The explosion destroyed the warp core and most of engineering. Asani was evaporated within less than a second. A non-technical issue was the cause. The plasma coupling was not able to handle the flow even though he soldered according to specification. Well, his specification because the ship he was building was not a standard print that anyone would find in a Federation manual. Luckily, he was running a simulation on a "makeshift" holodeck, so he was not really dead.
“I will never get off this planet,” said Asani as he rubbed his eyes and gave a heavy sigh. He knew he would have to start from scratch again. He saw his reflection on the console in front of him. His hazel eyes appeared as red as the old uniforms that he and his Starfleet friends used to joke about, and the circles below his eyes were much darker today. His thick black hair looked like a dirty rung out mop. His usually trimmed beard had now taken over the lower half of his face and his light brown skin showed like it had never felt the warmth of any sun. He needed to rest. He pressed a button on the console in front of him and the simulation vanished like magic leaving nothing but an empty room. Asani rubbed his beard and put his hand through his thick black hair. His tell all sign of frustration. He gave one last look around and headed towards the exit.
His pieced-together holodeck was one room in this large building that appeared to be a warehouse of clutter. All collected by him over many years of bargaining and trading. Every piece collected had a purpose but sometimes he only needed one tiny part of an extremely large object and the only way to obtain it was to take the whole thing. Hopefully, the other parts would be useful for some future project or bargaining pieces for another trade.
As he approached the exit, the door slid open giving full view of his current project. A small starship with a unique design. Most of it was made from Federation material but there were parts from Klingon birds of prey, Romulan cruisers, and even some Borg pieces. No Starfleet Engineer would ever build something so chaotic, but Asani was not Starfleet; not anymore. For him, this ship was his masterpiece. His lifework. And most importantly, his escape.
As he walked up the platform of his creation, the lights of the ship lit knowing that the creator was home. A holographic Caucasian man with short black curly hair appeared at the entrance to the ship with his arms out, welcoming Asani to his abode. The man was dressed in full Starfleet uniform with all the clusters and appeal that every Starfleet officer desires to see. Even his black shoes glisten as if freshly polished. A large smile emerged on the holographic man’s face and then the hologram began to sing, “Welcome home! Welcome home! You been a way too long my dear…”
The glare from Asani’s face made the singing stop. He pointed a stern finger at the holographic man, “Harry, what have I told you about these welcoming charades?”
“Not to… do them,” said Harry hesitantly.
“And what did I say I would do if you did it again?”
Harry gave a shrug, not wanting to answer. Asani’s face made him continue. “You would change my program so I would appear as a Klingon woman with bad dental hygiene.” Asani’s glare did not cease which made Harry tense knowing he wanted more. “Ok. Ok. I am sorry. I am deleting the ‘Welcoming home’ subroutines now.” There was a small phase shift of the holographic man. “Done.”
Asani walked past Harry while rubbing his eyes. This entrance took him to the bridge of his ship. He found his Captain chair and collapsed into it. When he nearly fell asleep, his body jerked, and he found the holographic man smiling at him. “Did you get anything done that I asked you to do before I left?” asked Asani while rubbing his temples trying to calm the pain throbbing in his head. He knew he desperately needed sleep.
Harry was about to answer, when a second holographic man appeared next to Harry. He was also dressed in full Starfleet uniform. He was a Black man with a bald head at roughly the same height as Harry. “I finished all my duties Asani unlike this lazy doofus,” expressed this new holographic man while pointing a thumb at Harry. “I would never take part in his foolish games when there is work to be done.” Harry’s face showed shock at what he just heard.
Without any emotion, Asani turned to the second holographic man and asked gently, “Is that true, Thomas?”
Thomas began to squirm while Harry folded his arms and gave him a stern face. “No, I was going to come in on the second verse with a top hat and a tuxedo.” Harry began to shake his head. “But that was only because we finished what you asked us to do. You have been in the holodeck for almost four days.”
“Way to throw your friend into enemy phaser fire,” said Harry while continuing to shake his head.
“I am sorry buddy,” apologized Thomas turning towards Harry. “You know I am not good with confrontations.”
