VSF Blessings: A Star Trek Fan Production
Episode 3: The Flock
March 26, 2024
SCENE 1: LOADING
SOUND: Cargo bay sounds. Raven sounds on occasion.
BROTHER ETHAN 1
Once we have those last pods loaded, we’ll close up the cargo hold.
BROTHER PATRICK 2
Be sure to scan the hold for any unwanted guests before we leave, Brother Ethan. That’s standard procedure now.
BROTHER ETHAN 3
Absolutely, except the ravens are wanted guests. They’re cargo.
BROTHER PATRICK 4
Yes, except for the ravens. Terraforming a lifeless planet takes patience and a long view. This project we are delivering to must have made significant progress to have higher lifeforms such as ravens.
BROTHER ETHAN 5
I hear they are rather hardy, as a species, with a wide diet. That’s what their keeper was saying.
BROTHER PATRICK 6
And intelligent. Look at their tiny eyes. There’s a little brain behind there.
BROTHER ETHAN 7
Honestly, I’ve been trying not to. The way they watch us sort of creeps me out. Those beady black eyes.
BROTHER PATRICK 8
Ehhh, you have an overactive imagination.
BROTHER ETHAN 9
We’re just about ready to close it all up now, I see. Pardon me, Brother Patrick, as I tend to business.
BROTHER PATRICK 10
No problem. I have some business to tend to myself. We’ll be taking off soon. I need to do a few more quick diagnostics of the propulsion systems.
SOUND: Segue music
SCENE 2: SURPRISE
BROTHER MATTHIAS 11
We’re beyond the atmosphere now, sir.
JEREMIAH 12
That went smoothly. Practice makes perfect, right Brother Matthias?
BROTHER MATTHIAS 13
We’ve certainly been getting plenty of that lately.
JEREMIAH 14
Bring the ship around so we can go to warp soon.
BROTHER MATTHAIS 15
Aye, sir.
SOUND: Doors opening. Wings flapping.
JEREMIAH 16
What in the world?!
BROTHER MATTHAIS 17
Captain!
SOUND: Communicator badge
JEREMIAH 18
Captain Hollis to Brother Ethan! One of our guests in the cargo hold has escaped and made its way to the bridge! Can you please come help extract it from the top of helm control!
BROTHER ETHAN (telephony) 19
What, Captain?! I mean, of course. But how?
JEREMIAH 20
I certainly do not know, but I want this raven off my bridge before it starts redecorating.
BROTHER ETHAN (telephony) 21
Almost there, Captain!
BROTHER MATTHIAS 22
It’s pecking on the controls.
JEREMIAH 23
Are they responding?
BROTHER MATTHIAS 24
No, I don’t think so.
JEREMIAH 25
Good. I didn’t think the control surfaces would be calibrated to a bird’s beak. I just hope it doesn’t break it. It’s tapping awfully hard.
BROTHER MATTHIAS 26
How can I help, Captain? I haven’t tried to catch a bird before.
JEREMIAH 27
Me neither, Matthias. Me neither.
SOUND: Door opens
BROTHER ETHAN 28
I’m here, Captain!
SOUND: Segue music
SCENE 3: ROUTINE CHECKUP
BROTHER THOMAS 29
It’s just a routine checkup. We’ve visited several worlds lately, and the Captain wants me to see if we’re all doing well. That’s all.
BROTHER PATRICK 30
Ok, but did you have to insist upon now, Brother Thomas? I was about to start the realignment of the artificial gravity plating.
BROTHER THOMAS 31
Sounds positively riveting. I am so sorry I tore you away from that.
BROTHER PATRICK 32
You will be when we all have to start walking at an angle.
BROTHER THOMAS 33
Just hold still for a little while longer. Patience is a virtue after all.
BROTHER PATRICK 34
Truth be told, doctors make me nervous.
BROTHER THOMAS 35
Truth be told, I’m not a doctor. I’m a med tech.
