Blackout

by Phaedra M. Weldon

  How dare he dismiss them.

  “Bart, what happened? Why do you push those who care for you away? Is it because she died?”

  “No,” he looked directly into Jolen’s bright eyes. “I live because she died. They transplanted her kidneys, Jolen. And for over forty years I’ve always suspected I stole her life.”

  The Asarion gave Bart a furrowed brow. “There’s something else you’re not telling me.”

  Bart tried to pull away, but Jolen held his arm and put a warming hand on his shoulder. He didn’t want to remember. He didn’t want to tell this complete stranger his childhood horrors.

  The pain in his heart.

  But somehow, it felt right to pour his soul out to Jolen. “I think on a subliminal level, my parents never forgave me—or so I believed. After the operation, I was sent off to Starfleet Academy. My parents disappeared not long afterward—they’d rented another explorer ship and returned to the planet. Supposedly to bury their daughter.”

  “Bart, I’m sorry.”

  “I was eighteen when they left. And I dropped out of the Academy. I focused my education solely on cryptography, and languages, on alien symbols and linguistics. I became the best I could be.” He smiled. “I even fell in love. I didn’t want to…but it happened.”

  “Why didn’t you want to?”

  Bart ignored the question, not ready to give his answer just yet. “His name was Kyle Levington. He was a Starfleet officer. Fresh out of the Academy and had a year before his first assignment onboard the U.S.S. Nemits. He wanted to know where my parents had gone. I’d met his, and he wanted to see mine. I arranged for a ship to take us back to the world my parents had returned to.”

  He started to shake at the memory. No, no…I don’t want to remember this. I can’t remember this.

  But he did.

  They’d found his parents’ ship, but it had been abandoned so long ago. Bart had never told Kyle about what the temple had done to his sister. About what had happened.

  “I stayed in the ship, looking at the what they’d left behind. There was no trace of their bodies, and I’d mentioned the temple. I wasn’t paying attention to where Kyle had wandered off to.”

  Jolen’s skin paled. He tried to hold on to Bart, but the linguist moved away. He stood and took two hesitant steps to the door, facing the opened panel. “He’d gone into the temple. I heard him call out for me. And then I heard his screams. But it was too late. I saw him…”

  The memories came fast. Faster.

  Too fast.

  The room tilted on Bart and he reached out for the wall. He touched a warm body instead and felt himself being folded within Jolen’s arms. He heard the Asarion’s heart beating.

  He heard someone crying.

  Bart didn’t realize the muffled sobs belonged to Jolen.

  “You want to deny yourself happiness.” Jolen spoke softly, and gave Bart a soft kiss on his brow.

  “I—I didn’t want to fall in love, because I had her life. It was all borrowed time. Somehow, I felt I should dedicate my life to a greater good. She would never know love, never find happiness in the arms of another—so why should I?”

  “And you believed—and still do—that Kyle’s death was a punishment.”

  And there it was. So simple. A classic textbook case of self-denial by guilt. He nodded. His shoulders shook. No one had ever seen him this way.

  No one.

  Not even Anthony. These were the things he should be telling Anthony. Those important if not painful moments that shaped who and what he was.

  Jolen pulled him close. “Shhhh…I am here, Bart. I am here.”

  Chapter

  9

  Jolen sat on the floor, comforting Bart. It had been a horrible story—and one the linguist had buried deep.

  And though it pained him to see Bart in agony, Jolen felt honored that he would share those memories with him.

  With me. He stroked the sleeping man’s thick, gray and black hair. He wondered again what Bart would look like without the beard. Younger perhaps. Less worried? It didn’t matter. A small seed of sadness germinated within his own soul. They would find the key to opening the door. All would be well. And Bart would leave.

  And Jolen would be alone, again.

  It did not matter. Not really. And he made a promise to himself, and the dozing linguist, that he would be there for him.

  Always.

  “Oh.”

  Jolen looked up from Bart’s face and saw the doctor. She stood just inside the cleared area, her hand to her mouth, her eyes wide. “Greetings, Dr. Lense. Please, come in.”

