A Gift of One (part 5) written by Steve Cellor

In the places where thought and energy were one and unparalleled dimensions of each and every describable form and shape, there rested a being who had unknowingly been drawn here only recently, who too felt lonely in this mystical and power filled domain, for in all these myriad planes of existence she was unique.

In that she, yes this is how I want to be associated as, the energy creature thought.

After all, this energy creature was the result of a rather strange and unexpected increase in her peoples evolution, she had now learned since her forced departure from her less evolved companions several months past. Yet it felt like an eternity for her, for every linear day that had passed outside this void, a year would have passed within. Being the first and only one of her kind to ever come this far she was troubled by the sensation of confinement here and despite all the exploration and knowledge that presented itself to her, the only price she’d have to pay was acceptence of a indefinite solitary existence, one that she would not accept...

This, as she finally decided she would not accept. "After all what good is all the joyous knowledge and wealth of the universe if one cannot find someone to share it with" she fondly thought.

Though a mysterious being with a strange youth who had called himself the "traveller" had come and advised her that she could not leave this plane and reside with less "evolved" creatures like humanoids, until she had truly mastered it’s powers she decided to go against this mysterious individuals words and head out to look for a friend to share her vast knowledge and power with. Though no longer had she trekked for several thousand light years, a distinctive and familiar scent of emotion had begun, caught her undivided attention like a bee to honey. She relaxed her form and gently willed her luminous form from this plane and back to a distinctly familiar place, as she began making her way towards the strange turtle shaped vessel whose mission was to go home.

Within the dark confines of her cell, Seven of Nine had found it both contemptuous and overwhelmingly distressing to be left there for several hours without light or warmth. Though she really cared little of such things for back in her hive in the collective, it was always as such. Though there, at least there were always an unspecified number of voices to keep her company. Now the most disturbing thing was that she was utterly alone in the darkness where none would hear calls for help or assistance. Tears strolled freely down her cheeks as she huddled her knees up to her chest upon the couch and yearned for some or any attention.

Her call did not go unanswered as a being composed of mainly golden light appeared through one of the walls surrounding her cell.

At that moment the Captain was on duty on the Bridge attending to various sensor anomalies that Harry had registered on his com station.

"There it is again Captain" stated Paris, whom had also located the strange energy surges registering on the ships sensors. "I’ve got a Visual" interrupted Kim.

"Well, On Screen" pronounced Janeway.

An incredible aura of golden light had surrounded the starboard bow of the ship and had begun to completely obscure it from the rest of the ship.

"What on Earth is that ?" asked Janeway both to herself and everyone else present on the bridge.

"Report" she continued.

"Its some kind of Energy curtain that, just seemed to appear out of nowhere and its penetrated the hull in decks 10,11 and 12."

"Reports are coming in from all the mess hall..." cried Harry desperately.

The place looked so familiar yet so distant, the humanoid creatures all scurrying about desperately. What caught her attention most was that a group of individuals had gathered into a well formed group and leveled a series of strange looking objects at her.

"Its beautiful" stated one of he security officers who had been despatched there.

"What is it ?" said another, awed by the beautiful energy creature whose outline resembled a pair of silvery gossamer wings surrounded by a aura of comforting to behold golden light.

Other less kindly disposed individuals simply cast all sorts of furniture at the glowing entity that was now present in their Mess Hall. Though these simply passed right through her non corporeal form.

"Look" one member of the rooms occupants pointed out.

As one of the titanium alloy tables inanimately arose from the ground while despatching itself of any and all restraints before its very form warped and shifted into an astounding golden orb of light. Much like what the main concentration of energy was made of but only smaller. As Tuvok and his deputy’s looked on, the orb of light began to sail towards them and began to slow before glowing brighter in intensity for a split second or two. Then less as bright and vice versa with a few second interval each time, this ominous "glowing" continued as many of the once fear filled diners began to slow their pace and observe this wondrous yet harmonious sequence of lights. Before the familiar voice of the Captain voice registered on his com badge and asked for his assessment of the situation.

"Everything is under control," whispered the Vulcan calmly in reply, his words confusing those who had asked of the current situation in the mess hall.

The entity knew that she had arrived at the place which had drawn her here from her mysterious home. Though the 100 or so humanoids looked familiar, the darker skinned pointed eared individual who was still levelling a object at her, had inspired a feeling of closeness and friendship within her, though it was still slightly annoying that she could not identify the one in question. Since not yet remembering as how to communicate with these creatures she could only communicate by a way somebody had once told her about via a series of flashing lights or sounds, they called it Morse code.

By now though Janeway herself had decided to travel down to the area of interest herself for once instead of arriving there too late and having to rely upon the words of others confusing her as to be unsure where to place her trust. The mess hall incident, with Seven now being impounded in the brig, was the current dilemma troubling her already stressed out mind. She was determined to take a look at events occurring on her ship from the truest and non biased view point, by her own first hand view.

"Report" interrupted Janeway as she strode flagrantly hands by her side into the source of the commotion.

As she entered though she too, was slightly smitten by the glowing entity, it reminded her of a creature she had once read about in a mythical text book called a archon. As two more members of the crew entered and took an interest in the strange entity, the orb of light suddenly ceased to flash and vanished. A series of images accompanied with sounds played themselves continuously but explanatively in her once mortal mind.

"Hello there, are you trying to communicate with us ? We’re travellers, who are you ?" Janeway inquired with her casual grace of interest in possible new sentient life, "Im..."

She abruptly ended her sentence as the entity spoke out.

"Captain Janeway", came the angelic yet hollowed voice.

"You know me ?" inquired Janeway surprised.

Though the series of images which coursed through her mind had no regular pattern, they did all have one similarity, a young girl of a species similar to that of the Captain Janeway creature, but with strange pair of layered and pointed ears much like the Vulcan, yes Vulcan, she remembered. Then...

"Ahhh" came an echoed cry from her as this time the image of tall and full female of the captain Janeways species formed in her mind.

A series of disturbing sensations and emotions filled her as this image encapsulated her undivided attention.

"Are you ok ?" asked Janeway eagerly after hearing what resembled a yelp of distress.

Tuvok however had other ideas and drifted out of his awed trance and raised his weapon into a defensive posture.

"I'm.. fine" she replied, "thank you".

"Who are you ?" Tuvok finally interrupted.