As
Tarin stepped from the turbolift she was only mildly surprised to see Ben at the
aft stations. She hadn’t expected him to stay down in engineering this
morning. Walking down the ramp towards her command chair at a leisurely pace she
took her time to look around, but all she got from her crew was the usual nods
and “good morning” greetings.
As
she settled into her chair she activated the armrest controls to read last
nights reports and there it was. Right on top of the touchpad was a new key,
blinking and marked “surprise”. As she looked around again every head was
turned in her direction and smiling faces met her gaze.
With
a smile of her own Tarin touched the blinking part of the display and the keypad
changed to a miniaturized sensor control. Before she had time to study the
configuration a low hum filled the air and a holographic display sprang to life
in front of her.
Tarin
marveled at the details of the three-dimensional representation of planets,
ships, and nebulae. Everything within several light-years of the Valkyrie
was there. Without looking her fingers moved across the controls and the display
zoomed in on a planet here, a ship there, providing her with all the important
information on a separate holographicly projected display. Only then did she
notice that she didn’t have to look at the controls to utilize them, but
before she had time to wonder about it her bridge crew had assembled around her.
“Happy
Birthday Captain.” Commander Enikal exclaimed as he shook her hand and the
others followed suit. At last only Ben remained and they stood in silence,
facing each other, as the rest of the bridge crew took their stations again.
They both wanted to hug, to embrace, to kiss, but this was neither the time nor
the place. Finally they settled on a handshake and Ben sat by her side in the
First Officer’s chair.
“Here,
let me show you what this thing can do,” he said as he reached for the
Captain’s armrest controls. “Now the controls are about the same as the
science station controls you are used to, but…”
* * * * *
"Well,
Lieutenant, where is that Ferengi?"
Captain
Sanders sounded calm enough, but his Tactical Officer knew he would have to come
up with some definite results. Kyle Sanders always gave his best and he expected
nothing less from his crew. While that sometimes made working on the Malinche
a little strenuous, it ensured the crew was always ready when something
unexpected happened. Like now...
"Sir,
his ion trail leads right into the cluster, heading 015 mark 351. I am not sure
where he is now, but that is where he went."
"Helm,
hold this position." Captain Sanders was more curious than surprised.
Ferengi weren't known to commit suicide and if whoever commanded that vessel
knew a way through the Argolis cluster, Kyle Sanders wanted to know as well.
"Tactical
and Science stations, I want a full sensor sweep of this part of the cluster. If
the Ferengi is still in there I want you to figure out a way to find him."
He looked over his shoulder at the aft stations. "Don't tell me how
difficult this is, I already know. What I need you to tell me is something I
don't already know."
* * * * *
“I
still can’t believe how easy it is to handle these controls.” Tarin was
surprised and it showed. “It’s almost like I had programmed them myself.”
Ben
smiled. “In a way you did. I based the interface on your favored control
configurations for both science and command tasks. Commander Enikal helped me a
lot with researching the details, but in the end we only used what you yourself
have used in the past.”
“I
see, but how did you come up with the idea in the first place?”
Dar
Enikal leaned over to them from the tactical station. “You are used to
accessing information on four or five different full-size displays, instead of
the small readouts on your armrests. It’s what you have gotten used to as a
science officer and during the last several years you never got accustomed to
the change.”
Tarin
swiveled her chair around and looked up to him. “Is it that obvious?”
“No,”
he shook his head and lowered his voice, “only to someone who knows you well
enough.”
She
stood up and rested her hands on the tactical station. In an equally low voice
she asked the Bolian: “While we are at it, who is organizing the party this
year.” Tarin was sure there would be a little party tonight – maybe not as
big a party as the one they had a week ago to celebrate Moira’s commendation,
but there would be one nonetheless.
Commander
Enikal smiled one of his rare wry smiles and she had to strain to make out his
words. “I knew you would ask this.”
A
grin spread across Tarin’s face. Rishana had organized the birthday party for
her during their first year on the Eclipse and it had been a blast.
Whatever she had planned for today, it would be fun.
The
Captain slowly turned around. “Everybody, thank you very much. I already think
this may well be one of the best birthdays I ever had.”
Tarin
winked at Ben – they had already made arrangements for lunch and maybe a
little more, so there was no need for words between them – and headed for her
ready room. “Commander Enikal, you have the bridge.”
* * * * *
When
the door chime rang Tarin deactivated the monitor. She had just been reading a
letter from her parents, but that could wait. “Enter.”
Tarin
was more than a little surprised when the door slid aside and revealed Doctor
Jascar standing in front of the Captain’s ready room. Since their talk in the
Doctor’s office a week ago they hadn’t seen each other. “Please, come in
Doctor.” She motioned to the couch and Theron took a few steps forward,
looking around the ready room avoiding eye contact with the Captain.
