AEROFLIGHT THE PARADISE

ACT I

BY LASHUNDA C. JOHNSON

It was 2366. It had been five days since Lashunda’s Cocoon Stage. Ensign Spencer was now fully settled in her new chassis as she practiced in the Phaser Range Room. She wore a standard Starfleet blue uniform, lip moisturizer, a black Yeoman fanny pack, and slightly tiny braids with rubber bands on the ends. Lashunda left after an hour passed. As she rode the Turbo-lift, Captain Adam Prasty of the USS Bronte joined her. He was a 5’8 blond Terran male with blue eyes, almost shoulder-lengths blond curls, light bronze skin, a pierced tongue and bore a breathtaking semblance to Michael Hurst and wore a standard red uniform, a silver ankle bracelet, and light cherry lip balm. He and his crew were the Enterprise’s visitors even though Captain Prasty didn’t liked Picard, Riker, and Troi. He thought that they were audacious washouts and sometimes wondered about the reasons for their current gigs. He knew that there were Starfleet officers that were better qualified and didn’t care much for the recent Enterprise any way.

"Hello Captain Prasty. How are you?" Yeoman Spencer remarked gently with her richly deep voice. He turned and smiled at the younger officer. They knew each other for a year and three months.

"Hi Ensign Spencer. I’m okay. I see that you are recovering from your illness." Briefly, he softly touched her hairy facial cheek with friendly warmth. Her facial fur was like a stuffed animal yet large zits. The New Zealand native was one of the several, who weren’t offended by Lashunda’s new appearance. Momentarily, the Yeoman stepped out and went to Counselor Troi’s office for her second session. She was issued mental therapy for her traumatic cocoon experience yet during the sessions, she never told the Starfleet psychotherapist about her ceaseless Batman dreams.

Many weeks had passed and the USS Bronte was gone. Ensign Spencer arrived at the Conference Room and found the Captain alone. Picard was staring at the stars with his back turned. Sequentially, he turned around and saw the young officer. When he went to his chair, his blue eyes gleamed temporarily. His face became serious as he leaned forward in his chair and rested his clamped hands on the table.

"Ensign Spencer, I discovered that you have enrolled in the Officer Exchange Program recently. Now I have received news that you have been approved to serve on the T’Pagh, a Klingon prototype. They awaited your arrival within two days. Congratulations, Ensign Spencer!" He came to her and shook her hand. Suddenly he gave her a big but serene hug, which stunned Abba.

Finally, the day came as Lashunda did the butterfly and sang "Getting the Groove on" in her quarters before she took her luggage and left on the T’Pagh. During her advent, a tall male Klingon with light brown skin, dark eyes, a square jaw, and a gentle but deep voice greeted her and introduced himself as Lt. Cmdr. Ros’yu. When he heard her voice, he shocked since he thought that she was a guy. The yeoman contiguously informed that she was indisputably a female. Before they went to the Bridge, he showed her new quarters to the young exchange officer so the yeoman quietly put her luggage in her quarters. As they entered the Bridge, she noticed that it was similar to the Enterprise’s, yet it was infrequently bigger.

A handsome 7’1 young Klingon officer stood before her and smiled as she looked about. He introduced himself as Turok, the ship’s captain. He, who was a half Italian/half Klingon officer, lived in Italy during most of his childhood but moved to the Klingon home world when he was thirteen. The young captain showed her to her post just as the Enterprise-D and the T’Pagh parted ways. That evening, Lashunda slept and dreamt about Batman again. Since her transformation, she had constantly dreamed about the famous superhero.

Meanwhile, Devon looked out the stars in his bedroom since he wasn’t able to sleep. It had been happening for two days. Since Lashunda’s transmogrification, she resigned from her tutor position and secluded from her close friends, including Devon. The Gypsies currently had no longer a leader as well as a role model. To them, she showed confidence, courage, soul, complete beauty, wisdom, and raillery. In other words, she was the glue of the group. Ironically, he saw it coming when Wesley both dumped and totally embarrassed her. Those powerful flails were the commencement of slow Lashunda’s self-destruction. She tried to hide it yet many including Devon saw it clearly.

