1x04
“TO SERVE THE UNWISE”
Historian’s Note: This story takes place from late May to mid June 2380; approximately six months after the events of the feature film Star Trek: Nemesis™, and three days after Burning Ring of Fire.
This is servitude,
To serve the unwise, or him who hath rebelled
Against his worthier, as I now serve thee,
Thy self not free, but to thy self enthralled;
Yet lewdly dares our ministering upbraid.
Paradise Lost, Book VI; John Milton
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROLOGUE
USS Dauntless
On approach to Eeroth Prime
Stardate 57387.1
The sunlight was reflected through the stained glass windows and made coloured patterns on the floor of the Hoobishan baths, providing a relaxing atmosphere. Soft music played through hidden speakers and Leza Astar felt calmer than she had in weeks. Ever since she had reluctantly accepted this assignment, she felt physically ill and there was nothing that her godson could do about it. A lot of Trill felt like that after the attack on the homeworld that killed thousands of symbionts, especially when they were serving Starfleet or the Federation far from the Trill homeworld with no other Trill on board ship or starbase. Leza felt the same way for a time but was beginning to feel safe, even though it was a dangerous mission, because Doctor Maxx knew more than almost every other doctor in Starfleet about the Trill. Only Doctor Bashir on Deep Space Nine knew more. She looked over at her godson, Lieutenant Arlon Maxx, as he sat with his eyes closed in the Jacuzzi.
‘Tell me you haven’t fallen asleep again, Arlon?’
The young Bolian opened one eye lazily. ‘Oh I’m still awake, but you looked like you wanted to think so I let the conversation drop off.’
She chuckled. ‘You fell asleep again.’
‘I can’t help it,’ he shrugged. ‘The waters of the Hoobishan baths always make me sleepy. And the holographic representation is almost as good.’
‘Well, you’d know having been to visit me several times on Trill. Which reminds me, you were asked by the Symbiosis Commission to help because of your familiarity with my people, weren’t you?’
Maxx nodded. ‘I was, I assisted in several surgeries to remove symbionts and helped the Guardians to calm the surviving symbionts. Why do you ask?’
‘Astar has been restless of late, and I think it might be to do with the distance we are from the homeworld.’
Maxx shook his head. ‘The symbionts, and yourselves, are highly curious, the likelihood of feeling homesick or worried about being too far from home in the event of an emergency is slim.’
‘What else could it be?’
Maxx sighed and she could tell that it wasn’t going to lead into something pleasant but she waited for him to speak. ‘Have you ever performed the Zhian’tara?’
‘The rite of closure? No, I haven’t.’
‘The Symbiosis Commission requires that it is performed by all new hosts. And since you’ve been joined for more than fifteen years, I’m surprised that they haven’t contacted you already, although the recent upheaval could account for that,’ Maxx replied. ‘It has to be performed by a Guardian so when we return to Federation space, I’ll contact the Symbiosis Commission.’
‘Isn’t that unusual?’
‘Highly, but as one of the few doctors in Starfleet to know about how important the rite is, and as your personal physician, and your friend, I’ll push for a Guardian to come here. My only other alternative is to get Starfleet Medical to divert us to Trill. You must let me know if you or your symbiont is feeling unduly distressed, above and beyond normal stressors.’
Astar nodded, unable to speak. If she was going to perform the rite of Zhian’tara she needed to have five close friends to ask to assist, and that was going to be a problem. Maxx and Talen would be only too glad to assist, Larson would as well if asked. But that still left two more. At least she had time to prepare.
‘Captain Astar to the bridge, we are approaching the Eeroth system,’ Wright called out over the comm.
‘I’ll be right there, Commander,’ she replied and climbed out of the Jacuzzi, thinking that his voice sounded a little tight.
She picked up her towel and dried herself off, put her uniform back on and then tidied up her hair, tucking it back into the ponytail that she was currently wearing.
‘You’ll be needed too, Arlon.’
‘I know,’ he replied as he followed suit. ‘Maxx to sickbay, are we ready for casualties.’
‘Yes, Doctor, and the EMH is standing by.’
‘I want to adjust certain parameters on that thing.’
Astar smiled. She thought it was too much as well. ‘Computer, end program.’
As the baths faded to the grey-and-yellow grid of the holodeck, Astar sighed and exited through the massive doors, making her way to the bridge as her chief medical officer returned to sickbay. She nodded to the crewmembers she saw and made a mental note to get to know them better, knowing that at any time they could be gone and she needed, wanted, to have something to tell their next of kin.
The turbolift doors opened and Astar took her chair. Wright never sat in it now when he was in command, he preferred to sit in his own chair, which suited her just fine. He was never going to have command potential, and the sooner she figured out why, the better.
