by Neal Jones
Aliira laughed, and at that moment she was the same girl she had always been. "I love it out here. I could never get tired of the view."
Her mother smiled. There was one more difference about her daughter that she had noticed immediately, but it was subtle. She now spoke like an adult three times her age. Her speech patterns had changed just a bit, a fact that was confirmed by their family doctor back in Osth. The day after Aliira's rebirth, Messani had insisted on taking her daughter to him to make sure that she had suffered no physical side effects from the miracle. That seemed like a silly thing to do at the time, but once one becomes a mother, the protective instincts never go away, even in the aftermath of supernatural miracles.
And the fact that she'd been so flabbergasted, awed, stunned, and confused, that the only logical thing to do at the time was see a doctor.
"You're giving me that look again."
Messani blinked. "What look?"
"I'm still me, mother. I'm still here."
"I know." She sat on the edge of the bed and watched her daughter select a jacket. One of the thousands of gifts given to the new Emissary was a whole new wardrobe, most of it handmade. "But you still have that look as well. The one in your eyes that makes me...well, this is hard to get used to, that's all."
"Because I'm more than just Aliira N'Lyn." She grinned, exuberant in a way that Messani had never seen before. "I wish that I could describe it to you in a way that you would understand. I'm still me, still the same old person I was before. But..." She frowned, trying to find a way of explaining it that she hadn't thought of before. "I'm seeing everything in a whole new way. I have knowledge of things that I never knew before, things from so long ago, so far in the past." She sat beside her mother and became more breathless and excited as she spoke. "I remember seeing the city of Kimnamor, before it was destroyed by the holy fire. I remember leading our people from the burning plains into the lands beyond the mountains. I remember giving them the name of Chrisarii."
Messani smiled and brushed her daughter's hair away from her cheek. "I believe you."
"But you are worried."
"Of course. What does it mean to be filled with Tor'Ahl's spirit? Is it like being possessed with one of the Fallen?"
"Yes and no." Aliira grasped her mother's hand. "Yes, in that there is another consciousness melded with mine. It's like you and I in this room together. Sometimes I can feel Aamon's presence very strong, and that's when I am speaking his words, his thoughts. And other times, like now, I can still feel his presence, but it's diminished, as though he's on the other side of the room with his back turned to me." She paused and shook her head. "All of this does feel very...strange at times. Almost like my consciousness is separated from my body, and I'm watching myself from a great distance. And also when I sleep..."
"What do you mean? What happens when you sleep?"
"My dreams are...unusual. More vivid, more...real. Last night I dreamt I was in Lar'A'Tol, standing at the gates of the temple. It was many years after Aamon's death. Don't ask me how I know that. And then I turned, and I saw myself. I – she – was standing in the street, and a crowd of people were walking around her, coming and going, as if she wasn't there." Aliira gave a nervous laugh. "I don't remember what happened after that." She frowned, concentrating. "I think that Tor'Ahl is speaking to me in my dreams, but...I don't know. It's all so weird and new, and I think he's having to adjust to this co-habitation as much as I am."
Messani smiled and nodded, hoping that she didn't look too fearful or anxious. She reached up to sweep more of her daughter's hair away from her forehead, but Aliira stood and reached for her favorite brush.
"Here. Will you braid it for me? You haven't done that in a long time."
Messani swallowed the lump in her throat and blinked, suddenly overwhelmed with the memory of how Aliira would sit in her lap when she was little and read her storybooks while her mother combed her hair and styled it. This was usually in the evenings after sundown, and Faero would be sitting next to the fireplace, plucking out a tune from his childhood on his puryf.
"I would love that."
Messani took the brush and Aliira sat in front of her mother, facing the closet. She started to hum and Messani recognized the tune. She began to sing the lullaby, and Aliira joined her at the chorus.
( 2 )
Major Saveck adjusted his ceremonial baldric and then tugged at the waist of his formal jacket. The last time he had worn them was when he and Gabriel had welcomed aboard Ambassadors Vorik and Zar. And, same as last time, the commodore was looking distracted and preoccupied. Back then it had been the stress of the new assignment. Now it was because of Doctor Sysko and her daughter, who was also Gabriel's daughter.
Saveck chose not to say anything to Gabriel, but he sympathized with the commodore's situation. It was the first time in the last five months that he had felt something akin to camaraderie with his commanding officer. He knew how he would feel if he were in Gabriel's position, and he again suppressed a shiver at the possibility that somewhere out there was child with his bloodline in his or her veins.
The possibility was a remote one. Since the death of Jran and his family, Saveck had kept himself too guarded and too emotionally fortified to allow anyone of the opposite gender to get close enough to share physical intimacy. Besides that, Kralin had never desired a family of his own. Considering the hell he had put his own parents through, there was no way in this universe he was going to willingly subject himself to the same torture. Put simply, the business of rearing children wasn't worth the sacrifice in time and money that was required of the parents. Kralin suspected that this was another thing that he and Gabriel had in common, and a small part of him was disturbed by that notion.
The chime above the airlock gave a soft ping to signal the completion of the docking seal, and Kralin turned his attention to the present. Shil'Ra Tosar stepped forward, his hands clasped ceremoniously in front of him, his posture as rigid as stone. Saveck gave a slight frown as he glanced at the shil'ra from the corner of his eye. The man had talked of nothing but Aliira's rebirth for the last two weeks, and the major sighed inwardly as he thought of all of the religious ritual that he was going to have to endure for the next two days, simply because of his position as second-in-command of Exxar-One.
The doors parted and Tal'Shil'Ra Erimos crossed the threshold. Tosar bowed his head and greeted the spiritual leader of the church with a brief, traditional prayer. Erimos folded his hands, bowed his head, and returned the greeting with a blessing of his own. When the ritual was complete, the tal'shil'ra turned to Gabriel and Saveck.
"Tal'shil'ra, it is a pleasure to welcome you to Exxar-One." Gabriel folded his hands in the same ceremonial gesture that Tosar used. "This is my first officer and liaison Major Saveck."
The major folded his hands, bowed his head, but said nothing. If Erimos took any offense at the lack of a verbal greeting, he didn't show it. He stepped aside to allow a quartet of soldiers to enter, and they took up station on either side of the airlock. Aliira was the next to appear, with her mother close behind, and Kralin felt a twinge of sympathy for the older woman. He recognized the look in her eyes, the look of someone who's been caught completely unawares and who is holding herself together through sheer stubbornness of personal will and steadfast faith.
"I present Aliira N'Lyn and her mother Messani," Erimos pronounced in a solemn tone.
Tosar immediately lowered himself to one knee and bowed his head. He uttered some more words in the ancient tongue, words that Kralin didn't recognize. It was probably another formal greeting or a request for a blessing of some kind. Aliira smiled and stretched forth her hands to lay them on the shil'ra's head. She closed her eyes and responded to him in the same tongue. Erimos and Messani had closed their eyes and bowed their heads as well, and Kralin glanced at Gabriel. The major almost laughed aloud as he saw his own impatient look reflected in the commodore's expression. A low tolerance for all this religious ceremony was apparently o
ne more thing that they had in common.
Aliira ended her prayer and Tosar stood. The girl turned to Gabriel. "Commodore, thank you for allowing me to visit your station."
"The pleasure is all mine, Emissary."
She grinned. "Please call me Aliira."
Gabriel couldn't help but smile back. "All right. Aliira."
She turned to Saveck. "Major. Pleased to meet you."
"You as well, Aliira."
The girl nodded and turned to Tosar again. "The Tal'Shil'Ra has told me that you have planned a celebration in my honor."
"Yes, emissary, I have. Tonight, at the cathedral on the promenade. I realize that the Day of Remembrance is still two months away, but it seemed appropriate to celebrate it while you're here."
Aliira blushed. "I am honored."
While the introductions were being made, two elders of the conclave had stepped through the airlock and were waiting patiently beside Erimos. He now turned to Gabriel.