"She loved Wesley deeply," he thought, "and once told me that he was the "Magic Man". He probably was that to her. Several times I had seen Lashunda spellbound by Wesley’s mere presence. During that point, she fell into romantic soul ballads and her raging hormones made it worse. That jerk, Wesley ignored her affections. To him, she was one of the levels to the top." This was somewhat true since Wesley was Lashunda’s former student and did many projects with her. Truthfully, he did care for the Yeoman at some degree but make her love for him tainted. Presently it still lingered and gave her much pain.

It was 2369. Today was Lashunda’s birthday. The young officer skateboarded down the corridor near her quarters and wore her standard blue uniform and protective gear. When I stepped off the Turbo-lift, she greeted me as she went by but stopped a quarter of a mile from me. Soon she got off her black skateboard and walked beside me. Lashunda smiled and talked while she continued to follow me.

"Worf, are you losing weight?" Her large eyes looked up and down at me.

"No, I doubt it."

"Well, it shows and you look nice today."

"Thank you." I turned and grinned at her. She returned it and exposed her braces that made her large white teeth look grotesque but in an esteemed manner. Lashunda was a good kid with refined yet timid qualities. Since she revolved back to the Enterprise over a year ago, I noticed that she developed a mixed accent of mostly convenient British and faded Klingonese. During her departure from the T’Pagh, it was vice-versa. Her Klingonese modulation was so thick that her English was hardly understandable.

Sequentially she left and went back to her quarters. She removed all of her protective gear and put it away with her skateboard. Her black hair was straight and came half way down her back with soft eyebrow-length bangs. Lashunda entered her bedroom and lay face-up on her bed as she pondered about herself. Even though it was now three years since her break-up with Wesley, he was in still both her heart, her mind, and her soul. He still had some type of a hold on her.

Lashunda sat up and sang Sarah McLachlan’s "Possession" as the acoustic piano music played in her mind. Then her thoughts traveled back to 2364. She was twelve and very much in love with Wesley. It was her third "date" with him. Both Picard and Dr. Crusher were their escorts. It had been a week since all of the kidnapped Enterprise children were released from their alien childless captors. Lashunda just came back from a mini-tour. The Yeoman was thrilled about the date as she wore an ice blue dress that had a square neckline, white floral designs, short puffy sleeves, and ankle-length helm; matching flats; clear lip-gloss; and an ice blue fanny pack. Her black mane was in a straight yet fluffy Louise Brooks bop that came down her neck. Picard and the Crushers wore their standard uniforms. Picard walked with her to the Ten-Forward while the Crushers waited for them in a table that was close to the bar.

Finally they arrived. Picard and Dr. Crusher left to a near table. Wesley put out a chair for her and helped Lashunda in it. She thanked him so he welcomed him. Then the date went along like a typical innocent teen date. Approaching the end of their meal, they both sucked their milkshakes through straws at the same time as Al Green’s "Love and Happiness" played in the background. Several spectators, including Dr. Crusher and Guinan, thought that it was cute, yet Captain Picard wasn’t amused.

"If Wesley makes a move on her, I’ll break his neck," thought Picard as he gave the young couple a moderately stern expression. While the duo continued to consume their milkshakes, Lashunda played Aretha Franklin’s "Giving Something That He Can Feel" thoughtfully.

As the date drew to a close, he gave Lashunda a small peck on the lips. It was one of several kisses that he gave her during their brief intimate relationship. In a strange way, Wesley did love her. Maybe he saw Lashunda as an alternate younger sister since it was possibly all that he descried. I understood that Wesley acted fickle numerously because I witnessed some of his surreptitious acts.

