A few minutes later the lift opened onto the bridge.
"What is it?" he asked as he looked to his executive officer.
"The stars sir," Kagome replied as she gestured to the screen. It was black. Not the normal blackness of space, but just... black. No stars, no planets, no nebulae. It was completely devoid of any light, “They're gone…"
"That's not possible." Was all Aideen's voice muttered even as she wandered forward, starring at the screen in front of her as her ears flattened against her skull, her tails drifting between her legs once she came to a stop.
"It never rains, but it pours," he muttered quietly as he moved to stand next to Kagome, “All stop, divert all the power you need to the scanners."
"Yes sir," Xt'n'ktl chimed.
"Aideen, you need to get some sleep. Have Kaidah give you a sedative," he said as he sat down, “Oh... and use a neural scanner. I want everything that goes through your head while you sleep analyzed."
Aideen gave Ken’Daichi a dirty look, even as her ears flattened against her skull even further. The idea of sleep wasn’t appealing, in the slightest, even if there seemed to be some linking coincidence. She couldn’t argue that… but wanted to put it off none the less.
“After my shift. Kaidah needs to get some sleep.” She muttered, turning on the ball of her heel, and slinked off of the bridge before he could say anything more to her.
The med bay was quiet; there didn't seem to be any more incidents among the crew and Musevni had been sent to his quarters with Laruen latched to his side to make sure he didn't get into any more trouble. Somehow the quiet didn't help Aideen's nerves as she tried to focus on paperwork. Although her constant glances at the time piece didn't do much good either. She knew her shift would be over soon, and Kaidah would be back to watch her sleep.
Aideen really didn't like the idea of going to sleep, not with those dreams. Maybe she could find a way out of it, or maybe get the upper hand and sedate Kaidah instead.
No, she thought. That wouldn't be right. If there's any chance this is related we've got to find out.
Or they’re experimenting on me...
The doors opened letting Kaidah into the office, who seemed to be cheerful enough to make someone sick.
"Hello Aideen," she said with a smile, “How are you feeling?"
Aideen’s fur stood on end, her tails giving several aggravated flicks behind her as she simply watched Kaidah with an expectant gaze, not responding to her greeting. She was irritated now and on edge. She couldn’t begin to pin point why either.
“Stay right there. Don’t move.” Aideen’s voice warned with an edge of a growl on her voice, “Give me a moment to calm down or I am going to bolt.”
Kaidah stopped and looked at her, unsure what to do.
"Aideen, what’s wrong?"
“Be quiet.” Aideen replied, closing her eyes and drawing in a breath.
The thought that she was certain she was stronger then Kaida and faster to boot went through her mind. And on its heels was the thought that she hoped she wouldn’t have to test that theory. That sounded more like her. That thought comforted her and she opened her eyes with a deep, drawn out sigh.
“Antsy all the sudden… Sorry Kaidah.” Aideen offered up a half truth, still not completely at ease with the situation.
"Um... ok," she muttered, still looking puzzled, “I spoke to Ken'Daichi, he told me what’s going on."
Aideen grimaced.
“Ah, yes. That.” Aideen sighed out, scowling at nothing in particular.
She got up, closing the files in front of her, ones she had barely gotten any work done on.
“Must a sedative be used? I haven’t slept in over twelve hours.” Aideen murmured under her breath, not really caring at the moment if Kaidah heard her or not.
The idea of not having a way out of the dreams until the sedative wore off or unless her body went into over drive and kick started itself was not an appealing one. She was already high strung, being kick started awake would probably start a fight and flight mechanism.
"No, I suppose not," she replied quietly, “But...it might be safer to use the bed restraints."
Her voice sounded uneasy, giving Aideen the impression that she really didn't want to do this.
Aideen’s ears perked over at Kaidah as she looked over at the woman… Before she walked over to her and just simply hugged her. She wasn’t much of one for personal affection, but would go as far as calling Kaidah her friend. Her and Laruen, as much as the woman irritated the hell out of her… It was also nice to have someone who felt as apprehensive about this as she did.
