Post Boom
Posted on Thu Dec 9th, 2021 @ 6:41am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Remal Kajun
Mission:
*CD*
Location: Bajor
Within minutes of the explosion the site was swarming with emergency services. The fire was contained and the local constables began their new investigation. Their comrades would be avenged.
Hours later Rhenora awoke to the droning of a news broadcast over the Bajoran News Network, a reporter standing at the scene of the leveled house describing the situation and what details they knew about the explosion.
“Our current suspects are two of our own people, a man and a woman who appear to have entered the house, boobytrapped it, then left so the local law enforcement wouldn’t find the evidence. Two officers were killed, Deputy Cad… and officer Avar. May the Prophets bless their Pagh” The news reporter droned on before switching to the other news of the day.
She groaned, a series of aches making themselves known as she tried to move. ‘Note to self, don’t get blown up again, it hurts more with age’ She grumped to herself as she took in her surroundings. They were back at Ikar’s cottage, and Remal was resting somewhat comfortably nearby, looking very much alive. She owed her life to a Jem’Hadar.
He sat up slowly, his head hanging low. Once he was propped on the edge of the bed he began picking at a splinter that had gotten lodged in his arm, it was another long irritating piece of shrapnel from another bloody conflict on Bajoran soil. After a silent minute of picking and contemplating he commented, “That was meant for us, you know.”
She looked at him sagely “ I got that distinct impression, however the media and the local law enforcement are now after us” She said quietly. “Not only were we supposed to be blown up this morning, but we’ve been framed for the death of two officers” She looked down at the floor again “ If it wasn’t for Ikar…” Her voice trailed off “ I never thought I’d owe my life to a Jem Hadar”
Acknowledging, “I’m more surprised by the fact that he managed to save us despite the fire. Surely that would have been a trigger for him.” He looked around, “Where is our savior anyway?” He had no such thoughts about the man as a Jem’hadar for their time together had allowed him to see the man Ikar truly was.
Rhenora looked around, trying to locate Ikar from her viewpoint and seemed unable to locate him. Rising gingerly she headed into the living area, then saw him meditating by the water. Was it wise to rouse him? She didn’t think so, he would be dealing with whatever trauma the morning’s event had awoken with his mind. Returning back to Remal she sat carefully on the side of his bed “ He’s meditating outside, how are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been thrown fifteen yards and been set on fire.” He responded honestly. “Also like our world has been turned upside down and inside out. When did everything turn to shite?” He picked another splinter out from beneath his skin.
“When we decided to stick our nose into something that someone else was trying to hide” She lamented as she looked carefully over his arms “Would you like me to find some tweezers?” She asked as she took in the myriad of splinters. “ We’re gonna need to be more careful”
“I doubt Ikar would have tweezers. His people are not much in the way of healers and doctors. May have to replicate a pair. What about you, any injuries I need to have a look at?” He didn’t ignore her, but she was right, they needed to be more careful. They still had a number of locations left to scout, and their first lead had already blown up in their face, literally.
“Functioning, although I haven’t tuned into the superficial stuff yet” She admitted, peeling off the layers of clothing to reveal a myriad of black and blue bruising with the odd abrasion. She looked disjointedly at her body “ Hrmmm that’s why it hurt, nothing that won’t heal… eventually” She admitted. Thankfully Savar or Dr Wilson weren’t around to give her another lecture.
“What do you suggest we do now? We are wanted people although the description was vague. And someone knows why we’re here”
“I’m not sure. If we are to persist, I’d say a disguise is in order.” He looked at her and smiled, “Ever think about dying your hair red?” A low profile was beyond the point. They were already keeping what he thought was a low profile to begin with. “How did they know we were here? The funeral?”
She paused, considering the possibilities “Possibly, or they saw us visit Jurel’s house and knew we’d return… it was just dumb luck the constables found it first.” There was a small shoulder bag that she had brought with them, pre-empting just a little bit of trouble. The dermal regenerator could be programmed to heal, or to do minor cosmetic alterations. Hair color changes, the illusion of blemishes and the like. She retrieved it and dialed up the setting she wanted “ This may help… after we find some tweezers”
It was nearing evening on Day two and they had nothing but some scans and scars. Remal allowed his mind to wander, ‘where do we go from here’? It was a loaded question. More importantly his mind chose to focus on Ikar, meditating near the water. This was not the first time their friends had been there to intervene or save their lives just when the situation called for it to be. Old Remal would have said divine intervention. The new Remal, having denounced the Prophets, was struggling to find a more relevant common denominator.
He stood, his legs a bit shaky beneath him. He glimpsed from their window a solemn figure sitting next to the water in deep meditation. Pulling up his pants and slipping on another shirt he spoke, “You get the tweezers, I’m going to thank Ikar; maybe have a short chat with him.” Without another word he left her sitting on the bed.
She watched as he left, feeling the ‘chat’ would be something much more than that. If he was right and the explosion had triggered some trauma from times past then it would be some time before Ikar was on an even keel so to speak once more. Was it wrong to ask him to accompany them knowing the dangers that they faced? She mulled over the options, of which there were very few indeed.
TBC
