Paramount Global owns the Star Trek franchise. This is a piece of fan fiction based on Star Trek the Next Generation.
Spot on ice
It took 3.5 hours for two, 2 men crews to fix the hydraulic to Data’s quarters. Instead of pacing the floor in front of his quarters, which was his first impulse, he went to Engineering. The filter had reversed the coolant flow to 273 degrees Kelvin, the melting point of ice. The containment unit had 73% of it’s coolant back. Data was staring at the pipe holding the filter. “It isn’t going anywhere.” Geordi reassured him.
“I was not thinking that.” He turned to Geordi, “I was thinking how I cannot wait to find out who manufactured that.”
“Another piece to the puzzle.”
“Yes.”
Data’s communicator beeped, “yes.”
“Sir, we will try the doors when you get here.”
“Let us go check it out.” Data and Geordi arrived at his quarters. There was a man kneeling at each tube. “Ready when you are.” Each man called back into the tube.
“Ready.”
The doors hissed. Nothing more. “Nothing.” Data shook his head.
Again they called back into the tube, “nothing.” The men in the tubes made some adjustments. Again the doors hissed.
“Nothing,” they called.
“10 minutes.” Data heard from inside the tube.
“To?” Geordi asked.
The man shrugged his shoulders. “Sorry sir.” Data began to pace.
“I haven’t heard our little lady in a while.”
“Are you attempting to make me feel better?”
“I guess that didn’t help?”
“Not really.”
Geordi sat in the floor across from the doors. Data continued to pace. “Data please stop.”
“Why?”
“You are making me nervous.”
“How is this action making you nervous?”
“It is difficult to explain but you are.” He joined Geordi on the floor. “How long has it been?”
“8.4 minutes.”
Geordi’s communicator beeped, “yes.”
“Sir, the containment unit is at 100%.”
“Thank you.”
“Cabin temperature 291 degrees Kelvin.”
“There is your little lady.” Data tried to smile.
“I need to be in Engineering retrieving that filter.” He patted his foot against the floor, leaned his head against the wall behind him, and let out a long sigh.
“How does it feel to be nervous?” Geordi asked.
“I do not enjoy it.”
The doors hissed, sliding open. Data stared in amazement. “It’s open,” Geordi marveled.
“It is still cold.”
“I thought the temperature returned.”
“It did.” Data got up. Geordi followed. They slowly walked into the room. The door shut.
“Are you sure the temperature went back.”
“Spot rolled across Data’s shoes.
“Spot?” Data bent over picking him up. He was in a clear ball. “How did you get in there?”
“What is it?”
“I have no idea.” He sat Spot in a chair. The ball disappeared, Spot jumped out of the chair rubbing against his legs, purring. “I am happy to see you too.” He bent over picking up Spot. Data kept a collar round him but he had on two. He took the second one off. He read, “Protecting this mans best friend.” He gave Geordi a bewildered look. “What does that mean?”
“There is an Earth saying that ‘dog is mans best friend”, I guess since you don’t have a dog, it is referring to Spot being your best friend.” There was silence between the two while Data petted Spot.
“What is that?” Geordi’s eyes were transfixed on the gelatin mass on Data’s bed. It was light blue. It reminded Geordi of an iceberg.
“When the body is subject to cold temperature it absorbs the coldness. When placed back in normal conditions, the body radiates the cold until it returns to a normal temperature. Have you ever set next to someone who has been submerged in cold water and felt the coldness coming from them?”
“Are you telling me that is a body?” Geordi walked closer to the bed.
“What…how?” He just froze.
“Tortured beyond anything we will ever experience. It seems like the torture is not to end.”
“Who is it?”
“The lady in my dreams.” Data held his hand out over her but never touched her.
“Two weeks of healing has been redirected.”
“The lady in your dreams? The lady in the painting?”
“Yes.”
Geordi didn’t know what to say to console this friend. They stood there in
King James stood on the terrace overlooking the ‘back 40’, as his daughter Juliah called it. Rao soon joined him.
“I know,” James spoke softly.
“What are we to do?”
They stood there in the silence of nature. She secretly wished her children could be as happy as the deer playing at the edge of the meadow. Juliah was. She was the most free spirit in the world.
