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STAR TREK: THE CROUTON GENERATION
SEASON THREE
Episode #228
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Date: Mon, 13 May 1991 17:54 MST
From: ALLEN_MK@bronze.Colorado.EDU
Subject: ST:TCG THE STORM BEFORE THE CALM: PART ONE (LOOOOONG)
It is early afternoon aboard the Melbourne. Counselor Eliana sits in her
quarters at her desk, writing in a small book. A close up of the pages would
reveal Cyrillic-type letters, though the language is not Russian. On one wall,
above the bed, hangs a painting of a blue wolf, running down a deserted road
at night. The Counselor looks tired and upset. As she writes, we hear her
thoughts:
"Another day is half gone, and still I have found no answer for my
problem, no friend to share my sorrows. Meeting Kabeta (imagine--THE Kabeta!)
was a help, but it was not enough. She has left Xavion far behind her, while
my only wish is to return and find Aren. I am sure now that he is alive. For
a long time, I felt nothing from him, but now there is an assurance in my
heart, a knowledge that he did not die in the Anterean onslaught. May Shonyo
bring us together again."
She closes the book, places it with the quill pen in a drawer, and goes to her
bed. Tenderly, she touches the picture of the wolf, then lies down for a nap.
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STAR TREK
THE CROUTON GENERATION
THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
Written by Sue Gilliam and Melinda K. Allen
Starring
The drewid
Counselor Eliana
Captain Richard Muirden
Commander Tim Larkin
And introducing Devyn Lee Gavryth as Aren
Directed by CLV Marzano
Lighting by Peter Franck
Music by J.S. Bach
Colcannon
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It is now late afternoon. The drewid, having completed her day's work, is
roaming aimlessly, trying to find something to do. She passes through the
lounge, hoping to find someone to talk to, but the only occupants are Captain
Muirden and Lt. Hoke, and they are, well, otherwise occupied. Sighing heavily,
the drewid makes her way to the Bridge. Everyone there seems busy, so she
sends out a message to the USS Subaru. Captain half-japanese appears on the
screen in front of her.
drewid: Hi, Captain! Got a minute?
half-japanese seems to be rather involved in making the entire population of the
Subaru do push-ups.
hj: Umm. . .not just now. Later, o.k. drewid?
The drewid sighs heavily again and tries the USS Chivalier.
drewid: Hi, Euge! Want to talk?
Lt. Yee has his headphones on and is listening to something resembling Wagner.
He doesn't answer.
The drewid sighs heavily once again and begins the long trek back to her cabin.
On the way, a staff brat "moo"s at her, and she pauses long enough to backhand
him across his impudent little face. He runs off crying for his mommy, and the
drewid opens the door to her cabin. Stepping inside, she goes immediately to
a drawer in her nightstand, from which she takes an old, twentieth-century type
picture in a frame. Everyone in the picture, including the drewid (who is
second from the left) is smiling. They all seem to be about the same age. The
drewid's eyes fill with tears, although she smiles at some memory of a scene
long ago. Suddenly, she perceives that someone is standing behind her, and
she flings the picture back into the drawer with a loud SLAM! She looks up
to see Commander Larkin.
Larkin: You're wanted on the Bridge, drewid.
drewid: (tersely) Fine.
She marches past him without another word, and heads back to the Bridge.
A few minutes later, having fulfilled Cpt. Muirden's request to programme some
more upbeat music into Casanova, the drewid returns to her cabin. As she
walks through the door, she is stopped dead by the sight of Cdr. Larkin stan-
ding over her nightstand, holding the very picture she had been looking at only
moments before. With a scream of insane rage, she throws herself at Larkin,
who barely has time to toss the picture aside before the drewid is on top of
him, pounding him with her fists and screaming in some language foreign to
him. The uproar attracts the attention of Cpt. Muirden and Lt. Hoke, who,
luckily for Cdr. Larkin, happen to be passing by. They come racing in to drag
the drewid away before she does any real damage.
Muirden: You idiot! You could have killed him!
The drewid turns, and, after uttering a few more words in the odd sounding
language, marches out of the room.
Larkin: (only half-sarcastically) Motion to transfer the drewid to the
Ranchers, Sir.
Muirden: Motion denied. She's ours. I'm not going to send out problems to
anyone else. (looking back toward the door) I think I will ask
the Counselor to have a word with her, though.
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Eliana's quarters again, still late afternoon.
The Counselor is asleep. All of a sudden, she screams and sits up trembling in
her bed.
Eliana: No! Aren, no!
She realizes where she is and calms down, though she is still gasping for
breath.
Eliana: Perhaps I should try that holodeck programme Captain Kabeta gave me.
She gets up, when suddenly the Captain's voice comes over the intercom.
