Chapter Thirteen

"What was that?" Dax exclaimed as she began to land the shuttle.

All three of the shuttle's passengers had felt some sort of force field flare up, then die down suddenly.

"It came from below us," Julian said, looking at the scanners. "I think it has to do with Marina."

Dax glanced back at him. The young doctor's eyes were wide. "Don't worry," the Trill assured him. "She'll be all right."

"I hope so," Julian said quietly.

(LINE)

Kira looked behind her. The shuttle was landing. It's light bathed the area like sunlight. She turned back around. The entire Dominion force was laid out on the red clay, unmoving. Marina just stood there, the wind whipping at her long hair, which had somehow come loose from its tie.

How did she do that? Kira wondered. What awesome power does she possess?

"They're alive," Marina said suddenly, her voice sounding small and terribly young. "I didn't kill them. I couldn't. With a phaser, maybe, I could have. But… against that--whatever I just did--they didn't stand a chance. It wouldn't have been fair."

Kira glanced back again. Miles was setting up some sort of satellite device. Dax was coming toward them. And Julian was already brushing past Kira, headed straight for Marina.

Marina felt his touch on her shoulder and knew it was him. "Oh, Julian," she whispered. "What am I?"

"The woman I love," he said softly.

Marina turned around and threw herself into his arms. "I've missed you so much," she whispered into his shoulder.

Julian smiled and stroked her hair. "I'd actually planned this the other way around. First you'd throw yourself at me, then I'd say that I loved you."

"I'm glad you love me," Marina said.

"So am I." He held her at arm's length, studying her face intently. "How is your arm?"

Marina held it up. "It's a bit bloody."

"Sit down," Julian said quickly. "I need to take a look at that."

Marina just stared at him.

"Marina?"

Her eyes suddenly closed and her knees buckled.

Julian caught her before she could fall and gently lowered her to the ground, his heart pounding. "Marina!" he called. "Can you hear me?"

She was totally unconscious.

"You tend to her, doctor," Kira said calmly. "Dax and I will take care of the prisoners."

Dax came up beside the Bajoran woman. "Miles has contacted the others and--" Her eyes went wide when she saw Marina on the ground. "What happened to her?" she exclaimed.

Julian had already opened his medical kit. "She's fainted from exhaustion and blood loss," he said quietly. "She'll be all right." I'll make sure of it. He gently re-bandaged her arm. "Go on and deal with the prisoners. I can take care of her."

Kira abruptly touched his shoulder. "You would have been proud of her," she said quietly.

"I am," said Julian. He looked down at Marina as Kira and Dax proceeded to secure the prisoners. "You'll be all right, love," he whispered, stroking her cheek.

Marina stirred slightly and whispered something in her sleep.

Julian frowned and leaned closer to her.

"Gentanar," she murmured again, frowning slightly.

Julian sat back. Gentanar… The name was somehow familiar…

(LINE)

Marina dreamed, of course. She dreamed she was standing on a cliff, and there was no wind. The cliff overlooked a gray-blue sea, calm and sparkling. Then a voice came to her. It seemed to be coming from the sea.

"Marina."

"Who's there?"

"Don't you remember?" Then the voice laughed.

Marina shivered. It was the man from her nightmare, the man in the shadows--the man she had kissed. "Yes," she answered quietly, hugging herself tightly. "I remember you. Show yourself."

Suddenly, there was a hand on her shoulder.

Marina spun around. There stood a man, tall and blonde, with icy blue eyes. He was very handsome. But Marina didn't care. "Who are you? Why won't you leave me alone? Get out of my dream and let me wake up!" she exclaimed.

The man smiled crookedly. "So… have you realized yet that I am holding you in your dream?"

Marina swallowed. "You're holding me in my dream?"

"Yes. I am no figment of your imagination, no manifestation of a subconscious desire…" His grin broadened. "No, I am very real. And as you are beginning to realize, I am a very powerful man."

"Who are you? Why are you doing this to me?" Marina took one step back from him, glancing behind her to make sure she wasn't going over the cliff. This was a dream, but… Who knew what this man could do?

"Don't worry. You can't die from falling off of a dream cliff." The man laughed.

"Stop laughing at me," Marina said coldly. She focused her thoughts on him, trying to probe his mind. She was very close when suddenly, her mind felt like it had been hit by a brick wall. She staggered back. "You're… you're not… normal, are you?" she asked.

"Haven't you figured it out yet, Marina? I'm like you."

Marina was quiet.

"What… speechless?"

"Who are you?" Marina whispered.

"The name is Reetan Gentanar." The man bowed theatrically, reminding Marina oddly of Julian. "Heard of me?"

Marina searched her memory. "Actually, yes." She blinked. "Gentanar… My father told me about you. Weren't you the psychogenotron who went crazy and supposedly died ten years ago from some sort of experimental treatment?"

