Beneath The Darkness Between The Stars

[Veloras Itana 0]

Beneath The Darkness

Between The Stars

Pt. I

 

Where to begin, where to begin. Now, once again I know what you're thinking. Customarily the best place to start a story is at the beginning. Unfortunately, I came into this tale somewhere around the middle so, from my perspective, the middle is the best place to start. We'll skip all the introductory blather that usually takes up far too much space in the first few chapters of a work of fiction and get right to the heart of the matter. I'm sure I'll get to where it all began eventually. Or, at least as much of it as I was able to glean from what little was left on the Tobias. I'll ask you again though, to just bear with me. It will all make some semblance of sense by the end. No skipping ahead though, to truly understand this recounting, you're going to need to hear it all. Hell, I was there, I saw it all and still don't understand most of it. But, I promise you, you will receive the facts, as I understand them, from beginning to end by the time I'm done.

 

So, without further ado...Here goes nothing...

 

"Itana, for the Prophet's sake please get a move on." Doctor Mila Jenaras hurried her along the corridor trying to reach the docking ring before the Antioch was scheduled to depart. "Your Father was right you know. You do seem constitutionally incapable of being anywhere on time."

 

She'd gotten very good at being maternal over the previous year. And, the whole time we were trotting down the promenade I kept thinking how much she would miss it when I was gone. You could see it in her eyes. She was in no way thrilled with this decision and, honestly didn't want me to go. But, she never objected. It wasn't her way.

 

"I'm hurrying Jen, slow down! It's not like it's the last Earth-bound transport leaving the station." It was hard to keep up. I'd told her over and over again that we had put too much in my shoulder bag but, hovering mother-type that she was, she was afraid I'd need something at some point, only to realize I'd left it behind. The strap kept slipping off my shoulder and the flap that closed it wouldn't stay clasped. I had to balance the damned thing just right to keep it from spilling all over the promenade.

 

We reached the access tunnel with a few minutes to spare and, without spilling my bag all over the place only to realize it was much harder to say good bye than either of us thought it would be.

 

Jen was the closest thing to family I had left. She was more than my doctor. She had become both mother and father to me since the explosion at the school. She had also been responsible for the fact that the Emissary himself had sponsored my application to Star Fleet Academy. After the "accident", I had lived with her and, even moved with her when she took the post aboard Deep Space Nine as a doctor in their infirmary. It had been the best decision for both of us after my injuries.

 

Being on Bajor during my convalescence had only served as a painful reminder of how much went on right under the noses of the Bajoran people. Things so insidious it had brought my faith down to a trickle, knowing full well there was nothing I could do but watch it happen. When we moved it had been a relief to be rid of it and, the distance from all of the ugliness did help to restore me to some semblance of normalcy.

 

Jen opted to stay behind on the Station. She was becoming a prominent surgeon and researcher in internal medicine. And, while she didn't understand or approve of my decision to travel to Earth. She didn't try to stop me either.

 

I, on the other hand, had been basically direction-less since the death of my father and the loss of Bariel. I still had my new found love of technology and, had even taken a job with the civilian corps of engineers for Deep Space Nine. I also still avidly pursued my hobby, the collecting and unraveling of secrets. People's motivations for the things that they do and the things they allow to happen fascinate me to this day. Maybe that's what motivated me to push for a part in the investigation into the derelict space craft we encountered on our way to Earth. Who knows. At any rate, investigate we did and, it is something I will go to my grave regretting.

 

After a long tear-filled hug and promises to write each other weekly, I left Jen at the access port and boarded the Antioch. I stowed my bags and found a seat near the viewport. Looking out at the vast emptiness before us, I was terrified and exhilarated at the same time. And, as we pulled away from the station I realized for the first time that a whole new life was waiting for me just beyond the stars. I sat back with a satisfied smile, pleased with myself for having the courage to seize this opportunity.

 

***********************************

 

Somehow, through all the excitement and adrenalin, I managed to doze off for a while. We weren't due in to Starbase 818 for six hours and let's face it, after a while, traveling at warp speed, the stars all seem to blend together. The rhythm of the engines served as a lullaby and before long I was sound asleep. I awoke to a clammer of activity as the Antioch's crew excitedly ran about the cabin, and noticed almost instantly that we were no longer moving.

 

"What's going on?" I asked a Starfleet Lieutenant that came by my seat.

 

"We found something on long range. There are no other ships in the area so, we're going in to investigate." He said without stopping.

 

I stood up and followed him curious about what they could possibly have found way out here in the middle of nowhere. Granted we were still close to the wormhole. Close enough that it could be anything in fact. I felt the adrenalin start to pump again as I looked out the forward viewer but saw nothing but darkness and distant stars.

 

I didn't know it at the time but, that lieutenant's name was James Morton. Lieutenant Morton would be dead within twenty-four hours, I didn't know that at the time either. And, neither did he.

 

 

...To Be Continued