Muirden: (ic) Counselor Eliana, please report to my Ready Room.
Eliana: (sighing to herself) Oh well, I suppose the holodeck will have to
wait. (ic) Yes, Captain. Right away.
She hurries to the Ready Room, where Cpt. Muirden and Cdr. Larkin are awaiting
her.
Muirden: Counselor, I am worried about the drewd, one of our new crewmembers,
and I would like you to have a little talk with her. Just a short
while ago, she attacked Commander Larkin for (glaring at Larkin) a
TOTALLY UNWARRANTED INVASION OF PRIVACY. She has grown increasingly
violent over the past few weeks, and I think that perhaps, once
she's had some time to cool off, you could be of some help.
Eliana: Well, I'll do my best, Captain. Commander, what were you doing that
bothered her so?
Larkin: I was just looking at an old picture that interested me. I had gone
to summon her to the Bridge because her intercom wasn't working, and
I found her looking at this picture. She threw it back in her desk
and stormed out. Well, I happen to like old photos, so I picked it
up to have a look. Oh, and there was a letter in the drawer as well.
I couldn't read any of it, though--I don't know what the language is.
Here it is--I thought it might help.
He hands Eliana a worn envelope. Captain Muirden glares at his first officer,
angry that he had actually taken something of the drewid's. But he says
nothing, realizing that the letter may be an important clue.
Eliana: I wouldn't read the letter, and you shouldn't have taken it. But
you're right--it might prove helpful. I wonder what language this
address is written in. I've studied many of them, and this one
looks a bit like Arabic, but with a not-quite-Terran flair to it.
Let's see. . .St. . .Ste-fan-ie. Or maybe it's Stefania. I'm not
quite sure. At any rate, that's who it's addressed to. I wonder--
could this Stefanie and our drewid be the same person?
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It is two days later, and the drewid is in the music control centre, performing
her usual tasks. She is still quite shaken over what happened with Cdr. Lar-
kin. If anyone were to pass by, they would hear her muttering to herself:
drewid: It didn't happen. There's nothing wrong with me. It didn't happen.
There's nothing wrong with me. It didn't happen. . .
Suddenly, a quiet voice behind her calls her name. The accent is a soft and
soothing drawl, distinctively not Terran. The drewid whips around with a heavy
iron bar in her hand.
drewid: Who are you? What do you want?
Eliana: I am Eliana, Ship's Counselor. I. . .
At the word, "Counselor," the drewid takes a step back, brandishing the iron
bar.
drewid: Get away from me.
Eliana: (soothingly) Let's just sit and talk for a minute.
She takes a tentative step towards the drewid. The drewid raises the bar as if
to strike when suddenly she sees the Counselor's emerald necklace begin to
glow. The room spins around and dizziness overwhelms her. When the faintness
clears, she finds herself sitting down opposite Eliana. The iron bar is on
the floor across the room.
Eliana: Sorry about that. I was afraid you might hurt yourself.
drewid: (mockingly) Afraid I might hurt MYSELF? (she eyes Eliana's
necklace suspiciously--the emerald's glow is fading)
Eliana: What do you say? Can we talk?
drewid: No.
Eliana: Just for a minute?
drewid: NO. Leave me alone; I have work to do.
Eliana: Captain Muirden said you could take the day off.
drewid: He hasn't said anything to me.
Eliana walks over to the intercom button and presses it.
Eliana: Captain?
Muirden: (ic) Yes, Counselor?
Eliana: May Lt. drewid have the day off?
Muirden: Yes, by all means. Take the day off, drewid.
drewid: (muttering sarcastically) It's nice to know I'm so vital to the
running of this ship that I can't just take a day off at a moment's
notice.
Eliana looks at the drewid expectantly.
drewid: I said, leave me alone!
Eliana: (gently but firmly) Look, drewid, I'll be straight with you. We have
to talk. The Captain is concerned about your increasingly violent
behaviour. He has convinced Commander Larkin not to press formal
charges against you, but only on the condition that you agree to
psychiatric counseling.
drewid: Shan't.
Eliana: I'm sorry you feel that way, but it's out of my hands.
drewid: I don't want or need your `help.'
She gets up and stomps towards the door.
Eliana: Stefanie. . .
drewid: (stopping short) WHAT DID YOU SAY?
Eliana: That's your real name, isn't it?
The drewid comes back and sits down.
drewid: (quietly, almost to herself) Where did you hear that?
Eliana: Commander Larkin showed me a letter he found in your drawer. Here it
is. Nobody has read it, but we thought it might help explain why
you've been acting the way you have. It's in an ancient language
which I don't know, but the script is quite similar to Arabic. I was
able to make out the name on the address.
The drewid splutters with rage.
