Commander Etan Iljor - The Vedek and The Bike

[Michael Meir-Wright]

(( Glyrshar Canyon, Bajor ))

Etan: Yalar’s New Insights: what is her third prophecy?

If the Vedek was who he said he was, he would know it. The tome was not especially known outside of the Order that Iljor’s family belonged to, but he also knew there was a library at Vanadwan and the monks there were academically minded.

Tersor: The third prophecy of Yalar speaks of a time of great upheaval, where the old will give way to the new. It is a time of change and transition, and it is said that those who are able to adapt and embrace the change will thrive, while those who resist will face hardship.

He was right. Mollified, although not completely, Iljor wavered before he lowered the phaser and got to his feet. He took a step towards the Vedek and chose to trust again. It felt correct and he felt a strange sense of peace coming from the Tear of the Prophets in his makeshift bag on his back.

Etan: Alright, I believe you. :: he said finally.:: I’ll accompany you.

For a minute or so, the two men walked in silence, which suited Iljor just fine. He was in no mood for conversation given what had happened.

Tersor: I must ask, how did you end up in this situation?

Etan: Our runabout was brought down by extremists. ::he paused.:: The Ohalavaru. My friend and I… we were on our way to Vanadwan to deliver an O- ::he caught himself, and quickly corrected himself.:: -something to the clerics.

He might have chosen to put his faith in Vedek Tersor, but he didn’t want to reveal that he was in the presence of an Orb just yet.

Tersor: We have been having issues with them, in recent months, may I even say in the past year, they have gotten bolder.

Etan: I had thought they were a nuisance. :: he sighed again, and lapsed in thinking aloud. :: Maybe I’ve been away from Bajor for too long.

There was nothing left on Bajor for him, and yet… he felt strangely troubled by what the Vedek had said. What was going? How had a bunch of fringe cultists become such a problem in the span of a few months?

Tersor: It’s not up to me to say if you have been away too long, I am not the prophets, nor your mother. How long have you been away from Bajor?

Etan: Two, maybe two a half years? I’m not exactly sure. :: he glanced sidelong at the Vedek.:: I’ve been… busy.

Another lull in the conversation engulfed the men and neither spoke for several minutes. The amount of undergrowth made the journey a little difficult, but it was nothing the well trained First Officer could not handle. Tersor did not seem troubled by it either.

In fact, after a few minutes, the man reached in a sense bramble of shrubs and brushes and appeared to grab a hold of something.

Tersor: I thought it best to hide this, in case others were looking, your chariot awaits.

Exhausted from the events of the last several hours, Iljor found that he could not muster much in the way of suspicion or surprise at the appearance of a well-concealed quad bike. Instead, he looked between the vehicle and the Vedek with a befuddled expression.

Etan: You just happened to have a quad bike to bike nearby? ::he said moments later, somewhat incredulously.::

He had chosen to put his faith in Tersor, but he could not help think that he might be delivered into the hands of the Ohlavaru.

Tersor: You didn’t think I walked all the way here now? That would be stupid. Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe…if you doubt me, you can always walk. ::smirk::

With a lingering- and somewhat dubious- look at the quadbike, the Bajoran chose once again to trust. He shook his head.

Etan: I’ve had enough of walking today.

He hopped on to the back of the vehicle and waited for the Vedek to power it up. Once the engine came to life, their immediate surroundings were filled with a gentle hum that was not unlike the hum of a micro warpcore. If only his circumstances permitted him to find it as soothing…

Tersor: Now question for you, Commander Etan, do we go to the monastery? That’s the safe route, or should we look for your friend?

He was tempted once more to go looking for Peri, despite her clear instructions to get to the monastery. He hated the thought of his friend alone and fearful in Glyrshar Canyon. That said, she was stronger than she looked, physically and mentally. She could hold her own against people twice her size, he had no doubt. And as much as he wanted to find her- he also knew his duty as a Bajoran was to the Orb on his back.

Sending a silent apology to Peri, he pointed forwards to the Vedek.

Etan: Take me to the monastery.

Tersor: Response.

The quad bike navigated the steepening incline of the ravine wall like an Alcorian sorrowhawk riding a thermal current. Crucially, it was also quiet- meaning that it could slip past any deranged cultists hiding in bushes.

Etan: What were you doing out here? :: he asked over Tersor’s shoulder. :: This is a remote part of the planet.

Tersor: Response.

If the man was telling the truth, then it almost sounded like… divine intervention. They were watching over Iljor and Their tear. And speaking of… a question tugged on Iljor’s thoughts like a persistent child asking for sweets.

Etan: Do… do you know what I am carrying, Vedek?

Tersor: Response.

Etan: If it’s all the same to you, I think I’ll keep it as a surprise for the time being.

Tersor: Response.

Tags! And TBC!

—

Commander Etan Iljor

Executive Officer

USS Oumuamua

NCC 81226

C239203TW0