VSF Blessings: A Star Trek Fan Production
Episode 10: Repentance
Started: June 1, 2025
Podcast Published:
SCENE 1: NEW COMMAND
JEREMIAH (Telephony) 1
I told VSF Command I had full confidence in you, Brother Matthias. Thanks for accepting command of the VSF Blessings while I’m on sabbatical with my Mom for a bit.
MATTHIAS 2
Thank you, Captain. I appreciate your confidence in me. And I truly hope your time with your Mom is all you want it to be.
JEREMIAH (Telephony) 3
I’m sure it will be. Thank you. Now, if I understand your current mission, you are escorting a group of religious sisters to the asteroid colony New Tadmor.
MATTHIAS 4
Yes, that’s what the mission brief said. They are part of a cloistered order opening up a new convent there. We will probably only see them when they board and disembark.
Do you think my fellow brothers will accept me being in command, sir?
JEREMIAH (Telephony) 5
I absolutely think so. As a matter of fact, I know so. Brothers Patrick and Thomas told me you were the obvious choice, and Brother Ethan gave his signature, whole-face smile when I told him. You have nothing to worry about there.
MATTHIAS 6
That helps a lot. I am a little apprehensive. I’m sure you can tell.
JEREMIAH (Telephony) 7
Only because I know you, and no less apprehensive than I was when I first took command of the Blessings. You have the benefit of actually knowing your crew and their capabilities, Matthias, and they know you. We didn’t have ANY of that when I first took you all out. Has your new helmsman arrived?
MATTHIAS 8
Yes, he arrived yesterday. Brother Henderson. He’s been getting to know the ship and talking with Brother Patrick. He’s flown a few Aerie Class before and has reviewed the altered specs of the Blessings. While it will be weird not to fly her myself, he seems to have a solid record and is excited to be part of the crew…even if only temporarily.
JEREMIAH (Telephony) 9
Sounds good!. Integrating a new crewman can have its challenges, and letting go to let them do what was once your job can be equally as challenging.
MATTHIAS 10
When in doubt, I’ll just ask myself what you would do, Sir.
JEREMIAH (Telephony) 11
But don’t forget how many times I’ve leaned upon your advice and support, too, Brother Matthias. We make a good team and have a good crew. Your entire journey is right in the heart of the Federation. Sounds like a milk run.
MATTHIAS 12
I sure do hope so. We’ve seen enough adventure for a while.
SOUNDS: Segue music
INTRODUCTION
VSF Blessings. A Star Trek Fan Production.
We may live in a broken world. A broken universe. There is good and evil, right and wrong, light and dark, but we can be the good. We can do what’s right. We can be the light. And we can do it in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
SCENE 2: MILK RUN
SOUNDS: Bridge noises. Red Alert klaxon. Explosion. Coming out of warp.
HENDERSON 13
They’ve knocked us out of warp, sir! There’s two of them! Each about our size but more fire power, for sure.
MATTHIAS 14
They still aren’t answering our hails! Evasive maneuvers!
HENDERSON 15
Aye, sir!
SOUNDS: Computer beeps.
MATTHIAS 16
Brother Henderson, turn off our sensors and initiate the Blitz! Then warp us out of here!
HENDERSON 17
Sensors off…
SOUNDS: Computer buttons pressed.
HENDERSON 18
Initializing the Blitz multi-spectral discharge to blind their sensors now…
SOUNDS: Computer buttons pressed. Blitz sound.
HENDERSON 19
Sensors back on…
SOUNDS: Computer buttons pressed.
HENDERSON 20
Going to warp!
SOUNDS: Warp starts followed by explosion.
MATTHIAS 21
The Blitz didn’t work!
HENDERSON 22
They’re attack destabilized our warp field!
MATTHIAS 23
I’m sending out a distress call for anyone in the area! We’re in the middle of Federation-protected space. This shouldn’t be happening here!
SOUNDS: Explosion
HENDERSON 24
What could they possibly want from us? We have nothing in our cargo holds.
MATTHIAS 25
I have no idea, but they obviously mean business.
SOUNDS: Incoming message.
MATTHIAS 26
Ok, we have a Starfleet vessel inbound, but they won’t be here for another 55 minutes. We need to hold them off or avoid them until then.
SOUNDS: Explosion. Panel frying.
SOUNDS: Combadge beep.
MATTHIAS 27
Patrick, how are you doing down there? I need options.
PATRICK (Telephony) 28
Shields are holding, sir! As for options, give me a moment.
MATTHIAS 29
I’m not sure we have a moment.
HENDERSON 30
Sir, there’s a star system not far from here with a rather impressive asteroid belt. Perhaps if we can reach it, we can hide out there until help arrives. My favorite navigation simulations are the asteroid field ones. I’ve gotten pretty good.
MATTHIAS 31
I’m hoping good enough. But how do we get there with them on our tail?
PATRICK (Telephony) 32
I think I can help there, Commander.
SOUNDS: Explosion. Panel frying.
