Can’t Sleep?

Posted on Wed Jul 7th, 2021 @ 10:35pm by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Lieutenant Commander Aurora Vali

Mission: Gamma Quadrant
Location: Captain's Quarters
Timeline: before the battle

It was fairly late in the evening, the Sunfire had been travelling at Warp 4 for the majority of the day - making their way towards the last know location of the Dominion's stronghold. Rhenora was stretched on the couch, a cup of herbal tea beside her on the small coffee table, cooling and untouched, her eyes drawn to the stars as they slipped by her window as though pulled by an invisiable string.

Her mind whirled, forbidding the prospect of getting an early night with its endless possibilities of what they might discover. Had the Dominion simply vanished? Their fleets of Jem Hadar no longer in existence? She knew the Prophets had destroyed one of the fleets in the wormhole, but what of the rest? Anxiety began to know at her gut, reminding her that all remained yet to be seen.

~ Aurora & Savar’s Quarters ~

Aurora was also lying awake staring at the ceiling having given her son a feed, she was trying not to dwell on the fact that she’d eventually be parted from her baby but it still scared her.

Getting up she left Savar a note saying she was going for a walk and wouldn’t be long. With that she grabbed her dressing gown, put it on and headed out into the corridor.

~ Captain's Quarters ~

Remal was out for the evening, working with some of the crew over the recent combat scenario and any of the old demons that may have resurfaced. The Captain knew it was a distinct probability this soon after a major war, but life as they say did go on. Missions needed to be completed and the work just had to get done. Thankfully the Sunfire was equipped with 3 excellent counsellors to aid the crew in doing just that. She sipped the cooling tea, grimacing at the bitter texture of the herbs. Unfortunately it wasn't one of Remal's successful attempts in disguising the taste of her herbs. A quiet knock at the door drew her attention.

Aurora had been passing when she sensed a powerful sense of restlessness from within the Captain’s Quarters. Pausing at the door she had quietly knocked waiting to see if she got an answer.

"Come in" Rhenora's soft reply, her mind still wandering the stars and being consumed by possibilities. Her Pagh was restless, the feeling she got when the Prophets were about to reveal something of importance. She felt she had to be somewhere, to do something yet the detail was yet to be provided.

She tore her gaze from the stars to see Aurora wander in, looking as restless as she felt.

"Can't sleep?" She quipped "We can be insomniacs together"

Aurora offered a brief smile. “That’s the problem with night time feeds, it leaves me awake to mull over things. I’ve become so attached to my son, but he isn’t mine and I know I’m going to have to face losing him to his rightful parents one day.”

Rhenora dragged her Pagh away from the stars that kept calling her and focused on her guest.
" The joys of motherhood, as though the pregnancy and the birth aren't enough, here have a few years of sleep deprivation on top" She chucked in good nature, patting her own belly. " We don't know when or even IF these beings will return" She said gently.

“Exactly” Aurora nodded as she took a seat in a nearby chair. “Savar tells me to live day by day, but I’m struggling with that philosophy! I didn’t conceive Sidak, I’m not even the same species as him, but I carried and gave birth to him!” She sighed. “I don’t know if I can face giving up one day.”

" You may not have that choice" Rhenora said carefully, knowing this was a very sensitive subject. " We will do everything we can to protect you both but....." She left the words unsaid. She felt for Aurora and her lack of certainty in the immediate and even long term future.

“I know” Aurora nodded. “Savar and I talked about my career options, he’s of the opinion that I should drop back on my duties to care for Sidak, and any future children we might have.” She sighed. “I love being a mother but... I’ve worked hard to get to my position, I don’t want to throw that away!”

" You can do both, there's no rules to say you can't keep working and be a mother. One of the greatest challenges is finding your new identity, a blend of both your previous life and your new one." Rhenora mused to her friend, reaching forward to take her hands " This is not a career ending decision"

“Then why does it feel like it?” Aurora shook her head. “I’m sorry, I’m just an emotional wreck! My hormones are running riot and my instincts are to be doing my job, helping this ship and crew, keeping my son safe!”

" Well I can't speak for your hormones, but I'm told the identity crisis after having a child is something most mother's struggle with" Rhenora smiled " Now tell me, what drew you to my door this evening?"

“I sensed you were... disturbed? Perplexed?” Aurora smiled. “Your mind isn’t entirely here with us, is it?”

" To be honest no... I feel drawn to the stars, there's something untold, something unseen" Rhenora turned her attention back to the starts outside her window "Something or someone needs our help, I just need to figure out what."

Aurora looked at Rhenora curiously. “How do you know that?”

"I feel it, it's like the Prophets are trying to show me something, I just need to tune into it, let them show me." The Bajoran replied, rubbing the bridge of her nose. " Can you sense anything?"

“I’ve been sensing... something.” Aurora shrugged her shoulders. “It’s on the fringes of my senses, it comes and goes.”

"There's definitely something out there, perhaps you could help and we find what it is together?" The Captain offered. Most of her visions had come either alone or with Remal, but she saw no reason why Aurora could not be present and involved.

Aurora nodded. “I’ll do whatever I can to help. It would give me some answers too.”

Rhenora extended her hand and led the half Vulcan into the bedroom, sitting down in front of the small shrine and lighting the candles. She closed her eyes and opened her mind to whatever the Prophets wanted to share with her, unknown of how much Aurora would be able to pick up.

