IDIC-PLANET

CHAPTER 5

Ensign LaPierre was not afraid. After all, to meet people who would listen to her ideas was the reason she had come to this planet. Indeed, it was what she had been trained for at home. To become an emissary of The Way. To convince as many people as she could that this was the only Way. She had been chosen from all the children in her school, mainly for her steadfast belief and conviction in THE WAY from a very young age. She had as a young child, taught herself all the 96 narrative poems that described the history of her people finding The Way, and all the commandments one had to follow. Hers was a strict belief and culture, born out of fear and harsh living conditions. Fear of the unknown, of others-from-the-sky that could come and conquer her world, as had happened many thousands of years ago.

At first her planet was teeming with life, and many cultural beliefs. Open-minded people, eager to encompass the new. So when others from outer space arrived, they were greeted with friendliness and warm hospitality. But their hospitality was not appreciated. These others were masters at sowing discontent and disharmony - they thrived on it. And when the hatred that they caused between the endogenous populations was at its peak, they attacked from the skies. They destroyed most of the world, most of the inhabitants, and then left. There was no reason, they took nothing, but left destruction. Her people, those that were left, withdrew into themselves, and the only way - The Way - was born. When the reasons for the birth of The Way were forgotten, and the planet reached out for contact, it was not for company. It was to teach. To preach The Way.

The Way was strict. One obeyed the Elders without question. So when she was chosen for special instruction she did not resist. She was to become the first of her people to be accepted by Starfleet, shortly after her home planet had been admitted to an unsuspecting Federation. Although, at that time she was afraid. Afraid to leave her home, to go out among strangers, amongst unbelievers. But after her long and arduous training, she was ready to take on the whole galaxy. She entered Starfleet academy.

Her first weeks, at the academy, were difficult. The place was full of strange "aliens". The only interest most of the other students had, was to do their best to get into space as fast as possible. So she too, pretended, that that was her sole aim. It made it easier for her not to have to socialise and she could hide her true intentions. Her natural quick intelligence and the fact that she was one of the first from a new Federation planet, enabled her to get assigned to a Starship, soon after her Academy graduation. She was assigned to the Enterprise.

At first she was thrilled. At last she would get to travel to the outer-reaches of the Galaxy, and make it possible to find a world that was ready to be taught her Way. But a starship is not like the Academy. There are only 400-odd beings enclosed within the ship, with nowhere else to go. A small compact community, often facing the unknown and manifold dangers together, depending one upon the other for survival. It's as if 430 single units (each having its own personality and varied background) became one. Interdependent on each other to serve the ship that was their home and safe-haven in an effectively hostile environment, space.

When one of these members failed so utterly to fit in, to be trusted, to truly join this somewhat exclusive community, it soon became apparent. At first, it was colleagues and the direct superior officer who became aware that something was amiss. They tried to deal with it, often with surprising sensitivity. When this failed, the problem was elevated to the crew-administrator. He or she would often confer with the Chief Medical Officer, who also had access to personnel records others did not. If needed, they would call in the acting religious-care officer (who had a very demanding job considering the ships complement of not only different religions from one planet, but also beliefs from many varied worlds ).

If still no solution was found and the situation had not improved the matter was slowly brought to the attention of the Captain, via his First Officer and Medical Officer. So it had been with Ensign LaPierre. It was a surprise to all when her intolerance, racism and disregard for other sentient beings surfaced. No such tendencies had been observed during her training at the Academy. None had been observed during her long entrance interview. However, she was the first to join from a new Federation planet, and often leeway was given to those applicants. Such intolerance would not have been acceptable, had it been perceived early enough. Now as a trainee navigator, on the Enterprise, her true feelings were difficult to hide. Her determined self-aggrandization came to light partly due to the presence of Lieutenant Offer. He presented a striking opposite in character to her, secure in his belief but open to new experiences. A man who had grown up in a loving secure family environment. One that taught him tradition as well as the ability and courage to question, to think for oneself, to see and to grow.

When he met LaPierre he could not comprehend her. In his hunger for philosophical knowledge he had questioned her. Interrogated her, till he managed to break down the protective field of placating lies, and the truth came out in an angry torrent of accusations, followed by a joyous expounding of the so long suppressed dogma of her True Belief.