MATTHIAS 33
Let’s hear it, Brother Patrick!
PATRICK (Telephony) 34
We can skip there. If they won’t give us time to form a complete warp field to escape, all we need is enough to slingshot us a little. A quick push.
MATTHIAS 35
We’re listening.
PATRICK (Telephony) 36
It’s another little trick the Vatican engineers built into our warp system to give us a nudge in desperate times like this. I’m sending up instructions to Brother Henderson’s work station now.
SOUND: Computer receipt.
HENDERSON 37
Received. Interesting. I hope our inertial dampeners can compensate.
PATRICK (Telephony) 38
They’ll work, but it won’t be smooth, that’s for sure.
SOUNDS: Explosion
MATTHIAS 39
Are you ready for this, Henderson?
HENDERSON 40
I’m ready when you are, Commander! Just give the word!
MATTHIAS 41
Computer, open a shipwide channel.
SOUNDS: Computer opens channel.
MATTHIAS (Echo) 42
It’s going to be a bumpy ride. Hang on!
SOUNDS: Channel closed noise.
MATTHIAS 43
Brother Henderson, do it!
SOUNDS: Computer Beeps. Short warp burst.
HENDERSON 44
It worked, Commander! But they’re not far behind!
MATTHIAS 45
Do it again and keep it up until we get there!
HENDERSON 46
Aye, sir!
SOUNDS: Computer Beeps. Short warp burst.
PATRICK (Telephony) 47
I’ll keep us together here in Engineering.
MATTHIAS 48
Scanning ahead to see where we have the best chance to lose them in the asteroid field.
SOUNDS: Computer beeps.
SOUNDS: Explosion
HENDERSON 49
They’re still on our tail!
MATTHIAS 50
I’ll return fire to hopefully slow them down!
SOUNDS: Phaser fire.
SOUNDS: Computer Beeps. Short warp burst.
HENDERSON 51
Just two more, and we’re there!
MATTHIAS 52
The mineralogy of the asteroids is interfering with my scans. That can work to our advantage.
SOUNDS: Explosion.
MATTHIAS 53
Returning more fire!
SOUNDS: Phaser fire.
HENDERSON 54
Here we go again!
SOUNDS: Computer Beeps. Short warp burst.
PATRICK (Telephony) 55
Give the warp drive a little more time to recover before our next one.
MATTHIAS 56
Firing a photon torpedo to detonate between the attackers!
SOUNDS: Computer beeps. Photon torpedo fired. Explosion in distance.
MATTHIAS 57
They scattered, which might buy us a few moments. Brother Patrick, can we do that shield bump thing to triangulate their shield frequency?
PATRICK (Telephony) 58
If there were one of them, perhaps, but with two of them, the other one would pick us off like a pair of Andorian hyenas as we tried to get close enough.
SOUNDS: Explosion.
PATRICK (Telephony) 59
Brother Henderson, it’s time for that last burst.
HENDERSON 60
Ok, this should get us there.
SOUNDS: Computer Beeps. Short warp burst.
SOUNDS: Segue music.
SCENE 3: HOME
MARIA 61
You’re thinking about your ship and crew aren’t you?
JEREMIAH 62
Was it that obvious, Mom?
MARIA 63
You get this far away look as you stare off into space.
JEREMIAH 64
That idiom “stare off into space” was quite fitting in this instance.
MARIA 65
Haha! You’re right.
JEREMIAH 66
What’s been your biggest surprise since time traveling here twenty years into your future?
MARIA 67
There have been so many. Let me think…technology has certainly advanced, but that’s expected…fashions changed…the Borg…perhaps the biggest surprise is the more things change the more they stay the same. People aged and matured but are still the same for the most part, with perhaps a few exceptions of course.
JEREMIAH 68
That’s a good answer.
MARIA 69
And you were expecting a BAD answer?
JEREMIAH 70
Hahaha! No, I’m not sure what I was expecting, actually. I was just curious.
MARIA 71
Aside from me just materializing right before your eyes, what’s been your biggest surprise about having me back?
JEREMIAH 72
Oh boy, that’s a deep one. Hmmm…I think…I think it is how natural it all feels. I mean you were gone for 20 years. I went from a teenager to an adult. I became a Priest, served with Starfleet, was assimilated by the Borg. I lost my father. Yet, you came back, and it just feels right. I don’t feel like a kid. I’m adult Jeremiah, and that’s ok. Do you get what I mean?
MARIA 73
I think I do. I thought that part would be harder than it has been. I miss the younger you, but I already did that when you were a teenager. I miss the newborn, toddler, and kid versions of you like crazy sometimes. You transitioned so gradually between those phases that there was no closure to say bye to that wonderful version of you. That’s parenthood, I guess. Now, I get to do a crash course in learning this version of you. It’s quite the blessing, actually, in a strange way.
JEREMIAH 74
In a very strange way, but it is. You are right, Mom.
