22 - Reverberations
Posted on Mon Nov 11th, 2024 @ 6:59pm by Commander Jenna Ramthorne & Remal Kajun & Captain Rhenora Kaylen
Mission:
The Beginning of the End
Location: Bajor
The Prophets had spoken, and they alone had the power to carry out their wishes and defy the natural order of things. Death could be reversed, or life taken if they so chose to do so. And so, one who was dead would reawaken, and one who was willing to die to save another - would do so.
Rhenora and Patin had spoken, each saying their piece and despite feeling as though she had been railroaded, Rhenora had reluctantly agreed to the exchange. She didn't want her best friend to take her place, wounded or not she could be saved, a decent med-kit and trained doctor would have her back on her feet in no time. Not if the mind was not willing however. Patin desired to trade places, feeling as though she had nothing left on Bajor and never having felt comfortable in space, among other reasons. This was her opportunity to make a big difference.
"The Rhenora will return. The Patin will remain" the Prophets said simply. And it was done.
The cabin was silent, apart from the quiet but anguished sobs of those within. Rhenora's heart ached at the scene, and braved herself for what was about to happen. She'd come close to death before, too many times to count. This was the first time however she had actually died and walked with the Prophets. Coming back from the near misses had always hurt, and this was going to be no different.
The tricorder had been discarded and closed, but was still faithfully recording the absence of any life signs. It silently detected the heart that slowly began beating again, ever so slowly at first. It also detected the shallowest of breath that was drawn to refill lungs empty for minutes. The grey palour very gradually began to fade and in time, the barest movement of a finger.
In the darkness that was, there appeared a rhythmic and familiar thumping. Quiet, near impossible to detect, unless one had managed to sleep next to a person for years in the silent depths of night. Each thump, each beat brought with it star light, his star light. As his hand still held onto hers, he could feel in through her fingertips.
Doubt wouldn't let him open his eyes which were now puffy, hope on the other hand lent him enough strength to raise his head where a scent touched his nose like the first flake of snow. Subtle, vanilla and coffee with a hint of Lilac and cashmere, the sweater he had given her to keep her warm. His eyes lifted, and peered into hers, which now showed signs of color, for a glimmer of life.
The child, who had fallen asleep after her milk, was now awake and making a coo-ing noise. Was it possible the baby somehow knew, somehow understood, or was it coincidence?
Zio and Kira returned after having a cursory look for Patin. They knew the grumpy ole fighter would have probably gone to ground to deal with her grief, or drink herself into numbness. She'd be fine and would turn up on her terms. The baby was coo-ing, and they felt the need to allow Remal the time to grieve, tending to the child when necessary. They weren't expecting hope in his eyes though. Surely it was some trick. Rhenora was dead, they'd all witnessed it.
Silently Kira picked up the child and carried it over to the bed. "This was your Ma, strong one she was. She would have loved you very much" she said with a hitching voice.
Remal looked from Rhenora into the eyes of the baby for the first time since it's extraction from the womb. His face contorted noticeably from sad to curious as it struggled to smile. His heart was in his throat and his mouth was dry so when he spoke the words were soft, distant, "Thank you. She's, uh, she's gonna need a name I suppose." He finished slightly louder.
The warmth of the blankets and the roaring fire was finally seeping into Rhenoras once cooling body, assisting in the march towards the living. It was by the grave of the Prophets and the sacrifice of her friend that she had returned, but it wasn't going to be easy. She focused on one breath after the other, trying to make it a little deeper and to get the blood moving back in her veins. It was a hard slog, exhausting even.
"Patin" she whispered with all her energy, the word coming out little more than a zephyr. Those around would not know the significance, not yet other than she was alive.
Kira's head snapped around so hard she was sure she'd done some damage. Darting to the bedside table and yanking up the tricorder. There was the proof, there in Federation Standard on the medical tricorder. Out of habit she tapped her comm-badge, and this time was rewarded with a channel opening to the local com centre. Within minutes a medical team was dispatched and would beam into the front garden whilst the local constables were made aware of the battle.
Remal heard the voice and his heart leapt from the depths of sorrow into the stratosphere where he captured a bit of starlight and placed it in his pocket for later. He reacted by placing his large hand next to her face, cradling her love in his hand. "Welcome back to the land of the living." He said calmly. "We missed you." His words could not convey the depths to which he was hurting but that would come later.
