Things are not as they seem...
Posted on Saturday, 21 May 2022 - 10:41am by Commander Soral
Mission:
Shore Leave
Location: Risa
Timeline: 2395
ON:
The trip from Vulcan had been long and exhausting. He had left the children with Laura promising N’vek that he’d bring him to the ship when ready and he’d finally relented to Severine’s requests to enter the temple training however that was still years away. Now he had a trap to set.
Trudging through the sand he deactivated the security systems on his Risan cottage and dropped his bag on the floor. He did something he rarely did, he sighed. He felt too tired for all this yet he knew that the mirror verse still had left its mark not only on him but on Mac, and Hamura, and Alex. In fact, it had marked the minds and hearts of the entire crew and cost them the star ship. Was it wrong that he was partially happy about the Bear’s loss?
He had liked the ship at first but then life had gotten complicated. Part of him wanted to retreat to Vulcan and leave Starfleet behind but that was not an option for now.
He looked around and decided to head to the kitchen. As he neared something, his years in Starfleet or perhaps the years in the V’shar had honed his instincts to above what a Vulcan’s should be. He slowed his pace and took a moment to tune in.
All his senses began to work, his hearing detected another heartbeat, his nose a familiar scent. He continued on his way to the kitchen feeling keen eyes on him. Shaking his head and went to the replicator but instead of his usual vocal command he just entered the code in and allowed himself the momentary pleasure of watching molecules swirl with their infinite sparkles and form into two glasses.
He picked them up and called out before turning, “Come out Evesta. I have some Bajoran Spice tea.”
There was a muffled curse, the sound of someone swinging from the high beam above and then he watched with a raised eyebrow as the form landed right in front of him. “How did you know?”
He shrugged. “Vulcan hearing, plus you insist on wearing that Vanilla lotion of yours…it is not a pleasant scent.”
She grumbled and tore a tea from his hand downing half of it in one swig.
“How did you get past my security systems?”
She smiled, “ you are predictable in your set up.”
“I shall endeavor to change that.” He paused a moment as he sipped his tea. “Why are you here?”
“Your grandfather asked me to check on you. Plus… I heard about your mirror adventures.”
“Oh?”
She smiled, “I have my source.” She studied him and Soral understood, for the first time, what it felt like to be under a microscope.
“May I enquire as to what you are staring at?”
She smiled, stepped back and then in a flash a phaser appeared in her hands. “You’re not Soral. I know Soral. His eyes, his mannerisms, it’s like you know them too but…”
Soral sighed. “In this verse and in the mirror verse you are very observant.”
“Ahhh Mirror Soral.”
“What a distasteful phrase. Mirror as if I hopped through the looking glass of that story, you were always fond of.”
Evesta’s forehead scrunched, “Where is my Soral.”
“I was never your Soral. I am Alexandra’s Soral but,” He tapped his head. “Here. We are both here. A…bargain. The mirror, as you call it, body is in stasis, safe, the Katras are in here merged for the moment. We have agreed to life the best of both worlds, a scientific exchange if you will.”
She studied him and then lowered her phaser. “Do you know how dangerous that is? Besides it could be irreversible.”
“A chance we both were willing to take. Each Katra, each self, had something that the other craved and needed and thus we agreed to work together and ensure that we benefited from the other.”
“How do you plan to fool Alex and the ship.”
“I do not owe you any explanation.”
She sighed. “Fine. How are the kids.”
He raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, something the Soral that she knew didn’t do.
“The children are fine; you never were one to ask after them.”
“My mirror self wasn’t but I am not her.”
“Indeed. I shall get used to the duality of it all. You have now seen me, asked after the children, and now you may leave.”
She shifted uncomfortably. “Your Alex…Lexi is still in there.”
He studied her.
“You knew that.”
“Indeed.”
She sighed. “I get it. You’re here to set a trap.”
“Indeed. I have some Vulcan healers coming so I would suggest you leave at this point.”
She stopped and studied him again. “This isn’t over. There is a lot we have to talk about.”
“Perhaps another time Evesta. Now, you will leave.”
She didn’t question him but turned and headed away the way that she came.
Soral sat there for the longest time staring after her wondering what he had found attractive about her once. He shrugged and finished the tea. After recycling the cups, he headed to beef up the security systems and then lay the trap for Lexi. He would get his Alex back no matter the cost. Both he and his mirror Katra had agreed that Alex must be dominant as the merge was so hastily done that the separation was no longer an option. Lexi must fade and he knew that the mirror part of himself was heart broken at the loss. A second time of losing the woman that he loved but perhaps a full integration would let them survive. It had worked for Hamura yet Hamura had Betazoid blook in them. Sighing he rubbed his face and then headed out to start his many tasks.
Perhaps he could find the time to meditate a little before Alex arrived. This would be an interesting day to say the least. A part of him was ready for whatever the universe could throw his way and another part of him was weary and tired and felt like, for the first time in his life, giving up.
“I can do this,” he said to himself as he headed out. Work would not wait and rest would come later.
OFF:
