Oh it keeps getting worse for Commodore Wesley while Shelby has a lot to contend with. She obviously has a plan but the portents from the vedek are ominious.
Suthy/Lexington: Blood Cries
- Thread starter DavidFalkayn
- Start date
AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH! You did it again-I was completely into the story and it just...stopped. Great piece, really fabulous. I knew things would be tough for Sito but this is too much-this gal aint ever coming back from the Dark Side now! Way too much psychological stress. Even if the Huntress is brought under control-I thimk she's gonna end up in a rubber room. IMO.
Man, this pah-wraith is one evil SOB. That thing keeps killing just to motivate Shelby to do it's bidding. And now it's got Sito too. I like the Bajoran but I've always said she's a liability. Let's hope there's still a chance for her other personalities to balance her out.
On Sito, I think that her real personality is strong enough to overcome the Huntress, but she will need help.
Suthy/Lexington: Blood Cries Part 15
I'm sorry it has taken so long for me to update this story, but with everything that has been happening in my life--both good and bad and all points in between, I barely have had time to keep up with some of the stories on the board and still have comments to make on all the good stories here by both old hands and new writers--believe me, I will make it all up, I just ask that you bear with me a little longer. In any event, I've managed to complete the next part of "Blood Cries", I hope you enjoy it!
Part 15
Materializing on the stark surface of the long dead world, Admiral Bateson resisted the urge to shiver as he glanced up at the dull orange light coming from the K-class star around which the ancient planetoid orbited.
“Just like Eleuthra IV.” Lieutenant Commander Zha’Thara, invigorated by the chill, remarked as she pointed at the primordial ruins. “That’s where we’re going.”
“Then let’s get a move on.” Bateson commanded.
Shivering under her coat as she walked next to her lover, Lieutenant Maria Django whispered with more than a trace of snark in her voice, “Tell me again why I got roped into this, O First Officer of Mine?”
Commander Sam Lavelle quipped back with a roguish grin, “Because you’re in line for promotion to Lieutenant Commander and if you want that third pip you’re going to need more ground time...”
“And so here I am.” Django mock grumbled. “Trudging in the cold towards a bunch of tumbled ruins to find God knows what...”
“That’s about the size of it.” Lavelle joked back.
“Just so we understand each other.” Maria riposted as the group neared their destination.
Approaching a remarkably intact column, Talana remarked in a hushed, awe-filled voice. “Just think...this column is literally billions of years old. Earth and Andoria were both still young worlds while the beings that created this column and those ruins were alive and flourishing.”
“Takes your breath away—doesn’t it, Talana.” Bateson replied, his own voice revealing more than a touch of reverence in its tone. “If I recall from your log entries...” the admiral continued as his eyes fell first on the column and then on its three siblings arranged as if at the cardinal points of a compass with another, taller column, standing in the middle. “We should find what we’re looking for at the base of this column and the three others...”
Approaching the column, the Andorian science officer nodded her head as she pointed at the base, “It’s here.” All we have to do...” she instructed as she knelt down, “...is rotate each of the bases until this image...” she said as she pointed to a glyph representing the sun, “...is pointing in the direction of the middle column and then wait until noon.”
“All right.” The admiral ordered, squinting his eyes as he glanced up towards the dull sun, “Looks like it’ll be noon soon.”
Just as on Eleuthra IV, the landing party arranged the glyphs and waited until the sun reached its highest position. And again, just as before, a yellow beam shot out, striking the pedestal in the middle just as similar beams emitted from the other columns impacted, bathing the pedestal in a warm glow until, finally, a bright red yellow beam shot out from the pedestal towards the star. The beams now took on an orange color as now the columns were glowing as well until even more beams lanced out from them, these beams connecting the columns with each other until they formed a wall of orange energy surrounding the ruins. Slowly, the wall took on a more solid form of swirling plasma as the glow around the pedestal began to fade until it had disappeared entirely, leaving a silver disc on top of the waist-high structure.
“That’s the key.” Talana declared as she picked up the disc. “I place it in this slot here...” she explained as she went over to a niche in one of the walls, “...and that will open up the gateway.” Pausing for a moment as she stepped to one side of the niche, the Andorian science officer warned, “I’d stand out well clear of the pedestal and the far wall.”
“Do as she says, Maria.” Commander Lavelle ordered as he nudged his dusky-skinned lover to the side.
“Here goes!” Talana called out as she slipped the disc into its waiting niche. Again, just as before, the disc began to emit a dull blue glow. Then, suddenly, a brilliant blue light lanced out from it, striking the far wall, bathing it in its light. Slowly, the wall appeared to shimmer and turn opaque. Then, the first image appeared—a city that looked like it might have come from 1920s Earth, complete with cable cars, automobiles, and throngs of humanoid beings that appeared almost completely human except for slight differences in eye and hair color.
“So...” Admiral Bateson exclaimed in a hushed gasp, “That’s a gateway.”
“Sure is.” Talana replied with a grin.
“But...” Sam interjected, “How do we figure out where we have to go to get this gem?”
“And...” Maria added, “...how do we get back here?”
Pausing for a moment as images suddenly rushed through her mind, Talana held up a hand, “Wait. I see now...it’s obvious!” Without a word of explanation, the Andorian science officer began to press a series of glyphs. As she pressed the glyphs, the images on display changed, eventually settling on an image that caused a cold chill to rush up and down the science officer’s spine. The image was of a dark corridor barely illuminated by yellow phosphorescence coming from the walls. “Hells.” Talana whispered under her breath.
“Is that what I think it is?” A suddenly worried Admiral Bateson inquired as he placed a shoulder on his old comrade.
“Yeah.” Talana replied with a nod of her head. “It’s the alien space station the Lexington encountered on its first mission.” The Andorian woman closed her eyes as she recited from memory, ““It is called the Gem of K’Tesh. To recover it, you must truly go back to the beginning of your journey...and to your future. To begin your journey...that one holds the key...though she is not as yet aware of it.” Taking a deep breath, Talana slowly exhaled, “I know now. We have to go through the gate.”
“All right. Let’s do it.” Morgan grimly responded as both Sam and Maria readied their phasers and stepped up to join their companions. Taking the lead, Bateson stepped through the gateway first, with Talana and the others following immediately behind.
As the landing party stepped through the gateway, the Sutherland and its crew was bathed in a warm yellow glow. “Bozhe Moi!” Captain Boris Rodenko exclaimed from the center seat of the Nebula-class starship. “What is happening.”
“I don’t know, sir!” Lieutenant Candy Johnson, the acting science officer responded, “My readings are of the chart!”
“Tactical?” Rodenko called out to the junior lieutenant currently manning the station.
“Nothing, sir.” Lieutenant Bellas replied, the Bolian shaking his blue head. “I can’t read anything.”
“Engineer...” The Commissar began before joining the rest of his crew in unconsciousness.
***********************************************************************
A cold chill ran up and down Talana’s spine as she and the rest of the Sutherland landing party now found themselves in a dimly lit corridor. “Don’t get too close to the walls and keep alert at all times.” The Andorian science officer warned, gripping her phaser tighter in her right hand as she activated her tricorder in her left. “There are a thousand ways to die here...” she shuddered, “...and none of them pleasant.”
“We’ll be careful, Talana.” Admiral Bateson replied in a soothing voice as he turned his head back to Sam and Maria standing behind him. “You got that Sam? Maria?”
“Yes, sir.” Commander Lavelle promptly replied as he carefully scanned the corridor with both his eyes and his tricorder.
“Aye, sir.” Lieutenant Django answered as well, her normal sarcastic manner forgotten as her heart raced. Seeing something out of the corner of her eye, the Brazilian helmsman called out as she edged a bit closer to her lover, “Sam? Did that wall just...”
Seeing the same motion in his peripheral vision, the dark-haired Canadian replied with an intake of breath, “Move? Yeah, I think so.”
“It probably did.” Talana interjected in a grim tone, “That’s why I warned you to stay away from the walls.” Taking a deep breath, she then pointed down the corridor, “We need to go this way—now.”
“You heard the lady.” Morgan commanded as he motioned for Maria and Sam to join them. “Let’s get moving.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice.” Maria replied and then whispered to Lavelle as the pair closed in tighter with the other two in their party, “I think I just peed my pants.”