Harry’s face showed empathy. “Thomas.” His eyes appeared to water. “We have to learn to trust each other.” He placed his hands on Thomas’s shoulders. “I always got your back.”
“I know you do, man,” said Thomas with an apologetic face. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Enough!” shouted Asani surprising both. Asani gave another heavy sigh. His head felt like it was going to explode. “You said you finished your analysis?” Both Harry and Thomas nodded quickly knowing Asani was out of patience. “And?” He threw up his hands wondering why they were not giving him a report.
With clear nervousness on his face, Harry began to give the report, “The new warp core is not interfacing with the main computer. There is no BIOS on record which will communicate with your homegrown device. We were able to get comms on-line, but the transceiver array is off-line. That device also needs a new BIOS so it can work with the main computer.”
“It does not help that the array comes from a Borg ship,” stated Thomas with a clear condescending tone.
“You got that right,” affirmed Harry while giving Thomas a “high-five”. When he saw Asani’s scowl, he quickly continued his report, “But good news is that the generators are working as planned. All systems are receiving power, and we can generate power using the plasma core reactor… a Starfleet plasma core reactor.” Thomas gave Harry a discreet thumbs up. Harry returned a quick smile that quickly disappeared when Asani stood up from his chair.
“Where is the diagnostic report?” asked Asani while rubbing his temples. Harry quickly handed him a PADD which had details of the report. Asani scanned through the details. “I see that you are now giving me replacement parts instead of all Starfleet parts.”
“Well, since you said you would evaporate us if we didn’t,” joked Harry, “we thought it was the least we could do.”
“Starfleet parts are hard to come by in this region,” answered Asani as he started towards the exit of the bridge. “I used up all my favors on getting what I have now.”
“So, what is the plan now, Asani?” asked Thomas.
“Sleep,” as the exit door opened. “Then I will work on getting the new warp core on-line.”
“Hopefully you will not evaporate everyone in the process,” replied Thomas.
Asani turned around to face both holographs. “I promise you it will work. I just need a few more days.” After a slight pause, he continued, “And since you gave me such a great analysis, I will keep your system on-line so that you may do whatever you like… as long as it is quiet.” Both Harry and Thomas showed their enthusiasm. “Do not disturb me for at least eight hours,” He gave them a quick smile and walked off the bridge.
“Thank you!” both Harry and Thomas replied at the same time.
“So, 80s-90s Earth movie marathon?” asked Harry with excitement in his tone.
“You read my mind,” said Thomas.
As Asani entered his quarters, he asked the replication device for a cool beverage and pain meds. As he downed the two pills, he looked over the analysis once again. “Where am I going to find the funds to purchase all these parts,” he thought. “It will take weeks to find all this.” He placed the PADD next to his bed and collapsed onto his mattress. Within minutes, he was fast asleep.
The dream always started the same. “You are responsible for the lives on your away crew, Lieutenant!” shouted the voice that he heard almost every night. Then the phaser fire began followed by the explosions.
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“We are pinned down! You must get us out of here!” he yelled into his communicator. Then there was silence. Deadly silence and nothing but pure darkness. He felt his heart racing as fear cut through him like a knife. Then he saw the bodies. “You are responsible for the lives on your away crew, Lieutenant!” the voice shouted again.
He awoke in a cold sweat. The dreams were always worse when he was overworked. He saw light coming through the window. The sun always calmed the fears even if it was the sun of this awful planet.
After a very much needed shave and a soothing shower, Asani was again ready to work on the problem with the warp core. Without warp speed, he might as well call his ship a freighter and invest in a cryogenic sleep chamber knowing it would take eighty years to reach the next solar system. Either that or buy a ride to another planet where he would have to start all over again.
He replicated himself very black coffee and entered the bridge. He found the two holograms reenacting scenes from their movie marathon. The first thought Asani had when he uploaded the holograms and launched their program, was to hit the delete button and invest in a pet by training his dog to run analysis on a warp core and how to fly the ship. Another thought was changing their programs, but any tweaking would take loads of work he did not have time for plus removing any subroutines will always cause failures down the line. He learned to live with their shenanigans, and even though he will never admit it, he actually began to enjoy their company.