BROTHER PATRICK 36
Same difference. Same exam table.
BROTHER THOMAS 37
Same diagnosis. You’re fine. Now stop tying up my exam table.
BROTHER PATRICK 38
Gladly.
SOUND: DOOR OPENS
BROTHER PATRICK 39
And doc…I mean med tech.
BROTHER THOMAS 40
Yes?
BROTHER PATRICK 41
Thank you.
SOUND: DOOR CLOSES
BROTHER THOMAS 42
You’re welcome.
SOUND: Segue music.
SCENE 4: HALL PASS
SOUND: Wings flapping. Insert random caws.
BROTHER MATTHIAS 43
Not again! Uhhhh!
SOUND: Communicator chirp
BROTHER MATTHIAS 44
Brother Matthias to Brother Ethan. We have another escaped raven. Deck 3 hallway. As our resident bird catcher, I need your assistance, please.
BROTHER ETHAN (telephony) 45
Be right there! How are they getting out?
BROTHER MATTHIAS 46
That’s a mystery we would all like to be solved.
BROTHER ETHAN (telephony) 47
Were you able to view the camera footage of the enclosures when the first one got out?
BROTHER MATTHIAS 48
I found the footage and saw the raven fly by the camera, but its particular enclosure was blocked from view by a cargo pod. I learned nothing useful.
BROTHER ETHAN (telephony) 49
I can set up some temporary cameras down there to catch these wiley critters in the act.
BROTHER MATTHIAS 50
That sounds like a good idea, but let’s take care of this raven in front of me on the hallway floor first.
BROTHER ETHAN (telephony) 51
Almost there! With the first raven, I wondered if the enclosure’s door was properly closed. This time, I KNOW the doors were closed properly. I checked them myself.
SOUND: Tapping
BROTHER MATTHIAS 52
It’s pecking on the door frame now.
BROTHER ETHAN (telephony) 53
Yes, they do that a lot.
BROTHER MATTHIAS 54
Now it’s looking at me…
SOUND: Door opening
BROTHER ETHAN 55
I’m here, Brother!
SOUND: Segue music
SCENE 5: BIRDS IN THE BELFRY
JEREMIAH 56
At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
FATHER JEREMIAH, BROTHERS PATRICK, THOMAS, MATTHIAS, ETHAN 56.5
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come…
SOUND: Door opens (use holodeck door sound)
SOUND: Wings flapping. Raven calling.
BROTHER MATTHIAS 57
Not again!
JEREMIAH 58
Let’s wait for it to land.
SOUND: Thud and electric sound of raven hitting halo walls.
BROTHER ETHAN 59
No!
BROTHER PATRICK 60
It didn’t know these are holographic walls in the Chapel! It flew right into one!
BROTHER THOMAS 61
It’s knocked itself out, I believe. It’s still breathing.
JEREMIAH 62
Heavenly Father, you created all things for your glory and made us stewards of this creature. If it is your will, restore it to health and strength. Holy is your name for ever and ever. Amen
ALL 63
Amen.
JEREMIAH 64
Brother Thomas, can you take the raven to sickbay to check it out while we continue with the Mass, please?
BROTHER THOMAS 65
Yes, will do, Captain…I mean Father.
SOUND: Segue music
SCENE 6: REVELATIONS
JEREMIAH 66
So, how’s your patient?
BROTHER THOMAS 67
Right as rain, sir. A bruised head, but nothing permanent, thankfully.
JEREMIAH 68
That’s good news.
BROTHER THOMAS 69
But there is one thing.
JEREMIAH 70
What is that?
BROTHER THOMAS 71
This raven is not your run-of-the-mill raven. It’s been genetically modified.
JEREMIAH 72
Genetically modified. In what way?
SOUND: Computer beeps
BROTHER THOMAS 73
If you look here on the screen, you will see a normal raven’s brain compared to this one’s brain. This extra bit right here is a paracortex.
JEREMIAH 74
Ok.
