"The Listener"

[Guest Fiona Weber]

Kania called out to Fiona, "Doctor? Would you..." she thought for a moment and decided to continue, "... Doctor, would you work with me please?"

 

She nodded, falling into step behind the Bajoran. "Of course, Sir." The ensign doctor smiled. "And I don't mind one bit, either."

 

"We are to get fires going. It's going to be dark shortly and being near the woods at night isn't good without light." Kania then walked over to the pile of wood that had been gathered, then took some of the wood and placed it on the ground. "Thanks, Doc, for not judging me by what's going on."

 

"I try never to judge people by their circumstances," she remarked, quietly. "Though I judge people by their actions easily enough," the doctor admitted, a little sharper. "However, it's not your fault that we're here now."

 

"In a way it is, Doctor. Things may not have turned out like this if it wouldn't have been for me." Kania piled the logs and turned to the doc. "We need a way to light the fire."

 

"Phaser? Flint anywhere? Dragons?" she asked, wryly.

 

"Phasers don't work." Kania then realized what all the doctor said. "I'm serious, Doctor." Kania began to look around for something in the supply pile.

 

"In any case, it's not your fault, Sir. Please don't think it so -- it's not useful to any of our mental well-beings. Matches?" she offered, considering their alternatives.

 

"Yes, matches would work, That's what I'm looking for. Do you remember seeing any in the supplies?" she asked as she continued looking through the materials. She stopped, and turned around to look at the doc. "I don't think anyone cares about my well-being, Doc. If they did, they would believe me when I told them what I saw."

 

"Mm," she said as way of an initial reply, then paused to think. "I think I saw some near the bottom." Weber shifted a few bags and boxes, glancing through them before finding a small case of the wooden matches. "Ah. Here." She stood upright once more. "But no one's really listened to you, have they? I for one don't even know what you saw."

 

"That's exactly it. No one listens; or if they do they don't believe me." Kania took the matches and moved back over to the woodpile. She pulled out one and started lighting the small kindling at the bottom. "Thanks, Doc. At least we were able to get a fire going."

 

"My pleasure. I'm not protesting the idea of being told, am I? Go ahead and tell me. The worst I can do is disagree with your interpretation. Frankly, I hardly think you're unintelligent enough to lie."

 

Kania sat, watching the fire build. "Doc, the Prophets want us to become more linear. Some of us are already, but others have a long way to go. Rian -- I mean Commander -- no, Captain Kwai, I'm sure is thinking I'm out of my mind."

 

Fiona was quiet for a long moment. "You know that I don't hold with Bajoran religious beliefs; with those of any religions, for that matter. But I don't discount the existence of aliens in the wormhole. That much does have some scientific evidence. But why would they have interest in our crew?"

 

"Because of me. They are all-knowing. They know I'm in trouble with HQ. So you see? We are here because of me." Kania turned away and faced the now nicely-flaming fire. "It's all my fault."

 

Fiona frowned, clearly flummoxed. "Why such an interest in you, then?"

 

Kania spoke without looking away from the fire. "You don't understand."

 

There -- now that was something Fiona was familiar with, and it was something well-learned and fiercely-taught -- and kept as equally well-submerged somehow shot through to her upper levels of awareness. Somehow, though the curiosity still remained unsettled in her, she accepted that she shouldn't pry anymore. Not yet, at least.

 

After all, it wasn't as if Kawalas was harboring dark Federation secrets or something.