The Vulcan - Episode 11: Self-Help Guru

[Will The Serious]

The Series: The Vulcan

Table of Content:
Ep. 1: The Needs of the Many
Ep. 2: The Needs of the Few
Ep. 3: 'T' Minus Negative
Ep. 4: A Pon Too Farr
Ep. 5: Seeing is Believing, Part 1
Ep. 6: Seeing is Believing, Part 2
Ep. 7: Mind in a Vat
Ep. 8: The Job
Ep. 9: Red Giants and White Dwarves
Ep. 10: Zenfu Fighting
Ep. 11: Self-Help Guru
The Vulcan Character Highlights

SERIES PROLOGUE:

We see across vast expanses to impossibly distant worlds. We look out into Space and witness the beginning of the Universe, the birth of planets, and the death of stars. Civilization turns to Space for knowledge, adventure, and hope. Space is also deadly, a wall to growth and progress. It is our past and our future. This is where Vulcan and her crew live, work and explore. Join the lives of these beings from different and distant worlds, who have been brought together to find refuge, wonder, friendship, and a home in the greatest frontier.

Episode 11: Self-Help Guru

Vulcan entering a docking position among other small to mid-sized space freighters clustered around the upper spire of Halla space station:
S'Talla is catching up with her log. “Captain's Log, stardate: two dash three eight four nine point six.
“Vulcan has returned to Federation space after unsuccessfully transporting the Vaikar-Kau-Bureki.
“News of the death of my father came with a caution that we might have a spy onboard.
Following an investigation, I am left with personal confrontations to determine if such a person exists. Logic will present the answers. I am hopeful that we can return to our hunt for the Bureki once logic concludes the spy hunt.
“In the meantime, Sam and Art Santayana will be looking for another contract to maintain our status as a private commercial shipping enterprise, to avoid attracting attention.”
The Bridge planning room:
On the main screen at the end of the conference table, S'Tajia is talking on playback.
Around the table sits S'Talla at the opposite end, Samantha Kelly to her immediate right, Skyvik on her left. Down the table from Sam's right are T'Pia, Charlie, and Damian. Opposite sit, from Skyvik's left, are Naxx, Spirro, Spalloz, and Randool Harrix. Ya and Ne sit at the far end, their seats turned around to watch the playback.
S'Tajia is saying, “Your father confronted Admiral Syjak about it, believing that the V5-Beta was actually started under a different code name, ‘Ha'gelek’, or some such nonsense. He seemed to believe Commander Skyvik was the lead on that. I do not understand. He had no evidence and I have been told Skyvik is there with you.
“Obviously there is nothing to these rumors. T’Rai is on Romulus, so she does not know yet. Logic is leading me to realize these events are not connected. There is no evidence and logic does not support any of the rumors.
“I am sorry if it sounds like I am rambling. The real reason for my message, which Commander Skaul was kind enough to forward using the Admiral's encryption I.D., is to tell you, your father is dead.
“He rode off to meet with Admiral Syjak. They were on their way to have lunch across the city when their transport shuttle’s steering control module overheated and exploded. He and the Admiral crashed into the D’Tollo Vey tower.” S’Tajia pauses for a deep breath. “Vulcan, stop playback,” S'Talla orders.
The image freezes on S'Talla's mother taking a deep breath, then fades to show the stars in the background, a group of ships moored in an organized cluster around a heavy superstructure in the foreground. After a moment, the starfield and ships pan past, revealing more and more of a disk-shaped space station, until it fills the screen before the slow pan comes back around from the other side to show the moored ships again.
Ya and Ne turn back to the table, and all eyes go to S'Talla.
Skyvik says, “I did initiate a project under the code name ‘Ha'gelek’. It is still classified. I am not at liberty to discuss the details. However, I know very little about the actual nature of the project, only that I was given orders to open the commission of an OSS vessel with the Astroways Space Construction Corporation three years ago. The project was handed off somewhere else, after that. I understood that the project was discontinued after a year, and I have not been involved in anything like that before or since.”
S'Talla says, “My father, before he died, said it would be logical for the one behind all this, to put a spy onboard the V5-Beta.” Skyvik says, “I am not a spy.”
“It is illogical that you are the spy, Skyvik,” answers S'Talla. “Considering how our hidden enemy works, the logical conclusion, if there is a spy onboard, is that our spy does not know they are a spy.”
S'Talla looks around the room and Spirro raises a hand.
“I may be that spy, Captain.”
Ya and Ne then raise their hands.
“Ne and I…,” says Ya.
Ne follows, “may be the…”
Both Ya and Ne finish together, “... spy.”
Both S'Talla and Skyvik raise one eyebrow each. Everyone else waits to hear the explanations.
Ya continues, “Commander Skaul took us aside before the mission and…”
Ne completes the explanation, “asked us to report on your progress and wellbeing.”
Spirro concurs, “He asked me, as well. The Commander was concerned that you were too new and had only half the training. He explained that he was interested in making sure you were capable, and that he and the Admiral stood prepared to provide you with any assistance you may need as quickly as possible.”
Ya and Ne both nod their heads in agreement.
Ya says, “We thought we…”
Ne says, “...were helping our mission.”
Naxx speaks up, “I received very similar directives. However, I have not felt there was a need to report anything. I think you are doing a very good job.”
S'Talla finally says, “Logical. I can not feel how truthful Ya and Ne are, but I sense the truth of your words, Mister Spirro, Mister Naxx.”
S'Talla looks around the table. “This puts Commander Skaul in a suspicious light; however, since we have no evidence that information provided to him has been used against us, he may only be the center pawn we have already discovered him to be. For the indefinite future, we will cease communication with him until we know more.”
“Agreed,” chorus the table of agents and crew.
Randool Harrix asks, “How about the others? Art and Cia could be plants, if our hidden Nemesis has access to Naxx's and your mission plans or even Councilor T'Rai's cabinet.”
S'Talla says, “If Arthur Santayana or Cialoa have a hidden agenda that involves Vulcan or us, they have developed mental controls that Vulcans have never seen in humans nor Orions before. I sensed deceit in Mister Santayana, when he first came aboard, but none since he revealed his real name and his goal of rescuing Cialoa and the other Orion slaves. He means well, even if he has used the device of deceit often in his past. I do not believe either of them are capable of hiding duplicitous intent from me.
“After satisfactorily eliminating every other crew as possible spies, the only others who have not been eliminated are the Professor and Doctor Gödel.”
S'Talla stops and thinks for a moment.
Sam asks, “You aren't thinking Professor Kazzak or Francesca could be spies, are you?”
Skyvik answers, “They have no logical reason to be on the Vulcan.”
“Vulcan,” asks S'Talla, “Please connect me with Professor Kazzak.”
Vulcan answers, “You are connected, Captain.”
S’Talla speaks, “Professor, this is Captain S'Talla, if you have a minute, I would like to ask you and Doctor Gödel a few questions on the bridge, please.”
There is a second’s pause, then the planning room hears the professor say, “Excellent, Francesca. Moving the Time Offset into three dimensions will balance the equation, no matter how much mass or how small the radius.”
“Pro professor,” Francesca is heard to respond, “The the the captain has hailed hailed us.”
“I heard the summons, but we are in the middle of fixing this equation. Do you think the radian progression might improve the energy efficiency if we factor it to the outside of the term?”
S'Talla is about to speak again when Sam stops her with a gesture and speaks ahead of her. “Professor, this is Samantha. We know you're busy, we have a few quick questions for the two of you. We can come to you with them, if you don't have the time to come to the bridge right now.”
The professor answers, “No,” he almost sighs. “Francesca and I will be right there.”
“Thank you Professor, and thank you Francesca,” offers Sam.
S'Talla meets Sam's grin with an eyebrow rise.
“The Professor hates having people in his lab.”

 

[Will The Serious]

The Bridge Planning Room:
In the bridge planning room, only S'Talla, Sam and Skyvik are left when the professor enters with Francesca Gödel.
Kazzak answers the unasked question, “It is a logical question to wonder if I or Doctor Gödel is a spy trying to sabotage you, but we are not, Captain S'Talla. That was your question, correct?”
S'Talla does not act surprised by the older Vulcan's conclusion, nor his candor. She is sitting in a posture of deep attention, her fingertips touching each other, her eyes closed. When she opens them, she replies to the professor, “I needed you to say it, Professor. I can read the truth of your words.”
The professor obviously expected to defend himself, but was happy to not need to.
Sam is flabbergasted by the whole brief exchange. Skyvik says not a word or even raises an eyebrow.
“How did you know that is what S'Talla was going to ask you, Professor?” Sam can't help herself from asking.
Kazzak turns to Sam, and holds his right thumb up, “Your captain is a spy. She may be a monk with the Order, but she is OSS, and has been focused on a mission since acquiring Vulcan and chasing the Vaikar-Kau-Bureki around the galaxy.” The professor extends his index finger. “I have isolated myself in my laboratory, and…” he holds up three fingers. “I lost the Vaikar-Kau-Bureki, to use the phrase ‘I have lost’ very loosely.” Four fingers go up. “It is only natural for a spy to suspect the presence of another spy.” Kazzak opens up all his fingers, spreading them to be counted. “Every other time Captain S'Talla has wanted to talk to me, she has come to my lab. Here, I am outside my element, in her territory.
“The mystery of who built the V5-Beta, and wants war between Vulcan and Romulus goes to the top of government control. The architect of this mystery is clearly practiced in the complex machinations of espionage. With our arrival back at Halla Station, everything logically adds up to Captain S'Talla's need to eliminate Francesca and me as spies trying to sabotage her mission and uncover her plans. We are not spies.”
Sam asks, “Why are you onboard Vulcan in the first place? You have been here, working in your lab from before I was hired to head up the design and construction of Vulcan's IDAC. Why aren't you in some university lab somewhere?”
The professor answers, “I was not to discuss my project aboard the V5-Beta, even with her crew.”
Sam asks, “You mean your gravity energy induction experiments? We know about that and believe me, no one here would understand it anyhow.”
“No, that is Francesca's and my personal project. I am referring to the cloaking device. Since we are all being misled, and this voyage has been outside Operation’s control from the very beginning, it is not logical to continue my silence. The University made a deal with the OSS for a mobile deep space laboratory to be at my disposal. One commander, Skaul, told me it was for cloaking technology.
“We had a space aboard a Federation Constitution class heavy cruiser, but it was to leave on a five year mission before we could move our lab aboard. The V5-Beta was the most logical alternative.”
S'Talla finally joins the conversation. “My father has been killed, Professor; along with Admiral Syjak.”
The Professor bows an extended deference to his captain. “I met your father once, many years ago. He provided the Light of Logic to the council.”
S'Talla went on, “His death comes with a message from my mother that he was killed for his investigations into the construction of this ship and that he suspected a spy was either on board Vulcan, inside the VDM and the OSS, or in Councilwoman T'Rai's inner-circle.”
Sam exclaims, “I didn't hear your mother say that?”
S'Talla smiles a soft understanding smile at her human friend, “She said that when she suggested Skyvik was our spy. The word ‘nonsense’ was the cue that she was encoding another meaning to what she was saying.”
The professor interjects, “I do not have more useful information for you. I was contacted by Commander Skaul for my part in Vulcan's design, but I did not get the impression he was anything more than an errand boy. Probably as ignorant of the greater plan as the rest of us. Whoever is behind this has my admiration for their ingenuity.
“Unless you have any more questions, Francesca and I are on the edge of a major breakthrough.”
“Please go back to your lab, Professor,” allows S'Talla. “And thank you both for coming to answer my questions.”
As the two scientists leave, Francesca Gödel pauses in the doorway. “W wha what do do do you pla an to to to to do about f f f finding th th the s… stone?”
“You believe the pyramid was not stolen from us, but teleported itself away. Logic suggests it has returned to its origin,” answers S'Talla. “We still have the scroll. You should come by my cabin sometime and look at it. I am certain you can add something useful to the puzzle.”
-
A busy commercial thoroughfare on Halla Station:
Sam is walking with Art Santayana. Art is telling Sam about meeting an Andorian ambassador. “I was hired to deliver a small shipment of a prized Andorian Ale to an Ambassador returned from some big conference last year. His name was… Shrah, Shras? Yes, Ambassador Shras.”
“You're talking about the Babel Conference,” Sam states. “My parents were invited, but they couldn't make it…
“Hello, look at that!” Sam interrupts herself, pointing to a shop across the mall. Art swivels his head and observes, “A music store. I could use a new set of strings. Maybe they'll have an actual manufactured set instead of replicated ones.”
Inside the shop, they can see five customers in simple, colorful clothing browsing the instruments. The shop keeper is trying to keep his eye on all of them while two of the female customers twirl and dance, in their retro-style mini-dresses, to one of the males playing a small lute-like instrument and a bodhrán-like hand held drum.
“Come on,” Sam encourages, “the dive bars can wait. I don't need anything, but I wonder if they have an Irish harp.”
-
The five customers, all dressed in minimal, brightly colored “Mod-Life” styled dyed natural fiber outfits, show a lot of skin. The group makes the two Earthlings think of communes, peace, love, and “flower power”. In fact, the two dancing women have colorful and alien flowers woven into their hair. One is obviously Tiburonian, a wreath of tiny yellow and blue flowers encircling one Tiburonian ear, while the other woman is Catullan, her streaked purple hair and bushy eyebrows highlighting her origins. The man playing the lute appears human with an unusual pattern of spots across his face and down his neck.
Art leans into Sam and whispers, “Trill.” Sam says, “I've heard of them. Aren't there two beings in one body?” Art says, “Sometimes, but not always.”
The man with the drum is a dark-skinned human in bell-bottomed orange and lime green slacks with a geometric printed halter top.
The two weave their way into the store to browse the instruments; Art splinters off to inquire about strings for his bass guitar.
Sam, turns to watch the two dancers for a moment when the music changes to a faster, more exotic beat.
“They are celebrating the discovery of their super-nature,” comments a middle aged human-looking man with sideburns and a goatee cut long below his chin. On his head is a flat-topped and brimless cloth cap in a multicolored geometric pattern. His soft yellow robe accented with similar patterns, drapes comfortably from his shoulders.
“Super-nature?” Sam can't help but ask.
“Yes,” the man smiles sagely. “They have transcended. I helped them release their artificial selves, to transcend the unnatural identities imposed by society and their bondage to the machine, to become their ultimate selves.”
Sam replies, “As my Vulcan friends might say, fascinating.”
“I want you to know, I see you. You are out of place, living under a false identity, but I see you, and I can help you find your true super-nature, the real you,” the intriguing man says. His piercing light brown eyes seem to look right into Sam's soul.
Sam finds something very compelling, more than simply “fascinating” about the man. She reaches a hand out and introduces herself. “Samantha Kelly, owner of Vulcan Enterprises. You are?”
The man doesn't take Sam's hand, but instead holds his fingers together in front of him in the form of a triangle and bows slightly. “I am Sattvva June of the Temple of Transcendent Nature. I am One. These celebrants are my pupils on their guided journey to their transcended super-nature. I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, Samantha Kelly. What is it that Vulcan Enterprises does?” Sattvva June releases the triangle of his fingers and asks Sam.
Art returns, waving a package of new bass strings. “I have what I need.” He turns to look at the man in robes, then casts a quick glance over the four other people, the two women have changed places with the men. They are playing the music, still bobbing and undulating in rhythm, but the two men are dancing to their music now.
Art declares, “I see. You are the cult leader.”
Sattvva June again places his hands in a triangle and bows his head to Art. “The Temple of Transcendent Nature isn't a cult, my brother. We are all seeking meaning and place in the Universe; I simply help my fellow wonderers find themselves and that meaning. I can help you too.
Art looks doubtful while Sam smiles at the man.
-
In the gymnasium on the crew deck, deck B:
Sam is in a workout leotard, Charlie is in his Kung Fu liànfú, practice clothes, and S'Talla is in a leotard similar to Sam's.
Sam, standing on the circular gym mat with S’Talla, is saying, “His name is Sattvva June, and he and his followers make a drink they call ‘Trans Soma’. That is how they support their church. They…”
Sam approaches S'Talla on the padded mat. She sets her feet in a wide ‘L’ pattern, her back knee bent slightly more than her front knee.
S'Talla steps in while Charlie watches from the side. “Sam,” Charlie directs, “step across with your back foot to the outside of S'Talla's knee and bring your arm up, palm through and above her face.
Sam follows the directions, preventing S'Talla from stepping back in retreat with the position of her foot while forcing S'Talla to lean back and raise her forward right arm to avoid a palm heel to the nose.
Sam continues her conversation while she moves, “...are looking for a company who can ship their products into Romulan markets where they are constructing a new church.”
“Use your other hand to trap S'Talla's raised arm, and just keep walking past her,” Charlie instructs.
Sam does and S'Talla cooperates by falling backwards onto the mat when Sam's body moves behind her, their raised arms levering S'Talla over.
“Excellent Sam,” announces Charlie. “Now try it again faster. Master Po would tell me, ‘You will learn to do it while listening to the sound of a single hand clapping’.” Charlie imitates his old master's voice.
S'Talla gets to her feet again. She asks Charlie, “Vulcan asked me about this sound. Do you understand its meaning?”
Charlie shrugs and shakes his head, “I think I understand, but I do not know.”
“It is a good koan. I will teach you. S'Talla turns her attention to Sam. “If you approve, then we have our next cover job.”
The two women face each other again. Charlie directs, “Bow, and begin.”
-
Cargo hold ‘1’, onboard Vulcan:
Sam is talking to Sattvva June while his followers are moving crates into two rows down the middle of the large cargo space. Two of the followers, the Black man, and the Catullan woman, are taking extra time to stack the crates in an asymmetric pattern of various heights. They stand back and admire the crate sculpture. The man comments, “That is go, a much better look than straight, even rows.”
Sattvva says to Sam, “We are having a discussion and meditation gathering at 15:45 in your common lounge on deck ‘C’, before meals. If their duties allow, you and your crew are welcome to join us.”
Sam says, “I will tell the crew.”
Sattvva June makes the triangle pattern with his fingers again. He bows his head respectfully. “I hope, at least you will join us,” invites Sattvva, “Come see for yourself what we are about.”

 

[Will The Serious]

The theater on deck ‘C’:
Art is on the stage in the theater of deck ‘C’ practicing his bass with his new strings. He's walking the beat up and down the blues scale with a syncopated break at the end of each stanza. Naxx has his recat-pukk, playing a 12 bar blues melody. Ya and Ne are accompanying them on their double-sided keyboards. Cia is keeping a rhythm with her chi'meis. She moves back and forth between a simple beat-driven rhythm and a complex tattoo of clacks and clicks. Cialoa is also vocalizing musical sounds, beautifully rich and melodic, like she is playing a second instrument.
Art looks up, and three of Sattvva June's followers are standing in the audience: they each have an instrument in their hands.
Art finishes the break with a flourish and stops. Naxx stops along with him and Cialoa does a solo finish with her Chi'meis.
The three hippie-like guests clap when Cia finishes. The blonde Tiburonian woman says, “Wow! That was now, that was real now. We thought you were all too Herbert to go music like that.” Cia asks, “Herbert?”
Art says, “She means ‘normal’, part of common society with too many regulations, rule followers. It's not a good thing.”
“We are One,” explains the Trill man with the stiktar, a slim guitar neck, a small resonator bulge near the top of the neck, with electronic finger buttons just below the carved head. There is no other sound box, only electric pickups. “The Herberts don't reach us.”
Naxx says, “You are welcome to join in.”
The Catullan woman holds an instrument that looks like a metal wheel with a pattern of off-center spokes up over her head, and steps up onto the stage.
“Let's lay it out, brothers,” she says, “My name's Mirror, that's Kreeh,” pointing to the Trill, “and sister Winny.”
Mirror finds a stool, flips her long loose, very full purple hair back over her shoulder, and settles the wheel instrument on her knee. It has a soprano, soft electric string sound when she strums it like a harp. There's a tinkling of bells in the back of the tones.
“That's go, that's now. Can you reach me?” Mirror asks.
Art says, “Yeah, I reach,” and he plucks a deep counter rhythm to Mirror's quick melody.
“He's One, sisters,” declares Kreeh. He hops up on the stage and turns to help Winny up.
The two meet the others on the stage with their fingers in a triangle held before them.
“We reach. Let us be One,” announces Kreeh.
Winny nods, and moves her fingers from the triangle to a lace-fingered ball. “We are One. Music is universal, it's Now, Real.”
The group all grin in new friendship while Art continues to pluck the beat. Cia clicks her chi'meis for half a phrase, then they all jump in, to jam. Ya and Ne duplicate Mirror's melody while Cia double times the beat.
-
The gym on deck ‘B’:
S'Talla is guiding Charlie through a kata. He has on a light helmet that cuts off his eyesight. T'Perl sits on the edge of the mat to watch. Skyvik and Ghant watch silently from a second mat.
S'Talla is saying, “You want to know the sound of a single hand clapping. It speaks. Listen, and it will guide your movements.”
Skyvik lifts an eyebrow but otherwise doesn't move a muscle as he and Ghant watch Charlie blindly execute his form. S'Talla says to T'Perl, “T'Perl, you will slap Mister Chang on the cheek. Mister Chang, you will block.”
“What?” asks Charlie. “I can't…”
“Quiet,” S'Talla says firmly, “or you will not hear the clap tell you when to block.”
T'Perl stands and smiles, getting ready to give Charlie a slap. Her pleased smile grows into an amused grin when she steps closer and Charlie doesn't react.
S'Talla says to T'Perl, “I can complete the Kolinahr ritual for you, if you like, T'Perl. I know you have not cleansed yourself of emotions.”
T'Perl looks at S'Talla with some alarm.
S'Talla, her eyes never seeming to leave their lock on Charlie still doing his kata, says, “It is your choice, not mine, nor any other Vulcan. I will help only if that is what you want. Until you decide, slap Charlie.”
T'Perl swings and her hand connects with Charlie's cheek.
“Ow!”
“Keep doing your form,” S'Talla instructs Charlie.
Charlie starts his form again.
“You were not listening to the single hand’s advice,” S'Talla states. “Listen for the sound of the single hand clapping. It will tell you how to be.”
Charlie doesn't pause in his movements when he asks, “You can do this…”
Slap!
“Hey!”
S'Talla directs, “Listen, Mister Chang.”
Charlie did not interrupt his kata this time.
T'Perl steps to Charlie's opposite side. Slap!
“OW!”
-
The lounge on deck ‘C’:
Spirro, Randool, Sam and Damian enter the lounge on Deck ‘C’ to find Sattvva June seated on a table above the circle of six of his followers. He is on a small pillow, a zafu, while his followers sit in a semicircle before him. The chairs and tables have been moved back to make room to sit on the floor.
“Welcome sister Samantha, Brothers Randool, Damian, and…” Sattvva June concentrates. “Spirro,” he says, after a moment. “Vulcans can be a challenge to read. Very strong minds.” The newcomers wonder about the guru’s ability to pick their names out of their minds.
“I am One,” Sattvva explains without prompting. “I have transcended my artificial self. I live my Super-nature. I am Real, Now, connected to all Reality. I can teach you to shed your artificial identities and live in the Now, be One, as well.”
A Denobulan woman seated on the floor cheerfully invites the group, “Welcome, join us in meditation, be One with us.” She shifts over, prompting the others to do likewise. Sam smiles and takes the opening next to her. The others array themselves in a second row behind. Spirro is unused to sitting on the floor and hesitates, but he wants to learn about this strange new culture, so he joins in, as well.
The girl introduces herself to Sam, “My name is Chillaffen. Master June told us you would be joining us. This is wonderful.”
“Welcome Samantha. We are One,” chorus the group in a single voice. “Welcome all,” they conclude.
Sattvva, has been sitting in a meditative pose, quiet and attentive. He radiates transcended wisdom. “The One is all,” Sattvva intones sagely. “Society seeks to enslave our true selves. It is through the One that we can transcend the artificial identity that imprisons us, and realize our super-nature. Follow me on these simple, yet deep meditative exercises and I can help you find your true identity and become One.”
Sam straightens her back and takes the familiar meditative posture she learned while studying as a student with S'Talla.
-
Fifteen years earlier, the lawn outside The Temple of Divine Reason:
Sam was the only human among a class of Vulcan teenagers. She and S'Talla sat cross-legged among a group of Vulcan secondary school students, Master Sparoe was leading them through their afternoon meditation.
“You have spent another day learning the lessons of this school. You must now breathe, quiet your minds and allow the information to settle into your thoughts.”
Sam glanced at her best friend. S'Talla didn't have the long braid she was to wear years later, her bald head was starting to show her hair growing back in, as they near their graduating week of their final year. Sam's own long flowing red hair hung in stark contrast to all the black heads of hair around her. Sam noticed how serene her friend's face looked, her eyes closed, her back straight, her lips relaxed, she breathed just as Master Sparoe was describing.
“Breathe in a smooth deep inhale through your nose. The air is fresh and pure,” the Master of Logic directed.
“Hold, one, two, three, four, relax and breathe slowly out through your mouth,” Sparoe instructed. “Clear your mind as you exhale. Flush your errant thoughts. Logic tells us that concentrating on that which we wish to retain, is where we should focus our minds.”
-
The lounge:
“Let go of who you think you are and feel the calm void of the One.”
The unusual wording of Sattvva June, in contrast to Master Sparoe's more familiar guidance, pulls Sam's thoughts back into the present. She closes her eyes and tries to follow the guru’s directions.
“Let us feel our One growing. We have new true ones joining us today. This is good, this is One. Breathe and feel yourself lose your artificial nature so your super-nature can be free.”
-
Mess cabin in deck ‘B’:
Damian is talking with Sam and S'Talla in the crew mess on deck ‘B’. “...They practice a fairly universal meditation technique, but I felt different. I can't put my finger on it, just that there was a… a level below, might be the best way to describe it.
Damian explains, “In ancient Greece, descending below the Earth was practiced by certain cults or religions. You would,” Damian raises his fingers in quotes, “incubate” in caves to bring you closer to the underworld. Wisdom was gained from visiting the goddess Persephone there. After your time below, you emerged reborn, understanding the wisdom of the gods.”
Sam adds, “It felt more fundamental. You should try it, S'Talla. You would appreciate the experience.”
S'Talla looks to her friend and says, “I am curious.”
Skyvik and Ghant come past with their meal trays.
Ghant says, “Skyvik has been telling me he is not the best fighter aboard the Vulcan, Captain S'Talla. Yet, on Kehtua'k Station, you refused to use your training.”
S'Talla answers, “My training isn't in fighting, but in awareness. I did not refuse to use my training, only the practice techniques through which I learn. There was no need to bring those less aware to harm.” Ghant asks, “May we sit with you?” S'Talla nods her assent.
Ghant says, “I was the Empire champion of the Fire Ring, the most prestigious martial competition on Klingon. I held my title for six undefeated years, and now I am on a ship with the one man who has beaten me in fair hand-to-hand combat, and Skyvik tells me he is unable to stand against a female Vulcan or a puny human on that same ship.” S'Talla answers, “Skyvik is a soldier, like you. He fights to win. You fight for honor.” “What do you fight for?” Ghant asks. “To be aware.” Ghant thinks on that for a moment, then asks, “And Charlie?” “To wake up.”
Chillaffen, the Denobulan woman from the meditation group in the Lounge on deck ‘C’ comes up to the table. A black human is with her. The each are carrying a bottle of something that sparkles like silver glitter swirling in the liquid inside the bottles.
“Hello friends, I am Chillaffen, this is Olan. Master June would like to offer you a taste of our Trans Soma.”
Olan steps up and places four glasses on the table.
A couple of tables over sits T'Pia and T'Pree. Winny and a male Catullan are making a similar offer to them. “My name is Zurrat,” the Catullan introduces himself to T'Pree and T'Pia.
“My name is Winny,” offers the Tiburonian woman.
Chillaffen uncorks her bottle and pour a small serving into each glass.
Sam says, “Thank you Chillaffen, but Damian and I have already tasted your drink. It was very nice.”
Olan smiles graciously while Chillaffen pushes a glass in front of Sam

 

[Will The Serious]

The lounge on deck ‘C’:
Sattvva June is standing, his followers are kneeling around him. Sam and S'Talla, Damian and Spirro are standing in the back, watching.
“Be Now!” Sattvva intones. He raises his arms with a bottle in one hand and an ornate cup in the other. The kneeling group chorus in return, “We are Now!” Sattvva says, “Be Empty!” The congregation follows with, “We are Empty!” Sattvva pours from the bottle into the cup. He directs, “Be One!” The group calls back, “We are One!”
Sattvva June sets the bottle down and carries the cup with both hands. “Drink the Trans Soma. Be Now, Be Empty, Be One.” He moves to the first of his followers. While she leans in to drink from the cup, Sattvva says, “Transcend the artificial. Become your true self. Embrace your super-nature. Drink One.” Sattvva June tilts the cup to the woman's lips and she drinks.
Sattvva June moves to each of his followers in turn. Each time, he repeats, “Transcend the artificial. Become your true self. Embrace your super-nature. Drink One.”
S'Talla watches expressionlessly. June finishes his circuit through his followers and glances back to the Vulcan's crew. He meets S'Talla's eye. S'Talla doesn't change her stance, yet, somehow, she appears harder, more focused, as the two hold their looks at each other. Finally, June says to S'Talla, from his position before his followers, “I see you, Captain. Let me help you shed your fake identity and embrace your true self.”
S'Talla says, “The logical thing for me to do is return to my duties on the bridge.”
Sam frowns at her friend's response. S'Talla walks towards the turbo-lift while Sam watches.
No one sees the irises of Sattvva June turn from brown to black for a moment, then return to their normal color.
Sattvva June says to Sam, Damian, and Spirro, with a welcoming gesture, “Please, come join our One. The drink is merely ceremonial, a symbol of imbibing our super-nature.”
Sam moves forward and kneels next to Chillaffen. Sattvva is there with the cup. The other two stay back. “Transcend the artificial. Become your true self. Embrace your super-nature. Drink One.”
-
Vulcan's Bridge:
Ya and Ne are at the helm, Skyvik is at tactical, Naxx is at sensors when S'Talla enters from the starboard turbo-lift. She heads for her chair and asks Vulcan, “Vulcan, are there any cases of humans with psychic powers?”
Vulcan answers, “Yes, some rudimentary psychic abilities have been documented in humans. Other than unverifiable legends of their distant past, the most notable cases tested and recorded have been within the last fifty years.”
“Do humans demonstrate the ability to connect with the minds of others?”
Vulcan replies, “No reported cases have ever been confirmed. Most reports of such advanced mental abilities have been scientifically debunked as frauds. However, some reports involving twins have defied scientific efforts to discredit them.”
S'Talla persists, “There are no cases of humans connecting with a Vulcan mind or being able to block a Vulcan from feeling their minds?”
“Correct,” answers Vulcan. “Human-based psionics have been limited to short term predictions, card reading, and ‘tadek-adir nikh’, a technique Humans call ‘remote viewing.’ The tested population suggests that only zero point zero one five percent of the Human population may manifest very weak psychic abilities. However, that statistic has been recorded as increasing exponentially over the last fifty years.”
S'Talla asks, “What are the odds that Sattvva June has learned to cloak his mind and read the thoughts of others?”
Vulcan answers, “If Sattvva June was Human, the odds would be in the range of zero point zero zero seven percent. Higher, if he has access to an advanced version of brain wave technology similar to the cap Mister Santayana wears, that reads his intent to unlock doors.”
Naxx interjects, “That technology is limited to physical contact and only in a subject it has been able to calibrate to. The cap can only read Art's intent within a very limited range of specific applications.” Naxx shifts to more fully face S'Talla and asks Vulcan, “Vulcan, what did you mean, ‘if he were Human’?”
Vulcan responds, “Sattvva June is Betazoid.”
On the main screen, the starfield transforms into a Federation star chart, then quickly focuses down to the Betazed planetary system. Labels identify the primary star, the home planet and key astronomical features.
Vulcan continues, “Their species is generally a pacifist people, discovered by the Federation twenty-one years ago.”
Vulcan overlays the Betazed system schematic with a generic example of a male and female Betazoid. An anatomical focus on their unique brain structure appears, labeled with cognitive functions that shift in synchronization with Vulcan’s explanation.
The screen image highlights the Betazoid cerebral cortex. Text begins loading known structures and mental attributes in a scrolling list of psionic classifications — ‘Type 4 Telepath, Type 2 Empath, …’
Vulcan goes on to describe the limited data from the Federation database, “They are a highly psychic, warp-capable species, living in an odd collective social structure that maintains strong individuality. It is really quite fascinating, considering how psychically connected they are.”
Naxx replies, “I have heard of the planet Betazed. Their controlling species is supposed to have large pupils with no irises. I would have noticed that detail.”
The anatomical models enlarge over the screen to focus on the anatomy of Betazoid eyes.
Vulcan answers, “I believe your information is a decade old. Betazoids do have irises, they are black making it look like they have large pupils. I do not know why you did not notice his irises, Mister Naxx.” S'Talla requests, “Vulcan, tell us everything we know about Betazoids, please.”
-
The lounge on Deck ‘C’:
Sam is kneeling with Sattvva June's followers, in meditation, listening, eyes closed, to the guru describing the One. Spirro is kneeling to Sam's left, Damian to Spirro's left. The whole group of his followers are listening to June saying, “Empty your minds of your false identities. Become One with me. I will release your super nature.”
T'Perl passes by the lounge doorway with Randool Harrix. They peek in at the group listening intently to June guiding them into their ascension. June glances up. He makes eye contact with Harrix. “Randool Harrix, correct?” Randool is surprised. “Have we met?” he asks from the doorway.
“Not in this… dimension,” the guru answers, leaving the new question floating out there. “I have known other Tiburonians. Perhaps you have heard of Doctor Sevrin. He taught me to let go of the confusion of this realm. We are aliens here. He spoke of an Eden where the world of machines can't exist.”
Randool answers, “The acoustics researcher?”
“Yes,” confirms June. “I sense you are a man imprisoned by machines. I can help free you. Be One, machines are obsolete.”
The mystical leader turns his focus on T'Perl for a long few seconds. “I have it, your name is T'Perl. Why don't you two join us? We are One. You too can be One with us.” The collective followers watch to see how the newcomers might respond.
-
The cargo hold on cargo deck ‘E’:
Spalloz and Art are inspecting the cargo. Spalloz asks, “What do you expect to find, Mister Santayana?”
“I don't know,” replies Art, “but I can't help but feel there is something… off about a guru and his followers on Halla Station.”
“You don't think smugglers and con men might want to seek a better way, or do you think those teaching enlightenment should not being their wisdom to the ones who need it the most?”
Art is trying to figure out a way of looking inside the crates without leaving evidence of his trespass. “Show me the contents of these crates,” He says out loud.
Spalloz answers, “I can not. They are sealed, and without permission from either the captain, or Sattvva June, it would be unethical to break in to them.”
Art says, “I'm talking to my cap. On Kehtua'k Station, my cap was able to show me a schematic of… Ah hah!” Art is staring at the sculptural stack of crates, as he reads the ghost image of his HUD, only he can see.
“Nothing but bottles of… wait, Vulcan, what does the chemical formula: , H2 O times 88 plus C2 H5 O H times 7.5 plus brackets C2 F4 sub-numeral 35 times 2.5 plus C16 H21 N3 O2 P mean?”
Vulcan responds, “The molecular formula: H2O is water. That is the primary ingredient making up nearly ninety percent of the substance. C2 H5 O H is Ethanol, typical grain alcohol at a concentration of less than 15 proof. However, C2 F4 times 35 is a short chain tetrafluoroethylene. Possibly a contaminant from the manufacturing equipment, but it could also act as a cross-membrane carrier for the tryptamine alkaloid, C16 H21 N3 O2 P.”
Art asks, “What's a triptamine alkaloid?”
Vulcan replies, “In this case, the chemical formulas looks very similar to several Hallucinogenics such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide.”
Spalloz listens silently, while Art looks surprised. “You mean LSD?”
“That is the common Earth name for it, yes,” responds Vulcan. “However, the formula you described is not exactly the same as either of those substances. I can not say, without physical observation, what effect it would have on people. My own analysis of the contents of those crates, since you have already invaded Sattvva June and his people's privacy to reveal the possibility of a dangerous hallucinogenic, reveals several trace compounds that include flavoroids, natural sugars, and plant-based substances that are typical of harmless fruit juice. The most unusual is the Non-Aqueous Silico-Nitride Lattice. While water makes up the major substance. A non-aqueous liquid seems to form a 3-dimensional tetrafluoroethylene matrix supported by the H2O solution.
Spalloz asks, “I thought tetrafluoroethylene only existed as a polymer chain, not as a 3-dimensional matrix. What holds the matrix together?”
Vulcan answers, “The matrix appears to be composed of orthophosphate ions and the C2 F4 sub n lattice along with the possible hallucinogenic compound. My sensors detect an anomalous energy bond that I can not identify. It is possible that there is an additional dimension beyond the scope of my sensors.”
“A fourth dimension?” Spalloz asks with a raised skeptical eyebrow.
Vulcan explains, "Perhaps. If this non-aqueous lattice exists in dimensions beyond the three physical dimensions, there is no way to tell how many dimensions it exists in. I only surmise the additional dimensions as an explanation for the coherence of an otherwise impossible structure.”
Art says to Spalloz and Vulcan, “I think we need to talk to S'Talla and Sam about this.”
Spalloz agrees, “There is little to do except deliver, as we have agreed to do, but sharing this information with the captain is a good idea.”
Vulcan says, “S'Talla is on the bridge. Samantha is in the lounge on deck ‘C’ with a number of the crew, listening to Sattvva June's meditation lessons.”
Art says, “We'll stop by to collect her first, bring her with us to the bridge.”
-
The lounge on deck ‘C’:
Sam is sitting on the floor in a wide circle of June's followers; with her are Spirro and Randool, Damian, T'Pree, T'Perl, and Charlie have joined the group.
June is walking around the circle again with his cup of Trans Soma. “Empty your minds and join the One. Let your false identity go. You no longer need it.”
Art and Spalloz enter the lounge to the serene meditation class. Sattvva June looks up and meets Arthur Santayana's eyes. The guru’s own eyes are black, his irises blending with the deepspace blackness of his pupils.
Art reacts, “You're Betazoid!”
Sattvva June doesn't answer the accusation, but instead, spreads his hands, inviting the two of them to join his group. “Welcome, Arthur Santayana, and…” The Betazoid concentrates on Spalloz for only a moment longer, “Spalloz!”
The guru anchors his eyes to Spalloz, fixing the Vulcan's gaze to his. You are interested in what we do, what we are about. I see you. Come, sit, listen.”
Spalloz stands, staring at the empty spot in the circle created when two of the sitting group shift apart to open a space.
Then Sattvva June looks again to Art. Sam laughs, joining Art and threads her hand into his left elbow. “Come Art, you will love this.” As Sam tries to convince him, she playfully walks her fingers up his chest to finally tap him on his lips. We will have so much fun together once we've become One.”
June directs, “Sit, Art, empty your mind, become One with us.” The man walks with the three, Sam pulling Art, and Spalloz pacing them to the wider gap in the circle of smiling, watching followers.
Once Sam has seen Art and Spalloz to their seats on the floor, she retakes her own seat. “It is amazing, it is One. We all feel so good.”
June steps in front of Art, and Sam says, “Drink the Trans Soma. It will open your mind, and free you.”
“Be Now, Be Empty, Be One,” the guru says and holds the cup down for Art to drink.
-
The bridge of Vulcan:
S'Talla stands from the center chair, Skyvik turns from the tactical station, Naxx at sensors, T'Pree at communications, and Ya and Ne give their captain their attention from the helm station.
“I will be meditating in my quarters.” S'Talla informs the bridge crew. “Sattvva June may not be anything more than a bootlegger of his Trans Soma drink, but he tried to enter my mind and was able to block my attempts to feel his mind in return. Since Samantha Kelly and several others of our crew are listening to his teachings, I have concerns.”
Ya says, “Vulcan has the helm,”
Ne adds, “Skyvik is watching sensors.”
Ya and Ne both say, “We can research Sattvva June and the Temple of Transcendent Nature.”
S'Talla says to Ya and Ne, “I do not know how powerful Betazoid mental abilities are. Logic tells me Bynar positronics will not make someone like Sattvva June feel safe.”
Skyvik adds, “That psychological logic explains why his church is anti-machine.”
The port turbo-lift opens and Sam, Art, Mirror, Kreeh, and Sattvva June enter the bridge. They are all smiles and laughing. Sam and Art each carry a bottle of Trans Soma. Kreeh and Mirror are playing a stiktar and a wheel harp, while Sam and Art dance with them. Sattvva June smiles sedately, hands held in a triangle.
Sattvva says, “We have come to bring bliss to you and your crew, Captain.”
Sam laughs, “We have become One. Join us. S'Talla. The whole universe opens to the One.”
Art joins Sam, his arm wrapping Sam's waist lovingly. “There is so much more to see when we are Now, when we are One.”
Sattvva turns his attention to Skyvik, standing at the sensor monitors. He concentrates while Sam and Art move to engage with S'Talla. Sattvva says to Skyvik, “You want to know what we are about… Skyvik. You want to know what it is like to be One.”
Skyvik stares at Sattvva. His hand moves to his phaser on his belt.
“There is no need for your weapons, Skyvik,” states June. “When you are One, all is peace, all is Now. I see you, Skyvik. You have an exceptionally disciplined mind. Empty your mind. Let go of the artificial, your fake identity. I will teach you to become One with me.”
Skyvik’s hand relaxes, he replies to June, “I want to know.”
S'Talla turns from Sam and Art. She stares at the giant Vulcan.
Ya and Ne stand from their seats at the helm station.
Ya asks, “Captain, we feel…”
Ne finishes, “Strange.”
Ya describes the feeling, “It is like…”
Ne helps, “having a third…”
Both Ya and Ne end the sentence together, “half.”
Sattvva June asks, “What are you two, twins? What species?”
S'Talla answers, “They are Bynars. You won't be able to put thoughts into their minds like you can with other species.” S'Talla is standing, rigid, at attention, her concentration shows in the strenuous stance she holds herself in.
Sattvva smiles gently, “My Betazoid heritage often leaves the uneducated anxious, until they understand. Until they become One.”
S'Talla replies, “Logic gives me understanding. You will let go of your control of my crew.”
June says, “Betazoids don't have the ability to control minds. Most of us can't even read thoughts, only feel what others are feeling.” He steps closer to S'Talla and says, “You drank the Trans Soma, let go of your fake identity and open your mind to the One. I can help you ascend.”
S'Talla closes her eyes and sits back down in the captain's chair. She breathes a deep and slow breath. “Stay… out… of… my… mind.”
I am merely trying to help you ascend, but you have closed yourself to the One. I am only here to help you and your crew ascend. Look at your best friend, Samantha. She is happier.”
S'Talla sees Sam laughing and encouraging Ya and Ne to have a sip of the Trans Soma.
Sam says, “Ya, Ne, I have found bliss in the One.”
Ya has taken a small bottle from Sam and both Ya and Ne have fixed their gaze upon her.
“It is not…” starts Ya.
“...not right,” ends Ne.
Skyvik lowers the bottle he drank from and says, “It is good. I am One.”
The starboard turbo-lift opens and Ghant, the cup June had been passing around, held in his hand, steps onto the bridge. He is accompanied by Winny, Olan, and Zurrat.
Zurrat declares, “The One grows stronger.”
Sattvva June moves towards Ghant. He greets Ghant with a hug. June invites, “Welcome brother. Come, meditate with us, become One.”
June turns back to S'Talla, who is watching from her command chair. “Even the Klingon understands the One.” The guru turns suddenly to Ya and Ne. “What are you? There is a blackness in the two of you. What is that?” June is starting to sound frustrated. He is growing irritated.
June concentrates on the two Bynars and commands, “drink the Trans Soma!”
Ya's hand shakes, but the bottle lifts slowly to Ya's lips.
Ne reaches to stop the bottle in Ya's hand, but Ne is too late, Ya takes a sip.
“Your turn, whatever you are,” June tells Ne. “Open yourself to the One. Empty your mind, become One. Let me help you ascend.”
Ne tries to resist, but Sam lifts the bottle to Ne's lips.
“Excellent, my brothers and sisters. Ascend with me, become One!”
Sam and Art help Ya and Ne to retake their seats at helm control.
June turns to S'Talla. The captain has retreated into her meditations.
June frowns, “You are very strong, Captain. I have not come across a mind as disciplined as yours, but I will help you become One.”
Jun looks around the room. Sam is smiling, dancing to Mirror's and Kreeh's music. Ya and Ne sit stunned, eyes glazed.
Vulcan speaks, “Sattvva June, my friends are not yours to control. You will stop whatever you are doing and get off.”
June looks around. He concentrates his mind. “Who is that?” June turns to S'Talla. “There are no other minds here.”
S'Talla remains passive. She can not reply to the question because she is concentrating on resisting June's mind.
“Ah,” June smiles, turning to Skyvik with interest. “I have been to Engineering, but there are two who have escaped my notice.”
June moves to the starboard turbo-lift. He switched his attention to Sam, then to T'Pree.
June announces, “Professor… Kazzak and Francesca Gödel. Thank you, Samantha, T'Pree, and Skyvik. You are One. You are ready to transcend. Skyvik, Naxx, family, come, we must help our two lost family members to reach us.”
The door to the lift opens. June and Skyvik, Naxx, and T'Pree enter along with Olan and Mirror.
“Ghant,” calls June, “I may need your muscle. Join us in reaching our brethren.”
Ghant leaves the bridge with June and his happy group.
Vulcan stays quiet and lets the group enter the lift.

 

[Will The Serious]

The turbo-lift on the way to Engineering:
The space is crowded, but the occupants are all smiling and laughing.
June says, “Our family grows everyday, my brothers and sisters.”
Mirror says, “You are Now. We are One. It is go helping our family come to their super-nature and ascend to become One.”
The turbo-lift stops and the doors open, T'Pia is there to greet them. Ghant steps out, then T'Pree, Naxx, and Mirror. June is about to proceed behind Skyvik when the turbo-lift doors slam shut, trapping June into the lift with Olan.
“Machines, brother. They serve a purpose, but they are not Real, they are not One.”
“Sattvva June,” speaks Vulcan. “I am a machine. I do not hear your thoughts, I do not have a mind that you can manipulate. You are to let go of your hold on my family, and leave our presence.”
June loses his serene expression and replies, “What is this? Is the Vulcan captain so strong that she can still control her ship? I don't think so!”
Vulcan says, “My captain is withstanding your mental attack, but I think that is the limit of her abilities. It is up to me to expel you from me and my crew.”
“You?!” Yells the guru. “You are a machine, there is no ‘You’.”
“I am the ship. I am my own, just like my crew. If you will not let go of my crew, my friends, my family, I will do whatever I can to save them.”
Sattvva June argues, “You may have me trapped in this turbo-lift, but my mind is throughout this ship. I am many, I am One with this crew. You are alone.”
At that moment, the hot glow of a phaser-torch begins cutting into the doors of the lift. Sattvva smiles and adopts his serenity again.
Vulcan says, “I am not alone.”
-
The Bridge of Vulcan:
Vulcan emits a screeching, electronic sound that causes June's people to cover their ears. Ya and Ne both pass out, slumping over the control panel before them.
-
The Professor's lab:
Vulcan interrupts Kazzak and Francesca as they struggle to shove an odd electronic cylindrical device together. The translucent sides of the half-meter-long object begins to glow, once the ends finally click into place.
“Professor, I need your help. You and Francesca are the only two who have not succumb to Sattvva June's mind control.”
Kazzak and Francesca both straighten up and Professor Kazzak asks, “Tell us how it is being done.”
“Sattvva June is Betazoid. They are a recently discovered species from the planet Betazed. They are strongly telepathic, but I believe he is using a mind altering hallucinogenic to open their minds to actual control.”
“D does do you ha ha have a sa sam sam sample of the the the the ha ha hal hall hallu… drug?” asks Francesca.
Vulcan answers, “I am sorry Doctor. I do have a chemical analysis of the drink Sattvva June makes all his subjects drink. I'll see if I can beam a sample from their cargo.”
“E e every everyone, is is is under is under con con control?” Francesca wants to know.
“Yes, effectively,” explains Vulcan. “Ya and Ne have had a different reaction, and S'Talla seems to be resisting, but she is immobilized.”
“Tell us about Ya and Ne,” requests the professor.
-
On the bridge:
S'Talla remains in her meditative state while the others recover from the sound Vulcan emitted from her speaks. The port side lift doors open and Francesca and Kazzak enter with two hypoguns from sickbay. Vulcan plays another electric buzzing and screeching. It sounds similar to an ancient modem connection for the antiquated Internet of Earth.
Ya and Ne both shake their heads and lift them, each with a hand going to their positronic interface patch on their temples. The other people on the bridge bow with hands to ears again, except Kazzak and Francesca. They have earbuds in to cancel the sounds Vulcan was generating to wake Ya and Ne.
Vulcan announces, “Sattvva June is free of the lift. I can stop them from using the turbo-lift, and I can close off bulkheads and lock emergency doors, but T'Pia and her engineers are helping them cut their way to the bridge.”
The two scientists move quickly through the bridge. June's people have no chance to react before a hypospray goes into an arm. Sam is left wavering, staring at the walls, along with the others.
Kazzak grabs S'Talla’s hands and Doctor Gödel gives her an injection.
“This will counter the effects of the hallucinogenic,” says Kazzak.
S'Talla opens her eyes ever so slightly. “How fast?” Is all she can get out.
“That,” says Professor Kazzak, “depends.”
Ya and Ne say, “We must move.”
Vulcan answers, “Agreed. They are almost to the bridge port-side turbo-lift. They found the lab, so Captain S'Talla's quarters are the most secure. I will beam you there.”
The six crew begin to fade in their photon beams before Vulcan finishes speaking.
-
S'Talla's quarters:
The six crew, Ya and Ne, Kazzak and Francesca, and Sam and S'Talla beam into S'Talla's quarters.
Sam is laughing, “Wow! That is really freaky. I never realized how trippy the transporter is. All my molecules separated and dancing freely.”
Sam looks around S'Talla's quarters as if she had never been here before. She spots the booch.
“Music!” Sam declares, “Music is real. Where's my flute?”
Sam spots the scroll laid open on the salon table. She rushes over. Her flute is laying on the scroll, holding it open. Everyone watches her scoop up her flute and examine the scroll while wetting her lips in preparation to play.
S'Talla says to Kazzak, “How long before the hallucinogens leave her body?”
Sam begins to play the tune from the scroll.
Kazzak answers, “That may depend on how much of the drink she has consumed.”
Sam stops playing and exclaims, “They're dancing. Look, they love the music.” She begins playing again. Sam starts to sway, then pirouette. She starts dancing in earnest, while playing her flute.
“Dance with us, S'Talla,” Sam invites during a brief pause in her playing. “They want to teach you their dance.”
Kazzak comments, “I suspect Ms. Kelly has had more than one sip of the Trans Soma.
Ya says to Vulcan, “Vulcan, Sattvva June was in our minds…”
Ne adds, “we were able to keep our own…”
Both Ya and Ne finish, “consciousness,”
Ya goes on, “We can stun him…”
Ne completes, “with a synaptic jolt.”
Vulcan points out, “The Bynar synaptic jolt is an electrical cortex disruption that requires both of you to touch him.”
S'Talla, trying to fend off Sam's nudges to get her to dance, says over the lilting flute music, “June is a very powerful psychic. I can feel him touching my mind, even now. You will not get close enough.”
Kazzak speculates, “A powerful psychic like Sattvva June will know even my or Captain S'Talla's minds, even if he can not influence them. With Sam still under the influence of the Trans Soma, he may already know what we are talking about.”
Sam stops her playing. “Yes, I know where you are and what you are doing. I will help you become One. It's for your own good.” Sam giggles and says, “That's so nice of him.” She returns to her playing and her dance.
Vulcan speaks to Ya and Ne. “Ya, Ne, do you think June can read your thoughts, as well?”
“No, the two Bynars say together. “We have given our implants greater priority since the Trans Soma has been purged. We can feel June trying, but he can not read our thoughts.”
The two Bynars suddenly fade in the glimmer of sub-atomic particles beaming away.
-
Sam is experiencing the world in a whole new way. She finds herself beamed into S'Talla's quarters with the others. Everything is so bright. June is talking to her and the others who are One. “We will help everyone be One. Be patient, my sisters and brothers. We are coming to help.”
Sam lets out a laugh. “Wow!” she says, “That is really freaky. I never realized how trippy the transporter is. All my molecules separated and dancing freely.”
S'Talla's quarters seem different, brighter, the walls and ceiling move, sway. Sam sees the booch hop and twirl, as if it wants to say something. The bow, thrusting upright in its holster on the stand waves at Sam.
“Music!” Sam declares, “Music is real. Where's my flute?”
Sam spots her flute dancing on the opened scroll laying on the salon table.
She can hear her flute beckon, “Play with me, Sam.”
She rushes over, and scoops up the instrument. Then she examines the scroll while wetting her lips.
The odd glyphs start moving on the paper. They are dancing and cavorting with one another. Sam had never noticed how humanoid looking they are before, like stylized stick figures with wavy arms and legs ending in curled hands and feet, long braids flipping out and around their heads.
When Sam starts to play, the characters on the scroll all line back up, and ready themselves to begin their dancing to the music. They are coordinated and stepping in time to the notes Sam is playing.
“They're dancing,” Sam declares with delight. “Look, they love the music.”
Sam plays again. She sways, and does a pirouette, then tries to follow their dancing while still playing her flute.
Little voices come from the scroll, from the characters, “Where's S'Talla? She needs to know how to dance.”
“Dance with us, S'Talla,” Sam invites, taking the flute from her lips briefly. “They want to teach you their dance.”
Sam moves to her friend and tries to get her to join in.
-
Sickbay:
Ya and Ne beam into sickbay. They had not expected such a move on Vulcan's part. They need a moment to reorient themselves.
Vulcan explains, “We are on sickbay. None of Sattvva June's followers are near, so we can talk here.”
Ya replies, “and June can hear the minds…”
Ne finishes, “of the others.”
“Precisely,” Vulcan confirms. “I believe I can get you close enough to June, but you can not hesitate. I do not know what his followers will do once he is incapacitated.”
Ya says, “We have no weapons, but…”
Ne adds, “Bynars are never completely defenseless.”
“Good.” Vulcan adds, “Sattvva June is on the bridge now.”
-
S'Talla's quarters:
June's followers have forced the cabin doors opened. Randool Harrix is holding the phaser-torch he used to distort the material and break the door glides.
Skyvik and Ghant have positioned themselves on either side of S'Talla who sits, deep in meditation, to prevent June from overwhelming her mind.
The self-proclaimed guru is saying, “You have the strongest mind I have felt, Captain, but you will become One, just as all my pupils have. Let go of this artificial self, I can help you to know your super-nature.”
June waves his arms out, indicating Randool, Mirror, Skyvik, Ghant, Olan, and T'Pia. Chillaffen and others are still out in the corridor. They all seem happy and willing to help their guru. Sam has stopped her playing and moves to tuck herself under June's left arm.
Francesca Gödel is frozen, Kazzak reaches to take her hand. The contact relaxes her. June turns his attention to them.
“That is a nice trick… Professor?!” June pauses to read the Professor's mind. “Professor Kazzak. Another strong mind. Nearly your captain's equal. But once you have enjoyed our Trans Soma, you will be able to reach the One, right along with your partner Doctor Gödel. Your touch is only delaying her ascension.”
Ya beams into the room, directly in front of Sattvva June. He is startled, his mind lets go of S'Talla and Kazzak for a moment.
“You are part machine!” June says it with disgust in his voice, like this unholy shi…”
Ya reaches as high as a Bynar can, to touch a finger to June's forehead. Ne has beamed in directly behind June, and taps the back of June's skull at the same time. There is a spark at the tips of each of the two Bynars’ fingers, their temples interfaces flow and June crumples into unconsciousness.
“Thank you Ya, Ne.” S'Talla offers.
Skyvik steps back, “Captain, are you well?” he asks of her.
Vulcan directs, “Professor, Doctor Gödel, give them your antidote before June regains consciousness.”
Ya says, “That won't happen.” And Ne presses a hypospray to the fallen Betazoid’s shoulder and pulls the trigger.
Ne holds the hypo-gun up and says, “This sedative should knock him out for four hours.”
Ya adds, “at least.”
Ghant looks away from the older Vulcan after receiving his antidote, over at June's unconscious body, then says to the Bynars, "I could make sure his sleep is…more permanent.”
Olan is holding his head after receiving a dose from Francesca Gödel's hypo-gun. He speaks. “I don't know how he has done this, but none of us were his willing followers. Thank you for setting us free.”
Sam blinks, she runs over to S'Talla, takes her hand, “S'Talla, dance. Dance!”
S'Talla says, “It is a hallucination, Sam. You are drugged.”
“No S'Talla, I… I was drugged, but what I saw…” Sam looks towards the scroll. “It's a dance. You need to learn the dance.”
Chillaffen and Mirror push into cabin, crowding S'Talla's main salon. “You have freed us, Captain S'Talla. We can't thank you enough.”
S'Talla turns from her contemplation of the scroll, “I did nothing but resist June's mind control. It was others who stopped June.”
Olan turns to where Ghant is being held by a light hand on his chest. Francesca is stuttering, “We we we d do do don't needed to to to k k k k k do that. Th there are o… o… oth… other ways.”
“What will you do with him?” Olan asks S'Talla.
S'Talla says, “I do not know yet, but it is logical that Betazed would know what to do.”
-
Vulcan in flight from the planet Betazed:
“Captain's Log, stardate: three dash three nine four one point seven.
We discovered Sattvva June was wanted for the criminal use of mind control, mind-altering drugs, kidnapping, and a number of crimes unique to a society of psychically connected empaths. He is to be remanded to a mental facility on Betazed where his connection to their mental community will be permanently severed as part of his psychological rehabilitation.
I can only imagine the profound effect that would have on a mind that has been connected to such a community of minds like Betazed. But then, Sattvva June chose to sever his connection with his community a long time ago.”

Table of Content:
Ep. 1: The Needs of the Many
Ep. 2: The Needs of the Few
Ep. 3: 'T' Minus Negative
Ep. 4: A Pon Too Farr
Ep. 5: Seeing is Believing, Part 1
Ep. 6: Seeing is Believing, Part 2
Ep. 7: Mind in a Vat
Ep. 8: The Job
Ep. 9: Red Giants and White Dwarves
Ep. 10: Zenfu Fighting
Ep. 11: Self-Help Guru
The Vulcan Character Highlights