“Pray.” He almost cried. “Pray that this trip will help.” He turned to his wife studying her face. The worry he could hide was written all over her delicate features. “We never should have agreed to this.”
“We had no choice in the matter. How do you renege on a promise so dark?”
“So our past was spared by the life of our son?”
“Sounds almost religious does it not?”
He studied her face then offered her his hand. She accepted. They entered the palace together. Floria met them in the hall. She curtsied. James wanted to throw her off the terrace. The gentleman in him remained calm. The sound of her fake honey stained voice made his teeth ache.
“I am looking for Orion.”
“I sent him on an errand.” James reported.
“Where sire?” She probed.
“He will be back soon.” James brushed past her.
She flung herself around.
“The only reason you let me stay here is because you’re afraid of my father. You are dependent on his military power.” She snorted. “He could crush you like an insect.” She balled her fist in anger as she spoke.
“Believe what you will. Though, I am very sorry that you feel this way.” James spoke kindly. “I have sent my son on an errand. Forgive me for being so honest, there will be many things we ask him to do that he can’t tell you about.” James wanted now more than ever to push her over the terrace. There it was, in his minds eye, her free falling into nothingness. He glanced past her to Rao. She just rolled her eyes.
Floria felt a burst of air as Rao walked around her to join her husband.
“Why would you send a man that has one foot in the grave and one on a banana peel, to do any errand?” This comment set James’ heart on fire. “If it was an errand of importance, surely someone more fit could have gone?” She straightened her shoulders and lifted her head as if to say, ‘me’.
It took every ounce of strength that James had not to be ugly to Princess Floria. With his teeth clinched he finally said, “I have every confidence in my son.” He and Queen Rao disappeared down the hall hand in hand.
Shyreka was once a war torn land. Two brothers: Simon and Phillip were as different as night and day. They kept the country in battle for 60 years. Over time 75% of the population had been decimated. Simon had tried five times to call a truce. Phillip would never agree. He wanted everything or nothing.
Simon had one son. Phillip went without a wife or children. War was his main focus.
A woman appeared one night to Simon. She was dressed in a black cloak that covered her from head to toe. She offered to kill Phillip. In exchange, she wanted the next male heir from the House of Morian (Simon’s family line) to marry the female of his generation from the House of Prinee. If this union, when it was supposed to occur was forbidden, no matter in what time the entire line would die. Prinee’s house was powerful and war like but due to the nature of the Morian feud; they refused to get involved. Power wasn’t everything for the purity of the Prinee line was dying.
Simon and his wife toiled over this offer for days. His child was a girl. What about his grandchildren? Could he do that to them? There had been one arranged marriage during his linage. It was a disaster. He didn’t want this to happen again. Every monarch had to read the account when they had children.
He had tried three times to kill Phillip, failing each time. Mostly, because Phillip was his brother. How do you kill your blood? How do you justify murder? Finally under distress, they agreed.
Two days after their agreement, the body of Prince Phillip was delivered to Prince Simon by Phillip’s generals. They immediately pledged their allegiance to Simon. And he was in turn crowned King.
In the shadows, he saw the cloaked figure. Sadness filled his heart.
At the birth of a child, a member of the opposite house was at hand. Prinee and Morian were populating their houses with girls. During the fourth generation after the death of King Simon, this changed.
Holding true to course, King Taul and Queen Vespa conceived a girl: Princess Floria. The House of Morian gave a concealed sigh of relieve. Their joy would be shattered when six years later when King James and Queen Rao conceived a boy. With the birth of Orion, the union between the two houses had to take place.
James dreaded this union so. It ate at his soul. He had read the account passed down by Rao’s ancestors. The thought of having to do this caused him to lose sleep at night. He had watched Floria grow up. She was a monstrous child and was growing into a despicable person. He did not want his son attached to that.
By the time of Orion’s birth, Shyreka had been transformed into a thriving city.
They lived by strict rules so that war would never destroy them again. This growth and prosperity only added to his sadness.
1/2 cup bone broth (I use Kettle & Fire – get 20% off using code AUTUMNBATES at checkout!)
1.5 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp. butter
1 cup parmesan, shredded additional salt to taste
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In a medium or large pot, fill halfway with water and bring to a boil. Add cauliflower and cook until cauliflower is soft and easily pierced with a fork. Depending on how small you cut your cauliflower, this could take between 10-15 minutes. Drain the water once done cooking.