"That would be me. Call me Reetan, I beg of you."

"What do you want from me, Gentanar?" Marina snapped.

"I don't want anything from you. I want you."

"Me?" Marina asked squeakily. "What?"

"It gets lonely out there, Marina." Gentanar began pacing in front of her, this time reminding her of Ensign Harris. "We are different, you and I. These others--these mortals--they cannot fully understand us."

"Mortals? You idiot! We're mortal as well."

The psychogenotron stopped pacing and smiled at her. "I'm working on that one. And if you come with me, I'll share it with you--immortality."

"No thanks. I'd rather spend eternity in heaven--not on earth." Marina glared at him.

"Look, Marina. I've cut a deal with the Dominion. They're going to make me a god--and you a goddess, if you'll except."

Marina stood akimbo. "So, you want me to join you in becoming a Dominion pawn?"

Gentanar laughed softly. "You have it backwards, Marina. The chessboard will be ours. You and I will be king and queen, and the Cardassians and Jem'Hadar and the Vorta will be our pawns and rooks and knights and bishops."

"Nice. That little comparison worked out, didn't it?"

"Marina! I always thought you were a sweet, gentle, tender-hearted person," Gentanar chided.

"Not toward sick freaks like you," Marina muttered.

"I'm sure you're sweet with your doctor friend," the man said quietly.

Marina caught her breath.

"And isn't he just as much a freak as I am? Genetically altered and all that."

"Shut up. Leave him out of this. Let me go back."

"Tsk, tsk." Gentanar shook his head. "So touchy. Is this the easygoing, good-natured girl I fell for?" He reached out and touched her arm.

"If you're going to fall, why don't you jump off of this cliff?" Marina stepped out of his way.

Gentenar frowned suddenly. "You'll love me in time, Marina," he said, his voice low, like a growl.

"No." Marina shook her head. "I love Julian."

"So be it then." Gentenar reached out and brushed his fingers across her forehead.

(LINE)

Marina woke up, but did not open her eyes. She was almost afraid to. She could hear the Catronis wind whistling through something. And there was a crackling sound, oddly like fire. Yes, and wherever she was, it smelled like wood smoke. And it was warm. A campfire? Could it be? She slowly opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was Carlos Garcia's face. He was asleep, lying on a pallet beside the one she was lying on. His face was peaceful and free of pain; his chest rose and fell evenly.

Marina smiled. Julian. She sat up slowly, feeling exhausted and a bit dizzy.

"Marina! You're awake!" Julian was immediately at her side, his large, soulful dark eyes full of concern. He knelt beside her and gently took her hand, sliding his fingers against her wrist to check her pulse. "How are you feeling?" His voice was low and soft.

Marina tried to say something, but couldn't. She swallowed and just smiled at him.

"Are you all right?" He leaned forward to brush her cheek with the backs of his fingers. "What's the matter?"

She caught his hand in hers, holding his long, slender fingers against her face. "I'm--I'm so glad to see you. So glad you're… all right. I was--I was scared." She swallowed again against the tightness in her throat, angry at the tears springing to her eyes.

"Marina, darling… something's the matter. Tell me."

"I had another dream."

"Oh no."

"You're right. Oh no. There was this-this man. The same one I kissed in the other dream. His name is Gentanar, Reetan Gentanar. Does that name sound familiar to you?"

Julian thought for a moment. "Ah, yes. He was a psychogenotron. He went mad, supposedly because of some experimental treatment that was supposed to help him control his mind powers. He disappeared years ago and was presumed dead."

"That's the one." Marina took a deep breath. "Julian, he's alive. He's behind all this. He wants me to help him. He is trying to control the Dominion. I don't think it's world domination he's after. It's worlds domination. He is so powerful. I tried to read him, but I couldn't. He has… shields or something around his mind."

"Marina, if he wants you to help him, you must possess great power, as well," Julian said quietly, studying her eyes. "There are other psychogenotrons--few, yes--but…" He sighed. "There must be something special about you." He smiled suddenly. "And don't I know it." He softly kissed her forehead.

"Julian! How can you be so calm? This man is so powerful! He could destroy us--and by us, I mean the entire Federation!" She leaned against his chest and closed her eyes as his strong, slim arms went around her. "Julian, I am not afraid to die. But I am afraid to see all that is good, all that is right in the universe fall to someone like Reetan Gentanar."

Julian settled his cheek against her hair. She was trembling in his arms. He had never seen her this upset. "Marina, don't you worry. We can stop this man. We can tell the Federation, and--"

Marina suddenly drew back from him, her eyes wide. "Julian, I can feel it."

"Feel what, love?"

"He's here. On Catronis."