The Third Law - Compile #11 ========================= Mission: The Third Law Day: 10 Stardate: 2414.03.24 ========================= (Asrai Prime- Celdebrai City- Alleyway- CEO- Lt. Commander Steven Matrix - Day 10- 1440) (Asrai Prime- Celdebrai City- Seminary- YEO, Lt. Mike Rosenbauer- Day 10- 1459) (Asrai Prime- Celdebrai City- Seminary- CTAC Lt. sg Ben Soma- 1502) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Lieutenant Sanok - Day 10 - 1512) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - ACEO Lt Eian O'Neill - Day 10 - 1516) (Asrai Prime, Celdebrai City, Market Place - COUNS Parker Davis - Day 10 - 1517) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Market Place - CO - Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid - Day 10 - 1518) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Traveler's Hall- Hall Warden- Darsel- Day 10 - 1520) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - ACEO Lt. Eian O'Neill - Day 10 - 1524) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Traveler's Hall- Hall Warden- Darsel- Day 10 - 1526) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Traveler's Hall - Lieutenant Sanok - Day 10 - 1527) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Traveler's Hall- ACEO Lt Eian O'Neill - Day 10 - 1530, 1601) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Lieutenant Sanok - Day 10 - 1532) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Market Place - CMO - Cmdr Josh Caskie - Day 10 - 1533) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - ACEO Lt Eian O'Neill - Day 10 - 1536) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Market Place -ACMO -Lt (JG) Tayla Fraiser - Day 10 - 1537) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Lt. Sanok - Day 10 - 1538) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - ACEO Lt Eian O'Neill - Day 10 - 1541) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Market Place - CO - Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid - Day 10 - 1605) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Traveler's Hall- CO - Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid - Day 10 - 1646) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Market Place - ATAC/SC - Ensign(sg) Jessica Signos - Day 10 - 1647) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Market Place - ATAC/SC - Ensign(sg) Jessica Signos - Day 10 - 1649) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Market - Kenovan Rajl - Day 10 - 1650) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Travellers hall - ACMO Lieutenant (JG) Tayla Fraiser & COUNS Parker Davis - Day 10 - 1651) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Travellers hall - ACMO Lieutenant (JG) Tayla Fraiser & COUNS Parker Davis - Day 10 - 1703) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Travellers hall - ACMO Lieutenant (JG) Tayla Fraiser & COUNS Parker Davis - Day 10 - 1715) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Travellers hall - ACMO Lieutenant (JG) Tayla Fraiser & COUNS Parker Davis - Day 10 - 1731) ========================= (Asrai Prime- Celdebrai City- Alleyway- CEO- Lt. Commander Steven Matrix - Day 10- 1440) Matrix fumbled with his pack while trying not to look out of place or conspicuous. "Okay,then Davis, Fraiser, Matrix and Viskhard, go scout the seminaries and the market as needed, but be cautious, most species with religion tend to be very critical of missteps where their spiritual beliefs are concerned." "Understood Captain." replied Matrix and he turned in the direction of the market center and made a leisurely stroll of the journey. As he did he tried to conform to the environment, observing the ingenious personnel and their mannerisms. ~Blend in. Be natural~ thought Matrix. "We need to be aware of any signs of divinity memorabilia on or among the people. Keep an eye out for anything appearing to be sacred including people. We may well stumble upon a revered person." said Matrix to the others in his group. (Reply Fraiser, David, Viskhard) "I wouldn't look anyone directly until we get a feel for how these people interact. We're likely to be obvious outsiders to them so we'll need to be cautious without appearing to be unfriendly." continued Matrix. (Reply Fraiser, David, Viskhard) "We're merchants so we need to interact with others of our craft. Surely it won't be difficult to at least look the part. How I'm uncertain as yet, but we'll figure it out." said Matrix. (Reply Fraiser, David, Viskhard) (Posted by Steve) ------------------------- (Asrai Prime- Celdebrai City- Seminary- YEO, Lt. Mike Rosenbauer- Day 10- 1459) "Before you go," Ben said. "I've always been interested with the sacred lights. Even as a child I've always wondered how they worked. You wouldn't be able to explain it's operation for me would you?" The Priest turned a wary look upon the two men and narrowed his eyes for a moment, then relaxed his stance, hopefully upon realizing the innocence of the question. Mike hoped that Ben had caught the change in the man's body language enough to be wary of the sorts of questions that he asked. "The sacred light is a gift of the Aowa to all their children. In the great time of darkness, they alone lit the perpetual night to guide the faithful to the sacred places, where they slept deep within the womb of the world. It is the reminder of the death-time, when all the world was the realm of the bomkor, as they ravaged the world with the tainted spirits of nature." "It was the beacons that kept us alive, that protected us from the darkness. The Scholars of the Reliquary are the guardian of the Sacred Light, we tend it, and see that it's fire never dims. For it is said that another dark time will befall us, when Solyon the destroyer returns to bring death and destruction to our world. And once again, it will be the Sacred Lights that will guide us to our salvation deep within the arms of our mother world." "As to the powers that make it work, I am not permitted to share their secrets with you, but should you decide to put away the robes of the merchant and join the Scholars of the Reliquary, you may learn these secrets and many more besides. For then you will be amongst the most enlightened of the orders." The priestly man smiled, "It is not surprising that you know little of the Sacred Lights, there are so few of them, you have probably only heard old stories, poorly told. But The Scholars remain ever vigilant attendants to safeguard all the Asrai from the coming of Solyon." Mike nodded enthusiastically. Here in this religious story might be some sort of myth based on History. And if it was, what might that entail? Some sort of cataclysmic event? Something on a planetary scale? War? Pestilence? Plague? Or something else entirely? Mike slipped his hand into the pocket of his breeches and carefully pressed the activation button on his silenced and disguised tricorder. He'd give it a few more minutes to collect data and then he'd be able to review it later and possibly determine the mechanism that produced the light. Mike gave Ben a glance to see if his colleague had any additional questions. (reply Soma) Daniel Greene ------------------------- (Asrai Prime- Celdebrai City- Seminary- CTAC Lt. sg Ben Soma- 1502) It was apparent that his question hadn't gone over well with the priest, but he answered it just the same. He explained how it was a gift from Aowa and how it had guided the Asrai through the time of great darkness. He mentioned Solyon the destroyer and how he, or she, would return one day bringing death and destruction and how the sacred light would guide them once again. The priest wasn't permitted to divulge how the light worked which was expected but Ben had to ask. "As to the powers that make it work, I am not permitted to share their secrets with you, but should you decide to put away the robes of the merchant and join the Scholars of the Reliquary, you may learn these secrets and many more besides. For then you will be amongst the most enlightened of the orders." Ben smiled. "A fair offer but my path will remain that of a merchant." He said. "But who knows, perhaps one I may tire of being a merchant and don the robes of the Scholars of the Reliquary." The priestly man smiled, "It is not surprising that you know little of the Sacred Lights, there are so few of them, you have probably only heard old stories, poorly told. But The Scholars remain ever vigilant attendants to safeguard all the Asrai from the coming of Solyon." Ben nodded. "Very old stories." He replied. "I'm sure much of it was altered from the first, though it was always a story that captured my attention." Ben couldn't help but wonder what or who Solyon was, could the rogue be Solyon. He heard stories of how other planets had been protected from stellar debris by some form of advanced technology before. Was it possible that these sacred lights were connected to such a weapon, if they were who had placed them there? "I've kept you long enough." Ben said. "I'm sure there's much you have to do and I'm keeping you from your work, thank you for your time." When the priest had left Ben turned to Mike. "Let's head back into town." On their way out several people entered the seminary, they all made hands motions towards them and Ben copied them as best he could, when the group had passed they exited the seminary and descended the stairs back towards town. The sun was still shining and he could feel it's power but it wasn't overly warm though he was comfortable enough. As they walked the took notice to the people they passed, he never openly watched them but he did notice several more hand gestures which puzzled him, the Asrai seemed to talk in sign language almost as much as by spoken word. Turning to mike he said in a hushed tone. "It's a shame we never enough time to study these people before mingling with them." He said. "All those hand gestures, one could get into trouble it he wasn't careful." They reached the market and Ben took a look at some of the merchandise on display out side of the shops, there were simple clothes, carvings, different produce, almost everything. He couldn't help but think of Axtis III, here it was primitive by matter of course and there it was primitive by choice. After some time he saw the others sitting at what appeared to be a cafe. "Our companions are over there." He said and headed in that direction. When they reached the others he and Mike grabbed a couple free chairs and joined them. "We just visited the shrine of sacred light." He stated not going into any details in case someone would over hear. "Have you found anything of interest?" (reply any) (posted by Milo Young) ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Lieutenant Sanok - Day 10 - 1512) O'Neill said, "These look like accommodations. What do you think?" Sanok assessed the inn. It did appear as though it would suit their needs, if it had available space. Nodding to Eian, they went inside. It took a few moments for Sanok's eyes to adjust to the lower level of lighting. Off the street, there was a large open room. To the right, was a dining area, with the aromas of many different types of food filling the air. There were about a dozen people seated and enjoying their meals, with several wait staff scurrying about, tending to them. Directly in front of them, was a man standing behind a counter. Behind him and to his left, was a set of steps leading to the next level. To the left, were a row wood chairs. Several paintings of outdoor scenes adorned the wall behind them. Sanok spoke to Eian in a hushed tone. "Since two youth in this city feel I talk funny, perhaps you should speak with the proprietor to see if he has appropriate lodging for our group." Sanok's speech could indeed be a problem for him and the rest of the team. Two children noticed and had made fun of him, though children were more intolerant of differences in others. He would need to pay closer attention to the local speech patterns so he didn't stand out or draw unwanted attention to himself. (reply O'Neill) (posted by Bob B.) ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - ACEO Lt Eian O'Neill - Day 10 - 1516) "Since two youth in this city feel I talk funny, perhaps you should speak with the proprietor to see if he has appropriate lodging for our group." Eian nodded, and approached the owner. He made the gesture of 'hello' that he had learned by studying others' body language. It was now that his coaching as a child really came into play--he remembered being a young boy and going to large gathering places, like the mess hall on the starship or the classroom, and simply observing others to see how they interacted. His training taught him to copy those gestures that he hadn't learned as a toddler like most humans. So now that data-collection phase of the training, which he hadn't done for over a decade, was where he found himself. "Good afternoon, kind sir," Eian greeted. (reply store-owner) "I represent a merchant family that has traveled a long distance," he gestured on the adjective, as he saw others do, "in the hopes of establishing business here. We have a caravan with our goods, but it is broken and delayed while repairs are completed. Until it arrives and until we can establish permanent residence, we wish to acquire rooms for the next few evenings." (reply store-owner) Eian gave him the number, hoping it was right. Doing math in his head was never his strong suit and he found himself trying to count the number of fake couples they had, not to mention Jessica, who would sleep with her 'parents'. (reply store-owner) "We will negotiate, then. Perhaps one less room, and we can alternate privilege for the bed. We have heard excellent things about your establishment, and truly wish to rest here." (reply store-owner, room for more) (posted by Morgan G) ------------------------- (Asrai Prime, Celdebrai City, Market Place - COUNS Parker Davis - Day 10 - 1517) "The best thing would be to act like we're minding out own business and keep walking through the square, don't give them more than a friendly gesture of eye contact if that. If we're approached we'll have to improvise in the moment." said Matrix as they walked through the marketplace. Parker nodded his agreement, all the while studying everyone's facial expressions and gestures. His psychology training certainly helped, but he found himself relying on what he had learned in his youth in the city of Detroit. "Study their interactions with each other," Parker told them, acting as smooth as possible. "Pick up as much information as you can about how they interact." Tayla slipped her arm into his, and he felt a little tingle in the back of his neck as she leaned into him and they walked together. "Such a sight compared to our small village, isn't it? My husband, perhaps we could purchase something to take back with us as a memory of our trip here?" "Do you see anything that strikes your fancy, wife?" he asked, careful not to look at her. He hadn't been in character very long and didn't trust himself to not burst out laughing. Her smile widened and she replied, "That stall, there." She pointed. Walking towards the stall she had selected, she nodded to the store holder and began to look at the wares. Beautiful jewlery of all shapes and colours. Prescious metals and jewels were everywhere and in every configuration. She looked at a few pieces until she spotted the one she wanted. A small, blue stone set in a silver material on a chain. She held it up to the light and it twinkled brightly. The others had followed, so they now formed a small crowd around the young couple. Parker was more interested in the stall owner's reactions to their actions. "What do you think?" His gaze shifted to his 'wife', who was now holding the necklace up to her neck. Parker beamed. "It's beautiful." She smiled and said, "Your genoristy knows no bounds, husband." ~Wait a sec, I never said 'yes'...