*********************************************************************
As the yellow fog dissipated, Boris Rodenko returned to wakefulness at the same time as the rest of the bridge crew. Seeing the young faces of many of the delta shift crew, the wily Border Service skipper, forcing down his own feelings of unease, put forth a confident face as he called out. “Helm? Do we have a fix on our position?”
“Yes, sir.” Lieutenant Atris Nylysa responded, “We still seem to be occupying the same spatial coordinates that we were occupying.”
“So...” Boris replied, stroking his chin as he leaned forward in the center chair, “...we apparently haven’t moved. “Tactical? How are our weapons and defenses?”
“Fully charged and ready, sir.” A youthful Bolian ensign answered back.
“Good. At least we’ve got that going for us.” The Commissar responded with a hearty laugh that seemed to buoy the spirits of the others.
“Engineering?” Captain Rodenko then turned to the Trill chief engineer sitting at the bridge engineering station, “What’s your status?”
“All systems are operating at optimal condition.” Lieutenant Commander Tol replied confidently, knowing that there were several junior officers on the bridge who could use the boost. “We’ve got the juice to do whatever you need to do.”
“Good!” Captain Rodenko smiled approvingly as he immediately picked up on the chief engineer’s intentions. “Sciences? What are you picking up on your scans?”
“My instruments are all over the place, Captain.” Lieutenant Candy Johnson replied. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“Well...let’s see what our eyes can tell us.” Captain Rodenko remarked, “Main viewer.”
*********************************************************************
Talana took a deep breath and exhaled as she led the Sutherland team into a very familiar chamber with six slabs in the center. “This is where it happened.” The Andorian science officer declared in a monotone voice. “This is where Xylvan and the Klingon made their choice—sacrificed themselves so that we could download this thing’s database. There...” Talana announced as she pointed at a console unit embedded in the opposite wall, “...is where we can access the database.” As she drew closer to the unit, a small section of wall next to the console slid open, revealing a clear helmet.
“Careful, Talana.” Admiral Bateson warned as his Andorian friend slowly approached the helmet. “This is where we’re getting into areas I don’t know anything about. I don’t want you ending up like Xylvan.”
“It’ll be all right, Admiral.” Talana replied with a smile, “Don’t ask me to explain, but somehow...some way...I know. Please...trust me.”
Nodding his head somberly, Morgan took a deep breath and exhaled, “Ok Talana. It’s your call.” Turning his head slightly to the younger officers standing next to him, the admiral commanded, “Sam? Maria? Be ready.”
“Aye, sir.” Both officers promptly responded as they took protective positions.
“Whenever you’re ready, ‘Lana.” Bateson nodded his head once more at the blue-skinned woman standing before the clear helmet. “Good luck.”
After taking several deep breaths and exhaling, Talana picked up the crystal helmet and placed it on her head. Immediately the helmet emitted a soft yellow glow that soon covered the Andorian science officer as fantastic images—of bizarre aliens...landscapes stark, lush, and indescribable...civilizations rising, at their peak, in decline, and in ruins...universes where the laws of physics of this universe did not apply—all raced through her mind. Her heart racing, Talana, feeling her mind slipping away from her, opened her mouth to scream, only to freeze on hearing a voice in her mind—a voice that she hadn’t heard for years.
“Commander Zha’Thara...” The voice, flat and emotionless, called out. “Commander Zha’Thara...you must listen.”
“Xylvan?” Talana whispered in disbelief, “Is that you?”
“It is I.” The voice responded. “It is very important that you do as I tell you. You must focus all your mind and all your thoughts on my voice. Do not stray from the sound of my voice.”
“All right.” Talana gasped, “I’ll try. But...I saw what happened to you. You’re...”
“Dead?” The voice completed. “In a manner of speaking—you are correct. The biological part of who I was has been terminated. But my katra lives on in here.”
“I’m so sorry.” Talana replied sympathetically, “I can’t imagine...”
“It is not such a harsh fate.” Xylvan’s katra responded. “I have learned much during my stay here. I have seen the past...the present...and the future. I have seen this moment and what will come after. I have seen worlds, universes, and dimensions that I would never have had the opportunity to see otherwise. I am...content...with the exchange.”
“But...”
“Do not feel sorry for me. What I did, I did because I chose to and would do so again. But...I have much to tell you and our time is brief. That which you search for lies in another dimension—one that you can access with this key.” The helmet glowed brighter for a moment as a numerical series was imprinted on the Andorian science officer’s mind. “The console next to you will open a dimensional gate. You must proceed cautiously. Take heed. Where you will be going is very dangerous. It is...” The Vulcan’s voice paused for several moments until Xylvan once again spoke, delivering his final warning. Beware of shadows...do not awaken that whose name is never spoken.”
With Xylvan’s final words, the glow surrounding Talana vanished as suddenly as it appeared. Slowly removing the helmet from her head, the Andorian science officer turned towards Admiral Bateson.
“Talana?” Morgan asked solicitously, “Are you ok.”
“I think so.” Talana slowly answered back. “I know what we have to do now.” Taking a deep breath, Talana approached the now glowing console. Placing her hand on the console, the blue-skinned science officer repressed a gasp as the opposite wall shimmered to be replaced by a gateway revealing a bizarre multi-colored landscape interspersed with a variety of geometric structures. “This is where we have to go.” The Andorian woman declared, pointing at the gateway.
“All right.” Admiral Bateson replied, his lips a thin line as he regarded the determined look on his old friend. “Then that’s where we’re going.” Turning to the other two officers in the landing party, the bearded admiral remarked in a grim tone, “Ready?”
Both officers nodding their heads, Commander Lavelle spoke up, “We’re wasting time, sir.”
As the foursome entered the gateway, Maria uttered, her body tingling, “This is so weird.” Then, almost instantly, they stumbled out on the other side. Looking herself over, the dusky-skinned helmswoman declared in an astonished voice. “We made it.”
“Yes we did, Mr. Django.” Bateson acknowledged, his lips turning up into a smile of relief.
“Damn.” Sam remarked in an awe-struck voice as his eyes took in the vista before him. Stark, with what appeared to be geometrically skewed structures dotting the landscape, along with inclines and passages that seemed to lead off to infinity, the dark-haired Canadian shook his head, “What the hell sort of place is this?” Then, looking up into the night sky, he added, “And where did all the stars go?”
I'm sorry it has taken so long for me to update this story, but with everything that has been happening in my life--both good and bad and all points in between, I barely have had time to keep up with some of the stories on the board and still have comments to make on all the good stories here by both old hands and new writers--believe me, I will make it all up, I just ask that you bear with me a little longer. In any event, I've managed to complete the next part of "Blood Cries", I hope you enjoy it!
Part 15
Materializing on the stark surface of the long dead world, Admiral Bateson resisted the urge to shiver as he glanced up at the dull orange light coming from the K-class star around which the ancient planetoid orbited.
“Just like Eleuthra IV.” Lieutenant Commander Zha’Thara, invigorated by the chill, remarked as she pointed at the primordial ruins. “That’s where we’re going.”
“Then let’s get a move on.” Bateson commanded.
Shivering under her coat as she walked next to her lover, Lieutenant Maria Django whispered with more than a trace of snark in her voice, “Tell me again why I got roped into this, O First Officer of Mine?”
Commander Sam Lavelle quipped back with a roguish grin, “Because you’re in line for promotion to Lieutenant Commander and if you want that third pip you’re going to need more ground time...”
“And so here I am.” Django mock grumbled. “Trudging in the cold towards a bunch of tumbled ruins to find God knows what...”
“That’s about the size of it.” Lavelle joked back.
“Just so we understand each other.” Maria riposted as the group neared their destination.
Approaching a remarkably intact column, Talana remarked in a hushed, awe-filled voice. “Just think...this column is literally billions of years old. Earth and Andoria were both still young worlds while the beings that created this column and those ruins were alive and flourishing.”
“Takes your breath away—doesn’t it, Talana.” Bateson replied, his own voice revealing more than a touch of reverence in its tone. “If I recall from your log entries...” the admiral continued as his eyes fell first on the column and then on its three siblings arranged as if at the cardinal points of a compass with another, taller column, standing in the middle. “We should find what we’re looking for at the base of this column and the three others...”