“This was another favorite scene,” said Harry with excitement in his tone as he placed both hands on Thomas’s shoulders. He then said in a raspy voice, while trying not to laugh, “You…are my number one…guyyyyy.”
With true emotion on his face, Thomas whispered, “That was perfect. It was like I was watching the movie again.”
“I would not mind watching that movie again because the woman who played Vicki Vale was hoooottt!”
“You got that right,” said Thomas while giving Harry a high five.
“Ahem!” said Asani, surprising both.
“Asani,” they both responded nervously.
Harry quickly grabbed a plate sitting beside him. “We made you breakfast.” He held up a plate of some type of eggs, bacon and hash browns that resembled a smiley face. “We wanted to put a smile (emphasizing smile) on your face because you looked so sad last night.”
“I am good with coffee,” replied Asani while rubbing his eyes still feeling the effects of days without sleep.
“You might as well place an emergency transporter beacon on the toilet because that is where you will be drinking coffee on an empty stomach,” said Thomas while Harry nodded his affirmation. “Please Asani. Harry went to so much trouble.”
“I am no fan of replicated eggs. They taste like dirt from a Romulan boot.”
“Ahh,” answered Harry while holding up the plate again. “These eggs are not replicated. They are fresh. They come from the closest animal we could find on this planet that resembles an Earth chicken. Trust me, they are delicious.” Thomas gave his affirmation with his distinct large smile.
Asani gave a blank stare which made the two holograms begin to tense. Finally, Asani replied with a sigh and held out his hand. Harry quickly gave him the plate. After a few sniffs of the food and a quick taste test, Asani sat in his Captain chair and began eating. Harry and Thomas both stood watching with their victory faces showing.
“I need you to run diagnostics on the plasma flow to the warp core,” said Asani through his smacking lips and large bites. He did not realize how much he needed food. “I need to understand what the issue is.”
Harry’s face was disgruntled. “You must learn to enjoy your food, Asani. Eating so quickly will make you ill.”
Asani finished and handed the plate back to Harry. “Now get started. I want to have that warp core working by tonight.”
“Is there anything you like to say?” asked Thomas with an irritated face.
Asani looked confused. “Like what?”
Both showed shock as if their faces were synchronized. “Thanks, or maybe that was delicious,” replied Harry nearly shouting.
“Or we make a great team, or you complete me like Tom Cruise said in that incredible movie,” chimed Thomas.
“That was a great movie,” said Harry turning towards Thomas. “I am not afraid to say that I cried during that part.” His eyes appeared to be watering.
“I know, man. It was wonderful,” said Thomas. His head nodding his affirmation. “What about this part?” He then shouted into his hand pretending to be a phone, “Show me the money!”
A large smile appeared on Harry’s face. “I loved that par-”
“Enough!” shouted Asani. His face looked angry and for a moment, Harry and Thomas thought they were about to be deleted. Then the anger melted, and Asani actually smiled. “Thanks for breakfast. It was delicious.” Both smiled in synchronization. “Now, please begin the diagnostics.” Now both were nodding in synchronization. He then headed towards the holodeck while taking large gulps of his coffee.
Harry turned towards Thomas and smiled. “I think there is one word that describes this moment. Progress.” Thomas affirmed with a nod and then they both headed to the console to perform the diagnostics.
Five hours had passed, and Asani was not any closer to resolving the problem with the warp core. Any Starfleet engineer would have discovered the solution and fixed the problem by now, but this was no ordinary warp core. It was a design of his own. A prototype that he felt would give him the advantage against any conflict.
What powered this warp core was plasma. An ionized gas that worked as a medium to carry power to all systems. Basically, a living star contained within a starship that gave unending power if handled correctly. Simple physics that all engineers learn on day one in the Starfleet Academy. What Asani was trying to do would never be taught in any class because it was suicide and reckless. His two hologram friends have already said the same thing many times.
