Lt. Trovek Arys - Path of the Prophets - Boring, but Alive
Arys
((Trovek Aaron’s Home, Bajor))
Arys didn’t know what she had expected to happen upon arriving at Aaron’s farmhouse, but she certainly hadn’t counted on finding it abandoned. Even worse, it didn’t appear like her brother, his wives, and children had simply left for the evening - no, it seemed like they had moved out. Or rather like they hadn’t really lived here to begin with.
Despite usually being known for having her feelings on the inside rather than letting them show, Arys had snapped. She had taken the nearest object - an empty vase on an equally empty dinner table - and hurled it against the wall, accompanying the shattering of dried clay with a series of curses in any language known to her.
It was only when she caught her breath that Arys realised she wasn’t the only one filling the silence.
Arys.
She blinked, taking a calming breath to ground herself. Someone had said her name, she was sure of it.
Arys.
There it was again, a weak, hoarse voice calling her from one of the rooms upstairs. Arys moved towards the wooden staircase, once more listening for the voice that had called her name, and then froze. This wasn’t Ferri’s voice, neither was it Geleths.
Trovek: … Mother?
The question came as an incredulous whisper, and one she didn’t expect an answer to. Not that she needed confirmation - despite not having seen or spoken to Sileah in person, Arys would always recognize her own mother’s voice.
She slowly moved up the rickety stairs and tried to distance herself from the thoughts and emotions that collided and dissipated inside her mind, simply observing the questions that formed, unable to provide answers.
After climbing the last few steps, she reached the upper hallway. The scent of mildew and mould was almost overwhelming, and without windows, there was barely any light to show her where she was going. But then, Arys didn’t need it. She had memorized the way leading to what Hilja had called the ‘prayer room’, and once she stood in front of the chipped wooden door, the sound of someone sobbing confirmed her suspicions.
Trovek: Mother.
The sobbing ceased for a moment, and Arys could make out the sound of someone rushing towards the door.
Sileah: Arys!
Arys didn’t find the energy to answer. Sileah had always been the villain of her story - the one who had taken Geleth and Ferri, and who had corrupted Aaron with her lies about the Prophets and his divine destiny. Finding her here didn’t make any sense.
Sileah: Arys, open the door. Please!
The doorknob rattled but wouldn’t budge. Arys slowly lowered her gaze, noticing the key that hung around it, and for a brief moment she wondered if it was coincidence, convenience, or cruelty that it had been left here. Perhaps a mixture of all three.
She took the key and inserted it into its lock, and somehow she knew that once the door opened, everything would change.
And that made her hesitate.
Sileah: ::seeming to sense her apprehension:: Arys… please.
For a split second, Arys entertained the idea of simply leaving - perhaps as a way to enact revenge for the years of feeling unwanted and second-best. If Sileah preferred Aaron so much, she should wait for him to free her.
But the thought was a fleeting one and the desire for revenge died down once she turned the key.
Trovek: I’m here.
She had imagined the prayer room like a pocket-sized version of Unity Temple with its intricate murals and priceless art on display. Instead, the shine of a single candle illuminated a small room with a low and water-stained ceiling, a grimy window and cobwebby corners. The scent of stale water from a narrow door indicated some kind of hygiene chamber. Compared to the rest of the house, it seemed that this rooms only purpose was to make its occupant as miserable as possible.
Sileah: Arys… how did you find me?
Arys turned her attention to the woman standing amidst the run-down abode. Just like with Aaron, Arys always remembered Sileah in her prime. A youthful, beautiful woman with silky blonde hair and clad in expensive fabrics. But like Aaron, Sileah had aged, a shadow of her former self.
Trovek: I… wasn’t searching for you.
She could see her mothers expression fall at the statement, and somehow it pleased her to see that the statement hurt her. Even if she wouldn’t leave the woman locked in here, her sympathy had its limits.
Trovek: Why are you here? What happened?
Sileah: Aaron, he-... he changed. After you found out about Taril, he…
She didn’t finish the sentence, and she didn’t have to.
Trovek: He took Geleth and Ferri. I was looking for them.
Sileah opened her mouth to reply, but at that moment the sharp creaking of the downstairs door interrupted their conversation, and Arys remembered how utterly careless she had been when she had screamed at the vase.
Trovek: Quick. ::she hissed and stepped into the room, closing the door until there was just a tiny slit that allowed her to see out into the hallway:: Who are they?
Sileah: I … I don’t know…
Arys could barely make out the hushed voices of several individuals. It didn’t really matter who they were - they knew Arys was here, and it would only be a matter of time until they found her.
Part of Arys wanted to play the hero, just like she had when Tito’s distress signal had come through. She wanted to confront whoever was after her, but realized very quickly that that was an utterly stupid idea. She was unarmed, untrained, and she owed Lukin a safe return.
Sometimes it was better to be boring and alive than a hero and dead. She tapped her badge, waiting for the sequence of electronic tones to indicate its activation.
Trovek: =/= Trovek to Narendra - two to beam up. =/=
Narendra: =/= Got it, Doctor. =/=
Arys was, perhaps, a little reluctant to take her mothers hand, but did so regardless. And not a second too late - just as they dissolved in golden light, the door burst open, revealing two men with phasers trained onto them.
Only seconds later they materialized back on the Narendra, and contrasting with the dimly lit prayer room, Arys’ eyes took a moment to adjust to the bright lights. Whoever had beamed them up had been clever enough to beam them directly to sickbay, and within seconds several doctors and nurses tended to both women.
Carter: Doctor Trovek, would you-...
Arys raised a hand to stop the Doctor’s inquiry.
Trovek: I have full confidence that you can deal with this. I need to speak to Taybrim.
The Ensign nodded and hurried away, and Arys made her way to the bridge. If Aaron and his sect were involved, and if they had gone so far as to lock Sileah up and send someone to potentially kill her, the situation was likely to escalate. There was a good chance that Lukin, Tito and Zumagi needed help, and she knew that Taybrim wouldn’t leave them to their own.
*****************
Lt. Trovek Arys
Chief Medical Officer
Starbase 118 Ops
J239809TA4