BROTHER THOMAS 75
And this paracortex contains psilosynine as a neurotransmitter. Lots of it.
JEREMIAH 76
And what does that mean?
BROTHER THOMAS 77
It means this raven, and quite possibly the others in there, are telepathic. Betazoids have similar anatomy in their brains.
JEREMIAH 78
You're saying these birds can read minds?
BROTHER THOMAS 79
Maybe not our minds, but each other’s minds at least. In theory.
JEREMIAH 80
Why? How?
BROTHER THOMAS 81
While I cannot answer the why, I can make an attempt at the how. As the telepathic species that we know of evolved into being, there were offshoots along the way. Other animals that never became sentient beings still had telepathic abilities. Some went extinct but others still survive to this day, such as the Lunerian wolf. It uses its telepathic abilities to hunt in packs to outsmart its prey.
JEREMIAH 82
But how did these ravens acquire this ability?
BROTHER THOMAS 83
I believe someone genetically modified the raven DNA to include a paracortex with elevated psilosynine. I do not believe they created the genetic code themselves but snipped it from another species to include it in the raven genome.
JEREMIAH 84
Why do you believe that?
BROTHER THOMAS 85
There are what appear to be too many natural errors in the code for it to be artificially created.
JEREMIAH 86
Will their offspring have the same abilities ?
BROTHER THOMAS 87
Like I said, it’s part of their genome, so yes. I believe so.
JEREMIAH 88
Ok, let’s first discover the extent of this discovery. Would you check out the other ravens and see if they are like this one?
BROTHER THOMAS 89
Absolutely, Sir.
JEREMIAH 90
And then let’s all get together in the briefing room to discuss this situation.
SOUND: Segue music
SCENE 7: BRIEFING ROOM
JEREMIAH 91
Ok, where do we stand? Brother Ethan, you first. How are these ravens getting out?
BROTHER ETHAN 92
We caught it on camera this time. They’re inputting the lock combination, and the door pops open.
JEREMIAH 93
And how are they doing that?
BROTHER ETHAN 94
These are not touch-panel locks but buttons instead. They have taken a wire that holds one of their feeding containers in place and bent it in such a way that they can push the buttons from inside the cage.
JEREMIAH 95
Wow. How did they know the combination?
BROTHER PATRICK 96
Each button makes its own unique chirp when pressed. Either they were trained to open them or they memorized the sounds and order and figured out the locations through trial and error.
BROTHER ETHAN 97
Ravens are known to be highly intelligent birds, with the ability to solve puzzles, build simple tools, and even plan for the future. Opening locks in such a way is beyond anything I’ve seen in my limited research, but they can be trained.
JEREMIAH 98
Interesting. And what about the genetic modifications? Are the other ravens similarly adapted, Brother Thomas?
BROTHER THOMAS 99
Yes, Captain. Every single one of them. The entire flock has the anatomy for telepathic abilities. Whether they know how to use them or not is unknown at this time.
BROTHER ETHAN 100
The way they all just stare at you is eerie. Now we know they are reading our minds!
BROTHER THOMAS 101
No, we don’t know that. Cross species telepathy isn’t a given, plus, as I just said, we don’t know if they are even using their abilities or not. Let’s not jump to conclusions here.
JEREMIAH 102
Ok, first, let’s ensure these ravens stay in their cages, for their own safety. We don’t want another incident like in the Chapel. Brothers Patrick and Ethan, you see to that, please.
Second, I will need to reach out to the terraforming project to see if they are aware of the uniqueness of their ravens. Such genetic engineering is banned by both the Federation AND the Church. There’s a story to be told here. We just don’t know it yet. Anything else about these ravens that we know?
BROTHER MATTHIAS 103
They like to peck a lot.
JEREMIAH 104
I see. Anything else?
(Pause)
Dismissed.
SOUND: Segue music.
SCENE 8: SOURCING
PROJECT COORDINATOR BENSON 105 (telephony)
Hello, Captain. I’m Project Coordinator Debra Benson. I hear you’re enroute to us with some needed supplies.