MARIA 75
Not to change the subject, but the department head of the Temporal Studies Department at the Daystrom Institute said he’s really interested in working with me to figure out what happened during the transporter accident. He’s trying to fit me into a particular research group he has in mind.
JEREMIAH 76
That’s exciting!
MARIA 77
John’s team he assembled will be sharing all their information. Plus, I plan to share my medical scans to see if we can piece this all together.
JEREMIAH 78
Were you really working on interplanetary transporters?
MARIA 79
We were a very long way from that. It’s funny that’s what my research became known for, but I was actually just looking to learn from extreme failures to make the material-to-energy-to-material transportation safer, more efficient, and “perhaps” longer range.
JEREMIAH 80
As a kid, I never really understood what you did. Even as an adult, I knew it dealt with transporters but nothing beyond that, really.
MARIA 81
And why should you? A kid needs to be a kid.
JEREMIAH 82
Thanks for that, Mom. I really did listen to you, even when you thought I didn’t, though. Your words and advice have echoed in my mind all these years.
MARIA 83
Having partially raised a teenager, that’s comforting to know.
And thanks for the time you’re taking to spend with me, son. I’ll hit my stride soon, I promise.
JEREMIAH 84
No hurry, Mom. You’ve been through something very few folks can relate to. It’s a true blessing to have you back.
MARIA 85
Still, thank you. I know you miss the Blessings. When you go back, we can always talk everyday, right?
JEREMIAH 86
Yes, we will definitely talk as often as possible. We have a LOT of lost time to make up for.
MARIA 87
Then it’s a plan!
JEREMIAH 88
It’s a plan!
MARIA 89
So, what’s the VSF Blessings up to now?
JEREMIAH 90
A standard run to escort some religious women to an asteroid colony. They’re setting up a convent there. It should be an easy mission. The crew should have lots of down time for prayer and contemplation.
SOUNDS: Segue music.
SCENE 4: HIDE & SEEK
SOUNDS: Bridge sounds.
PATRICK 91
I’ve shut down all functions that could be detected external to our hull, Commander. If we stick to passive scans only, we may stay hidden in this asteroid field until the Starfleet ship arrives.
MATTHIAS 92
Thank you, Brother Patrick. It seems only one of the pursuing ships followed us in while the other has stayed outside watching.
PATRICK 93
We can’t use comms either, Sir. So I shut them down. I saw Brother Thomas on my way to the Bridge, and he was going to let our guests know the situation and the necessary precautions. Brother Ethan is helping with repairs.
MATTHIAS 94
Understood and thanks. I remember a conversation with the Captain earlier saying this mission should be a milk run.
PATRICK 95
A milk run, sir?
MATTHIAS 96
Yes, an easy mission…routine…no surprises.
PATRICK 97
We’ll have quite the story for him, won’t we?
MATTHIAS 98
That we will.
PATRICK 99
I’d better get back down to Engineering.
SOUNDS: Footsteps. Door woosh.
PATRICK 100
Excuse me, Sister. After you.
SISTER PHILOMON 101
Thank you.
SOUNDS: Footsteps. Door woosh.
MATTHIS 102
May I help you, Sister? This isn’t the best moment to be on the bridge.
PHILOMON 103
I can imagine. I came to let you know the pursuers are after me.
MATTHIAS 104
You?
HENDERSON 105
You?
SOUNDS: Door swoosh closed.
PHILOMON 106
Yes. Me.
MATTHIAS 107
But why?
PHILOMON 108
Because while my current name is Sister Philomon, my original name was something less benign. It was Madolinx Braugdon.
SOUNDS: Silence.
PHILOMON 109
I see from your face you know that name.
MATTHIAS 110
Yes.
PHILOMON 111
And how do you come to know my name?
MATTHIAS 112
My uncle was on the VSF medical ship sent to help your planet.
PHILOMON 113
I am sorry.
HENDERSON 114
I’m confused. Why are our pursuers after her, Sir?
MATTHIAS 115
Her more complete title is Supreme Queen Madolinx Braugdon, I believe.
PHILOMON 116
Close enough. The full title adds little to the story. You can say the other more colloquial title, too. Do not hold back for my sensibilities.
MATTHIAS 117
She is also known as the Butcher of Alandrondi.
HENDERSON 118
Butcher? This nun? No offense.
PHILOMON 119
Yes, this nun. And none taken.
MATTHIAS 120
How do you know the ships are here for you?
PHILOMON 121
I could see them from the windows of our room. They’re an older design, and not being a Federation world, you likely do not have them in your database. Regardless, I know them. I used them. So many times. Ironic for them to come for me at this hour.
MATTHIAS 122
If you know these ships, do you know how we can escape or disable them?
PHILOMON 123
In this ship, you don’t stand a chance.
MATTHIAS 124
You’d be surprised to know we’ve survived worse. The Blessings is not your average ship.
PHILOMON 125
Then she must not have an average leader either.
MATTHIAS 126
What can you tell us to help in this situation?
