A New Adventure
Part V: Strength From Within.
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*Surviving the atrocities,*
*We managed to run like the wind,*
*Frolicking under the stars above,*
*Whilst our laughter jointly echoed…*
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Narciso didn’t move as Valla wrapped his arms around his waist. It was only when he tried kissing Narciso’s lips that the counselor moved. It took only a single motion of his right arm, only a perfectly aimed assault, to cause Valla to fall back and land on his ass. The Counselor had just delivered a successful uppercut. Narciso looked down at Valla, who tried to regain his composure, and narrowed his eyes. “I am Vulcan. You’re love spells will not work on my system.”
Valla looked up at Narciso, rubbing the underside of his smooth chin gently. “Really? Doesn’t even work on a halfbreed? I just learned something new.”
“Your gambit didn’t pay off.”
“No but I find myself actually falling in love with you.”
“Because I just knocked you on your ass?”
“Because you can take care of yourself. I revere that in a lover.”
“I’ve been told I constantly require the help of others to survive.”
“Cooperation isn’t the same thing as survivability.” Valla spoke as he finally got up from the floor. “But like I said; you know where to find me. I will please you in ways you have never known.”
“You talk as though you are a Deltan.”
“I’ve pleased Deltans until they were exhausted.”
“I’m leaving.” Narciso turned away and finally left through the door.
“I really am falling for you!” Valla shouted as the doors slid closed. He sighed and looked around. He made his way to the bedroom and planted himself down face first like a plank of wood. “Ahhhh, this will do nicely for our first time together.” He grabbed the sheets and spun around in them before finally dozing off to sleep.
--bridge of the Pallas Helena--
Captain Talons entered the bridge and looked to Reaver instantly. “What’s our status?”
“We’re only waiting for the coordinates for the transporter. Everything else is golden.” Reaver responded while sitting at his seat, reading over the information within the Syndicate datapad.
“Captain we’ve received the transporter coordinates. We’re ready to beam the ambassadors aboard.”
“Thank you Lieutenant Richlands.” The Captain tapped his combadge. “This is Captain Talons of the USS Pallas Helena. We are ready to beam aboard the ambassadors.”
“This is Vulcan Orbital Command. USS Pallas Helena, confirmation of transport procedures acknowledge. The Ambassadors are prepared to beam aboard. Live long, and prosper Captain.”
“Peace and long life, Vulcan Orbital Command.” Talons turned to Richlands. “You heard them, beam them aboard Theo.”
“Aye Captain. Beaming now.” Theo replied as he worked the transporter from his operations console. The group was beamed directly to the transporter pad located in the back of the bridge. There were five of them. Two of which were the Ambassadors and the other three were their aids. The Captain and Reaver had moved to greet them by standing in front of the pad.
“Welcome aboard Ambassadors!” Reaver said with a smile.
“Commander Reaver, come let me have a look at you. It’s been far too long since we last saw you.” Spoke the female Ambassador who stepped forward and took Reaver’s hands into her own.
The Captain was met by the male Ambassador, who raised his hand in the traditional Vulcan way. “Live long and prosper Captain Talons.”
“Peace and long life. It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Ambassador.”
“The honor is ours Captain.” The male Ambassador turned his head just in time to see his female counterpart pinch Commander Reaver’s cheeks. “Captain, This is my wife.” He motioned with his hand towards her. At the mention of the word ‘wife’, the female Ambassador tore herself away from Reaver and joined her husband at his side.
“Captain. It is a pleasure to be aboard your ship.” Her voice had a beautiful melody to it. And a familiar one as well.
“Please, the pleasure is all ours.” The Captain responded with a smile.
“Allow me to make the formal introductions.” Reaver spoke as he went to stand beside the Captain. “Captain Talons. These are the Ambassadors Agu’Sti and Lilionia Heliree.”
The Captain paused for a moment, something finally clicking in his mind. “You wouldn’t happen to be… Narciso’s Grandparents would you?”
