A Life Line for a Sinking Ship

Posted on 09 Dec 2023 @ 8:42pm by Captain Bane Plase & Lieutenant JG Christina Hartley

7,590 words; about a 38 minute read

On the bridge, Vujanic was on duty, as most of the senior officers were asleep. That happened this late at night, but he liked the peace, and the fact that he was left in command for the time.

He was, however, surprised by the visitor that had just arrived, his ship having dropped out of warp. "Vujanic to Bane. I'm sorry to disturb you, sir, but you have someone who wishes to speak to you," Vujanic said, opening a channel to the Captain.

The Captain was gathering up his last few belongings in his quarters before departing the ship, at least, the few things the Tashi and the Security Guild Elder, had told him he was allowed to bring. The rest had gone into storage containers and sent to the cargo bay on the Cygnus for eventual storage on Earth, when he got back there. "Send it through down here, Lieutenant. Thank you."

"I'm sorry Captain, but it's not a communication, sir. They're on their way to your quarters now," Vujanic replied, just as Bane's door chime rang.

Bane expected this. The Antiocian Security were there to collect him. It was time for him to leave, and to atone for his sins as Commanding Officer. "Come in," he said, standing to his full height, prepared to be walked out with dignity and respect. When the door opened, Bane's face went from stone to surprise at warp 9.3.

Admiral Savok, a long time Starfleet Officer, and friend of Bane Plase walked in, looking stern, and a little tired, but also determined, as usual. "Captain. I had been looking forward to seeing you, but circumstances have made this less than pleasant," Savok said.

Plase, at first, didn't understand what was happening. The expectation of seeing his old friend and First Officer here was exactly zero. But as the Vulcan Admiral spoke, Bane understood what was happening. Savok was here to take him into custody. It was, honestly, humiliating, but if anyone were to do it, other than Commander Larsen, Bane would pick Savok. He wondered if Admiral Brexx (who, admittedly was junior to Savok) had something to do with this. Finally, he wondered if Savok was going to present Bane to the Tashi in an official representative of both Starfleet and the Federation. "I see," he said at last. "Will you be escorting me to the planet, or taking me into custody for Starfleet, my friend?"

"Neither," Savok replied. "First, Admiral Brexx has been relieved of any responsibility involving the Antioch, as well as yourself. I had a...discussion with him, and made it clear that if he were to continue to use his position to pursue a personal grudge, I would ensure he would be removed from his position," Savok said.

"That being said, this entire situation is now mine to help resolve. I have already spoken to the Antioch leader, and have requested permission to speak to them in person, as the senior officer here," Savok explained. "Until I have done, you are temporarily relieved of command."

Plase nodded. He wasn't sure what the Admiral could do, but it was worth a shot. "Yes Admiral. I have already turned command over to Lieutenant Commander Larsen. He is on the bridge, I believe, if you wish to talk with him."

"I do not, at least not yet. I came here to instruct you to remain here, whilst I meet with the Antioch leader. When I return, I will know what the next course of action is," Savok said. "What can you tell me of the leader?"

Bane mimed for the Admiral to take a seat. When he had, Bane sat across from him. "Not much more than what has gone into my report. She is incredibly intelligent and insightful. She is patient and understanding, and knows when to give, but will not compromise her own philosophy or the duties of her office. She is firm, but fair. Finally, she has a wonderful personality and a very kind disposition. Uh, is there anything else you'd like to know," he asked, not sure how deep to go, or how much he wanted to know.

"No, that should be sufficient. I shall speak to her with understanding; what her people have gone through is distressing, and there is a price to pay for the loss of life. As a Starfleet Officer, you are a part of something bigger, and so you are not alone in the blame or the cause of this," Savok stated. "Though I know this will remain with you for the rest of your life, much as the explosion of the Merlin still remains with me."

"And the Pegasus, with me, as well," he said. Bane had lobbied hard for Savok to get command of the Merlin, a sister-ship to the Bloembergen, a Nova-class ship, a class of ship that Bane himself had commanded when he was a full Commander. "Both were fine ships. The Antiocians, they have been through a lot more than just "distressing." What they have been through is worse than the Occupation of Bajor, and far worse than the R.B.F. virus that swept over Vulcan a thousand years ago. Both, in their own rights, were devastating."

