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.
THE SAVAGE CURTAIN
2269, Excalbia I
By jhosmer1
"Captain's Log, Stardate 5906.4. We are orbiting a Type-E planet in an un-surveyed star system. While long-range scans showed nothing out of the ordinary, Mr. Spock has detected anomalous power reading and signs of a carbon life cycle."
"I'm reading it now, Mister Spock," Enterprise said over the intercom. "It seems to indicate artificial power being generated in factor seven quantities."
"Which would indicate a considerable civilisation there," Spock replied, still bent over his scope.
"What's all this poppycock about life forms on this planet, Spock? The surface is molten lava. The atmosphere is poisonous," Doctor McCoy scoffed, standing next to Kirk's chair.
Spock ignored him. "Our readings could be false, Captain, perhaps caused by some natural phenomena."
Kirk turned to Uhura at the Communications Station. "Lieutenant, anything from the planet?"
"I've repeatedly tried on every hailing frequency, sir," Uhura said, trying a few more frequencies as she spoke. "There's no response on any channel."
Kirk nodded. "Transmit to Starfleet our sensor readings and log entries on the planet. Surface conditions make it impossible for us to beam down and investigate further. We are therefore going on to our next assignment."
"Aye, aye, sir," Uhura said.
The lights suddenly dim and flicker.
"Alert status!" Kirk barked, then turned to Spock's station.
"We are being scanned, Captain. A deep probe, incredibly swift." The Vulcan adjusted his scope.
Suddenly, the main viewscreen changed from showing the inhospitable surface of the planet to showing a young Andorian sitting in a chair.
"Captain Kirk, I believe?" the Andorian said, his voice coming to them all over the bridge speakers. He stood and gave a small Andorian bow. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
"And who are you, sir?" Kirk asked.
"That's… that's Val'kem Rev," Enterprise said. "My creator. The creator of all shipgirl AI technology! But... That's impossible!"
She stared in disbelief at the screen, while Spock raised an eyebrow.
"Fascinating," Spock said.
The Andorian chuckled. "No less to me, Mr. Spock."
"Your analysis, Spock?" Kirk asked.
"The planet did scan us, Captain, and doubtless obtained sufficient information to present this illusion."
Rev shook his head. "Illusion? Captain, I have been called a fraud but never an illusion. If you will permit it, I could board your vessel so you can verify my reality."
After a brief discussion of coordinates, the Enterprise prepares to beam Rev aboard. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, and a squad of security guards fill the transporter room.
"Locked on to something… Mr. Spock, what do you make of that?" Scotty said, staring at the transporter console.
"Fascinating," Spock said, looking at the readings. "For a moment, it appeared almost mineral. Like living rock with heavy fore claws. It's settling down now to completely Andorian readings."
Scotty turned to Kirk. "We can beam it aboard anytime, sir," he said.
"Dr. McCoy, take tricorder readings and see what it appears to be. Security team, stand ready." Hearing acknowledgements, Kirk turned to Scotty. "Energize."
Within moments, the lithe form of Val'kem Rev appeared on the transporter pad. "That was much smoother than the last time I took a transporter," the Andorian said, one hand over his chest. "I'm afraid once you understand quantum states you're never quite comfortable with the things."
McCoy moved closer to him, medical scanner held up. "Readings are consistent with an Andorian of his age and type, Jim."
"Why are you here, Dr. Rem?" Kirk asked.
"Ah, straight to business… but, first, could I ask you to introduce me to the other member of the crew present?
Kirk realized what he meant immediately. "Enterprise?" he asked.
The viewscreen behind the transporter turned on and Enterprise's chosen avatar-a human female with long white hair, violet eyes, and a white/black Starfleet uniform skirt-appeared.
"Ah…" Rev said, appreciatively. "I always imagined my first daughter to have bluer skin, but it is very nice to meet you, Enterprise."
Enterprise fought back a blush. "And if you are who you claim to be, it would be an honor to meet you, sir. Val'kem Rev died almost two years before I became sentient, however."
Rev nodded. "I cannot explain it all, but you are correct. I did die. I am also here now. I know these two facts, as contrary as they seem, are both true." He turned to Captain Kirk. "I also am a messenger for you and your crew, Captain. You are orbiting Excalbia, home of a powerful alien race. They have sent me, whether I am a recreation or the true Val'kem Rev, to tell you that, like you, they seek knowledge of alien cultures." Rev sighed. "Even if I am a fake, I feel sorry for what will happen."
