Author's Note: The timeline of this fic is sometime after the episode Survival Instinct and before the events of my fanfic Star Trek: Voyager - Dark Realm.
---
Turbolift: Crewman Tal Celes felt a little odd about approaching the newest Bajoran to set foot aboard Voyager. Marika Wilkarah, a former Starfleet officer who had been assimilated by the Borg and been freed from the Collective, but unfortunately she had less than a month to live. Rumor had it was that Seven of Nine was responsible for her condition.
Celes really didn't have anywhere to be now after her latest nightmare of a shift.
"Hi..." Celes said shyly.
Marika turned and with a wry look said: "Hello."
"I'm Tal Celes," then remembering Marika had been a Starfleet officer she added: "Crewman Tal Celes."
"Marika Wilkarah. No need to be so formal." Marika said: "Having only a short time I think standing on formalities is the least of my concern."
Slightly taken aback by the woman's bluntness Celes said, "Me and some of the other Bajoran crewmembers hold weekly services at Ensign Tabor's quarters. Would you like to join us?"
"Somehow I don't think bargaining with the Prophets would buy me more time." Marika replied: "But I would welcome the company of fellow Bajorans. When are you holding your service?"
"I'm actually on my way over." Celes replied, "Just get off on my stop."
"Thank you." Marika said as the turbolift came to a halt. She and Celes walked into the quarters Ensign Tabor shared with Crewman Gerron.
"Guys." Celes began, "This is Marika Wilkarah. Marika this is Ensign Tabor and Crewman Gerron."
"Welcome." Tabor said.
Several other Bajoran crewmembers gathered into Tabor's quarters and he lit the candles and incense and began: "I would like to introduce our newest member for our gathering, Marika Wilkarah."
A chorus of welcoming words were exchanged as Tabor began his service: "Does anyone have anything they wish us to implore of the Prophets."
A brief silence followed before Marikah said: "For my husband, David..."
---
Mess Hall: Lieutenant Junior Grade Henry Kano sat at his usual table with Crewman William Telfer as the two started into their food.
"Mollusks a'la Neelix." Henry remarked as he glanced at scallops that Neelix had harvested from their latest visit to a small Class-M moon.
"It smells quite...spicy." Telfer remarked.
Henry took the first bite: "Not quite like my mum's Scallop Surprise."
"I don't quite think Mollusks a'la Neelix tastes quite like anything I've ever eaten..." Telfer said looking green.
"I wonder what's keeping Tal? Shouldn't she have been off shift half an hour ago?" Henry asked.
Telfer turned to the Australian Search and Rescue operative and said, "She's at services."
"Oh yeah. I forgot she had services today." Henry replied and checked his wrist chronometer again.
"So where's LT Ayala?" Telfer said: "Aren't you guys on the same shift."
"Not this time. He covered a couple shifts for one of his mates on bridge duty." Henry replied: "He took over for LT Paris so he and B'Elanna could have their anniversary."
"Oh yeah. That's right." Telfer said: "I keep forgetting that you are a bit more privy to officer matters than I am."
"Happens mate." Henry replied as the doors to the Mess Hall opened.
"Speak of the devil." Henry remarked as he saw Tal Celes walk into the room. He smiled at her. There was a light brown haired woman walking beside Tal. A Bajoran as well.
"I know her." Henry said.
"Well I know she was one of the former drones that Seven of Nine helped last week." Telfer replied.
"I meant beside that. I knew her or knew of her somewhere." Henry remarked as Tal headed over to their table with her new friend in tow.
For her part Tal's friend's face showed an expression of trying to recall the face of an accquaintance.
As the pair approached the table Tal said: "Guys I want you to meet Marika Wilkarah. Marika these are my friends William Telfer and..."
"Henry Kano. Right?" Marika said.
"That's right." Henry replied: "Wait a minute. I remember I ran into you at a couple social functions with the 172nd Search and Rescue Squadron. Lieutenant Commander Glass' wife?"
"You were in the Evacuation Flight." Marika replied before saying: "Nice to see you again."
"Likewise." Henry replied.
"I'm almost tempted to go use up my last replicator rations on some hasperat." Celes replied as she picked at her food.
"I do say Mollusks a'la Neelix is an accquired taste." Henry said as he speared a small scallop and chewed on it.