"That is one of the reasons that I was asked to take over. My people have survived something similar, and it is the hope of Starfleet Command that I will be able to make a connection of sorts. I do not know how they expect such a thing, but I am here to try nevertheless. To allow you to take sole blame would be illogical," Savok stated.

Plase furrowed his brow. "Admiral, with respect, this is my proverbial cross to bear," he said, using a Human coliqual. "I was in command here; you nor anyone else from Starfleet should be sticking their neck out. We both know that Captains are responsible for their ship and the outcome of a mission, especially one as important as First Contact. This is, ultimately, my mess up, and I should bear it. You, as an Admiral, know you need to put our friendship aside to protect the interests and assets of Starfleet, and the Federation."

"With all due respect, Captain, this is not all about our friendship," Savok said, raising an eyebrow. "Yes, I intervened with Admiral Brexx. The fact that he wanted to pursue a grudge of some kind against you was a personal insult to me. I do not appreciate anyone misusing their powers for personal gain or vendettas," Savok said.

"As for this situation, yes, you are the one who led this first contact, and you have some guilt to bear, something I know you will do so. But the days of having the blame stuck on a single Captain because of there being a distance between Command and yourself is over. This is not the time of James Kirk, where a Captain could make decisions that could save the galaxy or lead to war," Savok continued.

"I am also here to salvage the situation as best we can, to ensure that another foreign government doesn't try to use this situation to their advantage. I am also a prelude to more ships arriving, medical vessels, to help ensure a cure is delivered to everyone, but for the moment, I will salvage this situation as best I can for the good of Starfleet. Being your friend is a part of it; after the times you saved my life, I will return the favour, but this is my duty now," Savok concluded.

Thoroughly out logic'd, Bane responded, "You know, if you were still my XO, I'd have to wag my finger at you or something." Resigned, he said through an exhale, "It's your show, Admiral."

"If I were still your XO, I'm fairly certain you'd do more than wag your finger at me. You'd quote me a number of rules and regulations that would lead to me having to submit to your decision. I suppose this is the bonus of being an Admiral," Savok said. "I'll meet with you as soon as I've had my meeting with the leader of the Antioch."

Bane had to smile. "You aren't wrong about that at all. I'll be here waiting. Please send my highest regard to the Tashi."

"I will," Savok said, with a nod. He turned and left the room, determined as he made his way to the transporter room.

*****

As Savok was led to the Tashi's office, he took note of the look on people's faces. They were tired, and distraught, which was understandable. He wanted to make sure that the right thing was done here, to help repair some of the damage, though he knew there would never be any erasing what had happened.

Savok had heard one or two suggestions from Starfleet, trying to find a way to repair this. One young person had suggested using Time Travel as a way to fix this, but Savok immediately shot the idea down. Could Time Travel fix this? Yes, but was this something that should be fixed, or could this be an important thing needing to happen. He was thankful that the meeting had been closed, within Starfleet Command, and immediately reminded the Captain that any mention of time travel was confidential.

"My name is Admiral Savok, of Vulcan. I would like to thank you for agreeing to meet with me," Savok said, looking at the Tashi calmly.

The Tashi, standing behind her desk, as was customary of her people when meeting someone new, looked down upon Savok from her towering height. Several moments went by. On either side of the room stood four more Antiocians, two on each side. None of them were carrying weapons to guard the Tashi. Indeed, all four of them wore robes that were quite similar to the Tashi's. Guild Elders. Finally, the Tashi spoke. "I have not seen your kind before, Admiral Savok of Vulcan." She had no idea what 'Admiral' meant. It was a word that did not translate from Federation Standard to Antiocianese. Nor did she understand what 'Vulcan' meant, though to her untrained ears, it sounded a great deal like a weapon of war. She was cautious, but relaxed.

"No, there are none of my kind on the Cygnus. I am a Vulcan. It was my species that made first contact with humans, much as was the plan here. Earth, several hundred years ago, was recovering from a deadly world war, the third humans had suffered from, and my people learnt they had managed to go faster than light. We felt it our duty to make contact to assist them in bring them into the galactic community," Savok explained.

