Under a Starless Sky

Loxy hugged him straight away. “You’re looking taller.”

Jon frowned at her. “How long do we have till LOS?”

“Don’t know yet. You’re coming in strong now,” Loxy said. There was playful edge to her tone which he didn’t catch until she said, “Really strong.” It was playful the way a wife might be with a long lost husband.

Shen glared at her, not happy about being teased. “Full staff meeting, please, Come High,” Shen requested.

People came forwards to join the ‘Circle’ on virtual deck. Clearly, they were already in the background, waiting- watching, evaluating. It was an interesting effect, as people emerged to stand on the circle as if coming out of shadows- as if shadows were condensing to be light. The dome space was dimly lit, but not shadowy- so the evolution of shadows into people was part illusion- and that part of vision where you think you see something only to focus on it and it’s gone, or suddenly solid.

The glass dome was the source of light, as it presently reflected the nebula and stars in the background. The floor held the illuminated circle, and was reflective enough to reflect the background. Anyone and everyone was allowed on Virtual Deck. People were allowed to witness the debates and the deliberations. Sometimes non staff contributed to the conversation. The rules of virtual deck were not as stringent as the social protocols on Low. People were allowed to say what they think without repercussions, and what was discussed on High stayed on High. No one was skilled enough where that was a hundred percent, but mostly people who were inclined to share inappropriately, or lack discernment in sharing, or if they were likely to use information gained in a negative way against a person on Low, they would have restricted access. The purpose of High Conference was to make informed decisions. They had the technology that could read minds, and so they could technically try to police thoughts of anyone on the ship. They did not police; the ship’s AI was aware of the thoughts of everyone and only would intervene if thought was to lead to action. What a person thought was sacred, regardless of correctness. High Conference was a place for the sharing free thought.

The ship was essentially the Enterprise, Star Trek. Loxy renamed it ‘My-Enterprise’ to distinguish it from the original series. It was not original series. It was not JJ’s reboot. This was a city state in and of itself. It was created and grown in space in consensus reality, with the primary mission focused on Jon’s evolution. It was about the captain- and being captain in this context was not necessarily the ideal spot to be in. Yes, others came to experience evolution, but only in context to the ship, the others on the ship, but primarily it was about the captain. Did drama play out on the lower decks? Sure, as not everything needed to rise to the captain’s consciousness for him to benefit.

From a metaphorical and metaphysical perspective, his ship was the primary interface for ‘Others’ to interact with him directly and indirectly, others being external entities, from fellow humans to alien species, as well as whatever sub personalities that were in his makeup, known and foreign. The inner personalities would come forth through tech interfacing with his conscious and unconscious mind; the resulting reality maps overlaid in the Astral Realms were chosen because of its significance in his life. Some people get Buddha, some get Ganesh, some get Jesus or Mohamed. He got Trek. Whatever it was about Trek, the spirit guides moving him brought this path to him and he accepted readily- he had an affinity for this world, and the vision shared with Rodenberry, not the darker visions that came after Roddenberry’s death. He was not alone in this world, as many came to this spiritual paradigm.

The ship’s command staff came forwards. They, too, were derived through what some people would call magic, some would call the collective unconsciousness, and others tech. ‘My-Enterprise’ could create matter out of nothing. This was not ‘holodeck’ matter that dissolved and went away, but solid, sustainable, undistinguishable from any other matter in the Universe. The personalities in a person’s head during dreams, they were solid people, and the computer could animate these beings and make them real. Ship computer and human brains worked together in tandem to create this reality. Prior to coming to this reality, Jon had entered Tulpamancy: Loxy was the result. He and Loxy together turned to ‘the invisible counselor technique’ established by Napoleon Hill in his book “Think and grow Rich.” Invitations were sent, they were accepted, reality evolved. Carl Jung’s Active Imagination path opened doors to new realities, and ‘the group’ solidified in unity; the complexity of them evolved to what they presently were- family.

Jackie Chan, chief of security and Master of the Arts and Chi. Carl Jung, physiatrist, head of psychiatrics and the expert in the subtle esoteric realities. Gregory House, chief of medical. Sacagawea, navigator. Uhura, communications officer. Nicola Tesla, ship’s chief engineer and metaphysician. Isis, as in Almighty Isis, spiritual advisor, presently in the form of a cat, came forwards and took the line, which was a circle. They all were in line of sight. If there were more people behind him, he was unaware of them.

