A shrill wind flowed past her naked back. Shiarrael shivered. The landscape was barren, dead, strewn with bodies as far as the eye could see. She tiptoed through the field of bodies, her bare feet touching the frozen earth with each step. The biting cold ate its way into her flesh- her eyes stared endlessly at the spectacle. Where am I? She wondered, tiredness began to seize her- cold, it's so cold, she thought. Her mind was as obscure as the scenery. It was an odd sensation. Finally, at the center of the field was a single structure, an old shed. She slowly and carefully made her way towards the old structure. The wood rotting, old rusted nails covered the façade where the rot had stripped the wood from its place. Caution, be cautious. She finally reached it. Grabbing the handle the rusted thing split apart from the wood. Shiarrael dropped it, loose screws falling after. She breathed slowly; a thin stream of warm mist permeated the deep cold. She shoved the door aside and stepped in.
Warmth enveloped her. She blinked instantly and found herself standing inside her old home on Ch'Rihan. She could hear talking in the distance. Deep penetrating beams of light flowed through the massive windows that lined the hallway. Particles of dust reflected the amber light and flowed around her like the embers of a fire. She inhaled deeply and walked down the hall. The talking grew but the words were jumbled and difficult to understand. Shiarrael slowed her pace as she reached the massive arch that led to the main antechamber. She reached out and grabbed the frame and pulled herself forward. The scene caused her to gasp. Itsak and Aiden stood above two bodies- a river of emerald rushed past her feed. Aiden smiled and Itsak scowled. Both held honor blades. She stepped forward and noticed the face on one of the bodies "m-mother" she mouthed and tried to run up to her mother's body but the river of emerald grew and forced her backwards. She reached out towards Aiden for his help, but as he reached out towards her Itsak lifted his honor blade and decapitated Aiden where he stood. Aiden's face still held the smile as it splashed into the river of emerald. Shiarrael reached out and grabbed Aiden's head cradling it in her arms as she fell back into the river of...blood?
Sitting up in her bed Shiarrael gasped heavily clutching handfuls of blanket in both her fists. It took her a moment to digest what had happened- a dream, an awful dream but a dream. She relaxed her grips on the sheets and slid out of the bed. Both Nnoil and Ael were silently asleep undisturbed by their mother's sudden movements. Shiarrael thanked the elements for this and quietly left the room. As she stepped out into the living room she noticed the dim red light on her desk blinking slowly. A message? She stared at it for a moment deciding what to do. After a short thought she made her way to the replicator and asked for a glass of water. The wall chrono on the far side of the room noted at time as 0413. When her water materialized she picked it up and meandered to the desk. Sitting down she tapped the small console and waited for the screen to rise and illuminate. The message was actually a simple notice from the bridge:
USS Guardian in route to rendezvous carrying relief supplies and members of the Vulcan science council. ETA two weeks. Contact at earliest convenience.
"Aiden" she whispered. The memory of the dream refreshed in her mind and as she nervously went to press the desk console she knocked over the glass of water. With a frustrated sigh she reached down and picked up the now empty glass setting it back on the desk. Tapping the screen off she stood up as it lowered back into its niche and made her way across the room to the kitchen area where she grabbed a rag. Returning to the now dark corner she pressed the white cloth into the gray carpeting. It was true, always that dreams had meaning. But what did this dream mean? What was her subconscious trying to tell her? She relaxed and stood up throwing the damp rag across the room and into the sink. She then made her way to the couch and sat down focusing on the view of I'Rak Prime below them. It was strange. Not that such scenery was new to her- several warbirds were casually floating in low orbit just beneath the Charon. However, this view was different. Before it had always been from the empty cramped spaces of her quarters aboard the Ishae'Thrai or the Aylhr, now, it was from the overly lavish Captain's suite on the Charon. How strange, she thought, to be so far away and yet so close. And then the vividness of the dream hit her again. At the thought she felt cold- all those bodies.
There is something amiss. Shiarrael could feel it in her bones. Numb throbbing pains in her joints- like a seasonal arthritis but she knew this was not a medical condition; it was a sign, an unconscious awareness that something was not entirely right. She rubbed her hands together suddenly feeling much colder. Ever since the meeting with Itsak she had felt something different. Her cousin's behavior was erratic and uncharacteristic. People change, she had told herself this many times to excuse and explain his behavior but there was something more.
She sighed. Standing up she made her way back to the desk and pressed the console on again. As it rose she opened a link to the bridge "this is the Captain, patch my desk computer through to the USS Guardian, mark it as private for Captain Bravado."
"Understood Captain. One moment." She waited, quietly, and watched the swirling Federation symbol with disinterest. Finally it flickered "channel open" and then disappeared. In its place a familiar face, one that she had long missed.
"Aiden." Shiarrael said.
"Shi," he replied, that boyish grin filling his face. She often wondered how she could have committed such a folly- falling in love with that fool. Such ridiculous thing love can be. Aiden was a cowboy; at least that is the Terran term for someone who seeks adventure with little care for consequence. Perhaps it was that trait that attracted her so much- they were both adverse to authority. "So- fleet asked me to make a delivery, and sorry, it's not pizza."
"Shame." Shiarrael replied- she remembered him introducing her to the stuff. It was a strange circular dish. Quite oily but unique and flavorful. "You look well."
"Thanks, I feel well too." He smirked "so, when I get there how about you and me have a little candle light dinner? A nice meal with a dash of nerve toxin to liven it up."
His comment brought back memories- Shiarrael smiled. "I'm sure there are plenty aboard this ship who would not mind it." It was a meant to be humorous but the truth behind it was real. Her popularity had weakened considerably after the fate of the marines had been discovered.
"Shi," Aiden's expression became slightly more somber after reading her emotions "I can't wait to get there and hold you and kids. I've missed you."
For awhile she had wondered if the distance had dulled her feelings for Aiden. She had become so used to his absence that she had lost the sense of emptiness- but now she understood that it was not lost. Only buried beneath layers and layers of her psyche- it was only now that she was beginning to comprehend how much of an emotional toll being the Captain of Charon was taking on her "yes, I have missed you also."
[End]
Captain Shiarrael t'Rehu
Commanding Officer
USS Charon
