Path of Destiny - Chapter 10
The Path of Destiny
Chapter Ten
Part One
Jinix government center – corridor intersection
By the time Gadi arrived, Lydda had stopped wailing and
was sitting on the floor apparently in shock. Kaylar had opted to stay behind
in the infirmary to perform another ritual for the recently deceased Vallen.
The guard, Isak, who had been reluctantly holding her, looked relieved when
Lydda had released him. Isak moved to join his partner, Akar, both men standing
off to one side.
Gadi knelt down on one knee in front of Lydda, studying
her briefly. The woman made no acknowledgement of his presence. He reached in
his belt pouch, producing a small gray cylinder-like object. He placed on end
against Lydda’s neck, while pressing the other end. A tiny hiss was heard. He removed
the device waiting.
About a minute later, the vacant look on Lydda’s face
disappeared. She blinked, focusing in on the concerned visage of Healer Gadi.
She let out a gasp, remembering what she had encountered earlier.
Gadi laid a hand on her shoulder. “Calm,” he said
soothingly. “Who are you and can you tell me what happened?”
Lydda shuddered involuntarily. “I am Lydda. I was in a
storage area, getting supplies for my cart, before I started my shift. I was at
a set of shelves, and reaching in to get a container, I felt material instead
of a container.”
“Material?”
Lydda swallowed visibly. “I bent down to see what it was.”
“Continue,” Gadi prodded.
“I saw...a body.”
Gadi’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Where is this storage
area? Who was it?”
“It was auxiliary storage area seven.” She shrugged. “I
did not take the time to look that closely.”
“Please take us there.”
Lydda folded her arms across her chest, looking at Gadi
defiantly. “I refuse to return there!”
Isak stepped forward. “I know where it is located,” he
told Gadi.
“Very well,” Gadi replied. “Please take me there.” He
turned to Akar. “Please escort Lydda back to her supervisor and explain that I
have relieved her of her duties for the rest of the day, due to a traumatic
situation, then rejoin us at the storage area.”
Akar nodded. “As you wish, Healer Gadi,” he answered, then
turned to Lydda. “Come with me please.”
Lydda stood up, walking over to the other guard. Gadi and
Isak watched them leave then headed in the opposite direction towards auxiliary
storage area seven.
The healer was deep in thought as they walked along. “A
body?” He thought to himself, as a sudden bolt of panic hit him. “Please...let
it not be Ryvinia,” he continued in thought. “It is not that I wish death on
anyone, but it would be extremely devastating if it were Ryvinia, especially
for Sedona.” He took a deep breath to calm himself before reaching his
destination.
Part Two
Passageway
Archer gazed in the direction that the other five Exoians
had fled in. Trey joined him.
“Why would some of your own people shoot at us?” Archer
questioned, then looked at Trey. “Unless...they’re in league with Drayce.”
Trey nodded, if not a bit sadly. “The same thought crossed
my mind as well, Captain,” the space pilot replied. “It is obvious that Drayce
made them an offer that they could not refuse.”
“So it seems.”
Suddenly...
“Get your hands off of me!” It was the female prisoner.
“I am only trying to assist you!” Caden’s deep base voice
boomed.
Trey and Archer looked over to see Caden attempting to
bandage the woman’s bleeding thigh.
“You would think that she’d be grateful for the help,”
Archer said to Trey in a confidential yet loud enough voice for the woman to
hear.
The woman fixed her cold gaze on Archer, then jerked her
head towards Obi-Wan. “If that boy had not wounded me, I would not
need your so-called help and all of you WOULD BE DEAD!” She snarled
maliciously.
The pure malice caused each man to take an involuntary
step away from her.
Caden stood up, dropping the make shift bandage. “Suit
yourself,” he said in an indifferent tone with a shrug of his broad shoulders.
“It matters not to me.” He turned to join Elkan.
The woman merely sneered at Caden, as she grabbed the
bandage, tying it around her thigh. She then pushed up off of the floor, using
the wall to assist her. No one noticed her hand slipping behind her back.
Malcolm looked aside at Entok who was scrutinizing the
woman. “Entok? Is something wrong?” He questioned.
“I would strongly suggest that we do not give this woman
any considerations,” Entok said in an even tone.
“Why?”
“She is from...Felorym.”
“Felorym?”
“It is a prison that houses only the worst criminals on
Exoia. I realized where she was from by the color of her jumpsuit. According to
the Exoian word on the material, her name is Jalerin,” Entok explained.
