Star Trek: Before Destruction - Chapter 13
*** THIRTEEN ***
The Starship Enterprise slowed, approaching a low-altitudinal orbit around the world below. It was within one kilometer of touching the blue planet's atmosphere; a caress that would be far from gentle if she were to come closer.
James Kirk, Spock and Dr. McCoy, walked together down the hall leading to the transporter room. Jim, in his formal dress- green uniform, held a copy of the Peace Treaty and the Starfleet Order sending him to Organia. They walked abreast down the long corridor, each in his own thoughts; Kirk about what he would say to the powerful beings they were about to revisit; McCoy about his patient, Montgomery Scott; and Spock concerned himself with gathering as much information on the Organians as possible. The first time they had come here they were welcome. This time, they knew, they were not.
The door to the transporter room opened to them, and the company of three walked over to the platform. Lieutenant Patterson stood behind the control unit and readied it, expecting the men. He had relieved Mr. Kyle from his post for his lunch break.
Dr. McCoy stood on the broken pad that shorted out when attempting to beam back the android. Spock gently moved him aside to an operational one beside it. "This one is non-operational," he offered the Doctor. "My luck it would be partially operational," the ship's Doctor responded unenthusiastically. The three of them facing Lt. Patterson were a grim trio indeed.
"Energize, Mister Patterson," the Captain said.
"Aye sir," the transporter operator responded and the three began to shimmer and were gone.
* * *
The surface of the planet Organia, was green with lush vegetation. The air was a clean light blue, the water was pure and the land seemed to be well cared for. It seemed to be late spring, on Organia. Puffy white clouds drifted peacefully across the warm sky. A gentle breeze caused the grass to ripple as if it were waves on a green sea. It was in the midst of this green land that the Captain, First Officer and Chief Physician of the Starship Enterprise appeared.
The company looked round about them. Spock scanned with his tri-corder, Jim and Bones used their own vision. Not a structure of any sort could be seen in any direction. Not a person could be found. The castle that should have been upon the hill was gone.
The community that should have been all around them was not there. There were animals in abundance, but nothing to indicate anyone of intelligence. Jim pulled out his communicator from behind his back and flipped it open. He adjusted the frequency and pressed the sender.
"Kirk to Enterprise," he said.
"Enterprise here, Captain," came Uhura's voice.
"Transfer this communication to the transporter room, Uhura," he ordered her, politely.
"Yes, Captain," she said.
"This is Lieutenant Patterson," came the male voice.
"Lieutenant Patterson, confirm our present location, and compare it to the first beamdown location recorded on this planet."
"Aye, Sir," the air went dead as the lieutenant proceeded as ordered. "Captain, You are within a few centimeters of the last beamdown location," he said.
"Thank you Mr. Patterson. Kirk out," Jim replaced his communicator and turned to the other two men. "Well, where is everybody?" he said to them.
Spock let his tri-corder hang back down at his side. "I believe it is highly probable that the Organians, after revealing their true selves to us, had no need of the castle or any structures and merely removed them," the First Officer commented. "There is no evidence of civilization that I am able to register on my tri-corder, Captain. Its field is, of course, limited," he said. "There does seem to be an abundance of 'woodland creatures'; animals, insects, fowl of great variety, even micro-biological organisms. But I have been able to detect no higher life forms." He looked up at Jim, "Other than us," he added for additional accuracy.
"Maybe we should have called first," offered the Doctor flippantly, to no one in particular.
"Funny," Jim commented to Bones' humor. "It's probable that we are not able to register the Organians with our equipment." He looked around and came to the decision that they might as well pick a direction to venture out and try to find 'someone'. "Well, let's start walking. Maybe we'll stumble onto something."
"Which direction?" asked the Doctor. "It looks uninhabited in every direction."
"Mr. Spock, what do you suggest is the logical way to go?" Jim asked.
Spock cocked his head. "Captain, I hear what appears to be the sound of a large animal. It is getting closer."
"From which direction, Spock?" questioned Jim.