I was glad that Wesley was presently at Starfleet Academy. If he had stayed, he would have brought more agony to Lashunda. Even though she was a strong-willed young woman, Wesley had the ability to break it instantly. Wesley was Lashunda’s Hamlet. Unfortunately, most of us watched ineffectively as Wesley did the damage to the young woman. I tried to help, but my assurance backfired frequently. Remarkably, Lashunda already forgave me and renewed her friendship with me.

Lashunda’s mind returned to the present as she got off the bed and practiced with her bat’leth, which was a fifteenth birthday’s gift while she was on the T’Pagh. Shortly after, she proceeded with her Klingon weapon to the gym to continue with her repetition. Fortunately, the gym was empty when she entered it. Her bat’leth fighting skills were almost similar to mine, hitherto hers involved kicks and punches. Her Bat’leth teachers were Methos, Turok, and Krom. While on the T’Pagh, she use her weaponry abilities many times.

As her practice’s end came near, she looked about the large gym. She exited with a stone face as Bob Seger’s "Against the Wind" played in her mind. Today she felt vacant like the gym. She continued to walk down the corridor and passed by fellow shipmates. Her dark face was still when she arrived at her quarters. She looked at the time and noticed that it was time for her second shift. After she put up her bat’leth, she bounded her tresses into a French roll with a large blue hair clip and left to the Bridge.

Almost a year ago, the end of Lashunda’s Starfleet trial brought a new beginning to both us Enterprise crewmembers and the former Cmdr. LaShun of the T’Pagh. During the week after the trial’s culmination, I helped her become settle in her Enterprise new quarters. Data assisted me to take her old belongings out of the storage room and to move her other stuff from her former quarters of both the T’Pagh and the Enterprise. Her new quarters were temperately bigger than her previous Enterprise chambers. She considered that it was smashing.

The following day, Lashunda wore a long-sleeved black and green French Terry dress; black ankle boots; light green lip-gloss; a ponytail; and a black backpack. She just completed her daily walk, which involved the ship’s tunnels. Before she went to the Bridge, she changed into a standard uniform and black Yeoman fanny pack. The former T’Pagh commander worked busily on the ship computer with a calm face.

As her first shift ended, she went to the Ten-Forward for the very time in a long while. Many became stunned when they saw her go to the bar. She ordered a tall glass of Terran carrot juice. She looked around ere her order came. Lt. Spencer noticed that many of her former students were there. They were now older by a few years. She wanted to speak to them but she quickly turned back around when her order arrived.

"Look at me. I’m sixteen and already an old woman," she thought, as she perceived her reflection from the bar’s mirror. Actually she looked younger than her sixteen years of life. Also numerous found her comely even without any facial make-up. When she ultimately grew out of her cocoon phase, her previous appearance reemerged but with more luxurious features. Presently the facial fur, large pimples, and other effects from that stage were completely gone.

When she took another look at herself, she saw her true form. As she turned away again from her reflection, she fought with inner demons. Her dark eyes looked up and found Guinan’s face. The older woman exchanged quiet glances with Lashunda. The young Starfleet officer relaxed her shoulders.

"Guinan, am I the same person that you knew a few years ago? I know that I underwent a lot of changes before, during, and after my departure for the T’Pagh."

"Yes but you are more competent. Besides, the fifth former teen Captain that I know." They both chuckled before Shun-Abba drank up the last portion of her beverage. Guinan was delighted to see Lashunda’s dimples afresh.

"Thanks Guinan very kindly." Lashunda got up from her seat. She exhaled as she faced and slowly went to her former students.

"Hi Guys," Lashunda spoke calmly yet somewhat timidly as she stood in front of Devon, Emily, and Anna. "Before you said anything, I’m very sorry about my prior behavior. When I left on the T’Pagh, I had many conflicts as well as changes to face. I was also extremely frightened to face you guys because of the Cocoon Phase, which turned me into a physical anomaly. I can’t bear you to see me like that since my disfigurement already offended many people." The young teen dropped her eyes.