Even as he peered into the depths of her eyes, the baby cooed again. "I'd like to introduce you to your new baby girl." He said as he turned and placed the baby in Rhen's arms. "I think she knew you would come back. Didn't cry one bit this one."
"She is strong, like her Fa" Rhenora smiled, squeezing Remals hand. She was still so very weak, but the lifeforce had returned to her body.
"Patin gave her life for mine, can you find her and put a bottle in her hand before she goes? It's the least we can do" Rhenora managed before she let her eyes close to rest again.
Remal squeezed her tired hand. "Rest now, we'll see what we can do to find our friend." He stayed with Rhenora a few more minutes before standing and placing the unnamed baby in it's bassinet, once more asleep.
It took no more than 10 minutes for the proverbial cavalry to arrive. Law enforcement, doctors and medical personnel were swarming down the destroyed garden path and filtering out into the surrounding fields, forest and the cabin itself.
The incoming personnel paused at the strange energy marks in the front garden, and paused to scan the dead Jem' Hadar also still in the garden, scorch marks on his chest.
"You're aware there's a Jem' Hadar in your garden?" The militia officer retorted, rifle at the ready as he escorted the medical staff inside the cabin.
"Ahhh yeah. From what I hear he was a friend of the family" Kira shrugged, holding that was left of the door open.
Remal who was finally up and standing, providing Rhen her much needed rest, overheard the conversation. "He was. Is he unalive then?" Realizing he had never taken the time to process Ikar's death. The memory of Ikar jumping in to stop the Reckoning came flooding in. "He was heroic. Gave his life to save Rhen's, and I gather, everyone else's. Please treat him with the dignity he's earned."
The militia nodded and covered Ikar'agal (Aki) with a sheet before preparing to beam his body to the local morgue.
The medical team came in and made their assessments, checking both mother and child before advising that they both needed time to recuperate in a hospital or medical facility.
"You're welcome to use the infirmary on the station, or the Sunfire's. There's more security there" Kira offered, not knowing if the threat of the Brotherhood still existed. "Or there's the local hospital of course" All eyes turned to the exhausted father of the child.
He thought for a moment, looking around to take it all in before responding. "The Sunfire is home for us, come what may. The Brotherhood was stopped here today, except the one called Faro. I don't think we have reason to fear them anymore. Perhaps we'll go home for now, maybe touch base when it's time to repair what's broken."
He looked around, wanting to offer his thanks to everyone, but already knowing he didn't have to. "Has anyone seen Patin or her body? I felt like she was here one moment and then just gone. It's not like her to just disappear unless the alcohol's gone dry."
Jenna shook her head. So did Kira. They had been looking and found nothing. "Mmm. Time will tell I suppose." Remal commented.
"We're not leaving until we find her" came a voice from the bedroom. Stubborn to the end Rhenora would not leave without saying goodbye to her friend. With a plethora of drugs and stimulants coursing around her body she felt stronger, not enough to actually search for her friend, but she could offer 'suggestions'.
The team looked at her and shrugged when an image flashed through Rhenora's mind.
"Check the beach, down the south end where the waves are the strongest," She said quietly, knowing that they would find Patin there. She hadn't mentioned the bargain Patin had struck with the Prophets, and the mere thought of it brought tears to her eyes. "She has gone with the Prophets"
Internally he questioned how she knew what she knew, though he had stopped voicing his thoughts long ago. Sometime after they met and long before they married he had learned to trust her intuitions and just roll with it. "I'll get my coat. You on the other hand shouldn't be up and about." He scowled in her direction, already knowing that battle had already been lost.
"I think I agree with you on that one" She replied and headed back to the bedroom under the scowling gaze of the medical team.
Together Remal and Kira went for a walk out into the snow. Zio remained behind, a sudo caregiver to the newborn. She had taken up the mantle of her own accord. Having raised two of her own, she seemed well suited. The doctors beamed away, all but one who waited to work on Patin if she were to be found. As did two constables who awaited some word of finality. They had a mess to clean up, but they also had the words of hundreds of locals and a defamation of character of one politician claiming to be controlled.
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
