Star Trek; The Essians--Family
Star Trek: The Essians
“Family”
The Beginning
Spock stood along side Captain Riker, and the mysterious stranger named Sheppard, upon the barren domain of the crossing. It was a realm that seemed to stretch beyond infinity, with a calm sky dominated by four stars.
On the ground were the five other travelers who had accompanied Spock to the strange place. They were all dead. Their bodies were neatly placed next to each other, with a sixth space waiting for Spock. The famed Vulcan took one last look at his companions.
Captain Michelle Duell of the USS Balboa was the first Spock looked upon. She had an undeniable essence about her, Spock had concluded. In some ways she reminded him of another rebellious young Captain whom Spock had the good fortune of watching develop into the legend he would become, but also the friend he missed so much.
Next to her, on the ground, was Bynak, the First officer of the Balboa. Spock had heard James Kirk refer to the term wildcard many times in their adventures. Bynak’s future would be an interesting one in that it is known that a future version of Bynak would try to abduct the new born child, Elaine, on a small planet called Septos-14. Bynak’s strong will was undeniable, and it was evident to Spock that the Cardassian had bonded with the mother of the child, and swore to protect it at all cost.
Javah Halmes, the young Bajoran male, Spock did not know too well. But from what he could tell, Spock was sure that Halmes was an honorable man, but with conflicting issues that he was still dealing with. No doubt, Spock realized, most of Halmes’ life was spent fighting against the Cardassian oppression on Bajor. It had no doubt contributed to the person Halmes was now. Yet, somehow, the desire to answer those demons was a trait that Halmes used to keep him self going on, from day to day. His ability to do just that would be a very valuable asset. Halmes dedication was a character trait that was desired to survive the transition into the next plane.
Evan Cooper, next in line, was a conman. He had made a life for him self by smuggling goods, and skirting the law in the process. Cooper’s ability to think on his feet, and his natural ability to see through lies, would be a valuable if not stable asset.
Finally, at last, there was Baby Elaine, who was still awake, held by Captain Riker. She was the key player in all of this.
Riker smiled at the baby in his arms, and then he looked to Sheppard. “How exactly is this baby girl going to save our galaxy?” Riker asked.
“In the next plane,” Sheppard said, “she will be the one who unites the people of that world, a world called Hotep. She will inspire them to fight for their freedom. She is destined to slay the leader of that world: an evil man named Morinva. She will then help establish an order that will bring ten thousand of their eons of peace.”
“Excuse me,” Riker said with a look of doubt on his face. “You mean to tell me that the mundane struggle on some simple world holds the key to our survival in this reality: our so called plane of existence? Do you know how incredibly unbelievable that sounds?”
Sheppard smiled, “Yes I do, Captain Riker. The Essians,” Sheppard said as he pointed at the four stars, “are very powerful entities. They could destroy the universe, if they should decide too. And yet their fate, and yours, will be determined by the actions of this small child on that new world. Such is the way things are.” Sheppard said as he reached out and patted the head of Baby Elaine.
Riker looked over the dead bodies of the other travelers. “Are they dead? Will they ever come back to this plane? And what about Spock, and this baby: are they destined to die as well?”
“We all die, Captain Riker,” Spock said. “And as I understand it, I shall, the six of us in fact, shall live again in this next plane.” Spock looked to Sheppard. “I take it that Morinva, the ruler of Hotep, is the one who came from our plane and maintained the knowledge of his existence here.”
Sheppard smiled, “Yes Mister Spock, he is the one. And strangely enough, he too was a Vulcan in this existence.”
“Fascinating,” Spock said. “And what was his name when he existed as a Vulcan?”
Sheppard didn’t blink, and smiled when he replied, “His name was Sybok.”
Spock was actually speechless. It was a name he had not expected to hear ever again. Sybok, Spock’s half brother, and also a son of Sarek, had come under the influence of an entity that promised the ultimate knowledge, but was proven to be nothing more than a powerful entity, a fraud in fact.