PHILOMON 127
I can tell you that I am here to surrender myself. It would save you, your crew, and my fellow Sisters.
MATTHIAS 128
And what would they do with you?
PHILOMON 129
They would undoubtedly, without remorse, kill me on sight.
MATTHIAS 130
Then the answer is no.
PHILOMON 131
Then you will die, too.
MATTHIAS 132
It is immoral to participate in their chosen sin. We cannot and will not be complicit. We will stand our ground until help arrives. It gets nearer by the minute.
PHILOMON 133
I pray it is near enough for you.
MATTHIAS 134
Join the line. Now, unless you have anything more constructive to offer to help us get out of this situation, I must respectfully ask you to get off my bridge.
PHILOMON 135
Summarily dismissed. There was a time when I did the dismissing…amongst other things…but my lot is thankfully quite different now. I truly am sorry to have been a trouble for you. And truly sorry about your uncle. I regret those actions more than you could possibly fathom now.
MATTHIAS 136
So no constructive help?
PHILOMON 137
No, I have none.
MATTHIAS 138
Then please return to your quarters.
SOUNDS: Doors swoosh open.
SCENE 5: REPEAT PERFORMANCE
SOUNDS: Bridge sounds.
HENDERSON 139
Sir, the pursuing ship will be coming around the asteroid any minute now. They must have zeroed in on our internal communications activity giving away our position.
MATTHIAS 140
All according to plan. We have to end this cat and mouse game while we have the opportunity to confront them one at a time and stand a fighting chance. Brother Patrick, are you ready down there in Engineering?
PATRICK (Telephony) 141
I’m ready, Captain. We learned a lot from the last time we did this with the Orions. It should go faster this time.
HENDERSON 142
There she is, Sir!
MATTHIAS 143
Red alert! Full power! Shields up! Arm those weapons!
SOUNDS: Red alert klaxon. Ship powering up.
HENDERSON 144
Aye, sir!
MATTHIAS 145
Now let’s play a little chicken. Head straight for them.
SOUNDS: Explosion from alien ship attacking.
MATTHIAS 146
Hold her steady, Brother Henderson!
HENDERSON 147
Almost there…almost there…
SOUNDS: Explosion from alien ship attacking. Panel explosion.
HENDERSON 148
Bumping shields now!
SOUNDS: Shields bumping.
PATRICK (Telephony) 149
That was good! The computer is triangulating their shield frequency against our dual frequency sheilds…just a few seconds more…got it!
MATTHIAS 150
Now bump them again from stem to stern, Brother Henderson, as Brother Patrick merges our shields to open theirs up to attack. I’ll man the phasers. Brother Patrick, work your magic.
PATRICK (Telephony) 151
Aye, Sir.
HENDERSON 152
Bringing the Blessings around now…
SOUNDS: Computer beeps. Explosion.
HENDERSON 153
They’re not getting away from me…
MATTHIAS 154
You’ve got this…
SOUNDS: Shields bumping
PATRICK (Telephony) 155
Ready, Commander!
SOUNDS: Firing phasers and computer beeps
PATRICK (Telephony) 156
Their shields just destabilized on their own!
MATTHIAS 157
Good! I took out their weapons and rendered their impulse drives inoperable! Life signs are holding steady. We’ll let the Federation ship handle them when it arrives. Now for the other ship. Where is it?
HENDERSON 158
It just entered the asteroid field. Heading our way, Sir.
MATTHIAS 159
OK, let’s get out of here to see if our luck holds out for this trick again.
PATRICK (Telephony) 160
Commander, the disabled ship is showing a build up of energy in its warp core. I think it’s going to blow!
MATTHIAS 161
Beam them out of there into a containment field in the cargo bay now!
HENDERSON 162
I can’t, Sir. Transporters are off line!
PATRICK (Telephony) 163
That last attack took them offline. I’m resetting them now. It’ll be a few minutes!
MATTHIAS 164
Do they have a few minutes?!
PATRICK (Telephony) 165
Sadly, no, Sir. We have to get out of here immediately!
MATTHIAS 166
Brother Henderson, put some distance between us and that ship NOW!
SOUNDS: Computer beeps.
HENDERSON 167
Working on it. Those asteroid-field simulation trainings were a ghost of the real thing.
MATTHIAS 168
You’ve gotten us this far. I have faith in your abilities.
HENDERSON 169
Thanks, Sir.
PATRICK (Telephony) 170
Brace yourselves!
SOUNDS: Ship exploding.
SOUNDS: Red alert klaxon. Rumbling. Panel explosion.
MATTHIAS 171
Status report!
PATRICK (Telephony) 172
Shields holding!
HENDERSON 173
The explosion destabilized this portion of the asteroid field. As if maneuvering wasn’t tricky enough in here…
MATTHIAS 174
Where’s the other ship?
HENDERSON 175
I don’t know, Sir! I lost track of it during the explosion.
MATTHIAS 176
You concentrate on flying us through this. Find a secluded place to duck into to wait. I’ll look for the other ship.
