377: Betrayed

80629.19
by Lair Kellyn
Following Red Sky at Morning
Soundtrack: Joining You by Alanis Morrisette
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-=Main Engineering, USS Serendipity=-


Rada Dengar, who had been running around the ship like a madman trying to coordinate repairs in addition to performing them himself, hurried into Main Engineering.

The moment he saw the look on Kellyn's face, he didn't have to ask what was wrong. He only knew that whatever it was, it was terribly, terribly wrong.

"It's Avery." Kellyn said softly, unable to look at Rada for fear of losing her tenuous hold on her composure, and her temper.

"His command codes were locked out of the Alchemy the moment he left the ship on his last...adventure," Rada offered helpfully, and Kellyn nodded.

"But his Sera codes..."

"He could have found a work-around. Yes." Rada said without hesitation, knowing the skills of the man in question. He knew what Starfleet would ask of him before they even sent the order, and immediately Dengar began gathering a team- for inspection, and potential damage control.

"Alchemy first!" Kellyn called, running out the door, heading for the bridge. "Alchemy always has to come first!"

Kellyn hailed Salvek before even reaching the bridge. "Breaux is the one who transported, and I'd bet my life he's not coming back."

Salvek knew already that whomever had left had no intention of returning.

By the time he had commanded use of the tractor beam to stop the plummeting transport ship from leaving, it was too late. Breaux's timing had been impeccable. He took advantage of a split second of weakness, when everyone was tired and Sera's defenses were strained to the point that by the time they figured out what was happening, it was too late to stop it.

[Acknowledged.] Salvek folded his hands and brought his index fingers to his lips, as everyone on the bridge sat in stunned silence. [You have the bridge, Mr. Blane.] Salvek bolted from the command chair after a moment, heading into Zanh Liis' Ready Room.

He secured a channel and requested a link to Admiral Vox. He stewed silently as he waited...how was he going to break this news to the Captain? She'd had such high hopes for the man...

[Salvek, what's going on up there? We suddenly have klaxons and alarms ringing off the hook down here.]

"It would seem, Admiral, that your plan to use Avery Breaux to Starfleet's advantage has backfired. He has vanished, taking along with him everything he learned aboard this ship about The Alchemy Project and our crew."

[Goddamn it,] Vox pounded his fist once against his desk. He would never have admitted it to anyone but the first thing that came to his mind was the fact that Keiran O'Sullivan had sternly warned him against trying to turn Breaux back to the 'light'. Keiran had predicted it would fail, and once again the Security Chief's instincts had been dead on.

Breaux would not buckle under, not for Starfleet, not for anything or anyone. He was what he was- a rogue- and a brilliant one at that.

[First thing I want you to do is sweep the Alchemy for anything that shouldn't be aboard. Then we're going to have to put Sera into lockdown and go over her with a fine tooth comb to be certain that the doctor's engineering alter-ego did not leave any lovely parting gifts designated to go off later.]

Explosives were the last of Vox' worries as to what Breaux may have planted- his worry was surveillance equipment or tracking devices.

"I will put our engineering team on it immediately, Admiral. What do you want us to do after that?"

[We will send a team aboard to debrief the crew concerning their experiences with your telepathic Healer friends. Then, we will release the crew for a few weeks shore leave until we can be certain that it's safe for Sera to resume her mission.]

"What of the Alchemy during that time?"

[We'll send her somewhere. For some reason. I don't care, make one up. Just get keep her and Sera apart for the time being. Perfect chance for you to test out the repairs to the Transwarp drive that Kellyn has worked so hard on.]

In truth Salvek looked forward to the chance to test the limits of the Alchemy once again, so he offered no argument. Before he could ask his next question, Vox continued.

[Pick a destination and then as many as can fit are welcome to go with you if they choose. Otherwise they are free to do as they wish until they receive the recall order. I would estimate between sixteen and twenty days until the Sera is ready to be reinhabited. Tell them to mind their badges and keep an ear to the ground for the signal to return.]

"As you wish, Sir."

[Salvek, I know you're not going to want to do this,] Vox paused and leaned closer to the screen. [But even if it's against medical advice, I need Zanh Liis down here, and I need Keiran O'Sullivan down here. As soon as possible. They know the coordinates. Be sure they bring their...equipment.] Vox instructed, referring in this manner to their Temporal Compasses. [That's all for now. Enjoy your time off, it'll likely be the last you get for a long while. Vox out.]

Indeed, Salvek did not like the idea of sending Zanh Liis anywhere, let alone anywhere alone with Keiran O'Sullivan.