The Tashi looked bored, and lazily looked anywhere but at him while he spoke. When he was done, she actively ignored him for a full minute, maybe slightly more. While she did find the information fascinating, she had no desire what so ever to speak to a junior person to Captain Bane. "You should know, Admiral Savok of Vulcan, that I have formed a relationship of respect and admiration with Captain Bane. Once this meeting is over, he is the only one I will speak to from your civilization. Furthermore, he is to be our prisoner for crimes against our people. He will be treated well, as an honored guest, but will be incarcerated here on our planet until his time is served. His face and the insignia you wear," she said, looking at him finally with a sudden movement of her head that seemed almost supernatural, her long arm and finger extended, pointing at the Delta on his chest, "will be the face and sign of this disease that ravaged our planet. Both will forever be remembered." She took a breath. "You may leave, Admiral Savok of Vulcan."

"I was hoping, Tashi, to be able to speak further of this," Savok replied. "I am Captain Bane's superior officer, but I come as someone who understands your situation. Many years ago, a virus ravaged my people's planet, much as this virus has done here. My ancestor was one of the few who helped to find a cure, though it came at great cost," Savok said. "We have multiple ships already enroute, medical vessels, to help with every medical case that your people need help with. It is the fault of the Federation that this happened, and as such, we all wish to help your people overcome this."

The Tashi again began to look lazily around the room. "No, Admiral Savok of Vulcan, you and your people are not welcome on Antioch III. We wish you to leave, with the exception of Captain Bane. He indicated that your kind respects the laws and customs of the people they visit. I find him an honorable person, and believe what he told me was the truth. If you do not wish to make a liar out of him, then respect our wishes, our customs and our laws. You will have your ships turn around and go home. Captain Bane and his people provided us with a cure, and we are working to copy it and distribute it to those of us still alive. The ships in orbit will leave Captain Bane behind as our prisoner, and you will go with them. Admiral Savok of Vulcan, leave now, please."

Savok looked at the Tashi. "We do respect laws and customs, Tashi, but I must make the plea here, both on a personal and professional level. I have worked with Bane Plase before I was his superior officer. Right now, I wish to help your people. I'd like to share with you something about my people, and about how we wish to assist you. Yes, Captain Bane and his crew were able to create a cure, but you do not have enough time to replicate enough of it. Our ships can, and we wish to do this to help your people. I came because as someone different who has the memories of an event like this, I know how you must be feeling, how your people are feeling. The memories of those who suffered a terrible virus reside in me, so I do not wish to leave until this virus is fully cured, and we have made atonements," Savok said.

"It is a part of my people's custom's to correct mistakes made, and this was more than a mistake. Some will see it as a simple technological malfunction, but the truth is that it was much more. As you said, this will forever live on in your history, and I would be remiss in my duty if I did not insist on helping, even if that was to offer to take the place of Captain Bane. As his superior officer, his actions are mine to take responsibility for," Savok said. "If you wish, I can show you the memories of the past, so you know how you are not alone in this feeling."

The Tashi waited the longest yet before responding. "I see. You claim to respect our laws, customs and wishes, but then go on to give an example of your own world's plights, ignoring the request of the people of this world. That does not speak well of your culture respecting ours, does it? Tell me, Admiral Savok of Vulcan, did an invasive species introduce to you that pandemic, or was it something natural to your world? The answer does not matter," she said, not giving time for the Admiral to respond. "What matters is what we feel, and what we are experiencing here," she said, with emphasis. "Our experience up to this point has not prepared us for what has happened. Yet, we are persisting, we are fighting, and we will survive this. Admiral Savok of Vulcan, I must stress that we will survive this without your help. We are not asking for it, nor will we accept it."

She took a breath, almost labored, and continued. "We are not so ignorant of the fact that the Cygnus has enough firepower to obliterate our entire surface to cinder. You have the upper hand, should you wish to pursue it, but we will not go quietly into the night, being forced upon us help where help is not wanted or desired. It is not lost on me that there are enough people on the ship with enough advanced weaponry that you could subjugate us with relative ease, now especially that our civilization is on it's knees." She waved her hand dismissively. "That is not what I think will happen here this day, Admiral Savok of Vulcan, but instead it is something that is absolutely there, hanging over our heads, figuratively and literally. Now, there are two of your ships in orbit, with who knows how many more on the way. It would not be a very big step at all to see this as an invasion." She looked at him again, this time with pleading eyes. "Please tell me, Admiral Savok of Vulcan, that this is not what is happening, and you will respect my command to you to leave this world and not come back until Captain Bane has been released from our custody and wishes to return home."

