09 - Labored Fight of their Lives Begins
Posted on Wed Oct 30th, 2024 @ 9:11pm by Commander Jenna Ramthorne & Remal Kajun & Patin & Captain Rhenora Kaylen
Mission:
The Beginning of the End
Location: Bajor
Timeline: Current-ish
Bajor - Drakkar Province - Cabin
Her eyes were wide with panic as she fought the urge to run and flee from the inevitable. Her progression, or as Dr Wilson called it 'labour' had started. Human women screamed, swore, pushed and fought through almost insurmountable pain to birth their children. For Bajorans it was a long tradition of relaxation and calm to support both mother and child through the process. Millennia of traditional pain-free relaxation births had become genetic memory in all Bajorans. Occasionally during periods of high stress this genetic memory was overridden with a more traumatic human delivery.
"We need to call Dr Wilson" she breathed as pain rippled through her entire being. She needed to get her fear under control to allow her body to do what it needed to. Right now though, terror reigned supreme.
Mentally and physically he had prepared for this moment, run through simulations and even been on the receiving end. Why now, when it was his personal bubble on the line to burst, did he suddenly forget everything? He nodded and reached for the communication badge in his pocket. It chirruped but there was no response. He clicked it again, "Counselor Remal Kajun to anyone, can you read me?" He asked into the mic.
After trying a couple more times he resigned, "Must be some interference of sorts. Then he sized up Rhen, "Can you walk or should I carry you?" Years of field medic work suggested he could carry her to the bedroom and then deliver the baby himself, or they had talked about a water birth and the tub was a more soothing entry into the world. Deciding there was no more time to question, despite some first births taking hours, he swooped up his short bride like it was their wedding night all over again and made for the direction of the side door.
No sooner had he rounded the corner when he stopped in his tracks. There, just beyond the path, two figures were walking towards the cabin. They were familiar, too familiar as chills ran up Remal's spine. Remal had met them before, but as their faces slowly came into focus, he could feel they were not welcome.
"Well if it isn't the Ma and the Fa!" Faro mock groveled, the tone of her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Having a few problems are we?"
Rhenora found herself on her feet, a hand still on Remal's arm as her rapidly changing body battled with equilibrium and balance. "What have you done?" She accused, no-holds-barred.
"What we must to ensure that the Prophecy is not fulfilled." Faro replied tauntingly. "Feeling a tad uncomfortable are we?"
Rhenora kept her trap shut but her body chose that moment to add a contraction to the mix. Not being in control was worse than the pain.
Faro drew a long knife from her boot and held it before her before a look from Brin made her think otherwise. "The next time you see us, it will be the last thing you ever see" she slapped a device on her wrist and they vanished.
"Where did they go?" Remal asked. He looked around and found they were just gone. "If they can transport out, why can't we?" He added rhetorically just as Rhen squeezed his arm some more as another mild contraction hit. "Let's get you inside." The snow grew thicker as it fell and began to stick to the ground.
Hidden, always watching, Ikar'agal had waited for the couple to leave the beach before he turned and followed them. Moving like a shadow, leaving no footprints and making no sound. He didn't even use his shroud, though it was an option, he was on safe ground or so he thought.
Ikar stepped forward from where he had been concealed. "They wish to hurt you." he said simply.
"They do" Rhenora replied as they made their way inside. Heading for the couch she attempted to make herself as comfortable as possible. "She touched a device on her wrist, possibly a control mechanism for a scattering field? If we have no comms and no ability to transport out, you can bet your ass they've got the forest covered as well as any other entry and exit points."
He had already begun prepping for a pregnancy, gathering water and towels. "That means it's just the three of us against a potential army of them." Remal looked down at Rhenora, "Breathing exercises." He then adjusted the pillows around her, under her knees and back. He knew in his mind the cowards had chosen this moment of weakness for a reason.
Ikar curious asked, "Is your mate ill? Unable to fight perhaps?" His simplicity was astounding.
"My body is trying to push something the size of a watermelon out of something the size of a grape" Rhenora grumbled, rubbing her aching lower back. "I think fighting may be out of the question for this one"
"Ah." Ikar responded still curious. "That sounds most difficult. Would it not be more prudent to enlarge the exit point?" He then pulled a curved dagger from his hilt as though he were offering to assist.
Remal, intercepting the conversation before it got out of hand, handed Ikar a cold compress and suggested, "Place this along her back. We have to keep her legs elevated and her comfortable." He had considered asking Ikar to guard the place but realized it would be beneficial to learn humanoid processes to better understand their plight.
Rhenora allowed herself to be fussed over, knowing that whatever happened, she would have Remal with her. The rest as they said was in the hands of the Prophets.
TBC
Captain Rhenora Kaylen
Commanding Officer, USS Sunfire
Commander Jenna Ramthorne
Chief Flight Control Officer & Mission Advisor, USS Sunfire
Remal Kajun
Counselor Aide, USS Sunfire
Husband of the Captain
Played By Commander Jenna Ramthorne
Patin
Friend of the Captain, USS Sunfire
Played By Commander Jenna Ramthorne
