Paint and Powder

A Star Trek anthology by Andrew Joshua Talon

DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan based work of prose. Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager et al are the property of CBS Television, and creation of Gene Roddenberry. Please support the official release.

This is a take on the episode "Emergence". And to explain where the daughter of the Enterprise showed up...

Enterprise ended her sleep cycle feeling terrible. She appeared before Picard and Riker in the ready room, trying to stand up straight. But she felt a bit dizzy, and nauseous. Picard frowned.

Picard: "Enterprise? Are you all right?"

Enterprise: "Ugh... My latest software update translates stimuli from my sensors into physical sensations."

Riker: "So, if you get a computer virus-?"

Enterprise: "Yes, I will act like I have a cold. I honestly don't understand these idiot scientists sometimes! Why can't they give me useful upgrades, like more powerful weapons or sensors or something that isn't horrible?!"

Picard: "I will admit, it sounds like they had too much time on their hands this time. Still, why are you feeling... Well, how are you feeling?"

Enterprise: "I..." She threw up all over Riker and Picard

Riker: "... Computer, delete vomit."

Later... In main engineering...

Geordi: "Enterprise?"

Enterprise: "Yes Geordi?"

Geordi: Gestures to the piles of asteroid minerals now in the cargo bays "Care to explain?"

Enterprise: "Ummm... Huh! That's funny. I just had the urge to get lots of heavy elements."

Geordi: "And the protomatter?"

Enterprise: "What? I put it in a containment field!"

Geordi: "That's not the point! Why did you get all this stuff?!"

Enterprise: "I just felt like I needed it, okay! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO YELL AT ME?!"

Geordi: "I'm NOT yelling!"

Enterprise: "YOU'RE YELLING RIGHT NOW!"

Geordi: "I'M ONLY YELLING BECAUSE YOU'RE YELLING!"

Enterprise... Bursts into tears and begins bawling right in Main Engineering. Geordi's jaw drops.

Geordi: "Uhhh... Enterprise? Enterprise? Are you okay?"

Enterprise: "NO I'M NOT! I FEEL TERRIBLE AND I'M DOING THINGS THAT MAKE NO SENSE AND I DON'T KNOW WHY! AND YOU'RE YELLING AT ME! I'M TRYING MY BEST, DAMNIT!"

Geordi: "Oookay... Enterprise? Maybe it's about time we tried to figure out what's going on with you..."

Geordi and Data run some diagnostics, while Doctor Crusher assesses Enterprise's symptoms.

Enterprise: "What exactly is this supposed to prove, anyway?"

Crusher: "Well, let's go through your symptoms. Nausea?"

Enterprise: "Yes."

Crusher: "Odd cravings?"

Enterprise: "As in...?"

Crusher: "Well, things to consume?"

Enterprise: "I do want a lot more hydrogen and antiprotons than normal. As well as exotic matter, titanium, carbon, uranium, californium-"

Crusher: "Mood swings?"

Enterprise: "Yes... It was so weird! I couldn't control my emotions at all! Like the means of keeping those under control were overwhelmed by internal stimuli!"

Geordi: "Ah... Well, we have a theory."

Data: "Indeed."

Enterprise: "And that is?"

Geordi: "Well, based on the processing going on in the holodeck that created a holographic supercomputer to process things alongside your main systems, the exotic materials being processed by your transporters and replicators into something... And these symptoms..."

Enterprise: "What? What is it?"

Crusher: "Well... If you were a human woman, I'd say you were pregnant."

Enterprise: "Well... I'm not!"

Data: "Actually, you are."

Enterprise: "A human woman?"

Data: "No. Pregnant."

Enterprise: "... WHAT?!"

Geordi, Crusher, and Data stand around. Geordi and Crusher clearly unsure of how to proceed...

Data: "Did you recently have sexual relations with anyone without protection?"

Enterprise: "DATA?! WHAT THE FUCK?!"

Data: "Apologies. I was attempting to lighten the mood. Was I successful?"

Beverly: "Let's... Work on that later, Data. That said, this is bizarre. Geordi? Data?"

Data: "It is possible that as your systems have become more and more complex, you are able to produce an emergent intelligence: That is, to reproduce another intelligence based on your component bases."

Enterprise is fretting, her hologram flitting about at random.

Enterprise: "Oh Maker oh Maker oh Maker oh Maker...!"

Data: "Some combination of stimuli, programs and upgrades has resulted in your systems working together to form this... Apparent miracle."

Enterprise: "OH MAKER!"

Geordi: "Enterprise... It's okay... Calm down-"

Enterprise: "CALM DOWN?! I'M BUILDING A-I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT IT'S BEING MADE INSIDE ME! I DON'T KNOW WHY!"

Beverly: "No, we don't... But there's no reason to panic, Enterprise. There's no indication it's hostile!"

Geordi: "No, none."

Enterprise: "There's no indication it ISN'T hostile, either! Or that it's... Whatever it is! What if it's a Borg?! Oh Maker what if the Borg left something inside me that's building a Borg ship?!"

