Searching for the Ruby Slippers
Lt. Commander Blane and Captain Zanh
80103.9
Hours after Ask and Ye Shall Receive
----------------------------------------
Oz: "As for you, my galvanized friend, you want a heart.
You don't know how lucky you are not to have one.
Hearts will never be practical until they can be made
unbreakable."
The Tin Man: "But I still want one."
~The Wizard of Oz
----------------------------------------
--=Altaan Province, Bajor=--
Lt. Commander Blane and Captain Zanh
80103.9
Hours after Ask and Ye Shall Receive
----------------------------------------
Oz: "As for you, my galvanized friend, you want a heart.
You don't know how lucky you are not to have one.
Hearts will never be practical until they can be made
unbreakable."
The Tin Man: "But I still want one."
~The Wizard of Oz
----------------------------------------
--=Altaan Province, Bajor=--
As the familiar landscape of Altaan became more clearly defined below, Zanh Liis' heart began thumping harder, and louder.
At times she thought it was going to throw itself into reverse and start pumping backwards, but she knew that this was only anxiety and not anything to do with her recent medical. . .incident.
"There's no place like home." TC Blane looked up from the pilot's position and glanced at her.
"Sorry?"
"That's what Dorothy Gale said, when she wanted to go back to Kansas."
Zanh sighed and leaned back in her chair. "If I'd have been Dorothy, I'd have been clicking my heels and asking to go anywhere but home."
"You know the story?"
"It might surprise you to know, Mr. Blane, that I spent a great deal of my time while at the Academy holed up in my room with works of fiction from all over the quadrant. I had a favorite librarian who used to recommend what she called 'great temporary escapes', especially to the freshmen. I read a lot of them."
She recalled some of her favorites with a wistful smile. "The Wizard of Oz. Treasure Island. Huckleberry Finn. The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. Then, there were the stories by off-world authors like Ansley Forr from Trill and T'Plor of Vulcan."
"Yeah, who would have believed that a Vulcan could have such a flare for descriptive story telling?" Blane replied. "T'Plor could turn a phrase."
"So, if I'm Dorothy who does that make you?" Zanh flashed him a lopsided grin. "You've already proven your courage, your brains and your heart. What's left?"
“Bark bark.” He grinned.
A sudden crashing sound emanated from the back of the cabin and Liis leaned over, trying to see what had caused it.
"I hope Glinda the Good Vedek back there didn't hurt himself. Jariel, you all right?"
She barely made out his hand as it stuck out from beyond a tower of supply bins, and he gave her a thumbs up sign.
"Need any help?"
He waved her off, so she stayed where she was. She would have been loathed to admit it, but she was still exhausted.
"We'll be landing momentarily." TC watched as Zanh begin twisting the chain on her earring as she peered out the forward viewport; a drop dead tell that she was really having a hard time with reaching their destination.
"Maybe we should ring and run," she suggested, as the forms of the small stone buildings that made up the Sanctuary and Orphans Home became clear. "We can beam the bins down and then just let them find the stuff on their doorstep. Hm?"
"Retreat? We can, if you like?" TC eased back on the thrusters and settled the ship down onto the surface of the planet with barely a bump. "I just never figured you for one to run away. The fear that dooms us is that one from behind, not in front."
"Damn it, Thomas. I hate it when you're right."
It was just past midday, and there were children playing in the snow nearby. They scattered, and Liis watched two elderly Vedeks usher them away and inside as they saw the ship descend.
"Maybe we should have called ahead." She thought aloud.
"Then it wouldn't have been a surprise."
TC lowered the ramp at the back of the ship, and Liis hesitated. Sensing that she might need a moment alone with Jariel, Blane took the opportunity to begin moving crates out of the hold. "I'll meet up with you outside." He said, grinning once again. "This is going to be fun."
Jariel set down the bin of supplies that he was holding and moved toward Liis, who stood motionless in the middle of the cabin.
[[What are you thinking?]]