She had been awake for hours now, conscious, oriented to her surroundings. But she had no memory of the man, from any timeline it seemed. The look on O'Sullivan's face when Salvek had stopped in to check on him earlier was one that troubled the Vulcan. He knew what it was like, even as he was to feel pain over the loss of love, and he would not wish the experience on any man, let alone one with a heart as big as O'Sullivan's.

Orders, however, were orders. He knew that of all people, Zanh and O'Sullivan would be the first to tell him that the situation demanded that they carry out the Admiral's request with all due haste.

Before that happened, however, he had to have a talk with Zanh Liis.

Alone.


-=Sickbay=-


"Captain," Salvek greeted her softly, "You are looking much better than when I saw you last."

"Gee, thanks Salvek. Knowing how I must've looked then, I guess I'll try to take that as a compliment." Liis pushed her barely touched tray of food away from before her. She saw the look on his face and knew, even though he seemed typically emotionless, that something was bothering him. "Out with it."

"Captain?"

"Everyone is whispering around here. Last time I checked I was still in command of this ship and..." she paused, her brow furrowing. "I am still in command of the ship, right?"

"Only temporarily relieved of duty, Zanh Liis, due to your loss of consciousness."

"Oh yeah. That." She pulled the blanket up tighter around her, feeling a chill suddenly. "So tell me already."

"Avery Breaux." He needed to say no more.

"Damn." The look on her face told him that though the news was upsetting, it was not at all surprising. Apparently, her memory of past events when it came to the rest of her crew seemed to be untouched by recent occurrences aboard ship. "Vox wants my head, doesn't he?"

"I do not believe so, Captain, but he is asking to see you as soon as possible. He wants you to bring,"

"I know what he wants me to bring," she interrupted. "I had better get dressed,"

The LMH approached as he saw her trying to stand. "Now wait just a cotton pickin' minute,"

"Save it, Dalton." Liis waved him away. "I've been back to the land of the living for hours. You said yourself that I'm 'stable'." She almost chuckled at the thought, one of the few things she had rarely if ever been called at any time in her life was 'stable'.

"I have to go. Note your objection, but I'm outta here. I have to make a house call."

"You can't go alone, I just won't have it." McKay protested. "Commander Salvek,"

"She will not be going alone." Salvek said, and his words worried McKay for a moment, until he actually spoke them and then they terrified him.

"Oh no, you're not."

"Yes, we are. She must accompany Lt. Commander O'Sullivan to see Admiral Vox."

"O'Sullivan," Liis said, concentration evident on her face. "That was the gentleman you mentioned before, Doctor. Wasn't it?"

"Yes," McKay glared at Salvek. "The one that you do not remember, Captain."

"Salvek, I know this man?"

Now Salvek was in a predicament. He had three seconds to make up a story on the fly that would appease her- and he figured that it would also serve to test once and for all if anything about Keiran could jog her memory.

"Yes, Captain, he has served as our Chief of Security since the Serendipity's launch. You served together for a time, before he came aboard here. With Temporal Investigations." He waited to see what she would say in response to the next bit of information. "The alien interference with your brain activity. Do you remember? I told you about it before."

"Yeah, I remember that part. Huh." Liis shrugged. "That must be why I don't remember him now. Far as working with him for TI, they must have resequenced the bejesus out of me when we were done with our mission."

"That is our understanding of the matter, Captain." Salvek replied, seemingly satisfied that she was not seeking any deeper explanation.

"Well, I can't go to the surface in my jammies here and I won't go where I'm going in uniform." Liis explained. "I need to get to my quarters."

"Here, Captain," McKay returned her uniform to her, to change into for the journey back. "We'll step out and let you get decent."

"Thank you." As Liis began to change, she hoped she had the strength to get through whatever manner of torture that Vox had in store for her this time.

When she was dressed, she stepped out from behind the curtain. "Doctor, I appreciate everything you've done. You have Sickbay from this moment, until we see what we're going to do about getting a new CMO to replace the outlaw Mr. Breaux."

"Shall I gather any and all information Breaux may have left in the computer, Captain?"

"Yes. And lock out his command codes, if that hasn't been already done."

"Yes Sir." He eyed her as Salvek assisted her toward the door, she was still a little unsteady on her feet. "My objection to your premature departure will be noted in my log, Captain."

"Aye aye." Zanh saluted him with two fingers, and then vanished out the door, leaning upon the strong arm of her friend and first officer.

Upon reaching the quarters she knew that she shared with Jariel, Liis hesitated. She'd asked that he not be allowed to come see her in Sickbay after she'd regained consciousness. She needed to clear her head, and just try to get her bearings before seeing him. She knew his feelings would likely be hurt, she only hoped not too badly.