Aurora wasn’t sure if she was even supposed to do anything, without telepathically focussing on Rhenora she wouldn’t be able to see or hear anything. Not wanting to pry she knelt close to Rhenora and let her senses simply skim the surface of Rhenora’s mind so as not to be invasive. << Captain, can you hear me? >>

Rhenora's mind drifted for a time - allowing the Prophets to show her what they wished to - or not as was sometimes the case. More often than not lately when she had a feeling like she did at the present she received some kind of vision or message.

*******
The perspective shifted from the blank canvas of a quiet inner mind, to never ending white, and then to the bridge of a small freighter, a number of Bajorans working the controls, dressed in regular clothing, non militia or Starfleet. They were frightened, she could see it in their faces, smell the sweat in the air. She noted a presence beside her - Aurora.

"Glad you could make it" Rhenora said quietly as she took in the still scene before her - frozen in time.

Aurora gazed around. “Is this... the Bajoran ship? How is this even possible?”

"The will of the Prophets, we must learn what we can" Rhenora smiled simply, taking a good look around her. The ship wasn't that old, maybe 50 years, the crew weren't that old either. So this wasn't a trapped in time paradox. She walked over to the frozen helmsman to better ascertain the position.

“These people aren’t any threat to the Jem’Hadar.” Aurora walked around. “They’re just trying to get away in fear for their lives.”

The Captain looked around the frozen bridge, trying to glean some detail. The commissioning plate was at the rear of the bridge which would identify it's planet of origin. The crew were clearly Bajoran but something was off.

"They're from New Bajor, the colony that was destroyed by the Dominion with no survivors. If these are indeed survivors, the Jem Hadar probably want to finish the job" she explained as the found the commissioning plate. "These poor people, their home gone and now hunting by those who killed their families" a tear welled up in her eye and she swore silently at the rampaging hormones and feelings within her. She had to remain composed and in control to get the most from this opportunity.

"What have you found over there Aurora?" She asked.

“Why are the Dominion so desperate to kill these people?” Aurora looked at Rhenora. “The war is over, the Dominion lost! Why hunt these people now? It doesn’t make sense to me.”

It was as though time switched from still to moving, the crew urgently trying to save themselves as they were hunting by a merciless attacker. An image of the Jem Hadar First appeared on the cracked viewscreen.

"You evaded us at New Bajor - prepare to die" The First snarled before stabbing a scaly finger at a control just off screen. His image vanished and was replaced by weapons fire.

" Prophet's help us we need to find somewhere to hide" The Bajoran leader said, desperately searching for an advantage, a hiding place, anything they could use to avoid certain destruction.

"There's your answer" Rhenora said with a twisted smile at Aurora. "They weren't at New Bajor when it was destroyed, and I think he wants to finish the job"

Aurora shook her head. “This is crazy! It’s a good job we’re here. These poor people have been running ever since the war.”

The freigher took an opportunity and darted towards a nearby moon, the inertial dampeners struggling to keep up, with a practiced ease only a resistance fighters could have they flew headfirst into a long chasm in the moon's surface, knowing full well that A - they probably weren't going to fit and B- the Jem Hadar definately weren't going to fit.

"We have to help them" Rhenora said to herself and to Aurora.

“Yes we do” Aurora nodded. “We need to help them get home.”

Rhenora looked around, knowing that the Prophets were showing them what they needed to know to achieve what needed to be done. They needed to take in every detail, to see every nuance to see if they could use it as an advantage.

"Bajoran freighter, we have three warships waiting for you - you can not hide forever. Face your death" The First appeared on the viewscreen again, clearly pissed at they couldn't simply blow the freighter out of the sky as was their want.

"Aurora... see what's in the cargo hold - it might be something we could detonate" Rhenora had an idea.

Aurora nodded. No sooner had she said so then she was there. The prophets obviously wanted her to see. Wandering around she found all the usual supplies, food, water, equipment, medical supplies, and then there was just what they needed.... “Fuel Captain!” She shook her head as in a flash she was back with Rhenora. “There’s spare fuel in the hold!”

"That is what we need to know" No sooner had the words left Rhenora's mouth the vision vanished and was replaced by her bedroom where herself and Aurora were seated in front of her shrine.

" Well that was interesting" She said with a quirky smile. "Welcome to the mysterious ways of the Prophet's"

“That was... strange, to say the least!” Aurora smiled. “Thank you for trusting me with your vision.”

Rhenora exhaled deeply, allowing her mind to fully settle in the here and now. "Most of the time they are more questions than answers - this one it seems was the other way around" She smiled, heaving herself up off the floor - a task growing slightly more difficult every day. "You see what they want you to see, normally its glimpses, perspectives and the like and you have to try and put the peices of the puzzle together.

Aurora nodded. “So I see, I’m guessing not all the visions are that easy to decipher. Like you said just glimpses that you have to put together.”

" Some of them make no sense at all, some of the are possible future that may never happen, others are then clear with a purpose", depends on what mood the Prophets are in and what their motives are" Rhenora admitted, settling on the bed next to Aurora. " I don't think I'll ever get used to it. But thank you for joining me"

“Thank you for allowing me” Aurora smiled. “I’m blessed that the prophets allowed me to join you in your vision. I believe it’s rare for non Bajorans to interact, besides Captain Sisko of course!”

"I must admit it's a blessing and a curse sometimes" Rhenora admitted sagely, regarding her friend openly.

Aurora nodded. “I can imagine. You’re stuck between your duty to your people, and your duty to Starfleet. I don’t envy you.”

"Mmmhmmmm" The Captain nodded before turning and giving Aurora a hug. "Thank you for being there when I need someone" she said openly.

“My pleasure” Aurora smiled warmly.

" On that note - I should try and get some sleep" Rhenora yawned, stretching before walking her friend to the door then turning in for the night.