Path of Destiny - Chapter 14
The Path of Destiny
Chapter Fourteen
Part One
Enterprise – transporter room
Malcolm, Sedona and the unconscious Ryvinia rematerialized
on the transporter padd. Sedona sunk to her knees, feeling quite disoriented.
“Sedona?” Malcolm questioned.
“I just felt lightheaded for a few moments, Lieutenant,”
Sedona replied.
The tactical officer nodded, then looked over to see the
crewman at the transporter controls staring open-mouthed at the Exoians.
“Help me get her to Sickbay!” Malcolm ordered, referring to
the unconscious Ryvinia.
But the crewman merely continued to stare at the Exoians.
“Crewman!” Malcolm said sharply.
The crewman blinked and focused in on his superior
officer. “Yes, sir?” He questioned.
“At the risk of repeating myself, help me carry her to
Sickbay.”
The crewman hurried from out behind the transporter
controls to assist Malcolm in picking up the tall woman, as Sedona scrambled
out of the way, watching the two humans pick up her aunt, heading towards the
door.
Malcolm looked over at the teenager. “Sedona, follow us.”
She nodded, then walked out of the transporter room after
them.
Part Two
Corridor/open area
Upon reaching the end of the corridor, the eight Exoians
entered the open area.
Drayce paused to get his bearings.
“Where do we go now, Lord Drayce?” Myrek questioned. “Back
to the marketplace?”
“No,” Drayce replied. “I have a better idea.” He merely
smiled, as he started down the corridor that the Exoians used not that long
ago.
“This is the way we came earlier,” Narset pointed out.
Drayce glanced back at him. “Is it now?” He took out a
small device, pressing a green button.
Much to the amazement of the others, part of the corridor
shimmered away, revealing another passageway.
Drayce smirked. “Shall we continue on?” He questioned
rhetorically, as he entered the passageway.
Without a word, the rest went in.
Drayce pressed the green button again and the corridor
wall shimmered back into view again. Tucking the device into a pocket, he
strode purposefully down the corridor with others right behind him.
Part Three
Enterprise
The crewman left after helping Malcolm lay Ryvinia on a
bed. Malcolm finally realized how tall Ryvinia truly was seeing that her knees
were over the edge of the bed while her feet rested on the floor. He was
standing on one side of the bed next to Sedona, who was gazing around the room
in amazement. She was unaware that Phlox had come out of his office, standing
on the other side of the bed.
Phlox studied the bioscan briefly before looking at
Malcolm. “Another patient?” He exclaimed. “What is going on down there?” Phlox
paused, looking down at Ryvinia. “She’s definitely not human.”
Malcolm could not help but grin at the Denobulan
physician. “Ryvinia is an Exoian, as is her niece Sedona,” Malcolm introduced.
Upon hearing her name, Sedona focused her attention on
Malcolm. “I am sorry, Lieutenant Reed,” she apologized. “I have never seen
anything like this.” She looked at Phlox. “Are you a healer?”
Phlox smiled gently. “Yes. I’m Doctor Phlox,” he replied.
Ryvinia began to shift, starting to wake up. She began to
cough.
“Smoke inhalation,” Malcolm supplied helpfully.
Phlox blue eyes narrowed, as he gestured towards the
bioscan. “That much I figured out. What happened, Lieutenant?”
A sly smile appeared on Malcolm’s lips. “A rather...unique
rescue, Doctor,” the British officer replied.
At this point, Ryvinia’s eyes opened. “Rescue?” She
questioned weakly, as her eyes focused in on the man who spoke. She tensed upon
realizing who it was. “Malcolm?”
A wave of relief passed over Malcolm’s handsome features.
His dark eyes softened upon seeing Ryvinia awake. He smiled gently, as he laid
a large hand on her shoulder. “You’re safe now, Ryvinia,” he said soothingly.
Ryvinia relaxed, seeing Malcolm’s gentle expression. She
flushed ever so slightly, then her gaze rested on her niece. “Sedona?” She
sounded surprised.
Sedona broke into a huge smile, as she grabbed Ryvinia’s
hand. “Aunt Ryvinia! I am so relieved that you are unharmed!” She exclaimed.
The Exoian Counselor smiled, then sobered, as she turned
to Malcolm. “What of Drayce?”
“We were able to flush him out with smoke to get to you.
Krysira and the others are most likely in pursuit right now,” Malcolm told her.
“That is good.” Ryvinia drew in a deep breath and upon
letting it out, began to cough.
“Here’s something that will help,” Phlox said, as he used
a hypospray on her neck, injecting her with some medicine. “Your physiology is
quite similar to humans, therefore you should start to feel better in a few
seconds.”
Ryvinia smiled. “Thank-you.”
Phlox nodded. “My pleasure.” He studied Ryvinia, then
Malcolm for a few moments. He looked at the Exoian page. “Sedona...your aunt
needs a little time to recover. Are you hungry?”
Sedona felt her stomach rumble. She did not realize that
she had been hungry until now. “Yes, I am,” she responded.
“Come with me and I’ll take you to our messhall where we
eat.”
The teenager glanced at her aunt, who nodded, then looked
back at Phlox. “Thank-you.”
Ryvinia and Malcolm watched Phlox lead Sedona out of
Sickbay.
Part Four
Jinix – corridor near dwelling
Trip and Krysira emerged from the side corridor and
continued down the other corridor away from the dwelling.
They had not gotten far when they heard: “Wait!” A male
voice called, then coughed harshly.
Trip stopped, recognizing the voice, while Krysira saw a
worried expression cross Trip’s face. “Cap’n Archer!” He exclaimed as he
whirled around to see his superior officer slumped against the side of the corridor.
