Part 2: Blue Eyes Green

Posted on Sunday, 7 February 2021 - 5:36pm by Commander Soral & Lieutenant Alex Kingsley

Mission: Operation: Trail of Tears
Location: USS Standing Bear | Various
Timeline: 2394 - MD 08 Early Morning

ON:

T'Paris stalked towards the XO's quarters. She bypassed the chime and pounded on the door. "Open this door. " There was no pretense of Vulcan calm, only fury.

After a long minute or so the door opened and Alex stood there, half asleep in a long old U2 t-shirt and a pair of shorts. She narrowed her eyes against the bright corridor lights as she reached up and swept her curls away from her face. “What the -“ the words died in her throat, replaced by a groan. “Why are you battering down our door, Lieutenant?”

She pushed her way in. "Do you realize what you've done?!"

Alex rolled her eyes, turning so that the door stayed open. “Enlighten me, Lieutenant,” she said coolly, attempting to keep her own temper in check after the rude awakening. “But you have one minute before you get out, or security escorts you.”

"They should escort you. Because of your....meddlesomeness Soral may loose his life. He's undertaking a ceremony in the holodeck that should be monitored by another Vulcan, someone like me but he refused cause he said you were worried now he's locked in the holodeck undertaking a crazy ceremony that could kill him!"

Alex said nothing as she crossed the room and pulled out her running shoes, tugging them on. Glaring at T’Paris she headed out of their quarters, heading for the turbolift. “Kingsley to MacKenzie. Can you meet me at the holodeck please? It’s Soral.”

Touching the control she heard footsteps behind her and glared back at the Vulcan woman, “go home. I’ll call T’Lara.”

"This is not over." She said turning.

Mac had just gotten out of the shower when the call came. He sighed and changed. "On my way." He made it in record time to the holodeck finding it locked.

“Can you bypass the lock? T’Paris all but knocked in our door and then said Soral is doing some kind of ceremony on his own that needs another Vulcan.” She didn’t add in the rest. “Worse case, I can ask Doctor Rose to override...”

Mac sobered. He tried the lock. "Only command level access." He looked at her. "Try your command codes."

She slipped past him, entering her code. There seemed the longest time of nothing and then the locked icon changed at the doors began to slide open. At the first chance she had, she squeezed through the gap and hurried inside.

The doors shut just before Mac could follow her inside.

The holodeck had been converted into a Vulcan temple. The smoke of the incense curled thickly around the room. Eucalyptus and a strong unrecognizable sent filled the room. Darkness reigned with only candles to light the golden walls. Intricately carved figures of old Vulcan gods. Soral lay curled in a fetal position holding his head. He groaned and began speaking in what was Vulcan. Muttering.

Between the almost complete darkness and the smoke, at first it was difficult to see much of anything. Slowly shapes began to become clearer as soft light of the candles continued to offer small glimpses of the temple. And it was hot. As hot as she remembered the forge to have been. As she stepped further into the holodeck she became all the more grateful she was not in an actual uniform, yet even so she was already covered in a fine sheen of sweat as if she had been doing a workout. Which was nowhere near the case.

"Soral?"

Her eyes swept the room, occasionally seeing some statues she recognised from smaller versions Soral kept in their quarters. Yet she had no interest on dwelling on the obvious care and devotion which had created them, her interest was in one person. She cursed, a very Human curse, as she hit into some sort of bench. Rubbing her aching shin she heard him...

"Soral?" she repeated, listening for him. It seemed as if there was only silence for the longest time before she heard him speak again, words she did not recognise. But she could hear him nonetheless. Relieved she headed towards him, mindful of her footing. Now that she was closer she could see him now and she ran to him, her heart racing, afraid of what had happened to leave him in such a state.

"Soral! Soral, please, what's wrong?" she pleaded as she reached for him. What had he done?!

A shadow seamed to loom over them. It moved as if it had a mind of its own. At her touch he seemed to calm. His breathing was more even. The shadow seemed to swirl around them seeming to take on a form, a familiar one that she'd met in what she thought was a dream. Her husband's namesake.

"You!" The word escaped her mouth as almost an accusation as she shifted closer to her husband, her hand over his as she tried to get some sign from him that he was alright. She studied the figure towering over them, unable to understand why he would even seem to exist. Had she somehow made a connection again to Soral? Which was largely what she put it down to the last time she had seen this man. And if it was some manifestation of Soral's subconscious... well, maybe it would help fix him. "What's wrong with him?"

"He will recover. Your husband insisted on communing with me. He is locked in his mind at least for a while." His eyes seemed to glow. "The road ahead is long and will be filled with trials for you both. A bit of advice. Hold to the love you have." He slowly dissipated.

Soral stirred and moaned "Alex..."

Her attention snapped back down to him as she crouched over him, “Soral, I’m here,” she said quickly. She felt tears sting at her eyes, worry for him, anger that he tried this and the weight of the allegations T’Paris had laid at her feet. “Do you need me to call Dr Rose?”

"No.." He sat up slowly. He looked up at her, his eyes unfocused.

