JP: Cmdr. DeVeau & Lt. Cmdr. Fairhug - Winken, Blinken and Nod

[griz86]

((Dreamscape))

Warmth filled existence, not a harsh, exacting sensation, but the gentle, benevolent sort that enveloped one in a loving embrace, pleasant and gracious. When eyes opened, that warmth was accompanied by golden light that covered everything it could touch, stretched over a golden field of grasses that arced one way as a tender breeze teased them, coaxing whispered giggles as they rocked and swayed under its ministrations. Off in the horizon, a line of trees could be seen, the beginnings of a forest, its darkness against the brilliant light not foreboding, simply cooler, as if their age tempered their gleeful aspirations in greeting the brilliant dawn. Somewhere, a hum danced upon that bit of wind, a sweet melody, but its origin was nowhere insight. However, the breeze beckoned, called, and whirled in the direction from whence it came, guiding the new awakener to follow. 

Gogi wandered aimlessly. Unsure of where he was or why he was here, but also somehow aware that whatever and wherever this place was, it was safe.

Fairhug: Hello?

There were no words, but the wind’s message was clear. Come. Follow. Go see. See what? That it would not tell, for it was a secret it held, one it would keep, and those who wished to discover had to heed its call. 

He walked, one foot in front of the other, being led, rather than choosing a direction of his own, yet he was sure it was the right way.

Fairhug: Okay…I'm coming.

He spoke to the wind. The faceless messenger that beckoned him.

The landscape remained unchanged, but the grasses parted as he walked, the whoosh, whoosh, whoosh of his steps muffled. They bent, but did not break, though behind them, they remained a little turned, just so, just enough that a swath of a lighter golden hue cut through.  

Fairhug: Is somebody here?

There was a purpose to this journey, he could feel it, though what it was he couldn't quite seem to fathom, like a memory that remains just out of reach of the mind's eye, or a dream that begins to fade upon awakening.

How long the trek was could not be ascertained, but the day proved a fine and amiable companion. No sweat gathered upon the brow, and even the sun seemed uninclined to get hotter, instead allowing all to remain temperate and enjoyable. As he moved along, however, something did come into view, a shimmer along the edge of the forest, then a canopy arose, as if there had been a hill there all along and he had only now realised it. Soon enough, it was all in view, its great branches swelling upward and arching toward the sky, as if claiming the sun for its own. Dangling from one low bearing arm were to thin lines that ended as they stretched downward into a figure who sat upon a plank situated between them and rocked gently back and forth. It was from there the music originated, and it played upon her lips, a wordless tune that rang in time with every swoop of the swing.  

Then, a figure came into view…or rather, seemed to shimmer into existence, as if via a transporter.

Fairhug: Alora?

Suddenly he was near her, standing by the ancient ash whose branches swooped outward, extending its arms to readily support the swing upon which she sat. Lazily back and forth she eased, her face lifting, a smile playing upon her lips, though something else lingered behind it. It was not as bright as it should be, a heaviness hung upon it, the light absent from her gaze.  

DeVeau: You’re here.

Something wasn't right. Alora shouldn't be here. Or maybe it was him that shouldn't be here. Either way, they were not supposed to be in the same place. They were far apart.

He looked around again. The setting was familiar, almost reminiscent of home, yet he knew he had never been here before.

Fairhug: What is this place?

Was it a holodeck? 

But Gogi had no memory of entering a holodeck.

It came to a stop and she eased off of her perch and stepped into the dappled shadows that played over the ground, teasing the bits of light that darted through the branches and leaves above. Her dress was of a muted spring green, ruffles lining a sloped collar, the skirt cinched at the waste, then cascading down in a series of layers until the final one reached her ankles and skimmed above the ground.  

DeVeau: Would you like some tea?  

The Bardeezan's tanned brow furrowed.

Fairhug: But…how? You're…we're…it isn't possible.

She was uninclined to answer his question, or perhaps she simply had no answer. Turning, Alora motioned for the man to follow. Stepping around the wide, gnarled trunk, a house suddenly appeared, and yet somehow there was a sense that it had always been there. An old thing, its construction, to the mind’s eye, was of wood, a golden thatched house of the same hue of the grasses that marked the plains through which he had come cascading over the roof. She stepped up to the door, then paused, turning back, she gazed expectantly at him.  

