," Kirk said to Sofia.
"Only temporarily, Captain," the Andorian boasted. "You see, I had orders to self-destruct, too. Slow poison. Quite painless, actually, but there's no known antidote. I anticipate another ten minutes of life."
"Take him to Sickbay," Kirk ordered.
The Andorian suddenly wrenched, being affected by the poison. "I seem to have miscalculated," the Andorian said as he slumped over, before dying.
"So did they," Kirk said to himself, before turning to Chekov. "Mister Chekov, take over."
In Sickbay, Sarek's vital signs started improving as the holodeck program came to an end, leaving Dorrie, Sofia, Nella, and Garrett standing on a now-empty holodeck.
"You'll be happy to know Sarek and Spock came through the operation well," Dorrie reported to Sofia, Nella, and Garrett. "Kirk also recovered from being stabbed."
"What about the ship that was attacking us?" Garrett wanted to know.
"Destroyed," Dorrie answered.
"What kind of ship was it, anyway?" Nella asked.
"It was theorized to be an Orion scout ship," Dorrie said. "There were intelligence reports that Orion smugglers had been raiding the Coridan system, mining dilithium crystals."
"Dilithium crystals?" Garrett inquired, not sure of the term.
"A powerful mineral used to power warp drive ships," Dorrie explained.
"And the Orions, if they had been successful, could have cleaned up supplying dilithium to both sides in a war they wanted to create," Sofia theorized.
"Exactly," Dorrie acknowledged.
Meanwhile, back in Cinnibar
Candice, Lucinda, Eda, and King exited the portal which led to Scarlett's palace.
"Hello, red," Eda said as Scarlett smirked. "You haven't aged a day."
"Of course I haven't," Scarlett acknowledged. "Immortality means eternal youth, remember?"
Faith walked in and curtseyed to the white-haired witch before her.
"You must be the Owl Lady I've heard about," Faith greeted Eda.
"Indeed," Eda admitted, before turning back to Scarlett. "Your Highness, who's this lovely girl?"
"This is Princess Faith," Scarlett smiled. "My daughter."
"Oh, you got hitched?" Eda wanted to know.
"No, I'm still single," Scarlett answered. "She's not my blood daughter, but I still love her all the same. But I did have an affair with your old friend Kaulder a few years ago."
"So, how is that old evil witch hunter?" Eda wanted to know.
"From what I hear, he's doing well," Scarlett responded.
At that moment, a cute five-year-old girl happily ran into the room and headed for Scarlett. "Mommy."
"Mommy?" Eda asked, looking at the girl as the girl hugged Scarlett around the waist.
"My youngest daughter, Skylar," Scarlett smiled.
"Hiya, Pumpkin," Lucinda happily said to Skylar.
"You're getting to be a big girl," Candice smiled at Skylar as Scarlett and Faith happily looked on, pleased at the attention Lucinda and Candice were giving Skylar.
"Kitty!" Skylar exclaimed in joy as she ran over to King.
"I am not a kitty!" King exclaimed in a huff as Skylar started hugging King, and he started softening up. "I suppose I could get use to this."
"Who's your friend?" Scarlett asked Eda about King.
"That's King," Eda explained. "Short for King of Demons ... or so he'd like to think. It's a long story."
"One I'd like to hear at some point," Scarlett acknowledged. "Meanwhile, as to why I sent for you, we have a problem with a group of rogue witches over here. They call themselves the Witch Revolutionary Front, and I could use all the help I can get."
"Well, this sounds like a challenge, and you know how much I like a challenge," Eda smiled. "Count me in."
(End of Chapter 58).
Behind the scenes
Here we are in September going into October. We still face the threat from COVID-19, but with continued vigilance, we can ride out this pandemic. Remember to wear a face mask when out, keep a six-foot distance from other people, and wash your hands regularly. I continue to do well, and I hope you and yours are doing well.
In this installment of "Behind the scenes", something fun - a chocolate chip banana bars recipe that's popular at Enchancia Castle.
Chocolate Chip Banana Bars.
What you'll need:
* 5 very ripe bananas.
* 3/4 cup brown sugar.
* 1/4 cup oil (any type).
* 1/4 cup milk.