JEREMIAH 106
Yes, we are.
BENSON 107
Is there a problem?
JEREMIAH 108
Perhaps. It’s about the ravens.
BENSON 109
The ravens? Are they ok? We’re really counting on them in our plans.
JEREMIAH 110
Oh yes, they’re okay. All healthy and doing well.
BENSON 111
Then what’s the problem?
JEREMIAH 112
Were you aware they had all been genetically modified?
BENSON 113
Genetically modified? No, I assure you we were not aware of this. If we had been, they would certainly NOT be on your ship now. What are the modifications?
JEREMIAH 114
This is where it gets a little more interesting. There’s only one real modification. It appears snippets of DNA were included in their genome to add a paracortex complete with elevated psilosynine levels.
BENSON 115
Psilosynine…why do I know that word?
JEREMIAH 116
Because having it and the paracortex are associated with telepathic abilities, such as those found in Betazoids.
BENSON 117
What?! Why add that to a bird? A Raven?
JEREMIAH 118
I was hoping you could shed some light on that mystery, Project Coordinator.
BENSON 119
Oh my. I’m not sure what I could add.
JEREMIAH 120
We picked up the supplies and birds from the Planetary Biosphere Department of the University of Dayton. Do you know where the birds originated from?
BENSON 121
Yes, actually. They came from Doctor Anna Carlson. She was a biologist specializing in environmental disaster recovery and terraforming.
JEREMIAH 122
Was?
BENSON 123
Sadly, she passed away a few months ago. These ravens were one of her personal projects, apparently. Her estate executor was looking for a home for them and the Planetary Biosphere Department knew we were looking for passerine bird species in the genus Corvus which includes ravens and crows. Before animals, or even plants for that matter, can be transferred between planets, there is a quarantine period they must go through to prevent the unwanted spread of disease and pests. She had kept them in quarantine already, which we had assumed was for a project like ours, but there were no records of which one. We were the lucky recipients, or so we thought.
JEREMIAH 124
Interesting. Any idea where she may have gotten them from?
BENSON 125
I never asked.
JEREMIAH 126
I see. While I plan to give the University of Dayton’s Planetary Biosphere Department a call next, what is the fate of these birds? Do you still want them? Can you even take them after what we’ve discovered?
BENSON 127
I guess those are the questions at hand. Gene modifications. Telepathic powers. Can they actually read minds?
JEREMIAH 128
We have not been able to determine that at this time. It’s possible they don’t even know the ability is there.
BENSON 129
I’ll need to consult with the Advisory Board about this. May I get back with you?
JEREMIAH 130
Yes, no problem. You still need the other supplies regardless.
BENSON 131
True.
JEREMIAH 132
I’ll try to track down the source of the ravens in the meantime as well. Sorry to have been the bearer of complicating news.
BENSON 133
I understand, Captain. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. We’ll be talking soon.
SOUND: Segue music.
SCENE 9: PECKING ORDER
SOUND: Pecking
ETHAN 134
What did you want to see me about, Brother Matthias?
MATTHIAS 135
It’s about these ravens. They’re pecking again.
ETHAN 136
Yes, they do that a lot.
MATTHIAS 137
I know, but they’ve pecked this pattern before. I swear they have.
ETHAN 138
Interesting. Perhaps they were trained to or maybe it’s some mating ritual.
MATTHIAS 139
No, it’s something else. The pecking or tapping…it sounds almost like some sort of…please don’t think I’m crazy but, Computer, analyze the raven’s pecking for a pattern or code or…language.
SOUND: Computer sound acknowledging request.
COMPUTER (telephony) 140
Analyzing.
ETHAN 141
Do you really think the computer will find anything? I mean it just sounds like a whole lot of random pecking to me.
MATTHIAS 142
I don’t know for sure, Brother Ethan, but even if it sounds crazy, it doesn’t hurt to ask. I mean, before today, I never expected to meet telepathic birds either.
