Old Freedom

"Old Freedom" is the fifth episode of The Unreliable's Light's Third Year. It consists of Chapters 65-71 of the original story.

Summary

11 years ago on the USS Stargazer, Jean-Luc Picard spotted an energy surge on the surface of Altamid with laughter to accompany it. After telling Breezie about it 11 years after the events, she and the Unreliable go to investigate, unaware of what lurks in the forests.

Trivia

• KARCAAL stands for Killer Animal Ravishing Carcass Attaining Artificial Life-Form and was initally a 'cringe' idea according to Fateweaver.
• This episode was originally thought of as a horror retelling of Star Trek Beyond, with the USS Republic standing in for the USS Enterprise.
• Initially, Jaylah was planned to be a victim of KARCAAL, but that was changed to her living on the USS Franklin like she does in the movie.
• Breezie explicitly mentions she grew up on an Intrepid type ship when she and the away team enter the Franklin.
• This is the first story to show part of Vaggie's Starfleet career. (TUL: DownVall)
• It also shows the EMH's efforts to be more than a medical hologram as he fights against KARCAAL using martial arts.
• This is also the first story to mention Gaialassia, the home planet of Johannah Jackson & Devoid.

Memorable Quotes

"O-O-Oh, New fre-fresh-fresh meat delivered, ye-es?"

— KARCAAL's first words

"This seems peaceful. I wouldn’t mind a little holiday here."

"This feels good… good to just take it all in. This feels familiar… I don’t remember getting this kind of calm before."

— The EMH & Johannah commenting on the beauty of Altamid

"Unknown humanoid… Yo-o-o-ou’re of Starfleet… Ra-a-a-a-ank, Medical Professional."

"I’m a Doctor, but also a friend. So I’m going to hurt you as much as you’ve hurt the Republic’s crew!"

— The EMH & KARCAAL's first interaction

"Man… This is feeling a bit like home sweet home."

"What do you mean, Captain?"

"I grew up on a ship like this. Albeit, it was Intrepid type, not Freedom Class. Still, this is like a waft of nostalgia."

— Breezie commenting on her childhood to Johannah

"Buckle up everyone. The internal dampeners aren’t online until we’re in space and I don’t want any of you to become a smoothie."

— Breezie taking precautions while preparing to take off the Franklin

"I-It’s just been a lot… I never thought that I would get this far, or even to do this… But, it reminded me of so much… I miss my mommy…"

"Wherever she is, Jo… I’m sure she’s proud of you for winning against that evil being. After all, nobody’s truly dead until they’re forgotten. So as long as you keep her in mind, she’s just as alive and well as the rest of us… It’s what I do with my mom, Jo."

— Breezie & Johannah upon KARCAAL's defeat

External Links

• "Old Freedom (Chapter 1)" on Archive Of Our Own
• "Old Freedom (Chapter 2)" on Archive Of Our Own
• "Old Freedom (Chapter 3)" on Archive Of Our Own
• "Old Freedom (Chapter 4)" on Archive Of Our Own
• "Old Freedom (Chapter 5)" on Archive Of Our Own
• "Old Freedom (Chapter 6)" on Archive Of Our Own
• "Old Freedom (Chapter 7)" on Archive Of Our Own
• "Old Freedom" on Ad Astra