"Maybe this wasn't a good idea, Jariel. Maybe I'm not ready." Her expression painted a perfect picture of her emotions. She wanted to go in, she wanted to run, and the conflict left her frozen, unable to do either.
[[Would you ever be ready?]] He brushed her hair out of her eyes. [[It's only a place, Zanh Liis. It has no power over you any more.]]
"Then why do I feel like I'm suddenly four years old again?"
Jariel hugged her tightly, and then kissed her on the forehead. [[It will only have as much power as you give it.]] He pointed to the replicator, which sat on an antigravity trolley beside them. [[Besides, don't you want to give this gift to Timal, yourself?]]
"No, I just want to watch while you and TC do it."
[[As you wish. Let's get started.]]
Liis followed Jariel as he moved towards the ramp. She reluctantly followed doctors orders, and refrained from engaging in any heavy lifting.
She picked up a few small stuffed animals, a bear, a tac, and a limp-limbed rag doll, and tucked them under her arm, as she prepared to stare down her past.
"Hello?" An elderly man in the traditional bright orange robe of a Vedek approached TC the moment he saw him. "Can I help you? We weren't expecting any visitors today, what brings you out this far?" Vedek Timal inquired of Blane.
TC placed the crates he was carrying on the ground at his feet then wiped his hands on his pants. “Good Afternoon, Vedek Timal.” He extended his hand in greeting. The Vedek, who had met Humans before, recognized the gesture and returned the hand shake.
“I am Commander Blane of Starfleet. We’re sorry for dropping in on you unannounced, but it is for a good cause I assure you.”
Timal frowned. “What might that cause be, Commander?”
TC smiled as he opened the top crate, exposing the various toys contained within. “Merry Christmas.” He explained.
Timal glanced into the crate then to Blane. He was still confused, he had heard that saying before but he was not knowledgeable of its meaning.
TC understood. “It is a Earth holiday, Christian religious holiday to be more precise. It celebrates the birth of the Savior. One of the traditions is the giving of gifts.” He picked up a wooden toy train. “We are here to give gifts to the children.” He smiled. “Ho ho ho.”
The Vedek smiled. He now understood this Commander Blane’s reason, well except for the ‘Ho ho ho’ part.
“This is very generous, Commander, but why us? How did you know we were here?”
Just then Jariel and Liis rounded the back side of the shuttle. The ancient man, whose eyesight had been failing him even years ago when the Vedek was just a young apprentice, strained trying to see.
"A couple of elves told me." TC jerked a thumb backwards, indicating the rest of his landing party. "May I take this in, to the children? We have a lot more. Food, clothing. . ." he paused, wanting to give Jariel the chance to give the biggest present they'd brought with them.
"Of course, yes. Thank you, Commander Blane."
Jariel approached Timal first, Liis lagged a few steps behind. As he got closer, the old man finally recognized him and rushed forward as fast as he could manage, his robe cutting a swath in the powdery, new fallen snow.
"By the Prophets, it's Jariel Camen!" He reached up to grasp Jariel's ear. "Your Pagh is. . ." He was prepared to give the standard greeting stating that Jariel's Pagh was "strong". However he stopped, and pulled his hand back as quickly as he'd reached out.
If he had been forced to choose a word to describe the current state of Jariel's living soul, it would have been 'troubled.'
"It's so good to see you. Say something, young man! How have you been in the time since your last letter?"
Jariel started to sign, and Timal's expression mirrored his concern.
Liis finally stepped forward to translate. "He's saying that he's sorry he hasn't written lately," she explained. "He's been very busy."
"And who is this?" Timal inquired, as he looked Liis in the eye. He reached out to grasp her ear as well, but hesitated as the familiarity of her features finally took hold in his mind. "So, it's Zanh Liis, is it? Where is your Starfleet uniform, child? Or have you been relieved of your commission?"
Zanh winced. She'd been on the ground less than two minutes and already, Timal was working over her self-esteem.
Jariel's hands flew into the air, and Liis hesitated in relaying this message. He repeated the phrase [[Tell him!]] until Timal turned to Zanh expectantly.