Just then, panic began to well up in the pit of Gogi's stomach. As beautiful as this place was, he wasn't supposed to be here. Something *wasn't* right.

Fairhug: Alora, are you okay? Is something wrong?

DeVeau: Come have some tea. 

The sweetness of the house beckoned him, whitewashed walls sprinkled with windows, and upon their sills, boxes burst with brilliant blooms of various hues, pinks and yellows, blues and purples, all marbling together in spray of colour. Though she stepped inside and thus out of view, the door remained open, welcoming him.  

Fairhug: Okay…?

Despite his trepidation, Gogi followed Alora into the house. She seemed familiar with the place, which put his mind at ease slightly, although there was still the sense in the back of his mind that this was all wrong, he just couldn’t quite out his finger on *why*.

Inside was cosy, and snug, a single room, as if nothing else in the house existed. No doors, just the one to the outside, the windows, but it was well kept, and clean. A large sat at one end and a kettle hung upon a rod already whistled merrily. A table with two chairs stood right in the middle, waiting. A tray situated atop it was decked out with two teacups, a teapot, sugar, and milk. As she took the kettle from the fire, Alora used nothing to protect her hand, but though she touched its fiery handle, though it surely burned, she simply walked over to the table and poured the water into the pot. 

Fairhug: Wait! Don’t…

But she cut him off.

DeVeau: I’m fine, don’t be silly. Sit.  

Without even a flinch, she returned the kettle to the fire, then took up a seat at the table. A tiny pair of silver tongs rested upon the sugar bowl, and these she took with her burned hand, grasped a cube and lifted it to offer him. 

DeVeau: Sugar? 

Gogi found himself looking at the sugar cube, transfixed by it. The ritual of the tea making was distracting him from his suspicions.

Fairhug: Two, please.

Plop. Plop. Two sugar cubes migrated to the cup and Alora set down the tongs after allowing one for herself.  

DeVeau: Milk?

Then he saw Alora’s hand. It was red raw, severely burned. She must have been in pain, but she wasn’t showing it at all.

Fairhug: Alora, your hand.

She didn’t bat an eye or even cast a glance at the indicated appendage. Instead, she lifted the little creamer full with milky white goodness.  

DeVeau: It’s fresh. The real stuff. So much better than replicated. 

Fairhug: You should do something about it. Otherwise it won’t heal properly.

DeVeau: No milk then. I’ll have milk.

With that, she poured some into her cup, then took a spoon and stirred. Gogi picked up the cup and took a sip. The tea was bitter, even with the sugar. He looked down at the liquid, which was dark and…swirling. A storm in a teacup.

Fairhug: Something isn’t right. I think we should go…somewhere else.

He didn’t know where, but something, maybe something in the tea, was telling him that something was coming, a storm was brewing, but if they left this place, they could find somewhere else. Somewhere calmer. 

He looked up at Alora, who seemed as placid as when he had first seen her on the swing outside. Was it possible that she was experiencing whatever this was entirely differently from him?

DeVeau: Where would we go? 

The hand that had been burned held the cup, the skin raw and red, cracked in places, blisters already forming. Even so, she paid no mind to it, instead tilted her head slightly as she regarded the man across from her.  

Gogi shifted uncomfortably. He could feel something rising within him, it was an odd feeling, something he wasn’t used to, yet Alora sat opposite, seemingly entirely at ease with the situation.

Fairhug: I don’t know…but…come on ::standing:: it’s not safe here.

DeVeau: But our tea…

She gazed down into the brown liquid, turned lighter by the inclusion of the milk, her expression almost dejected.  

DeVeau: It will get cold…have a biscuit?

He sighed, looking into Alora’s big, bright green eyes. Despite her calm demeanour, he couldn’t help but feel like there was something else going on behind that verdant gaze.

Still, he found himself sitting again. If she was going to stay, then he would, too. He couldn’t bring himself to leave her, especially as he had the sense that she was in some kind of trouble, even though you wouldn’t know it to look at her at this moment.

Fairhug: Sure. 

He watched as she placed the biscuit on the table, next to his cup.

Fairhug: Alora, what is this place?