~ The stall holder wandered over and said, "A good choice, madam." Turning to Davis, he said, "Your wife has made an excellent choice." Parker studied the man's expression. He was hopeful, but slightly nervous. He was about to give Parker an over-the-top estimate. "She may have made an excellent choice, but the question remains if I have. What does this necklace cost?" He gave a price, and Parker took a step back, a gesture he had caught someone doing moments ago as they passed by. The man immediately rescinded the price and gave him a new, lower price. "We have just come in from a long journey, and our caravan is delayed because of a broken axle. Otherwise, your price would seem reasonable. I do wish to do business with you in the future," Parker positioned himself, and said, "Therefore I will offer you twenty kenals." The man complied, and muttered something about tourists. Parker gladly paid him and returned to Tayla's side. She reached for his hand and, holding it tightly, she leaned into him and whispered, "I've spotted the Captain and Caskie. Perhaps we should join them? We need to find lodgings and I for one am quite tired." He was immediately concerned. He looked over at her, studying her eyes as he asked, "Are you okay?" Nodding, she replied, "I'm fine. It's just... well, holding my barriers in place for this long is tough. I don't wat to open myself here and risk exposure." He gave her hand a squeeze. "We'll head over there now, then." She nodded, wearily and turned to Viskhard and said, "Uncle, we have spotted Mother and Father. Perhaps we should join them?" (Reply Viskhard) Smiling and holding onto Parker's hand, they walked towards the cafe and the Captain. Tired, but happy, she greeted them warmly and said, "Father, we are glad to see you again. Have you found us lodgings? I feel the need to take a rest." Ahmed gave her a once over, and realized that beneath the alien exterior, she looked very tired. "Are you well?" He asked, "I have made inquiry for lodgings, but have not yet arranged for them. I believe we will be staying at the Traveler's Hall tonight. It is not far from this place. Perhaps you grow faint from all the difficulties you have had securing a fair price for that necklace that you wear at your throat? We must be miserly in our expenses, for we do not know how long we will be in this city, waiting on the caravan." He replied, and then gave Viskhard and Parker a disapproving look. Parker gave a helpless look back. He had actually wanted to buy the necklace for two reasons. One, it gave him a real insight into how the economy worked here--haggling was allowed, which meant that there was free enterprise. Or at least the semblance of free enterprise. There was no telling what kind of tax system or other oppressive governmental rules they would encounter, if any. They had yet to see police or officials in charge of the public. The second reason was because he thought Tayla looked exquisite in the necklace. A poor reason, of course, especially for a 'city boy' who grew up saving every Credit he earned. "Son, bring us those empty seats there," Salid ordered, pointing to some that were unoccupied. "Our uncle and your wife can rest and enjoy some Habi. And perhaps some Chala will refresh them and bring them strength and vigor." "Yes, Father," he said, and brought the empty seats to the table. Once they were all seated, and some additional Chala was ordered and delivered. Ahmed leaned forward so that he could speak low enough to avoid any eavesdropping from the other tables. "What have you learned?" He asked them. "I was able to haggle for that necklace," Parker reported. "Which means that the people have some kind of free enterprise system. The economy is probably not rigidly regulated, but we don't know about what kind of oppression or anarchy they could be experiencing. Civil order seems widespread. We didn't see any violence or police presence. Most men carry weapons of some kind; even the boys have small daggers. It's definitely a patriarchy. And there's an elaborate caste system that I haven't quite figured out, but their language is partly sign language, and I've managed to pick up a few of those so far. There are probably a lot more to learn." (reply Salid, others) (posted by Morgan G) ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Market Place - CO - Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid - Day 10 - 1518) Ahmed watched as his CMO gave the strange looking food a tentative taste. The adventurous spirit ran deep in just about every member of the fleet, otherwise none of them would be here exploring an alien culture on the brink of extinction. "Now that is ice. Reminds me of pakora or perhaps a bahji. It's very similar." She said giving him a vague report of her impressions of the bizarre food. Ahmed nodded and smiled as he reached out and tried one of the unusual looking noodles. He decided to try it without the dipping sauce first, to see what sort of subtle flavors might be present. He had just popped one of them into his mouth when he realized that Jennifer had gone quiet. "Ah husband. I see our son and his wife and your uncle are about to join us. Perhaps you should order more Chala. Although it seems that your son has been more generous than you since his wife is most certainly wearing a new jewel. Perhaps they should buy their own Chala and perhaps you should remind him of how much the repairs to the wagons might cost us." "Indeed, youth does not understand the price of generosity." Ahmed replied, almost stoically. Ahmed turned his eyes out towards the crowded marketplace and let them fall on the three members of his away team as they made their way through the crowd. It took him a moment to pick them out, but he spotted them soon enough, they were aggressively moving through the crowd and the necklace was rather apparent to his trained eye. "Father, we are glad to see you again. Have you found us lodgings? I feel the need to take a rest." Ahmed gave her a once over, and realized that beneath the alien exterior, she looked very tired. "Are you well?" He asked, "I have made inquiry for lodgings, but have not yet arranged for them. I believe we will be staying at the traveler's Hall tonight. It is not far from this place. Perhaps you grow faint from all the difficulties you have had securing a fair price for that necklace that you wear at your throat? We must be miserly in our expenses, for we do not know how long we will be in this city, waiting on the caravan." He replied, and then gave Viskhard and Parker a disapproving look. (reply Fraiser, Parker, Viskhard, Matrix,Caskie iyw) "Son, bring us those empty seats there," he ordered, pointing to some that were unoccupied. "Our uncle and your wife can rest and enjoy some Habi. And perhaps some Chala will refresh them and bring them strength and vigor." (reply Parker) Once they were all seated, and some additional Chala was ordered and delivered. Ahmed leaned forward so that he could speak low enough to avoid any eavesdropping from the other tables. "What have you learned?" He asked them. (reply Fraiser, Viskhard, Davis,Matrix, Caskie) Daniel Greene ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Traveler's Hall- Hall Warden- Darsel- Day 10 - 1520) Darsel watched as the two merchants stepped into the traveler's Hall and immediately began to look around them as if they were a bunch of country bumpkins. They seemed inordinately observant to him and their very actions made him wonder if they had ever been in a traveler's Hall in the first place. Yet despite their obvious interest in the hall, they were well dressed and seemed to be merchants or servants of the richest sort. "Good Afternoon, kind sir." one of them greeted. "Aowa's kindness upon you sirs. How may I be of service?" Darsel replied. "I represent a merchant family that has traveled a long distance," he gestured awkwardly. "We have a caravan with our goods, but it is broken and delayed while repairs are completed. Until it arrives and until we can establish permanent residence, we wish to acquire rooms for the next few evenings." the man explained. Darsel frowned slightly, there was something wrong with the man speaking with him that made him a little uneasy. Normally Darsel could determine one's intentions easily enough, but it wasn't that the man had bad intentions, it was more that he seemed unfamiliar with the proper placement of his hands. He'd seen men like that before, who had seen injury or sometimes sickness. "You have had some ill fortune." he agreed, moving his hands to the pose of compassion, "How many are there in your caravan?" The man seemed to mentally count before responding and Darsel found this to be peculiar only in that the man did not indicate that he would be taking a few moments to contemplate his answer. Perhaps he had suffered from the palsy and was unable to make certain hand gestures and so did not even try. "Is your master amongst you? If so then I can offer you three rooms, one of which has a bed." Darsel answered thinking of the luxury that the master of the caravan would enjoy, and thereby the additional riches he would gather as a result of his guest's comfort. That would be a fine room for your master, one for his trusted servants and one for those needing separate lodging. Only twenty Kips and all amenities will be provided. So many , in fact that your master will think you a most loyal subject and reward you for choosing us over the merchant's hall for your lodging. For that price I will offer you three days lodging." Darsel placed his hands into the position of the joyful supplicant, ready to serve. "We will negotiate, then. Perhaps one less room, and we can alternate privilege for the bed. We have heard excellent things about your establishment, and truly wish to rest here." the man replied, without even contemplating his offer. "But... forgive me good sir. What mean you alternate privilege for the bed? Have you more than one master of your caravan? And does not your Master travel with both trusted servants as yourself as well as others of lesser value? Would he be so cruel as to force you to share space with them who are beneath your status? Please tell me that you do not suffer such indignities, for I thought by the richness of your dress that your master was a kind man, generous and dutiful to his station. I can tell also from your movements that you have suffered of the Palsy as a child. That also led me to believe that your master was unusually kind and generous. Pray tell, is it not thus?" Darsel was obviously agitated and he placed his hands into the position of unjust insult to stress his displeasure with the behavior of the man's master. (reply O'Neill, Sanok) Daniel Greene ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - ACEO Lt. Eian O'Neill - Day 10 - 1524) "But... forgive me good sir. What mean you alternate privilege for the bed? Have you more than one master of your caravan? And does not your Master travel with both trusted servants as yourself as well as others of lesser value? Would he be so cruel as to force you to share space with them who are beneath your status? Please tell me that you do not suffer such indignities, for I thought by the richness of your dress that your master was a kind man, generous and dutiful to his station. I can tell also from your movements that you have suffered of the Palsy as a child. That also led me to believe that your master was unusually kind and generous. Pray tell, is it not thus?" Darsel was obviously agitated and he placed his hands into the position of unjust insult to stress his displeasure with the behavior of the man's master. Eian registered that the man thought he had some kind of disease. ~Well, that's good, at least. I've got an excuse.~ He attempted the gesture of apology, and said, "It is thus, Sir. I apologize if I misspoke. What I intended to communicate was that we have staff traveling with us, and from your number of beds, I believed that there were not enough beds. The family's staff will alternate sleeping in the beds if this is the case. We have been on a long journey in the elements," he said, and added with a displeased gesture, "and are accustomed to worse than a night on a mat. Our Master, however, is kind and just." He gestured apologetically again and said, "But I do not mean to insult you, Sir, if you do have additional beds." (reply Darsel) "Our Master has a newly married son, whose wife is with us, and a younger daughter, still under Master's care." (reply Darsel, room for more) "You are very generous, Sir. Of course I will need to relay this information to my Master before we pay. You will be pleased with our Master's agreeable disposition and his generous nature." (reply Darsel, room for more) When they had left, Eian glanced at Sanok and said, "I don't know about you, but I think it's going to be a few days before we figure out how to fit in here." (reply Sanok) (posted by Morgan G) ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Traveler's Hall- Hall Warden- Darsel- Day 10 - 1526) The man attempted the gesture of apology, valiantly although not correctly and said,"It is thus, Sir. I apologize if I misspoke. What I intended to communicate was that we have staff traveling with us, and from your number of beds, I believed that there were not enough beds. The family's staff will alternate sleeping in the beds if this is the case. We have been on a long journey in the elements," he said, and added with a displeased gesture, "and are accustomed to worse than a night on a mat. Our Master, however, is kind and just." He gestured apologetically again and said, "But I do not mean to insult you, Sir, if you do have additional beds." Darsel was even more confused then he had been before, after all who had ever heard of such a thing. "Pray tell me friend, what place are you from that allows servants and family to sleep in beds when traveling abroad? For I have been a hall master for many years and I have never seen such a thing in all my days. How can this be that your master permits such behavior?" "Our Master has a newly married son, whose wife is with us, and a younger daughter, still under Master's care." "Why do you speak as if this is an uncommon thing, friend? If you are set for it, I will see what I may do, but it is most abnormal, and such things would need be closely monitored. But I would have need to charge you still 20 Kips, and claim I know nothing of your unusual behavior for fear of my position as Hall Master here. So your master's generosity would be counted upon." Darsel said, sensing an opportunity to make some additional coin. "You are very generous, Sir. Of course I will need to relay this information to my Master before we pay. You will be pleased with our Master's agreeable disposition and his generous nature." the man replied. "Very well. I shall arrange for three rooms, but I can promise you no more than one bed for each room, and I will not wish to know more of your sleeping arrangements, for fear that I may be shocked. I have oftentimes found that generous men have unusual beliefs. But I can certainly be trusted to hold your master's confidence. I say however that you should exercise much more caution when traveling thus, as there are many others who would not be so kind. Please let your master know that I am his humble servant." Darsel replied. The man nodded, and he and his companion left the Hall. It was an interesting situation, one that he was oddly curious to observe. Perhaps they were Karul? Darsel shook his head and sighed, then went back to his work, eagerly awaiting the return of the man and his master. (reply none) Daniel Greene ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Traveler's Hall - Lieutenant Sanok - Day 10 - 1527) Sanok stood near the row of wood chairs along the left wall of the inn, watching Eian's back, and keeping an eye on anyone entering the establishment. As a Vulcan, he could hear the conversation at the desk. At first, Eian was not doing well. He had made assumptions on customs and arrangements that were not normal in Asrai society. Eian was also poorly managing the Asrai signing part of their language. Sanok considered the Asrai signing. These people were raised in this aspect of their language. The away team, totally alien to this culture, were not only depending on the UT for the spoken word, but they had to very carefully observe, recognize, and commit to memory, the sign part of communication. Add to that, they had to make the motions as though they had been doing so their entire lives. The difficulty of this mission was immense. Once Eian and the innkeeper had come to an agreement, the two Starfleet officers left the inn and began walking to the rendezvous point to inform Captain Salid that they might have a place for them to stay. "I don't know about you, but I think it's going to be a few days before we figure out how to fit in here," said O'Neill. "You are correct," said Sanok. "Thus far, we have both drawn unwanted attention to ourselves. We must work harder to prevent that from happening again." "Karul! Karul! Karul!" The two boys that had made fun of Sanok, were back. Maybe they had followed Sanok and Eian. Maybe it was a chance encounter. Whatever it was, people were stopping to stare at them, and some were whispering and pointing. Sanok wondered if the Asrai had their own version of the neck pinch. The boys were following, both doing their best to imitate the way Sanok was walking. More and more people were paying attention to them. Sanok considered tossing a few coins onto the ground to draw the boys away from them, but he dismissed that. If the boys found them again, they'd just mock them more to try to get more currency. A permanent solution was needed. (reply O'Neill) (posted by Bob B.) ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Traveler's Hall- ACEO Lt Eian O'Neill - Day 10 - 1530) "Pray tell me friend, what place are you from that allows servants and family to sleep in beds when traveling abroad? For I have been a hall master for many years and I have never seen such a thing in all my days. How can this be that your master permits such behavior?" Eian realized that he had made a cultural error. Who would have thought that not everyone sleeps in a bed, even a cot? "We are from a place very far away, and you probably have not heard of it. It is remote, and we have yet to learn all of the differences between Celdebrai City and our home village." (reply Darsel) "Our Master has a newly married son, whose wife is with us, and a younger daughter, still under Master's care." "Why do you speak as if this is an uncommon thing, friend? If you are set for it, I will see what I may do, but it is most abnormal, and such things would need be closely monitored. But I would have need to charge you still 20 Kips, and claim I know nothing of your unusual behavior for fear of my position as Hall Master here. So your master's generosity would be counted upon." Darsel said. "You are very generous, Sir. Of course I will need to relay this information to my Master before we pay. You will be pleased with our Master's agreeable disposition and his generous nature," Eian replied. "Very well. I shall arrange for three rooms, but I can promise you no more than one bed for each room, and I will not wish to know more of your sleeping arrangements, for fear that I may be shocked. I have oftentimes found that generous men have unusual beliefs. But I can certainly be trusted to hold your master's confidence. I say however that you should exercise much more caution when traveling thus, as there are many others who would not be so kind. Please let your master know that I am his humble servant." Darsel settled. Eian and Sanok left. "You are correct," said Sanok after Eian had expressed the difficulty of this mission. "Thus far, we have both drawn unwanted attention to ourselves. We must work harder to prevent that from happening again." "Karul! Karul! Karul!" The two boys that had made fun of Sanok, were back. Maybe they had followed Sanok and Eian. Maybe it was a chance encounter. Whatever it was, people were stopping to stare at them, and some were whispering and pointing. Sanok wondered if the Asrai had their own version of the neck pinch. The boys were following, both doing their best to imitate the way Sanok was walking. More and more people were paying attention to them. Sanok considered tossing a few coins onto the ground to draw the boys away from them, but he dismissed that. If the boys found them again, they'd just mock them more to try to get more currency. A permanent solution was needed. Eian frowned, and turned. He made the sign for a question, but stood in what he had seen as a dominant stance, looking down at the boys hoping to intimidate them. It wasn't often he was able to use his size to intimidate people. "Youth, define 'Karul,'" he ordered. "Prove what you know." (reply Asrai youth, room for more) (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Market Place - ACEO Lt Eian O'Neill - Day 10 - 1601) Eian and Sanok found their group at a local restaurant after some focused searching based on where they had started. They pulled up chairs and joined the group. "Sir, we've found accommodations. The Traveler's Inn is not far, and has enough room for everyone at the price of 20 Kips." (reply Salid) (posted by Morgan G) -------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Lieutenant Sanok - Day 10 - 1532) While Sanok was trying to think of a way to get rid of the Asrai children, Eian stopped walking and turned to face them. He was standing in a posture unfamiliar to Sanok, but it appeared to be one of dominance. "Youth! Define 'Karul.' Prove what you know." It was somewhat humorous, even to Sanok, to see Eian trying to intimidate the two Asrai children, as Eian was barely bigger than either of them. Still, the boys stopped, shocked expressions on their faces. This was a crucial situation for them, but Sanok was intrigued by what might happen next. The boys looked at each other, then back at Eian. The taller of them balling his hands into fists and placing them against his sides. Sanok interpreted this as either defiance or a challenge to fight. "You dare talk to me?" said the boy. Sanok noticed people around them reacting in a way they hadn't in the past. Before, it was curiosity, with some whisperings. Now, it was as though they were witnessing some terrible offense. "You aren't allowed to talk to me unless you have permission. Apologize or my father will see you bound by law." This wasn't good at all. Based on the Asrai culture, it was logical that the apology had to be according to some specific code. There would be specific words and gestures neither he nor Eian would know. There was also the question of why Eian would need permission to talk to a boy on the street. From what caste was he? Why were servants of merchants to defer to that caste? There was so much the away team couldn't know about the Asrai way. There was something else Sanok noticed that concerned him. Two men wearing different clothing from anyone he had seen so far, each with swords on their belts, were moving towards the gathering crowd. If they were soldiers or law enforcement, things just got much worse. Eian had better find a way out of this. (reply O'Neill, any) (posted by Bob B.) ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Market Place - CMO - Cmdr Josh Caskie - Day 10 - 1533) Whilst everyone else was talking around her Josh had been listening to them with half and ear and surreptitiously watching everyone at the surrounding tables as they interacted with one another. Finally once almost everyone was seated round the table and Josh was confident enough that she knew what she was doing, she beckoned their servitor over again. "More Chala for everyone if you please and enough Habi to satisfy everyone here." She placed her hands into what she hoped was the gesture of approval. "You are indeed correct that your Habi is the best in the region. Please be good enough to convey my husband's compliments to your proprietor. I am sure that once he finishes his business with our servants he will wish to pay his own compliments himself." Thankfully Josh hadn't made too much of a mess off it and the servitor, beaming, went off to bring them more food and drink. While they waited Josh stretched an arm over and laid her hand on the Captain's elbow. "Husband, I have ordered more Chala and Habi that we might all be refreshed, but given how weary our esteemed son's wife feels, perhaps we should consider retiring soon to the rooms that our servant has found for us. There we may refresh ourselves and discuss our strategy without the entire market eavesdropping on it." (Reply anyone) (Posted by Marilyn) ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - ACEO Lt Eian O'Neill - Day 10 - 1536) The boys looked at each other, then back at Eian. The taller of them balling his hands into fists and placing them against his sides. "You dare talk to me?" challenged the boy. Eian recognized the crowds' facial expressions as shock and partial disgust, as if he had insulted them as well. "You aren't allowed to talk to me unless you have permission. Apologize or my father will see you bound by law," the boy demanded. Eian realized that this kid's father must be a big shot. He had several options at this point. He knew the innkeeper thought that he was afflicted with some kind of disorder. He could play that card, though he didn't like the idea of everyone thinking he was a bumbling invalid. It wouldn't bode well if he needed someone to trust him in the future. He also knew that the kids, though seemingly confident, were slightly intimidated. Whoever the Karul were, they didn't have much contact with them and their opinions were likely founded on superstition, which bred fear. He could use that to his advantage and make a vague threat. But if this kid's father was a big enough big shot, that might just get them all hunted down and killed. The last option was to swallow his pride and make the gesture of subservience in front of this kid. That would likely result in the crowd erupting in laughter and writing them off as stupid Karul. What he went with, though, was not pre-planned. He simply acted without much thought going into it. He made an apologetic gesture, keeping an expression of surprise on his face, and said, "We are not from Celdebrai City and have never been here before. We come from someplace very far away, and have journeyed long. Our home is far enough away that we do not know who your father is." It was the truth, or at least mostly the truth. Eian didn't expect to actually tell the kid the truth, especially considering how much he was annoyed with him. That arrogant look on his face made Eian want to hand him a shovel and drop him on top of the largest pile of animal droppings possible. A little manual labor or even a good, stern talking-to, would do this kid good. But that wasn't their place. He was curious as to how the kid would react to learning they were not from Celdebrai City. And he hoped his response wouldn't get them hauled off to jail. (reply boys) (posted by Morgan G) ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Market Place -ACMO -Lt (JG) Tayla Fraiser - Day 10 - 1537) Tayla sat listening to the talking but her mind was elsewhere. She'd been thinking about the courage it had taken Parker to tell her about his background, what had happened to him. She knew herself that her background was not as rosy as she had made it out to be and she knew, that if she wanted to continue being with him, then she had to tell her story and hope that he understood. Having said this, her mind pulsed with a dull ache at keeping these alien thoughts and feelings at bay and she needed time to re-assert her barriers and to rest. "Husband, I have ordered more Chala and Habi that we might all be refreshed, but given how weary our esteemed son's wife feels, perhaps we should consider retiring soon to the rooms that our servant has found for us. There we may refresh ourselves and discuss our strategy without the entire market eavesdropping on it." Tayla sighed and said, "My father, whilst my mother is right and that i do feel weary, it is mearly my 'observational talents' that have brought this on. I just need a little time to rest and recover from the day's activities." (Reply Salid) She'd hoped that the Captain had understood what she had meant by her cryptic message and it seemed that he had. She nodded and said, "I would also require a little time and counsel with my husband, if that is alright?" She glanced at Parker as if to convey that she had something to discuss between a counselor and patient, as opposed to two people falling deeply for each other. (Reply Salid/Caskie) Tayla smiled, wearily and said, "Your generosity knows no bounds." (Reply Salid, any) (Posted by Jackie Smith) ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Lt. Sanok - Day 10 - 1538) "We are not from Celdebrai City and have never been here before," said Eian, making some sort of gesture. "We come from someplace very far away, and have journeyed long. Our home is far enough away that we do not know who your father is." Sanok hoped the gesture Eian made was appropriate for this situation, though if it was, he wondered how Eian even knew it. The taller boy kept his fists at his side, though his facial expression changed. Sanok wasn't sure what to make of it, but it appeared the boy wasn't sure what to do. As both sides stared at each other, the gathering crowd lost interest and began to disperse, with the people returning to their business. Sanok heard some laughs, and a few comments about lower castes trying to make themselves more important than they were. By this time, the two men that were dressed differently from everyone else, had arrived. They quickly assessed the situation and stopped by Eian and the boys. "Is there something wrong here, boys?" The taller boy lowered his fists and seemed to take a submissive posture towards the two men. The smaller boy ran away. This was Sanok's time to step in and get them out of potential trouble. "Excuse me, sirs," said Sanok, making the common gesture of greeting, hoping it was the right way to approach law enforcement officers. "This was just a misunderstanding. We are travelers from a far land and we are unfamiliar with many of the local customs. The boys were no trouble to us." The officer eyed Sanok for a moment, apparently sizing him up. He looked back at the boy and waved his hand. The boy ran away. "Thank you, sir," said Sanok, offering the gesture of thanks he had seen in the market. "Why were these yrchai accosting you?" said the officer. "Because we are from another land, some of our speech patterns and gestures are different," said Sanok. "They thought we were funny, so they taunted us, saying we were karul." The officer snorted. "Younglings and their imaginations." Both officers laughed. Sanok feigned laughter with them, though he didn't understand the humor. "Enjoy your stay in Celdebrai City." The officer made a hand gesture Sanok had never seen, and he and his partner left. Sanok looked at Eian. "That was close. We must rejoin the others." (reply O'Neill iyw) (posted by Bob B.) ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - ACEO Lt Eian O'Neill - Day 10 - 1541) Thankfully, whatever Eian said was diffusing the situation. People lost interest and left. The boys seemed to change expressions when they understood that it was out of ignorance, not out of malice, that he had originally spoken to them. The taller boy's eyebrows seemed to slant downwards toward the outside of his face, and his lips relaxed so that his mouth was slightly open. His nose was pulled inward, though. Eian didn't know what it meant, considering he had no words to put it in context with. He stored it away for future reference, hoping to learn it like he had learned the others, once someone said something while they were making the expression. It pleased him that the children were the first to be addressed by the authorities. They were the first authorities either of them had seen, and they didn't seem to be interested in engaging in violence, but rather diffusing the situation peacefully. They also seemed to correctly assess that the kids had started it. Sanok conversed with them briefly and as he did, Eian stared at their facial expressions and body language, hoping to pick up more gestures. The only gestures they made were ones of surprise, laughter, and the symbol Eian had seen for 'have a nice day' or something close to it. "That was close. We must rejoin the others," Sanok said, and Eian agreed with the gesture he had seen the Asrai use for 'yes'. "We absolutely need more practice," he said quietly. (reply Sanok iyw) (posted by Morgan G) ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Market Place - CO - Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid - Day 10 - 1605) The members of the crew began to filter back into the marketplace and all eventually made their way back to the small cafe where the Captain and Caskie were seated. It was reassuring to Ahmed to note that everyone had returned none the worse for wear and that the away team's initial interactions with the Asrai had proven to be passable, if not perfect. The body language gestures were problematic, and although Ahmed could remember them perfectly, his understanding of when to use them, or even being able to perform them smoothly was highly questionable. In addition not being able to read the local language was problematic as well. Hopefully, Jennifer's attempts to decipher the Asrai script would prove successful, and at least one of the tougher hurdles would be overcome. Between Parker, Sanok, Rosenbauer and O'Neill's skill at personal observation, he also hoped that the issue of the body language would also resolve itself. He hadn't really considered how complicated that this aspect of the Asrai culture would be to overcome. He would have preferred to have had more time to study these people properly, but the luxury of time was not something that they had in enough quantity to spend on extended observation. Soma and Rosenbauer were amongst the first to return to the rendezvous. Their attention to their surroundings seemed obvious to Ahmed as they walked across the Marketplace, but the captain supposed that was because he was being particularly observant in his own right. They were followed closely by Parker, Viskhard, Matrix, O'Neill and Tayla. The small group settled at the table. "We just visited the shrine of sacred light." Soma explained, "Have you found anything of interest?" "I was able to haggle for that necklace," Parker reported. "Which means that the people have some kind of free enterprise system. The economy is probably not rigidly regulated, but we don't know about what kind of oppression or anarchy they could be experiencing. Civil order seems widespread. We didn't see any violence or police presence. Most men carry weapons of some kind; even the boys have small daggers. It's definitely a patriarchy. And there's an elaborate caste system that I haven't quite figured out, but their language is partly sign language, and I've managed to pick up a few of those so far. There are probably a lot more to learn." "Sir, I've observed no religious hierarchy, priests or deities. Nor is there any sign of disorder. Everyone appears generously warm and peaceful." added Matrix. "That seems to confirm our own observations as well." Ahmed replied. "I'm not certain that the Aowa are considered Deities, I think they are more like revered ancestors, although the distinction may be very slim. We will need to expand our areas of operation." "I think we should venture further into the city center. No doubt that we'll get a better look at this civilization and culture." continued Matrix in agreement. "What about lodgings, anyone secure anything yet?" Ahmed asked to the assembled group. "Sir, we've found accommodations." O'Neill confirmed, "The Traveler's Inn is not far, and has enough room for everyone at the price of 20 Kips." Ahmed nodded, that price seemed a bit high to him, but as he was not overly familiar with the cost of extended housing, he didn't really see much of an option. While they discussed things, Josh stretched an arm over and laid her hand on the Captain's elbow, instantly getting his attention, "Husband, I have ordered more Chala and Habi that we might all be refreshed, but given how weary our esteemed husband's wife feels, perhaps we should consider retiring soon to the rooms that our servant has found for us. There we may refresh ourselves and discuss our strategy without the entire market eavesdropping on it." Before he could respond, Tayla sighed and said,"My father, whilst my mother is right and that I do feel weary, it is mearly my 'observational talents' that have brought this on. I just need a little time to rest and recover from the day's activities." She nodded and said,"I would also require a little time and counsel with my husband, if that is alright?" Ahmed raised an eyebrow, hoping that it was a gesture that was universally shared at her comments. Her request seemed, somehow abnormal, and he had to ask himself if this was part of the role, or if there was something else going on that he was not aware of. "Understood," He replied, "we will all east a bit, and have some refreshment before we claim our lodgings. From there, we can discuss things, take rest if needed and put forward a plan for our integration into the local market." he added the last part cryptically, hoping that his crew would understand his true meaning, which was to continue their cultural survey and search for something that would allow them to intervene on the behalf of these people. So far he had only seen a culture worth saving, although he was not naive enough to believe that everything was roses and sunshine. Besides they were still one member short of their away team, and Ahmed wouldn't consider leaving without giving them a chance to rejoin the main team. "If my youngest daughter has not yet returned by the time we are finished with our refreshment, you two," he said pointing at Sanok and Soma, "Will wait for her return here and guide her to the Traveler's Hall. You do know the way?" (reply Sanok, All) Daniel Greene ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Traveler's Hall- CO - Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid - Day 10 - 1646) After taking their refreshment at the cafe in the market place and paying their tab, Ahmed and the away team made their way through the market and down the street until they reached the traveler's hall. The building was a massive, brick and mortar structure, three stories high, and covered with a heavy clay tiles that Ahmed thought would be very good to prevent seepage of moisture into the substructure of the building. There was a placard hanging from the exterior of the building which was labeled in the local script, and Ahmed was careful to note the characters, in the hopes of furthering his ability to read the native language later. The small troupe of starfleet officers, moved into the interior of the massive structure, and Ahmed was astonished by the sheer size of the primary lobby area. While not particularly spacious on a flat plain, it's interior ceiling ended at the rafters, three floors up. Each of the upper floors, were separated from the main lobby by polished wood railings, which gave the entire place a sort of hunting lodge sort of feeling. The proprietor smiled when he saw them enter and he immediately made a gesture that Ahmed had seen before. It was a gesture of welcome. The Captain, in character as Jalad, stepped forward and repeated the gesture. "Welcome kind master." Darsel said with a sense of happiness in his voice, "I have been eagerly awaiting your arrival, as your servant has told me of your generosity and kindness." Ahmed made a gesture that he believed to be one of gratitude. He'd seen it performed a few times in the marketplace. "I thank you for your kind words. I believe that arrangements have been made on my behalf, and that we need only settle the accounts?" he inquired. Darsel, gave a dip of his head, "It has master trader. I have put aside three rooms, to the specifications that your servant has provided me." "Very good, and the price was agreed upon as 20 kips?" Ahmed inquired. "It was good sir." Darsel responded. "I find the price a bit high, but as you are willing to provide us with our specific requests, I shall pay it happily." Jalad removed twenty of the kip coins from the purse at his waist, and handed them over to the hall master. "This is for the rooms," he stated and then fished out another two coins, "And these are for your kind consideration to see to it that we are not disturbed during our stay here. There shall be more coin, should you kindly remain diligent in this matter." Darsel's eyes grew large at the offer of the two coins. As he took them, he exclaimed, "You are indeed a most generous master. I shall see personally to your every need and satisfaction most humble benefactor. Were I not born of the traveler's caste and were it permitted, I would rather that I serve as your most lowly servant than as the master of this hall. If you provide this generous host with such gifts, and judging by the dress of your humblest of servants, one would consider themselves rich beyond compare to have you as their patron. But alas, while this is not so, I shall instead reconcile myself to the services that you shall require and that I may rightfully fulfill in my capacity as your most humble of hosts." "Should that you have any needs, that have requirements to be met, you may call upon my as your humble servant and host that I would exert myself upon your behalf as intercessor and confidant. Likewise will i entreat myself to the care and well-being of your servants and family as you direct for their comfort and well-being must be foremost upon your mind at all times, to consider their comfort and richness of garb. I shall deny them nothing befitting the nobility of the servant of such a rich, generous and influential master trader as yourself." Ahmed gave him another gesture, that he hoped was proper. "I thank you for your consideration and good service. It shall not be forgotten." Ahmed replied. "Would you then have someone show us to our chambers, as members of my family and servants are fatigued from their long journey hither." "It shall be done at once, how foolish of me not to have anticipated such immediate need." the hall master replied, and then turning into the hall, he called out quickly. " Harg, Broz, come at once, we have important guests and they will require a porter and guidance to their chambers." The two men rose from a seated position, where they had been reclining on a woven mat on the floor. As they approached Ahmed spoke to his host. "Darsel, we need not porters, for we have only the things that you see about us presently. Our caravan is delayed some days, due to broken axles and inadequate supply of skilled labor to repair them. So we came ahead bearing only those things that we now carry. A porter we need not, but a guide to our chambers is readily appreciated, for we are fatigued as I have already said." Darsel dipped his head immediately. "Harg, you may return, only Broz is needed." Harg gestured his understanding and returned to his place on the mat. Broz arrived a few moments later and guided them upstairs to their quarters on the third floor. "Most humble guest, these three rooms are your quarters." he explained, gesturing to three doors side-by-side. "They are arranged to the requests made by your humble servant. Should you need anything, please but let your wishes be known. "The Master's room is the one with the grand bed, the others possess the smaller beds as requested." Ahmed pressed a Kral coin into the servant's hand. "My thanks to you. Please leave us tin peace. We wish to rest after a hard day's work." Broz bowed deeply and then hurriedly left the party. Ahmed stepped into the closest room, which was very well appointed, it was obviously the master's chamber. He gestured for the others to join him. He happily noted the fact that the rooms were connected by internal doors, which made for the future interactions between the crew more transparent for the locals. It was a very good stroke of luck. "Okay everyone, take a look around and get comfortable. we'll have a short discussion in 1 hour, which should everyone a chance to formulate their contributions, rest and refresh as needed. You are all dismissed until then, stay close for the time being." "Nameeya, a moment of your time, privately." he added. (reply all) -------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Market Place - ATAC/SC - Ensign(sg) Jessica Signos - Day 10 - 1647) Jessica now going under the name of Lun'ette wondered the market place the security officer that the Captain sent with her to act has security took a place slightly behind and to the left. He followed closely listening to the ongoing conversations that filled the market place. He watched has Lun'ette bounced from one shop to another. By the time Lun'ette finally bounced into a clothing store she was aware that her small group was being tailed by another in the market place. Lun'ette spent her time looking at a couple of articles of clothing out for display before what appeared a middle aged Asrai came before her. "Welcome my good Miss," She greeted Lun'ette. "and Welcome to my shop." Jessica nodded before answering. "Indeed it seems the pleasure is all mine." "I don't think I've ever seen you here before. I would have remembered such eyes." The woman seemed nice enough. It also seemed the violet eye color was rare but not unheard of. "Awoa has blessed you with such a lovely state of being, by what do they call you?" She inquired shifting her weight. "No I am new to the city my father has ambitions on opening up trade in the great city." Jessica took a moment before continuing. "Me, my name in Lun'ette." "What a fitting name, even more so that you wear the Lun'ette flowers so prominently. What brings you to my store." Jessica smiled "We have traveled far, and are village is distanced from the ongoing and styles for the grand city, My father would like to take some of the city back with us. We have many young women who would love to keep abreast of the latest fashions here." The shop keeper smiled at the ideal of a business venture, and Jessica continued. "If you were to sell me some samples of clothing at a good price I'm sure the growing advertisement and building of a good relation between your business and my fathers would be of a benefit to you. I'm sure you can spare me a few coins to make so many more in future proceedings." The shop keeper stood almost dumbfounded this youth, this Lun'ette seemed to have a good deal of business sense true keeping a shop with in the confines of the city were profitable but if one could establish trade outside of the city then on stood to make a substantial profit. However the risk was greater, and the cost and upkeep of the caravan then the cost of guards. It seemed Lun'ette knew what she was talking about, and it seemed by her personal escort that her father could in fact facilitate such a business arrangement. "So do we have an agreement." Lun'ette asked the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper thought about it then smiled nodding her head in agreement. Lun'ette then reached into her pouch an pulled from it a few precious gems that were replicated from the Rose before the away team departed. Jessica knew that they would have to precure food, lodging, and dress to continue to play the part of a merchant family. Jessica only hoped that this would be of some help. The merchant took the offered gems and disappeared into the back of the store. It was sometime before she again returned but when she did finally return to the front of the store she brought with her three large bundles, and smaller bundle. "Three gems, three bundles;" The woman spoke. "The smaller one is for you young girl for you have impressed me so. At first you seemed out of place butt you've the heart of a merchant I now see why your father has you so escorted." "Thank you." Lun'ette said has she motioned to her escort to take the bundles while Jessica grabbed the smaller bundle of clothing. They then turned to leave the store. It was there that a Asrai male nearly ran into Jessica. "Excuse me, I couldn't help but over hear that your the daughter of a merchant?" The male asked fishing for information. "Maybe I could be of some assistance if you wouldn't mind telling me a bit about yourself?" He continued and offered. "Good sir, an adventure is more exciting before you set out, an animals bark is always more feared than it's bite, and a woman shrouded in mystery is always more attractive than one with out. For what its worth they call me Lun'ette." Jessica replied has her and her escort made her way out of the store and toward the small fountain to meet up with the rest of the away team. (reply none) (posted by Matthew Locke) ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Market Place - ATAC/SC - Ensign(sg) Jessica Signos - Day 10 - 1649) Jessica entered the square has the captain and the rest of the away team were seemed to be leaving. So her and her accompanying security officer made haste to join the group. She made her way though the crowd her training and knowledge has her time spent has Lily made her blend in has if he was one of the natives. It was surprising even to her how quickly she noticed the small details of this alien society. There were