‘What have we got?’
‘We’ve picked up masses of debris strewn across the system and no active subspace or tachyon communication. There’s nothing here.’
‘Get Rashal up here, and find out where Cadet Jenak is. I want her to see this.’
‘Aye sir.’
‘Gonzales, can you tell me something about the debris? Do you detect any Cha’lav energy traces?’
‘I’m running continuous scans, Captain. So far, I’ve picked up nothing but elevated levels of radiation to the background norm.’
‘Mister Mahtani?’
‘Nothing definitive, Captain.’
Astar scowled as the turbolift doors opened to reveal her passengers. ‘Rashal, welcome home.’
The Eerothian took in the debris field that the Dauntless was passing though and recognised the discoloured hulls of several vessels. ‘Captain, the sixth moon of Eeroth VI is a rebel base. I’d like to know if anyone is still alive.’
‘What about your homeworld?’
‘It was on the verge of a nuclear holocaust. I doubt that the Cha’lav would have needed to help it along.’
‘Captain, picking up an approaching vessel.’
‘On screen, do you recognise it.’
Rashal sighed, he did. ‘It is a government shuttle, Captain.’
‘We’re being hailed.’
‘On screen,’ Astar ordered.
The Eerothian looked to be the same race as Rashal but older. ‘Whoever you are, you’re holding an enemy of Eeroth. Return it or be destroyed.’
‘I am Captain Leza Astar of the Federation starship Dauntless. We are returning Rashal to his homeworld.’
‘No, Captain, you are returning an exile. Rashal is the leader of a deposed government, exiled for crimes against our people,’ the old man cried out. ‘He is the one who brought destruction upon us all by allying with the Agent Races of the Underworld.’
Astar turned to Rashal. ‘Is he telling the truth?’
‘I made a deal with the Cha’lav, they reneged. It was not my fault.’
She narrowed her eyes. ‘Take him to the brig,’ she said and turned to face the old man. ‘If you would care to come aboard, I would like to hear what has transpired. My people have defeated the Agent Races before, perhaps we can help you.’
‘I accept,’ he said and the screen blanked.
‘Captain, the Prime Directive?’ Wright whispered.
‘The Cha’lav represent a threat to all live. If Starfleet wants to court-martial me then fine, but I will do everything in my power to prevent the Cha’lav from destroying any more civilisations.’
“TO SERVE THE UNWISE”
Historian’s Note: This story takes place from late May to mid June 2380; approximately six months after the events of the feature film Star Trek: Nemesis™, and three days after Burning Ring of Fire.
This is servitude,
To serve the unwise, or him who hath rebelled
Against his worthier, as I now serve thee,
Thy self not free, but to thy self enthralled;
Yet lewdly dares our ministering upbraid.
Paradise Lost, Book VI; John Milton
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROLOGUE
USS Dauntless
On approach to Eeroth Prime
Stardate 57387.1
The sunlight was reflected through the stained glass windows and made coloured patterns on the floor of the Hoobishan baths, providing a relaxing atmosphere. Soft music played through hidden speakers and Leza Astar felt calmer than she had in weeks. Ever since she had reluctantly accepted this assignment, she felt physically ill and there was nothing that her godson could do about it. A lot of Trill felt like that after the attack on the homeworld that killed thousands of symbionts, especially when they were serving Starfleet or the Federation far from the Trill homeworld with no other Trill on board ship or starbase. Leza felt the same way for a time but was beginning to feel safe, even though it was a dangerous mission, because Doctor Maxx knew more than almost every other doctor in Starfleet about the Trill. Only Doctor Bashir on Deep Space Nine knew more. She looked over at her godson, Lieutenant Arlon Maxx, as he sat with his eyes closed in the Jacuzzi.
‘Tell me you haven’t fallen asleep again, Arlon?’
The young Bolian opened one eye lazily. ‘Oh I’m still awake, but you looked like you wanted to think so I let the conversation drop off.’
She chuckled. ‘You fell asleep again.’
‘I can’t help it,’ he shrugged. ‘The waters of the Hoobishan baths always make me sleepy. And the holographic representation is almost as good.’
‘Well, you’d know having been to visit me several times on Trill. Which reminds me, you were asked by the Symbiosis Commission to help because of your familiarity with my people, weren’t you?’
Maxx nodded. ‘I was, I assisted in several surgeries to remove symbionts and helped the Guardians to calm the surviving symbionts. Why do you ask?’
‘Astar has been restless of late, and I think it might be to do with the distance we are from the homeworld.’
Maxx shook his head. ‘The symbionts, and yourselves, are highly curious, the likelihood of feeling homesick or worried about being too far from home in the event of an emergency is slim.’