“That we are!” Exclaimed Lilionia with a smile on her face.
“That is accurate Captain.” Spoke Agu’Sti with a small smile upon his own lips.
“Where is our grandson? I cannot wait to see him!”
“Oh, He’ll be around Madam Ambassador.” The Captain motioned with his hand towards the turbolift. “Shall I show you to your quarters?”
--Corridors of quest quarters—
Narciso had left the temporary quarters of Valla Arin with a huff. He took note that the security officers posted at the doors were Vulcan; the Captain was no fool. With his mind racing with thoughts about how he did and didn’t feel in regards to Valla, Narciso grew angrier and angrier. He walked through the corridors until he came to a turbolift and stopped short, waiting for it to arrive. As the doors opened he walked in, alone, and requested to be taken to the bridge. His thoughts consisted of Reaver at this point. The turbolift sprang upwards and when the doors opened, Narciso could only stare out blankly. His grandparents were looking him dead in the eyes.
“Precious one!” Lilionia cried out in joy as she lunged forward and enwrapped Narciso within her arms and tangled him up in her Vulcan over-robe sleeves. “Oh my precious one!” She instantly began a deluge of kisses that were placed all over Narciso’s face.
“You’ll drown the boy if you keep that up Lili. Let him come up for some air.” Agu’Sti called out in his normal, almost monotone, voice. Lilionia swayed to the side, keeping Narciso in her arms and allowed space for Agu’Sti to step forward.
“Live long and prosper, Grandfather.” Narciso spoke with a soft smile while raising his right hand in the Vulcan symbol.
“Peace, and long life my child. Come.” Agu’Sti returned the ancient gesture with his own hand then held his arms out and forward. Narciso responded by taken a step forward, with his Grandmother of course as she simply refused to let him go. Agu’Sti then put his arms somberly around Narciso’s shoulders and his back and held him in an embrace. The hold was only broken when Agu’Sti retracted his arms and took a step back. “Captain I believe you were showing us to our quarters?”
“Yes, right this way.” The Captain gestured towards the turbolift. He, Narciso and his grandmother -who continued her vice-grip- and his grandfather, along with the three aids, fit into the turbolift with room to spare. Reaver, however, stayed on the bridge. The group traveled only a few decks down before exiting the mechanism and walking on through the corridor. Upon reaching the designated quarters, the aids were all assigned to one while the ambassadors were assigned to their own room, directly across the hall. “I’m certain this will be acceptable, Ambassadors.” The Captain spoke as they walked inside.
“Yes. I see my requested work desk has been met to my exact specifications. Gratitude, Captain.” Agu’Sti spoke while he eyed the work console and other instruments.
“This is a beautiful room Captain. Thank you for placing us in this luxury.”
“No, Madam Ambassador, No thanks is necessary. I shall be on my way to the bridge to make sure we are underway. Should you have need of anything, please inform me right away.”
“Wonderful. Oh Captain. One last thing: Where is the holodeck?”
“It’s on deck 18. Just through the corridor straight out from the turbolift, Can’t miss it. Ambassadors.” He spoke the last word with a bowing of his head. Talons then took leave of the quarters and proceeded to the bridge.
Narciso stood, his Grandmother still wrapped around him tighter than the fur on a polar bear. She stayed that way for a moment more, just as Agu’Sti began to work on the provided console. Lilionia finally removed her arms and clasped her hands on the waist of her over-robe, lifting the folded fabric and removing it to reveal a tight Vulcan gown underneath. Though she was an older madam, she still retained an admirable beauty, though were one to look at a picture from her youth and compare, they would see that her looks have actually faded from what they once were. But without that comparison, she would be seen as a beauty regardless. Her figure was an accentuated form of Narciso’s; a more visible definition of her waist in contrast to her hips and her shoulders, not to mention her bosoms. She often joked on how the Vulcan gowns were so tight and supportive around ‘that’ area, that she believed she would never succumb to gravity. Finally having made herself comfortable, removing the shawl from around her head and neck and allowing her extremely long and curly hair to cascade downward, she returned her attention to Narciso. “Ah, tell me precious one. When will you finally allow your hair to grow back to its length? I remember playing with your curls when you were younger, only cutting them when they ended up reaching your toes. Ah… I’ve missed you.” She raised her arms again and embraced Narciso, who happily returned it.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to grow it out that long for a while.”
