[M] CMO Saveron & Lt. JG. Alora DeVeau - "When Darkness Falls" (No Tags)

[Amanda Nordstrom]

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*OOC: *This takes place before the switch over to the new ship.


((DeVeau�s Quarters, USS Mercury))


::She didn�t scream as she awoke, the ghastly grin of the ghoulish
glower that had haunted her dreams the last two nights floated before
her eyes when they popped open. There was no sound uttered from her
mouth, no sudden springing to a seated position, just a jerk of her body
as she snapped out of the restless slumber that had consumed her seconds
before.


That face and the barrel of that rifle were all too vivid, even in her
dreams. The physical wounds had healed, and she was grateful for the
technology that healed them so quickly, but there were other wounds that
couldn�t be seen. Those were of the sort that couldn�t be touched by
even the most advanced computer.


Alora swung her legs over the side of her bed as a shiver traveled down
each vertebrae and settled in her stomach. She was fine. The away team
was fine. They�d all made it out alive, they�d all gotten back to the
ship. So why did it trouble her so?


One hand stretched toward the communicator screen, a finger poised to
press a button, but she hesitated. She curled it back to her, fingers
flexing. How fast it had recovered. She shook her head and then reached
out again, that time she hit the button.


In another room down a few hallways, the computer beeped. In the dimmed
bedroom of a slumbering Vulcan, the machine attempted to contact him for
the benefit of a young woman who sat in her own darkness.::


::At the beep of the computer grey eyes snapped open, and in one fluid
movement Saveron reached over and tapped the communicator�s button. Had
there been some problem in Sickbay?::


Saveron: Saveron here.


DeVeau: I�m sorry.


::Even though she only spoke two words, her voice cracked and she winced
at the sound.::


DeVeau: I just�


::She just what? Had a nightmare and reacted like a little girl?
Couldn�t handle the pressure of a guy sticking a gun in her face?::

::There was a tone in her voice that was not one he usually associated
with Alora.::


Saveron: Are you unwell?


::Unwell? No. Not sick in the traditional sense anyway.::


DeVeau: No. I just�

::He�d laugh at her. Well, no, he was a Vulcan, he wouldn�t laugh, but
she was afraid of the equivalent, whatever that might be.::


DeVeau: had...a�


Saveron: Lieutenant?


DeVeau: Nightmare�


::There was a pause. A nightmare; he had heard of such. Unpleasant
dreams often linked to stress, trauma or traumatic memories. She sounded
distressed, but he was uncertain as to whether there was a cultural
convention regarding such things.::


Saveron: Can I assist in some way?


DeVeau: I just...could I come over? Or would you come over? Or...maybe I
should...I�m sorry. I shouldn�t have bothered you.


::But Saveron was already out of bed.::


Saveron: I will be there presently.


::Reaching into the wardrobe he grabbed a heavy Vulcan robe of the type
he wore in the cold Federation Standard atmosphere and pulled it on over
the standard Starfleet issue boxers and singlet he�d been sleeping in.
Shuffling on a pair of slippers he quickly peered into Saavok�s room to
check that the child was still sleeping, then headed out of his quarters
and down the brightly lit hallway, unmindful of his touseled hair or
purposeful stride.::


::He chimed the Science Officer�s doors, uncertain as to what he might
do to assist but willing to try regardless. Alora in distress was
disagreeable; perhaps Terrans were more familiar with such situations.::


::She had changed during the time it had taken him to get halfway
dressed and arrive at her quarters. Well, not so much change as to slip
into a robe of soft material, a forest green hue that complimented her
eyes. Fuzzy slippers of the same shade adorned her feet and might have
been comical under other circumstances. Alora didn�t particularly look
amused, though she did manage a hint of a smile at his arrival.::


DeVeau: I�m sorry. ::She�d said that already but felt it bore
repeating.:: I shouldn�t have bugged you.


::As the door slid shut behind him he made a dismissive gesture.::


Saveron: You do not �bug� me. ::He said gently.:: Will you tell me what
distressed you?


DeVeau: The Orion.


::A suggestion gleaned from old Terran entertainments surfaced.::


Saveron: Shall I make some tea?


DeVeau: Yeah. Thanks. As long as it�s without caffeine.


::Alora lowered herself onto the couch and snatched a stuffed unicorn
from its perch upon a prone pillow. She hugged the stuffed toy to her
while her emerald gaze watched the Vulcan�s movements. Now that he was
there, she felt even more foolish than she had when she�d called him in
the first place. Still, his presence here did seem to do some good - she
felt herself relaxing a wee bit. Sometimes, just having company could do
a world of good.::


DeVeau: Is Saavok okay on his own? I don�t want to take you away from
him too long or anything�


Saveron: He is asleep, but he is also aware that I may be called for
duty in the night or be away for extended periods. He is capable of
caring for himself.