He ran over with Krysira right beside him.
Archer managed to give them a weak smile, despite gasping
for breath.
“Where’s Malcolm?” Trip wanted to know.
“Enterprise,” Archer replied, before coughing
again.
Concerned about the captain’s condition, Krysira moved
closer to Archer. “Captain Archer, I can give you some temporary relief...with
your permission,” she told him.
Archer merely nodded.
Closing her eyes, the beautiful Jedi Knight drew in the
Force. She laid her hands on Archer’s chest and allowed the healing properties
of the Force to flow from her into the starship captain.
Archer felt a gentle warmness enter his body. The pain and
tightness that he felt in his chest slowly ebbed away. He gazed incredulously
at Krysira, never experiencing anything like that before.
Trip fidgeted slightly as he stood next to Krysira, a bit
uncomfortable at the sight of Krysira's hands on Archer’s chest. He knew that
she was healing Archer, so why did he feel jealous? He shouldn’t be. Krysira
loved him, as he loved her. He let out a small involuntary sigh of relief when
Krysira removed her hands from Archer’s chest and laid his hand discreetly on
her low back.
Krysira opened her eyes, studying Archer, as she shifted a
bit closer to Trip.
Archer grinned at her. “I feel a lot better. Thanks,” he
told her.
“That is good. However you will still need to be checked
out by a healer,” she advised.
The captain waved his hand in a dismissive fashion.
“Later,” he replied. “We found Counselor Ryvinia alive but unconscious. Malcolm
transported to Enterprise with her and Sedona. Where’s Drayce?”
“Obi-Wan and the others are in pursuit. I contacted
Qui-Gon and he will be joining us shortly,” she explained.
Archer furrowed his brow. “I thought that he was
investigating Durriken.”
“Durriken is presently being detained in a holding cell,”
Krysira responded.
Trip looked at them puzzled. “They caught Durriken that
fast?” He drawled out.
The captain rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Durriken
betrayed himself as Qui-Gon hoped he would,” he said.
“Shouldn’t we get after Drayce?” Trip questioned.
“Indeed,” Krysira agreed.
The trio took off down the corridor.
Part Five
Enterprise
Malcolm adjusted the head of the bed into a sitting
position, then sat on the edge of the bed, gazing gently at the attractive
Exoian woman. However, Ryvinia could not look at Malcolm. She found her hands
fascinating at that point.
The British armory officer hooked his fingers up
underneath the counselor’s chin, raising her face up to his face. “Ryvinia...I
think that we need to talk,” Malcolm began, seeing her eyes widen slightly.
“Easy.” He smiled gently. “You didn’t offend me earlier. I...was
just...surprised. No woman ever said that she was...interested in me. I just
didn’t know what to say.” He laid a large hand over one of Ryvinia’s hands.
“Oh,” Ryvinia said, then looked embarrassed. “It would
appear that I came to a hasty conclusion, especially since I do not know your
particular human culture.” She shrugged. “I made the wrong assumption,
Malcolm.”
Malcolm nodded. “And running didn’t help.”
“No. It did not.” She sighed. “I also avoided you, which
led to my being kidnapped.”
He gently squeezed her hand. “I was very worried about
you, Ryvinia. I swore that if Drayce did anything to you, I would hunt
him down myself.” He sighed heavily. “That’s probably the first time I’ve ever
thought of doing something that wasn’t by the book.” He smiled gently. “Of
course, I’ve never had any reason to...follow my heart...until now.” His free
hand touched the area of his heart. “You’re here, Ryvinia. A place where...no
woman has ever been before.”
Ryvinia felt her eyes grow wet. “Oh...Malcolm,” she
whispered, as her free hand touched a strong cheek. “You are the first man I
have allowed in my heart,” she admitted softly.
They looked at each other for the longest time it seemed,
before wrapping their arms around each other. Their lips touched tentatively,
as though they were holding back. They looked into each other’s eyes for
several seconds, before finally giving into their feelings for each other in
the form of a long passionate kiss.
They broke the kiss, holding each other tightly, oblivious
to anything but each other.
Part Six
Open area
Obi-Wan, Caden, Trey and Elkan entered the area looking around.
The young Jedi apprentice heightened his senses through
the use of the Force. He immediately picked up a sound. He turned to the
others. “I hear running footsteps,” he told them.
“Away from us?” Elkan questioned.
“No. The sound is coming towards us.”
“Which corridor?” Trey wanted to know.
“This one,” Obi-Wan replied, pointing to the corridor that
led towards the marketplace.
“It would be wise to be on guard,” Caden advised.
As the others went for their weapons, Qui-Gon and Entok
entered the area. Everyone relaxed slightly. The Jedi Master strode over to his
apprentice.
“Padawan, where is Drayce?” Qui-Gon questioned.
“We were following him and his associates when they
suddenly disappeared,” the youth replied.
“Did you see or hear anyone else?”
“Knight Krysira instructed us to follow at a safe
distance. I heard running, then after a few minutes there was nothing at all.
It was as though they just disappeared into thin air.”
Qui-Gon folded his arms over his chest, frowning ever so
slightly. They were so close to capturing Drayce. How did he manage to slip by
them?
“Drayce appears to know this place better than anyone. He
could be anywhere,” Elkan pointed out.
The Jedi Master nodded in agreement. “We will never find
him by searching randomly.”
“What do you suggest, Master?” Obi-Wan questioned.
Qui-Gon rubbed his bearded chin thoughtfully. “We should
return to Drayce’s dwelling. Perhaps there we can find clues to his current
whereabouts.”
With that, Qui-Gon and the others headed back down the
side corridor that led to Drayce’s dwelling.