SOUNDS: Computer beeps.
MATTHIAS 177
It’s right on top of us! Pull up, Henderson! It’s going to ram us!
SOUNDS: Computer beeps. Shields bumping.
MATTHIAS 178
Was that enough shield-to-shield contact, Brother Patrick?
PATRICK (Telephony) 179
Luckily, yes, I believe it was. That ship is crazy! The computer has determined their shield frequency.
MATTHIAS 180
This time we’re not taking any chances with the lives of that crew. Computer, setup a containment field in the cargo bay.
SOUNDS: Computer success sound.
COMPUTER 181
Containment field setup.
PATRICK (Telephony) 182
Transporters are back online.
SOUNDS: Badge chirp.
MATTHIAS 183
Brother Matthias to Brothers Ethan and Thomas. We’re hopefully about to have company in the containment field I set up in the cargo bay. Arm yourselves and get there post haste!
ETHAN (Telephony) 184
Aye, Sir.
THOMAS (Telephony) 185
Yes, Sir.
SOUNDS: Explosion.
HENDERSON 186
The ship is in hot pursuit!
MATTHIAS 187
Let’s pull this off one more time, shall we? Drop down, full reverse, skim their shields from stem to stern again. Don’t let them ram us. I’ll handle weapons!
SOUNDS: Explosion
HENDERSON 188
Dropping down and implementing full reverse!
SOUNDS: Ship straining.
MATTHIAS 189
God, please give us all a steady hand in our time of need. Amen.
SOUNDS: Shields bumping.
PATRICK (Telephony) 190
Now, Matthias!
SOUNDS: Phaser fire and computer beeps.
MATTHIAS 191
Weapons offline. Impulse drives, too.
PATRICK (Telephony) 192
Their shields fell on their own just like the other ship.
MATTHIAS 193
Life signs are stressed but steady. Beaming them to the Cargo Bay now.
PATRICK (Telephony) 194
I don’t get why their shields fall on their own each time.
MATTHIAS 195
They’re all transported onboard. Get us out of this asteroid field, Brother Henderson.
HENDERSON 196
Gladly, Sir.
SOUNDS: Segue music.
SCENE 6: THE STORY
SOUNDS: Engine background sound.
MATTHIAS 197
Brother Ethan says our guests have been quiet within the containment field. They’re just sitting there and refuse to talk.
THOMAS 198
The transporter records show no signs of weapons, plus we ran additional scans ourselves. I don’t think ending up in our Cargo Bay was part of their plan.
MATTHIAS 199
No, I think not. The Federation vessel will be here soon. They’ll thankfully be their concern then.
PATRICK 200
I’ve been thinking about how the shields of both ships failed after we merged our dual-frequency shields with theirs. The same thing did not happen with that Orion ship several months ago, but I do think the merging destabilized the shields of these two ships. It’s something I need to look into more. It could be another tool in our toolbelt when push comes to shove.
MATTHIAS 201
Absolutely, Brother Patrick. You may be onto something there. Hopefully you’ll get some time to look into it more soon.
SOUNDS: Woosh of briefing room door opening.
MATTHIAS 202
Hello, Sister Philomon.
PHILOMON 203
You requested my presence in the Briefing Room, Commander Matthias?
MATTHIAS 204
Yes, please come in and have a seat. This is Brother Patrick, our Engineer, Brother Henderson, our Conn Officer, and Brother Thomas, our resident Med Tech.
PHILOMON 205
Hello, gentlemen.
PATRICK 206
Hello, Sister.
HENDERSON 207
Hello.
THOMAS 208
Hello, Sister Philomon.
MATTHIAS 209
We are discussing the two ships that pursued and attacked us. We are hoping you could help shed some light on unanswered questions.
PHILOMON 210
I’ll offer what I can.
MATTHIAS 211
One of the starships had a catastrophic failure when its warp core blew.
PHILOMON 212
And you’re wondering if you caused that…
MATTHIAS 213
Yes, we are. Our intent was to disable them, not destroy them, unless absolutely, morally necessary.
PATRICK 214
Was it a failsafe to avoid capture when the starship was rendered ineffective? If so, why did only one suffer such destruction?
PHILOMON 215
You gentle monks do make me smile. You know little of the raging hatred you have just witnessed.
MATTHIAS 216
Enlighten us then.
PHILOMON 217
The one ship simply self destructed at the command of its captain.
THOMAS 218
Self destructed? But why?
PHILOMON 219
That’s where the raging hatred I mentioned comes into play. Those crews were given a single mission: to kill me at all costs. If a straight on attack didn’t accomplish the task, then a suicide mission was the next step. I ordered the same back in my day. They hoped that by blowing themselves up, they would either kill me or disable us enough for the other ship to finish the job.
MATTHIAS 220
How did they find you?
PHILOMON 221
I am not certain, but they did.
THOMAS 222
Why were they so singlemindedly trying to kill you, Sister?
PHILOMON 223
I see your colleagues haven’t filled you in on who I really am under this habit.