"What is he saying, child?"
"He's saying that I'm on my way to Earth for my new assignment, and that for the past half year I was serving as Acting Captain of the Federation flagship."
Timal was unimpressed. "I'm glad to hear that you've made something of yourself." He turned away, back toward Jariel and muttered two additional words that stuck into Liis like thorns.
"After all."
At times she thought it was going to throw itself into reverse and start pumping backwards, but she knew that this was only anxiety and not anything to do with her recent medical. . .incident.
"There's no place like home." TC Blane looked up from the pilot's position and glanced at her.
"Sorry?"
"That's what Dorothy Gale said, when she wanted to go back to Kansas."
Zanh sighed and leaned back in her chair. "If I'd have been Dorothy, I'd have been clicking my heels and asking to go anywhere but home."
"You know the story?"
"It might surprise you to know, Mr. Blane, that I spent a great deal of my time while at the Academy holed up in my room with works of fiction from all over the quadrant. I had a favorite librarian who used to recommend what she called 'great temporary escapes', especially to the freshmen. I read a lot of them."
She recalled some of her favorites with a wistful smile. "The Wizard of Oz. Treasure Island. Huckleberry Finn. The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. Then, there were the stories by off-world authors like Ansley Forr from Trill and T'Plor of Vulcan."
"Yeah, who would have believed that a Vulcan could have such a flare for descriptive story telling?" Blane replied. "T'Plor could turn a phrase."
"So, if I'm Dorothy who does that make you?" Zanh flashed him a lopsided grin. "You've already proven your courage, your brains and your heart. What's left?"
“Bark bark.” He grinned.
A sudden crashing sound emanated from the back of the cabin and Liis leaned over, trying to see what had caused it.
"I hope Glinda the Good Vedek back there didn't hurt himself. Jariel, you all right?"
She barely made out his hand as it stuck out from beyond a tower of supply bins, and he gave her a thumbs up sign.
"Need any help?"
He waved her off, so she stayed where she was. She would have been loathed to admit it, but she was still exhausted.
"We'll be landing momentarily." TC watched as Zanh begin twisting the chain on her earring as she peered out the forward viewport; a drop dead tell that she was really having a hard time with reaching their destination.
"Maybe we should ring and run," she suggested, as the forms of the small stone buildings that made up the Sanctuary and Orphans Home became clear. "We can beam the bins down and then just let them find the stuff on their doorstep. Hm?"
"Retreat? We can, if you like?" TC eased back on the thrusters and settled the ship down onto the surface of the planet with barely a bump. "I just never figured you for one to run away. The fear that dooms us is that one from behind, not in front."
"Damn it, Thomas. I hate it when you're right."
It was just past midday, and there were children playing in the snow nearby. They scattered, and Liis watched two elderly Vedeks usher them away and inside as they saw the ship descend.
"Maybe we should have called ahead." She thought aloud.
"Then it wouldn't have been a surprise."
TC lowered the ramp at the back of the ship, and Liis hesitated. Sensing that she might need a moment alone with Jariel, Blane took the opportunity to begin moving crates out of the hold. "I'll meet up with you outside." He said, grinning once again. "This is going to be fun."
Jariel set down the bin of supplies that he was holding and moved toward Liis, who stood motionless in the middle of the cabin.
[[What are you thinking?]]
"Maybe this wasn't a good idea, Jariel. Maybe I'm not ready." Her expression painted a perfect picture of her emotions. She wanted to go in, she wanted to run, and the conflict left her frozen, unable to do either.
[[Would you ever be ready?]] He brushed her hair out of her eyes. [[It's only a place, Zanh Liis. It has no power over you any more.]]
"Then why do I feel like I'm suddenly four years old again?"
Jariel hugged her tightly, and then kissed her on the forehead. [[It will only have as much power as you give it.]] He pointed to the replicator, which sat on an antigravity trolley beside them. [[Besides, don't you want to give this gift to Timal, yourself?]]