"Commodore, could we begin our tour now? The Emissary has been talking of nothing for six days but seeing this place."
Aliira bobbed her head. "It's true."
One of the elders stepped forward. "Shil'Ra Tosar, we would like to visit your cathedral."
"Of course, elders. It would be my honor. Please follow me." He bowed his head one more time to Aliira, and then started for the PTL with the elders in tow.
As they were leaving, Gabriel said to Aliira, "What would you like to see first?"
The girl cast a shy glance at Erimos and then replied timidly, "Could we go to the command deck?"
The commodore smiled and nodded. "I don't see why not." He motioned for them to precede him into the PTL. Two of the soldiers went first, and the third brought up the rear.
The fourth soldier turned to Kralin. "Major Saveck, Colonel Major Sorint would like to review security procedures with you. He's waiting aboard the Lorzach."
Kralin masked his surprise at hearing a name he had forgotten long ago. "Lead on, lieutenant."
Once aboard, the guard took Saveck to the war room, which was the equivalent of a briefing room or a wardroom on an EarthCorps ship. The lieutenant remained outside and motioned for Saveck to enter. Colonel Major Sorint was seated at the large, round table, frowning at his terminal screen. His expression changed when he saw Saveck, and he stood to greet his old friend.
"Kralin!"
The major saluted, and Sorint returned it.
"Kaylem. It's been a long time." It was the only thing Saveck could think of to say.
"You don't look very happy to see me."
"No. I mean, yes, I am pleased to see you. I'm just... surprised."
Kaylem laughed and gestured to a chair. "I know. I should have sent you a message before we left homeworld."
"Are you commanding the Lorzach?"
"No. I don't have my own command yet." He motioned to a pitcher in the middle of the table. "Some fresh sunto?"
"No, thank you."
Kaylem poured himself a glass, and then leaned back, looking at Saveck with a puzzled expression. "Kralin, relax. I realize it's been several years, but I haven't changed. This isn't an interrogation."
The major gave a rueful smile. "I know. I'm sorry. The last few months have been very...difficult for me."
Kaylem nodded. "I'd say that's an understatement. To be honest, I'm surprised you're still here. After that battle against the Haal'Chai, I assumed you would have earned your former rank back by now."
"You know about the War Academy incident?"
"Not the whole report, no. You were an instructor?"
"Yes. I made an error in judgment during a live fire training exercise. Two of my soldiers were severely injured as a direct result."
"Gods, Kralin. I'm sorry."
"Thank you." He poured himself a cup of the sunto. "So why aren't you commanding this ship? The last I heard, you'd been given the Tasban Decoration for Valor. That alone should have earned you a command chair."
Kaylem chuckled. "It did, but I rejected it in favor of a posting on Trofta. Thank gods the war was over by then or the military council wouldn't have given me a choice."
"But now you're here, serving as..."
"Chief of security for the duration of this tour. I volunteered. Three years ago I accepted a posting on homeworld, in the office of the Chancellor's Guard." Kralin almost choked in mid-sip. Kaylem smiled. "It's a high office, I know, and it's not one that I thought would ever be available to me. Kroth later told me that he'd been the one to request me specifically. Another side effect of being awarded the Tasban, I suppose."
Kralin frowned. "Why weren't you here five months ago when Kroth was here?"
"I was supposed to be, but I caught a nasty strain of nitursia and had to be hospitalized for three days. I should have been awarded the medal for surviving that ordeal, not the Battle of Elor."
"So why did you volunteer for this? And since when does the Conclave of Thardane need a security escort?"
"Are you serious, Kralin? Haven't you been watching the news?"
The major shrugged. "It all looks like a big stunt to me. Somebody messed with the weather control grid, and the church is back in the spotlight where it likes to be. Most of our people are followers of Tor'Ahl anyway, so I doubt that Aliira's in any real danger. Besides, if those prophecies really are true, she has five more to fulfill, so she's not going to be killed anytime soon."
Kaylem cocked his head as he looked at his friend over the rim of his glass. "You're still not a believer, eh?" He took a sip and then refilled the tumbler.