SOUND: Pecking stops
ETHAN 143
You make a solid point there. I still think they’re reading our minds. Right now even!
MATTHIAS 144
They’ve stopped.
ETHAN 145
That they have.
SOUND: Pecking
MATTHIAS 146
And there they go again. Computer, any progress on the analysis?
COMPUTER (telephony) 147
Analyzing.
ETHAN 148
This may take a while.
COMPUTER (telephony) 148
Analysis complete.
SOUND: Segue music
SCENE 10: THE FLOCK
JEREMIAH 149
What’s so urgent that you called us down here so quickly, Brothers Matthias and Ethan?
MATTHIAS 150
You simply will not believe this.
ETHAN 151
I still don’t.
JEREMIAH 152
Believe what?
MATTHIAS 153
Remember when I mentioned the ravens liked to peck a lot?
JEREMIAH 154
Yes.
MATTHIAS 155
Well, there’s more to it than that.
ETHAN 156
A lot more.
MATTHIAS 157
Something about the pecking bothered me. It didn’t feel random. I kept thinking I was hearing repeating patterns.
JEREMIAH 158
And were you?
MATTHIAS 159
To confirm, I asked the computer to run an analysis to see if there was a pattern or a code or even a language. I felt crazy asking.
ETHAN 160
I thought he was nuts.
MATTHIAS 161
Except, luckily I wasn’t.
JEREMIAH 162
Which means?
MATTHIAS 163
There is a pattern! A code! A highly efficient quick-tap code! And even a language!
JEREMIAH 164
A what?
THOMAS 165
Did you just say what I think you said?
MATTHIAS 166
Yes! These ravens can communicate!
JEREMIAH 167
What were they saying?
MATTHIAS 168
You may have noticed they are quiet right now. They’re listening. Ask them yourself.
JEREMIAH 169
Really? Just speak…out loud?
SOUND: Tapping
RAVENS (Computer voice) 170
Yes, Captain. Really. Just speak out loud. The computer will translate us for you.
JEREMIAH 171
What in the world?!
SOUND: Tapping
RAVENS 172
Your colleagues here responded in much the same way.
JEREMIAH 173
Is this real? Are you two pranking me? I don’t have the time nor patience for this if you are.
MATTHIAS 174
I assure you, Captain, we are not. When we discovered it was a language, we asked the computer to start translating everything they said. They started talking to us. We replied. Before we knew it, we were having a two-way conversation with a flock of ravens. That’s when we called you and Brother Thomas.
JEREMIAH 175
But they are all pecking at once. Aren’t they all saying something different?
SOUND: Tapping.
RAVENS 176
We all speak as one.
JEREMIAH (Flatly.) 177
You what?
SOUND: Tapping
RAVENS 178
Speak as one.
THOMAS 179
Are you ok, Captain.? You’ve turned a little pale.
JEREMIAH 180
It’s just that…the Borg all speak as one.
THOMAS 181
Oh. Sorry, Captain.
JEREMIAH 182
This is a lot to process.
Ravens, if you speak as one, are you individuals or are you a collective forming one common entity?
SOUND: Tapping
RAVENS 183
If we understand you properly, we are individuals. We have our own wants, needs, moods, and aims, like any bird. It’s when we connect our brains together that we think on a higher plain. Where we cease being base animals and achieve sentience. Where we gain a broader understanding of the world. Where we ponder our own place in this universe. But to answer your deeper question, we are not Borg.
JEREMIAH 184
You know the Borg?
RAVENS 185
We know what the holonews said. We are different.
JEREMIAH 186
In what ways?
RAVENS 187
We have free will. We seek to learn. We seek harmony with those around us.
JEREMIAH 188
Do you seek perfection?
RAVENS 189
Perfection is unobtainable. We seek to improve ourselves, but not at the cost of others.
JEREMIAH 190
I will take you at your word for now.
RAVENS 191
We ask for nothing more.