To
his right, over the sofa, was a painting of a landscape he didn’t recognize,
but whatever it was, it was beautiful - a coastline with palm-trees some wooden
huts and behind it green hills, all reflecting on the sea in the foreground.
Whatever or wherever it was, it looked like paradise.
To
his left, against the wall, stood a narrow shelf. The two lower boards were
filled with odds and ends including several pieces of worked metal, some twisted
and charred, while on the uppermost board set a dedication plaque, typical of
Starfleet ships. While he couldn’t make out the small writing of the quote on
the lowest part of the plaque, the name of the ship was clear to read – USS
Eclipse.
As
he slowly sat down he finally looked at Captain Veal and noticed the painting
mounted on the wall behind her desk, showing a starship against the backdrop of
a nebula. He recognized the ship as a Korolev-class survey ship, but if the name
of the ship was in the painting he was too far away to see it.
He
looked away from her again and rubbed his forehead with one hand. “Captain, I
really don’t know how to say this…”
“Why
don’t you just speak your mind?” There was no reproach in her voice, but
neither was there anything encouraging, except for maybe some mild curiosity.
Theron
sighed. “Maybe I shouldn’t.” He folded his hands, his arms rested on his
thighs. “Actually I wanted to apologize for speaking my mind to you last week
when you came down to my office. What I said – and how I said it – was…
inappropriate. I am sorry, Captain.”
“Don’t
be sorry.” Theron Jascar looked up again and while the Captain’s voice
didn’t betray it he thought he saw some compassion in her eyes. “You felt
very strongly about what you had to say and that can lead to problems sometimes.
I can understand why it happened.”
“No,”
he shook his head, “it shouldn’t have happened. You were right about me and
my problems, but I would never have thought anyone on this ship would
understand.” He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before he added:
“Especially you.”
Tarin
was tempted to ask the Doctor about his last remark, but she knew how wrong that
would have been and she suppressed the encouraging smile she almost showed him
– anything that derailed his train of thought could make it impossible for
Doctor Jascar to say what he had come to say.
In the long moment of silence that followed Theron’s eyes were drawn to the golden dedication plaque on the Captain’s shelf. It gleamed and glittered in the ready room’s light and he concentrated on the line on the bottom. ‘A true heart can outshine the brightest star’ it read.
“I
thought you would never understand, because you seemed so untroubled by
everything that has been going on during the war and the months since. You have
led you crew into battle many times and lost a lot of them and yet you seemed so
ready to do it all over again. How could I have ever thought you would
understand how I felt?”
He
drew his eyes away from the shiny object in front of him and looked at Captain
Veal. Again he noticed the compassion in her eyes and he leaned back into the
couch. “Everyone seemed so focused on their work that I was under the
impression that I was the only one who couldn’t deal with his emotions.
Everyone except maybe Counselor Lee that is, but I guess compared to the rest of
the crew she didn’t really matter to me.”
“Believe
me Doctor… Theron… you are not alone.” Finally Tarin allowed her smile to
show and she leaned forward, resting her arms on her desk. “Let’s just say
that we all have different ways of dealing with what has happened in our past.
There is nothing wrong with showing your feelings as openly as you do, as long
as it helps you to find a way to deal with your loss eventually.”
“I
know.” Theron Jascar sighed and rubbed his forehead again. “I have come to
realize that, but I am still not sure how to do it.”
“I
won’t try to force your hand, Doctor. If anything, giving you some more time
may be the best I can do, now that you have taken the first step along that
road, but if you want to talk you know where to find Counselor Lee or myself.”
He
slowly nodded and stood. “Thank you Captain.” As he crossed the room towards
the door Theron stopped by the shelf and reached out to the plaque sitting on
top of it. His pointing finger hovered only a few centimeters from the golden
metal when he looked back at Captain Veal again. “May I ask why you keep
this?”
Tarin
leaned back in her chair and starred at the ceiling for a moment. She didn't
have to ask what he meant – the Eclipse had played an important part in
the Chaos War and to be constantly reminded of all those battles and death and
destruction...
The
Captain didn’t look at the Medical Officer when she answered. “We did a lot
of fighting on the Eclipse, but we managed to come through the war, not
because we were the better or stronger fighters, but because we had faith in
each other. That is something I always want to remember.”
* * * * *
Tarin
ran her eyes over her wardrobe and tried to decide what to wear to the party
Rishana had organized in Ten Forward. Just as she had predicted on the bridge
this morning it had so far been one of her best birthdays ever. The holographic
display system Ben and Dar had set up was a most welcome surprise, Doctor Jascar
had finally started to open up a bit and her extended lunch break with Ben was
something she would remember for a long time. Tomorrow the Valkyrie would
reach the Argolis cluster and everything would be back to business once again,
but today was not over yet.