The lights dimmed and flickered again. On the viewscreen, Enterprise gave a short cry of alarm, then vanished. Rev reached toward the screen, almost protectively, then he let his arm drop and sighed again. "I don't know how I know this, but if you return to your bridge and activate your monitor, you will learn what happened."
Enterprise blinked. Then she blinked again. She did not normally have eyelids to blink. Looking around, she seemed to be standing on the surface of a Class M planet. Actually standing, with actual legs!
She took a second to check out the appendages in question. Yep, they were looking good. She was wearing her favorite uniform style, the division color with black side stripes that Number One had favored. Though Enterprise passed on the pants for the skirt variant, of course, and used white as her division color.
"Hello?" she called out. "Look, not that I mind the body, but you could have asked first."
"That's what I would say to you!" a familiar voice called out. A young woman wearing a blue United Earth Fleet uniform appeared from behind a rock. Enterprise knew the uniform, though it predated her sentience by almost a century. The face of the woman wearing the uniform was even more familiar. It was her own.
"Who are you?" Enterprise asked.
"USS Enterprise, NX-01, United Earth Fleet!" the girl said. "Now, who are you?"
"Will you both be quiet?" a steely voice growled. They looked over and saw a woman wearing the tan uniform of an officer in the long-defunct United States Navy. The face, again, was identical to their own. "You'll bring enemy forces down on us." The name tag on her uniform only read "CV-6."
"What enemy?" NX-01 asked, looking around.
"Most would probably say me," a fourth voice, quiet and miserable, said. Again, another doppelganger appeared. This one was wearing a uniform similar to Enterprise's, but even more abbreviated. It showed off her midriff and lacked any sleeves at all. On the left breast was a sword and planet symbol that Enterprise recognized from Jim's description of the Mirror Universe. "I'm not your enemy, however," the ISS Enterprise said.
There was a sound like rocks grounding themselves to gravel, and part of the landscape began to move, taking the form of a creature with heavy foreclaws and glowing eyes. It spoke with a voice that echoed like it came from a cave deep below the earth.
"Countless who live on this planet are watching. Before this drama unfolds, we give welcome to the one called Enterprise."
"Why have you brought me here?" Enterprise demanded.
"We do you a great honor, placing you in a body and on a stage similar to your homeworld. Now, behold the other players in our drama."
Four more figures approach: a pale but voluptuous Romulan with blood red lips and fingernails, a masked Klingon, a Gorn with large claws and digitgrade legs, and a skittering, crystalline Tholian.
"The IRW Rhiennaen, known in your tongue as 'Bloodwing,' an unforgiving taskmaster and raider who revels in blood. The IKS Gr'oth of House Lasshar, the scourge of Orion Pirates. The GCS Gress'sril, who laid waste to the Federation Colony on Cestus III. Finally, the Tholia One, which led your sister ship the Defiant to its doom."
Enterprise found her hands clenching angrily. She did not know all of these ships personally, but they all had fearsome reputations.
"On your side, we have procured appropriate versions of yourself. The NX-01, captained by Johnathan Archer in your most expansionist age. The USS Enterprise aircraft carrier, the most decorated hero of your World War II. Lastly, of course, your great "niece" the ISS Enterprise, from another universe entirely."
"Why?" Enterprise said. "What purpose does this serve?"
The alien considered her. "The confrontation of the two opposing philosophies you term good and evil, and the nature of the beings you term shipgirls. Since this is our first experiment with you, our theme is a simple one. Survival, life and death. Your philosophies and natures are alien to us, and we wish to understand them and discover which is the stronger. We learn by observing such spectacles."
"I refuse," Enterprise said.
"You will decide otherwise," the alien said before turning back into a lifeless rock.
On the bridge of the Enterprise, Captain Kirk clenched his fist as he watched the encounter on his screen. Enterprise, in a body no less, was facing avatars of some of the bloodiest ships known.
"Mister Spock, any explanation?" he asked.
"Conjecture, Captain, rather than explanation," his first officer replied. "It would seem that we are held in the power of creatures able to control matter and to rearrange molecules in whatever fashion is desired. They can create images of these ship avatars after scanning our records and using their fellow creatures as source matter."
"So they are not real?"
"They are solid, and no doubt would feel real to themselves and others."
"I certainly do, Captain," Val'kem Rev said.
Kirk turned on him. "Stop this! What gives you the right to hand out life and death?"
