Ensign T’Fearne - Back Through the Looking Glass [Part 1]
teayl.thorn
(( Deep in the Undercity, B’Hala, Kendra Provence, Bajor))
Finally, the descent slowed. The platform groaned, its downward momentum grinding to a halt deep within the undercity. Darkness enveloped them, and the only light now was the eerie green glow of the Bantica Spire.
T’Fearne, shaken and disoriented, pushed herself upright. She staggered, her vision swimming as she tried to assess her surroundings. Her shoulder was throbbing painfully, and something damp trickled down her ribs.
T’Fearne::: quietly in the cave-like atmosphere:: I think...I think we’ve sunk to the undercity.
The air was thick with dust, ash, and sand, and the others were rising from the ground, dusting themselves off around her. She saw Nemes was free from the pyre, but a mournful sound echoed in the dark and caught her attention.
Lenik: ::In a soft, defeated tone:: No… It wasn’t supposed to end like this… It mustn’t Bajor needs to be strong for what is to come…
She whirled toward the sound, an urgency pulling her to look for Lenik. The lights on the Bantica Spire pulsed brighter, casting long shadows across the sand. She passed Xan and Alieth, the petite commander reaching for the green gem that had followed her from the 25th century and flickered, beckoning from the sand in a particular way. Then she brushed past Luxa as the commander tried to check her for injuries, her mind focused on finding Lenik and trying to neutralise the danger she posed with the artifact.
The spire lit up the area with a soothing green glow. Illuminating more of the sunken courtyard until T’Fearne could clearly see that the Bajoran villagers were no longer with them, as were the other followers of Kosst Amojan. Then she spotted Lenik lying prone in the dust, not moving, and crouched beside her.
Alieth: The ritual... :: I look at Xan and then at Lenik, who was resting next to T'Fearne, a few meters away:: ...whatever they were doing has been interrupted... I think that is why They sent us here... to stop them...::: her hand closed over the gem, but even so she could not contain its glow, which slipped through her fingers:: ... the Prophets somehow knew we could correct the Timeline...
Lorana: We will need to activate this device. Somehow, I think that's what all the clues have been telling us. Bring them together. Close the temporal loop.
Nemes: ::furrowing her brow :: The wormhole aliens? ::beat:: Yes, maybe. But how?
Vrozek: ::holding his hands up in surrender:: I give up, I just want to get back to the future. She knew more of the ritual than me. She’s the mastermind; I’m just the minion.
T’Fearne::: Ice cold tone:: That would be a wise decision.
Beside the Spire, Lenik, her body burned and broken, turned toward T’Fearne, her blackened eyes pleading.
Lenik: Starfleet wouldn’t leave me here to die, surely? The Federation were supposed to be our friends, not our conquerors. Prove yourselves, prove me wrong, save me..
T’Fearne: The difference between us, Lenik, is that we don’t have to prove anything to you. We don’t sacrifice our people, either. You are detained. Both of you. :: Shooting a glare to include Xan:: And from this moment, you are in Federation custody. You will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for unauthorized access to a protected Bajoran site, sabotage, murder … and a long list of other illicit activities.
She said it with as much finality as she could muster, knowing that at this point in time, the federation consisted of herself, Alieth, Luxa and Nemes, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught Luxa’s approving nod and knew she had backup on this decision.
Suddenly, spectral figures appeared, faint and translucent, emerging from the green glow of the Spire. T’Fearne’s breath caught as she recognized the Bajoran versions of the Ronin rescue party, occupied in various actions and purposes, drifting between times.
Alieth: Somehow, we are not alone in this... I think... I guess the rest of the crew is also trapped in other times, doing something the Prophets need them to do. :: She opened her hand, revealing the gem, which glowed calmly to the rhythm of the Spire's ripples of green, and the changes in the density and matter of her shipmates' ghosts:: Somehow... They gave me the key, and Luxa, :: looking down at the hands of the former Caitian:: They gave you the lock.
Luxa nodded and lifted the device towards the gem. The two components seemed drawn to eachother.
Vrozek: ::surprised:: Woah, what do you have there? Are you willing to sell it?