differences but they were of the slightest of nature. She darted to the group and came up on Salid's side. "Hello father," She glanced at Salid, "Mother," She glanced over at Caskie. "I am sorry I was delayed in the market." She noticed the disapproving glare she got from Salid, and she was sure she was gonna hear about her being late to the meeting place later that evening. But there was little helping it, time here passed different from other places and how to tell time was made even hard with no time piece. But those were not arguments that the Captain wanted to hear. But it only made sense given the current ruse they were trying to portray any one who has ever raise a teenage girl knew all to well that being on time for anything was akin to an act of god. She followed the group to the Travelers Hall (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Travelers Hall - ATAC/SC - Ensign(sg) Jessica Signos - Day 10 - 1653) Jessica kept to herself has the group made there way into the hall. Salid went to the halls keeper and after a short discussion the away team was on there way to the rooms that had been arranged for them. She entered one of the adjacent rooms it seemed the her brother and his wife took to the center room and closed the door for some alone time. Jessica took note but nothing more has she moved to a corner of the room she currently occupied and placed her satchels down in the corner. She knew that come the morning Josh and Frasier would be looking for a new set of cloths. Jessica was happy that she could offer such. She also had collected a wealth of knowledge from the market place. She took the time allowed before the meeting to collect her thoughts and bring together what she wanted to speak about in the upcoming meeting. She purposely kept her distance from Eian. Not that she didn't want him near but for exactly that reason. There relationship has had it's fair share of heated moments none of which the away team could afford at this time.She remembered the last time they were able to share a few moments together the dinner was nice the being with someone was better. Jessica knew that given time he would come around to her. The question was what else lied in her past that they would have to come to terms with. (reply any in away team) (posted by Matthew Locke) ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Market - Kenovan Rajl - Day 10 - 1650) I was normal to see Kenovan wondering the market has his fathers only living son and heir to their house it had made that fact only more so. To learn and understand the family business and to escape his parents provincial nagging that he needed to settle down and find a wife before taking over the riggors of the third largest marketing house in Celdebrai City. Kenovan imagined himself to much a free spirit and most of the courtiers that have made the city home bland. To him they all seemed carbon copies of the same thing. There were all striking beautiful, but there was little behind that beauty, no witty conversation, no understanding of the merchant life, to Kenovan they all seemed empty. Kenonvan himself was of a keen athletic build do to his training of Kaliory, which seemed similar to the earthen Philippines stick fighting and knife fighting called Numerada. He held many metals for competitions and had upheld his families honor many times in duels with his skill that martial of arts. But none of what Kenovan was could prepare him for what he found his his families market that day. She was a striking beauty, hair the sliver of light piercing the could, and eyes so violet the seemed to glow matching the lun'ette flowers she wore weaved with in her hair. There was mystery about her, about how she moved a bit off, only added to her exotic allure. So he followed, keeping his distance but close enough that he could know what store she would visit next. He would talk to his houses many loyal shopkeepers that were employed with the market. In his inquires Kenovan learned the this lady that had caught his fancy was named Lun'ette, She was new to the city only just arrived her father was a the leader of his own merchant house and looking to set up shop with in the confines of the city. An informant had located her father and told him they were looking into the Travelers Hall. A good and needed piece of information but who was this Lun'ette he had to arrange a meeting. He had to talk to her, so as she left a shop he bumped into her. "Excuse me," He started down a well practiced line. "I couldn't help but over hear that your the daughter of a merchant? Maybe I could be of some assistance if you wouldn't mind telling me a bit about yourself?" Kenovan continued with what he hoped was an appealing offer. What she answered with he was not prepared for. "Good sir, an adventure is more exciting before you set out, an animals bark is always more feared than it's bite, and a woman shrouded in mystery is always more attractive than one with out. For what its worth they call me Lun'ette." The small lithe female answered. Kenovan was floored by the response, she was has smart if not smarter than she was beautiful. She had seen though his cryptic advance and gracefully shot him down. No one had ever done so to him before. He would have to move quickly this would not be the first time he heard of a merchant house coming to the city looking to ally themselves with a stronger house by way of marriage. Whoever Lun'ette's father was had seen to it that he brought his most prized possession with him. Kenovan wondered what his father would say when he told him of the news. His father would probably chock on his carnis, a tender meat wrapped with a sweet breading then fried. Kenovan smiled at the passing thought before bringing his mind back to business. Yes, he would seek out her father in the morning make him an offer no business man could refuse. Kenovan left the market heading to the ornate gates of his house. There was much work that needed to get done this night. He knew once word of Lun'ette hit the street the odds of there being other suitors would increase greatly and that was something he could not have. (reply none) (posted by Matthew Locke) ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Travellers hall - ACMO Lieutenant (JG) Tayla Fraiser & COUNS Parker Davis - Day 10 - 1651) Tayla watched as the others dispersed and whispered into Parker's ear, "Can I borrow you a moment? There's something I need to tell you... to explain about myself." "Of course," he answered, curious as to what it could be. They entered one of the three rooms but closed the door to the adjoining rooms. They were alone. She sat on one of the beds and said, "There's something in my past that happened. Something that I'm not proud of." She sighed, closing her eyes. This was as difficult to explain as it was to relive but it had to be done, if they were to continue on together. She wanted that more than anything, more than she knew this was going to hurt to go through again. He placed his hand comfortingly on her hand as he climbed on the bed next to her. "Take your time." Feeling his hand on hers, she opened her eyes and looked at him. She nodded and said, "Before I tell you this, I want you to know that I love my family very much. I...." She paused a moment, this was still difficult for her to talk about, to experience again. She took a breath and said, "I'm not proud of what happened but you showing me what you went through.... well, I need to be honest with you about my past...." She began to tell her story. ===================================================================================================== There were too many people. This wasn't right. Too many people, supposedly paying their respects. None of them cared about how she felt. She simply couldn't get it into her mind that he wasn't coming back. Sitting on the top of the stairs watching them, Tayla could tell that they all wanted to say something to her but none of them did. She watched the door, constantly, not moving. She knew in her heart of hearts he would come back. He wouldn't leave her, he couldn't. He'd said he'd always be there for her. That was true wasn't it? A father was supposed to be there, to walk her down the aisle when she got married, to play the doting grandfather. He'd broken the promise. He'd left and, even though she knew that he wasn't coming back, part of her ached for him. Part of her hoped against all hope that he'd come walking through the door and scoop her up in his arms as he'd done only a few days ago. But no matter how long she sat there, everytime the doorbell rang, everytime her heart leapt and was dashed, she wouldn't leave. She'd watched them bury the body, the shell that had carried her father these long years and he wasn't in there anymore. She couldn't feel him anywhere and she was lost. Commander Jack Fraiser had told his younger brother to go to the doctor for regular checkups since he was a teenager. Their own father had died of a heart attack in the middle of the Battle at Wolf 359. It was suspected that the congenital heart defect that killed him was brought on by an environmental trigger, such as having to run around the ship to cover for downed officers during a major battle. Starfleet had salvaged his body in a sealed-off portion of engineering, which was floating among the wreckage. He would have lived if the defect had been caught and treated before the battle. So Jack had gone for regular checkups and had been treated for congenital hypertension and various other once-deadly heart problems. Daniel, on the other hand, refused to go to the doctor. The concert flautist was "too busy", which Jack took to mean "I hate the doctor and won't go unless I'm dying." Daniel had taken their father's death much harder than Jack, as Daniel was much younger child. People had been pouring into and out of the house like it was Grand Central Shuttle Station in New York City. They were talking and laughing, crying and remembering...many of them were re-hashing embarrassing stories about him, so he had slipped away with expertise that only a Starfleet Intelligence officer could display. He was now at the foot of the stairs, looking up at eleven-year-old Tayla. He smiled at her, trying to cut down on the sympathetic feelings that flooded into his mind. He knew she was starting to develop empathy. "Tayla whaddaya sayya," he said with a smirk, remembering the old joking saying that they had created when she was a toddler. He climbed the stairs and sat on the few beneath her. "You want to know something about your mom?" He asked with a smile. She looked at him and said, "I want to know when father's coming back." She could feel the tears beginning to leak through. This wasn't supposed to happen. You weren't supposed to loose a parent at eleven. She continued to stare at the door and said, "When's he coming back, Uncle Jack?" She rested her head on her hands and began to cry. All the emotion of the last few days and the feelings of the people around her was too much. She wanted to run and hide away and not be found. Just to be alone so she could imagine he was here with her. She realised though, that she was being a child and wiped her eyes, "What about my mom?" When she started to cry, he wrapped his arm around her and held her close to him. They stayed at the top of the dark stairwell in view of the front door, and Jack stared at the door himself, feeling tears in his eyes at the thought of Daniel walking in and asking why there were so many people in his house. "When she and your dad were engaged, she came to me and asked me honestly if it was a good idea. And before I could say anything, she said she wouldn't marry a man who wasn't sincere, who didn't want a family, who didn't love children, and who didn't want to spend most of his time with their kids. It was important to her that he was always there for his kids, above all else. She even said to me, if they married and eventually divorced, she wanted to know if he would still be dedicated to his family." He had phrased his question so that it sounded like he wanted to talk about her mom, but was actually giving her information about her dad. "And I answered, of course, that everything she had listed, he would do. That's the kind of man he was," he finished, his voice catching on the last word. He was able to hold it together, though. He had to, for her. She looked at him, his arms still wrapped around her. She could tell he was close to tears and this was a small comfort, that someone felt as bad and lonely as she did. She wiped her eyes again and said, "Uncle Jack, what happens when you die?" She'd known about the religious side of this. The priest that had done the service had spent some time with her and explained that all good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell. It worried her, the thought of her father, the one man in her life she could count on, down there in the pits of eternal fire. "I mean, do you think Daddy went to heaven?" Jack nodded slowly. "Everyone has a different idea of God, and I know the priest you talked to gave you his version...what I'm about to tell you is mine. You'll have to write your own, and find out in the end whether it's right." He smiled at her and gave her shoulders a squeeze as he began. "I think that when we die, we enter another place where God has programmed it to give us whatever we want. Whatever is strongest in our heart, that's what we get. So if your heart is bad, then what you get is what you want--bad things. And if your heart is good, then what you get is what you want--good things. Assuming for the moment that my version is the right one, what kinds of things do you think your dad wanted?" She thought for a moment and said, "Mommy and me." She sighed and said, "But why did he have to go?" she could feel something in her, an anger at him. He lied to her, told her he was going to be there for her no matter what and he'd lied. She closed her eyes and said, "He lied, uncle Jack. He lied to me. He told me he was going to be here forever and he's not." She started to cry again, this was too much for her. She wanted to run out of the house and keep running. Maybe if she run long and hard enough, he'd find her and they could be together again. "Shhh," he said, and held her close with both arms. "You know he meant what he said. You have to know that, Tayla. He didn't go of his own free will...and if he could have stayed, he would have. You know that," he repeated himself softly, wondering whether he was doing it for her benefit or his. She was so small in his arms, her tiny frame wracked with sobs. He felt a tear slide down his cheek, and he looked away, placing the side of his head on the top of hers as they both cried. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The people had gone and the house was quiet again. Too quiet. When he was alive the place was filled with music and laughter and now it was like a morgue. Like the place where Daddy had been before they'd buried him. Standing in the bathroom, she looked into the mirror. Her face was red and her eyes were puffy. She'd cried more that day then ever before and it was telling on her face. She finished brushing her teeth and splashed some water on her face. Standing still with her face in the warm towel, she felt the tears come again. Without realising, she'd used his towel and she could smell him. Curling in a ball on the floor, she cradled the towel close and cried. "Tayla, sweetie, come on, it's bedtime," Dana Fraiser said, her own voice exhausted but trying to sound at least a bit cheerful. She squatted down next to her daughter on the bathroom floor and put an arm around her. She didn't need to ask why Tayla was crying or even bother with platitudes to calm her down. She knew neither were necessary or wanted. Instead she tried to help her daughter stand up and walk into her bedroom. She let her mother lead her to the bedroom but she still hung onto the towel. To her, it was the only thing that still had his smell. She sat on the edge of the bed and sighed. This was a day that was going to end and, in the morning, he'd still be gone. She didn't want to go to sleep. She wanted Daddy to tuck her in like he'd done most nights. She hadn't been able to sleep since he'd gone, often falling asleep in random places around the house and waking up in her bed. This was the first time she'd been put to bed and it wasn't right. She felt herself well up inside again and she began to draw short sharp breaths to try and hold it in. Dana touched her daughter's face, using her telepathy to transfer as calm of thoughts as she could. But she didn't do it for very long, knowing that the longer she held on, the more her own tragic thoughts would seep through. She pulled the covers over her eleven-year-old and said, "Would you like a story?" She nodded and said, "Only if you do the voices like ......" She stopped. She knew that her mother didn't want reminding of father and neither did she. Everytime she thought about it, about him, it hurt badly. She looked away from her mother and to the picture she had by her bed. It was one of her and Daddy on the beach last summer. She'd been so happy then and now it was all ruined. Dana's eyes dropped, and she pulled up Tayla's desk chair without saying anything else. She pulled the book they were reading, the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, from the nightstand bookshelf. Opening to the marked page, she began, "At length did cross an Albatross, Thorough the fog it came; As if it had been a Christian soul, We hailed it in God's name. It ate the food it ne'er had eat--" She cringed. It wasn't right. Not like daddy and that hurt. She didn't even make the effort to read it right. The longer it went on the longer it stuck in her heart that she didn't care about how this was making her feel. That this wasn't what she had wanted at all. After a few moments, she said, simply, "No, Mummy, not like that. It's not like Daddy did it. It's all wrong." Dana felt a lump in her throat, and she closed the book. "Good night, Tayla," she said as she stood up, leaving the book on the chair as she rushed out of the room. She couldn't hold back the tears any longer, and she didn't want Tayla to feel her anguish. She had to put physical distance between them, so she went downstairs. Jack was sleeping on the couch, helping out the family for a few weeks. He was just coming up the stairs to use the bathroom when he saw Dana rush out of her daughter's room and run down the stairs. "Dana?" he asked, but realized that there were two priorities here. He chose to help who he considered the more fragile of the two. Approaching Tayla's room, he found her bedside light still on and a book on the chair. Immediately, the intelligence officer put together what had happened, and he walked in. "You know, Tayla, part of what I do at work involves doing voices...want me to give it a shot?" She looked at him. Slowly nodding, she said, "But you have to do it like Daddy. He didn't sit on the chair. He.... " she wanted to say that he'd gotten on the bed next to her and she'd curl up next to him to see the words he was reading and to watch him do the voices. It had always made her laugh. She simply said, "He sat here." She pointed next to her. He nodded, and smiled. "Of course. Where else would I sit?" he asked, and took the book off of the chair, then pushed the wheeled chair over toward the desk as he sat down on the bed, and patted the area where she was. "There's a bump in the covers...I wonder what this is...it's in my way," he said as he edged closer to her and elicited the giggle he was looking for. He grinned and opened the book to the marked page. "Rime of the Ancient Mariner, huh? Well...I would have chosen something more cheerful but okay. Here we go," he said, and wiggled his eyebrows in a funny pattern to let her know he was getting into character. He showed her the pictures and words as he read in his deepest, 'announcer' voice, "At length did cross an Albatross, Thorough the fog it came;..." he continued and got to the part where the Ancient Mariner's wedding guest spoke. He changed his voice to a higher-pitched, alarmed cartoon voice as he said, "God save thee, ancient Mariner! From the fiends, that plague thee thus! -- Why look'st thou so?" He showed her the picture of the albatross flying, with an arrow about to impact it in the chest. He said in his deep voice again, "With my cross-bow, I shot the Albatross." She looked at the words as he read. This was just like Daddy. she snuggled in close and sighed. This was what she wanted, to be close to him again, to have him hold her and tell her everything was going to be alright. But, as much as this felt right, it hurt just as much. The realisation that Daddy wasn't ever coming home, wouldn't ever hold her again, wouldn't kiss her knee better when she fell. She felt the emotion of the day fill her again and then, suddenly, a wave of sadness and loneliness washed over her and she knew who it was. It was only her, her mother. Suddenly, she couldn't hold it in any longer and began to weep quietly. As Jack finished, he looked over to see that she was crying and he closed the book and set it aside as he wrapped an arm around her. "I'm sorry, little one," he said quietly, just like he used to when she was very small. Then he began to sing softly to her, copying the lullaby that their mother sung to them when they were children. ====================================================================================================== A tear ran down her face as she stopped. This was harder than she though, mainly because she knew what she'd have to explain next. The worst part. The part that she was utterly ashamed of but it was important to her that he knew that whole story. She looked away from him and said, "I still miss him." He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb as he said, "I know," very softly. (Reply No-one) (Posted by Jackie Smith and Morgan G) ------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Travellers hall - ACMO Lieutenant (JG) Tayla Fraiser & COUNS Parker Davis - Day 10 - 1703) She felt a tear run down her cheek as she remebered the funeral and the days after it. Taking a deep breath, she said, "That's not the worst part. The worst part came after." He nodded. "Take your time," he repeated. "You're very brave, Tayla. You're doing just fine." She smiled and said, "Before I continue, I want you to understand that this isn't me now. I changed, I learnt the hard way and.... just don't think less of me. Please?" Parker bowed his head and smiled slightly as he took both of her hands in his. "Tayla, whatever you did, it *is* you. Just like what I did *is* me. It will always be a part of you. Without that part of you, you wouldn't be the amazing person you are today. You are the sum of your experiences. You can't have a sum if you start subtracting." He smiled. "Sorry. I was being a counselor. Go ahead." She gripped his hands tightly and began. ======================================================================================================================== James took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he parked his antique, red 1968 Mustang convertible outside the beautiful cottage in Marseilles. He planned on taking Dana out on a tour of the French countryside after dinner, using the old pre-shuttle-car roads. He wasn't nervous about seeing her again, because they'd been dating for a full month now. He *was* nervous about meeting her fourteen-year-old daughter, Tayla. From what Dana said, the girl wasn't taking his presence in their lives very well. Her father had died three years ago and she had been devastated. After Jack introduced he and Dana last month, James had asked to meet Tayla but Dana had said that she needed some time to explain to her daughter. He got out of his car and walked up the front steps. He put the keys in his pocket and rang the doorbell, hoping that it was Dana who answered. The ring shattered through the house and spoilt the music she was listened to. Thumping the pillow she was lying against, she yelled, "There's someone at the door." She waited and heard no movement. Suddenly, the bell rang again. This was intolerable. The fourteen year old Tayla sighed heavily as she jumped off her bed and went to the top of the stairs and said, "I'll get it then, shall I?" She stormed, theatrically, down the stairs and pulled open the door. Standing there was this strange man that she hadn't seen before. She looked at him and said, "What?" James was taken aback by the teenager. He didn't have kids and although he occasionally saw them in his practice, teenagers were usually healthy enough that they didn't need to see a Starfleet doctor very often. So he wasn't used to the sarcasm and attitude that he vaguely remembered from his own childhood. He tried to recover his smile as he answered, "I'm James Shepperd..." he got no reaction. "Your mom and I are...um...we're good friends." He glanced at his chronometer. "She's expecting me." She looked at him, furrowing her brow. She knew he was nervous, it came off him in waves. She also knew who this must be. That new 'friend' of her mum's. She was still mad at her for this. Descrating her father's memory with this guy. She stared at him and said, "Is she? Wonder why?" She knew she was being rude and she couldn't help it. She'd disliked him instantly, he couldn't, wouldn't take her father's place. No one could. His smile turned into a sort of sideways glance. "Well...do you mind if I come in?" he was hoping Dana would come to the door soon and rescue him. She stood to the side, saying, "Do what you like. I don't care." He stepped over the threshold and stood there with his hands in his pockets, not knowing exactly what to do now. "Tayla!" he heard Dana's voice from upstairs. "Don't just stand there with the door open. You'll let all the hot air in." She came down the stairs in a skirt and heels, and a v-neck blouse. James grinned at the sight of the beautiful Betazoid woman with dark hair and eyes. "I hope you weren't waiting long, James?" "No, no, I just got here and Tayla and I were...talking." She looked at him and said, "If that's what you'd call it." She looked at her mother and said, "You're not going out in that, are you?" Dana looked down at her skirt, which was just above her knees, and then looked back up at her daughter. "What's wrong with it?" she asked, perplexed. Tayla smiled and said, "Nothing, unless you want people to think you're on a date." Dana rolled her eyes. "Tayla, I don't mind what people think of me, and neither does James. Have you finished your homework?" James watched the exchange awkwardly from the sidelines, hoping Tayla wouldn't associate him with homework now that it had become the topic of conversation. She glared at her mother and said, "So you'd rather go out with him then spend time with me! That's fine. You're welcome to her." She stormed into the living room and through herself onto the small couch. Flipping on the vid screen, she chose the loudest thing she could find. ~If that's how they want to play it then fine!~ she thought to herself. Dana clenched her fist in anger and then unclenched it and sighed. "I'm sorry," she apologized to James. "Don't apologize. She's going through a lot right now," James said. "It's not acceptable behavior, but it'll pass," he encouraged her. She shook her head. "She knows better than that. Excuse me for a moment, then we'll go." Dana walked into the family room and flipped off the vid screen. "Tayla Fraiser, you are fourteen years old, not four. The way you're acting is immature and unacceptable. If you want to pout around the house like a child, then you'll be treated like a child. Go up to your room and finish your homework. I'm going to have Aunt Bea call you every forty-five minutes to make sure you're okay. I'll be home in a few hours, and when I get home, I want you in bed. Or, I won't have Bea call you and you can stay up as late as you want, since it's not a school night. It's your choice." Glaring at her mother, she yelled, "Fine! I don't want to hang around here anyway. Oh and, for your information, I know what he's thinking right now and Dad would be ashamed of you!" She stormed into her room, slamming the door shut. Crashing onto the bed, she began to cry. ~Why can't she see what's she's doing is hurting? She's doing it deliberately. Like she's punishing me for not being there when dad died.~ she thought to herself. She knew she was behaving badly but it seemed like the only way to get her attention. Since her Father had died, they'd hardly spent any time together. Only seeming to talk when she got into trouble. And even then, it was yelling. She waited until they had left and she thought to herself, ~I don't plan on waiting around for those guys to get home.~ Watching them pull out down the drive way, she waited a few more minutes and then grabbed her bag and left. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was dark now and had been for sometime. Quietly opening the front door, she tried to creep into the silent house. She knew she had to get past the front living room and up the stairs as quietly as possible but now she was drunk and wanted nothing more than to laugh. Standing at the bottom of the stairs, she took a deep breath and put one foot on the stairs. The security monitor told Dana when her daughter had gotten home. She hadn't called the police or any of Tayla's friends, because this was not the first time that her daughter had gone out and come home later. Dana did watch the monitor in the front hallway from her bedroom, though. She was looking for signs that Tayla was hurt or drunk. She immediately saw the attempt at walking in a straight line to the stairs, and shook her head. Tayla was definitely drunk. She sighed, and closed her eyes. What could she do? She wasn't so much angry as she was tired. Her daughter had fought her for three years now, and she didn't know what to do. James had been a godsend, supporting her and giving her the strength she needed to not just live, but move on. Arguing with a drunk fourteen-year-old was a useless task, but Tayla needed to learn the lesson. Dana got up and took a deep breath. When her daughter was at the top of the stairs, she opened her bedroom door and said evenly, "Go back downstairs and get in the shuttle-car. I'll be there in a minute." Tayla looked at her. This was something new. She had expected shouting, yelling, the old where the hell have you been routine. This was not it. she straightened herself and leant against the wall and laughed. She couldn't help it. The situation was funny to her. Go to the shuttle-car. At this time of night, she had to be kidding. Like she was really going to negotiate those stairs again. As she laughed, she watched her mother's face. She could tell she was disappointed in her but she didn't care. She hadn't cared for a long time, since her Father had died. Things had started to go wrong then. Uncle Jack had tried to help but even he had gone away. Back to his job. Everyone she loved had gone or was going to leave her so why not just push them away now. Save on the hurt later. She stopped laughing and said, "You're serious? You actually expect me to go back down those stairs! You must be joking, I'm going to bed." She moved to stumble down the hallway to her room. Dana caught her daughter's arm and spun her around to lead her back to the stairs. "No, you're not. You're going to the shuttle-car, and if you can't get down the stairs safely, then I'll help you. But there's no negotiation here. You're going to the shuttle-car. Come on." Her mother's hands on her arm made her angry, more so the fact she could feel her mother's disappointment. She knew she was a screw up and here was proof. She shrugged her hands off and said, "I don't need your help. I can make it myself thanks." She stumbled towards the stairs and stopped. Standing at the top made her mind spin. She could feel herself wanting to hurl but she was damned if she was going to do it infront of her. Steadying herself, she made it down the stairs, turned around and theatrically bowed, saying, "See?" "Wonderful. Now go to the shuttle-car. I said I'd be there in a minute," Dana said, and walked back into her bedroom and shut the door. She sighed as she tapped her dresser drawer open and extracted some clothes. She pulled a small duffel bag out of her closet and packed it quickly, then went to Tayla's room and grabbed some clothes to put in the bag as well. She picked up some of Tayla's toiletries and some of her own, stuffing them in the bag as well. Finally she grabbed the first aid kit out of the top shelf of the hallway closet, and she picked up her communicator from her desk in the master bedroom, turned it off, and stuffed it deep into the bag before sealing it. Tayla walked out to the car and, leaning against it, folded her arms and watched the house with a glare of hate in her eyes. This was pointless, she knew it and she knew her mother knew it. This was the last hope for her, her mother thought but Tayla knew that it wasn't going to work. Nothing could save her now, only her dad and that wasn't about to happen. She watched as her mother came out of the house with a bag and she said, "What the hell is that for? Where are we going?" "We're not going to any one place," Dana said cryptically and got in the car. She started it with her thumb print and said, "Come on, get in. I already locked the house, so you'll either sleep outside or you'll sleep in here. Get in." She glared at her. ~Damn, she knew I'd just go back into the house.