“I don’t like this either Kaidah. But it’s practically the only lead we might possibly have at the moment. If it is even a lead.” Aideen reasoned, taking a step back and looking at Kaidah, “I wouldn’t know about restraints. All I’ve managed so far is to fall off the couch.” Aideen smiled, trying to lighten the situation a little.
"Still, the neural scanner will push you deeper into your subconscious. There's a chance it could trigger a somnambulism."
"Ah, point. Yeah, attacking someone out of self defense from something in a dream isn't something I want to add to my list of 'how I kicked that person's rear'." Aideen snorted, vaguely amused, “With that in mind it might possibly be better to use the sedative... Just have a mild one standing by in case I happen to wake up in a panic."
"Alright," she replied as they walked over to one of them beds. Aideen sat there and watched as Kaidah got ready, tentatively placing the scanner on her temple.
"Aideen, I..." she stammered a bit, not sure what to say about this, “Sweet dreams?"
Aideen laughed. There wasn’t anything sweet about her dreams as of late. But it was oddly funny coming from Kaidah.
“Sweet is hardly the word I would use. And tell Ken’Daichi he’s a jerk.” Aideen sighed out.
She never felt this high strung when it came to stealing pieces of art work, it was always get in, get seen, become invisible by blending in with the crowd, the steal the piece and get out. Really simple, always worked like a charm. Well… it had until Ken’Daichi had thrown a wrench into her works.
“A sedative it is. Can’t stop thinking.” Aideen sighed once more, interrupting her own trail of thought, looking over at Kaidah.
Kaidah just stood next to her quietly for the longest of time, just starring at nothing until Aideen sat up and reached out to touch her hand. She sighed slowly, shaking her head, reaching up to take the device off of Aideen’s head. One of Aideen’s ears gave a questioning flick that Kaidah just shook her head at once more.
“Just go Aideen. I’ll take the blame. Just bring me coffee later.” Kaidah said with a scowl.
“Kaidah, it’s my shift in about two hours…”
“But you don’t really want to do this… right?”
“… No, I don’t.”
“I understand being scared… more so then you know. I also understand bravery is just a front you put forth. There is no being brave in front of the unknown. So go, I’ll do a double shift, just lay low and I’ll take the blame, alright?”
“Ken’Daichi is going to skin you alive…”
“Yeah, he’s no where near as scary as Laruen.” Kaidah smiled as Aideen chuckled.
“Maybe…”
“Go, and don’t get caught.”
Aideen perked at that statement… that she could do, that she could definitely do and then some. She slid off the table, looking at Kaidah briefly, before she disappeared out the door. She made her way down the hall way as quietly and quickly as she could, making an effort to avoid area’s where there were voices, taking the long way back to her room with the intention of locking herself in her bedroom with a large block of clay.
‘It’s all your fault,’ his minds voice muttered to him as he walked to the galley. It didn’t tell him anything that he wasn’t already thinking though. Everything they had been through in recent weeks was his fault, being drug into this other galaxy, the attacks by the Aaranen, the death…
So many of his crew had died in the trip through the portal, more in the proceeding attacks. Every one of them was a stab at his heart, and there was nothing he could do to relieve the families.
‘Don’t forget the ones that aren’t your crew.’
Aideen disliked him, he knew it. If it hadn’t been for his orders to question her, she wouldn’t be in this mess. If he had handled the attack better, if he had been able to avoid the portal… if…
And Lauren, the closer they moved to home, if they were at all, the further from her home they would be. She acted like he had done her a favor, but had he? She’d likely become homesick at some point.
‘They’d be better off without you, that’s for sure.’
Maybe that was true. Maybe he should…
Ken’Daichi looked up from his thoughts, finding himself no where near the galley. He was standing in the Airlock, hand over the controls.
‘How did I get here?’ he wondered as he looked around, looking down at his hand.
