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.

you are exaggerating the role you need to play. Or maybe, and

tracking that as he considered. It explained his anger better than he was just unhappy with the people in

rather profound insight,”

you,

with tears.

don’t do

wanting to go hug him. She looked crossly at Lester when

with hugs,”

know you. We know you. The last thing you want to do is go to war. If you fought, there must have been good reason for

to fight. I could have

want to be a hermit?”

Alish asked. “You’re not alone

killed people and another completed suicide because of my failed intervention,” Jon

the same House,

You may have been involved in the circumstances, nothing happens in a

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

intervened, just like you intervened,” Jung

want to come home,”

“We’re working on it…”

asked. “You make a

body, that’s easy. We can make a transporter clone in an instant. Technically, all transporter operations result in clones, original form is destroyed and consciousness is downloaded into new

Jon,” Tesla said. “We have superior tech. We could download a person from brain into a computer. They could clone a body using transporters, or use a template stored in memory banks- and then download the older consciousness into a younger body. From this tech’s

is, and we know when their death occurs, we can be there and

“Hell,” Lester said.

hell for

book are you reading?” Lester

to hell for broken arms, why would you go to hell for a broken

is rationalizing

“Jon?” Loxy said.

“I attempted,” Jon said.

go to him,

“Dumb ass,” Lester said.

to cheer me up, so

out that would send ripples across the Universe. You don’t get the privilege of being

“What the fuck do you think happens when I order the self-destruct option?” Jon asked. “What is that,

“I would like

saying, there are time when

not there,” Loxy said. “And those times are not to be made in isolation. They require a committee of rational,

luck on this

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

alone,” Loxy said.

was an intervention.

contact with the Others?” Uhura

Jon held the ball up to

and zoomed in on internal structure. “Nice. Crystalline structure resembles a blending of diamond and pearl. Filaments of pure gold. This was either grown, or printed. It resembles the psychic amplifiers we use to increase

want to come

“You’re a magician,” Lester said. “Open a damn