“Of course not. It’s against Starfleet regulations. Doing so would be-”
“Illogical. Yes dear, we know.” Joked Lilionia, who in return got a stare from Agu’Sti to which she returned a shake of her rear. “Still… You could always leave Starfleet and become a vocalist. Tour the Galaxy. Ah, what memories I have… That’s how I met your Grandfather.”
“Yes I know. You were able to sway his heart and touch his deep emotions with your voice. If only I could be so lucky.” Narciso joked back.
“It was not luck. We… ‘zinged’. And when that happens you do not think twice.” Voiced Agu’Sti. After all the years of being wed to a Betazoid woman, Agu’Sti’s voice still couldn’t capture the ‘joking’ tone.
“Tell me, what about that Kenneth? He’s a serious catch and a half.”
“Grandmother… Kenneth and I never reached that level.”
“Oh, you know better than to lie to a Vulcan and a Betazoid. We both value honesty above everything, AND, I can tell you’re lying.”
“Oh, grandmother. It’s still serious between us. Just strained.”
“Yes, being caught in a temporal anomaly will do that to a relationship.”
“It’s not just that… Well yes that too, but. I don’t know.”
“Hush precious one. I know you still have to work your way through what you dealt with. And the friends you lost to the accident. But it’s in the past. And you’re still here.”
“I know… The living need to live on.”
“That would be the most logical conclusion.”
“I know you are correct Grandfather. I should leave you now. You both have a lot of work to accomplish before we arrive at Julain Pris.”
“Yes. How often do you get to make an official first contact with a female-run society that communicates with vocalized music and slight telepathy? Imagine my thrill when I heard they had requested entrance into the United Federation of Planets.”
“I know Grandmother. You finally get to use all your talents in one event. I’m excited for it. Now, I’ll see you both at Fourteen Forward?”
“Of course. We’ll see you there for dinner. Go on then, precious one.” Lilionia waved as Narciso turned and left their quarters with a smile on his face. Leave it to his Grandparents to make him feel instantly better just by being in their presence.
“I just pray that that boy knows he isn’t weak… What he’s been through, makes him stronger than those idiots displaying their strength for all to see.”
“He knows. He knows that the most dangerous Eagle doesn’t brandish it’s talons to all.”
Narciso had made it to the bridge, and entered just in time to hear the Captain say ‘engage’. Narciso took his seat by the Captain, his mind obviously heavy with something once again. This was made more evident by his head being stooped down and his eyes partially closed. He looked ready to start crying. Theo, the main operations officer, walked over from his station.
“Excuse me, Counselor?” His voice was that of a baritone, and it had a slight, natural, rasp to it. Narciso looked up, some of his gloom shaken away so as to not cause worry.
“What is it Theo?” Narciso asked, looking up at the tall man.
“Well… I need to speak with you. Is it alright if we move my appointment up.”
“Yes, of course. Would now be alright?”
“Now would be perfect.” Theo gave a small smile and moved towards the turbolift. Making sure to acknowledge his leave with the Captain and checking to make sure that someone took his station. Narciso stood from his seat and gave a glance towards Reaver, who was busy typing away into a datapad. He sighed softly and made his way to the turbolift, where Theo waited.
The ride down to Narciso’s office was a fast one, with it being located on the 8th deck towards the bow. As they entered, Narciso moved over to his work console and accessed his patient files, pulling up the one marked: Lt. Richlands, Theodor – Six of Seven. As Narciso glanced over the file record, Theo himself sat down on the sofa, ready to sprawl out on it.
