For All The Right Reasons Pt. II "Packaging"

[Veloras Itana 0]

For All The Right Reasons

Pt. II

"Packaging"

 

"Daddy, my feet hurt." It had been a long walk from their encampment and, it was clear by all the activity they had barely made it in time. Itana lumbered along beside her father, trying to keep her voice as low as possible as they approached the platform and, the waiting throngs of Cardassian soldiers. "Shhh. Quiet Itana. Wait till we're aboard the shuttle. I'll have a look then." Ranik squeezed her hand tightly, pulling her to his side as they neared the checkpoint where he'd be expected to produce their travel papers. "They really do hurt." Her voice was nearly a whisper now but, it didn't matter. The Cardassian checking bags had heard her and stepped forward slamming an arm in front of them to block their way.

"Shut that little cow up or I'll do it for you." Sneered the border guard as he roughly nudged Itana's shoulder with the butt of his disrupter. "Let me see your papers, NOW." He glared at Ranik who complied without hesitation. The guard glanced over the travel pass and their identification then looked them both up and down with clear disdain. "Open your bag." He spat venomously, shoving the papers into Ranik's chest with such force his breath caught in his throat.

The guard snatched the open bag from Ranik's hand and emptied the contents on the ground, kicking them into a scattered mess. "All cleared." He shouted to the shuttle guards. "Cleared for transport." The soldiers nodded back at him with a grunt. He turned back to Ranik who scrambled to retrieve his and Itana's clothes before he took a beating for making them wait. "Move it along." The guard shoved Itana from behind, knocking her to the ground. Ranik hurriedly helped her up, all but dragging her onto the waiting shuttle. The doors closed behind them and, to Itana, it seemed all the air had been left outside with the guards. People were crammed in every corner of the shuttle, there was nowhere to move, nowhere to breathe and certainly, nowhere to sit. Her feet were killing her but, the pain in her newly skinned knees momentarily distracted her from the pain. At least until she realized they'd be standing throughout the shuttle flight.

"Here child." A man's voice came from beside her, just at ear level. "Come, sit by me." She spun and saw a serene-looking man with nearly noble features smiling at her in a way that instantly set her mind at ease. He wore a sack-like cape that appeared home-made. It was a dingy brown color even under the soot and dirt that covered it. The man's hands though were smooth and clean and, as she looked, peaking out from what could only be called the "hem" of the cloak, she noticed the unmistakable coloring of the robes of a Vedek. He squeezed over and allowed her to sit, smiling warmly at her. To her surprise though, he didn't pinch her on the ear as they were so fond of doing. She hated that. Most of them left marks, and a headache.

Veloras Ranik bowed his head in reverence but, the other man motioned for him to stop, glancing nervously about the cabin as he did. Ranik nodded to Itana who sat beside the Vedek eagerly. Her feet were still so sore. Her father hunkered down on the other side of him. They spoke in whispers whose sound was lost in the din that surrounded them. She could not hear what they were saying but, their faces were serious, almost somber, as if they were attending the Durania of a close relative rather than crammed into a Cardassian shuttle like too many fish in a tiny breeding pond.

Tiny beads of blood blossomed through the tatters of fabric at her knees courtesy of that awful Cardassian. Her father and the Vedek continued their conversation while Itana tried as best she could to clean her knees but, what still occupied her mind was the throbbing in the balls of her feet. Taking a closer look she soon discovered the reason why and, nearly started to cry.

"What's wrong little one?" The Vedek took her hand and smiled down at her. "Those sores on your legs look quite angry. Is that why you look so upset?"

"No, sir." Itana felt her lip quiver despite her best efforts to appear strong and, in control of her emotions. "I did something terrible." She replied averting her eyes.

"Come now, it couldn't be so terrible a thing. So pretty a young lady was surely sent down to us from the Celestial Temple to brighten our days here and make the burden we carry easier to bear." So, tell me, what is this transgression that's put such an unhappy look in such happy looking eyes."

"I stole something sir." She replied somberly as tears brimmed her lids and rolled down her cheeks. "I was in such a hurry to make this trip with my father that I didn't look before I took them. I took my sister's shoes." She cried quietly, feeling her face flush as the Vedek and her Father both burst into laughter.

Itana didn't see the humor at all. Their laughter only made her feel worse. Didn't they understand? Her sister was pigeon toed. She walked on the inside of her feet and, hours in her shoes had caused a rapidly spreading bloom of a blisters on her feet. This meant that not only would she have to spend the next two days in Itara's shoes but, when they got back, her own shoes would also be well on the way to being unwearable. Itana sighed and dropped her head into her hands, slamming her elbows into her knees, wincing horribly as they made contact with the scrapes. This only amused the two men more and they smiled genuinely at each other, grateful for the welcome diversion from their unseemly business together.

The flight was about to end and the Vedek, who her father had referred to as Bariel had finished his conversation with Ranik. He pulled something from his cloak and smiled down at Itana. "I have something which I hope will make your tribulations a bit easier little one." In his hand was a small square wrapped in white parchment. She could tell by the smell what it was and her eyes lit up like the lights of the cities during the Gratitude Festival. Jumja candy. How had he known it was her favorite? As she went to take it, however, her father intercepted it. He had a curious _expression on his face. One Itana couldn't distinguish. Was it anger? Or fear?

"I'll unwrap it for you, Tana." He feebly attempted to cover his unease and quickly handed her the candy, glancing nervously at the wrapping that contained it. He nodded to Vedek Bariel and, with a slight bow, moved with Itana toward the entrance of the shuttle as it touched down.

"What's wrong Daddy?" Itana looked up at her father as she popped another small piece of the candy in her mouth.

"Not now Itana." He shot her a look she knew very well. It meant that she wasn't to say another word. She didn't. She knew better. They moved quickly through the crowd and out the gates of the landing platform. Her feet still hurt but, she didn't complain again. It was clear from her father's _expression that he was in no mood. She could tell by the way he walked that there was somewhere they had to be and, wherever it was, they had to get there quickly. They stopped for a moment on the road into the Kendra Valley and her father glanced up at the sky. He looked so sad as he retrieved the wrapper from his pocket. Then he did something she found quite curious. He wet it in a nearby puddle, studied it closely and then, he did the most disgusting thing she'd seen since her sister had found the dead men in the swamps behind the camp. He popped it in his mouth and swallowed it. She wanted to ask why but, honestly didn't have the nerve. They traveled by foot the rest of that day at a pace that nearly brought Itana to her knees more than once. Ranik had no idea yet, but it didn't matter how quickly they moved. They were too late.

 

....To Be Continued