Leaving on a Jet Plane
Posted on Mon Dec 13th, 2021 @ 4:47am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Remal Kajun
Mission:
*CD*
Location: Bajor
Remal walked up beside Ikar, knelt down on the cold stone surface next to him, then pretzeled his legs uncomfortably beneath himself. He would need a hand getting up, but it would be worth it to have his brief conversation. He entered his meditation pose and waited a moment before speaking. “Thank you.”
Ikar grunted a simplistic reply, as if he had no words for you are welcome, because he really didn't. What he did say meant so much more. “No one gets left behind. No one injures a Brother without repercussion.”
“Well, without you doing what you did, we would either be dead or locked away by now. I must ask though, how did you manage to overcome your fear of fire long enough to pull us out?”
“By doing as you instructed. I understood my pain from the fire was in the past. I knew, if the fire did not consume me then, it would not have the opportunity to do so again. I am stronger than the fire and so no longer fear it.”
Remal nodded his approval and appreciation. “You were a good student. I am proud of you.” He looked out over the water and held within him one remaining question. “Where do you go when you meditate?”
“I see the flame as it dances over the corpses of my brothers, they who left me to die, and... “ He hesitated as he closed his eyes, reentering a calm meditation. “...and the clouded figures of those who have hurt you and your mate.”
Slightly disturbed by the idea Ikar was focusing on revenge instead of peaceful things, Remal tried to look at the positives. Ikar was progressing of his own accord and finding his happy place. “Rhenora and I will be leaving later this evening. Our presence here puts you in danger and keeps us from discovering what we’ve come to find, answers. I trust you understand why we can’t stay.”
“I do.” He maintained his breathing and his focus. “You must remain safe. The glowing beings demand it so. The young glowing child especially so.”
This garnered Remal’s full attention. He looked at his friend, his Brother in arms, who had apparently seen or been visited by the Prophets. Remal clenched his jaw knowing there was clearly a bigger plan in motion. One he was no longer privileged to see or refused to see, as it was.
Conversation over, he stayed several minutes longer before rolling out of the pretzel onto his chest and then standing up. He reentered the house to find the love of his life looking back at him, a forlorn look in her eyes. She was amused, not by watching him struggle to stand which went without saying, but by his friendship with a Jem’hadar soldier.
“ I hope he’s ok” She said softly as Remal entered the room, her gut twisting that their presence had caused him pain. She felt guilty and angry at the same time, determined more than ever to find the root cause of this problem, between the death of their friends, the apparent glowing target on their own backs and the danger to those that were left.
“Actually, aside from some thoughts of revenge, I’d say he’s doing pretty well actually.”
“Revenge?” She asked cautiously, a wary eye on Remal as the words left her mouth. Revenge never boded well.
He tossed his remaining clothes into their carry-on bags. “Yeah, well, when you are built for war, spilling the blood of your enemy is a difficult compulsion to overcome. He will meditate and reflect for a while. I informed him we would be leaving this evening and I think he understands why.” Remal found himself looking over his shoulder at the man who had braved fire to save them once more.
“ I’m sorry he had all that stuff dragged up again when he was doing so well.” Rhenora lamented as she helped Remal pack “ Do you think he will want to remain on his own?”
Remal hefted the bags together and stopped, “Ikar, he does his own thing. I don’t think we should ask him to join us, but I also don’t know that I could stop him if he chose to follow.” He regarded the scans and the map. “Where to next?”
She understood his meaning and didn’t press the issue further, he would or would not join them, as was his want. She considered their next move.
“I think Patin should be our next port of call. I haven’t heard of her untimely demise yet and I spoke to her a few days ago” Rhenora rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “We should also contact Wazid via a secure frequency and check on his welfare”
“Patin, she was last in the Southern Province of Aus-leland. We’re going to need heavier coats, and a ride. I’ll check the port to call and see when the next shuttle will be leaving. And if we stay overnight, we’ll need to book a room.” He was doubtful. “I’m not sure I have any contacts there so we’ll be on our own.” It was a solemn feeling, like they were saying goodbye to more than the comfort and protection, but to a friend as well.
"Risky, but it could also work in our favour" she mused thoughtfully. It would be easier to be 'lost in the crowd' so to speak however they would have no protection. "We should bid farewell to Ikar"
Remal, bags on his shoulders, eyed his friend meditating by the water. “I think we have time for one last Jumja stick for old times sake. I find it best to say thank you when the other party can’t respond because they have food in their mouth.” He smiled and gave Rhen a light wink.
Watching from a hill, somewhere outside in the woods, a pair of dark robed figures watched and waited. “They are just there, waiting to be wiped out. Why are we sitting out in the cold just watching when we could be doing something more? Let’s just kill them and be done with it.”
“You forget yourself young one. They survived the explosion because of an error in judgment on our part and because they are shacked up with that demon who can go invisible. I for one am not prepared for that sort of fight.” The elder gestured at the Villa. “No, patience is what we need. They will leave at some point and we will track them as instructed. Remember the bigger picture. Trust in the Pah’Wraiths.”