His eyes widened upon seeing her move towards the
unsuspecting Caden, producing a large black dagger, serrated on both edges. She
moved fast, but Entok moved even faster. Before anyone else could react, the
guard leapt forward, seizing Jalerin’s wrist. He yanked her backwards by the
arm, over his leg which he had stuck behind her to trip her up.
She landed on her back with a thud and a grunt, which was
followed by a yowl of pain, as Entok slammed her hand that held the dagger down
on the floor. This caused the weapon to be dislodged, sliding across the floor
near Trey’s feet.
While still holding her wrist on the floor, Entok placed a
knee on Jalerin’s chest, while the business end of his blaster was pressed up
under her chin. He met Jalerin’s murderous glare with his own extremely
intimidating look.
“Please...give me a reason to blast you into space
particles,” Entok said nastily, his eyes cold.
Caden had spun around, witnessing Entok’s actions along
with the others. His eyes widened upon seeing Trey holding the deadly looking
weapon. He shuddered involuntarily. This was the second time that a female
tried to kill him. He wished that he knew why...or was it merely a coincidence.
“Make one wrong move and I will shoot you without
hesitation,” Entok continued in a tone that not only sent shivers through
Jalerin, but the others as well. “Is this clear to you?”
“Perfectly,” Jalerin muttered in a flat tone.
“Good!” He smiled, but there was no warmth in it.
Entok got up, pulling Jalerin roughly to her feet,
twisting the wrist that he held behind her back. Jalerin hissed in pain, but
Entok ignored it. He holstered his blaster and grabbing her other wrist, bound
them roughly behind her back. He took a hold of her arm and withdrew his
blaster again.
Entok finally looked at Qui-Gon. “I assume that you wish
to interrogate her?” He asked.
Qui-Gon looked at the others, his gaze finally resting on
Archer, who nodded.
“Yes...but not here,” Qui-Gon finally relied. “We must
return to the government center.” He caught the concerned expressions on not
only Elkan’s face, but Malcolm’s face as well. “We will resume our
search, once we have gathered the information that we need to know,” he told
both men reassuringly, then his gaze rested on Jalerin.
The woman tossed her head in defiance. “I will not
tell you anything!” She spat at Qui-Gon.
The Jedi Master’s eyes narrowed. “That remains to be
seen.” Although his tone was deceptively soft, there was extreme seriousness in
it.
With a nod to the group, Qui-Gon took the lead, as the
group headed back the way they came. All hoped to learn Drayce’s whereabouts as
well as his plans.
Part Three
Enterprise – lift to the Bridge
“This will take us to the bridge, Krys,” Trip pointed out,
motioning to the door that they now stood in front of. “What do you think so
far?”
“You serve on a very impressive ship,” Krysira replied.
“Especially the engine room.” She smiled sweetly.
Trip nodded, a slight red tinge to his cheeks, but he
heard the pride in her voice, subtle as it was.
“Thank-you for allowing me the time to contact Master
Windu, Trip.”
“Not a problem. He sure seemed relieved that you’re okay,
considering he was pretty worried before.”
Krysira merely nodded.
He touched her cheek briefly. “Everyone was.” He saw that
she appreciated the sentiment. Trip cleared his throat, as his hand left her
cheek to push a button. “Come on,” he replied, as he took her hand, leading her
inside.
As the doors closed, Krysira gave Trip a brief kiss on the
lips.
The bridge was quiet. There had been a change in
replacements for the senior officers. Ensign Travis Mayweather had come back
from his break a half-hour ago.
Sub-Commander T’Pol found a comfortable position in the
comm chair as she gazed serenely out the viewscreen at the planet Exoia they
were orbiting.
She had been informed of transporter activity, but through
Archer’s permission. Not exactly regulation, but these were humans that she was
serving with and humans never did anything totally by the book, as was her
experience so far. She would say nothing now, but it certainly did warrant a
discussion with Archer at some point in the near future.
A hissing sound caught her attention, as it did everyone
else’s on the bridge. All turned to see Commander Trip Tucker step out of the
lift.
T’Pol arched a delicate eyebrow. “Commander Tucker, you
are not in regulation clothing,” she said.
Trip snickered. “Hello to you too, Sub-Commander,” he
replied. “Blends in better with the natives.”
“I see.”
At that point, Krysira stepped out of the lift, standing
next to Trip. Every male on the bridge merely gaped at the gorgeous young
woman.
“Wow,” Travis merely said, staring unabashedly at Krysira.
T’Pol noted that Krysira didn’t at all seem flustered at
the attention. She merely gazed calmly about her.
Trip, however, bristled ever so slightly.
T’Pol made a logical deduction that this woman appeared to
be human. If she was, she seemed to have an unusually calm demeanor, which
puzzled T’Pol.
