A "Star Trek: The Next Generation" Fan-Fiction Story - by Vicky
PART IV
EXT. SPACE
The Enterprise moves through space at warp speed.
JEAN-LUC PICARD (V.O.)
Captain's Log – Supplemental. We're approaching Boturlia Three
after an uneventful few days. Academy Cadet Elyse Gaireth has been
fulfilling her duties quite well on the bridge, although I still insist
that Lieutenant Commander K'Jared keep a watchful eye on her at the helm.
* * * * * * * * * *
INT. BRIDGE – Two Days Later
JEAN-LUC PICARD sits in the command chair flanked by WILL RIKER and DEANNA TROI, at their respective stations, on either side. CADET GAIRETH is seated at the helm with LT. CMDR. K'JARED standing a few paces behind her.
JEAN-LUC PICARD
Cadet, slow to impulse.
CADET GAIRETH
Aye, sir.
WILL RIKER
And set a standard orbit around the planet.
K'Jared immediately moves next to Gaireth and starts pointing at the console as the girl's hands move across the helm computer. Gaireth subtly rolls her eyes.
LT. CMDR. K'JARED
(Turning to Picard.)
Standard orbit set, Captain.
CADET GAIRETH
(Barely audible.)
I could have told him that.
JEAN-LUC PICARD
(To Riker.)
Number One, prepare an away team to survey the planet's surface.
The Federation is considering the possibility of setting up a research
station in the area and wants to know if there are sufficient "curiosities"
on Boturlia Three to justify it.
Riker stands and looks at DATA sitting at the ops station.
WILL RIKER
Data.
Data follows Riker to the turbolift and both of them exit the bridge.
INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM THREE & INT. BRIDGE – Continuous
[Attention focuses between transporter room and bridge during the exchange.]
The doors of the transporter room open and WILL RIKER enters, leading an away team consisting of DATA and two science officers (LT. QUINNEN and ENSIGN LASHANT). Complete with survey tools, the team steps onto the transport pad and looks toward CHIEF MAGUIRE.
CHIEF MAGUIRE
The transport window is clear, Commander.
WILL RIKER
In that case Mister Maguire, energize.
The away team dematerializes, leaving Maguire alone in the room. A few seconds pass before the computer console begins to beep. Maguire's fingers move across the computer panel and his eyes search the readings. He taps the communicator on his chest to contact JEAN-LUC PICARD.
CHIEF MAGUIRE
Captain?
JEAN-LUC PICARD
Yes, Mister Maguire.
CHIEF MAGUIRE
I'm getting some strange readings from the planet. The away team
beamed down safely, but there seems to be some sort of energy flux in the
atmosphere that I'm not sure how to interpret.
Picard glances at DEANNA TROI next to him. She shrugs her shoulders to indicate her empathic senses aren't picking up anything out-of-the-ordinary.
JEAN-LUC PICARD
Stand by Mister Maguire.
(To CADET GAIRETH at the helm.)
Cadet Gaireth, are you picking up the same type of readings?
Gaireth looks at the console with LT. CMDR. K'JARED over her shoulder.
CADET GAIRETH
(Spinning around in her chair.)
No, sir. My readings show ...
LT. CMDR. K'JARED
(Cutting Gaireth off.)
The atmosphere is stable, sir. Whatever flux Chief Maguire experienced
isn't on our sensors.
Gaireth spins back around, slumping her shoulders and mumbling to herself.
CADET GAIRETH
(Under her breath.)
I can read the console.
Picard taps his communicator badge.
JEAN-LUC PICARD
Mister Maguire, our sensors here don't indicate any sign of an atmospheric
change. I recommend you run a diagnostic on the transporter system
to rule out any reading error.
CHIEF MAGUIRE (COMM)
Aye, sir. Will do.
The intercom transmission ends. Picard stands and tugs down his uniform shirt.
JEAN-LUC PICARD
Cadet, I'd like you to keep a careful eye on the planet's atmospheric
and surface readings. Let me know the second anything changes – no
matter how minor it may be.
CADET GAIRETH
(Glances at K'Jared behind her.)
Yes, sir.
* * * * * * * * * *
EXT. BOTURLIA III – Simultaneously
The surface of Boturlia III is forest-covered. Tall tree surround a central clearing in which a swamp-like water hole is located. Birds can be heard in the background. LT. QUINNEN and ENSIGN LASHANT are off to one side setting up survey equipment while WILL RIKER and DATA explore the area with tricorders.
DATA
Commander, I am picking up an atmospheric anomaly. It seems as
though the planet's energy patterns are shifting.
WILL RIKER
(Pointing his tricorder toward the sky and checking its output.)
Hmmm. The readings seem fine to me. Are you sure you saw
an energy flux?
DATA
(Cocking his head to the side.)
I am sure, sir.
(Rechecking his tricorder.)
But the anomaly is no longer registering on my tricorder. Strange.
Perhaps we should alert the Enterprise of this finding.
WILL RIKER
(Shakes his head.)
Only if we experience it again. I'm inclined to think your tricorder
picked up a false reading as opposed to something in the atmosphere.
(Continues walking and scanning the environment.)
There preliminary scans seem fairly normal. I can't imagine the
Federation bothering with a research station in this area unless we find
something of incredibly unique interest. There isn't much in this
system anyway.
DATA
That is true, sir, but we have only begun our survey of Boturlia Three.
Before recommending that the Federation disregard its plans for a research
station, we should finish the scientific studies.
WILL RIKER
(Chuckling.)
Yes, of course, Data. I was simply making the comment.
DATA
(Slight frown.)
Ah. I see.
* * * * * * * * * *
INT. BRIDGE – Later That Day
CADET GAIRETH walks to the front of the bridge after studying some graphics at an aft science station. As she takes her seat at the helm, there is a perplexed expression on her face. DEANNA TROI rises from her chair and moves toward Gaireth, sensing the cadet's confusion.
DEANNA TROI
(Leaning forward, she puts one hand on the back of Gaireth's chair,
the other on the console.)
What is it Elyse?
Gaireth makes a few keystrokes on the computer panel before her then glances at the viewscreen displaying Boturlia III.
CADET GAIRETH
Something isn't right. Whatever atmospheric readings Chief Maguire
was getting earlier I think the sensors are picking up something similar
now. It's almost as if an electrical storm is building, but there's
nothing visible around the planet like you'd expect to see in this circumstance.
Deanna taps her communicator badge.
DEANNA TROI
Captain, Cadet Gaireth's picked up something on the sensors you should
see.
– End Part IV –
All "known" characters (c) Paramount, Star Trek: The Next Generation and all other relevant parties. This story was written for the enjoyment of other TNG fans and is not meant to infringe upon the copyrights of any of the aforementioned individuals.