by -=/\=- Zanh Liis
80217.2
During All Too Easy and The Plot Thickens
-=Deck 5: USS Serendipity=-
80217.2
During All Too Easy and The Plot Thickens
-=Deck 5: USS Serendipity=-
Things aboard the Sera had been too quiet for his liking since the Alchemy had left.
After trying to concentrate through two scheduled counseling appointments on his regular schedule, Vedek Jariel decided that he should reschedule the one remaining and see if there was anything more useful he could be doing to assist the rest of the senior staff.
He was just exiting his office and heading out into the corridor when the EM wave hit the Sera, and everyone had struggled to keep their footing.
Caught off guard, Jariel found himself slamming head first into the nearest wall.
Shaking off the ringing in his ears, he became aware of a hand on his shoulder.
"You all right, son? Or should I say, Father? Might be more appropriate." The newly reinitialized LMH, now known as Dr. McKay, helped Jariel right himself. "You rang your gong pretty good there, you need me to look at ya?"
[[No, I'm fine,]] Jariel assured him. [[I'm sure that you have more important things to do.]]
"I'm on my way up to deck four to treat some folks for radiation exposure." McKay replied.
[[I'll go with you,]] Jariel volunteered. "We'd better swing back through Sickbay and get some more of these, then." McKay said as he pressed a hypo which would help protect Jariel himself from the radiation against the Vedek's neck.
The two made short work of treating the crew on deck four, and afterward McKay insisted on taking Jariel back to check out the bump he'd had on the head.
"Seems like you've got a bit of a goose egg," McKay announced, as he used the dermal regenerator to treat the swelling where Jariel had impacted against the wall.
"You said you were all right, but you're showing signs of inflamation in your brain, boy, you must have a screamin' headache. I thought men of the cloth didn't lie, especially to their doctors." He frowned.
[[I've gotten used to the headaches I guess. Since my Orb experiences. . .]] Jariel shrugged as McKay treated him. [[I didn't mean to lie, I just didn't think it was of any consequence.]]
"Well, I'll tell you what, Father. You tell me next time when your noggin hurts, and I'll be the one to tell you if it's of any consequence. All right?"
[[All right.]] Jariel promised, hopping down from the exam table. [[But please. After all we've been through, you don't have to call me anything other than Jariel. Camen would be even better.]]
"Well, Camen, I want you to go back to your quarters and lie down, at least for an hour or two," McKay insisted, knowing that he likely couldn't keep the Vedek off of the bridge for long, considering the last report that they'd received stating that Alchemy was missing.
"Please don't make me make it an order. I'd hate to have to tell the Captain that her favorite member of senior staff was disobeying my medical recommendations."
[[That could be more hazardous to my health than anything else,]] Jariel signed, a small smile forming on his lips. [[I'm going, I'm going.]]
"Sweet dreams." McKay called, waving as Jariel disappeared.
Jariel walked into the quarters he shared with the Captain and couldn't help but shake his head in amazement.
He was still getting used to the new arrangement, but it felt so good to come home and see her extra boots by the door, and her favorite leather jacket in the closet as he reached in for a change of clothing.
Trying to settle down for the nap he promised McKay he'd take, Jariel wrapped his arms around Liis' pillow, closed his eyes, and focused on his breathing. . .
-=Flash=-
Jariel's eyes flew open, and he found himself somewhere vastly different from his quarters aboard the Serendipity.
He was laying in another bed, in another place.
This was somewhere he'd never been- and the bed faced a large bay window which was open, allowing the morning's first sunlight to stream into the room.
He felt hands in his hair, moving down over his cheek and finally down and across his shoulders. Soft lips pressed against the back of his neck, and he sighed happily.
"Liis. . ." He opened his mouth to speak without thinking- and found much to his surprise that he could speak aloud once again.
"Accept this gift from the Prophets," A female voice whispered.
Jariel felt her arms tighten around him from behind, and he grinned. He felt blissful contentment here, wherever they were.
He closed his eyes again, and rolled over. He wrapped his arms around her more tightly and kissed her.
When the woman in his arms kissed back, that was when he realized that something was very. . .different.
He opened his eyes again, and as soon as he recognized the woman who was lying bed beside him and kissing him, he gasped.
It was not Zanh Liis.
"Accept this gift from the Prophets," Fleur Le Marc said softly. She rose and stood before him. She was radiant, dressed in a white satin gown, and smiling at him angelicly. "This is the path you are meant to walk."
"No," Jariel shook his head. "This isn't right."
"We want to help you, to spare you so much needless suffering, Jariel." Fleur continued. "But you must walk in our light if we are going to be able to save you."
"Save me? From what? From you?" Jariel spoke to hear as what he considered her to be- a representation of the Prophets. "You seem to pose the greatest danger of all to me."
"From yourself." Fleur replied. "From what you are becoming."
"What have I become?"
"You can't help them," She continued. "Not in this manner. Only if you follow us can you help them."
"Help who?" Jariel was becoming very agitated.
"Come with me. I will show you the way," Fleur reached out and took his hand, leading him forward through the door of the room. The train of her long white gown trailed behind her on the floor. When she stopped walking, it pooled at Jariel's feet.
She gestured for him to go through another door, but he hesitated.
He could not see what was beyond it.
"I don't understand."
"Search with your Pagh, not your eyes, and you will see." Fleur insisted. Then she was gone. Standing beside him now, was Zanh Liis.
"Liis," Jariel implored her. "Help me,"
"I can't help you," The image of Zanh replied in his vision. "It's too late. For all of them."
There was another flash of blinding light and Jariel was alone, standing before a biobed in Sickbay.
There was a figure lying on the bed, with a sheet pulled up over it entirely. His hands trembled, as he reached up to pull the cover back to see who it was.
"Accept this gift from the Prophets," the voice of Fleur echoed in his ears again.
Jariel pulled the sheet back with a swift motion, and gasped.
He was expecting, dreading, finding the body of Zanh Liis beneath it. Yet, as he steeled himself and looked down upon the motionless body, he discovered that the woman lying there, while familiar, was not his beloved.
It was Salvek's.
"Kellyn," Jariel lifted her up and instinctually shook her, but there was no life in her. "No. No, Kellyn."
Everything around him swirled into darkness and Jariel bolted upright in bed. Bathed in sweat, he was certain that this was not just a nightmare.
It was a warning.
He didn't understand why the Prophets were showing him this, or what they hoped to gain from him by doing so. But he knew that it was imperative that they find the Alchemy, right away.
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-=/\=- Zanh Liis
Commanding Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
-=/\=- Zanh Liis
Commanding Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012