Lieutenant(jg) Regan Wilde - Rebirth
Regan Wilde
((Theta 122 - Underground Cavern; Reservoir))
After his weak attempt at communication with the Arrow, Regan had been grateful to be able to rest in the camp. His boots were starting to rub against his feet for lack of proper padding for this kind of hiking through the caves, and he was starting to get tired. He made a mental note to approach Starfleet Command to issue an all-round boot suitable for barren, rocky planets - and the walking thereupon - which wouldn’t result in blisters!
There was still no sign of Collins and R'Ariel, and DeBarres had gone off with Kal Jaris. He looked around the ramshackle camp deep underground. These people could be mistaken for refugees with the amount of possessions they had, but the oddest thing was they seemed content. A few material tents were erected all around, and beyond the camp was a large structure where this ‘Brotherhood’ gathered to eat.
Regan sat on a cluster of rocks and watched as the Brotherhood settled in for the night. Their own tents had been constructed quickly - and a little haphazardly - in the midst of the brotherhoods’. Regan looked at his assigned tent with a mixture of disappointment and disgust. It didn’t look particularly inviting, or comfortable. If this was camping, no wonder he’d avoided it at all costs!
Looking down at his uniform he tutted and tried to dust off some of the muck and rock dust that had accumulated on him throughout their journey underground. He sighed a little despondently. He felt like crap, looked like crap and probably smelt like crap too. Not exactly the standards expected of Starfleet officers.
Lights in the camp had been dimmed, and Regan looked out at the vast reservoir ahead of him. The water looked eerily black underground in the dim light but nevertheless somehow looked inviting. He really needed a bath! Suddenly he was struck with an idea. He glanced around to see if anyone was watching then, like a giddy schoolboy, got to his feet and quickly shucked off his uniform.
Stepping tentatively toward the edge of the lake, he dipped a toe into the black waters. It was relatively warm. Hardly cold at all. Feeling suddenly brave, though he definitely wasn’t one to be shy, he quickly removed his underwear and stood - naked as the day he was born - before the water.
Regan stepped into the lake with caution. He got his footing on the rocks underneath and waded out into the depths. He had no idea how deep it would be but he was comforted by the rocky formations at his feet. He could easily get out of the lake when he wanted to.
Silently as possible he swam in the reservoir. The water felt so good on his skin, washing away the dust and debris of his day and making him feel refreshed. He was a keen swimmer and realised he hadn’t been in a pool since leaving Earth. But even as out of practice as he was, he swam with strong, even strokes until he was a quarter of the way into the reservoir. He felt good! He’d have to persuade the others to take a dip sometime, too!
Once he was a fair distance out he stopped swimming and turned to tread water. He dunked himself in completely and then broke the surface again, relishing the water dripping from his hair and down his face. He felt at peace here, somehow. The silence of the cave seemed to echo the gentle lapping of the water around his body. Regan found it soothing.
He stayed treading water for another few minutes, making splashes around him and letting himself lie on his back in the water, watching its reflections and ripples on the rocky ceiling above.
Below him - deep below him - yellow lights flickered at the bottom of the lake. The energy in the reservoir snaked up like tentacles from some monstrous sea creature of old; a giant squid or octopus. Slowly and deliberately the energy tentacles reached up from the depths toward their target. Regan didn’t see them as he was lying on his back in the water. Until suddenly the yellow energy took hold of his body.
Suddenly panicked he shouted aloud for help as the energy strands gripped him and dragged his flailing body into the water. There, they wrapped around him and ceased his struggle. He held his breath, careful not to let panic expend his last breaths of life. He was engrossed now in the strange energy. The tendrils brought him lower so he could be face to face with his captor.
Regan couldn’t believe his eyes. He was too scared to even close them in the water. The being held him close to it, and penetrated his eyes with the eerie, glowing energy until his whole body glowed.
The energy died away, leaving only Regan’s glowing yellow eyes as any indication anything had happened.
((Timewarp - Shores of the Reservoir))
Naked and alone, Regan crawled along the rocks by the edge of the lake. He was shaking - though not through any kind of temperature change or cold - but because he’d witnessed something so… incredible. He couldn’t believe They’d chosen him to communicate with.
He reached his discarded uniform and sat in the dust for a while, unable to quite process the significance of his ordeal.
From the camp beyond figures started to move toward him, but he didn’t mind. Father Morgan stepped forward and observed him like a wise teacher would a promising pupil.
Morgan: You have seen, haven’t you? Witnessed the Miracle.
Doe-like green eyes cast upward to greet the person speaking to him. With a deep understanding, Regan could only nod.
Morgan: Blessed day. Now you know the purpose we hold. Now you know the truth!
In his mind, the residual energy residing in his brain told him to comply. He nodded again.
Morgan: Then you give yourself to The Gods of Thet. A true and faithful servant to Their will?
Wilde: Yes, Father. I do.
Morgan crouched on his haunches to get to eye-level with Regan.
Morgan: Willing to give your life for Them?
Regan glanced at Father Morgan. His eyes faintly glowed with a yellow tinge.
Wilde: Yes, Father.
Morgan: Welcome to the Brotherhood, Brother Regan!
TAG/TBC