Celes tried to pick at the Talaxian's cooking and said: "I'm going to the replicator. I don't care if any more of Neelix's mystery dishes are a risk over the two weeks. I am using my replicator rations..."
"Come to think of it I think I might join you too." Marika said.
"Do you think its worth it?" Telfer asked.
"If you want." Henry replied: "I actually want to save my next couple replicator rations."
---
Astrometrics, A Few Weeks Later: Celes looked over the latest long range sensor reading. She was in the middle of entering her calculations to be compiled by the main data processor when she heard a voice behind her.
"Busy?"
Celes had been concentrating so much on her analysis that she had gotten almost tunnel visioned. She jumped up with a startled yelp and banged her left shin against the base of her console.
"Sorry." Marika said barely able to contain the chuckle at Celes' startled reaction.
"I'm on duty for another thirty minutes." Tal replied.
"Actually your shift ended five minutes ago." Marika said looking at the wall chronometer.
Celes checked her chronometer: "I guess that sensor compilation took longer than I expected."
"It's OK. Ensign Tabor said that services might be delayed a half hour. He's still got that warp coil realignment detail." Marika replied.
"I'm finished now so I guess I've got a few minutes." Celes said as she logged out of her work station after ensuring her work was recorded in the Astrometrics log.
The pair of them walked into the corridor together and Marika asked: "I've been meaning to ask and please don't take offense to this but what's your relationship with Lieutenant Kano?"
"Henry and I are friends." Celes replied. Though I wish we were more than that.
Marika noted that she referred to him as Henry in conversation. And throughout the various times she'd seen them together in the Mess Hall and other places she noticed they had some kind of a chemistry.
"How did you two first meet?" Marika replied.
"It was almost by accident." Celes replied: "He'd been talking to the Doctor in Sickbay to make some arrangements for the Search and Rescue Detachment on Voyager and showed up later for lunch. Pretty much every seat in the Mess Hall had been taken and we wound up sitting at the same table. We got to talking and from there we hit it off from there."
"I can tell he's quite fond of you as well." Marika replied.
"You really think so?" Celes asked.
"I'm positive." Marika replied. Celes looked a little skeptical and Marika added, "For instance at lunch yesterday when you got off shift and you were telling him about how Seven of Nine gave you the third degree. I noticed he moved closer to you throughout your story telling and the arm around your shoulder..."
"He was just being friendly." Celes replied.
"I think there's definitely love there." Marika replied with certainty: "I'm wondering what's holding you back from saying how you feel."
"He had a girlfriend back on Earth, Leslie. But she had given him up for dead almost two years ago. I'm not sure he's quite gotten over it..." Celes replied.
"Maybe that could be the case but I'm almost certain he's recovered by now." Marika said: "Maybe he has no idea how you feel about him."
"I'm not so sure that he does feel that way about me." Celes replied.
"Trust me. There's more than meets the eye and..." Marika said before she winced in pain and fell to the ground.
Alarmed Celes tapped her commbadge: "Celes to Sickbay. Medical Emergency outside Astrometrics. It's Marika..."
The Doctor's voice replied: "Beaming you to Sickbay now..."
As the familiar dematerializing and rematerializing of the transporter took effect Celes saw the Doctor and Tom Paris taking Marika to the nearest biobed.
She heard them talking about her condition. The Doctor looked up after much effort and said: "I'm sorry Crewman Celes. It was her time."
Tears welled into Celes' eyes as she left Sickbay.
---
Marika's Funeral: Ensign Tabor had given the eulogy for Marika's funeral. Henry Kano watched as he spoke of a fellow Bajoran before starting the traditional Bajoran death chant.
"Go to the Prophets in Peace Marika Wilkarah..." Ensign Tabor said.
Henry could hear Celes sniffling beside him and dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief.
He put his arms around her and held her close to her. It was around then that she broke down almost completely. He could feel the choking sobs and the tears soaking through his shirt.
It was shortly after Celes had calmed down a little that he loosend his hold. Almost everyone had left shortly after Marika's body was fired into space with the photon torpedo casing.
He held her gently against him and she rested his head on his shoulder. It felt so natural for her to do that.
"I'm so sorry about Marika." Henry replied.
"I knew she didn't have long to live but one minute she's talking to me and the next she's dying right before my eyes..." Celes replied.
"Do you want to talk some more?" Henry said.
"I could really use someone to talk too. If you don't mind that is..." Tal replied.