Just as she finished dressing and clipped her communicator on the apricot-colored jumpsuit the comsystem came to life.
“Tucker
to Veal. Captain, you better come down to Ten Forward right now!” He
sounded too urgent to be talking about any party and Tarin was certain Ben would
never worry her just to get her rushing into any surprise the crew had set up.
“I
am on my way.”
*
* * * *
Tarin
kneeled by Doctor Jascar’s side, just as he closed his medical tricorder.
“How is she?”
“I
don’t know yet. There is no sign of physical damage, but I need the sickbay
equipment for a full diagnosis.” He looked at the Captain and Tarin rose
again. Taking a step back she gave the Doctor room for what he needed to do.
Theron
Jascar tapped his combadge. “Two to beam directly to sickbay.
Tarin
kept her eyes on Rishana’s face until the shimmering lights of the transporter
had engulfed her and Doctor Jascar and both had vanished from Ten Forward.
“What
happened?”
“She
just collapsed.” Dar was the first who found his voice again. “I remember
Rishana talking to Crewman Neldon and the next thing that happened was her
collapsing on the floor. That was when we called sickbay and you.” He shook
his head. “That is all, Captain. There wasn’t anything out of the ordinary
up to that moment.”
“I
see.” Tarin was still more than a little shocked, but she was determined not
to reveal it to her crew. She turned towards the bar. “Mr. Neldon, did you
notice anything unusual about Lieutenant Hagen?”
“No
Ma’am. I had no idea anything was wrong with the Lieutenant.”
She
slowly nodded and gave the older crewman an encouraging smile. “If there was
something for you to notice, I am sure you would have done so.” Crewman Neldon
returned the Captain’s smile, but he was still worried. Lieutenant Hagen had
always been friendly to him, but so had the Captain and if she said he
shouldn’t worry…
“Alright.”
Tarin turned around and looked from face to face. “I appreciate you all coming
here to celebrate with me, but it seems things have turned out a little
different from what we all expected.” Tarin forced a smile on her lips, but it
didn’t take much effort. Her crew had decided to share this evening with her
and for that she was both grateful and happy.
“I
suggest we just postpone the party and don’t worry too much about Lieutenant
Hagen. I have faith in Doctor Jascar’s skills, and I am certain that Rishana
will make a full recovery in no time at all.”
* * * * *
"You and Rishana know each other pretty well," Tarin stated. "Have you noticed anything unusual about her during the last few days or weeks?"
Moira O'Shea considered the question carefully. "Yes and no. She has been a little more reserved, sometimes even a bit brooding, compared to our time on the Eclipse, but I thought that was just unresolved issues from the war." She brushed a strand of hair from her face without even noticing it as she went on. “And with Rishana that only meant that she seemed a bit more mature and a little less playful.”
"A logical assumption, considering what she went through," Commander Enikal remarked. "Personally I am surprised how well she seemed to deal with her war experiences."
Tarin looked at her first officer with a smile. "Frankly I am a little surprised how well we all seem to be handling it." She swivelled her chair around. "Counsellor, did you have any indication that something was wrong with Lieutenant Hagen?"
"No Captain. I didn’t have much contact with her, but I know her personnel file and there isn't anything out of the ordinary, except...." Catherine Lee shook her head. "It's probably nothing, but... before the Valkyrie mission she spent a month in a Vulcan monastery on P'jem, which I find a bit odd, considering the vastly different cultures of Vulcans and Betazoids.
"That is strange,"
Moira offered. "Rishana never had much interest in Vulcan culture as far as I
know."
“Be
that as it may,” Tarin remarked, “I am sure that, had there been anything
for you to notice, you would have done so. Whatever it is that’s wrong with
Rishana, we will just have to wait until Doctor Jascar finishes his
diagnosis.”
A
moment of silence followed, but then Moira reached out for a small gift-wrapped
parcel. “This may seem like the most inappropriate time Captain, but I was
under the impression that it was important to Rishana that you would get this
not in a day or two, but on your birthday.” She handed the small package to
Captain Veal.
As
Tarin unwrapped the birthday present, she flashed Moira a smile. “I am sure
you are right about this. If anyone knows Rishana, it is you.” Pulling the lid
from the small box, Tarin’s jaw dropped. The package held a small vial filled
with a clear liquid that sparkled and glittered like a diamond.
Tarin
Veal needed neither scans nor tricorder to know what she was looking at. She
hadn’t even been aware that any artifact of the Aesir or Vanir had survived
the end of the Chaos War, but here it was – the physical proof of what they
had all been going through a few months ago.
“I
can’t believe it.”
Ben
Tucker starred at the small vial and while his mind realized it reflected light
in ways that were impossible under any laws of physics he knew, his soul was
aware of something else – a peace and calm filled his heart unlike anything he
had ever felt.