Savok looked at the woman. "To even think of a Starfleet ship doing such a thing is unthinkable, and offensive to consider," Savok said. "I have been a Starfleet Officer for a long time, and part of the Vulcan Academy even longer," Savok said. "You are right; we will not subjugate you, and if you wish us to leave, without Captain Bane, we will do so. I merely came to plead to allow us to repair what has happened," Savok said.

"You have seen a terrible side of Starfleet, and the Federation. I would like to request a chance to show you the truth of Starfleet. I can connect our minds, so you can see my mind, and see my heart, and know the truth of why I want to help," Savok pleaded. "Please, let me show you, before I leave."

The Tashi had to exhibit every ounce of control and compassion she could muster to not have this person removed from the Central Palace. Trying to keep the annoyance out of her voice, she responded, "Fine, fine, fine. So what do you need to do in order to 'connect our minds?'"

"Simply this," Savok said, standing up, and walking to her. He placed his fingers in the right place, and met her gaze. "My mind to your mind. My thoughts to your thoughts," he intoned. "Our minds are merging. Our thoughts are one," he intoned.

Oromani concentrated. She didn't particularly like his hands on her face; it felt incredibly intimate and personal. She heard his words, but she did not experience anything at all. "Am I supposed to do something here?"

Savok looked into her eyes. "Open your mind, and allow the melding to happen," Savok said. "Just focus, and close your eyes."

She did as she was asked. For a moment, she didn't see or feel anything, but slowly, she started seeing a landscape that was quite like anything she had ever even heard of, let alone see. There was nothing but dust and sparse vegetation for as far as the eye could see in any direction. Looking up, she saw not one, but two suns, again, not something she had ever seen or ever imagined. Her breath was taken away. "Great Sachmo," she exclaimed. She could hear and even feel the wind blowing on her skin. She looked down and saw her sandals sinking into the sand a bit, and her robes billowing about. "Is this real," she asked him.

"It's a real place, and a real memory, just not yours. We're right now within my mind. My people, the Vulcan's, have the ability to link minds with others, to share thoughts, feelings, and memories. Your mind is seeing, and feeling everything here, but when we break the meld, you won't have any effect of this, so your sandals won't have any sand on them," Savok explained.

"This is truly an incredible ability your people have. Do Bajorans and Caitians and Humans have abilities like this too," she asked, wondering. She wondered if Captain Bane had the ability to read her mind, and had been playing her like a brimbar (a stringed instrument) the whole time.

"No ma'am. Vulcan's are touch telepath's, and Betazoid's are full telepaths, but for the most part, we don't do so without permission. There are some bad people, yes, but most are good," Savok said.

"Betazoids can read minds at will? Like, they can hear my thoughts as I have them? Have I met any Betazoids? Have any come to our planet on the ship above my planet?"

"I do not know if there are any on the Cygnus, though I have not fully checked their crew manifest. It is possible, but any Betazoid who serves in Starfleet would find it taboo to read minds openly. Like myself, I would not initiate this meld without your permission. To do so otherwise would have been...abhorrent to me, and to those who would serve on the Cygnus," Savok explained.

"I see," she said uncomfortably. She would need to ask Captain Bane about it next time she saw him. "So not initiaiting without permission, or wearing them down to say yes, like you did me?"

"I apologise for the insistence," Savok said. "I felt this important. To leave without correcting what has happened, that too would be unthinkable. This is why," Savok added.

"This is my world, Vulcan, on perhaps one of the worst days in our history. Our people were dying in the midst of a pandemic, much like yours has been," Savok said, as an explosion went off in the far distance.

It was a lot like what was happening on Antioch, Oromani thought. "I can see that. How did your people come down with this sickness? Outsiders come to your world, too?"

"Yes," Savok replied. "Though we didn't have biofilters or transporters then. We weren't aware of how the virus had happened," he explained. "A lot of people died, and a war began because of this. That explosion was one of the final days of the war. It happened on another continent of Vulcan, but it was powerful enough that we finally began to realise what was happening, to us as a people," Savok explained.