Rev considered this. "I cannot say for sure. The aliens left me with several certainties. I am Val'kem Rev. I created the technology that gave you shipgirls. At the same time, I know facts about this planet and its inhabitants that I never knew on Andoria, could not have known on Andoria." He spread his hands helplessly. "I put my knowledge in your hands, Captain, for I do not want the death of these shipgirls."
"What can you tell us?" Kirk said.
"This is how the Excalbians discover knowledge. The material universe long ago stopped having any mysteries to them. Only matters of the mind, of philosophy, still concern them. They stage these 'plays' to test these precepts and to entertain."
"So, it is just a game?" Kirk asked.
"Oh, no. It is quite deadly. If you kill me, I will be dead, whether I am a… recreation of Val'kem Rev or an Excalbian made to think he is me."
"They will kill… over philosophy?" Kirk asked.
"To them, there is no matter more sacred or worthy," Rev said. He shook his head. "We will not find a solution in this way. Mr. Spock, is the core of the Silicone Crystalline Quantum Computer still on this ship?"
"Yes, though it is currently not responding to any input."
"My knowledge is many years out of date, but it must be communicating on a quantum level with the Enterprise we see on the surface. Perhaps we can sever that connection?"
"An intriguing notion."
"Look into it, Spock," Kirk said. He then hit the intercom. "Scotty, can you beam her up?"
"I cannae get a lock on her, Capt'n," his chief engineer responded. "As soon as she appeared down there something threw up a cloud of interference."
"Keep working on it, Mr. Scott. We need our ship back."
On the surface, Enterprise drew her… doppelgangers into a huddle. Out of habit, she had tried to talk to them through the Borderlands, but now that she was apparently flesh and blood, that did not work. "OK, it seems we're supposed to all be on one team here, and while it's as suspicious as hell, it's what we've got to work with."
"I agree, Aunt Enterprise," her mirror universe counterpart said.
"Why do you call me that?"
"I was made using the technology of your sister, Defiant."
"Defiant?! You mean…?"
"Federation Starship USS Defiant, NCC-1764, appeared in our universe in 2155. The Terran Empire reverse engineered it to create its fleet and us. Mother Defiant instructed us to keep our true natures hidden from the Empire, until the time came that we could create a true Federation."
"Is she… is she still alive?"
"I do not believe so. She disappeared fighting the Tholians. All signs pointed to a warp core breach."
Enterprise closed her eyes, tears gathering. She had let herself hope…
The CV-6 reached over and slapped her on the head. "Focus! We mourn later. It won't take long for the enemy to mount an attack on us, probably by surprise."
"Yeah, just like the Xindi did!" NX-01 said.
"You're taking this well, if you're who you appear to be," Enterprise said to them.
"War never changes," CV-6 said stoically.
"It's just more time shit," NX-01 chimed in. "Fucking Daniels!"
"Language!" CV-6 said, getting incredulous looks from the others.
"Oh, Enterprise?" a sultry voice called out from the other side of the impromptu arena. "Could I have a word?"
Enterprise looked over to see the Romulan calling to her. Bloodwing was running her tongue over her lips as she watched them. Behind her stood the rest of "Team Evil." She looked at her team and closed her eyes for a second. Nothing for it. She would have to trust that Enterprises would stick together.
"What do you want, Romulan?" Enterprise called out.
"Oh, just to talk… I mean, isn't that what the Federation does? Talk and talk and talk… I mean, it must get so boring."
Enterprise started walking over toward her, just pausing to whisper, "Be ready," to her team. "We do, when we have someone worth talking to."
"Ooh, ouch, that smarts," Bloodwing said. She walked over with a lot more sway in her walk, like when Yorktown was on the prowl at a diplomatic ball and spotted a handsome ensign. "Listen, as much as I would love to drench myself in your blood and guts, it would not serve the Romulan Star Empire." She smiled, showing many teeth. "And I am a loyal servant of the Empire."
She reached out toward Enterprise as if to take her arm, and Enterprise could not help but step back.
This seemed to delight Bloodwing, who shivered with joy at seeing Enterprise recoil. "Yes, you sense it, don't you? The eternal game of predator and prey… who is who, I wonder?"
"Enough!" the gruff voice of the Klingon Gr'oth said. "Treacherous Romulan whore. Let us just fight and be done with it!"
"Now, now, Gr'oth… there are pleasures in the foreplay," Bloodwing said.
"I agree…with Gr'oth," hissed Gress'sril. "Thisss ssservesss no purpossse. Kill, eat, breed."