Looking out at the different humanoids passing her by as they drove out of the Dome-city, her eyes flashed in anger as she remembered that day, when Offer tricked her into revealing her purpose, her aim too soon. To his credit he did not betray her to others. He had shrugged it off as a passing folly. From that day on, however, periodically he would try and lead her from her chosen path by discussions that would often end in heated arguments.

They had left the dome-city, and were moving through un-built country side. Soon the cultivated fields, growing some unrecognisable crop, gave way to steep and barren mountains. The majesty of the mountain-range, however, was often broken by technological desecration on a grandiose scale. Large mining works would unexpectedly loom up. Metal-like monsters, towering over the gaping holes that they had torn in the mountain, reducing a once proud peak to a simpering hillock dotted with mechanical protuberances.

She watched silently in an unsettled awe, as they made their way further into this ravaged landscape. Her guide was silent and she too felt no need to break the silence in this oppressive environment.

Suddenly, the road stopped. They had arrived at a particularly large and menacing looking mining works.

"Come, let me introduce you to my friends."

LaPierre, was some what reluctant to leave the apparent safety of the ground vehicle. But she had no choice now that she had come too far.

"I can't stay too long, if I want to get to back aboard the Enterprise undetected." she said, partly as a safety net, partly because it was true.

"It won't take long. Come."

He led her to a low building, made of the same crystal- like structure as the large dome in the city. But this was no dome. It was a low elongated building with no steps, that seemed to join and enter the mountain rising behind it.

She entered, followed by her guide. She was then led through a short corridor, to an entrance that opened into a large low ceilinged room. Hushed voices could be discerned. LaPierre was led firmly into this room. She went in and stopped dead in her tracks. A strangled gasp escaped her lips. She felt nauseous. Her head started to spin and for a moment she thought she would lose consciousness.

The room housed over a hundred different beings. But their differences were not in anyway similar to what she had observed in the city. There the difference seemed more cosmetic and definitely not detrimental. The beings in this room were malformed. The horrific deformations had made these beings at best semi-functional. She noticed people with no legs, no arms, no eyes, heads with hands protruding from where other humanoids would have a nose. Beings with unrecognisable protuberances that made mobility and any dexterity very difficult. Many had also open wounds, untreated, neglected and infected.

"These are the lucky ones." The voice of her guide startled her. She wanted to lash out at him for bringing her to this place. Instead she said.

"What are these?"

"These too are genetic offspring of different races. These too are children of diversity. But for these the superior genetic engineering has not worked quite as planned. They are the unmentionable failures. These children of The Master's Law are hidden away, so none know about them and they are used as cheap labour."

"Why did you say the lucky ones?" whispered LaPierre as hundreds of eyes stared at her, all other conversation now stopped.

"Because they are alive. Maybe I should have said un- lucky, for who would want a life such as theirs. Those that are found to be incapable of any work are killed."

"Life must always be preserved. The killing must stop." LaPierre felt a righteous anger burning through her whole body and invade her mind. She did not notice the triumphant smile light up the handsome face of her guide.

All she could think about was how correct her Way must be! How it can wipe out abominations such as these. They were beyond her help. But the procreation of others like these must be stopped. The Way could not be polluted with such as these!

"What do you want me to do?" She asked turning to her guide, and shutting out the sight of the room.

"I have a holographic message I have prepared. This you must broadcast to the whole world from your starship. Only you can do this. There are many people who are not happy with the Master's Law and when they see these hidden unfortunates ones, they will rebel against the practices."

"What about teaching them my philosophy of The Way?" she asked.

"When the current government is overthrown, as it must. When the Master's Law is torn down, there will be a gap, and you can start to teach your Way." He quickly placated her. He knew that her Way would never be accepted by the people of this planet, they were too free thinking. But he didn't care. He needed her now, her access to the starship orbiting this sseikea⁽³⁾ world! He would get his satisfaction, when he would give this world to the Romulan Empire. As a proper son of the Empire, he would do his duty. And this world rich in the crystal and metal resources, would be his to give, with above all the weapon that destroyed the orbiting ships so efficiently.

"Very, well. Give me the chip. And how will I contact you? I don't even know your name".

"I will contact you. You can call me Ra'kholh⁽⁴⁾" he said satisfaction seeping into his voice.

Footnotes and explanations

Next chapter.