"I don't mind at all." Henry replied as they walked out of the empty room...
---
End
---
Turbolift: Crewman Tal Celes felt a little odd about approaching the newest Bajoran to set foot aboard Voyager. Marika Wilkarah, a former Starfleet officer who had been assimilated by the Borg and been freed from the Collective, but unfortunately she had less than a month to live. Rumor had it was that Seven of Nine was responsible for her condition.
Celes really didn't have anywhere to be now after her latest nightmare of a shift.
"Hi..." Celes said shyly.
Marika turned and with a wry look said: "Hello."
"I'm Tal Celes," then remembering Marika had been a Starfleet officer she added: "Crewman Tal Celes."
"Marika Wilkarah. No need to be so formal." Marika said: "Having only a short time I think standing on formalities is the least of my concern."
Slightly taken aback by the woman's bluntness Celes said, "Me and some of the other Bajoran crewmembers hold weekly services at Ensign Tabor's quarters. Would you like to join us?"
"Somehow I don't think bargaining with the Prophets would buy me more time." Marika replied: "But I would welcome the company of fellow Bajorans. When are you holding your service?"
"I'm actually on my way over." Celes replied, "Just get off on my stop."
"Thank you." Marika said as the turbolift came to a halt. She and Celes walked into the quarters Ensign Tabor shared with Crewman Gerron.
"Guys." Celes began, "This is Marika Wilkarah. Marika this is Ensign Tabor and Crewman Gerron."
"Welcome." Tabor said.
Several other Bajoran crewmembers gathered into Tabor's quarters and he lit the candles and incense and began: "I would like to introduce our newest member for our gathering, Marika Wilkarah."
A chorus of welcoming words were exchanged as Tabor began his service: "Does anyone have anything they wish us to implore of the Prophets."
A brief silence followed before Marikah said: "For my husband, David..."
---
Mess Hall: Lieutenant Junior Grade Henry Kano sat at his usual table with Crewman William Telfer as the two started into their food.
"Mollusks a'la Neelix." Henry remarked as he glanced at scallops that Neelix had harvested from their latest visit to a small Class-M moon.
"It smells quite...spicy." Telfer remarked.
Henry took the first bite: "Not quite like my mum's Scallop Surprise."
"I don't quite think Mollusks a'la Neelix tastes quite like anything I've ever eaten..." Telfer said looking green.
"I wonder what's keeping Tal? Shouldn't she have been off shift half an hour ago?" Henry asked.
Telfer turned to the Australian Search and Rescue operative and said, "She's at services."
"Oh yeah. I forgot she had services today." Henry replied and checked his wrist chronometer again.
"So where's LT Ayala?" Telfer said: "Aren't you guys on the same shift."
"Not this time. He covered a couple shifts for one of his mates on bridge duty." Henry replied: "He took over for LT Paris so he and B'Elanna could have their anniversary."
"Oh yeah. That's right." Telfer said: "I keep forgetting that you are a bit more privy to officer matters than I am."
"Happens mate." Henry replied as the doors to the Mess Hall opened.
"Speak of the devil." Henry remarked as he saw Tal Celes walk into the room. He smiled at her. There was a light brown haired woman walking beside Tal. A Bajoran as well.
"I know her." Henry said.
"Well I know she was one of the former drones that Seven of Nine helped last week." Telfer replied.
"I meant beside that. I knew her or knew of her somewhere." Henry remarked as Tal headed over to their table with her new friend in tow.
For her part Tal's friend's face showed an expression of trying to recall the face of an accquaintance.
As the pair approached the table Tal said: "Guys I want you to meet Marika Wilkarah. Marika these are my friends William Telfer and..."
"Henry Kano. Right?" Marika said.
"That's right." Henry replied: "Wait a minute. I remember I ran into you at a couple social functions with the 172nd Search and Rescue Squadron. Lieutenant Commander Glass' wife?"
"You were in the Evacuation Flight." Marika replied before saying: "Nice to see you again."
"Likewise." Henry replied.
"I'm almost tempted to go use up my last replicator rations on some hasperat." Celes replied as she picked at her food.
"I do say Mollusks a'la Neelix is an accquired taste." Henry said as he speared a small scallop and chewed on it.
Celes tried to pick at the Talaxian's cooking and said: "I'm going to the replicator. I don't care if any more of Neelix's mystery dishes are a risk over the two weeks. I am using my replicator rations..."