MATTHIAS 224
There hasn’t been much time. Plus, I only know part of the story.
PHILOMON 225
Very well. I haven’t told this story in a very long time, but if I owe it to anyone, I especially owe it to you, Commander.
MATTHIAS 226
Me? Why “especially” me?
PHILOMON 227
I’ll get there in due time. Please be patient with me.
My people were once a relatively peaceful race. Not perfect, mind you, but something to be proud of. We had our conflicts and cruelties, but good always got the upper hand in the end.
PATRICK 228
Not unlike human history.
PHILOMON 229
Indeed. I have studied your history. Ours is both similar and different.
Things started to change during our first global pandemic. We’d had regional ones before, but this one circled the globe at an unprecedented speed. Many died from it. Even worse, perhaps, is that many “changed” as well. They did not change for the good. It was thought to be due to the psychological impacts of surviving the pandemic. We had all lost loved ones. So many loved ones. It made us practical and less controlled by our sentimental emotions, we thought.
THOMAS 230
The after effects of pandemics can be quite complicated.
PHILOMON 231
Yes, more complicated than we knew. Picking up the pieces lead to a new world government. One that could manage such an event in the future making the tough decisions that were not made last time around. It was for the common good. I had become an ambitious politician and was at the heart of driving the new world order. We knew what had to happen, and we would make it happen. If you got in our way, you were an enemy of the people and dealt with harshly.
HENDERSON 232
I don’t like where this is headed.
PHILOMON 233
As our power grew, so did our ambitions. So did my ambitions. I had zero inhibitions about getting my way. It was all for the common good, after all, and I knew EXACTLY what was best for MY people. If you were a politician and wanted to succeed, you got in line behind me. You supported me. Anyone who didn’t was either convinced to or somehow went away.
THOMAS 234
You really did this?
PHILOMON 235
Oh, yes. By my order and sometimes by my own hand. I was convinced it was the right thing to do, for the good of my people. There was nothing…I mean nothing we would not do for what we considered the greater good. It wasn’t long that all opposition simply evaporated, and I was made undisputed leader…Supreme Queen Madolinx Braugdon of Alandrondi and the Alandrondi Empire. I ruled with an iron fist. We invaded our neighboring star systems as well. None were ready for the unwavering force we brought to their shores.
It. Was. Glorious.
MATTHIAS 236
But it didn’t last, did it?
THOMAS 237
History proves it rarely does with such regimes.
PHILOMON 238
Yes, history does. My empire is part of the history books now thanks to yet another pandemic.
THOMAS 239
Another pandemic?
PHILOMON 240
Despite our best efforts, we could not slow it down. We thought we had total control of our citizens, but the undercurrent of resistance was larger than I suspected for it to have traveled so quickly. It not only killed my people, it scarred many of them as well. We were desperate for help. That’s when the Vatican Space Fleet heard of our distress, and the “VSF Our Lady” was dispatched to render medical assistance.
MATTHIAS 241
That’s the starship my uncle served upon.
PHILOMON 242
Oh...I know that so well. So well. We were untrusting of help being offered while asking for nothing in return and desperate for any help at all. The crew of the “VSF Our Lady” were compassionate and efficient. We saw the former as a weakness and the latter with respect. It wasn’t long before their advanced medical technology found a cure for the virus behind the pandemic. We inoculated everyone, whether they wanted it or not. I was last of all, just in case there were any unpredicted side effects, of course, but I was inoculated in the end. That was my well-deserved undoing.
THOMAS 243
So there was a side effect.
PHILOMON 244
There most definitely was. It did its job TOO well.
THOMAS 245
Too well, you said?
PHILOMON 246
Most definitely it did. You see, that first pandemic was never really over. As a matter of fact, the second pandemic was simply a mutated variant of the first, but the virus from the first was still within all our bodies.
THOMAS 247
You didn’t know?
PHILOMON 248
No, we didn’t know. Our medical technology wasn’t as advanced as yours, and further research had nearly stopped during my reign. Who needed research when we could now control the spread, we thought. We failed on both parts.
HENDERSON 249
How was the cure doing its job too well a problem?
PHILOMON 250
Now this is where it gets really interesting. The first virus not only had the standard physiological effects, but it affected the BRAIN, too. To be more precise, it turned OFF parts of the brain.
THOMAS 251
Which parts were turned off?
PHILOMON 252
Primarily, it muted the parts of the brain that controlled empathy. It’s such a basic word, but the fate of our entire world and those worlds around us apparently rested upon that one little word: empathy.
MATTHIAS 253
Empathy?
PHILOMON 254
Empathy. Not everyone was impacted this way, but the majority were. I would dare say that every one of us in government were affected to some extreme degree or another. I am absolutely positive I had next to zero empathy during those years. It may have actually been zero. I remember it so clearly. It’s such a stark difference, like a physical line marking the time in my life when I had none to where I am today.
THOMAS 255
And the cure fixed this?