Spock pointed, his finger behind Bones, "Somewhere in that general direction," he said, indicating a forest of small trees some onehundred meters away. "By the sound of it, it is either quite large or quite close."
"Or both! Let's go that way!" Bones suggested eagerly, pointing in the opposite direction.
They had no weapons, although Jim did reflexively move his hand down to his side where the phaser wasn't. All three turned to see, what a moment ago, only Spock was able to hear, but now all heard. They started to back-step just in case it was something that might be dangerous.
Out from behind the front group of trees lumbered a large bear-like creature, lazily coming toward them. It walked on all fours, breathing heavily and dangling its lolling tongue out of its gaping mouth. The three men ceased their retreat and stood there unmoving, hoping that they would be unnoticed. The animal stopped, put its nose up in the air, sniffed deeply, then looked straight at them. Out from behind the animal a large tail started to swing from side to side. It began immediately to head directly for the trio.
Bones nervously fumbled for his medical bag, in hopes of loading his spray hypo with a strong sedative for the giant animal and perhaps, he thought, for himself. Instead, he dropped the contents of the bag in the thick tall grass. The bear-thing seemed to increase in speed as it neared them.
"Nobody move," ordered Jim, who had spent several summers long ago, in Yosemite National Park: Earth. The bears there were known to occasionally attack a careless tourist or two. He had been told to play dead if a bear had him cornered. Lie flat on his stomach, just in case the bear decided to rake his claws across him, protecting his vital organs from the often lethal blows.
As the bear creature closed the gap, Spock noticed that instead of the pointy long teeth of a carnivore, its teeth were blunt, even where the canines should have been. He could also detect no claws on the creature's big shaggy paws, but it was coming awfully fast, and it was Spock's experience that some of the most gentle-looking animals could eat Vulcans.
"Asher, stop!" a voice commanded in the distance, as the furry giant was almost upon them. It obeyed the voice, turned around to see its master coming out of the trees, and sat, thumping its heavy tail on the ground. It was Ayelborne. The robed man walked towards the three men. "Don't worry about Asher," he spoke, loud enough for them to hear him. "He cannot hurt you."
"Ayelborne," the Captain addressed him and started towards him. "I am glad to see you again."
"Why have you come, knowing that we do not wish you here?" he questioned. The tone of his voice was one of deep disappointment. "You have broken the treaty and brought back the evil to our world," he said as he stopped to pet Asher.
"I was ordered here by my superiors, Ayelborne," the Captain said as he walked up to the man and the animal. The animal sniffed the Captain, and licked his hand like a gentle faithful pet.
"Don't you know why we are here?" McCoy jumped in, "Aren't you guys supposed to be omniscient?"
"Bones!" Jim sharply rebuked him.
"In answer to your question, Mr. 'Bones'... no," Ayelborne said mildly. "We have never claimed to be. We know many things that you do not and we are certainly different from you, but there is only One who is 'omniscient'."
"Ayelborne," Jim began, realizing that he was running out of precious time, "I need to ask you... I have to ask you some questions as a representative of the United Federation of Planets and Starfleet," he said, none too comfortably. "The reason we are here is because somehow the Klingon Empire has a weapon that was taken from the Federation. I have been sent by my government to ask you why you didn't intervene when the planet Elba II and outpost Delta Gamma 13 were attacked and destroyed by the Klingons?"
"Captain, I assure you, the Klingon Empire has not been involved aggressively in Federation Space," he answered in all sincerity. "We have been watching, as we promised, both sides of the Zone of Neutrality. There has been no aggression, Captain."
"Ayelborne, I would like to believe you," he began, but then decided to be completely truthful with the man. "I do believe you, Ayelborne, but I need some kind of explanation to take back with me to my superiors. If I do not, I will be forced to do something terrible."
"Captain, I can not explain what I have no knowledge of," he said honestly. "We have never concerned ourselves with 'police' matters on either side. Our involvement with you is limited to holding back the evil of the two governing powers. The fact that we have to do this is most disturbing to us," he spoke in earnest. "Overexposure to men such as you is not only painful to us but there is the danger of, you might say, 'loosing the serpent in Eden' again."