"Come to think of it I think I might join you too." Marika said.
"Do you think its worth it?" Telfer asked.
"If you want." Henry replied: "I actually want to save my next couple replicator rations."
---
Astrometrics, A Few Weeks Later: Celes looked over the latest long range sensor reading. She was in the middle of entering her calculations to be compiled by the main data processor when she heard a voice behind her.
"Busy?"
Celes had been concentrating so much on her analysis that she had gotten almost tunnel visioned. She jumped up with a startled yelp and banged her left shin against the base of her console.
"Sorry." Marika said barely able to contain the chuckle at Celes' startled reaction.
"I'm on duty for another thirty minutes." Tal replied.
"Actually your shift ended five minutes ago." Marika said looking at the wall chronometer.
Celes checked her chronometer: "I guess that sensor compilation took longer than I expected."
"It's OK. Ensign Tabor said that services might be delayed a half hour. He's still got that warp coil realignment detail." Marika replied.
"I'm finished now so I guess I've got a few minutes." Celes said as she logged out of her work station after ensuring her work was recorded in the Astrometrics log.
The pair of them walked into the corridor together and Marika asked: "I've been meaning to ask and please don't take offense to this but what's your relationship with Lieutenant Kano?"
"Henry and I are friends." Celes replied. Though I wish we were more than that.
Marika noted that she referred to him as Henry in conversation. And throughout the various times she'd seen them together in the Mess Hall and other places she noticed they had some kind of a chemistry.
"How did you two first meet?" Marika replied.
"It was almost by accident." Celes replied: "He'd been talking to the Doctor in Sickbay to make some arrangements for the Search and Rescue Detachment on Voyager and showed up later for lunch. Pretty much every seat in the Mess Hall had been taken and we wound up sitting at the same table. We got to talking and from there we hit it off from there."
"I can tell he's quite fond of you as well." Marika replied.
"You really think so?" Celes asked.
"I'm positive." Marika replied. Celes looked a little skeptical and Marika added, "For instance at lunch yesterday when you got off shift and you were telling him about how Seven of Nine gave you the third degree. I noticed he moved closer to you throughout your story telling and the arm around your shoulder..."
"He was just being friendly." Celes replied.
"I think there's definitely love there." Marika replied with certainty: "I'm wondering what's holding you back from saying how you feel."
"He had a girlfriend back on Earth, Leslie. But she had given him up for dead almost two years ago. I'm not sure he's quite gotten over it..." Celes replied.
"Maybe that could be the case but I'm almost certain he's recovered by now." Marika said: "Maybe he has no idea how you feel about him."
"I'm not so sure that he does feel that way about me." Celes replied.
"Trust me. There's more than meets the eye and..." Marika said before she winced in pain and fell to the ground.
Alarmed Celes tapped her commbadge: "Celes to Sickbay. Medical Emergency outside Astrometrics. It's Marika..."
The Doctor's voice replied: "Beaming you to Sickbay now..."
As the familiar dematerializing and rematerializing of the transporter took effect Celes saw the Doctor and Tom Paris taking Marika to the nearest biobed.
She heard them talking about her condition. The Doctor looked up after much effort and said: "I'm sorry Crewman Celes. It was her time."
Tears welled into Celes' eyes as she left Sickbay.
---
Marika's Funeral: Ensign Tabor had given the eulogy for Marika's funeral. Henry Kano watched as he spoke of a fellow Bajoran before starting the traditional Bajoran death chant.
"Go to the Prophets in Peace Marika Wilkarah..." Ensign Tabor said.
Henry could hear Celes sniffling beside him and dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief.
He put his arms around her and held her close to her. It was around then that she broke down almost completely. He could feel the choking sobs and the tears soaking through his shirt.
It was shortly after Celes had calmed down a little that he loosend his hold. Almost everyone had left shortly after Marika's body was fired into space with the photon torpedo casing.
He held her gently against him and she rested his head on his shoulder. It felt so natural for her to do that.
"I'm so sorry about Marika." Henry replied.
"I knew she didn't have long to live but one minute she's talking to me and the next she's dying right before my eyes..." Celes replied.
"Do you want to talk some more?" Henry said.
"I could really use someone to talk too. If you don't mind that is..." Tal replied.
"I don't mind at all." Henry replied as they walked out of the empty room...
---
End