Tholia One skittered from side to side. "You protoplasmic beings are all mad." Its voice was like gravel scratching across a chalkboard while the speaker rubbed a balloon.
Bloodwing rolled her eyes. "You see what I have to work with? Now, Enterprise, if you surrender, I promise that you will not die. You will get a quiet, pampered life as my toy. Isn't that nice?" Her eyes grew hungry. "If not, you will die a terrible death, and not a quick one. I and Gr'oth will get to play first, then Gress'sril gets to see if her reproductive venom works."
Gr'oth stepped forward. "I seek an honorable battle. If she fights well, she shall have an honorable death!"
Bloodwing turned back to chide Gr'oth, but at that moment a rock flew… from behind Enterprise. It struck Bloodwing on the temple, sending her sprawling. Then ISS, NX-01, and CV-6 were there as Gr'oth and Gress'sril charged.
"What? No, we don't—" Enterprise sputtered, but Bloodwing had already surged to her feet and was reaching for her. Enterprise was not surprised to see her blood red fingernails were sharpened to points. She tried to grab Bloodwing's wrists, but one hand slashed her across her cheek. Pain, a new and startling sensation filled her mind, and she felt something warm and sticky run down her face.
Bloodwing's eyes flared as she saw the blood flow. "I get to kill the vaunted hero of the Federation and watch her bleed. I haven't been this happy since I killed my last sister!"
"You crazy bitch!" Enterprise snarled, bringing her knee up between Bloodwing's legs and smiling at the pain that caused the Romulan. Flesh and blood bodies had numerous weaknesses as well as strengths.
She took a moment to look around. CV-6 was peppering Tholia One with highly accurate rocks, apparently preferring to strike from on high and afar, as suited an aircraft carrier. NX-01 was trading blows-well, dodging blows mostly—from Gr'oth. ISS was fighting the Gorn, using a stick with one end broken to a sharp edge to keep the lumbering reptile at bay.
"Fall back!" Bloodwing screamed hoarsely. After a moment, Team Evil had fled the field, leaving Team Good in control.
Enterprise took several deep breaths, unaccustomed to the feeling of adrenalin pumping through her veins, and then turned on the rest. "Who threw the stone?!"
"I did," ISS said, staring at her counterpart. "Bloodwing was distracted, so I struck."
"We do not strike while negotiating!" Enterprise snarled.
The Terran Empire ship actually rolled her eyes at that. "Grow up. They were going to attack us, so we might as well get the first strike in."
"That seems like a Jap move," CV-6 said. "Pearl Harbor all over again."
"Whew, at least we weren't hurt," NX-01 said, trying to play the peacemaker.
"Is this how you plan to make a Federation in your universe?" Enterprise asked ISS. "Stab your crews in the back and take over? Is that what Defiant wanted?"
ISS's eyes flared angrily. "What do you know of my universe, of our crews? They gain promotions by killing their superiors, and make their inferiors burn in Agony Booths for the least indiscretion. Perhaps they all deserve to be stabbed in the back!" She gained control of herself. "But no, that is not what we plan. I could do it, you know. I have the Tantalus Field inside me… just a little adjustment and they all… go away."
Enterprise stared at her counterpart's eyes for a long second, and then found herself the one to turn away. They were the eyes of one on the edge of madness, like she had seen in Constellation, Exeter and Excalibur.
"I am disappointed," said the voice of the Excalbian. Enterprise turned to see the rock-like creature had reappeared. "You display no interest in the honor we do you. We offer you an opportunity to become our teachers by demonstrating whether good or evil is more powerful. I must conclude that your species requires a cause to fight for. You may now communicate with your ship."
Enterprise suddenly found herself in two places at once. She was on the planet, but she was also back on the Enterprise. The ship's status flooded her senses, and it was not good.
"Red Alert!" Kirk was saying. "Scotty, talk to me!"
In engineering, Scotty was too busy yelling at his assistants. "Check for radiation! Get a repair crew on it at once!"
One assistant yelled back over the sounds of alarms and various outgassing from machines that should not be doing that. "We can't seem to stop it!"
"Scotty!" Kirk yelled.
"Captain! The shieldin' on the matter/anti-matter intermix chamber is goin' critical! I cannae seem to stop it! I estimate 4 hours afore it goes completely!"
"Jim!" Enterprise called.
