<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:garamond,times new roman,serif;font-size:large"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-65b4ce61-7fff-e918-b5e3-31bb82ef99d3"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">NRPG: note, this doesnt mean flood day 2 with posts. let your characters get there organically.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">
RPG:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Mission: Space was cool before it mattered</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Day: 2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Stardate: 2446.04.26</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(USS Exeter -Guest Quarters -Starfleet Medical Specialist, Commander Ailynn and Bracken and Kyros Ryelle - 00:00)</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ailynn woke gently, extracting herself from Caity’s gentle embrace, slipping out the bed, she pulled on the robe that she always kept on the chair just by her bedside. There was an air of calm, and contentment that surrounded her, the robe a shield against night’s imposing chill. She moved through to the bathroom, where after her now regular nighttime ablutions, she stepped through to the lounge.</span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Hello Ailynn” A familiar figure spoke to Ailynn as he appeared in the room, suddenly the location changed to a shadowy space reflecting a temple on Bajor.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Who’s that? Step forward so I can see you?” she drew herself up to her full height, no mean feat when her back was under so much more strain. If intruder it was, Ailynn started surveying the room, looking for a weapon, she’d fight and cause casualties in defense of what was hers, pregnant or no. she ignored the new surroundings for the moment. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“It seems life has been good to you.” The figure spoke, as he walked closer into the lit area, revealing itself to be the since deceased Dr. Kyros Ryelle.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Feeling her heart and stomach skip at the figure, she stepped forward, though pulled the robe further around her, covering as much of herself as possible, holding it up to her neck. “Ryelle…?” She looked around her, honestly impressed at the ornate, if dimly lit temple that surrounded them.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Yes, Ailynn…It is me. It’s been a while.” He replied.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Raising her chin, her mind running through possibilities. “I’m assuming that I’m not simply dreaming here, no, this is more. Smells wrong. I can always smell that room scent that Tee puts in the lounge. Not keen on it exactly, but I can’t smell it now.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I’m not sure what this is myself. I was at rest, and now I am not. But I found myself here. Though not sure where here is. Last I remember was being trapped in a cell with you. Dying, for you. Being at peace. And now I am here. And it seems you are not alone. Carrying the children of a duplicate created using my genetic template.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“You heard about that one huh. Well, two.” Ailynn found herself blushing deeply. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“It’s amazing what you learn in the afterlife.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Don’t think I’m being rude but how are you here? I’m going to need so much more counselling. My counsellor already thinks I should be screened for PTSD, amongst numerous other neurological disorders.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I myself am unsure how I am here. The prophets? A Q? Perhaps even something you ate? I feel as if I am myself, for whatever that is worth.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I’m not sure I know exactly how to say, but…thank you, it’s a bit trite to say to the person who literally gave up their life for you. I’m not sure I’ll ever get over it.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“You should. I did so willingly. You were what was needed, not I. I always thought myself a healer, as are you. But a different kind. You had the capacity to rise above, the willingness to take the next step. My soul, too passive. I would not have had the strength you had. It was my honor to give my life for yours.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ailynn blushed, relaxing slightly. "I did what was necessary. I shouldered the pain of that so no one else had to. I'll always step up to the fire, for that reason"</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Was it not said once in your earth fiction, ‘Great men are forged in fire. It is the privilege of lesser men to light the flame.’ It was my privilege to light the flame for you.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"Well, you have my thanks nonetheless." She said simply.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Tell me Ailynn, your children, the one of my, other self, their genes, are they mine?”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Resting her hand on her bump, she nodded. "It's…a little more complicated, but yes. Other than the Bajoran specific alleles, genetically yes, You're the girls' father; and if they grow up with half your bravery and good, gentle nature then they will go far."</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I guess, I guess I will live on, in a way.”</span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“In many ways,” She smiled gently, stepping around the temple’s large open courtyard, her feet pleasantly cool on the ancient stone. “You sure none of this is familiar?” She asked, relaxing and letting go of the neck of her robe but securing the belt.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I still don’t know what this is. It’s like in your earth novel, a Christmas Carol. Perhaps there is more gravy than grave about me.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">She smiled, “So I have three more of you visiting me this evening?” She said with a playful twinkle in her eye, a look of tart amusement. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Don’t worry, I am not here to teach you the meaning of Christmas.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Pity, I always liked our conversations, regardless of which religion we were talking about.” She remembered the deep faith of the man that Ryelle had been when he was alive.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“May I ask, why did you leave the Exeter, albeit temporarily?”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“The short version is that a lot happened and got on top of me and I needed time to get past it.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Hey, we have no idea how long I’ll be here. Might as well give  me the long version.”</span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">She smiled and nodded. “Longer version is that I got scared.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I never thought you were capable of getting scared,” he joked.