~ she thought to herself and got into the car. Not looking at her mother, she couldn't right now. She was too mad at her. She still, even now, didn't get it. All she wanted was for her mother to hold her, tell her everything was going to be okay and that she did love her, but the stupid woman couldn't even get that. She didn't seem to care how much she was hurting, how badly she wanted to curl up in a ball and simply sleep and not wake up. Dana powered up the impulse engines and they lifted off the ground. They only had to travel in silence for a few minutes before they set down at their first destination. "I've picked out fourteen of these," she said. "All across France. One for every year old that you are. Let's go." She opened her car door and got out, then stood there until Tayla finally followed. They were on the side of a road, and there was a small cross with some flowers and a dirty teddy bear left there with a ribbon around its neck. Dana pulled out her PADD. "Here you go," she handed the PADD to her daughter. On it was a biography of the young girl who was killed in a shuttle-car collision because of intoxication. Tayla looked at the Padd and, whilst she felt sorry for the kid and her parents, she shook her head. "I don't see what this has got to do with me. I can't drive, you stupid woman." She handed her mother back the PADD and walked back to the car. This was pointless, she knew that people drove whilst they'd been drinking but she was fourteen years old. Driving wasn't even in her mind. "She was your age, Tayla," Dana stated frankly. "She couldn't drive either, apparently." She got back in the car and took off. "The next one is going to take a few hours to get to. Why don't you get some sleep?" Dana was exhausted, but she knew this had to be done. The first time Tayla had come home smelling like alcohol, Dana had engineered this trip in case it ever happened again. She imagined it would happen sometime in the middle of the night, so she had given herself a route that involved a lot of traffic so she would have to stay awake and pay attention. They were driving into Paris. They reached the big city and set the shuttle down in a parking lot close to the Eifel Tower. She nudged her daughter awake, "Time to get out, Tayla," she said. "We have to hike a little bit from here." Ten minutes later, they had walked to an intersection where a cross was stuck to the grass at the sidewalk border. She handed her daughter the PADD again, this time displaying a thirteen-year-old boy's face. He had walked out in the middle of traffic while drunk, and had been fatally hit with a road-car. She looked at the PADD but only briefly. She knew what she was doing and this wasn't going to work. Didn't she realise this? That she wasn't going to change. She wanted to drink away the hurt and the pain of the last few years and simply forget. This couldn't touch her because she was numb. She was dead inside and had been since the day he'd died. She didn't want to feel because it would hurt too much. Too much to bear and she knew this. That's why she drank, to forget, if only for a few hours. She turned to her mother and said, "So?" "You need to read that more carefully. Come on, let's get back in the car. The next place is about a half hour away." If Tayla looked closer, she'd find that the boy's father had died the previous year. Even less time for healing than Tayla. She would also find that the boy's mother committed suicide soon after his death. It was a tragic event, all preventable if only they had a family friend looking in on them. They went on like that for the better part of the evening. Dana stopped at a shuttle-car parking lot and slept for a few hours, and then took off again. They covered every one of her fourteen kids on the list. The last stop was near the hospital where James worked. So near, in fact, that they planned to walk inside. She led Tayla to a wall with hundreds of names written on nameplates that were secured to the wall. The wall was painted in bright colors and had ribbons and balloons everywhere. Flowers, teddy bears, toys, and pictures were scattered all around. An overhang protected the area from the elements. Statues of children running and playing were on the lawn nearby. "Do you know what this is, Tayla?" She looked at her, she was tired and worn out from all this travelling and wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and sleep off her pounding head. She said, "Ir's a statue. It's a statue of kids. So what?" "This wall is a list of the names of the children who attended the Barley-Rene School right over there," she pointed across the street to an empty lot, "Two years ago. It burned to the ground, with most of the student body inside. They ranged in age from three to eleven. None of these children were drunk." She handed the PADD to Tayla. "But the cook in the kitchen was. See, it's not all about you. You affect other people around you, Tayla." This was the last straw for her. A red cloud of anger filled her all the way from her feet to her forehead and she couldn't take anymore. Yelling with all her might, she said, "OH REALLY? Is that so? So how is it that I can be here, hurting, angry at the world and NO-ONE CARES! I don't affect people around me because I'm nothing!" She whirled round on the spot and ran. She had to get away from here, from her mother, from everything. She could feel her feet pounding on the ground and tears running down her face as she ran across the parking lot. Suddenly, her foot connected with the curb and she went flying. Airborne for a few seconds, she felt at peace and then her chin connected with the ground. Pain exploded in her mind and stars began to appear in her field of vision. She rolled onto her back and lay there for a moment. She could feel blood dripping off her chin and she wiped it away, wincing a little. Dana's heart jumped a little when Tayla tripped, and she went running after her daughter. When she saw that Tayla was okay but seemed to have busted her chin with a nasty gash, she sighed and said, "Oh, honey..." She bent down and helped her up. "Come on, we're right next to the hospital. We'll just go inside and get that fixed up. Okay?" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. It had actually been Daniel's. It somehow seemed appropriate that this was the first time she used it, pressing it against Tayla's chin. Tayla allowed herself to be lead into the hospital and sat in the small room waiting for a doctor. She was so tired and hung over right now she didn't care. All she wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep. She held the handkerchief to her chin and waited. Suddenly, the door opened and the doctor walked in followed by her mother. She stood instantly and said, "No! There is no way that man is coming anywhere near me." She glared at James as he stood there, quietly. She moved into a corner of the room and slid down the wall to a sitting position. "GET HIM OUT OF HERE!" she yelled with all her might. James stood there sort of helpless as Dana rubbed the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. She turned to the doctor. "I'm not going to fight with her any more," she said, realizing that a ton of emotions were leaking through, and hoping against all lost hope that maybe Tayla would feel what she was feeling and realize that she *did* care what her daughter was going through, but was totally lost as to how to deal with it at this point. James put his arm around Dana's shoulders and led her out of the room, the door sliding closed behind them. Once outside, he realized Tayla could still see them through the window but he nonetheless place his hand comfortingly on Dana's arm and said, "I'll get someone else to treat her." Then, rather suddenly, Dana burst into tears, collapsing against James as she sobbed. "I don't know what to do," she cried. "I'm afraid I'm going to lose her." James held her gently and whispered, "It's going to be okay. She's a smart kid...she'll eventually come around." He dropped his eyes and said, "Sometimes kids have to go through tough times before they realize what they have." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- She'd been treated now and had a small patch on her chin that was sore. She sat in the car waiting for her mother to come out of the hospital. She'd sat there for a while and watched as she came out with that man. She glared at him as he held her mother close and spoke to her. She knew they were both concerned about what was going on but she didn't care. She'd stopped feeling a long time ago and nothing could bring it back now. Sure, she could still feel others around her but the emotions were alien to her. As her mother opened the door, she said, "Are we going home now?" "Yes, Tayla, we're going home now," Dana said, probably a little ruder than she should have. She started the shuttle-car and drove home in silence. When they touched down on the driveway, she took a deep breath and said, "Before you get out--I want you to have something." She reached around to the back seat and grabbed the bag that she had packed. She unsealed it and reached under the clothes they didn't end up changing into, and pulled out the communicator. She pulled the back off of it and then slid a data chip out of its slot, and stuck it in a matching slot in the car. A holographic screen automatically popped up on the passenger side of the dash board. Then Dana left. Displayed on the holographic screen was her father's face, though he was much younger than he was when he died. He smiled and said, "Tayla, this is something I wanted you to have just in case something would ever happen to me. I'm not sure how old you are right now, so I'm going to keep things simple. I lost my dad when I was a teenager. He died in battle...but not from a battle. You may have heard the story at this point, but I'll rehash it just because I'm not sure how old you are. He was in the Battle of Wolf 359. He was in Security. His influence was part of the reason why Jack decided to go into Intelligence...anyway, he was in a sealed-off section of the ship because he was repairing the shield grid. Not his job, I know. That's because they were in a terrible battle and a lot of the people had died." He looked down, and then looked back up again, his eyes red. "It still hurts to think about how he must have died in that section...it was separated from the rest of the ship when it broke apart, and he had plenty of air, though he was probably a little hurt...and he had a heart attack. He had an acute heart condition. Why am I telling you this? Because, well, I know how you must be feeling right now. You must be scared and angry. You must be confused. You probably feel like the whole world hates you, and you probably hate the whole world. And you probably hate me, for leaving. I understand all these feelings. The thing is, I can't fix them for you. You have to find the courage in your own heart." He smiled and a tear crept down his cheek. "Thinking about you growing up without me like I grew up without my dad makes me very sad, Tayla. But know that I love you. I've asked your mother to keep this recording until she feels you're ready for it. I've asked her to keep for you for when you're almost an adult. She must feel like now is the time to give it to you. Take care of her--you probably know this, but she's feeling a lot of hurt right now, too, and you're all she has. I love you, Tayla." A tear fell down her face. Suddenly, it hit her, all the pain, all the confusion, all the feelings that she'd fought so hard to keep at bay hit in one moment. She shook and raised her hand to the recording. Tears flowing freely down her face now, she said simply, "I love you too, Dad." She closed her eyes a moment. Suddenly everything became clear. What she'd been doing to herself, her friends but worst of all, her mother. She glanced at her sitting on the steps to the house, watching her and for the first time in a long time, she could feel her mother. She opened the door, slowly, and got out of the car. Looking at her mother's face, watching her as she stood herself. She knew what she had to do. She walked, trotted, then ran straight into her mother's arms and wept, harder and longer than she had ever done. Her body wracked with sobs as the tears ran down her face. "Oh, mother. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Dana held her close, cradling her and rocking her back and forth. "You're forgiven, Tayla," she said, a tear sliding down her own cheek. That recording had been her last hope. She didn't know what to do if that couldn't get through to her. "All is forgiven and we can start again..." ========================================================================================================================== She was crying softly now. Ashamed of what she had done, what she had put her mother through, how she had almost destroyed herself and her family, she turned away from Parker. She wiped the tears away from her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself. He pulled her close to him and held her. "That's a powerful story of redemption," he said softly, and released her slowly. He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and smiled at her. She leant forward and kissed him gently on the lips. Placing a hand on his face, she said, "It doesn't bother you?" "How could it? We're almost the same person." She smiled and replied, "Perhaps that's why we get on so well. Two damaged souls finding solace in each other." (reply no-one) (Posted by Jackie Smith & Morgan G) -------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Travellers hall - ACMO Lieutenant (JG) Tayla Fraiser & COUNS Parker Davis - Day 10 - 1715) She watched him a moment, looking for signs that he was going to run but there wasn't any. She smiled and said, "There's one more part that I need to tell you. The end to the story." ~There's more?