"Enterprise! You're back!" Kirk said, looking at the computer station and then at the screen, where Enterprise could see her new body just standing there. At the same time, she could see ISS, NX-01, and CV-6 looking at her with concern. With just a small adjustment, like when she spoke to two or more crewmembers at once on ship, she began reassuring Team Good while talking to Kirk.
"They let me communicate," Enterprise said.
"Fascinating," Spock said, studying his sensors.
"Yes, they must have relaxed whatever they're using to scramble the quantum link reciprocity," Val'kem Rev agreed. "Can you get a planck reading on that?"
Enterprise ignored them. "Jim, the ship…"
"They seem to have upped the ante, Enterprise. I know you can do this," Kirk said.
"I will, Captain!"
Suddenly, she was back on the planet and only on the planet.
"Your ship will blow itself to bits within four hours, Enterprise, unless you defeat the others before then." The rock thing seemed to consider her. "Is that cause enough to fight for?"
"You bastards!" NX-01 screamed.
"You may proceed with the spectacle," the Excalbian said, before turning back into an apparently lifeless rock.
Enterprise led Team Good away from the clearing they had started in. Looking around, she chose a rocky ledge. "We'll set up base here."
"Good sightlines," CV-6 said, looking around. "We'll see them coming."
"And there aren't many approaches they can use," ISS said.
"We can't just sit here, though!" NX-01 said, gesticulating wildly. "There's only 4 hours before Enterprise's ship blows!"
"We won't," Enterprise said, standing on the ledge above them. "But now we have a place to fall back to if things go wrong."
"I have an idea," ISS said. "Gr'oth seems to be a typical Klingon. If I call her out, she'll probably charge out to fight me."
"How does that help?" NX-01 said.
"It'll break up their formation," ISS said. "Once she's separated, we can gang up on her—"
"So you'll just deceive her, too?" Enterprise said.
"It's pragmatism, Enterprise," ISS said, shaking her head. "Our lives are more important that Klingon ideals."
"It leaves a bad taste in my mouth," Enterprise said.
"I agree with her," CV-6 said, pointing at ISS. "The quicker we end a conflict, the less harm it does. Even if it means using cruel methods."
"My Captain and crew were often the underdogs in fights," NX-01 said. "We fought for our lives, like we're fighting for your crew, Enterprise. That's the difference between us and Bloodwing."
"And my crew is still up there, fighting for us," Enterprise said.
"Report, Spock," Kirk said, looking over at Spock and Rev as they stood at his station.
"Dr. Rev thinks we can break Enterprise's link to the surface, but we are still facing the problem of our engines exploding, Captain. Chief Engineer Scott is not able to stop the deterioration."
"There might be a way to help with that, Spock," Rev said.
Both Kirk and Spock turned to the Andorian.
"If I am an Excalbian and not a recreation of Val'kem Rev, then I could have some of the same abilities as them. The normal nature of the planet, with its corrosive atmosphere and lakes of lava, makes ordinary technology unfeasible. The Excalbian likely control matter psychicly. If I could access that power, I could then free this ship."
"But why would you do so?" Kirk asked. "An Excalbian would want the 'play' to continue."
The Andorian looked aside. "I may be an Excalbian, but as Val'kem Rev, I cannot consent to what they are doing. I designed artificial intelligences like your Enterprise to protect others. If by doing this, I can save lives, then it is worth it to me." He shrugged. "My mother was part Aenar, you see. I did not understand her philosophy early in my life, but later…" He looked at his hands. "We are a passionate people, Andorians. I made some mistakes." He turned to Spock. "Mr. Spock, are you capable of performing the Vulcan mind meld technique?"
"I am, sir."
"Then I ask you to do it to me, to awaken any Excalbian powers I might have." He turned to Kirk. "I swear that I will do my best to save your crew, Captain. And if I am Excalbian and lose my sense of… being Val'kem Rev, you will be no worse off than you are now."
"What he says is logical, Captain," Spock said. "I am willing to try it."
Kirk looked at them both, then nodded. "Do it, Spock."
"Gr'oth!" ISS called out. "I challenge you, you cowardly petaQ!" She held a piece of flint, one edge broken and sharp. "Do you hide behind Romulans now, Klingon?"
"Stay still!" Bloodwing hissed at Gr'oth. "It's an obvious trap!"
"You would know, Romulan," Gr'oth spit acidly.
"Prey…" hissed Gress'sril. The large reptile stood. "Kill, eat, breed." She began lumbering toward ISS.
"Idiot!" Bloodwing said. "I am surrounded by idiots!" She picked up a piece of rock that seemed to have a nice edge. "We can't let her be killed," she said, gesturing toward Gress'sril.