“Commander, would you care to introduce your...companion?”
T’Pol requested.
Trip turned to Krysira, motioning as he spoke.
“Sub-Commander T’Pol, who’s a Vulcan, and Ensign Travis Mayweather,” he
introduced. Then to the bridge crew: “This is Jedi Knight Krysira Antilles.”
Krysira bowed slightly. “Greetings, Sub-Commander,
Ensign,” she replied in that soft voice of hers.
“Welcome aboard Enterprise,” T’Pol replied, then
looked at Trip. “I assume that you had permission from Captain Archer?”
“Yeah. Krysira was injured planetside and the native
doctors didn’t have the skills to treat her particular injury, so we
transported her up here. Doctor Phlox treated and released her,” Trip
explained. “The captain said to give her a tour.”
T’Pol merely nodded, apparently satisfied with the
explanation. She then looked at Krysira. “What is a Jedi Knight?” She
questioned.
“Simply put, we are the guardians of the Republic assigned
to promote peace wherever it is needed at the time,” Krysira explained.
“What of the transportation of the Rybrillians?” T’Pol
questioned.
Trip muttered under his breath: “Oops.”
Krysira glanced at Trip, who gave her a sheepish grin,
then turned her attention back to T’Pol. “Unfortunately, there has been an
incident on the surface that is urgent and requires our full attention at this
time. We will contact you when we will be proceeding with that matter.”
“I see, thank-you. Proceed with the tour, Commander.” She
turned back towards the viewscreen.
Krysira listened intently as Trip led her slowly around
the bridge, explaining the different stations and their functions to her.
T’Pol noticed that Travis kept stealing occasional glances
at Krysira. She would never understand these emotions that humans dealt with
all the time.
Trip’s tour ended at Travis’s station. “Travis, care to
explain what you do?” He asked.
Travis smiled. “Yes, sir, Commander,” he replied. The
good-looking dark-skinned young man set his full attention of Krysira, as he
began to explain his position.
During Travis’s explanation, there was a flashing red
light on his console. T’Pol noticed that Travis was not aware of it.
“Ensign Mayweather, would you care to answer that?” T’Pol
questioned.
Travis looked over at T’Pol curiously. “Sub-Commander?” He
questioned.
“That,” Trip supplied, motioning to the red light. He
wasn’t real happy with the way his crewmates stared at Krysira, but he couldn’t
do anything about them looking...as long as they didn’t try to become overly
friendly with her.
Travis tore his attention away from Krysira to touch a
button next to the light.
The planet on the viewscreen disappeared and was replaced
by the familiar oriental features of Enterprise’s exo-linguist, Ensign
Hoshi Sato.
Not only did Hoshi see T’Pol and Travis, but Trip and the
fully recovered Krysira as well. She smiled. “Krysira, you’re all right,” Hoshi
said, relieved.
“I am well, Ensign Sato,” Krysira replied, allowing a soft
smile to appear.
“Is there a problem, Ensign?” T’Pol inquired.
Hoshi’s expression grew serious. “I’m afraid so,” Hoshi
began. “One of the Exoian pages, Sedona, disobeyed Healer Gadi’s orders and
went back to the passageway to try to find Counselor Ryvinia. She’s now lost
and sacred to death.”
“Was someone not sent after her?”
“It might take too long to find her. But I have an idea.”
“What kind of idea, Hoshi?” Trip questioned.
“The sensors on Enterprise can lock in on her
communicator frequency and we can transport her up.”
Trip looked at Hoshi, surprised that the ensign even
suggested the transporter, considering how much she disliked it.
“It would take time to find the correct frequency,
Ensign,” T’Pol replied.
“Not necessarily, Sub-Commander,” Hoshi replied. “Not if
we use Lonan’s communicator frequency as a reference.” She held up a small
device.
Trip glanced at T’Pol. “That would save time,” he agreed,
then saw the pensive look on the female Jedi’s delicate features. “Krysira?”
Krysira looked at Trip. “Would it not be better if we went
to Sedona, considering her present state of mind?” She questioned.
The chief engineer rubbed his chin, thoughtfully.
“Probably.”
“Very well,” T’Pol began. “Ensign Sato and I will locate
the communicator frequency and relay the coordinates to the transporter room.”
T’Pol rose to her feet, heading over to the science station.
Trip nodded. “Right. Krysira and I will head to the
transporter room.” He looked at Hoshi. “Let Sedona know that we’re on our way
to her.”
Hoshi nodded, then began to work with T’Pol, while Trip
and Krysira headed towards the lift.
