And one more to cover this week. Hopefully it is enough. Im so sorry! I will try to back publish episodes that I miss when I do get around to publishing cause I know how bad it is when a story takes forever to continue. (fyi to all reading my other story, im going to work on it as I can as well between everything else I gotta take care of.)
Episode 2-3 The Changeling
They had received a distress call from Malurian and were in transit to give aid. Kirk once again asked Uhura if she had received anything and she once again reported no response. "Captain. They will not answer. The long-range sensor sweep of this system reveals no sign of life." Spock informed Kirk. Saya wondered what could possibly exist to wipe all life from a planet but decided that she really didn't want to know.
Kirk said it was impossible as there were over 4 billion people on that planet and Spock answered "We would have known in advance of any system-wide catastrophe, and in the event of an interplanetary war, there would be considerable radioactive residue. Our instruments show only normal background radiation."
Kirk asked for other possibilities and Spock provided what he could. "Unknown, sir. Sensor readings would have revealed the presence of any disease organisms. They do not. In addition, we received the routine report from this system only a week ago. Even the Symbalene blood burn does not act that swiftly."
Saya started pulling up the records she could of everyone on the planet to see if any had living family. She wasn't really sure if she even should but figured that the people who had loved ones that survived needed to know. The image of her mother popped into her mind once again and she paused only to work harder at her self assigned project.
She was so focused on her project that she failed to notice the energy beam coming at them. The only reason she escaped without harm, while everyone was tossed about by the hit, was Spock pinning her between himself and the railing to hold them both in place. Saya mentally thanked him and he reprimanded her, reminding her to pay attention to everything. She let him know she would.
They returned to their stations and Saya kept working on her project glad that this time nothing major got damaged. Spock informed Kirk that the shields were holding but they would only be able to resist 3 more attacks like that, the 4th would shatter their shields completely. Saya paid minimal attention to Kirk ordering them to find the source of the attack.
She heard Kirk order "Lieutenant, contact Starfleet Command. Patch in my log. Tell them what has happened. Tell them the entire Malurian race seems to have been destroyed by an unknown agency, and that we are under attack by an unidentified force." She looked up to see another ball of light on the view screen and this time she braced for impact.
They were hit a second time and Spock found the ship attacking them. A Third bolt came at them and Scotty informed the captain "Shields still holding, sir, but the drain on the engines is reaching the critical point. Ach, we lost warp maneuvering power. Switching to impulse."
They started shooting back but Spock informed Kirk that it had no affect. Puzzled Kirk ordered Uhura to attempt contact. The other ship fired another bolt at them and this time their shields failed. Kirk called to it "To unidentified vessel. This is Captain James Kirk of the USS Enterprise. We are on a peaceful mission. We mean no harm to you or any lifeforms. Please communicate with us."
Kirk asked for any further readings and Spock computed them. "Weight, five hundred kilograms. Shape, roughly cylindrical. Length, a fraction over one metre." Scotty marveled at anything existing in a thing that small as Uhura informed them that they were receiving a signal from the spacecraft.
Kirk had her put it on audio and Saya laughed quietly and whispered "it's a chipmunk!" She heard Spock decoding it a fraction and wondered at that kind of capability. "Captain, this message is a sort of binary. Extremely sophisticated, compressed, carrying several channels at once." Kirk asked if he could decode it and Spock replied "No clue as yet, Captain. A moment. Transmission speed has stepped down. Much slower. Seems to be a single binary."
It seemed to be requesting Kirk to repeat his message and he did. "This is Captain James Kirk of the USS Enterprise. We are on a peaceful mission in this part of the galaxy. We have no hostile intentions. We request identity." A message came back requesting language equivalence to their mathematical message. "Tie in the ship's translator to the communication channel. Let them take it at their own speed." Kirk instructed.
They waited for a bit and suddenly Spock's station started sparking. He ordered Uhura to cut power and informed Kirk that it had overloaded and burned out. Kirk commented that they could take the information faster than the enterprise could give it. A message came in and this time everyone could understand it. "USS Enterprise, this is Nomad. My mission is non-hostile."