PHILOMON 256
Because, like I said, the virus behind the second pandemic was a variant of the first, the inoculation cured both. It completely eliminated both viruses from our bodies over time. As it did, those long dormant portions of our brains reawakened. They may have atrophied a bit, but they still worked. My government…my empire began to crumble. Those long oppressed rose up and were winning. My leaders and trusted comrades were failing and questioning me. It was chaos.
MATTHIAS 257
And the “VSF Our Lady” was to blame.
PHILOMON 258
Of course it was! They developed the cure! I had the command crew brought to me.
MATTHIAS 259
And you killed them.
PHILOMON 260
Oh, not all of them myself. It can be so tiring, you know. But, yes, I killed them.
MATTHIAS 261
And my uncle? Do you know which one he was?
PHILOMON 262
I know EXACTLY which one he was. It’s the eyes. Your eyes.
MATTHIAS 263
I get them from my father. They got them from their father.
PHILOMON 264
A paternal trait. Pure blue. Sharp. He looked at me with those piercing eyes, and do you know what he said?
MATTHIAS 265
No…
PHILOMON 266
He said, “We’re here to help. Won’t you just let us help?” After everyone else around him had been killed, he still wasn’t thinking of himself.
MATTHIAS 267
That was my uncle…
PHILOMON 268
And it enraged me! I stabbed him more than once, I am ashamed to say. And as he lay there in his own blood and that of his fellow crew members…
MATTHIAS 269
No….
PHILOMON 270
…his last words were, “God, please help these people for I cannot anymore.”
And then I cried. For the first time since I was a child I cried. I cried for what your uncle was trying to do for my people. For what I had put him through. For what I had done. For those who would be affected by his death. For what I had missed in his eyes just moments before but suddenly remembered seeing…kindness. For not having faith as strong as his in anything except myself. I cried.
My guards shifted uncomfortably, not knowing what to do. I didn’t know what to do, so I ran. Having always had an escape plan wherever I was, I ran to my shuttle and left my beautiful Alandrondi, never to see it again.
THOMAS 271
Where did you go?
PHILOMON 272
At first, I hid for months, expecting my subjects to come hunting for me. Everything was in such chaos that none did. I kept thinking about Brother Matthias’s uncle, though, and his faith he hung onto until the very end. I kept thinking about the “VSF Our Lady” and the good she had carried within her. So I reached out to the Vatican. Told them who I was and what I had done. About how the Our Lady’s cure went deeper than just the virus. About how I was no longer what I once was. None of us were. They contacted the remnants of my government. Surprisingly, they didn’t want me. They said I would be too much of a distraction. The general populace were already concluding I was dead. Killed at the hands of my own people, most likely. They did not want me back…ever.
PATRICK 273
So they hid you in a cloistered convent? You’re not a real nun?
PHILOMON 274
Yes, they hid me in a cloistered convent at my own request. I am, however, a real nun. How could I not be? I was raised in a religious home. My people believed in a universal, loving god like your God. The same God, I truly believe. As Queen, I destroyed as much of our God as I could. He got in my way. I had Churches torn down, books burned, and religious artifacts destroyed. Having witnessed the faith shown by Brother Matthias’s uncle, however, I had to get to know God from his perspective. From the human perspective. I am a full Christian. I am a religious sister. A nun.
MATTHIAS 275
And you have made a full confession of your sins and received absolution?
PHILOMON 276
It has been a journey, but yes. I have confessed many, many times as I remember more or as I doubt my sincerity in accepting my role in them. Sure, the virus shut down our empathy. But logically did we have to take the path we did? That I did? No, we did not. I have learned there are many other races who have taken far kinder and more successful paths with minimal or suppressed empathy.
THOMAS 277
There are obviously people on your planet who have not forgotten you, as what we just experienced showed.
PHILOMON 278
You are correct. Why should any of them forget? Why should Brother Matthias, Commander of this ship, forget. They have a right to revenge.
MATTHIAS 279
I don’t agree. They have a moral obligation to not kill. Otherwise, they will be no better than you…the old you.
PHILIMON 280
I pray for my people everyday, all day. Early on, I redirected my vast fortunes back to helping the people and planets I hurt. Every bit of it. I have nothing left except the absolute bare minimum required as a nun.
MATTHIAS 281
I’m conflicted on forgiveness, though, Sister. You were the equivalent of our Hitler…even Khan. You killed and tortured MILLIONS. Yet, you were not the same person you are today. There was a physiological impact upon your psychological state of being. I don’t know how to come to terms with that.
PHILOMON 282
I honestly have no idea how to help you, Brother Matthias. Perhaps you’ll never come to terms with it, even though I know you deeply want to because you feel it is the Christian thing to do. I haven’t come to terms with that myself. All I can do is give you my sincerest apologies. I am deeply, truly, wholeheartedly sorry for taking your uncle’s life. The person I am today would take it back if I could. Would stop me if I could. Would give my life in trade if I could.
MATTHIAS 283
I believe you.