Eliana: I promise you--even if I did know this language, I wouldn't have read
the letter without your permission. But I did want to talk with you
about it. If you'd rather I not feed it into Casanova for a trans-
lation, I won't. Still, it could help.
She offers the envelope to the drewid, who takes it and stares at it sadly.
Eliana: (softly) If there is anything I should know, anything at all you
want to tell me, that's up to you. I want to help, but I won't force
you.
drewid: (sarcastically, but subdued) Noble of you.
Eliana: (unexpectedly) What made you change your name?
drewid: (after a long pause) Long story.
Eliana: We've got all day, if you'd like to tell it.
drewid: (shaking her head violently) I said, LEAVE ME ALONE!
Eliana: (getting up) All right, Lieutenant. But I'll be in my quarters all
day if you should change your mind.
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It is later that evening. Eliana is sitting in her quarters, writing (as
usual). Now there is a small statue of a wolf on the desk beside her. It
is fashioned of emerald. She writes some, and then puts down the quill and
gazes at the wolf, humming an old melody. Just as she picks up the statue,
someone rings her doorbell.
Eliana: Come in. (she continues humming)
The doors open, the drewid enters.
Eliana: Oh, drewid. It's good to see you. (she continues humming)
drewid: I apologize for my behaviour earlier today. Umm, what's that song?
Eliana: Oh, just an old folk tune from my home. (she puts away her book and
quill and turns to the drewid)
drewid: I brought you this. (hands Eliana the letter) I translated the
important bits for you. The other parts I would rather remained
private.
Eliana: I understand. Thank you, drewid. Can we talk now?
drewid: No. Read this first. Then we'll talk. (she notices the statue)
That's a beautiful carving. Where did you get it?
Eliana pauses uncertainly, but, wanting the drewid to be able to trust her, she
answers.
Eliana: I don't mind telling you, but you must promise to keep it a secret.
drewid: (a bit surprised) Sure. I promise.
Eliana: You see, I am from the world of Xavion. It is a beautiful place, with
Mount Ivan and the River Fallox and the Sea of the Wolf. Wolves are
very important animals there. In fact, my people possess the ability
to become wolves at will.
drewid: Do you really expect me to believe that?!
Eliana: I could show you if you wish, though it is not a power I would want
to flaunt.
drewid: (suddenly believing Eliana, and realizing that she isn't too keen on
being so close to a wolf) That's all right. I believe you.
Eliana: (relieved) Good. Well, this small statue was carved for me by my
husband Aren as a wedding gift, and the wolf above my bed was painted
by my twin sister. They are both very special to me.
drewid: What happened to them?
Eliana: I do not know what happened to Aren. There was a war in Xavion. The
neighbouring Antereans invaded unexpectedly with a huge army. Aren
sent me away, badly injured, in a small shuttle craft.
expecting our first child, but he was stillborn shortly after a
Federation vessel found me. For a long time, I though Aren had died
in the wars as my sister did, and so I pursued a life in the
Federation. But now, I am sure that Aren is still alive!
drewid: How can you be so sure?
Eliana: Among my people, telepathic powers are strong between loved ones.
Aren and I were able to communicate over great distances. But illness
weakens the link, and even after I recovered, I was so depressed that
I could not feel anything from him. Perhaps he, too, was ill. Now,
though, I am certain that he is calling me.
drewid: Do you have any idea where he is?
Eliana: No. It could be that he is still in Xavion, in his old position as
King Stephen's advisor. But he could also have been taken into
Anterea as a slave. The main reason the Antereans waged war against
us was to get more slaves. Because we are called "The People of the
Wolf," they look down on us as beasts. They do not understand what a
noble animal the wolf is. I wish I could go back and look for him.
But I cannot--we are too far away from Xavion now, and I have my
duties to Starfleet. Still, if I could only find him, I am sure he
would want to come on board with me. Then, after I have fulfilled my
obligations, we could go home.
Eliana looks down, suddenly bashful and a bit ashamed about sharing so much
with a stranger, but she feels certain she can trust the drewid.
Drewid: Maybe I can help. Casanova and I work pretty closely together, and
I think I know a way of getting into an old sub-programme. That way,
the Captain won't know about it, and we can find out where your
husband is. (uncertainly) If he's really still alive, that is.
Eliana: Somehow I have a feeling that we're going to be good friends.
She gives the drewid a warm hug. The drewid is taken by surprise, and she
stiffens as Eliana hugs her. The Counselor sits back, looking uncomfortable.
Eliana: I. . .I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. . .
drewid: (smiling, but still uneasy) That's o.k. It's just that. . .well. . .
it's been a long time since I've let anyone get that close to me. I
hope we find your husband, Eliana, I really do. I just wish. . .
Eliana: What is it?
drewid: (pulling herself together) Nothing. Never mind. Read the letter and
we'll talk later. O.K.?