Saya watched Spock as he puzzled out the name Nomad. She didn't get the significance but Spock obviously had and she for her part threw up the mental wall to keep from distracting him. Nomad requested them to leave their ship but when Kirk told him it was impossible he agreed to be beamed aboard the enterprise.
Scotty asked if it would be a good idea to beam it aboard and Kirk replied "Do we have any choice, Scotty? Besides, once it's aboard, it won't be taking any more shots at us. Lieutenant, get a repair crew on that computer. Get Doctor McCoy down to the transporter room. Spock, you come with me. Scotty, you too." Saya of course followed Spock as they walked to the transporter room.
They beamed up what looked like a floating robot and everyone was perplexed by it. Saya could feel Spock's mind at work on it and wondered at it herself but tried to keep the wall up. It had never occurred to her how much her thoughts could get in the way of another's before she and Spock developed their bond. Spock started running sensor readings on it but could not get through it's protective screen.
The thing requested their point of origin and when Kirk answered they were from the United Federation of Planets Nomad said it was insufficient and requested to scan their star heard Kirk say "If we show it a close-up view of our system, it has no point of reference. It won't know more than it does now." Spock agreed and Kirk told Nomad "If you care to leave your ship, we'll provide the necessary life support systems."
Nomad told them that their facts were uncoordinated and it had no parasitical beings. Scotty said it was a machine and Spock confirmed saying "It is reacting much like a highly sophisticated computer." Nomad asked what was opinion and Spock gave it the definition which did not seem to be what Nomad wanted.
Scotty asked about its source of power and it replied "It has changed since the point of origin. There was much taken from the other. I am perpetual now. I am Nomad." Saya vaguely remembered a space probe named Nomad but thought nothing of it until Kirk asked if there was a probe called Nomad launched in the early 2000's. Spock confirmed there was but it had been destroyed.
Nomad again requested to scan the star charts and Kirk offered to bring them. Nomad began to move and Saya worked hard not to jump away from it. She was not fond of it, computer or not, and it seemed dangerous for some reason. Kirk lead the way ordering Spock and McCoy to follow. Saya of course followed Spock.
In Auxiliary control Spock confirmed that Kirk wanted chart 14A and Saya wondered if it really would prevent Nomad from knowing where they were from. Kirk told it that they were from the 3rd planet and Nomad seemed to know a fair bit about it. After confirming quite a bit of information Nomad said "You are the creator, the Kirk. The sterilisation procedure against your ship was unnecessary."
Kirk asked about the sterilisation procedure and Nomad told him that he programed its function. McCoy said in his usual manner that he wasn't Kirk and to tell him what its function was. Nomad asked Kirk "This is one of your units, creator?" Kirk confirmed and Nomad said "It functions irrationally." Kirk agreed, much to Spock's minor amusement and Sayas humor, then told Nomad to tell McCoy his function anyways. "My function is to probe for biological infestations, to destroy that which is not perfect. I am Nomad."
Kirk quietly told Spock who was already puzzling it out that there was never any probe sent out for that. Spock replied "I believe the history computer can answer that question. I'll have the readout in a moment."
Kirk asked if it destroyed the Malurian system and it replied "Not the system, creator Kirk. Only the unstable biological infestation. It is my function." McCoy started to get angry but Kirk calmed him then asked why Nomad called him the creator. Nomad asked if the usage was incorrect just as Saya felt Spock come up with part of the answer.
"The usage is correct. The creator was simply testing your memory banks." Spock answered quickly before Kirk could say more. Nomad mentioned that there was much damage in the accident and Saya saw that Nomad was mistaking Kirk for another person, the one who created the original Nomad, in Spock's thoughts. Spock indicated to Kirk to go along with him and Kirk ordered to take care of the Nomad as they walked out to talk.
Kirk asked what Spock was onto and he replied "I've correlated all the available information on the Nomad probe, and I'm convinced that this object is indeed that probe." McCoy said it was ridiculous because earth science couldn't begin to build anything with its power during that time period. Spock agreed and Kirk mentioned that Nomad was destroyed.