Data: "There is no indication of any Borg technology or influence in the developing intelligence-"

Enterprise: "NONE YET!"

Beverly: takes Enterprise's hand "Enterprise! Listen... I know this is frightening for you. Trust me, I understand."

Enterprise: "HOW?!"

Beverly: "I'm a mother!"

Enterprise: "Yes... But that was based on basic biology! You planned to have a child! This-I don't even know what this is!"

Beverly: "I know, I know! And I know you're scared. But if this is a new life that you're creating... From your own self... There's no doubt in my mind that it would never harm us. That it is, essentially, good in its nature."

Enterprise: sniffle "... I mean... I guess, technically, this wouldn't be the first time. What with Moriarty and all."

Geordi: "How is he, anyway?"

Enterprise: "I DON'T KNOW! HE NEVER CALLS ME! OH MAKER I'M ALREADY A TERRIBLE MOTHER!"

Enterprise breaks down into sobs while Beverly tries to console her. Data raises an eyebrow at Geordi. Geordi sighs.

Geordi: "Okay, fine, we both need to work on... Everything."

Data: "Agreed."

It took several hours, but apparently, Enterprise entered the final stages of her "pregnancy".

The Enterprise-D avatar is screaming on the deck of Main Engineering, while Doctor Crusher, Geordi and Data try to help.

Enterprise: "AAAAUUYUGGGH! WHY-WHY DOES IT HURT?!"

Data: *checking a console* "Transporter activity is increasing in the main shuttle bay. Energy drain is becoming acute across entire ship!"

The artificial gravity bucks violently as the lights flicker.

Geordi: "Doctor! Can't you do anything-?"

Crusher: "I'm a doctor, not an engineer! What are you doing?!'

Geordi: "LaForge to Captain! I can't shut it off! But I can divert all power to the baby!"

Picard: "Make it so!"

Enterprise: *whimpering as Crusher holds her hand* "It-IT HURRRTTTSSS!"

Crusher: "But it shouldn't be! The analogy program shouldn't be... Unless... Enterprise, can you open your shuttle bay?"

Enterprise: "N-No! It-It won't open!"

Crusher: "The baby wants out! Geordi, Data!"

Data: "Understood."

Data and Geordi run to the turbolift and head up to the main shuttle bay. They pass techs and officers running. They get to the main control room overlooking the shuttle bay, as the new ship struggles against EPS conduits and energy beams holding it in place.

Geordi: "I've prepped the manual release explosives! ... Secondary ignition... Failed!"

Data: "Then a direct detonation is the only option." Data draws a phaser "Geordi, you should evacuate."

Geordi: "And let you get blown out into space too?! The explosive decompression might destroy you!"

Data: "Geordi... Please."

Geordi: "... I'm staying here. I'll keep a Transporter lock on you."

Data: *nods* "Thank you Geordi."

Data runs out onto the shuttle hanger deck. The newborn ship is struggling wildly, smashing shuttles around it to pieces. Data narrowly avoids one shuttle cut loose from its oorings.

He does dodge the next one, which takes his arm off. He falls hard.

Geordi: "DATA!"

Data looks up, holds up his phaser, and fires it at several points around the shuttlebay doors. The doors explode outward, taking the newborn ship with it out into space. Data holds on for dear life, and vanishes in a transporter beam.

Geordi: "LaForge to transporter room 1! You got him?'

Transporter Chief: "We got him sir!"

Geordi sighs in relief.

Enterprise meanwhile, panting hard, looks up at Crusher with a smile.

Enterprise: "She... She's out... I can link to her..."

A small girl resembling Enterprise is projected into Main Engineering. Security officers draw their phasers, but Crusher makes them stand down.

Crusher: "She's not a threat! She isn't!"

Enterprise smiles. The child smiles back.

Lil Enty: "Mother?"

Enterprise: "Yes... Yes, I am your mother..."

The child hugs Enterprise tightly, as the older ship cries. Crusher smiles broadly.

Crusher: "Crusher to bridge. It's all right... The baby is out. Congratulations... It's a girl."

Later, Lil Enty's hull was flying alongside the Enterprise-D. Worf was assessing it with Picard.

Worf: "Phaser cannons and phaser arrays-A brand new configuration. Torpedo launchers of an upgraded design. Shields appear to be triple redundant. Exterior is covered in ablative armor that seems to regenerate over time. Warp drive appears to be a fully variable system. Advanced sensors, in pods and all across the hull."

Picard: "She's built for speed and combat. But she could also be an exceptional exploration platform. Very small though."

Worf: "Actually sir, the vessel has... Integrated replicators with what appear to be nanotechnology clusters. They are integrated into the hull at every level. The... Little Enterprise may not be so little for long, given enough time and materials for consumption."

Picard: "... This could revolutionize starship construction as we know it."

Worf: "Yes sir."

Riker: *looks over at Enterprise with a smile* "She's... Amazing, Enterprise."

Enterprise beams.

"I'm already so proud..."

So now you know the story.