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“You’ll know mums work with nanites. Last couple of years I’ve been working with her, she realised the limitations of her version of the nanites. I looked at what she had and designed a new nanite substrate, amongst other things. Then, the business with the Empress happened.” Ailynn sighed, and perched on a low stone wall, looking at an ancient tapestry. “I could see the Empresses nanites for exactly what they were, Insidious, aggressive, malignant. I could see their descendancy from true Borg nanites, and in my head I found myself thinking how easy all that would be. That my changes to mum’s nanites could enable something like this, and I could see how to begin doing it. That was when I knew I had to walk away.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“But just because you can see how to do something, doesn’t mean you will.” He retorted.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Yeah, I know.” She said with a gentle sigh. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“There is a big difference between seeing what could happen and doing it. Plus knowing how to do something means knowing how to prevent that something. Or at least gives you the blueprint.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“You’re right of course, it was just all so fresh, and a lot of stuff happened. Besides, I’ll always be able to figure out a way to prevent something. There’s always a way.” she half shrugged.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“So, if there is always a way, then why not take your position back?”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ailynn smiled gently, a wistful look in her eye. Ryelle always did have a way about him, a way of gently pointing out a path. “At some point I will, at first, I admit, it was about retreat, about hiding and licking my wounds; now though, I’m needed by Fleet Medical. For the moment anyway”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I see.” He replied.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I’m a career Officer, you know that. Despite the many offers of other positions outside the Fleet, this is my home. Out here I mean. My position as both a Medical and Command Officer is frowned upon by many, but that’s the line I have to walk.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Well, do you have to? Walk that line I mean. You are a child of two worlds, earth and bajor. Medicine and Command. But is the choice binary, is that all there is. Aren’t you more than just where you’re from and what you do?”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I’m more than anything…” She stood up, not actually remembering sitting down on the pleasant stone bench next to the ornamental waterfall, stones of purest whit dappled the crystal clear water. Ailynn supposed it was intended to be relaxing, but the running water was getting to her again. “...more than most can possibly comprehend.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Is walking the line keeping you from where you truly need to be?”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">She smiled. She understood his point, of course. “No. The irony is, that it suits my psyche.” She lifted her sleeve, showing him the tattoo in ancient Bajoran that she had received from the Prophets themselves. “As much as I love medicine, and I do, and I always will, and in all likelihood it’s what older version of me will settle down to do. This me, the one that has the power, the energy and the intellect to affect change, true change; well…” She smiled. “She’ll pick herself up after each fall and carry on, doing the things that have to be done, but few have the will to complete.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Funny.” he said with a laugh, “you keep skirting around the answer I am trying to get you to say.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Yeah, I always was that kind of student. What is it you need me to say?”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“The will to carry on, to do what few will. Now I am not saying you should have gone to the Hood. Yes I know about that, even though I was dead. There is more courage sometime in saying no to something rather than yes.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“The Hood was a no go. A Captaincy isn’t me, not yet, just so some upstart FO can stop me from going on an away mission where I can tip a balance? No thanks.” She drew a breath reflectively, “that isn’t what you meant though, you meant something else, you’ve alluded to it a couple of times.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Ailynn, You’re place, right now, is here on this ship, not as you are now but as you were. The crew has their father but they need their mother. In the trials that are to come, you must be here.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I see.” She observed, a moment of full clarity and openness happened between them. She lifted her sleeve once more, a glance at what was…she lifted her eyes, full in their understanding, nodding gently she half whispered. “understood.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I’m sorry.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">She looked at him, drawing herself up to her full height, with a full nasal intake of breath. “My task isn’t over…is it.” Her voice was rich, and full of her will, a sense of determination filled her even as a tear filled her eye, remembering the knife sliding into Jost’s chest. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“It’s a different task, that hasn’t begun. But it needs to be you here. That is the feeling I have.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ailynn’s mouth got the better of her. “If you have any say, can you ask the prophets for something matching on the other arm?”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“This, this one I don’t think is the prophets doing. The voice in my head, she just wants you to know she is a friend, and I am not sure she is doing this for altruistic motives. I think, I think she believes you being here will save the soul of the one she truly cares for. That is all I know.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ailynn nodded. “Once more am I fate’s tool, once more a task is set upon me.” She felt Ryelle’s words fill her with belief, with strength.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Almost as quickly as Ryelle’s arrival, everything seemed to change, twist, and turn, as the background returned to Ailynn’s quarters. Ryelle slowly began to fade away, back to where the after life truly seemed to be.</span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Be well Ailynn, I’ll be watching over you. Be strong, as I know you to be.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ailynn watched as Ryelle faded, her will growing with his dissipation.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">As Ryelle vanished, Ailynn found herself in her quarters, rather than the Bajoran doctor being with her, the only company was Caity fast asleep in bed.</span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Somewhere, outside of the realm of time and space, Quella smiled.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"So be it." Ailynn said to the image in the full length mirror on the other side of the room.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"So be it.” she drew and released a deep breath, broken only by Caity’s slumber. “For good or ill." Drawing another breath and steadying herself, a lopsided grin of sheer will alone.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"I am Paladin."</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Reply none)</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(posted by Will and Mark)</span></p><br><br></span></div></div>