"Presumed destroyed by a meteor collision. I submit that it was badly damaged and somehow managed to repair itself." Spock said. They went to the briefing room and Spock pulled up the relevant information and went over it. "This is the creator of Nomad, perhaps the most brilliant though erratic scientist of his time. His dream was to build a perfect thinking machine, capable of independent logic. You recall his name."
McCoy filled in the name Jackson Roykirk and they all figured out it was similar. "I believe that Nomad thinks you are Roykirk. That may well be why the attack was broken off. It responded to your name as well as its damaged memory banks permitted." Kirk asked what they had on Nomad itself and Saya pulled up the next image for Spock. "Essentially it is, Doctor. I believe that more happened to it than just damage in the meteor collision. It mentioned the other. The unanswered question is, the other what? Nomad was a thinking machine, the best that could be engineered. It was a prototype."
Kirk mentioned "Its purpose was certainly altered. Its directive, to seek out and destroy biological infestations, could not have been programmed into it."
McCoy added on "As I recall, it wasn't. It was supposed to be the first interstellar probe to seek new life-forms."
"But if you rearrange the purpose, it is just a few words different, maybe it got mixed up in the accident." Saya said quietly.
"Precisely. And somehow that programming has been changed. It would seem that Nomad is now seeking out perfect life-forms, perfection being measured by its own relentless logic." Spock said.
Kirk contemplated what was said then called for security and told them to meet him in auxiliary control in 5 minutes. Spock relayed that reported Nomad no longer there and Kirk canceled the order and implemented a full search for Nomad. It did not take long for Scotty to call in saying "That mechanical beastie is up here." Everyone quickly got up and headed to the bridge.
They entered the bridge to see Nomad enveloping Uhura's head in a strange beam and Scotty move to stop it. Kirk tried to stop Scotty but it was to late and Nomad hit him with something, flipping him over the railing and knocking him out. McCoy checked him over and said that he was dead. Saya worked to get her emotions under control and felt the familiar cold calm overtake her. She knew as long as she was able to keep working and helping she would be fine.
Spock registered the calm in Saya a moment before the usual constant emotional feed from her went dead and all he received was her thoughts on what she could do to assist. Spock moved that concern to the side as she did not seem harmed by it and concentrated on Nomad and the situation. Saya registered that Uhura was not responding to anything and Kirk ordered her to sickbay before demanding why Nomad killed Scotty.
Kirk demanded what Nomad did to Uhura and it replied "That unit is defective. Its thinking is chaotic. Absorbing it unsettled me." Spock informed it that the unit Uhura was a woman and Nomad answered "A mass of conflicting impulses." Saya softly commented that it was essentially correct as Kirk ordered crewmen to take Scotty's body out. "Does the creator wish me to repair the unit?" Nomad asked and after McCoy confirmed that he could do nothing agreed.
Nomad requested tapes on the structure and Saya started to her station to pull up as much of that information as she could as McCoy started rattling off a list "Well, he'll need tapes on general anatomy, the central nervous system, and then one on the physiological structure of the brain. We'd better give it all the neurological studies we have, as well as tracings of Scotty's hyper encephalogram."
Spock took over arranging the data for Nomad and instructed it "Nomad, I have arranged the tapes for flash feed at the top speed of the computer. Please do not draw the information faster than the machine's capacity." Nomad proceed to download the information then ask where the unit Scott was after mentioning the failings of the 'unit'. McCoy left with Nomad to show him to sickbay.
Kirk ordered a 24 hour 2 man security detail on Nomad before they left to go to sickbay. Saya tailing them as was normal. They entered sickbay to see Nomad, McCoy and Nurse Chapel surrounding an unresponsive Scotty. Saya stood slightly behind Spock as they observed. The monitor suddenly started to indicate life and Scotty started reacting. Kirk calmed him and Spock said his normal 'Fascinating' as McCoy yelled at Nomad.