Part Four
Auxiliary storage area seven
Upon arriving at the storage area, Gadi and Isak
discovered the mess left in Lydda’s wake. The two men looked at each other, as
they picked their way around the overturned cart.
“Lydda was definitely frightened,” Gadi commented.
Isak nodded. “I will contact someone to clear this mess
away,” he replied and taking his communicator out, spoke quietly into it.
Gadi entered the room and saw a set of shelves that could
be what Lydda was referring to. He walked over to the shelves and saw that they
were not attached to the wall. He looked around the side of the shelves and
what he saw caused him to gasp in surprise.
“No!” Gadi exclaimed, as he bent down near the body,
feeling for a pulse. His shoulders slumped upon finding none.
Isak rushed into the room. “Healer Gadi? What is wrong?”
He questioned concerned.
It took Gadi a few moments to compose himself. “Please
contact the infirmary and inform them that I require a stretcher,” he replied
softly, then looked up at Isak. “I am afraid that Advisor Nayda...is dead.”
The guard’s face paled.
“But say nothing over the communicator. I do not wish to
cause a panic and I need to inform Tribune Pallaton and Advisor Durriken
personally.”
“As you wish, Healer Gadi,” Isak replied, softly, as he
once again spoke into his communicator.
While the guard arranged for a stretcher, Gadi gazed at
Nayda’s lifeless body, wondering how he was going to break the news of Nayda’s
death to them. But more importantly, why did she die?
Part Five
Catacombs
Sedona shivered slightly, as she sat on the slab of
concrete. She had just received a message from Hoshi Sato, informing her that
Commander Tucker and Knight Krysira were on their way to her location.
She heard a soft scraping sound somewhere behind her. She
looked around slowly to see what looked like two red glowing eyes moving
towards her. Sedona swallowed nervously, as she rose up onto her feet slowly
backing away.
A long snout with two razor sharp eyeteeth that hung down
past the bottom jaw preceded the glowing red eyes. The rest of the animal came
out of the dark. It had four legs with three claws on each paw, a lean body
with black fur, and a stubby tail. Saliva dripped from its mouth. Its eyes were
fixed on Sedona, who had a very horrible feeling that this creature thought of
her as its next meal.
Sedona wondered where Knight Krysira and Commander Tucker
were. Ensign Sato had assured her that they would be there soon. But...what if
they weren’t in time?
The creature suddenly leapt at Sedona, who screamed. She
tried to avoid the swift creature, but was hit in the side by the animal’s
shoulder.
Sedona cried out, as she fell, landing on her back. She
winced a bit.
The creature landed lightly on its feet and whirled
gracefully to face its prey. It snarled and growled softly, as it advanced upon
the terrified Sedona who once again screamed.
A shimmer of lights appeared and Krysira and Trip
materialized nearby. Trip recovered immediately and his eyes widened upon
seeing the strange creature, who turned its attention to the newcomers.
“What the hell?” Trip exclaimed, his hand reaching for his
blaster.
Krysira, who had been forewarned by Trip of the
disorientation, had prepared herself through the Force. Her instincts kicked in
immediately and as the creature leapt towards Trip, who was pulling the blaster
from its holster, the pretty Jedi Knight held up her hand and gathering in the
Force, pushed her open palm at the attacking creature.
Sedona screamed in terror once again.
Trip watched as the creature was thrown back through the
air, hitting a far wall. It slid down the wall and onto the ground in an
unconscious heap.
Trip felt the tenseness in his body slowly seep away, as
he reholstered his blaster. He looked over at Krysira, who had lowered her
hand, relaxing somewhat.
“I’ll find us a way out of here, Krys,” Trip said,
touching her hand, then pulled out a scanner that he had grabbed before leaving
Enterprise.
“Good. I will tend to Sedona,” Krysira replied, touching
Trip’s arm, then made her way over to the sobbing teenager. She bent down on
one knee, laying a gentle hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Sedona?” Krysira
inquired, softly.
Sedona jerked at the touch, as she whipped her head around
to see Krysira looking gently at her. “Knight Krysira!” She exclaimed. So
relieved was the teenager, that she sat up, flinging her arms around Krysira's
neck.
Krysira was momentarily taken back by the unexpected
contact. However, the female Jedi quickly composed herself and gave Sedona a brief,
yet reassuring hug. She, then, gently disengaged the teenager’s arms from
around her neck, holding her at arm’s length.
Sedona sniffed and wiped her eyes with the heels of her
hands. She took a shaky breath, letting it out slowly. “Forgive me, Knight
Krysira,” she said softly. “I meant no disrespect. It is just that I was o
relieved to see you and Commander Tucker.”