PHILOMON 284
I pray for what’s best for you, your family, and all my other victims.
MATTHIAS 285
And I will pray for you.
PHILOMON 286
That’s more than I deserve.
MATTHIAS 287
It’s what every sentient life deserves.
PHILOMON 288
Thank you.
MATTHIAS 289
What will you do next now that you’ve been found out?
PHILOMON 290
I will contact the Vatican for guidance. Perhaps it’s time to return to my homeworld to face justice.
THOMAS 291
If they will try to execute you, too, there’s no way the Vatican would agree to that.
PHILOMON 292
We’ll have to see what this turns into, but reaching out to bring the Vatican up-to-date is the first step.
SOUNDS: Incoming communication.
HENDERSON 293
Incoming message. The USS Enterprise will be here momentarily. They’ve read our preliminary report and have some questions for us. The Captain would like to meet with you Commander. He suggests meeting on the Blessings. He wants to see the ship and meet the crew that took out two attack ships in quick order.
MATTHIAS 294
Glad they’re here. Let them know we’re ready at their convenience, Brother Henderson.
SOUNDS: Segue music.
SCENE 7: WELCOME BACK
SOUNDS: Bridge sounds
MATTHIAS 295
Welcome back, Captain! It’s good to have you onboard the Blessings.
JEREMIAH 296
Thank you, Brother Matthias. It’s good to be back!
MATTHIAS 297
Is your Mother settling in well?
JEREMIAH 298
I think she is. Surprisingly so. She started her latest assignment with the Daystrom Institute’s Temporal Studies Department this week. She’s loving it.
MATTHIAS 299
I bet she is. She has firsthand experience of time travel after all.
JEREMIAH 300
That she does.
I was reading over your trip report. That wasn’t the milk run I thought it would be.
MATTHIAS 301
No, it most definitely was not.
JEREMIAH 302
You just had to show me up by taking out two ships to my one with that shield-bump trick, didn’t you?
MATTHIAS 303
Haha! Something like that.
JEREMIAH 304
Good job. I couldn’t have done better myself.
MATTHIAS 305
Thank you, Captain.
JEREMIAH 306
And running in silent mode to stay hidden, but then letting your internal comm signatures trickle out to bait them so you could confront them one at a time on your terms before they cornered you was genius strategic thinking.
MATTHIAS 307
It was a team effort, for sure.
JEREMIAH 308
Smart move nonetheless.
How are you holding up? That was a surprisingly personal connection between you and one of your guests.
MATTHIAS 309
I’m holding up better than I thought. Having met her, she was nothing like what I expected. She’s still the person who did all those heinous acts, but she’s also a different person. An empathetic person now. Sympathetic. Caring. Even kind. I want to judge her harshly, but I don’t think I have it in me now.
JEREMIAH 310
God can forgive all if truly repentant. We know that.
MATTHIAS 311
We do, and that’s what’s helping keep me together.
SCENE 8: CALLING HOME
MARIA 312
Jeremiah! So glad you called!
JEREMIAH 313
I said I’d call as often as I could, didn’t I? Still catching up on those twenty years. Plus, Dad often called. I really miss that.
MARIA 314
I know you do, son.
JEREMIAH 315
So, how’s work going?
MARIA 316
Wonderfully! This first week has been mostly orientation as I take the required safety and ethics courses and tour some absolutely fascinating research labs. The data John’s team collected after I arrived on Mars has been fully transferred over and is waiting for me to dig into it.
JEREMIAH 317
Sounds perfect.
MARIA 318
Oh, and I ran into a few past colleagues. They look two decades older while I haven’t changed in their eyes. It’s quite disconcerting for them, which I find funny in a strange way. Once I assure them I’m not a ghost or figment of their imagination, they’ve each been glad to see me.
JEREMIAH 319
That’s good to hear.
MARIA 320
I think I’m hitting my stride, Jeremiah, like I promised I would.
JEREMIAH 321
I’m happy to hear that, Mom. I still worry about you. That’s a grown son’s prerogative I guess.
MARIA 322
The worrying is mutual. I love you, son.
JEREMIAH 323
Love you, too, Mom
SOUNDS: End music and credits.
END CREDITS
You have been listening to VSF Blessings, a Star Trek fan production. Episode 10, “Repentance.”
Created, written, produced, directed, and audio engineered by James McDonald. Story consultation provided by Noah McDonald. All character voices were generated using ElevenLabs AI voice generator. Sound effects from Pixabay.com under free-use content licenses and Trekcore.com.
Star Trek and all related marks, logos, and characters are solely owned by CBS Studios Inc. This fan production is not endorsed by, sponsored by, nor affiliated with CBS, Paramount Pictures, or any other Star Trek franchise, and is a non-commercial fan-made production intended for recreational use. No commercial exhibition or distribution is permitted. No alleged independent rights will be asserted against CBS or Paramount Pictures.
Until next time, be the good, do what’s right, and be the light.
SOUND: End Music