Cosmic Sisters
The conclusion of Edge of the Universe
Three ships arrived in the Aldebaran system and located Aldebaran B, several times the size of Jupiter. Just as in Moast's dimension, the spirit of far smaller Aldebaran C maneuvered it into the umbra of its larger sibling, and for the same reason: the red giant star was four hundred times more luminous than Earth's sun, owing to its radius being forty five time larger. Surface conditions on C made it a world in perpetual amber twilight. The spirit had likewise brought forth whimsical creatures that could survive here, but these were not true companions. The goddess longed to know what else what out there.
On Orchidia's hangar deck, the goddess Donna prepared to go down for initial contact, helping her sister goddess chose an image humans could relate to. The ship's avatar served to translate her color-based language. Would the new goddess communicate some other way?
The avatar pointed to Picard. "Donna has chosen you as the template."
"It's okay," Moast assured him. "Donna based her image on my idea of a goddess. She thinks it's only right for another starship captain to do the same for this goddess."
"Is it safe?" Picard asked privately. A lot of people were watching.
"Totally. Donna's touch is refined after sampling thousands of memories from us."
Picard ventured forth as the goddess extended a hand to his head. He was instantly in a dream state. Mythic images flashed by in a whirlwind of fantasy, seemingly every fairy tale he had ever read or watched video of. There was no sense of time, except for when Donna lingered over a particular memory. Belatedly he came around, with Riker and Dr Crusher there to steady him. "Incredible. I was actually living the moment as if I were there, right down to sounds and smells in the house." He grinned. "This could be quite an addictive drug."
Orchidia explained Donna's sudden departure. "She will make contact and impart these impressions to the new goddess. Estimating thirty minutes."
The Romulans Duvrok and Vixia inserted themselves. "We," Duvrok said, "must be the first the new goddess sees, as we seem to be a minority."
Ardra shouldered between the pair. "Don't get your hopes up, Duvie. It all depends on what Donna tells her about you, and it can't be good."
"Of that we're certain," Vixia replied. "You have poisoned her mind against us."
"Not me," Ardra countered innocently. "That would be your own Bakra, when he gunned down Orchidia. And don't think she's forgotten it." The Romulans cast the avatar an uncertain look, but she was as usual unreadable.
Much speculation and small talk later, Donna returned with the other. The newcomer's dark brown hair was piled and had heavy side braids like Donna's, but were unadorned. This was reserved for pink flowers on either side of the head. A gold teardrop tiara depended a smaller one of sapphire to just above eye level. A gold choker complemented a diaphanous gown of the same.
Orchidia relayed Donna's color message. "She has chosen the name Esmerel."
"Of course," Picard mused, still dazzled by the unearthly beauty. "It was the name of a world goddess in a comic book. But the appearance is more in line with goddesses of Olympus. I suppose she doesn't fancy Greek names like Demeter or Ceres."
Duvrok started forth, but Esmerel's look changed his mind.
"She had also chosen a world: Mintaka."
Picard's face fell. "No, that can't be. It's the one where a bronze-age society thought I was a god. I had to disabuse them of that notion, not wanting to be responsible for holy wars and inquisitions."
The predicament delighted Duvrok. "You're somewhat the grand inquisitor yourself, Picard. Imagine telling these people they can't have a deity."
"Commander Moast is summoned."
Now it was Moast's turn to swallow his mirth. "I should have known Donna would hold me up as the gold standard." He started toward Esmerel, but it was Donna who reached to touch his head, her other hand linked with Esmerel's. Of course—Donna would be the limiting filter until Esmerel got the hang of it. Otherwise his mind could be drained as had almost happened to Captain Kirk under a mind-control device.
Esmerel went straight for a feel-good moment. Moast was a teenager again. He'd just gotten home from school on a cold and blustery afternoon. His mom was ironing, and a pot on the oven rattled its lid with savory smells of spaghetti. Windows were coated with condensate. From TV came the haunting strains of a Gothic soap called Dark Shadows.
Moast came out of it to the steady hand of his first officer, Kyra. "I'm glad she stopped there. Later, I had homework to tackle, and I dreaded the next school day because I really hated it."
"You hated school?" Dr Crusher looked askance.
"Like all teenagers, I thought the world owed me a living. College cured me of that."
"Again," the avatar said. Everyone eyed Moast uneasily.
This time Esmerel was drawn to the novel idea of music. Moast re-lived Blondie's Atomic in CD clarity, even with snatches of video. When he came around, he addressed Orchidia. "Get her the complete works of Blondie." As no one understood, he was obliged to explain.
Picard's mouth puckered with distaste. "Rock and roll? Classical is more in tune with a goddess."
Suddenly Duvrok had lost his pique. "Mintakans are an offshoot of Vulcans, making them distantly related to us. We have no objection."
Donna chorused more colors.
"Esmerel will not allow the Mintakans to develop weapons of war."
Moast wore a smug look. "Too bad, Praetor. Looks like Mintaka won't be a Romulan base." The Romulans spoke quietly and departed without ceremony.
"What about Donna?" Riker asked. "Apparently the Federation has Donna in its corner."
"Maybe a thousand years ago," Moast said. "She's going to Outworld in my dimension, which is hers as well. I told her about the Inquest, a bunch of lunatics hunting down spell casters and stripping them of their talent. The goddess of Outworld may have met the same fate as Gaia of Earth, gone away due to unbelief, according to lore."
"I like it," Ardra said. "That's my kind of fun."
Moast eyed her sideways. "Come along, then, but try to restrain yourself."
The Outworld
A month later, Ardra lay on a cot in a field pavilion. Here in the Blight, a haunted no-man's land, spell casters of all ranks and ages fled the Inquest. The anti-magic order was enforced by a bull-neck, bald race called Fringians. They believed magic belonged only to them, and their priests had to power to sever the mind bridge making magic possible. Ardra allowed herself to be rounded up with a group of seers and soothsayers and healers. Other miserable captives awaited their turn to be magic-neutered, some in tears, others defiant. But none could resist the power of the priests.
A gray-robed master parted the flaps and sought out Ardra. "I'm told you're able to trans-modify. That is a most dangerous talent for usurpers. Let us relieve you of it, and add that talent to our own."
"You sound like a Borg," Ardra said.
"Spare me your insolence, girl. This won't hurt much unless you anger me." He perched on a stool and concentrated. "Curious. I cannot locate your mind bridge."
"That's because I just severed yours, bullneck." She pushed him aside and restored a lad who'd just been treated. "You have your healing magic back, my boy. All of you, with me." They all clustered about her outside in the compound. Ardra had to hurl soldiers off their mounts and break their weapons.
The now-impotent Inquestor stalked outside. "This is blasphemy! You shall feel the wrath of the Inquest!"
"It's better that the wrath of a goddess," Ardra said.
Donna appeared in their midst, stampeding the soldiers. With her was a goddess with pale blue skin and black orbs for eyes. Her hair was crystalline tubules cascading to her waist.
The priest backed away. "It cannot be . . . Ginmaya!"
Ardra sneered. "Thought you'd done her in, didn't you. Well, she's drawn strength from Donna, and is going to teach Donna how to talk." Seeing how the captives had bowed to Ginmaya, Ardra decided to let them have the moment.
Ginmaya spoke, like chimes on the wind. "Donna is pleased with this world. Together we shall end the Inquest."
"I'd like to help," Ardra said, "but I'm off to a party at Team Dan's villa. Moast and his wife Zena have a lot of catching up to do." She wandered off, talking to herself. "We're going to do the House Moog, the harbor dives, the gaming district. It's going to be epic!"