Approaching the column, the Andorian science officer nodded her head as she pointed at the base, “It’s here.” All we have to do...” she instructed as she knelt down, “...is rotate each of the bases until this image...” she said as she pointed to a glyph representing the sun, “...is pointing in the direction of the middle column and then wait until noon.”
“All right.” The admiral ordered, squinting his eyes as he glanced up towards the dull sun, “Looks like it’ll be noon soon.”
Just as on Eleuthra IV, the landing party arranged the glyphs and waited until the sun reached its highest position. And again, just as before, a yellow beam shot out, striking the pedestal in the middle just as similar beams emitted from the other columns impacted, bathing the pedestal in a warm glow until, finally, a bright red yellow beam shot out from the pedestal towards the star. The beams now took on an orange color as now the columns were glowing as well until even more beams lanced out from them, these beams connecting the columns with each other until they formed a wall of orange energy surrounding the ruins. Slowly, the wall took on a more solid form of swirling plasma as the glow around the pedestal began to fade until it had disappeared entirely, leaving a silver disc on top of the waist-high structure.
“That’s the key.” Talana declared as she picked up the disc. “I place it in this slot here...” she explained as she went over to a niche in one of the walls, “...and that will open up the gateway.” Pausing for a moment as she stepped to one side of the niche, the Andorian science officer warned, “I’d stand out well clear of the pedestal and the far wall.”
“Do as she says, Maria.” Commander Lavelle ordered as he nudged his dusky-skinned lover to the side.
“Here goes!” Talana called out as she slipped the disc into its waiting niche. Again, just as before, the disc began to emit a dull blue glow. Then, suddenly, a brilliant blue light lanced out from it, striking the far wall, bathing it in its light. Slowly, the wall appeared to shimmer and turn opaque. Then, the first image appeared—a city that looked like it might have come from 1920s Earth, complete with cable cars, automobiles, and throngs of humanoid beings that appeared almost completely human except for slight differences in eye and hair color.
“So...” Admiral Bateson exclaimed in a hushed gasp, “That’s a gateway.”
“Sure is.” Talana replied with a grin.
“But...” Sam interjected, “How do we figure out where we have to go to get this gem?”
“And...” Maria added, “...how do we get back here?”
Pausing for a moment as images suddenly rushed through her mind, Talana held up a hand, “Wait. I see now...it’s obvious!” Without a word of explanation, the Andorian science officer began to press a series of glyphs. As she pressed the glyphs, the images on display changed, eventually settling on an image that caused a cold chill to rush up and down the science officer’s spine. The image was of a dark corridor barely illuminated by yellow phosphorescence coming from the walls. “Hells.” Talana whispered under her breath.
“Is that what I think it is?” A suddenly worried Admiral Bateson inquired as he placed a shoulder on his old comrade.
“Yeah.” Talana replied with a nod of her head. “It’s the alien space station the Lexington encountered on its first mission.” The Andorian woman closed her eyes as she recited from memory, ““It is called the Gem of K’Tesh. To recover it, you must truly go back to the beginning of your journey...and to your future. To begin your journey...that one holds the key...though she is not as yet aware of it.” Taking a deep breath, Talana slowly exhaled, “I know now. We have to go through the gate.”
“All right. Let’s do it.” Morgan grimly responded as both Sam and Maria readied their phasers and stepped up to join their companions. Taking the lead, Bateson stepped through the gateway first, with Talana and the others following immediately behind.
As the landing party stepped through the gateway, the Sutherland and its crew was bathed in a warm yellow glow. “Bozhe Moi!” Captain Boris Rodenko exclaimed from the center seat of the Nebula-class starship. “What is happening.”
“I don’t know, sir!” Lieutenant Candy Johnson, the acting science officer responded, “My readings are of the chart!”
“Tactical?” Rodenko called out to the junior lieutenant currently manning the station.
“Nothing, sir.” Lieutenant Bellas replied, the Bolian shaking his blue head. “I can’t read anything.”
“Engineer...” The Commissar began before joining the rest of his crew in unconsciousness.
***********************************************************************
A cold chill ran up and down Talana’s spine as she and the rest of the Sutherland landing party now found themselves in a dimly lit corridor. “Don’t get too close to the walls and keep alert at all times.” The Andorian science officer warned, gripping her phaser tighter in her right hand as she activated her tricorder in her left. “There are a thousand ways to die here...” she shuddered, “...and none of them pleasant.”
“We’ll be careful, Talana.” Admiral Bateson replied in a soothing voice as he turned his head back to Sam and Maria standing behind him. “You got that Sam? Maria?”
“Yes, sir.” Commander Lavelle promptly replied as he carefully scanned the corridor with both his eyes and his tricorder.
“Aye, sir.” Lieutenant Django answered as well, her normal sarcastic manner forgotten as her heart raced. Seeing something out of the corner of her eye, the Brazilian helmsman called out as she edged a bit closer to her lover, “Sam? Did that wall just...”
Seeing the same motion in his peripheral vision, the dark-haired Canadian replied with an intake of breath, “Move? Yeah, I think so.”
“It probably did.” Talana interjected in a grim tone, “That’s why I warned you to stay away from the walls.” Taking a deep breath, she then pointed down the corridor, “We need to go this way—now.”
“You heard the lady.” Morgan commanded as he motioned for Maria and Sam to join them. “Let’s get moving.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice.” Maria replied and then whispered to Lavelle as the pair closed in tighter with the other two in their party, “I think I just peed my pants.”
*********************************************************************
As the yellow fog dissipated, Boris Rodenko returned to wakefulness at the same time as the rest of the bridge crew. Seeing the young faces of many of the delta shift crew, the wily Border Service skipper, forcing down his own feelings of unease, put forth a confident face as he called out. “Helm? Do we have a fix on our position?”
“Yes, sir.” Lieutenant Atris Nylysa responded, “We still seem to be occupying the same spatial coordinates that we were occupying.”
“So...” Boris replied, stroking his chin as he leaned forward in the center chair, “...we apparently haven’t moved. “Tactical? How are our weapons and defenses?”
“Fully charged and ready, sir.” A youthful Bolian ensign answered back.
“Good. At least we’ve got that going for us.” The Commissar responded with a hearty laugh that seemed to buoy the spirits of the others.
“Engineering?” Captain Rodenko then turned to the Trill chief engineer sitting at the bridge engineering station, “What’s your status?”
“All systems are operating at optimal condition.” Lieutenant Commander Tol replied confidently, knowing that there were several junior officers on the bridge who could use the boost. “We’ve got the juice to do whatever you need to do.”
“Good!” Captain Rodenko smiled approvingly as he immediately picked up on the chief engineer’s intentions. “Sciences? What are you picking up on your scans?”
“My instruments are all over the place, Captain.” Lieutenant Candy Johnson replied. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“Well...let’s see what our eyes can tell us.” Captain Rodenko remarked, “Main viewer.”
*********************************************************************
Talana took a deep breath and exhaled as she led the Sutherland team into a very familiar chamber with six slabs in the center. “This is where it happened.” The Andorian science officer declared in a monotone voice. “This is where Xylvan and the Klingon made their choice—sacrificed themselves so that we could download this thing’s database. There...” Talana announced as she pointed at a console unit embedded in the opposite wall, “...is where we can access the database.” As she drew closer to the unit, a small section of wall next to the console slid open, revealing a clear helmet.
“Careful, Talana.” Admiral Bateson warned as his Andorian friend slowly approached the helmet. “This is where we’re getting into areas I don’t know anything about. I don’t want you ending up like Xylvan.”
“It’ll be all right, Admiral.” Talana replied with a smile, “Don’t ask me to explain, but somehow...some way...I know. Please...trust me.”
Nodding his head somberly, Morgan took a deep breath and exhaled, “Ok Talana. It’s your call.” Turning his head slightly to the younger officers standing next to him, the admiral commanded, “Sam? Maria? Be ready.”
“Aye, sir.” Both officers promptly responded as they took protective positions.
“Whenever you’re ready, ‘Lana.” Bateson nodded his head once more at the blue-skinned woman standing before the clear helmet. “Good luck.”