  She gave a tight smile and took a step closer. “I’m sorry—I was checking on Bart.”

  “He’s resting. I do apologize again for Riz giving him that stimulant. I shouldn’t have allowed it.”

  Lense’s smile became a chuckle as she knelt down beside the two of them. “Well, after my own brief encounter with her, I’m not sure if you’d have been able to stop her. I’m not even sure Corsi could have.” She pulled a small device from her bag, the one Jolen had seen her use earlier, and passed it over Bart. “Endorphins, adrenaline levels all appear to be normal.” She frowned as she tilted her head to her right shoulder. “He looks awfully peaceful. I’m not sure I’ve seen him that relaxed in a while.”

  “He—” Jolen stopped himself. He’d been about to say that Bart had shared a great burden with him, but thought better of it. No, those memories were between the two of them. If Bart wished them shared, then he would have to do it himself. “He still seemed tired. So I offered him a place to rest.”

  “Yeah.” Lense’s right eyebrow arched high. “I noticed.”

  Jolen smiled and felt the heat rise from his chin to his face. He noticed too the way Lense often put her hand over her abdomen, and remembered hers and Bart’s conversation. “I hear you are with child?”

  The Asarion wasn’t sure how to read the expression that crossed the doctor’s face. It appeared to be a mixture of hesitation and sadness. “Yes…I’m pregnant.”

  “You’re not happy about this?” Jolen shook his head.

  The doctor absently rubbed her abdomen again. “I—well—I’m not sure yet. And I guess in a way I’m a bit tired of that question, you know?”

  “I think I might. Is the father happy?”

  This time Elizabeth’s face darkened, though not in anger, but in infinite sadness, and he reached out to touch her shoulder. “That—well—that’s complicated, Jolen. He’s dead, and yet I think if he knew, he would be very happy.” Lense suddenly got a faraway expression in her eyes.

  Again Jolen frowned at her. “Something wrong?”

  “Oh, no, no. It’s just that after my recent experiences, I’ve sort of gotten pretty good at seeing a train wreck before it happens.” She lowered her hands. “And this one looks like it might be a doozy.”

  “Train? Like in shuttle? Do you suspect there is something wrong with the shuttle outside?”

  “No, no…never mind.” She looked around the floor and picked up one of Bart’s worksheets. “What’s this?”

  “Bart discovered the fifth symbol as love, or spirit in your culture. But we’re still stumped on the sixth. Four known elements and a theory. I was trying to apply the science of building toward the science of communication to come up with the answer. Nothing.”

  She frowned. “Earth, air, fire, and water, the four basics. And you said love, or life or spirit.”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, I’m no linguist, but it seems to me the outcome of all of those things would be death.”

  Silence hung thick in the air between them as the two stared at each other.

  “That’s it!” Jolen moved so quickly Bart nearly fell from his lap.

  Lense moved at the last minute to stop the linguist’s head from hitting the hard floor. Jolen blushed and shook Bart’s shoulder. “Bart? Wake up—we have it. We have it!”

  “Hmm…?” The bearded linguist stirred and then opened his
eyes. He looked up into the face of Elizabeth and was obviously embarrassed. “What happened? Did I have another episode?”

  “No, no.” Jolen pulled at his shoulder until Bart was in a sitting position. “Your doctor here solved it.” He set the paper in Bart’s lap. “Six symbols. Earth. Air. Fire. Water. Spirit or love. What comes from the elements of life?”

  “Life?” Bart rubbed at his eyes. “I’m not sure I’m following.”

  Jolen hesitated. “Think of the story you told me, about you.” He glared at Bart, not wanting to divulge anything he wasn’t supposed to. Bart’s eyes widened slightly and he nodded. “What came out of death?”

  The linguist blinked. “Life. My life.” Bart’s expression lit up. “That’s it!” He turned to Lense. “You’re a genius.”

  “No, not really. I’m just—mmgrphh!” was the doctor’s response as Bart reached out and kissed her.

  He pulled away and smiled. “Sorry—I’m just excited.”