"Shunny, it’s okay. We already forgiven. Worf told us and the others a while ago." Devon responded.

"He did? So that means the Keeley Brothers and Jayelle know too."

"Yes," Devon said, "Do you want to sit down and talk some more?"

"Sure, that would be groovy. I wished that you guys, including Worf would have told me sooner." At first, Lashunda felt stupid because she poured out her emotions to them but she let it slide. Ironically, Worf made them not to her. He wanted Abba to confront them first to ease her large amount of problems. Devon, Emily, and Anna smiled so Lashunda gave a reverted grimace. As they talked further, the walls slowly crumbled and an old friendship re-emanated.

Meanwhile in an alternate universe, the Superfriends and the Sutants had a tenth meeting at the re-modeled Hall of Justice as they sat at an extremely large round table. The new Justice Hall was now three times bigger than the previous one. The two powerful groups formed a pact five months ago when the Sutants discovered that the Superfriends were part of their creation. While fighting the Uorp’ans, the Superfriends accidentally became telepathically linked to the Sutants during the mutants’ origin. Even though the Sutants knew the Superfriends, the alien mutants’ didn’t know the superheroes’ alter egos. Superman and Batman looked directly at Charlie Ray and Tommy. The four leaders had deep respect for each other. Superman brushed away a black lock from his shoulder. His mane was almost long as Charlie Ray’s hair. When the meeting completed, the Sutants left on their spaceship, the Odysseus. Most of the Superfriends waved at them at the windows while the rest worked busily at the new yet enormous research area. Suddenly the Sutants discovered the Superfriends’ secret identities when they all read their counterparts’ minds. Many of the Sutants became dazed from the intellect scans.

Two weeks passed when Robin called Tommy to tell him that he was the only available person to substitute as Batman. Due to a serious illness, Batman became unable to perform his superhero duties. Bruce Wayne, Batman’s alter ego, rested in his bed when Tommy telepathically beamed at the Batman Cave. Robin, Dick Grayson’s alter ego, told TC the details. The older man listened to them carefully. Several moments later, he was measured to see that he and Batman had the same proportions. They both were similar in some places so a variety of spare costumes were adjusted. Tommy put on the purple one. When he came out of the dressing chamber, Robin burst out into muted giggles. As the surrogate Batman came closer, Robin adjusted his gloves slightly and wiped the tears away. Luckily, Tommy didn’t see the tears.

"You looked the part," he remarked as he tried to fight back the impending chuckles.

"You think so. I look odd with this campy costume. Maybe I should wear one of the dark ensembles." So he changed into the gray and black garb and started to fight crime with Robin. During that night, Robin continued to help Tommy in his role.

After they came back to the Wayne Manor, they found out that BW improved perceptibly. Tommy examined his facial features while he was in light-colored boxers. He recently took a shower before he called his wife and children to check on them. He discovered that they were okay and missed him terribly. Tommy didn’t know about his return to his family so he told them that he was also okay and missed them.

The manor was surprisingly quiet as he endured his examination. Unexpectedly he heard a noise and turned around. Within moments, he exited the bathroom and probed the area. Then he came downstairs quietly and heard the same sound again. Tommy became relieved to learn that it was DG. He was making a late snack. Quietly, Tommy went to his guest bedroom and put on his black robe and black slippers. Soon he united Mr. Wayne’s ward in the kitchen for late snacks.

Three weeks later in the regular universe, Lashunda brushed her straight black locks as she wore her standard Starfleet uniform and glanced at her drawer mirror in her bedroom. Last week she trimmed her mane, which was now shoulder-length. Lt. Spencer pinned back the sides of her tresses with a mysterious metal hair clip, which she received from an unknown relative on her birthday. It was secretly a gift from her biological father, Captain Jean-Luc Picard. The gift was analogous to his mother’s hair clip. Yvette Picard, the captain’s mother, constantly used it. Oddly, Yeoman Spencer received a large set of colorful but flexible hair sticks that were in different shapes and styles when she was sixteen. Before she left for her first shift, the former Cmdr. Lashun put on fresh honey and crème lipstick.