“What
is this?”
“It
is water from the Well of Urd, the place were Rishana discovered that she was
the descendant of a woman your ancestors had called a goddess.” Tarin breathed
deeply, memories washing over her. “I had no idea Rishana was holding on to
this, and for her to give it away…”
“Yes,”
Commander Enikal softly replied, “this isn’t just a memorabilia of the Chaos
War. Rishana’s ties to the Aesir dimension were more personal than any of us
could ever imagine. For her to give you this…”
Tarin
closed the lid on the box again. “Whatever it means to her, she can give it to
me herself.” She slowly turned her head and looked from face to face. “I am
sure Rishana will be fine. When she is able to present this gift to me herself I
will accept it, but this is something too personal for me to accept from anyone
but her.”
* * * * *
“Well,
Doctor, how is she?”
“I
am not sure. She is in a coma, but I have no idea why.”
Theron
Jascar felt almost ashamed that he couldn't offer any real explanation as to
what had befallen Lieutenant Hagen, but neither was he an expert on Betazoid
physiology, nor did any of his readings make much sense.
“Betazoid
physiology is very different to yours or mine, Captain. There are parts of their
brain that allow them to communicate telepathically and there are parts of their
brain that translate telepathic signals into something the rest of their brain
can process. It’s like our ship’s comsystem, with one part of the telepathic
cortex acting as a receiver and another part like a universal translator. It’s
that latter part of Lieutenant Hagen’s brain that it is active right now, but
I can’t explain why.”
The
Doctor still looked baffled. “While our medical database has a lot of
information on Betazoids I have been unable to find anything that would explain
Lieutenant Hagen’s condition. I have transmitted my findings to Betazed in the
hopes someone there will be able to help me, but it may take a while before I
receive an answer.”
“Can
you wake her up?”
“That
may be possible, but I wouldn’t recommend it. I have no idea why, but at the
moment parts of her brain are extremely active. Adding normal sensory input on
top of that by waking her up could overload her neural pathways. On the other
hand I may not have any choice. Her neural activity is slowly but steadily
increasing and at this rate it could start to damage the synapses in her
telepathic cortex in four or five days.” He absentmindedly rubbed the bridge
of his nose, before he continued in a grave voice. "If that happens, she
will not only loose her psionic abilities, but may suffer permanent damage in
every part of her brain."
"Keep
at it Doctor. Rishana is not the only crewmember with psionic abilities. Maybe
you should start asking the other Betazoids and the Vulcans on board if they
have noticed anything unusual. It could be there is an outside influence at work
here we just haven’t detected yet.”
“A
good idea, but could you ask someone else to do it? There is still a lot of
research I have to do in our medical database.”
* * * * *
"Have
a seat, please," Tarin motioned towards the sofa and Counselor Lee and
Doctor Jascar settled down. "Have you found out anything?"
"I
am sorry, Captain, but none of the other telepaths aboard have noticed anything
unusual. Whatever is affecting Lieutenant Hagen seems to have no effect on
anyone else on this ship." Catherine Lee shook her head and Doctor Jascar
cleared his throat.
"I
have found something, but I am not sure what to make of it. An intensive scan of
Lieutenant Hagen's telepathic cortex shows neural pathways that just shouldn't
be there. I have no explanation for it, but her last physical shows none of it
and that was three months ago. On the other hand I believe the standard physical
may not have caught it, as the neural scans of a routine examination are not
that exhaustive when it comes to these parts of a Betazoid's brain."
Theron
Jascar sighed and leaned back, his arms crossed. "I have transmitted those
scan results to Betazed too, but there is nothing like it in our medical files
and they are pretty exhaustive. To me it looks like a natural mutation, but
whatever it is, it is the only thing out of the ordinary I could find when
examining Lieutenant Hagen."
"So
you are saying that maybe some kind of mutation could have caused her to fall
into a coma and that this phenomenon may be linked to her telepathic
cortex?" When Theron just nodded, Counselor Lee turned to Tarin. "You
know the Lieutenant better than I do, Captain, but if she had been experiencing
some problems related to her telepathy, do you think it possible she would have
sought help from the Vulcans?"
"I
can't see why she would have gone to a Vulcan monastery, instead of looking for
help on Betazed, but we still don't know enough to rule out the
possibility."
Tarin
rose and looked from Theron to Catherine and back again. "I know you are
doing the best you can. Just keep me posted on anything else you learn."
All
three headed for the door and Tarin entered the bridge turbolift with Catherine
and Theron. "Deck 5, section 5."
"Would
you mind if I ask where you are going, Captain," Counselor Lee inquired as
the turbolift started it's descent.
Tarin
shook her head. "Not at all. I think it is time for me to start an
investigation of my own and you are going to help me with it, Counselor."
Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3
Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7