STAR TREK PHASE TWO
I AM SPOCK!
Obaron IV
It had been one month since he had arrived on the planet. He had come to this world as part of his Kolinahr training; to be alone; to contemplate his place in the universe. He was Vulcan, and it was at this age that all Vulcans striven to become perfectly logical in every way. As he closed his eyes to meditate, he didn't notice the flashing light on his small scanning device. It was picking up the signals of an orbiting starship. And as his meditation became deeper, he didn't notice the three humans shimmering into existence behind him.
NEPTUNE
Waves of spatial distortion were bombarding the Romulan Warbird as it was in a tight parking orbit above southern region of the planet Neptune. Praefectus'alae Gnaeus, the Romulan commander, watched as his sub-commander, Praefectus fabrum G'atny, a female Romulan, tried her best to maintain communication with the forth, and final, probe that had been sent into Neptune's turbulent atmosphere in the hope of finding the highly elusive Omega particle.
She had even gone so far as taking control of the operations controls that were in contact with the probe, which was usually the task of one of her subordinates.
"Status report," Gnaeus asked.
"The conditions of the planet's atmosphere are affecting the stability of the probe," G'atny replied.
"Yes," Gnaeus said, "you have told us this now for nearly seventy-two cycles. If this probe fails then we all fail; and I will not accept that."
"Praefectus," G'atny replied, "if this probe fails, punishment will not be required. I will demand the Final right of Abstergo."
"If that is what you wish then I will allow you to do so."
The Final right of Abstergo was reserved only for officer ranks of the Romulan military. It was a ritualistic suicide ceremony to save the honor of one who has not performed to acceptable levels. It is done by a lower ranked officer so as to buffer the honor of the commanding officer of a given mission. It was the Romulan way; they valued honor above all else. Unlike other species in the cosmos that only valued violence, such as the Klingons and the Gorn.
This mission was to have been simple enough on the surface: Finding an Omega Particle. But there was more than just a simple layer to his journey to Earth's system.
For some time now the Romulan Empire was very interested in the progress of their cousins on Earth. Unknown to the Earthlings, the Romulans had kept an eye on their technical achievements for nearly a century. But this wasn't done with a casual eye. Someday, when the time was right, the Romulans would return to Earth and claim it as a colony.
Suddenly G'atny looked up to Gnaeus.
"Praefectus," she said with eyes wide open, "the probe just detected the presence of an Omega Particle."
"Are you certain?" Gnaeus asked.
"Yes," G'atny replied, her smiled denoting success.
The Omega Particle was actually a form of life, or so it was thought. According to the Vulcans it was a life form that was of a metaphysical nature that, in theory, existed outside the time continuum. Almost as if they were stitches keeping two different realities from colliding. Gnaeus had no idea what that meant, but the Vulcans were wise and seldom wrong.
The Vulcans also warned of the consequences harnessing such a being could bring. However, the Romulan Empire saw the risk worthy. The ever present threat of a Borg incursion into this part of the galaxy is what fueled the need to harness an Omega Particle. The last Borg incursion, when Gnaeus was just a child, caused destruction all across the quadrant. The Romulans would not allow that to happen again. It was a known fact that not only were the Romulans hunting for the elusive particle, but so were the Klingons, the Gorn, and even the far off Cardassian Union. Survival and logic were hardly bedfellows. And if an Omega Particle weapon could save them from Borg assimilation; it would be used.
One of the Centurions came over to Gnaeus with a report.
"Praefectus," the Centurion said, "the Vultur is reporting that the Earth vessel is approaching the planet. It is the Reliant."
The Vultur was their sister ship. It had been assigned patrol of the planet during the excursion and probing of the planet Neptune.
"Isn't the Reliant the ship commanded by Gary Mitchell?" G'atny asked.
"It is indeed, Praefectus fabrum G'atny," Gnaeus replied with a smile. "You say this Omega Particle is creating the obstructions preventing us from obtaining it?"
"I do," G'atny replied. "Although the particle does not communicate in ways we can comprehend, it does, however, act in self- preservation."
"Then we shall let this starship captain join our quest," Gnaeus said.
G'atny shook her head. "You can't do that," she told him. "We have strict orders not to involve them in any way."