Before anyone could respond, a sudden flash of orange light from the corner of T’Fearne’s eye caught her attention. The light curled around Lenik, her form blurring as it shifted from solid to ethereal.
Lenik: Oh… That’s nice… So nice…
Lenik’s form became a transparent, orange ghost, fading into the void. T’Fearne threw herself forward at the area of sand that had recently been occupied by Lenik’s body and raked her hand through the fading spectre, only coming up with hands full of dirt. Frustrated, she slammed her fist on the ground as her charge escaped.
T’Fearne::: frustraited:: No!
The artifact Lenik had carried, now in pieces, disintegrated in her grasp.
A small mote of red energy zipped from the remains of the artifact, disappearing into the darkness. T’Fearne could have sworn she saw a blue mote intercept it, and the two twisted together, phasing through the rock of the undercity. She blinked her eyes and couldn't be sure if it was real or imagined.
Alieth: What we have left is to find the Gate, so to speak.... there was another figure at the Door, the one holding the circle in his hands, remember? ... I think the Gate... is Nemes.
Lorana: She was the other one present when we discovered it. I believe T'Fearne may have been sent to us to battle Lenik… she seemed fixated with her.
Nemes: Wait… what? I am the… what?
T’Fearne had only partially been listening, but at Neme’s exclamation, she looked back at the other officers. The young scientist seemed overwhelmed and uncertain for a moment at the daunting task she had just been given.
Vrozek: ::clearly surprised:: The what now?
The security officer took a deep breath, rolled her eyes and got to her feet to stand behind Xan in case he tried anything as Alieth handed the glowing stone to Luxa. The two objects hummed with energy, vibrating at a harmonious frequency.
Alieth: I think that book ::looking at whatever it was that Xan had stolen and guarded so zealously until he got to the Spire:: also has something to do with this all. Maybe we should destroy it, or maybe take it with us, but it cannot stay here. :: Regarding her minions:: What do you think?
Lorana: We take it with us. The Bajoran people will decide what to do with it. And with him. It's not our place to make this decision. I think we were sent back here because we weren't Bajoran. I don't know why … I think The Prophets were protecting the Bajoran people from this torment? Why does it all seem so clear now … like I've always known…
Nemes : I agree. It belongs This should be decided by the Bajorans.
Vrozek: ::snapping his fingers and pointing:: I knew it, I’m the only Bajoran standing here, you’re all not of Bajor. So that means…::he trailed off::
T’Fearne: It would be best if you remain silent. We have had enough of your voice, Vrozek.
She stepped behind him and clamped a hand on his shoulder as Alieth ignored him, and nodded solemnly to Luxa and Nemes' recommendations.
Alieth: That is what we will do, then. ::Turning to Nemes:: Now, you must return us to our time. :: Closing her hands over the young woman's, and then looking at her, seriously at first, until a very Bajoran smile flickered lightly across her hard features: We count on you. We trust you. You can do this.
She felt her attention slide in curiosity, despite herself to what Nemes was going to do. All their hopes and their lives hung in the balance of whatever was going to happen next. Would they return to the 25th century and their own lives or be stuck here forever to live out their days as Bajorans, that was if they were able to find their way out of the undercity during the collapse of B’Hala.
She looked around at her companions, Luxa with her eyes closed, waiting, Alieth gazing with reassurance at Nemes, and the back of Xan’s devious head a few inches away.
Sybil’s colours showed true Ronin blue as she nodded and rose to the enormity of the task before her.
Nemes: ::in a shaky voice:: Okay.
Vrozek: Can someone tell me what the frak is happening here?
Xan crossed his arms over his chest ignoring her grip on his shoulder.
T’Fearne: Shh! Enough of your winning Vrozek.
The security officers had a breath to warn the treacherous Bajoran to be quiet when the green glow flared blindingly as a pulse emanating out from the device in Nemes's hand hit them like a wave cresting. She felt adrift in a sea of stars, like the Bajoran girl from the stories that had harnessed the power of B'hava'el to travel to strange new worlds.
oO Here we go again. Oo
Everything faded to black…
[No Tags / TBC in Part 2]
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Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14