After taking several deep breaths and exhaling, Talana picked up the crystal helmet and placed it on her head. Immediately the helmet emitted a soft yellow glow that soon covered the Andorian science officer as fantastic images—of bizarre aliens...landscapes stark, lush, and indescribable...civilizations rising, at their peak, in decline, and in ruins...universes where the laws of physics of this universe did not apply—all raced through her mind. Her heart racing, Talana, feeling her mind slipping away from her, opened her mouth to scream, only to freeze on hearing a voice in her mind—a voice that she hadn’t heard for years.
“Commander Zha’Thara...” The voice, flat and emotionless, called out. “Commander Zha’Thara...you must listen.”
“Xylvan?” Talana whispered in disbelief, “Is that you?”
“It is I.” The voice responded. “It is very important that you do as I tell you. You must focus all your mind and all your thoughts on my voice. Do not stray from the sound of my voice.”
“All right.” Talana gasped, “I’ll try. But...I saw what happened to you. You’re...”
“Dead?” The voice completed. “In a manner of speaking—you are correct. The biological part of who I was has been terminated. But my katra lives on in here.”
“I’m so sorry.” Talana replied sympathetically, “I can’t imagine...”
“It is not such a harsh fate.” Xylvan’s katra responded. “I have learned much during my stay here. I have seen the past...the present...and the future. I have seen this moment and what will come after. I have seen worlds, universes, and dimensions that I would never have had the opportunity to see otherwise. I am...content...with the exchange.”
“But...”
“Do not feel sorry for me. What I did, I did because I chose to and would do so again. But...I have much to tell you and our time is brief. That which you search for lies in another dimension—one that you can access with this key.” The helmet glowed brighter for a moment as a numerical series was imprinted on the Andorian science officer’s mind. “The console next to you will open a dimensional gate. You must proceed cautiously. Take heed. Where you will be going is very dangerous. It is...” The Vulcan’s voice paused for several moments until Xylvan once again spoke, delivering his final warning. Beware of shadows...do not awaken that whose name is never spoken.”
With Xylvan’s final words, the glow surrounding Talana vanished as suddenly as it appeared. Slowly removing the helmet from her head, the Andorian science officer turned towards Admiral Bateson.
“Talana?” Morgan asked solicitously, “Are you ok.”
“I think so.” Talana slowly answered back. “I know what we have to do now.” Taking a deep breath, Talana approached the now glowing console. Placing her hand on the console, the blue-skinned science officer repressed a gasp as the opposite wall shimmered to be replaced by a gateway revealing a bizarre multi-colored landscape interspersed with a variety of geometric structures. “This is where we have to go.” The Andorian woman declared, pointing at the gateway.
“All right.” Admiral Bateson replied, his lips a thin line as he regarded the determined look on his old friend. “Then that’s where we’re going.” Turning to the other two officers in the landing party, the bearded admiral remarked in a grim tone, “Ready?”
Both officers nodding their heads, Commander Lavelle spoke up, “We’re wasting time, sir.”
As the foursome entered the gateway, Maria uttered, her body tingling, “This is so weird.” Then, almost instantly, they stumbled out on the other side. Looking herself over, the dusky-skinned helmswoman declared in an astonished voice. “We made it.”
“Yes we did, Mr. Django.” Bateson acknowledged, his lips turning up into a smile of relief.
“Damn.” Sam remarked in an awe-struck voice as his eyes took in the vista before him. Stark, with what appeared to be geometrically skewed structures dotting the landscape, along with inclines and passages that seemed to lead off to infinity, the dark-haired Canadian shook his head, “What the hell sort of place is this?” Then, looking up into the night sky, he added, “And where did all the stars go?”
Suthy/Lexington: Blood Cries Part 15 cont
As the main viewer came to life, the sight that greeted Captain Rodenko and the others on the bridge of the Sutherland left nearly all of them with mouths agape. “Where are all the stars?” Lieutenant Nylysa asked.
“Good question.” The Commissar replied in a deep, rumbling voice, “Can you shed any light on the situation, Mr. Johnson?”
“No sir.” The blonde science officer responded, shaking her head. “All I can say...” Candy continued, “...is that we’re still at the same physical coordinates we occupied previously.”
“Well...” Boris replied in a voice intended to reassure the younger bridge officers, “...that’s a beginning. Ensign Tallis? See if you can raise Admiral Bateson.”
“Aye, sir.” The young Bolian responded, only to shake his head moments later, “I can’t make contact with the landing party, sir.”
“Captain?” Lieutenant Johnson interjected, “My scanners are picking up a surface body...”
“Good.” Captain Rodenko nodded his head. “That means that there is a surface beneath us. Our landing party might have come across just as we did.” The big Russian explained before commanding, “Our next order of business is to find some means of restoring contact with our people on the surface. Lieutenant Johnson...Commander Tol...Ensign Tallis...that’s your job.” Sitting back in the center chair, the border skipper’s mind contemplated the unusual situation he now found himself and his new command in, a state of affairs that he would rarely—if ever—face in his normal duties. Why am I here? I don’t belong here. I’m just a border cutter skipper—I’m so far over my head that it isn’t even funny...” Then he remembered Elizaveta’s words—You can do this. Suppressing a chuckle, the burly Russian mused, I wonder what Joseph’s reaction to all this would be.
**********************************************************************
Bajor
“You can do whatever you want with him...” the pah-wraith possessed Aliz purred as she jerked her head towards Commodore Wesley, “...but don’t kill or otherwise permanently mar him.” Seeing the disappointed look on Sito’s face, the demon chuckled malevolently, “Don’t worry, my pet...you’ll have your opportunity.” Turning its attention towards Wesley, the blood-wraith gloated, “My new follower has a lot of...issues...to work out. I think it only right to give her the chance to do so. You won’t die...but by the time she’s finished with you, you’ll wish you did.”
His eyes momentarily widening as he recognized the young blonde standing next to the possessed Aliz as being the same woman from his earlier dream, Commodore Wesley spoke to the blood-wraith inside his young ensign, his voice a mixture of barely contained fury and contempt. “Whoever or whatever you are, you are racking up one hell of a tab. You’ve killed members of my crew...threatened my ship...taken me prisoner...and ruined the lives of two young women. I don’t know yet what it’s going to take to bring you down, but you can bet that I am going to—no matter what you do to me.”
Smirking, the possessed Aliz replied, “Bold words...too bad you cannot back them up.” Turning to the Huntress-controlled Sito, the pah-wraith’s smirk turned even more malevolent. “Time to play, Little One...have fun.”
Standing still as his new tormenter, brandishing a curved Andorian war knife in her hands, approached, Wesley waited until she was just within striking range. He then called out quickly in a loud, clear, voice, “Computer...execute Lady Lex One now!” As a shimmering blue electric field suddenly appeared around Aliz, effectively trapping the pah-wraith inside the young woman., Wesley lashed out, the former boxer’s fist making solid contact with the jaw of the blonde Bajoran standing in front of him.
Moving rapidly, Robert followed up his initial success with a karate chop to the woman’s neck, rendering her unconscious as Aliz, now momentarily freed from her tormenter as her body was wracked with pain, cried out, “Robert! Go! Go while you can! This won’t hold that thing for long.”
As he grabbed a padd, phaser, and one of gold pins that the computer had told him was a communications device, Robert heard his ensign’s plaintive cry. “Aliz!”
Smiling at her ruggedly handsome commanding officer through her pain, the Hungarian woman struggled bravely, “Please...Robert...please go. Take her with you.” She pleaded, her eyes falling on the unconscious Bajoran woman lying on the floor. “Her mind...torn...she needs you to help begin putting it back together. But...be careful...she is dangerous now—very dangerous.”
Nodding his head, Wesley bound the Bajoran woman’s hands and feet before picking her up and carrying her. Looking back one last time at his helmswoman, Commodore Wesley called out to her, making a solemn vow. “Aliz! I will be back and I will find a way to free you—I promise.”
“I know you will. Beware the Huntress!” Aliz replied, her lips turning up into a sad smile as the commodore disappeared with Sito. As she felt the pah-wraith struggle to retake her mind, the young Hungarian taunted, “You’ve just lost.”