  “Oh, yay.” Lense wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “And sweaty. First Anthony at the wedding, then you. I think I’m gonna stay away from both of you from now on.” She rose and moved toward the exit. “I’ll tell the others we’re going to give this a try, all right?”

  Bart set the paper to the side beneath the table. “What can I do to help you?”

  “This.” Jolen knew it was wrong, and he knew he had no right to intrude on Bart. But he couldn’t help his own feelings. He reached out and with a hand behind the linguist’s head, pulled him close, and pressed his lips to Bart’s.

  The beard prickled against his upper lip, and he knew the linguist remained unmoving because he had not expected Jolen’s action. For an instant, Jolen felt Bart return the kiss.

  Until he felt the man’s hands pressing on his arms, pushing him away.

  With a sigh, Jolen released Bart and dipped his head, embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Bart. I just—I don’t think I’ve seen you that happy since you arrived. And it’s…” He shrugged. “I’m sorry. And I promise I won’t tell anyone else the things you told me.”

  He watched carefully as Bart put a hand to his lips and nodded, if not a bit slowly. “Sh-ure. I just…” Bart swallowed and stood. He turned and straightened his outer jacket. “Please don’t do that again.”

  Jolen had expected this reaction and accepted it. It was enough that Bart had felt close enough to share his tragic past with him. And if that was all he would ever receive from the linguist, then it would be enough.

  After standing, the Asarion shook his head. “I’m afraid I can’t promise that.”

  Working together, the two of them were able to draw up a readable schematic for the workings of the door mechanics. Once Jolen was confident he could open the door by simply triggering the mechanism itself, just in case the symbols didn’t work, Bart called Corsi, Carol, and Lense and explained what they were going to do.

  “Is there any protocol in place for safety?” Corsi said.

  Jolen gave the female a broad grin. “I’ve mapped out the mechanism and I’m confident I can open it, in case something goes wrong.”

  “Eh.” Carol put up her finger. “Don’t say that.”

  Jolen stepped up to the door, his finger hovering over the keypad. “Everyone ready?”

  “Wait.” Corsi pulled out her phaser and set it for stun. “Ready.”

  “I don’t think we’ll need that.”

  “Bully for you.” She moved in front of Carol and Lense. “Ready.”

  Jolen looked at Bart, who nodded, and then winked.

  That small gesture seemed to smooth things over. A little bit. Maybe Bart would forgive his indiscretion. After taking a deep breath, Jolen pressed the combination. Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Spirit, Death.

  At first nothing happened.

  Then…

  A loud chunk noise interrupted the silence. The party looked up and around them.

  “That didn’t sound healthy,” Lense said. “Was it?”

  Bart held up his right hand. “Wait…”

  Another chunk noise and the door began to move into the door to the right. Stale, warm air rushed out of the opening and the others coughed. Jolen moved back fastest and held on to Lense’s outstretched hand.

  When the grinding noises ceased, no one moved. The darkness inside resembled a matte, black curtain. No light filtered in or out.

  Carol looked at Bart. “Anything happen?”

  Bart tapped his combadge. “Faulwell to da Vinci.”

  No response.

  He tapped it again and repeated the call.

  Still no response.

  Something crashed several times in succession outside of the room. Corsi’s eyes widened. “Those were the chamber doors.” She turned and took off at a dead run.

  Jolen looked at Bart. “This isn’t sounding very good. You think we made a mistake?”

  Bart tried hailing Gomez, Tev, Stevens, and Pattie. There was no response. Corsi came barreling back around the corner of the path’s entrance. “The Fourth Chamber door is shut tight. The code doesn’t open it.”

  “And I think we can assume those other crashes were the secondary chamber doors closing as well.” Jolen gave a long, frustrated sigh.

  “We’re trapped,” Corsi said.

  “I only hope the dampening field isn’t back up,” Bart said and looked directly at Jolen, though the look wasn’t an accusatory one. “Because right now, we can’t get back to the Second Chamber panel to shut it off.”

  Chapter

  10

  Captain Gold was on his way to the bridge when something hit the starboard side of the da Vinci. He made it to the bridge doorway before the ship was rocked again.