~ he thought. She had told him so much, and he wondered what could have come after that. Perhaps something else bad had happened after she had made up with her mom? But from the way she told him that there was more, he suspected it was something good. He nodded, curious. "Go right ahead." She smiled and said, "How did I get so lucky to have met you?" "I think it's me who's lucky to have you," he corrected with a chuckle, and grinned at her. She kissed him gently and, watching him, told the last part of her tale. ========================================================================================================================== Looking out at the lake, she felt at peace. It had been four years since that night on the steps at the house, four long years that hadn't been easy at first but they'd gotten there. Now, she sat quietly, watching the fireflys dancing over the water. She could hear the music from the party floating over in her direction and it brought a smile to her face. Finally, she'd married him. James made her mother happy and that was enough for her. Whilst they all knew that he wasn't a replacement for her father, he was a confidant and a friend. A figure that she could look up to and that's what she had needed. She shivered a little, it was getting cold despite the summer month. The dress she was wearing, sky blue silk, offered little protection and she wrapped her arms around her to get a little warmth. This was her mother's night. She didn't want to bother them with her news, not now. She planned on waiting until they got back from their honeymoon. It would make her mother's day. But tonight was for them and she knew it. She held the untouched glass of champagne in her hand and gazed at it. She'd been clean of drink for nearly three years now and, although her mother had said that she could have one drink, she hadn't all night, determined not to go back to the way she was. The hurt that she'd caused her mother at that time, still even four years later, made her cheeks burn with shame. They'd said their apologies, cried and held each other most nights after that until the pain had eased. Soon, she was back at school and doing well. High class honours in recent exams were only proof of how much she'd changed. But the biggest change was yet to come. This was the big one, the big choice she'd made recently and knew it had been the right one. She thought back to the first meeting with James after that night and smiled at how much relief flew out of him when she'd hugged him. Her mother had cried and they'd stood in the hallway for the best part of twenty minutes before moving to the living room. They had both told her that he was not there to replace her father, that no-one could and he didn't want to and she knew that. There and then, she'd decided to give him a fair chance and they hadn't looked back. He'd suffered at their hands though. Many a night they'd be having a meal and mother and daughter holding private conversations and then laughing uncontrollably as he'd asked what they were talking about. It had felt good to be part of a family again. Not only had she grown as a woman but it seemed her Betazoid side had developed too. She'd always known she was an empath and thought nothing more, but lately, another side had developed, some telepathic powers. Not much but something she knew she wouldn't have had without their support and she thanked them for that. Hearing footsteps crunching on the path towards her, she reached out with her mind and smiled, as she said, "You know, you'd think living with two telepaths, you'd learn to control your thoughts, James. But you still send out stuff. Mother wouldn't be impressed." She giggled a little as he sat next to her. He smirked and slid close to her on the bench, slipping a fatherly arm around her. "You know, you'd think for two telepaths living with a human male, that joke would get old." He watched as she laughed and he smiled at her, admiring her developing beauty. "You seem to have your mom's nose and your dad's chin. Anyone ever told you that?" She smiled and said, "Yeah all the time." She leant her head on his shoulder and sighed. She felt safe in his arms, like she had done with her father but, for the first time, here tonight, she hadn't felt guilty about it. She knew her dad would have approved. Looking at James, she said, "Can I tell you something?" "Of course. You can tell me anything," he said, looking out on the lake and thinking about how far their relationship had come. He was very much like an uncle at this point, and she was very much like a niece. She followed his gaze and said, "Well, I wanted to say sorry. Mainly for the way I behaved when you met me. It was a rough time. I hurt and didn't know how to stop so I lashed out at anyone and anything. You saw me at my lowest and I want you to know that I've been clean now for three years and that's down to you. You and mum. I know I don't say it much but you make her the happiest I've seen in forever. That means a lot to me and I love you for it." He smiled, and put his lips together as he hugged her. "Thank you," he said, and then chuckled. "You're not supposed to make a man cry at his own wedding," he said, and gave her shoulders a squeeze. "You've grown up so much. I can't even begin to tell you how proud of you I am. I may have seen you at your lowest, but since you got through that point, you're at your strongest now. And you just keep getting stronger." She smiled and said, "Well, I've got two great parents." She hugged him fiercely. She was content for the first time in a number of months. She gazed out to the lake and said, "You know, I think he would have approved of you. My dad. You've helped us both through one of the hardest times of our lives. It can't have been easy but.... here we are." Watching the stars for a moment, she made a descision. Reaching for her small bag at her feet, she said, "I've got something I need to tell you. I was going to save this until after you guys got back but I think now is the right time." "Don't you want your Mum here too?" he asked, still floored by her statement that Daniel would have approved of him. She had called him a parent. That was truly remarkable. She smiled and said, "Yeah, she should hear this too." Standing now, whilst she waited for him to return, the nerves hit her. This was such an announcement to make that she wanted to choose her words right. She hadn't even told them that this was in her mind. She hadn't wanted to until she was sure. Not wanting to get their hopes up and then dash them as she had once before, she stood nervously as she saw them approaching. Dana walked over, holding hands with James. It had been the most perfect wedding she could have imagined, and she was on the top of the world. She smiled lovingly at Tayla and asked, "James says you have some big announcement for us. Well, let's have it!" She looked at the pair of them and spoke, "Well, Firstly, I want to say thank you to you both. You believed in me when no one else did and, it's really down to you both that I can tell you this." Dana let go of James' hand and hugged her daughter, and James joined in. After a moment, he said, "Okay, group hug is over. Out with the news!" She laughed and said, "Well, I was saving this until after you guys got back but, I suppose you can have this as a wedding present." She reached into her bag and pulled out the PADD. Handing it to her mother, she said, "It came this morning. I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want today to be about me. It's about you two. But, well, there it is. I got in to the Academy on a medical basis. I'm gonna train to be a fleet doctor." There was the initial shock--Dana and James hadn't even known that she applied. After weeks upon weeks of encouraging her to do early decision for graduate school, she came out with this! Then there was the admiration and awe. "I'm SO proud of you!" Dana shrieked with joy and threw her arms around Tayla. "With the group hug again," James jokingly complained and then joined in anyway. He put his hand on Tayla's shoulder and asked, "You never even mentioned that you were looking into the medical field. I thought it was...biology? Or chemistry?" He felt something he had never felt before--not having his own children, he never knew what it would feel like to have one follow in his footsteps. He wondered if he had any influence on Tayla's decision. And Starfleet, no less! Jack would certainly be pleased. She smiled and said, "I wanted to keep it a surprise. I didn't say anything because I wasn't sure I'd make it in." She sighed and continued, "So I did it in secret. I suppose I wanted to follow in the footsteps of two people that mean the world to me and help people." "I don't even know what to say," James said, and held her close to him. "So I'll just say what your mother already said. I'm SO proud of you..." He kissed the top of her head. "And I love you." She looked up at him and said, "And I love you too, Dad." ========================================================================================================================= She sighed and said, "So there you have it. That's me. My story. I just hope....." She didn't finish the sentence. She sighed and walked to the window of the room and gazed out onto the market place below. It seemed so strange to be doing this here and now, but it felt right. It felt easier saying it in this alien body. He got up and slipped his hands around her shoulders from behind, enveloping her in a backwards hug. He leaned in close to her ear and said, "See, that's only part of your story." He kissed her cheek and said, "You've had your share of difficulty but Tayla, you've got your whole life ahead of you. The other part of your story starts now." She smiled, turned to face him and said, "I know. It's a part I'm looking forward to. Hopefully, with a part in there for someone not too far away." She winked. He laughed. "Just a part?" he asked. "I want at least half. It's only fair," he told her, and pulled her toward the door. "C'mon, let's go on a walk. We have about fifteen minutes and I want to get out of here." She laughed and said, "Hey, let's do it. Let's get out of here for a bit." (Reply No-one) (Posted by Jackie Smith & Morgan G) --------------------------- (Asrai Prime - Celdebrai City - Travellers hall - ACMO Lieutenant (JG) Tayla Fraiser & COUNS Parker Davis - Day 10 - 1731) She walked out with him, holding his hand and feeling happier than she had done in a long time. Everything seemed to be going right for them, but there was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that something was bound to go wrong. This was too perfect and nothing in life was this easy. But, for now, she just felt content. "Are you enjoying this fair weather today?" She smiled at him and said, "I'm enjoying it more now." She'd been wanting to spend some time with him. Now she was alone with him, walking in the nice weather with a pleasant breeze, and they didn't have to hide. He began swinging their hands between them, happily strolling through the town. He glanced over at her. "This is an incredible city. Don't you think? I've honestly never seen anything like it." She nodded and replied, with a smile, "It reminds me a little of some of the cities back home. Something free about the way things are here that I like." She watched the people going about their day to day business with fascination. She hadn't used her empathic side much in the last few days, for fear of losing control and having them discovered and it felt amazing to not feel the crowds. She sighed and said, "I have to say, if we weren't in a public place.... I would have to kiss you right now." She blushed a little and continued, "I mean, you look so happy. It's nice to see." He grinned. "I'm happy because I'm people-watching. It's one of my favorite things to do," he confessed. He nodded toward two young children they passed and said to her, "Those two are planning something mischievous. Either that, or they're playing spies." He pointed with his eyes toward an older couple outside a store front. After they passed by, he said, "And they're having an argument, even though it sounds like a normal conversation. Of course, I'm sure you've figured all this out." She shook her head, surprised that he hadn't noticed her holding back. Sighing, she replied, quietly, "I haven't opened my mind to it all. It's scary with big crowds and unfamiliar situations. I'm not sure I can cope with it." It was an honest statement. She hadn't been sure that she should open her mind, given what they had been told before they arrived here. The thought of it being because of her that their cover was blown, that was something she didn't want and had kept her barriers up. He nodded, understanding. "May I ask a question?" he asked in a casual tone, knowing that no one was listening to their conversation but that they were the focus of a few stares because of their status as outsiders here. "I understand that sometimes people with your talents end up being dependent on them. Do you find it hard to read people right now? Or is it the same for you?" He was genuinely curious, as a counselor, and was also interested as her partner. She cocked her head a little and said, "To be honest, I find it difficult and tiring to keep my barriers up and, when I do let them down, it's such an assault on the senses that I have lost control. I'm terrifed to do that here." She stopped and sat on a small bench in the sunshine and continued, "I've been relying on reading body language and listening so it's been refreshing to be honest." He smiled. "I'm glad you find it refreshing. I'll admit, that's something I've always been interested in. I imagined at first that it would be very difficult to control, not just from a physical and mental exhaustion point of view, but also from a...curiosity point of view. People are curious. We can't help it. It must take an incredible amount of self control when you first learn, to hold that back. Was it very difficult as a kid?" She nodded, "Puberty was really when the first problems started. Can you imagine what it was like trying to cope being a teenager and an empath? It wasn't my favourite time." She paused as the endless memories of painful moments with boys flashed through her mind. The look on their faces when she told them how they were feeling before they had a chance to say it, the looks, the name calling. But she'd grown up and had learnt that her empathic side was a gift and that she should embrace it. She smiled at him and continued, "But now, I love my 'other' side. It helps people and that's what I'm thankful for." She leant her head on his shoulder, thinking ~Well that's not all I'm thankful for.~ He smiled and said, "It's interesting how we hate what we are when we're teenagers, and learn to either live with it or use it as a gift when we're adults." After a few moments of silence, he stood and pulled her up with him. "Come on, before Uncle finds us," he said with a mischievous grin. She followed him for a moment and soon found herself in a deserted alleyway. She stopped and said, "Hang on a second." She beckoned him a little with her finger and, as he walked to her, she put her arms around him and said, "This is the first time we've been truely alone since we got here." Parker nodded as his arms slipped around her as well. "You know what I could use right now?" She smiled and said, "What?" He leaned in and kissed her, his energy increasing as he got into the kiss. It was as if their brief time without intimate contact had built up a sort of kissing withdrawl and now he needed his 'fix'. When he was finished, he said, "That." She sighed and leant into him, "Wow. I think we should do this more often." She said, with a wink. She gently touched his face with her hand and said, "I missed that." "You have no idea how much I've missed it," he said, and leaned into her hand. He closed his eyes. "There's something strong between us. I'm starting to think...that we're meant to be together forever," he said in a quiet voice. He quickly added, "You still set the pace. I won't push. I just think this feels so *right*." Their position in the dank and dark alley was a direct contrast to their conversation and kiss, which had Parker's spirits at record highs. She smiled and said, "Perhaps we are. I'm starting to think that as well." She lightly kissed his lips and walked away from him. Turning back, she said, "Hey, come here a moment!" She waited for him to join her and she said, "I think there's something here we should look at." He caught up with a short jog and looked around. "What?" She pointed and said, "If I'm not mistaken, that looks like a hospital of some kind. If there's anyway I know to assess a people..... it's by how they treat their ill." Part of her knew this to be true but a good chunk of her was just eager to see what kind of medical facilities they had. Ancient medical treatments were something of a fascination to her. She turned to Parker and said, "Perhaps this is something we should mention to Father?" "We shall, wife," he said with a nod, assuming his character role again now that they were out in the open. He hadn't recognized it as a hospital at first, until he saw someone being brought up to the front door in a carriage pulled by a large animal. People came out of the building and carried the man on the stretcher inside. Definitely a hospital. "You know I have wanted to be a healer since I was small. Perhaps our arrival here was the Aowa's way of ensuring my family has employment but also allowing me to answer my call." He didn't know if she would get his hint, that he wanted to go inside. But first they had to get permission from the Captain. "Before we enter, you are right, we need to ask permission from Father, lest we insult him." (no reply necessary) (posted by Morgan G and Jackie Smith) ------------------------- ========================= Compiled by Marilyn =========================