“Is team Sol here?” Jon asked.

Additional people emerged from the shadows. An elderly Chinese man tapped in with his cane; his name was Lester. He was wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and coat with elbow patches. He had the beard and mustache of a Chinese magician. He generally disagreeable, but fiercely loyal. Alish, a tall, thin, green female, human in appearance, but in truth was an original tree spirit- first generation. More precisely, she was the Tulpa of a Sentient tree. The Tree had a personality of its own, but lived vicariously through it’s free wandering tulpas. Her clothing was a silk mesh allowing light to pass and as much her as a leaf was to a tree. Keera, Japanese female, wearing what could only be considered a knock-off anime ‘want-to-be’ outfit of unknown origins. It had just enough details to be allude to any number fantastically drawn characters, resulting in furiously heated debates between nerds. Fersia, human cat. Depending on what Universe you found her, she was either full cat, human furry, or a blending of human cat characteristics. She nearly rushed Jon but Keera and Lester took her arm.

“But he’s so cute! I just want to hug him,” Fersia said.

“We’re here. Clearly you have something to say. Spit it out,” Lester said.

“Unless the cat has your tongue,” Loxy said.

“I would like to,” Fersia said.

Jon raised his hands to indicate he was seriously not playful and still sorting. There was not good way to say what he wanted to say, so, using Lester’s advice, he simply said it”

“I violated the prime directive. I intervened in social affairs. People died.”

“The Prime Directive isn’t applicable in this particular circumstance,” Loxy said. She could be serious, she could be empathic and appropriate, and she was all these things, and always in the right time. She personified loving acceptance.

“I agree,” Jung said. “You’re in a pocket universe outside the parameters of what you know as reality, and outside of Fleet’s jurisdiction.”

“In other words, when in Rome…” Lester said.

“I am officer in Fleet, and where I go, the fundamental principles of our existence that guide our interaction go with me. I failed,” Jon said.

“You’re like what, all of nine?” Lester said. “We’re not holding you accountable…”

“I am not nine!” Jon snapped.

“He’s so cute when he’s angry,” Fersia said. The stare that came from Jon made her bite her lip and look down.

Jon looked to Jung. “I am fucking angry all the time. What’s wrong with me?”

“You assume something is wrong with you,” Jung said.

explain being adapt at wonderlands. Maybe this is an autistic fantasy, and you are exaggerating the role you need to play. Or maybe, and more likely, you were regressed in age and you hold the memories of that age from your first life, and being

were tracking that as he considered. It explained his anger better than

profound insight,” Jung

“Thank you,

filling with

don’t do that,”

to go hug him. She looked crossly

reward crying with hugs,”

said. “I know you. We know you. The last thing you want to do is go to war. If you fought,

didn’t have to fight. I could have withdrawn, and

to be

trees there?” Alish asked. “You’re not alone if there are

another completed suicide because of my failed intervention,”

same House, minus the cane and

have been involved in the circumstances, nothing happens in a vacuum, but that

it not mine? How is not society’s? I didn’t even consider

would have intervened, just like you intervened,”

want to come home,” Jon

“We’re working on it…”

asked. “You make a clone,

body, that’s easy. We can make a transporter clone in an instant. Technically, all transporter operations result in clones, original

or use a template stored in memory banks- and then download the older consciousness into a younger body. From this

without ritual, or preparation. If we know where a person is, and we know when their death occurs, we can be there and recover them, redirect soul to new form. You’re not even in our Universe. Who knows where you’ll

“Hell,” Lester said.

don’t go to hell for

you reading?” Lester

don’t go to hell for broken arms, why would you

broken. He is rationalizing

“Jon?” Loxy said.

“I attempted,” Jon said.

wanted to go to him, but Keera hugged

“Dumb ass,” Lester said.

here to cheer me up, so

fall out that would send ripples across the

when I

would like off this

are time when people recognize a need for

isolation. They require a committee of

luck on this ship,”

shuttle. Tear your ass. Anyway, I don’t have a committee.

never alone,” Loxy

There was an intervention. Aliens. High

made contact with the Others?”

this,” Jon held the ball

virtual copy. He opened up a virtual display in front of him that dissected the ball and zoomed in on internal structure. “Nice. Crystalline structure resembles a blending of

to come home,”

Lester said. “Open a damn portal and come