* 2 eggs.
* 1 3/4 cup flour.
* 1 tsp baking soda.
* 1/2 tsp salt.
* 1 tsp cinnamon.
* 1 cup mini chocolate chips, divided.
Ripen bananas:
Ripen bananas in the oven. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place bananas peel and all on the parchment and bake for 30-40 minutes until peels are black & shiny. Let cool 1 hour and proceed with the recipe.
Instructions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 15×10.5″ pan with non-stick spray.
Peel bananas and mash well. Stir in brown sugar, oil, milk, and eggs until combined.
Add in dry ingredients and stir. Fold in 1/2 the chocolate chips.
Spread the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle remaining chips on top. Bake 18-22 minutes, until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool completely and cut into squares.
Yields 24 bars.
Author's notes
Amanda, Ambassador Gav, Ambassador Sarek, Ambassador Shras, Captain Kirk, Doctor McCoy, Lieutenant Uhura, Mister Chekov, Mister Scott, Mister Spock, and Nurse Chapel are all from classic "Star Trek".
Chief Medical Officer's Log, Stardate 3842.8. To say that the past few hours have been eventful would be an understatement. The Tellarite ambassador, Gav, has been murdered. Captain Kirk has been stabbed by a junior member of the Andorian diplomatic delegation. A mysterious ship is trailing us. And if all that wasn't bad enough, Ambassador Sarek has suffered a heart defect and needs immediate surgery. The only thing is that we need Mister Spock as a blood donor during the surgery. However, with Captain Kirk incapacitated, Spock has assumed command and will not step down because of the safety of the ship - such a log entry did not appear in "Journey to Babel. I created this log entry to move the story along.
Dorrie continued to look through the list of programs available. "Here we go!" Dorrie announced. "Starship Enterprise NCC-1701 tour - 2267." - Starship Enterprise NCC-1701 is from classic "Star Trek". As for the year 2267, that is the year in which the beginning of the second season of classic "Star Trek" is set.
Eda Clawthorne, Emperor Belos, Hooty, King, Lilith, Luz Noceda, the Boiling Isles, the Emperor's Coven, and the Emperor's guards are from "The Owl House".
Garrett and Nella are from "Nella the Princess Knight".
Having Sofia, Nella, and Garrett having an adventure aboard the Starship Enterprise was based on an idea put forward by Battlefieldfan. I added in Dorrie to round things out.
"I take it you know all about current communications protocols?" Kirk questioned. "I do, sir," Sofia acknowledged. "I'm well versed in technical protocols, as well as in translation protocols" - the part about translation protocols is a tribute to Hoshi Sato from "Star Trek: Enterprise" who pioneered translation techniques during Earth's first years in exploring the galaxy.
Kaulder is from "The Last Witch Hunter". For more about Scarlett's affair with Kaulder, see Chapter 47 of my story "Dorrie: Book Two".
Lucinda and Candice being summoned to Cinnibar to see Scarlett was based on an idea by Jake H Voronkov (who also supplied the bulk of the dialog for that scene).
Milledtion: a long time ago, the Disney Wiki used Milledtion as the last name for the Enchancian royal family. Even though the Disney Wiki has ceased using the name Milledtion, I still use it as a last name for the royal family.
Patricide: the killing of one's father.
Princess Faith (Queen Scarlett's adopted daughter) is an earlier version of Faith seen in the "Torchwood" episodes "Dead Man Walking" and "Fragments".
Scarlett's daughter, Skylar, is an original character created by Jake H Voronkov for my stories (the fact that Scarlett's daughter, and Elena of Avalor's Jaguin, share the same name is simply an interesting quirk of fate).
Starburst! is a spell I came up with for this chapter.
The House of Cosmarune: as readers of "Dorrie", "Dorrie: Book Two", and "Once Upon a Time in Enchancia" will remember, the House of Cosmarune is the magical house that Dorrie, Candice, Violet, Abby, and Scarlett's Royal Steward (Colette) belong to. The House of Cosmarune was originally created by Skyrimfan for Skyrimfan's stories "Lucinda the First" and "Rise to Power: Queen of Corona". Skyrimfan has given me permission to use the House of Cosmarune in my stories, and I have given Skyrimfan permission to use Dorrie and Candice in "Lucinda the First" and "Rise to Power: Queen of Corona".