Jim reflected on the last, for a moment. So little was known of this gentle and powerful people. Virtually nothing about their history, or even their present civilization. And this peaceful place was very much like the description of the 'Eden' he had mentioned. He held many questions about them, but he had to return back to the matters at hand. "Then you must at least know of the spaceship that crossed the Neutral Zone boundary three days ago."
"Yes, we did see a privately owned ship enter from your side and exit on the Klingonese side," he confirmed. "But it was neither owned by nor represented either governing body, in any official capacity."
This was true, for when Captain Garth of Izar had been institutionalized, he was stripped of all powers of diplomacy or Federation representation.
"Can you tell me about this ship? Did it have a name, or registration number? Anything about its design, external markings, anything?"
"It did have a title written on the top of it. 'Fringe Ranger' is what it read," he said in a mellow voice. "If that is any help to you."
"Indeed," Spock stated. "It adds an important piece to the puzzle." Spock worked silently on how the piece could fit. "Captain, I have a hypothesis. I will need to have access to the ship's computer to corroborate it. If I may contact the ship and have myself beamed aboard, it should only take a few minutes to gather and process the information I require."
"Go, Spock," Jim said, finally hearing the first encouraging word of the day.
"And, Captain," Spock said, "I believe, in light of this information, you may cancel our 'Noon' appointment."
"Good, Spock. It will give me great pleasure to countermand the, uhm, appointment," he said with relief. "Excuse me for a moment, please." he said to his host and stepped a few yards away. He pulled out his communicator, and opened a channel directly tied in to the ship's computer. "Computer," he said quietly, "This is Captain James T. Kirk."
"Working... identification confirmed," the Enterprise's computer said to its Captain.
"Cancel auto-destruct sequence," Jim instructed the machine.
"Auto destruct sequence has been canceled."
Jim Kirk closed the communicator and he replaced it behind his back and pulled his shirt over it. Turning around he saw Spock begin to shimmer and disappear. Ayelborne was standing strangely, with his eyes closed, as if he was engaged in deep concentration. McCoy had finished picking up his medical equipment and now stood beside the bear-thing, scanning it with his medical tool.
"Jim," he said, "this is amazing," he indicated the animal in front of him. "This 'Asher' is very similar to a Grizzly bear of Earth, but it is a vegetarian. It contains no harmful bacteria in its body, and it seems to be utilizing nearly 100 percent of its brain."
"That is amazing, Bones," Jim agreed, feeling a great weight off his shoulders.
"That's not all Jim, It seems to also be able to consume 100 percent of his dietary intake. It has a small stomach and in its intestine, there's a naturally enlarged appendix that seems to store excess food and processes it only when necessary. But that's still not all," he said excitedly, "The animal's intestine has no exit. There is no waste."
"Yes," Ayelborne said, opening his eyes, "on this world, all the animals are semi-intelligent, plant eaters, and there is no disease here." He turned to the Captain, with a serious look on his face. "Captain Kirk," he began, "your Mr. Spock believes I have given him the answer to your problem... I have not," he stated somberly. "I have given him, perhaps, a solution to the immediate predicament, but the problem runs far deeper than any of you realize."
"What do you mean, Ayelborne?" Jim responded, truly interested in whatever information this man could offer.
"First, Captain, I have been informed that you are on the brink of war. A war that 'we' will not, by treaty, stop. We do not know the details, but it is clear to my friend Claymare that 'you' will figure prominently in an attempt to halt it. We are unsure that you will be able to, but this time we cannot assist."
"A war that you won't stop?" Jim asked the man.
"We are bound by the Treaty as are you and the Klingons. But we will go no further than the treaty indicates." He looked at the Captain and saw that the man still did not understand. "We connot allow your two opposing cultures to destroy each other and countless trillions of innocents with them... But there is a limit we have placed on ourselves, even for our own sakes. We have not wanted to have contact with any being who embraces evil so easily as you." He spoke to Jim, not condescendingly but matter-of-factly. "But for your sakes we have committed ourselves to the protection of both your races. However, as I mentioned before, we will not be responsible for any 'police action'. We will not interfere with your internal governments or anything outside of treaty bonds."