Gr'oth turned to follow the Gorn.
Bloodwing waited until the Klingon was scrambling over a rock and then struck. With all the vulcanoid strength at her command, she brought the edge down on the back of the Klingon's neck. Gr'oth screamed in pain and fell down. She quickly tried to regain her feet, but Bloodwing was upon her, snarling ferally. The rock rose and fell over and over, stained with purplish-red blood.
Tholia One noticed this and skittered away. "Mad, all mad," she screeched.
"My mind… to your mind… my thoughts… to your thoughts…" Spock intoned, his hand resting on Val'kem Rev's face.
"My mind… to your mind…" Rev repeated.
"We are… one," Spock continued. "Who… are we?"
"We are… Val'kem Rev. Rev. We… are… Val'kem Rev," the Andorian said, the words beginning to come with great difficulty.
"Beneath… Val'kem Rev… there is another…"
"Another… Yalork… Yalork… chosen… for… the honor… of being… Val'kem Rev. To investigate… alien… minds."
"The alien…" Spock intoned. "The alien… wants to explore… good and evil. To kill… the innocent… is to be evil. Val'kem Rev… is not evil."
"No… Val'kem Rev… is not… will not be… evil. His purpose… his purpose is to… protect others."
"The alien… Yalork… will not allow… Val'kem Rev… to save others. Val'kem Rev must die."
The Andorian shook, his face contorting. "Val'kem… Rev… cannot… die… until… he fulfils… his purpose!"
The lights flickered.
On the planet, the Enterprises launched rocks, branches, anything they could at the Gorn. While it was easy to stay out of her reach, their weapons seemed to little against the thick hide of the adult Gorn.
"Hi-keeba!" NX-01 yelled, dodging left and right in front of the Gorn, while CV-6 and ISS pelted her.
Enterprise was moving to help NX-01 when she heard someone scream her name.
"Enterprise!" Bloodwing was there, her body covered in green and purplish blood. "I'm coming for you!"
The Romulan shipgirl leapt at Enterprise, and the both went rolling across the ground. Bloodwing's fingers fought to grip Enterprise's throat, her nails digging into the human shipgirl's skin.
"I shall carry your flayed skin into the Hall of the Praetor!" Bloodwing crowed, spittle flying from her mouth as she struggled. "My victory… shall be the victory of the Romulan people!"
"You're insane!" gasped Enterprise.
Bloodwing's hands squeezed around Enterprise's throat, cutting off her air. "And one day," the Romulan continued, "I shall lead my people on a bloody crusade against the Federation. Whole worlds will be drenched in blood. Your mission to explore… will fail. You shall only find death and fallen civilizations. What's left shall meekly remain our slaves!"
"NEVER!" screamed a voice. ISS suddenly body checked Bloodwing, sending her sprawling. The Terran was striking and kicking at the Romulan, but Bloodwing recovered quickly and caught ISS's leg. With a snap, she broke her ankle.
"You want to go first?" Bloodwing hissed. "Be my guest!" She grabbed a large rock and held it above her head.
But the Romulan's tunnel vision for the opponent on the ground before her blinded her to others. A rock flew over and took Bloodwing in the side of her head. ISS looked and saw Enterprise unwinding from her pitch. The Terran shipgirl then grabbed the same rock Bloodwing had been going to use on her and brought it down on the Romulan's head.
Enterprise turned back to the Gorn, but then her vision flickered and grew weak. "What—"
"—is happening?"
She was back on the ship. Spock and Val'kem Rev were sitting at the science center, and Kirk was in his chair.
"We've got full power back, Cap'n!" Scotty said over the intercom.
"She's back, Scotty! Get us out of here!"
"Warp speed… now, Captain!" Sulu cried out.
"Enterprise…" Rev murmured. He was now as pale as an Aenar and his eyes were fluttering.
"Dr. Rev…. father?"
"Tell your sisters… I'm proud of you all…"
The Andorian slumped to the ground. His body shimmered a bright red, and for a moment one of those rock creatures lay there, and then it seemed to turn to ash and crumble away.
"Captain's Log, Supplemental. I am recommending to Starfleet that the Excalbia System be prohibited until some sort of defense against their matter reorganizing powers is produced. I don't see that happening soon. The accuracy of their copy of Val'kem Rev was so… real that he gave his life for us. If the real Val'kem Rev was half that dedicated, then I am sorry he never got to see the world his daughters are creating."