“It is no accident that the Essians chose you. Your brother, by his sheer will, was able to keep his knowledge of this place. Unfortunately, it was his sanity that took him in another direction,” Sheppard said to Spock. “From that moment on, you were destined to follow the path your brother took. It is believed that you will be able to reason with him enough so that Elaine can do what must be done.”
“Then I shall take the knowledge of this plane into the next one as well?” Spock asked.
“Not knowledge, more to the point of who you are.”
“Will he,” Riker repeated, “and the others come back?” Riker asked as he looked at the now smiling baby in his arms.
“I can not tell you such answers,” Sheppard said.
“No,” Riker said with his own forced smile, “of course not.”
“But I will tell you both this,” Sheppard said, “The journey that Spock, and these others, will take has just begun.” He motioned to the small group of other travelers who were now just dots far, far away.
Riker squint his eyes closer, trying to get a better view of the strangers far in the distance. “I only count three,” Riker said. He also noticed that they were, pulling by rope, a strange object.
“You have your answer,” Sheppard said finally. “Not all of them,” Sheppard said as he looked at the five bodies on the ground, “will continue down the path.”
Suddenly the four stars pulsed, causing the lighted sky to darken for a moment.
“It is time,” Sheppard said to Spock. “Your friends are ready make the crossing. With any luck, you and baby Elaine will now join them and the journey will begin. Most of what you will experience on Hotep will be driven by that which guides you from inside,” Sheppard said. “Keep the child safe. She must follow through on to what is to come. It is her destiny.”
Spock nodded then raised his hand, and gave them both, Sheppard and Riker, the Vulcan hand salute. “Live long and prosper.”
And with that said, Spock closed his eyes, and died. Riker and Sheppard put his body next to Evan Coopers. Riker set the baby atop Spock’s motionless chest.
“And now,” Sheppard said to Riker. “We must do our part.”
“I’m not even sure what you want me to do.” Riker said.
Sheppard chuckled, “Just by being here, you are doing more than you could know. The Essians, even as we speak, are accessing the Q force with in you to help focus their power.”
“Oh,” Riker said with an air of disbelief, “that’s all.”
And with that, Sheppard became what he was, an essence of light. The Sheppard light rose into the sky. Then, in an instant, the light streaked across the sky, and was followed by six other streaks of light. Then, with out warning, the four Essian stars, three yellow one blew, all pulsed and then….
--
Riker was disorientated. He could hear voices. He forced his eyes open to get a grip of where he was. He was laying on a field, bathed in warm sunlight. The voices were asking him if he was harmed at all, and if he could sit up. Riker nodded and sat up.
Two people, obviously worried about his well being, seemed relieved that he was okay. One of them was an attractive young girl, at best sixteen years old. The other was a Vulcan, he too no more than sixteen years old. And, more interesting, was the length of the Vulcan’s hair. It was tied into a tight tail down to his waist.
“Where am I?” Riker asked. His throat was very dry, as if he had not had water for days. Plus, he had no memory of how he came to be where he was.
“We are on the planet Septos-14,” Elaine said to Spock. “My name is Elaine.”
Riker seemed to recognize the name, but then he couldn’t. It was as if he should remember her name, but something held him back. He looked to the Vulcan.
“My name,” the Vulcan youth said, “is Tiberius. And it would be wise to get you to shelter and water inside you before we start calling you by your new name: Dead man.”
Elaine giggled, “That was actually funny.” She looked to Riker. “Don’t mind him, he is just getting used to using humor. You’ll be just fine. There is a Federation camp just a few miles away, and a settlement as well.”
They helped Riker on to his feet, and began to walk across the field.
Continued Next Week
Star Trek: The Essians
Riker, Elaine and Tiberius will continue their adventure in
Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck
Septos-14
Who knows if their personalities will be at all similar? It'll be interesting to see if there is anything I can recognize of any of them after this...