Eliana: O.K.
The drewid leaves the room quickly.
Eliana opens the letter and begins to read. As she reads, we hear the drewid's
voice reading out loud.
Dear Stefanie,
I wish it was not I who had to write this letter. Your
parents and the others tried to keep the news from you, but I
feel it's time you knew the truth. The sickness which has spread
from one end of the galaxy to the other has not passed by the Opal
Moon, as you were told. In the past two months alone, we have
buried nearly 3,000 of our citizens, and we expect to bury ten
times that many before this epidemic ceases. Yesterday, your
mother and your younger sister were taken ill. That is why I am
writing to you now. They are not expected to live. Your father
has become distraught at the thought of losing his family, and he
begs me to ask you to stay at school. If you were to come home,
you would only become ill, and the disease could be carried to the
university. At the present time, the Federation's quarantine has
kept it within our star system. Stefanie, I know that this will
hurt you, but I must tell you. Shiela, Ardon, and Mara were among
the 3,000 who have died. Bronii and Charissa are fine as of the
writing of this letter, and send their love. They also beg you to
stay where you are and be safe. There is nothing you can do. I
must go now. The sun is setting, and the burial rites must be
performed for those poor souls who were taken from us today. We
hold you very dear to our hearts, and we pray for the day when you
can return home to us. May God bless you and keep you.
All my love,
Michael
Eliana put the letter down and wiped her eyes. She remembered that the entire
population of the Opal Moon had eventually succumbed to the plague that swept
the galaxy, which meant that all of the drewid's friends, all of her family,
had been killed. The few sentences of the letter which not translated, Eliana
assumed, were the names of people who had fled the planet in terror. She
recognized the ancient words for "left" and "refused to stay." Obviously, the
drewid had not wanted anyone to know that there were people who had abandoned
their fellow citizens in an attempt to save their own lives. They would likely
have died anyway, Eliana thought, since there were no un-contaminated planets
within reach. If they hadn't died of disease, they would have died of
starvation. No wonder the drewid didn't talk about her past. Suddenly, Eliana
turned to find the drewid standing in the doorway.
drewid: (quietly) So, what did you think?
Eliana: (softly) I had no idea. I. . .I'm very sorry, drewid.
drewid: (shrugging) That's all right. I try not to think about it. It's
over now.
She turns to go, then pauses.
drewid: Eliana?
Eliana: Yes?
drewid: We're going to find your husband. I firmly believe that now. Earlier,
I was going to say that I wish we could bring back everyone who has
been lost. . .but if we find Aren, it's enough. (softly, to herself)
It's enough.
Eliana: (tearfully) Thank you, drewid.
The drewid leaves and returns to her work in the music centre.
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It is a week or so later. Captain Muirden and the Counselor are talking in his
Ready Room.
Muirden: Counselor, you seem to have made great progress with the drewid.
She's actually been nice to Commander Larkin, and she hasn't
programmed any depressing music into Casanova for at least three days!
Good work! Tell me, why was she behaving so violently?
Eliana: I can't tell you that, Captain. I would be betraying a confidence.
Just be glad that she is so improved.
Muirden: I suppose you're right. And it's good to see you smiling for a
change. Anything special happen?
Eliana: Let's just say I've found a friend. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've
been wanting to try out a special holodeck programme for some time
now.
Muirden: Very well. Go ahead--you've earned it.
Eliana leaves the Ready Room and goes directly to the holodeck. She punches a
few buttons and the doors open for her.
Eliana: (mumbling to herself) I hope the changes I made worked out. I've
never been much of a programmer.
She enters a beautiful forest, filled with flowering trees and a strange
sighing sound. As she walks along a rough path, she begins to sing in a soft
alto voice. It is the song she had been humming earlier.
Look how the mountain rises so high
And towers over the sea.
Hear how the wind blows, hear the wolves howl,
All calling gently to me, to me,
All calling gently to me.
Now see the rippling trees of the forest
Dance and sway with the breeze.
Fallox is shining, sparkling, singing,
Thirsty I fall to my knees, my knees,
Thirsty I fall to my knees.
Feel the sweet water moisten my lips,
See my reflection play,
Rise up and follow the cren's lonely song,
Rejoicing to be here today, today,
Rejoicing to be here today.
In the middle of the song, a deep bass voice joins her, and a man walks
beside her on the path. He is tall with obsidian black hair, and his eyes are
a deep brown. His face is tanned. He puts his arm around her and holds her
to him as together they walk along the mountain path. Utterly happy, Eliana
relaxes in his arms.
TO BE CONTINUED
[a brief disclaimer: this idea was conceived and the greater part of the
entire episode written BEFORE Captain Muirden promised to take Eliana to
Xavion. Just pretend he never said that!! :-)]
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