“So, Theo. Tell me about the issue you’re having. It must be serious for you to move your appointment up.”
“It’s… my dreams Counse-... Narciso. I keep having these nightmares.”
Narciso instantly picked up Theo’s immediate distress. Merely mentioning the nightmares caused him to grow nervous and upset. “Theo, we’ve spoken of them before. Nightmares… They are just dreams. Just bad dreams that take from the worst memories we have. But that’s all it is; memories.”
“I-I know Narciso… but they’ve begun to change.”
“In which way, Theo?”
“I am no longer the one who dies… You are.” Theo couldn’t look directly at Narciso as he spoke. “In my dreams, you try to rescue me… In doing so, you die, killed in my arms. I don’t know how, but there you are. Plain as day. In my arms, bleeding out from your stomach. I try to stop the bleeding. But it… it only gushes more… And you tell me ‘Goodbye’, and that ‘It’s not your fault’, and ‘We had no choice’. That last one angers me most. The; ‘We had no choice’. It’s always the last words out of your lips. ‘we had no choice’. ‘We had no choice’!! I want to break everything after I hear you say that! I wake up, and I’m trashing about in anger!” Theo’s fists clinch tightly as he speaks and soon starts shouting. They become so tight that his hands turn purple.
“Easy, Theo.” Narciso speaks as he leans over and places a hand gently over Theo’s fist. His calmness ebbed out and washed softly through Theo, who opened his hand and grimaced at the pain he felt.
“See? I go blind with rage.” Theo leans forward, tears freely escaping his eyes. “I can’t do it.” He then falls forward and kneels in front of Narciso, placing his head on Narciso’s lap and his arms around Narciso’s waist. “I can’t go on with these dreams! I can’t do it! They should have killed me when they fought the Borg Sphere that carried me! Why did they rescue me!? WHY!? I was already dead!”
“Theo… “ Narciso knew that words would be worthless here. He simply placed his hands on Theo, one on the apex of his shoulders and another on his head, his fingers running through the thick dark hair gently. Narciso remembered when he had first met Theo. This lush, dark, hair didn’t exist. Borg implants were the only thing on his scalp. He truly was born again. All Borg that were rescued could be declared born again. It’s not an easy process.
Narciso stayed in this position with Theo for a while. Theo’s embrace tightened as time passed. Maybe his grandmother was right. Maybe Narciso was lying to himself. He had half the crew, men and women fawning over him. Most of the time he never even saw it though. He never acknowledged it, never seeing it because it was never on his mind. That explained why on every ship he served, the crew gossiped of the ‘Heliree Challenge’. Again, Narciso never paid it any heed.
When Theo finally regained himself, he knelt in front of Narciso. His tall height made him almost eyelevel with the Counselor. “Theo, just remember… You are strong. Stronger than many others that I know. Your dreams, they might make you feel weak. But you endure, you live, and you strive through it. You’re strong.”
Theo only looked Narciso dead in his eyes. He then lunged forward and planted a kiss on Narciso’s lips. Though Narciso expected this to happen sooner or later, it still stunned him. When Theo broke the kiss he leaned his forehead against Narciso’s, placing a hand on the nape of Narciso’s neck, just under his hairline. “You make me stronger than you know. Forgive me for kissing you. I mean no disrespect or insult. I… I just needed to show you my gratitude… And my admiration.”
“I’m not insulted. Nor do I feel disrespected. It’s alright Theo.” Narciso gently placed his hand on Theo’s and removed it slowly from his neck. Theo took the hint and leaned back a bit. “Are you okay to return to duty?”
“Yes. I am. Thank you. For not being my therapist, but instead being my friend.”
“It’s my honor to be your friend Theo… It’s always an honor to have friends with such strength…”
~To be Continued~