"You see, we didn't realise it was because of another species. Certainly, we knew of other worlds and species, but we were still much like your own species; we were eager to meet others, and the species didn't mean to infect us. They weren't even aware we could be infected," Savok explained. "We called it the R.B.F Virus, Rubella Blood Fever. It is one of the darkest parts of our past."

The Tashi looked confused. "You said this is a memory of yours? How long ago did this happen? The way Captain Bane explained it to me, your transporter technology has been mastered for at least two hundred years. How old are you?"

"It is not my memory, but a memory of my ancestor," Savok replied, as another explosion was heard. There were screams in the distance as well, but they were far away from them. "A part of the Mind Meld is the ability to share memories, and allow others to retain them. My ancestor was one of the diplomats that were able to help build the peace accords, which is why I have this memory. It's been passed down from family member to family member. This happened over a thousand years ago, though the entire event stopped us from space travel for a long time."

The Tashi nodded, finally getting what the Vulcan was saying, but she didn't say anything on that. "Did the homeworld of Captain Bane suffer something like this as well?"

"No, it was worse. About ninety years ago, a species called the Cardassian's invaded Bajor, and remained there for fifty years, subjugating them, making them slaves, killing them, stealing their resources. Captain Bane was born during the occupation, and grew up in a world of tragedy, and darkness. Finally, the Bajoran's managed to kick the Cardassian's off their world, and just before they did, Bane Plase managed to leave Bajor and join Starfleet," Savok explained.

"I wanted to help, but the Federation didn't want a war with Cardassia. As a society, we believe in peace, and we tried to help with negotiations, but the Cardassian's didn't care about that, so we were limited in what we could do," Savok continued.

The Tashi was confused again. "That does not seem right," she said. "If he grew up in such a dark and terrible time, how is it he is so...I don't know the right word to use. Good? Kind? Compassionate? It seems to me he grew up in a venerable paradise."

"He really didn't," Savok said. "This might be a little disorienting," he added, before the entire area began to shift, changing to show Bajor, during the Occupation, and a child hiding with parents. "This is a memory of someone during the occupation. I have memories of Captain Bane from when he and I have melded, but I won't show them without permission. This was shared with me, so others could see it," Savok explained.

"Bane Plase is one of my dearest friends, and it is because of the darkness he has seen that he will fight to bring peace, no matter what," Savok explained.

The Tashi stumbled on the firm ground when the vista changed, even though she was given warning. In front of her were three people that had the same ridges on the nose that Captain Bane had. Unlike him, they were emaciated. In the distance, she could hear heavy machinery going. All around were people with extremely wide necks and gray skin. They were wearing what looked to be armored uniforms, and were all carrying weapons. The area beyond was gorgeous though. Beautiful trees, architecture that was far superior to anything on Antioch and wide boulevards in which so many people could fit on comfortably. "Hey, I think I have seen one of that species on the ship. A woman, I think? Am I to hazard a guess that you accept everyone into your Federation, even though they are making people slaves on other worlds?!"

"No," Savok replied. "After the Cardassian's were kicked off Bajor, the Federation helped them to rebuild, but a few years later, a hostile alliance known as the Dominion, led by the Founders, attacked the Alpha Quadrant, and allied themselves with the Cardassians. They wanted to conquer everyone, but near the end of the war, some Cardassians realised they were now no more than slaves, and fought back. The Dominion killed eight hundred million people in one day, before the war ended. Since then, the Cardassians have been rebuilding, but they aren't who they used to be. Now, they are a completely different species. They're not a part of the Federation, but perhaps one day, they will be," Savok said.

"You see, we always hope for the best, and try to bring peace and unity, and where we make mistakes, we correct them and help save lives as best we can," he added.

She was taken aback that there were wars fought out in space, so vast that it took up so many star systems, and over so many different types of people. She inwardly staggered at the figure Savok gave her. 800 million dead in a single day? She knew the ships had incredible firepower, but to hear the amount that were killed in a single day was incredible. She wished she could see how that happened, but didn't want to lose her composure. "I see. Thank you for showing me this. Are you able to show me the planet that the Humans are from? I do not remember the name of the planet, sorry. This is so very new to me, so many planets with so many people. I want to see what sort of pestilence those people live in. I figure if this 'minor inconvenience' of a disease does nothing to them, I want wish to see what does. Can you show me what their planet looks like right now?"

Savok nodded. "I can," Savok said. "Again, please be warned it may be disorienting," he added.

The scene again changed to show Earth, before he had left to come to the Antioch. "This is San Francisco, and that is what's called the Golden Gate Bridge," he explained, showing shuttles in the air, birds flying, the smell of sweet flowers in the air, and the sun beaming down on them. "I was having lunch here before I came here. My wife and I enjoyed picnics here, before she died of old age, some years ago," Savok explained. "She was eighty five when she passed. I am a hundred and twenty seven now, though Vulcans can live a lot longer."

This place was beautiful! Despite herself, Tashi Oromani gasped in the beauty and wonder of this place. However, she hated the name. "Earth? They could not come up with a better name for their planet? Earth? Might as well have called it 'dirt,'" she said. "I think I have seen enough. This has been most enlightening. Can you take us back to my world, now? The real world, not this world of the mind."

Savok had to fight back a small laugh at the comment; she wasn't wrong though. Human's had called their planet a weird name. He nodded, and the next thing they knew, they were back in The Tashi's office, with Savok withdrawing his fingers.

Opening her eyes, she was sitting next to the tiny man, exactly where she was when this started. Her guards and the members of the Elder Guild still in their exact same spot. She wondered out loud, "How long have we been gone? And, I feel so centered, so calm, like everything in my mind is in order. I haven't ever felt this way," she said, a wave of relief coming over her that she had not felt since she were a child.

"We were gone only seconds in the real world. What happens in the mind can seem like forever, but in truth, no time has passed," Savok replied. "This is the effect a mind meld can have; you shared my mind, and so my strength was yours to use."

She nodded and stood. It felt like she had been sitting for a very long time, and stretched. It was highly unusual for her to be so relaxed and so informal with a foreign dignitaries, and this man before her was as foreign as they got. "Thank you again for showing me all of these places and events. It has been eye-opening."

Savok nodded. "I'm grateful to you for allowing me to show you," Savok said. "You have gone through so much; but you don't need to go through it alone. That's why I want to help, why we want to help."

The Tashi's face steeled as she looked at the Vulcan in his eyes. "I appreciate that offer, Admiral. I know you are sincere. I know the Federation is sincere. I know Captain Bane did not mean for all this to happen. However, now that I truly know what lies out there," she said, motioning not to the ceiling above them, but far beyond her planet and planetary system, "I cannot allow for my people to be placed in harms way. Maybe someday we will be ready, but that day is not today, not with me in the position that I am in, to ensure the safety, survival and thriving nature of my people. Admiral, please leave my planet and take your starships with you. When we are ready to release Captain Bane back to you and your people, we will figure out how to contact you, should he wish to leave then. Good bye, Admiral."

Savok nodded. "I am sorry that is your decision, but I understand, and accept it," Savok replied. "I would like to leave your people with a communication device, so should you wish to contact us, for any reason, you can do so."

He was disappointed, but this was the problem with free will; often it went against what others wanted, though he could understand completely.

"No, please take your technology with you. We will succeed, or fail, on our own merits. I do appreciate you though, Admiral." With that, she turned and left, her Council following her, the Security guards standing decidedly between her and the Admiral.

******

Savok went to tap his comm. badge, but stopped. One gift he had, as a Vulcan, was far superior hearing. He could hear a sound, one that was not good. It was a sound he had trained for, and had heard too often during the Dominion War.

An explosive, about to go off.

Instinctively, Savok turned, and shouted a warning at the Tashi. The sounds were coming from the outer office. He didn't understand who it was, or what was happening, but he knew there was an explosive, and shouted for the Tashi to get down.

Before the Tashi could even acknowledge the words spoken by the Vulcan, several things happened at once. First, the guards tackled Savok to the ground hard, swinging and landing blows upon him. Second, a blinding light flashed through the palance, followed by a great cacophony roaring through the halls. Bringing up the rear was a massive concussive wave, throwing everyone to the ground, debris flying everywhere.

Savok felt the blows strike him; the light blinded him, and left him confused and concussed. The pain, however, was helping him to regain his focus.

He immediately brought a hand up, to one guard's neck, enacting the nerve pinch, hoping that they were not immune to it. Most species weren't; there was something about the humanoid form that had nerves in the same place.