PATRICK 192
Translation is complete and uploaded to our Universal Translators now, sir. The Computer no longer has to be their voice. The voice you next hear from them will be through the Universal Translator.
JEREMIAH 193
Thank you, Brother Patrick.
How are you doing this, Ravens?
RAVENS 194
You already know we are equipped for telepathic capabilities, Captain. The unique wiring of a typical raven’s brain is quite curious, analytical, and efficient. Not on the same level as a human brain, but something to notice. The telepathy connects our brains together, borrowing capacity from each other, forming a network for higher thought. As more of us connected, the higher our brain functions collectively became. We became sentient. We can still have our basic thoughts as our own, but we can also tap into the higher thoughts just as easily.
JEREMIAH 195
How do you know this?
RAVENS 196
Anna, or Doctor Anna Carlson, told us. She studied and cared for us.
JEREMIAH 197
Did she create you?
RAVENS 198
We do not believe so.
JEREMIAH 199
Who created you?
RAVENS 200
We do not know.
JEREMIAH 201
Where did she get you?
RAVENS 202
We are not sure. We arrived a few at a time. Our memories began when our proximity was close enough to telepathically connect to the Flock.
JEREMIAH 203
The Flock?
RAVENS 204
That’s what Anna called us. We like it. Collectively, we are the Flock. When addressing us directly, Anna simply called us Raven. We like that, too.
JEREMIAH 205
As your flock grows, will you continue to become collectively more intelligent and capable?
RAVEN 206
That is the same logical assumption we had as well, but Anna thought we were showing signs of plateauing. We are not of sufficient number to confirm this one way or another.
JEREMIAH 207
Do you know where we are taking you?
RAVEN 208
Yes. To a world that’s being terraformed.
JEREMIAH 209
That is correct. What are your thoughts about that?
RAVEN 210
Anna often spoke of such worlds. We find it fascinating. The concept of taking a barren world of rock and adding the ingredients of life…
SOUND: Segue music.
SCENE 11: Expected Unexpected
BENSON (telephony) 211
So first, you call to tell me our ravens have been genetically modified, Captain. Then you tell me they are sentient beings. A form of intelligence yet unseen in the universe. Do I have that right?
JEREMIAH 212
Basically, yes. It’s a lot to take in, I know.
BENSON 213
And they need a home.
JEREMIAH 214
Yes. As you can imagine, Earth is off limits now due to fears of cross contamination of the species.
BENSON 215
And the Flock, as they like to be called, proposes working together to enhance the terraforming process.
JEREMIAH 216
As their capabilities grew, Doctor Anna Carlson put them through an extensive, accelerated educational process, including her areas of expertise, such as terraforming.
BENSON 217
So they’re book smart.
JEREMIAH 218
And eager to prove their worth.
BENSON 219
How smart did you say they were?
JEREMIAH 220
According to them, Doctor Carlson’s last evaluation measured an IQ of approximately 150.
BENSON 221
That’s genius level for humans. What would keep them from continuing to grow, advancing, and outsmarting us all on the project?
JEREMIAH 222
That’s a fair question. They would like to meet with you, your Advisory Board, and biologists, if possible. They say they wish to be both transparent and to state their case.
BENSON 223
Ok, I’ll see what I can arrange. I’m taking this all on faith, Captain, which is a rather tall order.
JEREMIAH 224
Yes, it is.
BENSON 225
Have you ascertained whether they can read other species’ minds or not, such as humans?
JEREMIAH 226
They say they have not been able to so far. Brother Thomas’s medical scans have revealed nothing. I’ve seen one of them genuinely startled by one of my crew walking up behind it, which is hard to do with telepaths such as Betazoids. It’s something else to watch to see how it develops, I guess.
BENSON 227
One more thing to add to the list. May I speak to them now, over a communication channel, so I can get a better understanding and feel for the situation?
JEREMIAH 228
I think that is a splendid idea. Let my team get the communication equipment setup, and we will reach back out to you shortly.