‘What else could it be?’
Maxx sighed and she could tell that it wasn’t going to lead into something pleasant but she waited for him to speak. ‘Have you ever performed the Zhian’tara?’
‘The rite of closure? No, I haven’t.’
‘The Symbiosis Commission requires that it is performed by all new hosts. And since you’ve been joined for more than fifteen years, I’m surprised that they haven’t contacted you already, although the recent upheaval could account for that,’ Maxx replied. ‘It has to be performed by a Guardian so when we return to Federation space, I’ll contact the Symbiosis Commission.’
‘Isn’t that unusual?’
‘Highly, but as one of the few doctors in Starfleet to know about how important the rite is, and as your personal physician, and your friend, I’ll push for a Guardian to come here. My only other alternative is to get Starfleet Medical to divert us to Trill. You must let me know if you or your symbiont is feeling unduly distressed, above and beyond normal stressors.’
Astar nodded, unable to speak. If she was going to perform the rite of Zhian’tara she needed to have five close friends to ask to assist, and that was going to be a problem. Maxx and Talen would be only too glad to assist, Larson would as well if asked. But that still left two more. At least she had time to prepare.
‘Captain Astar to the bridge, we are approaching the Eeroth system,’ Wright called out over the comm.
‘I’ll be right there, Commander,’ she replied and climbed out of the Jacuzzi, thinking that his voice sounded a little tight.
She picked up her towel and dried herself off, put her uniform back on and then tidied up her hair, tucking it back into the ponytail that she was currently wearing.
‘You’ll be needed too, Arlon.’
‘I know,’ he replied as he followed suit. ‘Maxx to sickbay, are we ready for casualties.’
‘Yes, Doctor, and the EMH is standing by.’
‘I want to adjust certain parameters on that thing.’
Astar smiled. She thought it was too much as well. ‘Computer, end program.’
As the baths faded to the grey-and-yellow grid of the holodeck, Astar sighed and exited through the massive doors, making her way to the bridge as her chief medical officer returned to sickbay. She nodded to the crewmembers she saw and made a mental note to get to know them better, knowing that at any time they could be gone and she needed, wanted, to have something to tell their next of kin.
The turbolift doors opened and Astar took her chair. Wright never sat in it now when he was in command, he preferred to sit in his own chair, which suited her just fine. He was never going to have command potential, and the sooner she figured out why, the better.
‘What have we got?’
‘We’ve picked up masses of debris strewn across the system and no active subspace or tachyon communication. There’s nothing here.’
‘Get Rashal up here, and find out where Cadet Jenak is. I want her to see this.’
‘Aye sir.’
‘Gonzales, can you tell me something about the debris? Do you detect any Cha’lav energy traces?’
‘I’m running continuous scans, Captain. So far, I’ve picked up nothing but elevated levels of radiation to the background norm.’
‘Mister Mahtani?’
‘Nothing definitive, Captain.’
Astar scowled as the turbolift doors opened to reveal her passengers. ‘Rashal, welcome home.’
The Eerothian took in the debris field that the Dauntless was passing though and recognised the discoloured hulls of several vessels. ‘Captain, the sixth moon of Eeroth VI is a rebel base. I’d like to know if anyone is still alive.’
‘What about your homeworld?’
‘It was on the verge of a nuclear holocaust. I doubt that the Cha’lav would have needed to help it along.’
‘Captain, picking up an approaching vessel.’
‘On screen, do you recognise it.’
Rashal sighed, he did. ‘It is a government shuttle, Captain.’
‘We’re being hailed.’
‘On screen,’ Astar ordered.
The Eerothian looked to be the same race as Rashal but older. ‘Whoever you are, you’re holding an enemy of Eeroth. Return it or be destroyed.’
‘I am Captain Leza Astar of the Federation starship Dauntless. We are returning Rashal to his homeworld.’
‘No, Captain, you are returning an exile. Rashal is the leader of a deposed government, exiled for crimes against our people,’ the old man cried out. ‘He is the one who brought destruction upon us all by allying with the Agent Races of the Underworld.’
Astar turned to Rashal. ‘Is he telling the truth?’
‘I made a deal with the Cha’lav, they reneged. It was not my fault.’
She narrowed her eyes. ‘Take him to the brig,’ she said and turned to face the old man. ‘If you would care to come aboard, I would like to hear what has transpired. My people have defeated the Agent Races before, perhaps we can help you.’
‘I accept,’ he said and the screen blanked.
‘Captain, the Prime Directive?’ Wright whispered.
‘The Cha’lav represent a threat to all live. If Starfleet wants to court-martial me then fine, but I will do everything in my power to prevent the Cha’lav from destroying any more civilisations.’
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