Jim Kirk, felt that he comprehended the reason as to 'why' they had placed these restraints on themselves. He likened it to the Federation's Prime Directive of non-interference. But he could not understand the grounds for continually being referred to as 'evil'?
"Ayelborne, I know we are not perfect," Jim began, in defense of his humanity, "but we are not without values. We prize honor, justice, life, and most of all love. Surely you can't call us evil with these noble qualities in us."
"They are noble indeed, just as you say... But Captain," sorrow became evident in his voice, "with them you harbor malice, self-centeredness and pride. You lust for what you do not have, and when you attain it, it does not satisfy your greed. You call good, evil and evil, good; ethics that are dependant only upon the situation and personal opinion, not founded on basic truths... Captain, do you not yet understand that it takes but a little poison to destroy the whole banquet?"
Ayelborne spoke to the Captain, not as some 'Superior Being' smug with self-righteousness, nor as an accuser, but he spoke to Jim as one friend trying to help another.
"Your race has advanced into outer space and found others to wage war against. All the while you claim that you have changed, but what you mean is that socially and technologically you have advanced, but you remain the same within yourselves, lacking the ability to change your very nature."
Jim listened intently to the man, not liking to see the truth about himself, not liking someone else to reveal it to him. He knew this was what Ayelborne would call 'pride'. "You said, once you were like us. What enabled you to attain this 'peace' that you have, and the power to change?"
"Once, we were like you, and with further contact it is conceivable that we could again be seduced into that way of thinking. That is the danger we fear most," he added in all seriousness. "I will give you our secret... that has never been secret:"
With that announcement, Bones stood up and gave the being his full attention too.
"You, as all beings everywhere, have heard the message of peace. Now as ever, it is up to you to accept or reject it." His voice sounded hopeful, for the first time this day. Ayelborne continued. "Press on into space, Captain... Advance; find new worlds; search the stars and attain what was once thought unattainable. But do not forget the Creator who caused it all to be. Do not leave His truth behind you as you go. Do not allow the One who made you and gave you purpose to become hated, or worse... ignored."
Dr. McCoy looked at Jim, who seemed thoughtful of the saying, and then to Ayelborne, "That's it?" asked Bones incredulously, dis- liking what he would call 'being preached to'. "That's the Big secret?"
"Do not mistake its simplicity with folly, Doctor. If the solution were not so easy, only the intelligent and educated would find peace. If it were difficult, no child, no unlearned, no simple in mind would be able to take hold of this peace. It is 'mercifully' easy and is the only true way of peace in this creation we call the universe. But it first starts with the believing, before you can receive it. It begins with the simple faith that 'God is'."
Spock suddenly appeared behind Bones. As a shimmer at first, then whole and complete.
Ayelborne pointed to the Vulcan. "Ask your companion who is schooled in logic. Ask him if there be a God, as is consistently believed in on all worlds, is it not logical that wise men still seek Him? Is it not equally logical that He provide a way to be found?"
Spock looked momentarily uncomfortable; as if he had walked into the middle of a discussion... which he had. He was able to hear Ayelborne's words and felt compelled to comment. "The argument that you offer, Ayelborne, appears to be 'quite' logical. I might ask however, to which God is it that you refer, and what 'way' to him are you suggesting?"
Ayelborne smiled for the first time. "I know that there are many beliefs. In times past, even to this day, people worshipped stone and wood images, they worshipped the trees and animals, even other people. They worshipped the planets and the stars. I refer to the One who made all that is; seen and unseen. It is the Creator we know and glorify, not the creation," the gentle man said. "The 'way' is the one way that was provided by Him. All have heard of it, though most still disregard it." He turned to Jim. "Your word for him is 'The Christ'. Mr. Spock's is 'The Ancient T'alal'."
"Interesting..." Spock stated thoughtfully. "I have often reflected upon the many parallels of the words and deeds of T'alal, in comparison to that of Christ. The only substantial differences are cultural in nature, the fundamentals are identical. Even the stories of Eden, compare to that of Sha Ka Ree and there are many other similarities. It is indeed something to consider."