Kralin shook his head. "It's all just as ridiculous now as it was when I was a child."
"I don't blame you. I haven't been to church in twenty years. Although, now that I'm back on homeworld, mother's been pestering me to attend services with her."
"How is she?"
"Doing well. She keeps herself busy, which is a good thing, but sometimes I wonder if she isn't just distracting herself so she doesn't have to think about father."
"Has he passed on?"
"Yes. Four years ago. He was out in the fields one afternoon, working alone, when his heart just quit beating. The doctors say it was old age. He laid out there for at least a couple hours before anyone found him, so it was too late to bring him back."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Kaylem."
"Thank you. That's why I accepted the posting to the Chancellor's Guard. I wanted to be closer to mother." Kaylem sipped his juice. "Do you remember Nisra?"
Kralin gave a snort. "How could I forget? Whenever we played war games in my mother's garden, she insisted on being the colonel. You two fought like vokra over the littlest things."
"That's because she insisted on acting like a boy. She was always challenging me." There was more than a little humor in Kaylem tone.
Kralin chuckled. "I still remember that day when she beat you at Klara'Sihn."
"That's because she cheated! She still refuses to admit it, and I challenged her to a rematch two weeks ago. I won, of course."
Kralin's laugh ebbed as Kaylem's words sank in. "Two weeks ago? She's still on homeworld?"
Kaylem nodded. "She's an instructor at the War Academy. Life sciences. She was recently promoted to major."
Kralin nodded, impressed. "That's good to hear. I wondered about her during the war."
"Here's the best part. We're going to be married next month."
Kralin was in the midst of refilling his glass, and he nearly dropped the pitcher. "No..."
"Yes."
The major shook his head, amazed. "I suppose there's a certain -"
"Poetic justice?"
"You could say that. Irony is more like it."
Kaylem laughed. "I'm as surprised as you are. I guess that explains why she was always challenging me when we were kids, and why she insisted on making me her first commander in our games."
"Oh, you flatter yourself. I'm fairly certain I was first commander more times than you."
The remin
iscing continued for several minutes, and then Kaylem became quiet, and he stared at his drink. Kralin sensed that there was a subject that his friend had been coming around to for awhile now, so he waited silently.
"When I went to visit my mother two weeks ago, I stopped by your parents' vineyard, Kralin." Kaylem looked up, and the major was stunned by the deep sadness in the eyes of his old friend. "Your father gave me a message to give to you." He slid a comm chip across the table. "Watch this first, and then we'll talk this evening."
Kralin didn't immediately reach for the chip. "You didn't bring me here to discuss security arrangements."
"No. I'm sorry. I wish that this reunion was under better circumstances. You'll understand when you've watched the message." Kaylem stood. "I have to meet with Commander Navarr. I'll come to your quarters tonight, after Tosar's celebration. I have a bottle of wine that your father gave me. He wanted us to share it together."
Kralin stood and nodded, staring at chip as he turned it over and over in his fingers. After a moment he seemed to remember where he was, and he looked up. "Thank you."
Kaylem nodded and watched his friend walk out of the war room. It was going to be a long night.
( 3 )
"Carol?" Doctor Rosenberg gently nudged the woman's shoulder, and she came awake with a start. "Sorry."
"No, it's okay." Carol sat up and rubbed her eyes. "How long have I been asleep?"
"A couple hours. It took a little longer than I expected to get Amy a bed." He led Carol out of the waiting room where she'd spent most of the morning. He'd admitted her daughter to the pediatric unit on level six the night before, a couple hours after she awoke. "Amy's in a double room," Ben explained as they stepped into the PTL. "The second bed is for you. That's what took me so long to arrange everything. We have a lot of patients up there right now, but being the station's CMO has its privileges."
"Thank you, doctor."
The lift stopped, and the door opened. Rosenberg led Carol down the hall, to the last room on the left. Amy was sitting up in her bed, staring at the holoscreen on the nearby wall. A breathtaking starscape of planets and nebulas floated on the display.