Of course, some species didn't have nerves there. He felt another blow as the pinch failed. So he resorted to the next, best thing.

A strike with his full force. Vulcan's were stronger than humans, and stronger than the Antioch, thankfully. He struck her, pushing his attackers off.

*****
On board the U.S.S. Cygnus, Lieutenant Commander Larsen had been monitoring the Admiral, as per standard protocol of Starfleet. During an away mission, all members of the away team party will be monitored at all times. Larsen could cite the regulation by heart, but didn't wish to bore anyone. As soon as the explosion went off, the lifesigns of everyone there became a hot soup of mixed signals. Larsen looked back at Lieutenant Carsen, the Assistant Chief Tactical Officer, under Lieutenant Sietha, eyes wide. "Get a security team down there, now," he yelled. Without waiting for a response, he tapped his badge. "Larsen to Captain Bane. Sir, the Admiral and Tashi are under attack! We have security headed there now!"

In his quarters, Bane stood from his bed, sitting at the foot of it, waiting for word for him to be transferred to the planet to begin his sentence. Acting without thought, he tapped his badge. "Site-to-site transport, Commander. Beam me down!"

A moment later, the whine of the transporter beam filled the hall where the fighting was occuring. As Bane and security came out of the beam, they could see the Antiocians in an all-out melee in the center, and on both sides stood Antiocians with weapons, crude by Starfleet standards, but still deadly given they were in the hands of trained people, and so they were. Bane also spied the Admiral just standing up. His hair was a mess, and a bit of green blood was on his nose, his own blood, but by and large seemed ok.

Just before the away team started to move from their beam-in position, shots rang out, loud and obnoxious. Bane dove out of the way, hitting the ground hard, but not before he saw one of his security officers drop dead. Even though Bane had been in hand-to-hand combat before, with his experience with the Occupation, this time was different. Where he used particle weapons, these people were using projectiles. That, and Bane suddenly could not catch his breath, what with all the excitement happening. He tried to stand, but was unable, so he started crawling over to where the Admiral had also dove to the ground.

Savok saw Bane, and the arrival of officers, knowing they would have arrived. He felt anger at the death of an officer; clearly these people blamed them for what had happened, and of course, they had that right, but violence? Savok never understood why so many people resorted to violence.

"Just like Turkana Seven all over again," Savok said, reaching and taking the phaser from the dead officer, using it to help fight against their enemies. He remembered a firefight when he had been on the Bloembergen serving under Bane.

Bane nodded and tried to smile, but he still couldn't catch his breath. It was a very unusual sensation. On top of that, his back was feeling cold, and wet. Perhaps the sweat had soaked his uniform top, even though it was anti-wicking. Bane mouthed that he remembered that particular mission. The ship had been there to monitor the situation and render help to the civilian population when their command post had been caught right smack in the middle of a skirmish. He tried to speak, but was unable. He was seriously out of breath.

Savok took aim, and fired at another aggressor, taking them down. "Can you see the Tashi?" Savok asked, as he focused on keeping himself and Bane alive, noting the man's fatigue. This situation had to be resolved, quickly.

Plase tried to turn his head to see if he could spy the Tashi, but found that trying to lift his own head was a near impossible task. It was like weights had been tied to his head. He attempted also to lift his phaser, but it felt like a metric ton. For some reason also, he was starting to get tunnel vision. He closed his eyes for a moment to clear his head, and found that he felt quite at peace. He just wanted to sleep. With the strength of all the Prophets, he opened his eyes again. He could see the phaser in his friends hand firing, but didn't hear it. It was like all the sound in the world had gone out. Perhaps that was why he was having a hard time breathing. The lack of being able to catch his breath and the lack of sound told him an airlock somewhere on the planet was probably open, and the forcefield had failed, probably from the explosion a bit ago. Yeah, that had to be it. He just wanted to sleep.

Savok took a brief moment and pressed his fingers to Bane's face, in the Katra position. "Share my strength, Bane Plase, and allow yourself to be refreshed," he insisted, knowing that it was likely the man had a concussion, and he was not about to let any harm come to his friend.

Bane felt the life-force enter him. His vision went back to normal, and could hear the phaser and gun fire, and the thunks of the bullets hitting wood and material around them. He could also feel intense pain on the left side of his chest and on his back. Savok had lifted up to return fire. Bane took a second to review how he was feeling. He was still short of breath. Lifting up a little, still low enough to take cover behind the rubble, he looked down at his chest. There was a small hole in his uniform on the left side of his chest. Putting his finger there, the pain was intense and he winced. He looked at his finger, seeing blood on the tip of his finger. He suddenly realized what had happened. He had been shot, and was dying. He looked at his friend again, his vision going back into tunnel vision again, this time also tasting like he had copper in his mouth. He coughed once, and blood splattered onto the ground, both from his mouth and from the hole in his chest. He wondered if it spewed out from the exit wound on his back, where it felt wet. He tried to say something to Savok, but he couldn't speak, and Savok was busy returning fire, trying to stay alive.

Savok managed to strike an enemy, and then focused on a new enemy. He turned to check on Bane, and saw his condition. Savok had always been able to understand his emotions, and had accepted that, but in that moment, he felt rage and anger taking over him.

He had come to apologise and make things right; yes, innocent people had died, but it had been an accident, albeit a tragic one. This, however, it wasn't an accident. No, this was going to be murder.

Savok did something he had only done a couple of times in his life. He mentally reached out, and forced the attackers to suffer great pain. As a telepath, he could read minds, and though most Vulcan's were touch telepaths, some could also connect mentally without touch, and he was one of them.

He mentally let out a loud scream of anger, which would have been heard in the heads of every Antioch in the area; he wasn't focused on the security officers, and as he saw the people grabbing their heads in pain, Savok stood up, and raced to the nearest Antioch, and without hesitation, he threw the man out of the window with all the force he could muster.

He turned and faced the second one, grabbed them, and smashed his fist into the man's face. He could hear the crack of a broken nose, but he didn't care. He didn't even care about the Antioch blood now on his hands.

He knew the security team would handle the rest, and knelt next to Bane. He knew it was too late to help his friend. He had seen too many friends die, most from old age, but there were plenty who had died in battle, especially during the Dominion War, and the Borg attacks.

He pressed his fingers to Bane's face again, mentally connecting with him as he met his friend's gaze. He knew Bane would be dead within moments; his experience of medicine and science told him this. But Bane had suffered so much in his life. He would not let his friend be alone in this moment.

"Bane Plase, you have been, and always shall be, my friend," Savok said softly, tears in his eyes. "You have always been there for me, and I will never allow you to be alone, not now," he said softly.

Peace was what Bane felt as the pain went away. He felt hs friend touch him, and peace turned into tranquility. Even though it didn't show on his face, Bane smiled. He had lived a good life, a full life, a privileged life. Bane thought when he wakes up later, he'd have to tell Savok just how loved and wonderful he felt in this moment. For now, Plase felt like he needed to sleep. He closed his eyes, and fell asleep, the deepest and most blissful sleep Plase had ever known.

Within moments he took his last breath.

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

Bane awoke with a start, sitting up in his bed almost before his eyes were open, gasping for breath. He looked around his quarters, eyes frantically searching for the Antiocian invaders, his hands searching for the wound he knew he had and finding nothing. His sheets were soaked through from sweat, twisted in knots, his blanket in a pile on the floor.

It was several moments before his heart rate came down and he started to breath normal. The last few months had taken a toll on his mental state. The thought of Elodin being left behind tore at him, even if it was at the request of the doctor to stay. He hoped for the people of Antioch III, and hoped even more for Devan.

Bane got a glass of water from the sink in the bathroom and gulped it down, then got a second, likewise gulping it down. It wasn't until he felt a bit more hydrated until he was half way through his third glass of water. He knew he would need to make an appointment with Counselor Morak about these dreams and to work through the issues that were plaguing him. Two days had gone by since they left the Antioch system on their way to Deep Space 9, and if had more than four hours of sleep in that time, he was a Cardassian agent of the Obsidian Order.

Before drifting back off to sleep, he would have to reach out to Admiral Savok and thank him for always being there for him, even in his dreams.

OFF/END

Bane Plase, Captain
USS Cygnus, Commanding

+

Admiral Savok
Commanding Officer
Starfleet Operations
Flagship, USS Ozymandias

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