  “Report!” he barked as he nearly fell through the door.

  “We’re experiencing a bombardment of some kind,” Anthony Shabalala said from his position at tactical. “We’ve got systems shutting down all over the ship!”

  “Captain!” Lieutenant Nancy Conlon’s voice filtered over the bridge’s speaker. “We’ve got to move the da Vinci now!”

  “What’s going on?”

  “We’re being hit by regular magnetic pulses, sir. They’re increasing in strength regularity—as if whoever is tossing them our way is reading damage and then increasing exponentially.”

  Gold’s artificial hand gripped the back of the chair and nearly crushed the hard plastic beneath the upholstered back. He pulled himself into it and turned to face the front viewscreen. “Wong, you heard Conlon. Move us out of the range of that thing.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  The captain then turned to operations. “Haznedl—any word from the surface before this happened?”

  The operations officer shook her head. “None sir. We’ve lost all contact with the surface.”

  “Gevalt,” Gold muttered and looked back to the front viewscreen. As the ship moved farther away from the planet, the less it tossed and swayed in space.

  Once the bombardment stopped, the captain contacted Conlon in engineering. “Damage?”

  “Some major systems are down—warp core isn’t, though. Coolant safeties are nominal. Don’t order us into warp too soon.”

  “Any chance of a transport?”

  “Negative. Sir, we get anywhere close to that planet again as long as those EMPs are shooting out and we’ll be dead in the water.”

  Gold disconnected and looked back to Haznedl. “Get me one of the away teams. I don’t care which one. And I don’t care how. Just find a link to our people.”

  “Sir?” Wong said. “I’m picking up some sort of…countdown.”

  “Countdown?” Gold stood and moved to stand behind Wong. “How are you receiving a countdown?”

  “It’s on the same frequency modulation the maxim message was on, transmitted on subspace.” He looked up and over his shoulder at the captain. “It’s definitely a countdown.”

  Gold stood and looked at the viewer at the aft view of the planet. “But a countdown to what?”

&nbs
p; “I do not believe this,” Stevens said as Gomez, Tev, Vinx, and Soloman moved into the darkness of the control room of the fusion generator. Gomez focused her light on Stevens. The temperature had remained at a pleasant level, though to Gomez, Stevens appeared to be more than a little hot under the collar. “We just got the damned thing powered up.”

  “Well, we’ve also lost all contact with the da Vinci,” Gomez said as Tev came to stand beside her. “All the power’s gone. The city’s under full blackout, again.”

  “What did they do out there this time?” Stevens rubbed his eyes with the base of his palms. “I have never felt so useless.”

  “None of us have,” Gomez said. “This blackout is more powerful than the first one. Nothing is working except low-power-emitting flashlights such as these.” She held up the light in her hand. “For right now, we’ll have to wait it out and see. Maybe Jolen can shut the dampeners off again.”

  “Maybe,” Stevens said and looked up at the darkened cavern where the fusion reactor sat. Silent. “Maybe.”

  Ten minutes after the chamber doors shut, the lights came on in the Sixth Chamber.

  Bart reached out and touched Jolen’s arm for support. Nothing in his long life had prepared him for the majesty of what the light revealed to them. Not even the pyramids of Regolas IV could rival the extent of the inner cavern.

  Carol spoke, her voice echoing throughout the cavern. “Well, this was definitely an attack vessel.”

  “You think?” Bart couldn’t control the sarcasm in his voice. Rows and rows of machines of mass destruction were laid out before them. All of it was coated in a thick layer of dust. The crew of the da Vinci, plus the Asarion, were dwarfed by the sheer size of some of the tallest of them. “What—what are half of these?”

  Corsi stepped forward, her phaser still drawn. “I’d say the majority are tanks—on leg-stalks. There are gunnery vehicles as well. Shuttles. Over there.” She pointed with her free hand to a row of dust-coated spheres. “I’d say those are water vehicles.”

  “It would take centuries just to pick through this,” Jolen said as he took several steps forward.