::It was a confidence that not many would have in their seven year old
child but Saavok was Vulcan. That meant that mentally he was
intellectually mature beyond his years even if physically he had already
begun to lag his peers.::


::Carefully carrying two steaming cups Saveron placed them on the table.
Herbal scents rose from Alora�s, a combination of chamomile and mint,
whilst Saveron�s had the sharp scent of the theris-masuthat he seemed to
live on, as devoted as any English tea-drinker. He settled onto the
couch next to Alora and sipped from his mug before he spoke, hands
curled around the porcelain to keep them warm.::


Saveron: The Orion. ::He repeated.:: The one on Nygel II?


::Alora nodded then allowed herself a couple of sips of tea before she
spoke. It was soothing, a good choice, but as a doctor he would be aware
of the medicinal properties such herbs afforded.::


DeVeau: Yeah. I keep seeing him, pointing that gun at me, shooting it
off, leering at Rahman. At first, it�s usually just what happened, but
then he gets bigger, stronger, meaner. You guys don�t show up and he
starts trying to pull me apart. Literally. Sometimes he gets so far as
to rip my arms from the sockets. Mostly though it�s just a recap of what
happened. I know. I�m dumb. I should get over it.


::The Vulcan considered her words carefully, clearly not dismissing
them. The whole venture had been immensely disagreeable in many aspects,
but no doubt more so for the Orion�s captives. It had been personally
disagreeable to see DeVeau and Rahman marched off by the man. Alora
particularly.::


Saveron: Have you considered speaking with the Counselor?


DeVeau: No. ::She shook her head then considered her cup before
continuing.:: I feel more comfortable talking with someone I know.
Especially a friend.


::Not that she had anything against Counselors, but he was a stranger to
her. She didn�t necessarily feel inclined to divulge to someone whom
she�d just met.::


Saveron: I am willing to listen, though I am not trained in psychology.


::In fact he�d avoided that aspect as too difficult given cultural
differences. But as a friend he would help as he could.::


DeVeau: I think I just didn�t want to be alone.


::Alone. In the Dark. Things were scarier in the dark. Oh Alora knew it
wasn�t logical. It was all a matter of mind, a psychological hole
digging so to speak. And yet she fell into the trap despite that
knowledge.::


DeVeau: Though if you don�t want to stay don�t feel that you have to.


Saveron: I have no objection. If my company assists then that is acceptable.


::Especially given that he wasn�t certain what else he could do. He
considered the situation that she had presented him with.::


Saveron: I do not doubt that you are aware that the scenario you
describe is not real. ::He knew he was stating the obvious.:: Yet
clearly the possibility that it could have happened is something your
mind is dwelling on.


::Or maybe she was seeing echoes of parallel universes, where they
hadn�t arrived in time? The thought was not agreeable, that out there in
the multiverse other versions had suffered.::


DeVeau: Yeah, I know. It�s just...it really happened and it ended okay,
but when I close my eyes and try to sleep, I see it again. And again.
And again. ::Her voice shrank into a hushed tone, a trembling contained
within.:: And sometimes he�s the one that�s winning. And
sometimes...he�s not just winning, but he�s killing everyone. And it
seems so real.


::One finger traced a path around the edge of the cup as Alora stared
into the liquid. She eventually took a sip, then grimaced, though it
wasn�t at the taste of the tea.::


DeVeau: I�m supposed to be able to handle this sort of thing. I�m not
supposed to just...just...break down like this. I�m not supposed to be a
scaredy cat.


Saveron: You are not. You handled yourself acceptably during the event.
::Acceptable being a high compliment from a Vulcan.:: Your Starfleet
training gave you the tools you needed to deal with an adverse
situation. But that does not make the situation any less traumatic.


::Still, if Alora was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress then she did
need to see the Counselor.::


DeVeau: You aren�t affected.


::Yeah, he was a Vulcan, but still.::


DeVeau: Rahman had her fingers torn off and she�s handling it fine. Ross
isn�t freaking out. Prof isn�t having a hard time. I don�t see T�Vai
doing this sort of thing.

::And she was Vulcan too, but the others were Human.::


Saveron: Commanders Ross and Rahman have a great depth of experience in
Starfleet, they may have been involved in traumatic events previously.
Lieutenant Zeme is a Tactical Officer trained for violent scenarios.
That does not make the experience easier but they may have already
developed coping stretegies.