************************************************************************
Carrying the unconscious Sito over his shoulder, Commodore Wesley ran through the Bajoran countryside, stumbling occasionally under his burden as he navigated the rocks and brambles of the hillside until, reaching a cave, the rugged starship captain, heaving a sigh of relief, cautiously entered. Seeing that the dwelling was unoccupied, Robert carefully set down his young prisoner before building a fire. Seeing the young woman stir, Wesley looked up.
“Hello.”
Cringing from the strange man wearing a gold shirt and black pants, the Little Girl whimpered, “Please don’t hurt me, Mister.”
Surprised by the change in his prisoner’s voice tone; she sounded now very much like his daughter Katie when she was a little girl, Commodore Wesley’s lips turned up in a warm, sad smile, “No one’s going to hurt you, dear...I promise.”
“No.” The Little Girl replied as she shook her head violently, “You’re lying they all lie!”
“Who?” Wesley asked gently as he slowly and deliberately tended the fire so as not to panic the troubled young woman on the other side. “Who are ‘they’?”
“The bad men.” The Little Girl responded, “They come and they...they...they touch me...and they...”
“And it was fun...” The Junkie declared in a sultry tone as her innocent girl suddenly became replaced by someone more...wanton. “You want me to show you what they taught me? You don’t even have to untie me—I like being tied up. Just give me something to make it better—maybe some acid?”
Wesley’s cocking his head slightly to the left at the change in his prisoner’s voice and demeanor, asked in a soft voice, “Ok...Who are you?”
“I’m whoever you want me to be.” The Junkie replied, adding in a plaintive voice, “Please...do you have anything...anything at all?”
“Who else is in there with you?” Robert inquired.
“Oh...” the Junkie smirked, “...no one you’d be interested in.”
“Humor me.” The commodore encouraged with a grin.
“Ok.” The Junkie nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders. “You already met the Brat. All she does is whine and cry. Then there’s the Bitch—you don’t want her around.” The Junkie warned with an evil smirk, “She likes to play with sharp objects and hates men. Oh...” the Junkie frowned, “...there is one other, but you wouldn’t like her.”
“Why not?” Wesley gently prodded.
“She’s boring.” The Junkie pouted. “I can show you a much better time.”
“I’m sure you can.” Robert replied, “But first, can I speak with her?”
“Why would I do that?” The Junkie protested, “She never lets me play. Now that I’m out...” she tempted, flashing a lecherous grin, “...I don’t think I want to go back.”
“Do you think the other ones would let you out?” Wesley inquired.
“I can push the Brat away whenever I want.” The Junkie replied with a dismissive snort.
“What about the other one?” Robert persisted, “Do you think you could stop her from pushing you back.”
Her eyes momentarily showing fear, the Junkie stammered, “No...I...I don’t think so. She’s hard...cruel. She could...she could...”
“Kill you?” Robert interjected, nodding his head in satisfaction as he saw his prisoner’s slight bob of her head in affirmation. “But the boring one could stand up to her...”
“Yeah.” The Junkie confessed.
“And she’s kept the mean one from killing you and the ‘Brat’?” Pressing his attack as he saw the Junkie slowly nod her head, Wesley declared, “If you let her out, then she could help me help you and the ‘Brat’. Make sure that the other one can’t hurt you...”
“Well...all right...” The Junkie reluctantly agreed, “But...you owe me.”
Feeling a moment of terror as she felt the bonds restraining her hands and feet, Lieutenant Sito, her eyes narrowed into angry slits, spied the rugged man seated opposite her. Immediately recognizing him from the painting in Captain Shelby’s ready room, the Bajoran officer willed herself to calmness as she spoke in a soft, yet tense, voice. “Commodore Wesley?”
“You know me?” Wesley replied as he picked at the fire with a stick.
“Know of you, sir.” Jaxa responded.
“Then you know I’m not going to hurt you.” Robert declared, his lips turning up into a warm, fatherly grin. “Now, who are you?”
“Lieutenant Sito Jaxa.” The young woman responded, “Chief tactical and security officer, USS Sutherland. My commanding officer is Captain Shelby.” Her eyes closing, the lieutenant both warned and pleaded, “Whatever you do, sir...please...don’t untie me. The others...”
“I’ve met them.” Robert declared, his voice now taking on a more somber tone.
“Then you know how dangerous she is.” Sito warned. “Better—and safer—to keep me sedated.”
“Whatever happened to you...” Wesley began only to be cut off.
“No.” Jaxa shook her head violently, “Not now. Hurry!” The Bajoran woman pleaded, “I can’t keep her down much longer. The pah-wraith...she strengthened her. There’s a monastery...about ten kilometers to the south. Take me there. They might be able to help.”
“All right.” Robert promised, “I will.”
“Thank you.” Sito gasped, “Now. Please...sedate me. Before she takes over. Do it now!”
Moving quickly, Robert pressed the hypo on the young woman’s neck just as she closed her eyes. Her eyes opening again, the commodore immediately noticed that they were now icy cold...cruel. Acting at once, Wesley injected the contents of the hypo into the lieutenant, sighing in relief as the medicine took effect. Exhaling, Robert looked down on his charge before picking her up gingerly in his arms, “Well, Lieutenant...we’ve got a long walk ahead of us, but we’re both going to make it together.”
***********************************************************************
“Captain’s Log, Stardate 4617.7, Captain Elizabeth Shelby, temporarily in command of USS Lexington, recording. This log entry and all future log entries made by me are classified under the Archer Protocols. With the exception of the bridge crew and a necessary few others, the great majority of the officers and enlisted on board do not know and will not know where we are going—which is a good thing as we have nearly reached the Bajoran Wormhole—about a century before Jadzia and Ben. It’s too bad that most of the crew can never know and that those who do know can never talk about the full extent of the history they are making—they truly are going further than any other Federation starship has gone before. I only wish my...I only wish Aliz and Commodore Wesley could be here to share it with us...with me.”
Her enunciator sounded, disrupting her concentration. “Yes?” The captain called out.
“Captain Shelby?” Lieutenant Commander Max Freedman, the Sutherland’s ship counselor now temporarily assigned to the Lexington called back. “May I come in.”
“Of course, Max.” Liz responded as the door slid open. “I was just tying up some loose ends before going up to the bridge.” The captain said as she motioned for the swarthy mustachioed counselor to take a seat. Sighing, the24th century starship captain cracked a wry grin, “It’s times like this that I wish these old Connies had a captain’s ready room. So...how are you doing with Lieutenant Watley and the others?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about, Captain.” Counselor Freedman said as he took his seat. “This is a most resilient crew. To be honest, I’m surprised at just how quickly they’re recovering—especially Lieutenant Watley”
“It’s a Constitution-class starship.” Liz interjected with a note of pride in her voice, “When you hear people saying that only the best of the best served on these ships, they’re not being arrogant or conceited—that’s the simple truth. But now, I’m bragging...” Shelby chuckled, “So...what was it you wanted to say about Mr. Watley and the others?”
“I think it would be a good idea for them to resume their duties now.” Dr. Freedman replied.
“Are you sure about Lieutenant Watley?” A concerned Elizabeth inquired, “Her experience was probably the worst.”
Max responded, nodding his head in agreement, “I agree. What happened to her was extremely traumatic, but, as I said, she’s responding very well to therapy. I think that now the best thing for her is to begin to phase into a semblance of a normal routine. However...” the psychologist cautioned, “...once this situation is resolved, I would recommend at least a temporary transfer to another ship or duty station for her.”
“Because of my grandmother?” Liz inquired.
Nodding his head, Max explained. “Yes, sir. Even though rationally she understands that Lieutenant Bathory is under the possession of an alien entity and is not responsible for her actions, she’ll need some time and distance to put everything in perspective.”
“But she’s still fit for duty?” Captain Shelby pressed.
“Most definitely. Provided she is monitored and continues her sessions.” Counselor Freedman clarified.
“All right.” Liz said, nodding her head, “Have her report to the bridge for her normal shift and we’ll go from there.”
***********************************************************************
“I’ve got good news for you, Lieutenant.” Counselor Freedman announced as he escorted his dark-haired patient into the galley. “Captain Shelby agrees that you’re ready to return to duty. You’re to report to the bridge when your shift goes on duty.”