DeVeau: This place? It’s lovely isn’t it?

She beamed at him from across the table, far more satisfied that they were staying than she had been when he said they should leave.  

Fairhug: Why are we here?

That question made her pause and her hand lowered while her expression turned contemplative. Perhaps it was one she didn’t have a question to, though she pondered over it. Finally, her face brightened again.

DeVeau: We’re here because we’re here! Do you want your biscuit?

He let out another sigh and picked up the biscuit, but didn’t bring it to his mouth. He stopped with it hovering just above the table and looked back at Alora.

Fairhug: Is there something you need me to do? Because if there is, just tell me. You know I will do it, if I can.

His own emerald green eyes peered into hers, looking for an answer, in her expression as much as her words. Her own stared back at him from over the rim of the teacup. Something in her face shifted, a seriousness that laid over the cheerful demeanour she had displayed so readily. It tempered the hue, drew it down and grounded it more firmly in reality.  

DeVeau: Gogi, all I need is your friendship. You being here is enough.

The Bardeezan lifted the biscuit to his mouth and took a bite. It was hard, but sweet. Difficult, but rewarding.

He swallowed, before answering.

Fairhug: I am here.

oO Wherever “here” is. Oo

Somehow, the area got dimmer. There were no lights, but the sunshine that streamed through the windows faded and more shadows stretched across the ceiling, fingers reaching out, as if they were preparing to grasp the two within their hold.  

Gogi looked up and around at the darkening ceiling and walls, this was not a matter of darkness replacing the light that had once been there, no, this darkness was actively engulfing what light there had been, like a malevolent shadow.

DeVeau: There’s nothing to be done. There’s nothing that can change. It is what it is.

And though her smile remained, the glimmer in the eyes dimmed and the shadows slid their tendrils across her face. 

Suddenly, he got the feeling that this place, the darkness and the light, all of it, was somehow connected to Alora and her mood.

Fairhug: That’s not true, Alora. Things can change if we want them to.

DeVeau: Can you change the past? 

Fairhug: Okay, we can’t change things that have already happened, but we can change the way we deal with them.

He knew that more than most, having recently been through an experience that helped him understand and deal with traumatic events in his own recent past.

DeVeau: You say that as if I’m not dealing with them.  

Fairhug: No, I didn't mean that…I mean…I don't know.

The tea cup clinked loudly against the saucer as she set it down hard, brown liquid sloshing over her hand as her eyes flashed and she leaned forward as she looked him dead in the eye. 

DeVeau: They’re always there, they creep, they crawl, they try to take over, but I won’t let them.  

She leaned back and lowered her gaze to stare at the droplets that stained the white tablecloth. 

DeVeau: I can’t let them. 

Gogi studied the woman sitting opposite him. It was Alora, no doubt about it, but something wasn't right. He had never seen her like this, but whatever it was that was bothering her, whatever was going on, he wouldn't let her face it alone.

He had faced his own demons alone and for a while they had beaten him down, changed who he was, affected every aspect of his life.

But it had taken a mission to a strange, time-travelling planet to part the dark clouds around him. A mission which he would not have survived had it not been for his colleagues, his friends.

They had not given up on him and whether they knew it or not, they had not only saved his life, but also helped him to wake up…

Wake up…

Fairhug: Wake up.

He wasn't quite sure why he said the words, but as he did, the room around him seemed to blink out of existence.

The last thing he saw was Alora’s eyes staring back at him, seeming to silently call out for help.

((Gogi's Apartment, Starbase 118))

Gogi sat up in his bed, looking around, expecting to see…someone…but who?

The apartment was pitch black, the way he liked it when he was sleeping, but he had an unsettling feeling that someone was sitting across from him…looking at him.

Fairhug: Computer, lights.

At his command, the room lit up…but there was nobody else there.

So why did he feel like he wasn't alone?

Then, through the open doorway of the bedroom, he saw the table in the lounge area, on top of which was a plant…an African Violet, to be precise.

Fairhug: Alora…

END/TBC

*******

Lieutenant Commander Gogigobo Fairhug

First Officer

Starbase 118 Ops

E239411GF0

&

Commander Alora DeVeau

Mission Specialist &

Second Officer

Denali Station

al...@blar.net

M239008AD0