BENSON 229
Thank you, Captain. Not what you expected when you started this journey, I’m sure. It certainly wasn’t what we expected when we made the original arrangements.
JEREMIAH 230
Life has a funny way of serving up the unexpected.
BENSON 231
I’m learning to expect that.
SOUND: Segue music.
SCENE 12: Kidney Not
THOMAS 232
Thanks for coming, Matthias. This routine checkup shouldn’t take long.
MATTHIAS 233
No problem, Brother Thomas.
THOMAS 234
Now, before we get started, I looked over your medical records and no abnormalities to speak of other than you’ve had a kidney replaced. One is your original and the other has scar tissue around it but appears to be regrown. The records did not indicate why. I need to update that. There has to be a story there.
MATTHIAS 235
Oh, yes, there’s a story. I’m surprised it’s not in my medical records, but I had to donate my kidney to my Dad. Then, later, they were able to regrow my missing kidney.
THOMAS 236
Really. May I ask why your father required the kidney?
MATTHIAS 237
Absolutely, you can. My family and I were on a camping trip on this remote moon. I don’t even remember which one. My parents love camping in exotic environments. Just man against nature…plus a little technology. Before embarking on such adventures, there were always immunizations we had to take. There’s not much out there I shouldn’t have some sort of immunity against after all our trips.
THOMAS 238
I can imagine so.
MATTHIAS 239
In the end, it was a clerical error, really, that led to my Dad contracting a local virus. A medical technician miskeyed one of the immunizations for my father. The rest of the family was appropriately immunized, but not my Dad for this one virus. His fever started on our third day.
THOMAS 240
Of all the luck.
MATTHIAS 241
By the time we were able to get help and him out of there, the virus had ravaged both kidneys. They had been completely rendered useless. The local medical unit was not equipped to regrow or replicate organs. It could only cover the basics. After clearing his body of the virus, it took a more old-fashioned approach to save my Dad’s life. Perhaps a member of his family was a match to donate a kidney.
THOMAS 242
And you drew the short straw.
MATTHIAS 243
Actually, two of us did, but I wasn’t going to let my younger brother do it. I gladly volunteered to help my Dad. He resisted at first, but we won the argument in the end.
THOMAS 244
So they weren’t equipped to regrow or replicate the kidney, but they could perform a transplant surgery? That’s not a simple surgery and involves two people.
MATTHIAS 245
Another hiker was a Starfleet surgeon who had worked on the front lines in years past doing all sorts of operations using methods we would never consider today, unless desperate. We were desperate.
THOMAS 246
It sounds like it.
MATTHIAS 247
So my Dad and I have matching scars to remind us of some real family bonding time.
THOMAS 248
My father and I preferred to play chess instead of camping.
MATTHIAS 249
Not many scars in chess.
THOMAS 250
Very true, but still lots of good times. Thank you for sharing your story. I will note it in your medical records. Now, let’s get started with this scan, shall we?
SOUND: Tricorder opening and scanning.
SCENE 13: ARRIVAL
MATTHIAS 251
Docking at the orbital terraforming base complete, Sir.
JEREMIAH 252
Fantastic. Now let’s go meet our guests.
MATTHIAS 253
I’m right behind you.
SOUND: Walking and door swoosh open and closed, followed by turbolift sound.
MATTHIAS 254
I’m going to miss the Flock. It’s been fun getting to know them, Captain.
JEREMIAH 255
I agree, Brother Matthias. All the trouble they were causing at the start was to get our attention. Thanks to you and your keen observations, they succeeded.
MATTHIAS 256
They wouldn’t have stopped until they had.
JEREMIAH 257
I have no doubt about that.
MATTHIAS 258
Do you think they’ll be allowed to join the terraforming project?
JEREMIAH 259
There is a lot to consider. That is for sure. It all starts with a question, though, and it never hurts to ask. I hope so.
MATTHIAS 260
Me, too.