While the cauliflower boils, start the filling. In a large pan over medium heat, add olive oil and the ground beef (or lamb).
Season with 1 tsp. salt, thyme and rosemary. Sauté and break up the meat until fully cooked.
Once meat is cooked, add onions, carrot, garlic and mushrooms. Sauté for 5-7 minutes.
Add tomato paste, bone broth and Worcestershire sauce. Turn heat to medium low and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
While the meat simmers, finish the topping. Add butter, parmesan and a heavy pinch of salt to cauliflower. Mash with a potato masher until slightly creamy.
In a large baking dish or 4 individual small baking dishes, add the meat and veggie filling. If using the individual baking dishes, evenlv split the filling between each of the dishes.
Top the meat with the mashed cauliflower. If using individual baking dishes, split the mashed cauliflower evenly between each Bake for 25 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before eating.
My notes:
I only used 1/2 a head of cauliflower. For my taste 1 head was too much. Nor did I use Kettle & Fire bone broth. Kroger brand worked fine for me.
“This is great.” Data removed the plate covering the access panel. “Evidence of another phaser blast.”
“Cabin temperature 185 degrees Kelvin.”
Data grabbed the door and started to open it. “Wait.” Picard ordered. He tapped his communicator, “Mr. Worf would you join us?”
“Aye sir,” came his gruff reply.
In no time Worf rounded the corner, “Worf we have evidence of a phaser blast here. I want this area search for any type of devices that might be activated if this door is opened. If someone has gone through all this trouble, they would want to make sure that their target is destroyed.”
“Sir, as soon as that door is opened, I am going inside.” Data reported.
“I understand.”
They began searching the area for traps. “I found the source of your phaser blast. It has been discharged twice.” Worf handed the used phaser to Picard.
“Cabin temperature 190 degrees Kelvin.”
“Could someone shut her up?” Worf growled.
“No,” Data answered. “Not until someone gains access to my quarters.”
“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Geordi reported.
“Now may I try?”
“Yes, you may try.”
“Wait,” Worf stopped him, while reading his tricorder. “I know you are strong;
however, the safety features have been removed from the doors. The compression is on, holding the doors closed.” He continued to scan the doors.
“Someone has disconnected the hydraulics.”
“We get one problem solved, and find another one. I am becoming fond of Jeffery’s tubes.” Data said as he gained access to a tube near his quarters.
“I think your Limburger is starting to stink.” Geordi laughed as he entered another Jeffery’s tube on the opposite side of Data’s quarters.
Data stuck his head out of the Jeffery’s tube as Geordi stuck his head out of the tube he was in. “At least I am not full of holes.” They disappeared inside the tubes.
Worf looked bewildered toward Picard.
“Don’t ask.” Picard frowned.
Data found the small opening that controlled the hydraulics to the doors of his quarters. He tapped his communicator. “Go ahead.” Picard acknowledged.
“They are completely destroyed.” Data reported. “Worf, check that phaser to make sure twice was all it was fired.”
“This side has been completely melted.” Geordi confirmed Data’s report.
“Melted?” Picard questioned.
“Looks as though acid has been poured on them.”
“Acid?”
“Someone sure didn’t want us to get in.” Geordi groaned as he tried to get a sample of the acid.
Worf confirmed that twice was all the phaser had been fired.
“Cabin temperature 200 degrees Kelvin.”
“How long do you think it will take to replace those?” Picard asked.
“Three hours at the minimum.” Geordi answered.
“Get a crew on it.”
“Yes, sir.” Geordi appeared from the Jeffery’s tube.
“Data.” He walked over to the other tube. He got no response. “Data!” He called again. He climbed into the tube to find Data sitting there. “Hey!”
“What?”
“Didn’t you hear me?”
“No.”
“What’s wrong?”
“What kind of protector am I?”
“A good one,” Geordi answered.
“You can’t be here all the time. It will drive you crazy. You have to maintain your routine in order to maintain your sanity. We will find out who did this and they will be dealt with accordingly.” Data stared at his best friend. “It will be okay Data. We will have to build a better mouse trap.”
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