Dreamscape

[A Davis 0]

Dreamscape

Amanda Davis and Captain Chirakis

 

Amanda stood mesmerized as the lift moved from the captain’s quarters towards the control tower.

 

“How do you know you weren't hallucinating or dreaming when you were in that… other place, Captain,” said Amanda.

 

“At the time, I believed that I was dreaming. However, when Dr. Nagi found me... I had this in my possession.”

 

The object wasn’t anything special, only a small oval of highly polished pink granite. But it was warm, and Amanda couldn’t take her eyes off it. The lift stopped at the observation level, and in the moment between opening and closing doors, the magnificence of Aegis’ star-line flooded the lift: stars in the hundreds of billions, and billions more were distant galaxies. Could it be? Is it even possible?

 

“The Daoine’eile?” she asked.

 

The captain shrugged, “The Daoine’eile, the Quadin, the Ostatní. There are as many names as species in the galaxy - or the universe, for that matter. A powerful race and fearsome, but not to be feared.”

 

* * * * *

 

Just over an hour ago, Amanda had entered the secure quarters on the Distinguished Visitors deck. Captain Chirakis did not look surprised at the visit. She seemed resigned, but she kept her distance, firmly ensconced at the observation window. Her position was not only good for defense, it was a classic method of avoidance and a posturing that asserted her dominance. The familiar steely stare was there, but something lurked behind it.

 

A struggle.

 

A dinner tray sat untouched on the ornate dining table, latinum tableware arranged neatly on either side, white linen cloth and napkin bearing Aegis’ logo expertly placed. Everything else in the room was undisturbed, as though the quarters had no occupant.

 

Over the past few months Amanda had grown accustomed to the captain’s demeanor. She knew her quirks and her methods, and she knew that this would probably be more like a chess match than an interview. There was no sense in mincing words. Mr Roberts' request that she “have a chat” implied that he wanted a full assessment, and given the circumstances, that is exactly what he would get.

 

"Counselor."

 

Polite, but not amiable. “Hello, Captain. How are you?"

 

"You are the counselor," she replied flatly. A hand waved Amanda into an armchair. "You tell me."

 

"All right,” said Amanda, taking a minute to settle in. Then she leaned forward to speak.

 

"You are stubborn and willful. You are determined to be uncooperative and you are thoroughly enjoying being able to intimidate everyone and keep them guessing. In short, you are the same obnoxious person you've always been."

 

The captain’s lips curled into a mischievous grin.

 

"Except..." Amanda paused, unrelenting in her gaze.

 

"Except...?" A playful brow rose.

 

"Except that there is something you find very disturbing. In fact, it's so disturbing that you want to bury it. You're not only hiding it from us, you're trying to hide it from yourself."

 

“Really,” the captain replied, playing along. After considerable thought, the tall Bajoran stepped slowly away from the viewport and relaxed into an armchair facing the counselor.

 

"Obnoxious," she said, fingers steepled at her chin. "Nasty, unpleasant, and disagreeable - am I correct?"

 

"And several other things I shan’t mention because they are impolite. But there you are again, Captain, skirting the issue, changing the subject to throw me off track. Captain, we need to get to the real issue."

 

"Which is..?"

 

"What you are hiding, even from yourself."

 

The captain’s look softened but the smirk remained and she chuckled, flicking a nonexistent speck from her uniform. “You know me too well, Counselor Davis. And so does Mr. Roberts, apparently, since he sent you.” She paused, then looked up. “I find the direct approach more effective.”

 

"Very well, then. What happened on TKR-117?"

 

The tale unraveled slowly, beginning with the descent into the archaeological dig, following the runes, arriving at the 12th level chamber, hearing the voice, and ending with the ascent into a different place . It seemed the stuff of fairytales, hardly believable but still having a kind of sense to it. If anything, the captain was not one to spin tales - at least not like that one.

 

After a long silence Amanda recovered enough to ask, "The stars had a different configuration. Have you any idea where you were based on that?"

 

“Not of the planet, but I do have an idea of the galaxy.”

 

"The galaxy?"

 

"Counselor, Captain d’Ka is much more traveled than anyone in Starfleet. According to him, it is the home galaxy of the Daoine’eile."

 

“The Daoine’eile?”

 

The captain shrugged. “The Daoine’eile, the Quadin, the Ostatní. There are as many names for them as species in the galaxy - or the universe, for that matter. A powerful, advanced race, and fearsome though not to be feared.”

 

“And how do you know you weren't hallucinating or dreaming when you were in that…” she waved a hand, “...other place?”

 

“At the time, I believed that I was dreaming. However,” she reached into her pocket, retrieved the stone, and handed it to Amanda, “when Dr. Nagi found me wandering and… incoherent, as he put it… I had this in my possession.”

 

"It's very warm," said Amanda as she turned it over in her hand, “warmer than it should be from being in your pocket. But…” she looked up, “this proves that you were there, Captain, so this can’t possibly be what disturbs you."

 

“No, it is not,” Captain Chirakis sighed and shifted as though weighing her words. “Counselor, there is a block of time I cannot account for, when I remember nothing.” An ironic chuckle brought her eyes to lock on Amanda’s while she spoke with precise emphasis on every word. “I have absolutely no memory from the time I entered the world of the Daoine’eile to the time I was found wandering by Dr. Nagi. I could easily have been the one to attack the station.”

 

 

* * * * *

 

Amanda stepped out of the lift as soon as the doors opened at the control tower. The stone was warm and soothing in her hand. Jylliene was busy at the operations console. Shift personnel moved in comfortable, intricate synchronicity, each one instinctively knowing when to move or dodge as they exchanged data and ideas. And directly in front of her a rested and refreshed Mr. Roberts stood waiting.