Author's note: Please make sure you read "Timeline" first, otherwise much of the stuff won't make sense.
She was levitating in lotus position in front of the summoning pentagram, mouthing soundless incantations. Above the pentagram, four red gashes in the fabric of reality burned with scorching hellfire.
Greetings, my daughter.
"You already know what I want, Trigon. Name your price."
Ah, to see my own spawn so immersed in that disgusting feeling you mortals call 'love'. It is disappointing. But highly amusing, also. I must admit that the torture you are suffering in its grasp is giving me great satisfaction.
"I didn't summon you to listen to your gloating!"
The entire tower suddenly started shaking, as if an earthquake had struck the island where it stood.
YOU. DID. NOT. SUMMON. ME.
The tremors subsided.
No, my daughter. I am not a simple demon that can be dragged back and forth between planes by some apprentice sorcerer.
The tower shook again.
I AM TRIGON.
Again, the shaking stopped.
I answer your call because I want to. It pleases me to watch your soul twisted in anguish. I relish the scent of your despair. And I will enjoy savoring the taste of your crushed hopes.
"You will not help me, then?"
Why should I? What can you, an insignificant speck of mud, offer me, Trigon the Terrible?
"There must be something."
There may be. The question is, will you pay the price? Can you pay the price?
"I will do anything!"
Very well. Kill your four friends.
Her eyes opened in horror. "NO! You cannot demand that! I will never –"
Trigon's laughter echoed in her head, burning her mind, slashing at her soul.
No, my daughter. I know there are things that you will not do, for any reason. After all, I did create you. But your despair was sweet perfume to me.
"Stop playing with me!"
Why? I have not felt this much pleasure for a long time.
"Please, there must be something I can –"
Ah, you abase yourself in front of me? You humiliate your soul by pleading with me? Just when I thought that this could not get any better. But still, I weary of our encounter. Here is the token. Here is the man. You know what you must do.
A disk of blinding red light appeared in the center of the pentagram. As the light faded, it left behind a circular token with a fiery, serpentine sign embossed on its surface.
In her mind, another flash of blazing red made her cry out in pain. It subsided slowly, leaving the image of a man. A man with a mask, one eye in the shadow, one staring at her malevolently.
The four slits of fire closed. Her head dropped as she fainted. The levitation spell gone, her body tumbled to the floor.
She lay there, unconscious. Fists pounded at her door. Suddenly, there was a crash and the door fell inwards. Voices filled the room.
"What happened here?" "Is she all right?" "Take her to Sickbay!"