She shifted to kneel on the floor and help him sit before she cupped his face to make him look at her. “Soral, what were you thinking? T’Paris said you were doing some kind of - Soral, look at me... your eyes...”

His eyes focused a little. "Alex." He placed his hands over her. "I am alright."

“And I’m a unicorn,” she quipped. “Soral... your eyes. They are green. Come on, Sickbay. I’ll shout at you for your stupidity later.”

Before he could say anything the doors opened and Mac and T'Lara ran in. They halted by them.

"Soral?" Mac said.

T'Lara knelt by the two. "What has occurred?"

“T’Paris believed he was undertaking some kind of ceremony,” Alex offered as she climbed to her feet to allow T’Lara to check on her husband. “Apparently it is not something to do alone. Soral can tell you the rest.”

She studied him. "Commander?"

Soral stood. His once blue eyes now green seeming to glow a little.

T'Lara stepped back.

Mac's jaw dropped. "His eyes?"

“I know,” Alex said quietly, frowning. “He needs to get checked over. Could you both get him to Sickbay? I need to get some proper clothes and I’ll meet you there.”

"There is no need for sickbay." He said. "I am well."

T'Lara looked at him. "You attempted the communing ritual." She looked around. "You realize you could have died."

He gave a nod. "Yet I stand feeling more centered then ever. You honour me with your concern."

She gave a nod. "Come." She said to Mac. She turned to Alex. "He will be alright. The eyes mean that he was successful." She looked back at the commander. "Your sacrifice was accepted I hope that it was worth it."

With that Mac and T"Lara left.

After they left there was a long silence. “What did she mean? What Sacrifice?” Her voice was low, quiet and held a hint of fury.

"Shariel, I partitioned him to ensure both your and Haru's safety and to guide me through whatever is going on with me." He side stepped the question.

“What. Sacrifice.”

She turned to face him, arms folded across her chest. Her expression alone made it clear she was not going to simply forget it. While she was still not convinced around what she had seen here, what mattered was that Soral believed it and had done something ... insane.

"In order for my petition to be granted I will have to battle a darkness."

She opened her mouth to reply and then threw up her hands. “What does that even mean? What darkness?” She sat on the edge of the bench, staring at the floor as she ran her hand through her hair.

He sat by her. "I do not know. Our Gods are... cryptic." He took her hand. "I was assured that you and Haru would be safe. That is all that mattered."

“No, Soral, it’s not. Don’t you see? What hurts you, hurts me. Hurts Mac and Haru because they see you as a brother! This! This could have killed you! Was T’Paris right? She told me you wouldn’t do this ceremony with her because of me.”

He was silent. "There is an intimacy to the ceremony and I thought it best that I seek neither T'Paris nor T'Lara. I did not wish you to be uncomfortable. I understand from ... sources that T'Paris has been...hurtful towards you. I did not wish to add to that."

“Hurtful,” Alex muttered, shaking her head. “Yeah, well. In any event, your decision did not help. She all but broke down our door to accuse me of endangering your life with a promise - and I quote - This is not over. It was like a line out of a really bad movie. Besides, what happened to your stance that this was a misunderstanding between T’Paris and I?”

"I have seen reason. I cannot apologize enough. I have failed you as a husband and for that I am sorry. It will never happen again. As for T'Paris I shall have words with her. I will not stand for her or anyone disrespecting you."

She studied him for a long moment, clearly trying to understand where this change of heart came from. “You have never failed me,” she told him finally. “I, on the other hand, can’t say the same...”

"You have never failed me. Do not ever think that. If anything you have strengthened me." He took her hand. "My wife never doubt how vital to me you are and how much my life has been enriched with you being in it."

“Everything she has ever said, ever implied. It’s true... she would be a far more logical choice. In every way. You would have a bond, children, God she probably meditates in the freaking shower! And other than tonight, she’s normally far less emotional,” she gave a sad, rueful smile as she gripped his hand tighter. “And I bet she knows better than to drink so much grappa.”

He moved his arm around her. "She is not you. I choose you out of logic the logical reason that I love you. You are perfect for me, my wife. I do not care if you wish to meditate or not, I like when you drink that witches brew as I am sure to benefit in a most stimulating way." He winked at her. "I like your expressiveness and I can think of no better example and mother for our children, present, and future." He kissed her temple. "I wish only you my wife. Only you, always."

Logic and love seemed strange bedfellows in her mind, but she would take it. As he spoke, every word felt like a soothing balm. A counterbalance to her own self doubt and the doubts of others. And when he got around to witches brew, she laughed a little at that. Not just his terminology, but the playful wink. Something she knew he would never dare do in front of another soul aboard this ship. As he kissed her forehead she leaned into him. "And I you," she agreed.

After a long moment she tilted her head and peered up at him, grinning as she said, "stimulating benefits, huh?"

"Indeed. It is hard to explain. Perhaps I must demonstrate?"

Still holding his hand, Alex stood and gave his arm a playful tug, "it seems the only logical thing to do."

OFF: