Paramount Global owns the Star Trek franchise. This is a piece of fan fiction based on Star Trek the Next Generation characters.
“I didn’t touch it!”
It seemed the instant Captain Picard and Data stepped on the bridge, the view screen became static. The young ensign sitting in Data’s chair spun around. In a scared voice she reported, “I didn’t touch it sir.”
Data cocked his head to one side. He was concentrating on something.
“What is it?” Wil asked.
“I hear something. I think I hear something.”
“Well the rest of us don’t hear it!” Westerfield shouted. “We hear static.” He threw his arms up in the air.
Jean-Luc turned to him giving him a hard look.
Data walked to his station. “It is okay ensign.” She scampered from the bridge. Data began to work on his console. “There is something there, a noise, very faint. I am attempting to filter the feedback.” As Data worked, a noise did appear. It was distorted. The more he worked the more an understandable voice developed from the static. It was low, animalistic in nature. The sounds were repeating over and over, ‘AYVGLAPC BPFXEUMP!’
“What is it saying?” Picard asked.
“Identify yourself.” Data replied
“This is the Federation Starship Enterprise. I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard.” There was silence.
Finally after several minutes of nervous tension ‘SJNL YT BTF SNGL?’
“What do you want?” Data translated.
“What do we want? What kind of question is that?” Westerfield asked.
“An honest one.” Jean-Luc responded. “To help you.”
“STNL ZNVUE BTF LJAGV A GUUY JUMO?”
Data spoke, “what makes you think I need help?”
Jean-Luc stared at Data. “You are kidding?”
“No Captain, that was the question asked. May I?”
“Please.”
“No, we don’t know what you are telling that thing.” Westerfield snapped.
The view screen came on. The Jormungand was still floating outside.
“Data,” Geordi broke in, “sensors show that the Jormungand hasn’t been on for at least a month. Everything about him is cold. Looks like the lights are the only things burning. That is what makes us think he needed help.”
“SJB AE SUETUXPAUMY TL RTNXY?”
Data just looked at Picard. “What?” He asked.
“Sir,” Data pointed to the ready room. Once they were inside. “Captain, the ship wanted to know why Westerfield is on board?”
“Really? Why is that important?”
“Westerfield is not a liked man sir. There are a lot of alien civilizations that would like to do him great harm.”
“Okay. What do we tell it?”
“The truth, Westerfield will not tell us the true objective of our mission. We only know we are to check on the status of a Goodwill Ambassador.”
“Let’s pray that works.” They reentered the bridge.
“SUETUXPAUMY SAMM GTL LUMM E FJU FXFU TRQUKLAWU TP TFX ZAEEATG. SU TGMB VGTS SU NXU LT KJUKV TG LJU ELNLFE TP N HTTYSAMM NBAEENYTX.” Data spoke to it.
“VUUO JAZ NSND PXTX.” Came the reply.
Data and Picard disappeared into the ready room again. “What this time?”
“He is asking that Westerfield be kept away from him.”
“They reentered the bridge. Picard spoke. “You have my word, I will do everything in my power as Captain to make sure of it.”
The image on the view screen changed to show the inside of the ship.
Poetry & More 