He called it the “pulse effect.” Using a homemade pulse igniter, he could send enough wattage into the core to create a collapsing star. That rush of power would then be contained and sent to a system creating a temporary huge lift in power. Another pulse immediately after the first, would stop the warp core breech. This scenario would allow his weapon systems to fire phasers or torpedoes at three hundred percent their normal strength for a few seconds. His guidance system could ignite thrusters at two hundred percent their normal strength for less than a second. The ship would move so quickly, it would seem it just disappeared. Systems had to be reinforced to handle the impact and major changes were done to the design. The last obstacle was the plasma flow. Nothing he did could make the ship’s conduits handle the power fluctuation.
“Asani,” said a hesitant voice over the communicator.
He had a self-made blow torch spewing fire that would melt his face in an instant if not for the protective helmet. His reckless idea made him use methods that were extremely unordinary. A flashing red light on the helmet told him that he was being summoned. “This has to be important,” Asani thought as he gave a heavy sigh, “because they know not to disturb me.” He turned off the blow torch and clicked the release on his helmet. Air flooded from the now created crease. Once it stopped, he lifted the helmet from his head and then grouchily said, “Yes?”
“I know you said only to contact you if it is important,” said Harry in a nervous tone.
“It better be, Harry or your system will go off-line early.”
“There are official looking people at the shop.”
“What?” said Asani as he went to the console to verify. “Everybody knows it is closed.”
The “Shop” was Asani’s lifeblood for a long while. It was a large room attached to his warehouse where many would come to seek Asani’s services. He was known as an engineering genius in this part of the galaxy. Any broken replicators, transporter pads, communicators, warp cores, phasers, photon torpedoes, guidance systems, and even the machine that breaks down bodily waste when you’re flying through space, Asani has fixed it. For the last year, it has been closed because he needed the time to build his starship. There were notifications everywhere.
“They said they would not leave until they spoke to you,” Harry continued. “They were quite rude.”
On the console, Asani saw who was at the shop’s door. A large muscular Klingon that stood over six feet tall and wore a leather suit decorated with all the Klingon “bling.” Standing beside him was a bearded human at roughly the same height wearing the Starfleet uniform with the insignia of Admiral. They were members of the United Council or UC for short. An organization created to bring peace to the galaxies by giving all creatures, species, any alien life a seat at the table if they had something to offer. Openly the organization called for peace and a want to build all worlds. Secretly, they seek out enemies that did not follow the rules and disposed of them. This was not the first time Asani had been contacted.
“Kili, what an unexpected pleasure,” said Asani with a clear sarcastic tone into the console.
“Asani, we require your wonderful services once again,” answered the Klingon with a large smile. His sharpen teeth showing how he loved to follow Klingon rituals. “I have even brought a friend that desires to see your work firsthand.”
Kili knew of Asani’s history with Starfleet. He knew this was no friend. If he did not talk to them, they would never leave or something worse. “Always a pleasure to speak to members of the UC.” His reply dripping with cynicism. “I will be right out.” He unlocked the door to his shop with a flip of the switch. “Replicate yourself a drink or even some Gagh. I added it especially for you.”
“Thank you for the warm welcome,” answered the Klingon with his voice but his eyes said something very different. A look that made Asani nervous. “We await your presence.”
Asani flipped off the console and made his way to the bridge of his ship. The two holograms met him at the entrance.
“What an unexpected pleasure,” said Thomas. “Members of the UC. You are being recognized for your work.” Harry nodded his affirmation.
“I doubt that is why they are here,” answered Asani which made both give him concern looks. “I think their intentions are not noble in any way.”
“Asani. They are high members of the United Council,” said Harry. His words spewing with admiration. “One is an Admiral of Starfleet.”
Asani gave a quick smile at the naiveness of his holograms. “Listen,” he said giving them both a concern stare. “I want you to run plan D.”
“Plan D!” replied both.
“Asani. Are you not jumping to conclusions here?” asked Harry.
Asani sighed to release steam. He wished these holograms did not bleed Starfleet gold. “I have my concerns. You need to trust me.”
They both gave him the same stare of confusion, but then they nodded to show their support.
With one last nod that seemed to say, “Be ready.” Asani walked off the bridge and headed towards the shop.