559: Checking In: One

by Jariel Camen
81004.1800
After Movie Night and
Concurrent with Simple Coincidence

-=Takesian Plains, Bajor=-


Camen’s eyes cracked open, seeing the soft glow of the new day approaching outside the medical tent. Tress had slept through the night, and the doctor was already up, checking her over and offering her a feeding.

“Good morning.” The doctor whispered. “Ponoma Wist, by the way.” He added, offering his name to Camen for the first time.

“Jariel Camen.”

“I know.” He said with a smile. Camen blushed. The notoriety associated with his old days as an active Vedek still lingered. It was a life he had long since said goodbye to, when he had come to know he would never find fulfillment there. Still, all these years later, the people looked on him with reverence, even if he had long since surrendered the position. It flattered him, but deep down he wished to simply be a name, like everyone else.

“Is she all right?” Camen asked.

“I believe she can be returned to the care of her brother today. She is breathing and eating normally, I see no reason to keep her under my watch.”

Camen approached the crib, and lifted the child up into his arms. He held her lovingly and gently. “And what does life hold in store for you little one?” He asked.

He let the question linger as Tress cooed, feeling his warm arms around her.

“If anyone asks, I need to return to Altaan. Vedek Timal probably thinks I died. I will be back to help however to help build, I promise you that.”

“Of course, Vedek.” The Doctor said, as Camen handed him Tress back.

“Please, Camen will do.”

-=Two Hours Later, Altaan=-


Camen made his way from the quiet early morning streets of the Plains back to Altaan. He knew he had to depart when he did, or he would never have made it through the transport hub during rush hour.

He arrived back in the familiar kitchen of the orphanage just in time to catch a plate of eggs before the keepers and children began to clean from morning meal. They were barely warm, but he hardly cared. In his effort last night to feed the hungry people of the Plains, he had completely forgotten to actually eat anything himself. Lukewarm eggs were a fair tradeoff to quiet the rumbling in his stomach.

He sat amongst the children, his large frame uncomfortably crammed into the small seat designed for a child. There were seats for the adults, but he did this purely because he knew the absurd look of a grown man sitting in a chair barely 25 centimeters off the ground was highly amusing to the children.

He heard the children giggling around him, and grinned himself at the sound of their whispers.

“Vedek Jariel, why is your face all picky?” One brave boy asked.

Camen stroked his chin. “No shower last night and no time to shave, child. Don’t you have chores to do?”

“Of course, Vedek.” The boy said, before continuing his task of tossing the used napkins into a waste container.

“Well, you are alive. I considered sending the authorities out to look for you.” Timal approached from behind, and plopped a cleaning cloth down on the table to pick up the food scraps left behind. Camen extricated himself form the small chair, and leaned against the table.

“You would not believe the Plains, Timal. The progress there is astounding. There has been an influx of money and supplies that has accelerated the rebuilding effort. More important the people there have spirit now. All it took was someone showing them that their lives were important somehow.”

He thought of the sheer scope of the devastation, and added one more sorrowful note, “But there is still so much more to do.”

“How did they accomplish all this?” Timal asked. He knew the Plains were a sore subject in the Bajoran Government, as many felt the poor who lived there were simply not worth the effort or resources it would require to return the place to its past condition. To hear now that the rebuilding effort was alive and prospering was a surprise to say the least.

“They had a benefactor that greased the wheels of progress so to speak. The reason I was gone all night was this individual nearly died, saving a small child from a collapsing well. I felt it was the right thing to do to step into her place as the cook for the evening. By the time I fed everyone, it was too late to come back here.”

“Who is this person? Anyone I know?” Timal asked.

“Yes, I was married to her once. Fleur Le Marc.”

“You’re not serious.”

“Indeed I am.” Jariel said. “She very well may have died if I hadn’t been there to help pull her from that well.”

Camen felt a chill run through him, and wrapped his arms around himself.

“What chores do we have today my friend? I’d like to return to the Plains as soon as I can, to assist in their rebuilding efforts.”

“Nothing urgent. The schoolhouse is way ahead of schedule, thanks to you. Go, and help the people.”

Camen nodded, and returned to his room. He gathered up a few changes of clothing, suitable for working in the outdoors. Shirts with short sleeves that extended just beyond the shoulders, work pants, a wide belt to clip tools to, and heavy black boots to navigate the still dangerous debris that lingered. He’d have to ask the workers in the plains about getting a hard hat.

He took advantage of the shower, since it may be the last hot one he could have for several days. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he checked the mirror to see that indeed, his facial hair was very “picky” as the boy had noted.

“I can’t skip one day of shaving, without looking like this.” Camen shook his head.

Using a straight blade, he shaved himself smooth, slapped each cheek with satisfaction, and tossed the towel aside to dress. He stood before the mirror, regarding his reflection.

Jariel Camen
Currently on Bajor