Tilting her head slightly to the left, Jennifer replied in a soft voice, “Thank you, Max...but...are you sure...I mean...”
“Do you want to return to duty, Jennifer?” The curly haired psychologist inquired as he carefully studied his patient’s face and body language. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to.” The doctor added in a solicitous voice.
“No...I want to go back.” Lieutenant Watley replied in a definitive voice. “I need to do something constructive...something useful. I don’t want people to think I’m some sort of china doll.”
“No one is thinking that of you, Jennifer.” Max interjected, his lips turning up into a smile. “Have a good shift and I’ll see you at our usual time.”
“Thanks, Doc.” Jennifer smiled back as she rose to her feet. “Well...I better go. It’s never a good thing to keep the new captain waiting.”
“Nope.” Max chuckled as the raven-haired lieutenant exited, “Especially not this captain.”
************************************************************************
As the turbolift doors opened on to the bridge, Jennifer Watley took a tentative step forward, her eyes immediately falling on the strange woman wearing captain’s insignia seated in the center chair.
“Glad you could join us, Lieutenant.” Captain Shelby remarked with a smile as she regarded the science officer standing just before the turbolift doors. “Take your station. You’re about to see something special.”
“Aye, Captain.” The young lieutenant responded cautiously as she relieved the Vulcan ensign who had been occupying the science station. Peering down into the visor, Jennifer reported, “Scanners are picking up a charged plasma field...”
“That would be the Denorios Belt.” Captain Shelby explained. “Take us there, Mr. Bateson...” the blonde captain ordered, “...course 111 degrees. Maximum impulse.”
“Aye, Captain.” Lieutenant Bateson acknowledged as Commander Kuznetsov cleared his throat.
“Captain...those plasma fields could be a risk to the ship’s systems.”
Nodding her head, Liz affirmed, “They are a risk to navigation, Commander, if you’re not very careful and you don’t know where you’re going. Luckily, I know exactly where we’re going.”
“I’m glad someone does.” Bateson whispered in a low voice as his fingers danced over the helm’s console, steering the Constitution-class starship on its course.
“Picking up communications...” Lieutenant Oudekirk reported, “Cardassian.” She added, a note of concern in her voice that relaxed as the universal translator embedded in her ear translated the communications into Federation Standard, “Just normal status reports. They haven’t spotted us.”
“Good.” The Bear declared in a gravelly voice. “Maintain emission controls.”
“Captain?” Lieutenant Watley suddenly interjected, her voice taking on an excited edge, “I’m picking up some strange readings directly in front of us—they’re off the scale...”
“Bozhe moi!” Commander Kuznetsov gasped as a brilliant light flared from the nothingness, revealing a swirling, multicolored anomaly.
“I don’t believe it.” Lieutenant Bateson whispered, his voice filled with awe at the sight before him.
“It’s a wormhole.” Jennifer gasped in disbelief. “A stable wormhole! Beginning recordings.”
“Belay that, Lieutenant.” Captain Shelby quickly ordered as the dark-haired lieutenant instinctively withdrew her finger from the record button. Smiling sadly as she saw the confused look on the science officer’s face, Shelby apologetically explained, “I know this is the discovery of a lifetime and that it hurts like hell not being able to record it—or talk about it with anyone else later, but you know the orders and you’ve been told why those orders have been issued...”
“Aye, Captain.” Jennifer acknowledged in a dejected voice, “It’s just...”
“I understand, Lieutenant.” Liz smiled, “Believe me, I do. But this is one mission where you and your shipmates will have to settle for the inner satisfaction of knowing that you’re about to go further than any human or other Federation race has gone before and you’re about to see things that won’t be seen for an entire generation.”
“Understood, Captain.” Lieutenant Watley replied with a nod of her head as Liz turned her attention to the young helm officer transfixed, along with the rest of the bridge crew, by the swirling wormhole.
“Take us in, Mr. Bateson. One quarter impulse.”
The roguish helm officer responded with a gulp as he said a silent prayer, “Aye, Sir. One quarter impulse.
Slowly, yet with the grace of a dancer, the Lexington slowly entered the Celestial Temple...its crew not realizing that as the elegant Lady slipped into the home of the Prophets that they not only would they be making history, they would also be making the future.
As the main viewer came to life, the sight that greeted Captain Rodenko and the others on the bridge of the Sutherland left nearly all of them with mouths agape. “Where are all the stars?” Lieutenant Nylysa asked.
“Good question.” The Commissar replied in a deep, rumbling voice, “Can you shed any light on the situation, Mr. Johnson?”
“No sir.” The blonde science officer responded, shaking her head. “All I can say...” Candy continued, “...is that we’re still at the same physical coordinates we occupied previously.”
“Well...” Boris replied in a voice intended to reassure the younger bridge officers, “...that’s a beginning. Ensign Tallis? See if you can raise Admiral Bateson.”
“Aye, sir.” The young Bolian responded, only to shake his head moments later, “I can’t make contact with the landing party, sir.”
“Captain?” Lieutenant Johnson interjected, “My scanners are picking up a surface body...”
“Good.” Captain Rodenko nodded his head. “That means that there is a surface beneath us. Our landing party might have come across just as we did.” The big Russian explained before commanding, “Our next order of business is to find some means of restoring contact with our people on the surface. Lieutenant Johnson...Commander Tol...Ensign Tallis...that’s your job.” Sitting back in the center chair, the border skipper’s mind contemplated the unusual situation he now found himself and his new command in, a state of affairs that he would rarely—if ever—face in his normal duties. Why am I here? I don’t belong here. I’m just a border cutter skipper—I’m so far over my head that it isn’t even funny...” Then he remembered Elizaveta’s words—You can do this. Suppressing a chuckle, the burly Russian mused, I wonder what Joseph’s reaction to all this would be.
**********************************************************************
Bajor
“You can do whatever you want with him...” the pah-wraith possessed Aliz purred as she jerked her head towards Commodore Wesley, “...but don’t kill or otherwise permanently mar him.” Seeing the disappointed look on Sito’s face, the demon chuckled malevolently, “Don’t worry, my pet...you’ll have your opportunity.” Turning its attention towards Wesley, the blood-wraith gloated, “My new follower has a lot of...issues...to work out. I think it only right to give her the chance to do so. You won’t die...but by the time she’s finished with you, you’ll wish you did.”
His eyes momentarily widening as he recognized the young blonde standing next to the possessed Aliz as being the same woman from his earlier dream, Commodore Wesley spoke to the blood-wraith inside his young ensign, his voice a mixture of barely contained fury and contempt. “Whoever or whatever you are, you are racking up one hell of a tab. You’ve killed members of my crew...threatened my ship...taken me prisoner...and ruined the lives of two young women. I don’t know yet what it’s going to take to bring you down, but you can bet that I am going to—no matter what you do to me.”
Smirking, the possessed Aliz replied, “Bold words...too bad you cannot back them up.” Turning to the Huntress-controlled Sito, the pah-wraith’s smirk turned even more malevolent. “Time to play, Little One...have fun.”
Standing still as his new tormenter, brandishing a curved Andorian war knife in her hands, approached, Wesley waited until she was just within striking range. He then called out quickly in a loud, clear, voice, “Computer...execute Lady Lex One now!” As a shimmering blue electric field suddenly appeared around Aliz, effectively trapping the pah-wraith inside the young woman., Wesley lashed out, the former boxer’s fist making solid contact with the jaw of the blonde Bajoran standing in front of him.
Moving rapidly, Robert followed up his initial success with a karate chop to the woman’s neck, rendering her unconscious as Aliz, now momentarily freed from her tormenter as her body was wracked with pain, cried out, “Robert! Go! Go while you can! This won’t hold that thing for long.”
As he grabbed a padd, phaser, and one of gold pins that the computer had told him was a communications device, Robert heard his ensign’s plaintive cry. “Aliz!”
Smiling at her ruggedly handsome commanding officer through her pain, the Hungarian woman struggled bravely, “Please...Robert...please go. Take her with you.” She pleaded, her eyes falling on the unconscious Bajoran woman lying on the floor. “Her mind...torn...she needs you to help begin putting it back together. But...be careful...she is dangerous now—very dangerous.”