"No, I just want to watch while you and TC do it."
[[As you wish. Let's get started.]]
Liis followed Jariel as he moved towards the ramp. She reluctantly followed doctors orders, and refrained from engaging in any heavy lifting.
She picked up a few small stuffed animals, a bear, a tac, and a limp-limbed rag doll, and tucked them under her arm, as she prepared to stare down her past.
"Hello?" An elderly man in the traditional bright orange robe of a Vedek approached TC the moment he saw him. "Can I help you? We weren't expecting any visitors today, what brings you out this far?" Vedek Timal inquired of Blane.
TC placed the crates he was carrying on the ground at his feet then wiped his hands on his pants. “Good Afternoon, Vedek Timal.” He extended his hand in greeting. The Vedek, who had met Humans before, recognized the gesture and returned the hand shake.
“I am Commander Blane of Starfleet. We’re sorry for dropping in on you unannounced, but it is for a good cause I assure you.”
Timal frowned. “What might that cause be, Commander?”
TC smiled as he opened the top crate, exposing the various toys contained within. “Merry Christmas.” He explained.
Timal glanced into the crate then to Blane. He was still confused, he had heard that saying before but he was not knowledgeable of its meaning.
TC understood. “It is a Earth holiday, Christian religious holiday to be more precise. It celebrates the birth of the Savior. One of the traditions is the giving of gifts.” He picked up a wooden toy train. “We are here to give gifts to the children.” He smiled. “Ho ho ho.”
The Vedek smiled. He now understood this Commander Blane’s reason, well except for the ‘Ho ho ho’ part.
“This is very generous, Commander, but why us? How did you know we were here?”
Just then Jariel and Liis rounded the back side of the shuttle. The ancient man, whose eyesight had been failing him even years ago when the Vedek was just a young apprentice, strained trying to see.
"A couple of elves told me." TC jerked a thumb backwards, indicating the rest of his landing party. "May I take this in, to the children? We have a lot more. Food, clothing. . ." he paused, wanting to give Jariel the chance to give the biggest present they'd brought with them.
"Of course, yes. Thank you, Commander Blane."
Jariel approached Timal first, Liis lagged a few steps behind. As he got closer, the old man finally recognized him and rushed forward as fast as he could manage, his robe cutting a swath in the powdery, new fallen snow.
"By the Prophets, it's Jariel Camen!" He reached up to grasp Jariel's ear. "Your Pagh is. . ." He was prepared to give the standard greeting stating that Jariel's Pagh was "strong". However he stopped, and pulled his hand back as quickly as he'd reached out.
If he had been forced to choose a word to describe the current state of Jariel's living soul, it would have been 'troubled.'
"It's so good to see you. Say something, young man! How have you been in the time since your last letter?"
Jariel started to sign, and Timal's expression mirrored his concern.
Liis finally stepped forward to translate. "He's saying that he's sorry he hasn't written lately," she explained. "He's been very busy."
"And who is this?" Timal inquired, as he looked Liis in the eye. He reached out to grasp her ear as well, but hesitated as the familiarity of her features finally took hold in his mind. "So, it's Zanh Liis, is it? Where is your Starfleet uniform, child? Or have you been relieved of your commission?"
Zanh winced. She'd been on the ground less than two minutes and already, Timal was working over her self-esteem.
Jariel's hands flew into the air, and Liis hesitated in relaying this message. He repeated the phrase [[Tell him!]] until Timal turned to Zanh expectantly.
"What is he saying, child?"
"He's saying that I'm on my way to Earth for my new assignment, and that for the past half year I was serving as Acting Captain of the Federation flagship."
Timal was unimpressed. "I'm glad to hear that you've made something of yourself." He turned away, back toward Jariel and muttered two additional words that stuck into Liis like thorns.
"After all."
---------------------------
Lt. Commander TC Blane
Chief of Operations
and
-=/\=- Captain Zanh
Lt. Commander TC Blane
Chief of Operations
and
-=/\=- Captain Zanh