"Shall I go in with you, Captain?" Salvek inquired. "Or shall I leave you and come back for you in half an hour?"

"Half an hour, please Salvek. I'll be all right."

"If you need anything, I will not be far from you," he offered and she thanked him. He stood by and watched, waiting until she vanished through the doors to move down the hall.

His next visit would be to O'Sullivan.

*****

Keiran was already packing his bag when he invited Salvek to enter his quarters. He didn't have much to take with him, TI operatives were always taught to travel light.

The compass was lit- he knew what that meant. He would not be returning here after visiting the planet.

He didn't know if he could bring himself to leave- not until the moment a few hours ago when he had walked past Zanh's bed on his way out of Sickbay and seen for himself that no flicker of recognition at the sight of him showed in her eyes.

He had underestimated how badly that would hurt, considering the way she had looked at him at points during the past few days. Now, he was nothing but grateful that he would certainly be reassigned.

To stay here would be mean a slow and painful death for whatever might remain of his soul.

"Time for me to go, it would seem." Keiran held his hand out toward the Vulcan. "'Tis truly been an honor to serve with ye, Salvek. With the whole of the Sera's crew, and your family." His expression grew even more melancholy if that was possible. "You've a lovely family. Always take care of them first, before an'athing else."

Salvek accepted his hand and shook it. "I will heed your words. It has been an honor for me to serve with you as well Lt. Commander." Salvek paused. "The Admiral is requesting the two of you pay him a visit. Together."

"Worry not. Was to be expected."

"Will you be able to manage?"

"I'm hanging on by a bloody thread, man. But I am hanging on." Keiran assured him. "I will do my duty, and hold my tongue."

Salvek nodded. "I will have her in the transporter room in twenty four minutes."

"I'll be waitin'-" O'Sullivan's words were cut short by the sound of someone leaning on his door bell. "Who in blazes? In with ye, then, before you break off the button." He called.

Standing before him a second later with arms folded and a scowl straight from Hell on his face, stood young Ensign Cristiane.

"So. The rumors are true." Dane spat, analyzing O'Sullivan's bag on the bed and his manner of dress. Keiran was dressed simply for inconspicuous travel, in a pair of jeans, a plain button down shirt, and a brown leather jacket. "You are leaving."

"Twenty-two minutes, transporter room three," Salvek said, taking his leave so Dane could say his goodbyes to the man who had become the closest thing to a father figure he had ever had.

Keiran turned his attention fully to the angry young man before him. "Aye. Leavin', I am."

"You son of a bitch." Dane snarled. "Going gets a little tough and you just pick up and go? What is it, a nice cushy desk job so you won't have to deal with the likes of me anymore? Or are you going to retire completely and sit around on your ass all day?"

"Dane," Keiran admonished gently, "My leaving has nothin' to do with wanting to get away from the Sera, least of all from you, boy. Don't you know by now how much your progress matters to me? How proud I am of how far you've come?"

"I couldn't have come this far if you hadn't been wringing my neck at every turn." Dane sounded more panicked than angry now. "What will happen to that momentum if you leave? Can't you...just...ask them to let you stay?"

"Dane," Keiran put a strong hand on the young man's shoulder, "If I could stay, I would stay. You have to know that."

"But why do you have to leave?" Dane bit the inside of his cheek to try to stop his sadness from rising from deep within to the surface where they would be seen. "It's her fault, isn't it. She did something and," he turned away, "God, I hate her!"

"Don't you talk about your Captain that way. Truth be told, boy, she's the one who is most responsible for any growin' you've done since you got here. I just minded her orders, did what she asked with regard to you. If you don't think she has lost sleep over you, cried plenty of tears when no one was lookin', not to mention putting her life at risk to save your ass more than once, lest ye forget- then you're a lot dimmer than I thought."

"But she's the Captain. If it's not her fault, then whose is it?" Dane needed someone to blame for this latest proof that anyone he dared to begin to respect, or care about, would leave him in the end.

"'s no one's fault, boy. It just is."

"If you're being reassigned and you don't have a choice, can't you take me with you?" His eyes held more genuine emotion than Keiran had ever seen in the kid before. "Please, Commander. Don't leave me here."

"This is where you're meant to be for now. In future, that may change. In the meantime, I promise you, son, I won't lose track of you."

"You'll write." Dane said sarcastically, turning toward the window.

Keiran stepped up behind him, and put a steady hand on his shoulder once again.

"Aye. I will. Mind that."

Dane shrugged the hand off. "Go to Hell, O'Sullivan." He stomped toward the doors, not looking back as he plowed through them. "I hope you rot there."

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Commander Lair Kellyn
Director of Engineering Research and Development
The Alchemy Project