"I know of our orders," Gnaeus said to his second in command. "However, this is their world. Who are we to deny them domain?" Then Gnaeus walked over to a screen displaying the approaching USS Reliant, and the invisible Vultur to its port side. "I think it's time to meet Gary Mitchell. We know he is special; perhaps the Omega Particle will think so as well."
G'atny stood up and came over to Gnaeus.
"Is that wise? Introducing an Omega Particle to this human, who we both know possesses extreme powers, could create an aberration more destructive than the Borg," G'atny said with a silent, but present fear. "I think you should reconsider."
Gnaeus nodded in acknowledgment of G'atny's worry. It was indeed a very risky endeavor.
Obaron IV
Captain Kirk, Doctor McCoy, and S.P.O.C.K., and the three survey team members, shimmered into existence on the beautiful planet of Obaron IV. McCoy was about to say something to Kirk when Kirk made a motion for him not to talk; for them all not to talk. McCoy understood, and then saw why Kirk has hushed him so quickly.
The heavily forested area, near a rock cliff, was just as beautiful as places just like it on Earth. It was an interesting sight to see similar plant life on such planets. But more interesting was what they saw towards the opening of trees just ahead.
In front of their position, and delicately balancing on a large rock face that over looked a stream below, was a being. McCoy took out his medical tricorder to try and get some readings of the alien being as Spock did the same with his science tricorder. Off in the distance was a small space craft of some kind. Kirk had never seen anything quite like it, but it was of a stunning angular design.
As Kirk looked at the strange alien, who was obviously lost in some kind of meditation, Kirk could not help but think about stories he had read and old pictures he had seen of native Americans who would go out to the wilderness to meditate like this; usually with the intent to die.
With the alien posing no threat, Kirk ordered the survey party to fan out and start initial scans of the planet.
Kirk walked over near to the alien, along with McCoy and Spock. The alien, his eyes still open, seemed to be in a far off trance.
The alien was biped, just like humans were. Though the alien we sitting on the large rock face, Kirk was able to estimate his height at around six feet five inches, maybe six inches. He was draped in a black cloak, and his skin was a strange green hue. His jet black hair flowed down the back of his head to the mid- range of his shoulder blades. Another striking feature was his ears. Kirk remembered reading the great books by Tolkien, and even collected the movies that were based on them. This alien's ears were not elfish at all, as in those books. They were of a more stoic nature and gave the alien a calm grace.
The two humanoids and artificial beings had now surrounded him. They appeared to be Romulans, but he knew they were not. The human male who appeared to be in command had a strong will, and would make an interesting conversation piece. The other human was more abrupt with his emotions. But it was the artificial being that interested the Vulcan the most. The Vulcans had artificial beings that assisted in their exploration of space. But this one, this humanoid/android, was much different. It felt alive; there was only one thing to do. It would mean to act in a more non-Kolinar way; but such was the choice.
Kirk was thinking to himself that the alien, even in its still state, projected a wise demeanor. He watched as Spock scanned a strange device on the alien's wrist, which was barely exposed at the length of the cloak.
"Captain," Spock said, "the alien is wearing some sort of transmitting device. I believe it is relaying tactical data from the ship across the other side of the stream."
"Continue scans," Kirk said.
As McCoy was finishing up his medical scans of the alien, Kirk wondered to himself what the alien was called.
"I am a Vulcan," the alien's voice replied with a soft sound to its baritone voice.
And in one move the alien reached out and placed his fingers on the right side of S.P.O.C.K.S's artificial human head.
"Jim!" McCoy said with urgency.
Kirk ran over to where the alien was now standing, his long boney fingers stretched out across the right side of Spock's head.
"What is it doing?" McCoy asked.
"It doesn't seem to be hurting Spock. Spock, can you hear me?" Kirk asked his android experimental first officer.
There was no reply.
And then, without warning, Spock fell to the ground and the alien stood motionless. Kirk bent down to try and help Spock up, but was stopped by the hand of the alien who lifted Kirk back up to a standing position. McCoy drew out his hand held phaser.
"Stop!" McCoy demanded, afraid the alien was about to do to Kirk what it had done to Spock.
"It is not necessary for you to act in such a way, Doctor McCoy," The alien said as it released Kirk.
Kirk looked up at the alien who was roughly three inches taller than he was.
"What have you done to my crew member?" Kirk asked of the alien.
"Captain," the alien said, "I am Spock."
Continued…