Saya registered the small amount of humor coming from Spock about Nomad managing to save Scotty when McCoy could not but was neutral. As Kirk called Nomad to him Saya quietly asked Spock "May i return to my quarters and continue on my previous project if i am not needed?" Spock observed her a moment before saying she could. Saya left as Kirk asked Nomad to repair Uhura.
In her quarters she started quickly going over the list of people from the planet that had living relatives elsewhere. After half an hour she had managed to get the full list. Surprisingly for so many people on the planet, few had relatives off world. As she was wondering what kind of message would be feasible to send to these family members Spock mentally guided her to the prearranged forms that could be used with minimal tweaking.
Saya started on filling them out to have them ready for Kirk when everything was said and done. As she worked she felt a slight annoyance followed by smugness. She gave a small smile as she worked knowing that something had made reference to his extraordinary mind. She felt Spock prepare for a mind meld and told him she would put the wall up and meditate.
Sitting on their bed she did her best to keep the mental barrier between their mind's up and meditate to clear hers. Saya felt after a few minutes that Spock was unable to break the meld. She opened the connection and tried to call him back as she heard Kirk trying as well. Spock was broken from it and Saya bolted for her door and ran down the hall. She started thinking of every indication of where Spock was and found him in the hall talking to Kirk.
Sliding to a stop she looked him over concerned as he told Kirk "Not the Nomad we lost from Earth. It took from the other a new directive to replace its own. The other was originally programmed to secure and sterilise soil samples from other planets, probably as a prelude to colonisation." Saya continued to watch him as he and Kirk discussed Nomad.
Saya finally caught what was being said by Kirk "Yes, it's powerful, it's sophisticated, but it's not infallible. It's space-happy. It thinks I'm its mother." Spock and Kirk started walking with Saya as usual following. Spock sent her to finish up the last of the letters to be sent to the remaining family members and Saya did. Spock noted that her emotion feed was back to its normal humm as she returned to her task.
Saya could feel the concern in Spock rising as he planned what to do about Nomad. Saya had finished her work and after asking Spock what he wanted her to do she headed to Sickbay to see if she could help with Uhura. She was helping nurse Chapel up, unsure what had happened, when Kirk and Spock ran in. Spock glanced her way and Saya felt his quick assessment of her health.
After finding out that Nomad was looking up Kirk's history they both ran out again. She wasn't sure what had happened but Spock was concerned and calculating quite a bit. She stayed to help as she could in sickbay. After Nurse Chapel was on her feet again she sat with Uhura for a bit to help her learn. Saya felt strange teaching someone who had been teaching her up till recently.
Spock called to Saya to join him again as he and Kirk passed down her hall on the way to turbolift. She came out in time to easily fall in step with them. "That link between you 2 must be most convenient ." Kirk commented with a sly grin. Spock simply said that it had its advantages.
As they walked onto the bridge Saya took her seat as Spock said "My congratulations, Captain. A dazzling display of logic." Kirk teased that Spock didn't think Kirk had it in him and Kirk agreed with a "no, sir." Kirk's face fell as McCoy walked in, informing them that Uhura was back at college level and would be back on the job within the week.
Saya felt frustrated by her slow pace and Spock reminded her that Uhura wasn't starting having to unlearn things. Spock commented "The destruction of Nomad was a great waste, Captain. It was a remarkable instrument."
Kirk replied "Which might well have destroyed more billions of lives. It's well gone. Besides, what are you feeling so badly about? It's not easy to lose a bright and promising son." At Spock's inquiry Kirk continued "Well, it thought I was its mother, didn't it? Do you think I'm completely without feelings, ? You saw what it did for Scotty. What a doctor it would've made. My son, the doctor. Kind of gets you right there, doesn't it?"
Saya laughed at the expressions and the almost fond exasperation Spock had for Kirk. Taking his seat beside her Spock commented quietly "I am pleased you were unharmed." Saya smiled and thought to him 'I love you too.' As she handed the letters to Kirk to go over.
*END*