::In the case of Rahman he knew that to be true, but that was his
privilege as a physician with access to the crew�s medical records.
Patient confidentiality was crucial, he would not reveal more.::


Saveron: T�Vai and I both have training in Vulcan mental discipline.
::He paused to sip his tea.:: I can give you some basic instruction in
Vulcan-style meditation if you consider that it might assist you. ::He
offered.::


DeVeau: Maybe. I�ve never tried meditation, but I�m willing to give it a
shot. ::A shiver caused her body to tremble and send ripples through her
tea.:: I can�t seem to get his face out of my mind.


::Perhaps another point of view might assist?::


Saveron: The Orion was a most disagreeable individual. ::He observed
blandly.:: There I concur. However, when he asked for suggestions on
dealing with him I do not think that Commander Ross expected me to
suggest that we use the Gateway to space him.


::There was a faint, dry tone in the Vulcan�s voice. He was a staunch
pacifist, but even he could see that when one individual was endangering
the lives of so many others, drastic measures might be required.::


DeVeau: I have to admit, that surprises me as well.


::Alora tilted her head, as if the change in angle might allow her to
see within the Vulcan�s mind a little more clearly.::


DeVeau: Why did you decide on that particular course of action?

Saveron: Because the Orion wanted to use the Gateway and would be likely
to step through it. Because it seemed preferable to be rid of his
detrimental influence as expediently as possible. Because Gateway
computers are difficult to decipher; honing in on the Mercury�s brig
would be almost impossible, but space is the most common environ in the
universe.


::And because he was hurting Alora and Roshanara. But that was not a
logical reason and thus not a justification that he was going to
entertain, however much he might prefer to.::


DeVeau: And those are the only reasons?


::His face was impassive as always and his thoughts were his own. Alora
couldn�t help but wonder what it would be like to sift through those
thoughts, see behind that mind that spouted logic at every turn.::


::Grey eyes met hers over the top of the steaming cup of theris-masu.
They were colleagues and friends, and he wondered whether perhaps she
was beginning to read him better than most.::


Saveron: I found the way in which he treated yourself and Commander
Rahman particularly disagreeable. However that is not a logical reason
to act. ::He gave the very faintest of shrugs.:: The Orion does not
haunt me, but I have other issues to contend with. ::He admitted.::


::It was likely that none of them had come out of that situation
mentally unscathed. For him that urge to revenge was very troubling. He
had been meditating on it periodically since returning to the Mercury.::


DeVeau: What sort of issues? I mean...if it�s okay to ask.


::Alora was glad that she wasn�t the only one with issues that were
created by their experience. Even if it wasn�t exactly the same, and
even if it sucked that a friend had to deal with his own phantoms, it
was nice to know she wasn�t the only one - as selfish as it sounded.::


::The question earned her another long look as the Vulcan weigh up how
much, if anything, he wished to tell her. He was accustomed to being
mentally self-sufficient, though he was a little more open with his
close friends, notably Captain Kells. There was an expectation of his
people they they didn�t have the kind of mental concerns that other
species did, but if he could not talk to Alora, then whom? Aron was
growing increasingly distant, and he did not know what Sahriv and
T�Vai�s views and training were. Were they, like many, seekers of the
unemotional ideal? Would they understand that he had no desire to
undertake the Kohlinahr,that he chose instead to battle every day with
the less logical side of himself, because he would not lose that part?
They might call him v�tosh ka�tur; Serok had.::


::Who better perhaps to understand such struggles than one not steeped
in logic, but upholding ideals never the less.::


Saveron: The impulse for revenge. ::He said at last.:: It is illogical,
base and a part Vulcan�s dark and violent past. Yet I knew then that I
would find it.. satisfying, to see the Orion spaced.


::That was the core of it.::


Saveron: One should never anticipate or take joy in the suffering of
another; particular as a doctor. I save lives, I do not take them.


::He looked down at his hands, deft and long-fingered. They were a
surgeon�s hands, had saved countless lives. But they were not a killer�s
hands, he had never taken a life.::


::The revelation was one she hadn�t expected. Alora had asked, but she
hadn�t truly thought he might reveal what lay behind those silvery
depths. Such a confession seemed a sign of how much trust he had placed
in her. She felt honoured beyond measure.::


DeVeau: I can understand that desire.


::Understand it. If the Orion hadn�t been spaced, Alora probably would
have been dealing with much the same emotion. Saveron had saved her from
that.::


DeVeau: I don�t like the idea of taking lives either. But sometimes,
it�s necessary in order to save another life. I have a feeling he would
have done more damage to more than just us if he�d been allowed to live
and go free.

Saveron: As I do not doubt that he has damaged lives in the past. But it
is not my part to be judge, jury and executioner. Even in medicine there
are times when it is kinder not to save a life, to let the patient go
with dignity, but it should never be an easy decision. One should never
derive satisfaction from such things.


::That way lay the road of the sociopath.::


DeVeau: It�s hard not to, though. Especially if you�ve been hurt - or
he�s hurt someone you care about.