When she arrival on the Bridge, she went to the ship computer and worked busily. Subsequently an hour had passed, Captain Picard and Data approached her. The older officers stood over the Yeoman and analyzed the esoteric readouts of a fashionable moon. All at once the moon started to shine brightly and both Captain Picard and Data rushed back to their posts. Finally peace was restored yet there was dead silence, as the ship became dark.

The lights calmly recurrence while two men appeared. Lashunda recognized them instantly. They were Mr. Grant Jeater and his lawyer, Sir Longstan. Mr. Jeater, who was a tanned Terran with carmine locks, was the head of Tork Records and Lashunda’s musical boss. The lawyer, who was a 5’4 Vulcan with pale green eyes, was the supervisor of Lashunda’s record contract.

"Oh boy," Lashunda thought since she knew that Mr. Jeater loved to make an entrance. She expected this for a while after her reappearance from her "trip". The record company wanted her to resume with her contract.

"Hello Lashunda. How are you? How is your voice?" The record company boss sounded like Phil Silvers although he looked like Barney Rumble.

"Hello Mr. Jeater. Hello Mr. Longstan. I’m fine. I think that my voice is okay, I guess." The Bridge became composed once again as the crew listened. Confidentially, Tork Records had an agreement with Starfleet. In other words, Tork Records was Starfleet’s benefactor.

"You guess. Well, let’s check for ourselves." With the snap of his fingers, an asexual doctor and two female nurses appear in white yet trendy uniforms. The practitioner put a small medical telescope in her mouth as the asexual physician scanned her throat with a large tricorder.

"Excellent. She had very perfect pipes." It said in a gently but eerie voice.

"But can she sing?" Asked the head executive.

"Of course yet in a permanent alto voice."

"Oh great! That is all that I need! ANOTHER ALTO!" He placed his hand on his brow worriedly.

"Is the rest of her healthy?" The Vulcan lawyer asked.

"Yes, she is completely fit."

"That will my audience probably have if they find out this." The executive then turned to Picard and apologized to him and the crew. The businessperson next told the Captain about his mission.

"….Don’t worried, Captain. We will bring her back in one piece, I hope." He took Lashunda by the arm tenderly and turned to her. "Don’t act so chagrined. You’re a dignitary!"

"Then how come I don’t feel like one?" Lashunda said sadly.

"That’s the hormones talking. Deep down, you know that you are a star!"

"Oh, the irony!" She spoke softly as they vanished and reappear on the space vessel of the Tork Records’ head.

Within two hours, Lashunda was at the company’s recording studio, which was beneath the record company. She was in the Session Room while Jeater and Groen were in the Engineering Room. Lashunda just finished with her cover of Honeymoon Suite’s "What Does It Takes". Alidar, the producer, liked her new crooning voice and thought that it was perfect for some of his new songs that he wrote. He stepped into the room with her and went over his song, "Tell Me Honey".

Finally the break came. Lashunda drank some Earl Grey in the studio lobby. She relaxed undiscernibly when she took another sip. She continued to have mixed feelings about her musical comeback. Ironically, her band mates weren’t accessible to support her currently. Truthfully, she was glad that there was no reunion. Lashunda comprehended that the re-conglomeration would have brought conflicts.

The next day, Lashunda came home to the Enterprise and got clean up. She changed into a long-sleeved white shirt, a black Vulcan IDIC vest, black pinstriped pants, and black Chuck Taylor Converse hi-tops and walked the dogs while her black locks hung down. She walked past Worf and greeted him quickly. He welcomed with a deep yet abstemious "Hello", a wave, and a smile. The older Starfleet officer observed at her for a short time before he went to the Bridge.