Nodding his head, Wesley bound the Bajoran woman’s hands and feet before picking her up and carrying her. Looking back one last time at his helmswoman, Commodore Wesley called out to her, making a solemn vow. “Aliz! I will be back and I will find a way to free you—I promise.”
“I know you will. Beware the Huntress!” Aliz replied, her lips turning up into a sad smile as the commodore disappeared with Sito. As she felt the pah-wraith struggle to retake her mind, the young Hungarian taunted, “You’ve just lost.”
************************************************************************
Carrying the unconscious Sito over his shoulder, Commodore Wesley ran through the Bajoran countryside, stumbling occasionally under his burden as he navigated the rocks and brambles of the hillside until, reaching a cave, the rugged starship captain, heaving a sigh of relief, cautiously entered. Seeing that the dwelling was unoccupied, Robert carefully set down his young prisoner before building a fire. Seeing the young woman stir, Wesley looked up.
“Hello.”
Cringing from the strange man wearing a gold shirt and black pants, the Little Girl whimpered, “Please don’t hurt me, Mister.”
Surprised by the change in his prisoner’s voice tone; she sounded now very much like his daughter Katie when she was a little girl, Commodore Wesley’s lips turned up in a warm, sad smile, “No one’s going to hurt you, dear...I promise.”
“No.” The Little Girl replied as she shook her head violently, “You’re lying they all lie!”
“Who?” Wesley asked gently as he slowly and deliberately tended the fire so as not to panic the troubled young woman on the other side. “Who are ‘they’?”
“The bad men.” The Little Girl responded, “They come and they...they...they touch me...and they...”
“And it was fun...” The Junkie declared in a sultry tone as her innocent girl suddenly became replaced by someone more...wanton. “You want me to show you what they taught me? You don’t even have to untie me—I like being tied up. Just give me something to make it better—maybe some acid?”
Wesley’s cocking his head slightly to the left at the change in his prisoner’s voice and demeanor, asked in a soft voice, “Ok...Who are you?”
“I’m whoever you want me to be.” The Junkie replied, adding in a plaintive voice, “Please...do you have anything...anything at all?”
“Who else is in there with you?” Robert inquired.
“Oh...” the Junkie smirked, “...no one you’d be interested in.”
“Humor me.” The commodore encouraged with a grin.
“Ok.” The Junkie nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders. “You already met the Brat. All she does is whine and cry. Then there’s the Bitch—you don’t want her around.” The Junkie warned with an evil smirk, “She likes to play with sharp objects and hates men. Oh...” the Junkie frowned, “...there is one other, but you wouldn’t like her.”
“Why not?” Wesley gently prodded.
“She’s boring.” The Junkie pouted. “I can show you a much better time.”
“I’m sure you can.” Robert replied, “But first, can I speak with her?”
“Why would I do that?” The Junkie protested, “She never lets me play. Now that I’m out...” she tempted, flashing a lecherous grin, “...I don’t think I want to go back.”
“Do you think the other ones would let you out?” Wesley inquired.
“I can push the Brat away whenever I want.” The Junkie replied with a dismissive snort.
“What about the other one?” Robert persisted, “Do you think you could stop her from pushing you back.”
Her eyes momentarily showing fear, the Junkie stammered, “No...I...I don’t think so. She’s hard...cruel. She could...she could...”
“Kill you?” Robert interjected, nodding his head in satisfaction as he saw his prisoner’s slight bob of her head in affirmation. “But the boring one could stand up to her...”
“Yeah.” The Junkie confessed.
“And she’s kept the mean one from killing you and the ‘Brat’?” Pressing his attack as he saw the Junkie slowly nod her head, Wesley declared, “If you let her out, then she could help me help you and the ‘Brat’. Make sure that the other one can’t hurt you...”
“Well...all right...” The Junkie reluctantly agreed, “But...you owe me.”
Feeling a moment of terror as she felt the bonds restraining her hands and feet, Lieutenant Sito, her eyes narrowed into angry slits, spied the rugged man seated opposite her. Immediately recognizing him from the painting in Captain Shelby’s ready room, the Bajoran officer willed herself to calmness as she spoke in a soft, yet tense, voice. “Commodore Wesley?”
“You know me?” Wesley replied as he picked at the fire with a stick.
“Know of you, sir.” Jaxa responded.
“Then you know I’m not going to hurt you.” Robert declared, his lips turning up into a warm, fatherly grin. “Now, who are you?”
“Lieutenant Sito Jaxa.” The young woman responded, “Chief tactical and security officer, USS Sutherland. My commanding officer is Captain Shelby.” Her eyes closing, the lieutenant both warned and pleaded, “Whatever you do, sir...please...don’t untie me. The others...”
“I’ve met them.” Robert declared, his voice now taking on a more somber tone.
“Then you know how dangerous she is.” Sito warned. “Better—and safer—to keep me sedated.”
“Whatever happened to you...” Wesley began only to be cut off.
“No.” Jaxa shook her head violently, “Not now. Hurry!” The Bajoran woman pleaded, “I can’t keep her down much longer. The pah-wraith...she strengthened her. There’s a monastery...about ten kilometers to the south. Take me there. They might be able to help.”
“All right.” Robert promised, “I will.”
“Thank you.” Sito gasped, “Now. Please...sedate me. Before she takes over. Do it now!”
Moving quickly, Robert pressed the hypo on the young woman’s neck just as she closed her eyes. Her eyes opening again, the commodore immediately noticed that they were now icy cold...cruel. Acting at once, Wesley injected the contents of the hypo into the lieutenant, sighing in relief as the medicine took effect. Exhaling, Robert looked down on his charge before picking her up gingerly in his arms, “Well, Lieutenant...we’ve got a long walk ahead of us, but we’re both going to make it together.”
***********************************************************************
“Captain’s Log, Stardate 4617.7, Captain Elizabeth Shelby, temporarily in command of USS Lexington, recording. This log entry and all future log entries made by me are classified under the Archer Protocols. With the exception of the bridge crew and a necessary few others, the great majority of the officers and enlisted on board do not know and will not know where we are going—which is a good thing as we have nearly reached the Bajoran Wormhole—about a century before Jadzia and Ben. It’s too bad that most of the crew can never know and that those who do know can never talk about the full extent of the history they are making—they truly are going further than any other Federation starship has gone before. I only wish my...I only wish Aliz and Commodore Wesley could be here to share it with us...with me.”
Her enunciator sounded, disrupting her concentration. “Yes?” The captain called out.
“Captain Shelby?” Lieutenant Commander Max Freedman, the Sutherland’s ship counselor now temporarily assigned to the Lexington called back. “May I come in.”
“Of course, Max.” Liz responded as the door slid open. “I was just tying up some loose ends before going up to the bridge.” The captain said as she motioned for the swarthy mustachioed counselor to take a seat. Sighing, the24th century starship captain cracked a wry grin, “It’s times like this that I wish these old Connies had a captain’s ready room. So...how are you doing with Lieutenant Watley and the others?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about, Captain.” Counselor Freedman said as he took his seat. “This is a most resilient crew. To be honest, I’m surprised at just how quickly they’re recovering—especially Lieutenant Watley”
“It’s a Constitution-class starship.” Liz interjected with a note of pride in her voice, “When you hear people saying that only the best of the best served on these ships, they’re not being arrogant or conceited—that’s the simple truth. But now, I’m bragging...” Shelby chuckled, “So...what was it you wanted to say about Mr. Watley and the others?”
“I think it would be a good idea for them to resume their duties now.” Dr. Freedman replied.
“Are you sure about Lieutenant Watley?” A concerned Elizabeth inquired, “Her experience was probably the worst.”
Max responded, nodding his head in agreement, “I agree. What happened to her was extremely traumatic, but, as I said, she’s responding very well to therapy. I think that now the best thing for her is to begin to phase into a semblance of a normal routine. However...” the psychologist cautioned, “...once this situation is resolved, I would recommend at least a temporary transfer to another ship or duty station for her.”
“Because of my grandmother?” Liz inquired.
Nodding his head, Max explained. “Yes, sir. Even though rationally she understands that Lieutenant Bathory is under the possession of an alien entity and is not responsible for her actions, she’ll need some time and distance to put everything in perspective.”