Krysira smiled gently. “Your reaction was understandable,
Sedona,” she replied, her expression now neutral. “However, you would not have been
in this situation had you obeyed Healer Gadi’s instructions earlier.”
Sedona stared at Krysira, then lowered her eyes, gazing at
her hands. “Yes. I was wrong. I will be severely reprimanded for my
disobedience.” Although she wanted to explain that she needed to find her aunt,
Sedona felt that it was a moot point.
“Even though it led you to react impulsively and
irrationally, the reason behind your disobedience...is understandable.”
Sedona’s head snapped up as she stared at Krysira. She saw
the understanding in the female Jedi’s eyes. She forced a smile.
“If you two ladies are ready, I found the way out of
here,” Trip announced.
Krysira rose gracefully to her feet, while Sedona
scrambled to stand up. Both joined Trip, who started out of the area with
Krysira beside him and Sedona behind them.
“It is wise to leave the area before the creature regains
consciousness,” Krysira commented. “It is not safe here. We must return to the
government center.”
Trip nodded. “The sooner, the better.” He made a face. “I
hate to think of the damage those teeth would do.” He shuddered involuntarily.
“Agreed.” Krysira replied.
The trio now found themselves in corridor. After
consulting Trip’s scanner, they turned left, continuing on their way.
Part Six
Jinix government center – infirmary
Kaylar had just finished a second ritual for the recently
deceased Vallen. He carefully tucked the black sheet around the body. Then he
nodded to a nearby assistant, who took the gurney to the morgue for the body to
be preserved until it was time to properly bury his late friend.
He watched sadly, as the body was taken away. Kaylar had
lost friends during this conflict, but none affected him more than losing
Vallen with the exception of losing Alzira and their unborn child. Although
Vallen had been impulsive and quick-tempered, he was fiercely loyal to his
friends and of those under his protection as well. Kaylar would definitely miss
his friend.
The infirmary doors sliding open interrupted his thoughts.
Qui-Gon, Archer and Obi-Wan entered the room first. Entok and Malcolm, who were
on either side of an Exoian female in a pale green jumpsuit, each holding an
arm, followed them. She was limping. Trey, Elkan and Caden came in last.
Entok and Malcolm guided Jalerin over to a bed, seating
her on the edge, letting go of her arms, but standing nearby.
Kaylar walked over, seeing that her arms were bound behind
her. “Most likely a prisoner,” he assumed to himself. He saw the makeshift
bandage on her thigh. “I am Healer Kaylar,” he told her. “Allow me to treat
your wound.”
Jalerin said nothing.
Taking her silence as a yes, Kaylar reached for the
bandage. However, Jalerin suddenly kicked the unsuspecting healer in the chest
with her good leg. Kaylar went stumbling backwards.
“Keep your hands off of me!” Jalerin
screamed, viciously.
Elkan reacted quickly, catching a hold of Kaylar before he
fell. Kaylar nodded his thanks, as he rubbed his chest, while trying to catch
his breath.
“I did not anticipate that,” Kaylar commented to Elkan,
definitely surprised, as he stared wide eyed at the fuming Jalerin.
The end of Entok’s blaster was immediately pressed against
Jalerin’s temple. “You will cooperate, Jalerin!” Entok said, nastily.
“I do not take orders from the likes of
you!” Jalerin spat back, though wisely not moving.
Entok’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
Feeling the sudden tension in the room and not wanting any
more unnecessary violence, Qui-Gon stepped towards Jalerin. Drawing in the
Force, the Jedi Master waved two fingers at the Exoian woman. Jalerin went to
snarl something at Qui-Gon, but instead, her eyes rolled back up into her head,
as she fell backwards onto the bed, unconscious.
Malcolm and Entok merely stared at the now sleeping
Jalerin, then at each other and finally at Qui-Gon. The Jedi Master merely met
their questioning gazes with a passive gaze of his own.
Kaylar moved up next to Qui-Gon who glanced aside at the
healer.
“I believe that she will accept treatment now,” Qui-Gon
commented, matter-of-factly.
Kaylar nodded. ” Indeed,” he replied, as he went over to
the bed to tend Jalerin’s wound, if not a bit cautiously.
Archer looked at Obi-Wan curiously, but the Jedi Padawan’s
face revealed nothing. The captain sighed silently and folded his arms.
All they could do was wait. They hoped that after Kaylar
treated Jalerin and she awoke, she could supply them with the information that
they were seeking to find Drayce and the kidnapped Ryvinia. But knowing
Jalerin’s attitude and violent nature, she would not give up that information
easily.