Path of Destiny - Chapter 16
The Path of Destiny
Chapter Sixteen
Part One
Outside the dwelling
Qui-Gon,
Krysira and the others arrived back at the smoke-filled dwelling.
The
beautiful Jedi turned to the group. �I will need assistance from Qui-Gon and
Obi-Wan to accomplish my plan,� Krysira began.
�What
do you propose, Krysira?� Qui-Gon questioned his interested piqued.
�That
the three of us Force-push the smoke into a concentrated sphere from three
different directions.�
The
Jedi Master looked impressed. �Let us proceed.� He looked at the others.
�Please remain here.�
Archer
caught Trip and Krysira exchange a smile. Although he knew that Trip and
Krysira were in love from his earlier conversation with the attractive Jedi, he
finally saw it. The smile had warmth and love in it. He watched all three Jedi
enter the dwelling. Archer looked over at Trip seeing a look of sadness cross
the younger man�s face. He realized that Trip hardly left Krysira's side. They
had a connection...a bond, and it ran deep from what Archer could see. He
briefly wondered what would happen when it was time for Enterprise to leave this universe.
How would Trip react? What would Krysira's reaction be? In fact, Archer
wondered what he himself would do in regards to the young couple.
The
starship captain saw his chief engineer sigh heavily gazing down at the floor.
He saw Trip�s head snap up, staring intently into the dwelling. Archer was
puzzled. He hadn�t heard any noise coming from the dwelling. But to him, it was
as though Trip had...sensed something...like...Qui-Gon had earlier. However,
Trip wasn�t a Jedi...or was he?
The
three Jedi positioned themselves in a triangle as per Krysira's instructions,
after gathering in the Force. They Force-pushed the smoke with both hands until
the smoke became a small sphere. Its growing mass caused it to sink slowly to
the floor.
Qui-Gon
nodded. �Excellent strategy, Krysira,� he replied, definitely impressed.
�Thank-you,�
Krysira replied.
Obi-Wan
had a look of awe etched on his handsome boyish features. �I never thought that
that could be done!� He exclaimed.
Krysira
chuckled softly. �Quite frankly, neither did I.� She shrugged a little. �I
figured that it was our only option, besides waiting for the smoke to clear. We
have little time.�
�Indeed,�
Qui-Gon agreed. �Let us continue.�
Five
minutes later, the dwelling was clear of smoke, save for the small black
spheres of condensed smoke in each room. At Qui-Gon's gesture, Obi-Wan went to
bring the others inside.
Entok
looked around. �Impressive,� the guard commented.
�So...where
do we look for clues to Drayce�s whereabouts?� Elkan questioned a bit
anxiously.
Trip
peered into a nearby side room. He turned back to the group, grinning. �I have
one answer to that,� he told them. �I�ll see about fixing this computer.� He
walked into the room with Krysira behind him.
�We
might as well look around the rest of the place, while Trip works on that
computer,� Archer suggested.
�Agreed,�
Qui-Gon said, as he and the others dispersed to search the rest of the
dwelling.
Trip
took out his scanner and multitool, as he sat at the computer and began to work
on it. Krysira sat next to him, watching the young chief engineer.
�Y�know,
Krys,� Trip began. �I felt you, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan use the Force earlier. I
felt it more this time than I did back at the government center, when you
fought those �droids.� He took off the computer tower casing.
Krysira
smiled. �There were three of us, this time, Trip,� Krysira pointed out.
Trip
grinned. �Ah...right.�
She
sobered. �Did it make you feel...uneasy, Trip?� Krysira questioned, laying her
hand on his low back.
Trip
shook his head. �Naw...it was as though I wanted to help, but I really didn�t
know how.� He enjoyed the touch of her hand.
�It
takes time with proper training, Trip.� There was a hint of sadness in her soft
tone.
Trip
caught the subtle sadness in her voice. �Yeah, I know.� His Southern-bred voice
sounded a bit sour, but only briefly. He leaned over and kissed Krysira softly
but passionately, then busied himself with making the computer functional
again.
Being
near Trip was comforting to Krysira. His presence was warm and reassuring. She
closed her eyes to mediate. About a minute later another dream/vision appeared
to Krysira.
Krysira
saw that once again, she and Trip were dressed in the same clothing as in her
previous dream/vision. This time, they were sitting at a small table with food.
They were close together, not having to hide their deep feelings for each other
anymore. There were other tables on either side of them, also with food. Their
friends: Jedi, Exoians and Enterprise crew sat intermingled around a floor where
couples were dancing. One couple in particular stood out: Counselor Ryvinia and
Lieutenant Malcolm Reed sat quite close together engaged in what seemed a quiet
conversation.
She
also saw a very young Exoian girl sitting on the floor playing with Captain
Archer�s pet beagle, Porthos. Archer and Elkan looked on fondly from a nearby
table. Trip stood up, leading her to the open floor. He held her close, as they
moved around the floor in a slow dance, kissing softly throughout.
The
dream/vision faded. Krysira opened her eyes. Once again, the Force was showing
her more and more evidence that she and Trip were meant to share their lives.
