"Babel"

[Sean Xiang 0]

Sean looked at the screen. The symbols and marks on it looked to be nothing but color and light. Defined into pattern, yes, but to anyone who did not speak or read the language it was utter gibberish. Anyone, that is, except a linguist. Ever since he had knelt at the door into this chamber and worked at the panel, Sean had been running these symbols through his head.

 

While he had made some progress, he still could not decipher the intricate workings of this language. “I like buttons.” He heard Connor say from behind him. Connor was adding his own thoughts to the matter. As irrelevant or illogical as they may be.

 

Lt. Giovanni had pulled out his Universal Translator, as had Sean. Man and machine worked together, and Sergio made the first revelation. “It translates this as ‘Projection’.” He said, indicating a large green button with scrolled symbols across the top of it.

 

“That must fire it, then.” Connor added. Sean was vaguely aware of the two speaking behind him. As well as the ongoing conversation via comm with T’Parek. He looked up at Lt. Grey. He saw the same flash in Grey’s eyes as he knew was in his own. “Sir,” he said. “I have a theory.”

 

“I am listening.” Grey replied.

 

“The woman that you and Dr. Mc’Cellan, along with Commander Cole’s team, reported seeing. What if, she was in fact a…projection.” Sean said. “I was thinking the same thing.” Grey replied. “And,” Sean continued. “What if that button does not fire the weapon, but in fact triggers that same program?”

 

The argument was immediate, and short. “It is not worth the risk.” Giovanni argued. “What if it fires the weapon?” The argument continued only briefly, until a decision was made. However, Connor jumped the gun and slammed his palm down on the button just before Sean could.

 

The woman, dressed in all white, a flowing image of beauty shimmered into existence before them. She stood there like a statue. The entire team breathed a sigh of relief. Sean had hoped that maybe she would speak, allow him to hear the language. But she said nothing. More conversation swirled around him, but he was hardly aware of it. His eyes flicked from the Universal Translator to the console, then back to the woman.

 

The symbols, the extrapolations of the Translator, they swirled in his mind’s eye. Then it hit him. A language, no longer native to anywhere, but that was once spoken on L’Traisa. The word usage, the syntax, everything was similar. He routed the information into the Translator, the patterns and usage of the words came into focus in his mind. He looked down at the Translator, then looked back up with a new light in his eyes.

 

“Ali, trasia matola.” He said as he stepped towards the projection. She did not turn, nor did she reply in any way. This action, however, did elicit an array of odd looks from the rest of the away team. The light dimmed in his eyes. “Ata, trasala matile.” Sean tried again, but still no response.

 

“Ensign?” Grey said, obviously a bit puzzled. “I have had a revelation, sir.” Sean said, turning to face him. Grey’s eyebrows raised as if to say ‘If you say so…’. Then it hit him. Of course, Sean thought. The eastern dialect! Ancient L’Traisa may have resembled this alien language. But the eastern dialect, an even rarer form of the language, seemed to be this language’s kid brother, so to speak. Sean whirled back around. “Altia, trashla malorey.” He said to the woman projected in front of him.

 

She turned. “Mala, trashata malorey.” She said. Sean smiled back at Grey. “I believe I have somewhat figured out this language.” Sean fed more information into the Translator, and it in turn provided him with a clearer understanding of the alien language. “Well tell it to shut the weapon down!” Someone said.

 

“Jani, treyala mortosi.” Sean said. “Alo, tramata grito. Mali t’nala.” She replied. “She said that she does not have the ability to shut down the weapon.” Again Sean and the projection exchanged words. “She said she is here to warn intruders.” Sean looked admittedly puzzled. “She says that she speaks for the ‘Heroic Fallen’.” The group looked at each other silently.

 

Sean turned back to the projection. She stared back, looking at him with soft, green eyes. Sean knew that somewhere in this artificial consciousness lay the answers to at least two of the questions that were on all their minds. One of them being why was this weapon here. Sean closed his eyes, he drew a deep ragged breath. He felt the sweat forming on his brow, dampening his hair that now stood on end, as he thought the second question.

 

What could possibly stop it?