::The Orion had done nothing to Saveron personally, so Alora could only
deduce that it was because of what he had done to her and Rahman.::


DeVeau: I think your reaction shows something, though.


Saveron: And what is that?


DeVeau: That you have a desire to help others, to take care of others,
especially those wronged by evil. While revenge may not be the best or
right choice, that desire to take care of others is honourable.

Saveron: The one does not excuse the other. ::He observed quietly.:: But
your words are appreciated.


::What more could be said really? He fought his own demons constantly.
The green-skinned demon that Alora appeared to have acquired was of
greater concern.::


DeVeau: Maybe not. But...well. I guess it doesn�t really matter. What�s
done is done.


::A slow intake of breath was released with the same deliberate control.::


DeVeau: I can not honestly say I am sad to see him gone. I just
wish...he was gone from my dreams.


Saveron: I would still recommend that you make an appointment with the
Counselor, but if meditation would assist then I have no objection to
teaching.


::Admitting her fears to a complete stranger was not, as Saveron would
have put it, agreeable to Alora. She much preferred to confide in those
she was close to. Yet, even Saveron�s attempts to soothe would do little
to take care of her current problem. His offer to teach her meditation,
however, might::


DeVeau: I�m willing to try it.

::The Vulcan nodded and set his cup aside. He then laced his fingers
together and formed the tips of his index fingers into a steeple; it
created a neural loop that was calming. Of course Alora did not have
that option.::


Saveron: Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. ::He
instructed.::


::One could of course lie down and he often did for long meditation
sessions, but best to start with the simple parts.::


::Alora nodded and lay the cup down upon the small coffee table, then
shifted on the couch until she was nestled within its plush embrace.::


Saveron: Now empty your mind. Look at the dark behind your eyelids,
permit no thought to intrude. Let your mind be as blank as your vision.
Breathe deeply, and with each breath let your muscles relax.


::He watched her face, listened to the way she breathed.::


::She wriggled and sank further into the cushions. Her head eased back
and her eyes fluttered shut. It was difficult not to let her thoughts
run amok, but she attempted to do as Saveron instructed. She inhaled and
exhaled with deliberate but gentle breaths. Her muscles remained tense,
so once she set her rhythm to her breathing, she focused on relaxing
them one at a time. First her foot. Then her calf. Her thigh. Now her
other. One by one, she tried to settle into an easy, more comfortable
darkness, though her mind continued to balk at her attempts.


Saveron: If blankness is difficult, then see the stars in that darkness.
Envisage space; silent and empty but also pull of potential, as are all
our lives. See yourself floating in space, a part of it as we are all a
part of the universe. If any other thought attempts to intrude simply
push it aside and focus again on the dark and the peace.


::His voice dropped a few tones and took on a resonance his tenor didn�t
usually possess, mimicking the tones of the initiate who had once taught
him. ::


::Space, the final frontier. The vast expanse of stars and galaxies,
filled with light offset by the depths of darkness. Unlike the darkness
from before, this she sought out. It was friendlier, kinder. She
envisioned those depths, allowed it to cradle her thoughts, then
eventually devour them.::


Saveron: We are the matter of stars. Once all was hydrogen and all other
elements were born in fiery fusion. When we die our bodies again become
other parts of the universe. Only our katraremains, the essence Terrans
call a soul, that no one can touch. It can be carried, it can be saved,
but it cannot be destroyed. That essence is our true selves, our
strength and our core. Know the strength of your inner self and that it
cannot be touched, save when you permit. There you survive all traumas
and tragedies. There in that inner peace you are preserved.


::Alora attempted to follow Saveron�s voice, to allow it to guide her.
Through that darkness, into its tender, waiting arms she resisted, then
fell. Her body unwound even further, her muscles released the tension.
Even if she didn�t obtain the goal that Saveron set before her, his
voice, the monotonous yet melodious tones wooed her onward.


Peace, be still, and she was. Perhaps the meditation did not take place
as planned, but at least one goal was obtained. As Saveron spoke, as his
words wound their way and wove their magic through her thoughts, she
eventually succumbed to the seductive call of slumber.::


::The Vulcan�s soothing monotone was interrupted by the faintest of
snores. Looking over Alora�s form her total relaxation was obvious, and
as her eyelashes fluttered slightly it was plain that she had fallen
asleep.::


::Careful to make as little noise as possible Saveron rose from his seat
on the couch and made his way out of her quarters and back to his own.
Whilst that hadn�t been the intended outcome, if she slept restfully and
without dreams then it was an acceptable one.::


*********


Lt. Cmdr. Saveron

Chief Medical Officer

USS Mercury


&


Lt. JG. Alora DeVeau

Science Officer

USS Mercury

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