“But she’s still fit for duty?” Captain Shelby pressed.
“Most definitely. Provided she is monitored and continues her sessions.” Counselor Freedman clarified.
“All right.” Liz said, nodding her head, “Have her report to the bridge for her normal shift and we’ll go from there.”
***********************************************************************
“I’ve got good news for you, Lieutenant.” Counselor Freedman announced as he escorted his dark-haired patient into the galley. “Captain Shelby agrees that you’re ready to return to duty. You’re to report to the bridge when your shift goes on duty.”
Tilting her head slightly to the left, Jennifer replied in a soft voice, “Thank you, Max...but...are you sure...I mean...”
“Do you want to return to duty, Jennifer?” The curly haired psychologist inquired as he carefully studied his patient’s face and body language. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to.” The doctor added in a solicitous voice.
“No...I want to go back.” Lieutenant Watley replied in a definitive voice. “I need to do something constructive...something useful. I don’t want people to think I’m some sort of china doll.”
“No one is thinking that of you, Jennifer.” Max interjected, his lips turning up into a smile. “Have a good shift and I’ll see you at our usual time.”
“Thanks, Doc.” Jennifer smiled back as she rose to her feet. “Well...I better go. It’s never a good thing to keep the new captain waiting.”
“Nope.” Max chuckled as the raven-haired lieutenant exited, “Especially not this captain.”
************************************************************************
As the turbolift doors opened on to the bridge, Jennifer Watley took a tentative step forward, her eyes immediately falling on the strange woman wearing captain’s insignia seated in the center chair.
“Glad you could join us, Lieutenant.” Captain Shelby remarked with a smile as she regarded the science officer standing just before the turbolift doors. “Take your station. You’re about to see something special.”
“Aye, Captain.” The young lieutenant responded cautiously as she relieved the Vulcan ensign who had been occupying the science station. Peering down into the visor, Jennifer reported, “Scanners are picking up a charged plasma field...”
“That would be the Denorios Belt.” Captain Shelby explained. “Take us there, Mr. Bateson...” the blonde captain ordered, “...course 111 degrees. Maximum impulse.”
“Aye, Captain.” Lieutenant Bateson acknowledged as Commander Kuznetsov cleared his throat.
“Captain...those plasma fields could be a risk to the ship’s systems.”
Nodding her head, Liz affirmed, “They are a risk to navigation, Commander, if you’re not very careful and you don’t know where you’re going. Luckily, I know exactly where we’re going.”
“I’m glad someone does.” Bateson whispered in a low voice as his fingers danced over the helm’s console, steering the Constitution-class starship on its course.
“Picking up communications...” Lieutenant Oudekirk reported, “Cardassian.” She added, a note of concern in her voice that relaxed as the universal translator embedded in her ear translated the communications into Federation Standard, “Just normal status reports. They haven’t spotted us.”
“Good.” The Bear declared in a gravelly voice. “Maintain emission controls.”
“Captain?” Lieutenant Watley suddenly interjected, her voice taking on an excited edge, “I’m picking up some strange readings directly in front of us—they’re off the scale...”
“Bozhe moi!” Commander Kuznetsov gasped as a brilliant light flared from the nothingness, revealing a swirling, multicolored anomaly.
“I don’t believe it.” Lieutenant Bateson whispered, his voice filled with awe at the sight before him.
“It’s a wormhole.” Jennifer gasped in disbelief. “A stable wormhole! Beginning recordings.”
“Belay that, Lieutenant.” Captain Shelby quickly ordered as the dark-haired lieutenant instinctively withdrew her finger from the record button. Smiling sadly as she saw the confused look on the science officer’s face, Shelby apologetically explained, “I know this is the discovery of a lifetime and that it hurts like hell not being able to record it—or talk about it with anyone else later, but you know the orders and you’ve been told why those orders have been issued...”
“Aye, Captain.” Jennifer acknowledged in a dejected voice, “It’s just...”
“I understand, Lieutenant.” Liz smiled, “Believe me, I do. But this is one mission where you and your shipmates will have to settle for the inner satisfaction of knowing that you’re about to go further than any human or other Federation race has gone before and you’re about to see things that won’t be seen for an entire generation.”
“Understood, Captain.” Lieutenant Watley replied with a nod of her head as Liz turned her attention to the young helm officer transfixed, along with the rest of the bridge crew, by the swirling wormhole.
“Take us in, Mr. Bateson. One quarter impulse.”
The roguish helm officer responded with a gulp as he said a silent prayer, “Aye, Sir. One quarter impulse.
Slowly, yet with the grace of a dancer, the Lexington slowly entered the Celestial Temple...its crew not realizing that as the elegant Lady slipped into the home of the Prophets that they not only would they be making history, they would also be making the future.
A terrific return for a fantastic story! 
You've come back to this tale with a full head of steam, and it hasn't missed a beat. The pah-wraith continues to be as malevolent as ever, compounding Aliz's suffering as well as that of her victims. Robert's escape with Sito is just the first step, and they've got a long journey ahead of them.
Bateson and his team have gone somewhere, perhaps even somewhen and I can't wait to find out where they're at.
And Shelby's truly taking the Lex where nobody's gone before, and stealing Ben Sisko's thunder in the process.
I'm glad you're back and the long dry summer away from your story is over.
You've come back to this tale with a full head of steam, and it hasn't missed a beat. The pah-wraith continues to be as malevolent as ever, compounding Aliz's suffering as well as that of her victims. Robert's escape with Sito is just the first step, and they've got a long journey ahead of them.Bateson and his team have gone somewhere, perhaps even somewhen and I can't wait to find out where they're at.
And Shelby's truly taking the Lex where nobody's gone before, and stealing Ben Sisko's thunder in the process.
I'm glad you're back and the long dry summer away from your story is over.
It's back, baby.
And with a bang to.
This segment had a very nostalgic feel to it as you took as back to the very beginning of Lexington's adventures. Even coming across the semi-dead. Question: Why must even a Vulcan katra speak in riddles? I actually thought that was fun.
A lot of other things taking place here as well. I wonder if the Bajoran monastery can help Wesley and the majorly screwed up Sito. I know I'm looking forward to Wesley vs Pah-wraith, Round Two. Something needs to kick that things butt for good, without kicking Aliz's butt, of course. I guess therein lies the problem.
Lastly I'm still amazed how much trust Shelby is putting in Lexy's crew with the knowledge of the future. I guess it's all going to work out in the end but it still a real big risk to take.
Great segments all around. Looking forward to have this back.
And with a bang to.
This segment had a very nostalgic feel to it as you took as back to the very beginning of Lexington's adventures. Even coming across the semi-dead. Question: Why must even a Vulcan katra speak in riddles? I actually thought that was fun.
A lot of other things taking place here as well. I wonder if the Bajoran monastery can help Wesley and the majorly screwed up Sito. I know I'm looking forward to Wesley vs Pah-wraith, Round Two. Something needs to kick that things butt for good, without kicking Aliz's butt, of course. I guess therein lies the problem.
Lastly I'm still amazed how much trust Shelby is putting in Lexy's crew with the knowledge of the future. I guess it's all going to work out in the end but it still a real big risk to take.
Great segments all around. Looking forward to have this back.
I go away for the weekend and I come back to this???
Whoo hoo!!
Whoo hoo!!
Glad to see you pick up the reigns of this story, DF. It was definitely worth the wait!
You've done a nice job of working with the myriad plot threads. I'm still fascinated by the interaction between the crews of the Sutherland and Lexington. With more than a century separating them, they still work well together - a testimony to their character and training. Rodenko is the one who seems like a fish out of water, even though he's commanding a contemporary ship. I'll bet he'll be glad to get back to the Scamp when this is all over.
Hope things are settling down for you and your family.
You've done a nice job of working with the myriad plot threads. I'm still fascinated by the interaction between the crews of the Sutherland and Lexington. With more than a century separating them, they still work well together - a testimony to their character and training. Rodenko is the one who seems like a fish out of water, even though he's commanding a contemporary ship. I'll bet he'll be glad to get back to the Scamp when this is all over.
Hope things are settling down for you and your family.
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