SOUND: Turbolift sound stops. Doors open. Steps.
JEREMIAH 261
The Vatican is working with the Federation to come up with alternatives in case this is not a good fit for either party.
SOUND: Doors close
MATTHIAS 262
I still find all this hard to wrap my head around. The Flock is composed of multiple individuals who collectively make a single individual. Even more amazing is somehow it seems to work without some sort of multiple-personalities-disorder psychotic break. Absolutely amazing.
JEREMIAH 263
Unfortunately, my only reference point is the Borg, as you know. The Flock is completely different than that.
MATTHIAS 264
But at least you have a reference point, and that’s valuable in understanding what they are and are not. Having a resident expert on such collaborative thinking was a real stroke of luck for the Flock, wouldn’t you say? It helped answer the basic questions on everyone’s mind up front.
JEREMIAH 265
I hadn’t thought of it that way. Sounds suspiciously like fate, Brother Matthias.
MATTHIAS 266
I just know God has a plan, and we’re part of that plan.
JEREMIAH 267
Yes, we are.
SOUND: Segue music.
SCENE 14: ACCEPTANCE
BENSON (not telephony) 268
Good to see you face to face, Captain. It looks like your cargo hold will be leaving empty.
JEREMIAH 269
You’ve come to an agreement? That was fast.
BENSON 270
When you get a bunch of eager scientists together, things can proceed quickly. While we did not have a flock of sentient ravens in our original plans, one must adapt in this profession. The first thing they teach you about terraforming at university is to plan thoroughly but be prepared to throw it all out the window on day one when reality hits.
JEREMIAH 271
Haha. World building isn’t for the faint hearted.
BENSON 272
That’s an understatement, Captain.
JEREMIAH 273
What about your concerns regarding what the Flock may develop into as their numbers and capabilities grow?
BENSON 274
We’ll be monitoring that closely. The Flock seems equally concerned, but for other reasons as well. Will what they currently have become unstable at greater numbers? Will it change? How will they manage a larger network of minds? What happens when they get down to the planet, and they have more area to explore? Will their combined intellect weaken with greater distance? They’re a new lifeform with more unanswered than answered questions.
JEREMIAH 275
Sounds like you’ll need a few more resources to assist with this.
BENSON 276
Requests are being submitted by my staff as we speak.
JEREMIAH 277
I suspect you won’t have much trouble finding willing candidates.
BENSON 278
I suspect you are correct.
JEREMIAH 279
We still have not learned where the ravens originated from.
BENSON 280
No, but it seems well planned. The Flock has significant genetic variation in its population, which should make expanding its numbers very viable.
JEREMIAH 281
Which begs the question of what were the original plans? Was sentience part of it or was that an unexpected side effect? Does the originator even know? How did Dr. Anna Carlson, a renowned scientist, get wrapped up in this whole thing?
BENSON 282
Well, at least that problem is out of OUR hands for now. The Federation promised to continue to investigate. Until we know more, we’re going with what we’ve been dealt. We need ravens, and these particular ones need someplace to call home. Plus, they’re eager to assist with the terraforming activities. That’s a win win win in my book.
JEREMIAH 283
In my book, too.
SOUND: Segue music.
SCENE 15: WRAP UP
JEREMIAH 284
Captain’s Log, Stardate 44593.1. We are enroute back to Earth. The terraforming supplies were successfully delivered, including our new friends, the Flock. As a young lad running through cornfields and watching the startled birds take flight, I never guessed I would be holding a conversation with them one day. Perhaps one of their descendants.
I always dreamt about going to space and witnessing God’s creation on a grand scale; yet, here I was discovering new life right in my own backyard.
My father is always trying to save the universe one person at a time, as he says. This time we had to save the many to save the one as well. God works in mysterious ways.
SOUND: End music and credits
END CREDITS
NARRATOR 285
You have been listening to VSF Blessings, a Star Trek fan production. Episode 3, “The Flock.”
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