There was a clatter across the room, followed by a loud crash and a string of cussing that ended in a loud sigh. Laruen stood there in front of a ship, a tipped over tool box at her feet, tools everywhere. She had a wrench in one hand, her hands on her hips, a scowl on her lips as she eyed the ship in front of her. Her hair was covered by a white bandana that already had grease stains on it, and she was in uniform pants, shoes and a white tank top, which had grease hand prints on it. She turned to look down at the tools on the floor, suddenly looking up as if she had suddenly noticed him across the room.
“Hm? Ken’Daichi? What the hell are you doing here?” She asked, sounding tired, as she bent down to sort through the tools, “If you’re looking to throw yourself out of the air lock, give me about ten minutes and I can do that for you.” She joked, a slight smile on her face.
Ken'Daichi turned and looked at her, a blank expression on his face. He wasn't sure what happened, feeling more confused as he mentally retraced his steps.
"How...I was headed for somewhere else..."
“Oh I see how it is,” Laruen said, pointing at him with the wrench in her hand as she stood up, “Wander into my dock, making excuses. Eesh, am I that lousy company?” Laruen snorted, amused at something before she turned her attention back to the ship in front of her.
She couldn’t say much really, she believed herself to be bad company and had been avoiding Mu like the plague since she had hauled him off to the medical bay. Despite the fact she considered Mu one of the few people, if the only one, she could call friend. She sighed, reaching out to rest her hand on the ship.
"No, I..." he thought for a moment as he started to walk towards her, “I was on the bridge, and was headed for the galley. Then suddenly I'm..." he glances back over his shoulder, still puzzled by what happened, “Here."
Laruen let her hand slide from the ship as she turned to face him, crossing her arms across her chest, her finger tapping against the wrench in her hand as she seemed to be considering something.
“… I’m not good with people Ken’Daichi. But I’m good at listening. I may not have much to say, but I can at least offer you an open ear.” She said thoughtfully, wondering exactly what was on his mind.
"I was just thinking I guess," he muttered quietly, “About the people who've died in coming here, and since then. The fact that we're stranded." Ken'Daichi walked over to a crate and sat down with a sigh, “The fact that I'm responsible for it."
“How?” Laruen asked, squatting down as she tilted the tool box upright and started picking up the tools, “It’s not like you made the portal to engulf the ship, or killed those people.” She muttered thoughtfully.
"There was something I could have done, there had to be. I'm supposed to protect my crew, not get them killed."
“Like what?” Laruen asked, closing the tool box and standing up, “Begged harder? Screamed louder?” She sneered, seeming to be referring to herself, not him at that moment. She sighed, turning her attention back to him, “They didn’t die in vain, but if you keep on thinking that way they might as well have. By my understanding they all died doing what they could to help people, to protect people. Doesn’t that mean anything?”
"It's complicated," he replied, “And don't take this the wrong way, but I don't expect you to understand. Your experience is different. A captain’s first duty is to protect the ship and crew, I failed."
“Maybe, maybe not. I still want to kill them all. For what they did… for what they still are doing. For myself and the people they’ve murdered… and for the those they will slaughter because they fell for the same trap. Revenge sucks, but this isn’t about that. My race is dead. Replaced by a mass of mindless walking corpses that are praising to some kind of gods of destruction.” She looked away from him, “Do you have any idea how many people I’ve watched get tortured to death because they fell for the same damn trap you did? Do you have any idea how guilty I feel about my inability to save them? I got lucky with the group before you, despite what they did to me, and was able to save them. I knew a second rescue attempt would get me killed if I got left behind…. So… try me. I might understand better then you think Ken’Daichi.” She looked back at him, a fierce look in her eyes.
"I am sure that must have been hard, and I didn't say your life was easy, just different. They weren't your responsibility, and even now the only one you need to worry about is you. Same with..." he paused again, guilt washing over his face, “I know Aideen blames me, I've been half expecting her to blow up and openly accuse me of trapping her here."
"Worry about me…“ She snorted again, motioning him over as she headed to a small set up she had in the corner of the room. It was a cot, a couple of blankets and small desk she had obviously taken from somewhere else, “I don't want to think about me. I've got way too many fucking problems that I don't even know how to begin how to address." She sat down on top of the desk, gesturing to the cot for him, “And Aideen? I don't know what to tell you about her, I feel like there's a lot more going on with her then she lets on. And she creeps around like she's walking on pins and needles lately... can't blame her with that, bunch of weird shit going on lately."
"Yeah, I suppose," he muttered as he walked over, “I just... I wish I could tell them we'd be ok, that we'll make it home. But I'd feel like it was a lie."
"I don't think it is. I think there's another way back. Just got to find it, that's all. And that might take time." She looked at him and sighed, "I wish I knew where home was. I don't really have... anywhere to call home. The room I was given feels sterile and empty. Reminds me way too much of the prisons on Aaran... So I made a small corner for myself. No one really visits me. Probably has something to do with the fact no one knows where I am anymore... not that I've done anything to fix that." She smiled thoughtfully.
"How is Musevni?" he asked, “You two seem to get along, I'm sure he knows where you are."
"I don't know. I haven't had the gull to visit him since he tried to make the Aaranen ship make friends with the Katana... and I hauled him off to the medical bay. Been busy trying to figure out how to fix the engine I trashed. But engines aren't my thing, so it's been a learning experience." She answered, "I like Mu because he doesn't look at me like I'm a freak. And don't say your crew doesn't because I've seen the looks some of them give me when they think I'm not looking... they aren't exactly friendly."
"They're curious, unfamiliar, scared," he replied, “I'm sure it will pass." Ken'Daichi looked at the Aaranen ship sitting there, “I was thinking about a name for this hunk of scrap metal."
She chuckled, “Oh you mean besides piece of shit?" She leaned back against the wall, looking over at him.
He laughed, it felt good to laugh, and it was in very short supply, “On my world there is a story about a monster. A terrible creature called a Chimera. It is said to have three heads, each of a different animal. A different body, and a serpents tail."
Laruen looked thoughtful as she looked over at the Aaranen ship.
"Seems fitting, considering the means that were used to construct it." She sat forward and looked at him, “I hope you're right about your crew. I know what the stare of malice feels like; sometimes I think it's itching at the back of my neck. Maybe just my over active imagination... but anyway... talk to your crew Ken'Daichi, with all the weird shit going on, they could use some hopeful news. And it's not a lie if it's true. If the means are out there, I'll see this ship back where ever you came from.”
"Which would put you in the same situation we're in now. Alone in an unfamiliar space."
Laruen sighed and looked at him, “I know that Ken'Daichi. But helping get the ship back seems like a bigger problem then mine, doesn't it?"
“I have to take everyone’s problems into account," he replied, the weight of it obvious on his voice, “That’s what captains do, but this... they didn't teach us anything like this in command school."
"No, no you don't Ken'Daichi." Laruen said as she hopped off the desk and walked up to Ken'Daichi, standing in front of him with her hands on her hips, "So Aideen's got a bug up her ass and I've got problems. So what? Those things can take care of themselves, in time, hopefully. Just like Kaidah, we, and I'm probably guessing Aideen as well, want to help you and your crew."
"All I mean is that everyone on this ship is my responsibility," he said as he stood up, “In any case, I should be getting something to e-" The room spun around him as his vision blurred. Ken'Daichi wasn't even sure he was falling, or what direction till he hit the floor unconscious.
Laruen made a choked sound, reaching out to catch Ken’Daichi… which only brought her to the floor with her legs squished between him and the cold metal of the deck. Her arms and hands wrapped around his chest, holding onto him, holding him to her to prevent him from going to the floor. She sat there for a moment, nearly dumbfounded at what had just happened, before she gave herself a mental kick and wiggled her legs free.