She was suddenly aware of Trip gazing at her.
�You
okay, sweetheart?� Trip questioned softly.
�Everything
is fine, my love,� she replied quietly. �I had another dream/vision.�
Trip
swallowed, feeling his chest tighten. �Oh?�
�I
will explain later.� Her hand left his back and touched one of Trip�s strong
cheeks. �It was a...pleasant one.� She gave him a reassuring smile.
Trip
relaxed, grinning at her. He, then, touched a button and the computer burst to
life. He touched another button and writing appeared on the screen in the form
of a log, but in a language that neither Trip nor Krysira could read.
�I
got in!� Trip called out.
Trey
was the first one to come in, followed by everyone else. The rugged space pilot
stood behind the two humans resting his hands on the back of the chairs,
peering over them at the screen.
�It
appears to be a conversation,� Trey pointed out.
�Between
whom?� Qui-Gon questioned.
�Drayce
and...Durriken?� Trey sounded surprised. Trey skimmed the conversation. �It
appeared that Durriken was warning Drayce about Knight Krysira leading a group
to find him. Drayce told him not to worry for he had something to distract the
group.� He summarized.
Trip
grunted. �Yeah. His distraction was whatever the hell injured Krysira,� he
growled sourly, folding his arms over his chest.
�It
was a shock bomb,� Entok supplied. �It causes no structural damage but will
cause injury to whatever crosses it path within a certain distance.� He looked
at Krysira. �Knight Krysira was...fortunate that the intensity was not any
higher, otherwise...� the guard trailed off.
Krysira
looked at Entok. �I understand,� she replied.
�Anything
else?� Archer questioned Trey.
The
space pilot continued to skim the log, when...
�No!�
Trey gasped, as he merely stared at the screen in disbelief.
Part Two
Pallaton�s office
Pallaton took a couple of steps back from Ryvinia. His
expression hardened. �I REFUSE to believe such an ACCUSATION without proof!� He
said forcefully, crossing his arms over his chest.
Sedona
stepped up next to her aunt. �Tribune Pallaton,� she began withering slightly
when the Tribune fixed his cold hard gaze on her. She swallowed, composing
herself. �When I was with Knight Krysira and Commander Tucker, we heard another
Exoian say: �Drayce, let us in. Durriken sent us.� �
Pallaton
pressed his lips in a thin line for a moment or two before replying. �But
neither is here to confirm this so-called evidence.�
Ryvinia�s
eyes narrowed. �You doubt the word of one of our pages?� She inquired.
Malcolm
felt her hand tighten a bit in his hand.
�I
will not accept the word of a...child in such a serious
matter!� Pallaton snapped back.
Releasing
Malcolm�s hand, the Exoian counselor straightened herself and moved to stand
toe to toe with Pallaton. �She is not just a page. She is my niece.
She assisted in rescuing me. That should be good enough!� Her tone
brooked no argument.
Once
again, Pallaton was at a loss for words, as he merely stared at Ryvinia.
Part Three
Dwelling
Trey blinked and reread the words to himself. �Well...� he
began aloud. �This certainly explains things.�
�What�s
that?� Archer questioned.
The
pilot turned to the rest of the group. �It seems that Drayce and Durriken...are
brothers.�
The
silence in the room was deafening.
�This
information was apparently not common knowledge,� Qui-Gon pointed out. �They
hid this fact quite well.�
There
were murmurs of agreement among the Exoians.
�Is
there anything else, Trey?� Krysira questioned.
Trey
studied the screen. �There appears to be an identification code for Durriken�s
computer,� he replied as he pointed to the numbers.
Trip
programmed the number code into his scanner, as Entok maneuvered himself up
behind Krysira studying the monitor as well.
�I
wonder what else could be on the computer?� Obi-Wan mused aloud.
Trip
leaned forward. �Let me look,� Trip drawled out as he scrolled through the
pages. He stopped when schematics for a large device came up. �Hmm...looks like
a platform of some kind.�
�It
is,� Entok agreed. �It appears to be a type of transportation vehicle known as
a hover platform.� He looked puzzled. �I have never heard of one before.� He
reached over Krysira, touching the screen. �This is its location.� Entok
watched Trip punch the numbers in on his scanner. He moved his finger down the
screen, as he skimmed over the information, then stopped. �These two sets of
numbers are to the location and the frequency of false walls that lead to the
hover platform base.� He saw Trip put in the information. The guard
straightened, as he turned back to the group. �It just occurred to me that the
prefix of the identification code we found earlier indicates that Durriken�s
computer is located at the government center. I know exactly where it is. I
will go.�
Qui-Gon
nodded, then turned to Obi-Wan. �Padawan, please accompany Entok,� he said to
his apprentice.
Obi-Wan
gazed back at Qui-Gon for a few moments, then nodded, understanding his
master�s unspoken orders. �Yes, Master,� the youth replied.
Qui-Gon
smiled faintly.
Archer
rubbed his chin thoughtfully. �I think I�ll go along,� he said, then turned to
Trip. �I can contact Enterprise from there and see what�s
going on with Malcolm.�
The
chief engineer nodded.
