The Promise, The Return
an excerpt

A holographic structure, showing the island where they stood and three layers of the underwater facility had appeared next to the hostess. “Are there any questions?”

“I have two,” Kensington said. “First, what is your name, if you have one?”

The hologram actually flushed. He thought that the program that was generating it was very sophisticated. More so than current Federation artificial intelligence programs. “I’m sorry. I was so excited to have visitors that I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Heaven. I am the assistant chief engineer. What is your second question?”

“You said we’re being accommodated for six atmospheres. Why is that necessary?”

“At its maximum depth, Utopia receives six atmospheres of pressure from the outside. Since the facility is built to a saturation diving specification, it is necessary to adjust visitors’ bodies to accommodate that pressure. Now, if I may continue?” Kensington nodded.

“Let me explain your earpieces. They are voice alternators. Since we’re using helium gas to adjust the pressure, you would have a difficult time understanding one another without them. So please leave them in place for the duration of your visit.” Kensington couldn’t resist and removed his earplugs. He noticed the speech suddenly rose in pitch. It reminded him of the way Donald Duck talked in cartoons. He quickly replaced them in his ears.

“…and that concludes your introduction. In approximately one minute the doors will open and you will enter into Utopia. Just beyond the gate is an elevator, at the bottom of which you will find our paradise. Enjoy Utopia to your heart’s content.” With that the hologram vanished.

The group seemed to let out a collective sigh, as if they had all been under some spell. “That was interesting,” Ryogo said. Ahead of them, the door opened onto a brightly lit corridor. Moving walkways on either side of the corridor would allow them to move about without much use of their legs. Kensington noted there were still no windows. For a utopia it looked very sanitary. He tried to imagine it full of what he could only call tourists.

The Starfleet crewman was already walking down the center of the corridor. She was right of course. They had no other choice but to take the elevator down. With a gesture, he signaled the others to follow and again hurried after her. He was going to have to ask her name at some point.

The five of them entered the elevator. It immediately began sinking. “We should split up and explore the facility. Ryogo, take Dr. Young and Medea and explore the first level. Starfleet and I will take the second. We’ll both do the bottom layer and then meet at the elevator there. In the meantime I should contact the ship.” He detached his communicator from his belt and flipped it open. There was no telltale beep of it activating.

“You weren’t paying attention,” Dr. Young chided. “External communications devices don’t work here. It’s supposed to enhance the visitor’s experience to not be distracted.”

“They can block a communicator?” Ryogo said, clearly also surprised. “That’s more advanced than I expected.”

“Clearly in some areas,” Kensington said, “there technology is more advanced than in others. If we see that hologram again, or another, we’ll need to ask some questions.” He grimly added, “I’ve got more than two waiting to be asked now.”