Jim's thoughts were of how much the worlds, and peoples of the universe had in common, but have failed to see a common design. He realized then that, though he wanted to hear more, he had serious worries about this 'war', Ayelborne mentioned. "Spock," he said, knowing that he was breaking the spirit of the moment, "what have you come up with?"
"Captain, I have two hypotheses," Spock stated, "both of which implicate not the Klingon Empire, but Commodore Stormcloud. I searched the Commodore's recent travel history to help corroborate my suspicion. It seems that he personally visited Elba II, 2.3 months ago, and had spent an entire week there. His stay was almost exclusively devoted to visiting former Captain Garth. Upon leaving the planet, he made a direct trip to the planet Tolmera. The justification for the trip was filed as 'classified'. My conclusion is this; that either A: Commodore Stormcloud is the primary person responsible for engineering the destruction of Elba II and outpost Delta Gamma 13. This being done in order to implicate the Klingons with the Organian people, giving him excuse to start a war... and end Organia's ability to prevent it."
"And hypothesis 'B'?" Jim asked.
"That Commodore Stormcloud is merely a pawn in a much greater game. That Garth, the Izarian, was possibly 'not' cured of his madness as we had thought, and that he escaped his imprisonment with Stormcloud's direct or indirect assistance and has fled to the Klingon Empire to wreak destruction and perhaps fulfill his intentions of galactic conquest," Spock concluded.
"You are certain about Stormcloud?" Jim questioned, inwardly hoping that hypothesis 'A' was the correct one.
"We have motive: His expressed views while in conference on the Javelin, coupled with our orders for the destruction of Organia. We have opportunity: His stay on Elba II and voyage to Tolmera. We have the intended weapons: The Enterprise, the Tolmerian android and the Fringe Ranger. I believe we have enough evidence to initiate a general court-martial."
"Good work, Spock. Now maybe we can do something to stop this insanity before it begins." he said, forgetting the words of war prophesied to him. But only for a moment. He turned to Ayelborne, "It's not going to be stopped in time, is it?" he asked solemnly.
Ayelborne responded, equally as solemn, "No, Captain. I am afraid it will not."
"Is there anything you can tell us that will help?" Jim asked.
"Yes, though I do not know the significance of it." he remembered the words of days past, when Claymare foretold the Captain's coming. "A Klingon battleship is on its way here. It will arrive in a matter of minutes."
"A Klingon Cruiser? Why?" Jim questioned.
"I can only assume that it is here for the same reasons as you. The need for answers to questions of happenings in their part of the galaxy. You may find that you can supply them with as many answers as they can supply you with." he offered, on a hopeful note. Then, "Gentlemen, it is time that you return to your ship. Please," he said.
Jim looked at the alien man, whose face seemed to be made for smiling, not for sadness. They had come to this planet twice now, neither time had it been under peaceful circumstances. Captain James T. Kirk regretted this. He would have liked to demonstrate the virtuous ideals held by the Federation, the friendship that it offered and the brotherhood that he enjoyed in it. But the Captain thought that, perhaps even their very best paled against what the Organians had offered them.
"Ayelborne," Jim said, wanting to express his sorrow for all that had been brought to this peaceful world. He wanted to apologize for every angry thought that he and others in the Federation had harbored towards them. He wanted to tell him of how he wished he could stay longer and become friends with the people of this world. All he could manage in the end was, "I wish things were different."
Ayelborne looked him in the eye, "Captain, my friend... things will be. Don't forget." he said, as he began to glow and change into a being of pure light. "Don't forget." He vanished, but was not gone. Asher looked up as if he knew exactly where his master was, and began to wag his tail. The huge animal got up off of the ground and seemed to follow the invisible man back the way they had come. He stopped, looked back at the strangers, smiled pleasantly at them and entered the forest.
"The more I know about this place," the Doctor stated, "the less I understand."
"Gentlemen," Jim said, "let's get back to the ship."