�Shall
we be off then?� Entok suggested, as he left the dwelling, followed by Archer
and young Obi-Wan.
Part Four
Secondary Dwelling
Jeyzen
walked up to Drayce. �Everything is set up for you, my lord,� he began. �Our
guests are settled in as well.�
Drayce
laid a hand on Jeyzen�s shoulder. �Excellent,� he replied, giving the younger
man a smile, as he removed his hand, heading into another part of the large
dwelling.
As
Drayce made his way to another room, Narset walked up to him.
�Is
there something that you want?� Drayce questioned.
�I
just want to know what we are going to do now,� Narset replied.
�We
will start over.�
Narset
studied Drayce for a long moment. �Very well. We will await your orders.�� The
older Exoian walked away.
Drayce
continued into a small room with a computer and seated himself in front of the
machine. He pressed a button, watching his words appear on the monitor as he
spoke: �Brother, I hope that you were able to take care of our little problem.
We unfortunately had to relocate. Also, the Counselor met a tragic end.�
He
pressed a second button and watched the words disappear. Drayce sat back in his
chair, smiling in satisfaction.
Part Five
Dwelling
Qui-Gon
turned to study the schematics of the hover platform on the monitor for a few
moments. �My guess would be that Drayce has used this hover platform to make
his escape,� the Jedi Master suddenly said. �We were very close to capturing
him and that would explain how he got away from us so quickly that we did not
detect him. Therefore, we need to find this hover platform base.� He looked at
Trip. �Commander Tucker, if you would lead the way.�
Trip
nodded as he stood up. He made a couple of adjustments on his scanner, then
headed through the rooms, exiting the dwelling. Krysira was right behind him.
Trey, Caden, Elkan and Qui-Gon followed.
About
ten minutes later, the group arrived at the open area where they had lost
Drayce and his associates earlier. Trip pulled up the frequency for the false
wall and moments later, part of the corridor wall shimmered away to reveal
another corridor.
Trip
studied the rest of the readout. �According to the schematics, we follow this
to the end. Looks like there�s another false wall that opens up into the
platform base,� he told the group, as he gestured at the scanner screen for
Krysira who was peering around his shoulder at the device.
Qui-Gon
grunted softly.� �We need to be cautious, as we get closer,� he advised.
Ten
more minutes passed when the group arrived at a dead end. Trip studied the
readout.
�The
hover platform base is on the other side of this false wall,� Trip said in a
low voice, gesturing to the corridor wall in front of them.
Qui-Gon
moved forward to stand near the corridor wall. Krysira gently eased Trip back
behind her, as she joined her Jedi companion. Both Jedi had their hands on the
hilts of their lightsabres.
�Trip,�
Krysira said softly.
Trip
once again activated the frequency number for the false wall that shimmered out
of existence to reveal a huge area. There were three corridors on the other
opposite the group. In the middle was a large hover platform which two Exoian males
and one female were running towards.
However,
the three Exoians suddenly ran into something invisible, bouncing off it, much
to their surprise. They all landed on the ground. They turned to see two Jedi,
each holding up a hand in their direction.
Part Six
Small side office
In the meantime, after arriving at the government center,
Entok had led Archer and Obi-Wan through the vast building to their
destination, going inside.
Archer
eyed Entok. �For a guard, you�re certainly quite knowledgeable in computers,�
he commented.
Entok
nodded. �Before entering the military program, I worked on the vast computer
system that links Jinix, Delkye and Tysag together,� he replied, switching on
the computer.
�Why
did you switch professions?� Obi-Wan questioned.
The
Exoian�s cheeks turned slightly lavender. �I felt that what I was doing had
become rather...routine. I needed a...challenge.�
Archer
chuckled. �Well...it certainly has been...challenging lately, hasn�t it?� The
captain pointed out.
Entok
grinned. �Most definitely.� He paused. �Did you not want to contact your ship?�
�Yes.�
Entok
moved to a small console, pushing a couple of buttons. The familiar stoic
visage of Sub-Commander T�Pol appeared.
�Captain,�
T�Pol began. �Has the situation on the planet been resolved?� Her passive gaze
rested on Entok, then on Obi-Wan. She arched a delicate eyebrow slightly as she
came to the conclusion that the youth appeared human.
�No. Not yet, T�Pol,� Archer replied. �I wanted to know if
Malcolm is still on board. He had been transported up with two Exoians.�
�I was informed by Doctor Phlox earlier that Lieutenant
Reed and his guests have already transported back down to the planet.�
�I
see. I�ll keep you advised. Archer out.�
Entok
pressed a button and T�Pol�s image disappeared.
�Can
I contact my crewmate Hoshi from here?� Archer questioned motioning at the
console.
Entok
nodded. �Where is your crewmate?� He wanted to know.
�Last
I knew, she was in the recreation area.�
Entok
punched in a series of numbers, then gestured at the built-in microphone on the
console.
�I
need to speak to Ensign Hoshi Sato.�
Archer
waited for his communications officer to respond.