The Kingdom of Cinnibar is a kingdom created by Jake H Voronkov and is used in my stories with permission from Jake H Voronkov.
The Scarlett Warrior (A.K.A. Scarlett) (A.K.A. Queen Scarlett) (A.K.A. Queen Scarlett Katherine Felchenerow) is a character created by Jake H Voronkov and is used in my stories with permission from Jake H Voronkov.
The scene with Scarlett, Candice, and Lucinda meeting in Cinnibar was the idea of Jake H Voronkov (who also supplied most of the dialog for that scene). The later scene with Candice, Lucinda, Eda, and King returning to Cinnibar was also the idea of Jake H Voronkov (who again supplied dialog for that scene). For the later scene, I added in Skylar to help round out the scene.
Voyager is from the "Voyagers!" TV series.
Warehouse Ten is from my stories "Dorrie", "Dorrie: Book Two", "Changes", and "Enchancia Castle". It is a warehouse housing paranormal artifacts that existed before the current Warehouse 13 (as seen in the TV series "Warehouse 13"). Readers of "Once Upon a Time in Enchancia" will remember that Nella and Garrett became involved with Warehouse Ten in Chapter 36.
"Well, excuse me for saying this, but ... the Boiling Isles are an inflamed boil on the buttocks of the world," Candice pointed out - I borrowed the phrase an inflamed boil on the buttocks of the world from the "M*A*S*H" TV series (it was how Major Winchester described the 4077th when he first arrived).
"Well, let's get started then," Dorrie announced as she used a computer terminal to look through a list of programs available. "Starship Voyager tour. Deep Space Nine tour. NX-01 Enterprise tour ... oh! I remember that. Something Candice came across." - Starship Voyager is from "Star Trek: Voyager". Deep Space Nine is from "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine". NX-01 Enterprise is from "Star Trek: Enterprise".
Why does Dorrie choose to wear a blue Starfleet uniform? Blue indicates medical and science personnel, and since in Enchancia Dorrie is studying to become a midwife, it would make sense for Dorrie to pick a blue medical uniform.
Disclaimer
Classic "Star Trek" and everything associated with it © Paramount Domestic Television and CBS Television Distribution.
"Elena of Avalor" and everything associated with it © Craig Gerber, Disney Television Animation, Team TO, and Disney-ABC Domestic Television.
"M*A*S*H" and everything associated with it © 20th Century Fox Television and CBS.
"Nella the Princess Knight" and everything associated with it © Christine Ricci, Brown Bag Films, Channel 5, and Nick Jr.
"Sofia the First" and everything associated with it © Craig Gerber, Jamie Mitchell, Disney Television Animation, Toiion Animation Studios, Team TO, and Disney-ABC Domestic Television.
"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and everything associated with it © Paramount Domestic Television and CBS Television Distribution.
"Star Trek: Enterprise" and everything associated with it © Paramount Domestic Television and CBS Television Distribution.
"Star Trek: Voyager" and everything associated with it © Paramount Domestic Television and CBS Television Distribution.
The House of Cosmarune, and everything associated with it, is the property of Skyrimfan, and is used in this story with the permission of Skyrimfan.
"The Last Witch Hunter" and everything associated with it © Summit Entertainment, Atmosphere Productions, One Race Films, Goldmann Pictures, and Lionsgate.
"The Owl House" and everything associated with it © Disney Television Animation, Disney-ABC Domestic Television, and Disney Channel.
The Scarlett Warrior and the other original ideas from Jake H Voronkov are the property of Jake H Voronkov and are used in my stories with the permission of Jake H Voronkov.
"Torchwood" and everything associated with it © BBC.
"Voyagers!" and everything associated with it © James D. Parriot Productions, Universal Television (MCA), and Scholastic Productions.
"Warehouse 13" and everything associated with it © Universal Cable Productions, NBC Universal Television Distribution, and SyFy.
I only own Candice Cosmarune-Cooper, Dorrie Cosmarune-Cooper, and the Witch Revolutionary Front.
