Chapter Fourteen
The temple doors swung closed behind Em'Lork and she breathed in with relief; she was home.
As'Lork stood nearby, their link was so strong, there was no differentiation between them. Silently, Deanna and Beverly walked down the isle - the throne called to Em'Lork. Deanna's bare feet were silent against the marble floor, Beverly matched her step for step.
The two women reached the podium and stopped. Instinctively, Em'Lork and As'Lork reached out and grasped each others hand. They turned to face each other and bowed as a sign of respect.
They fell to their knees in unison, both women closed their eyes. They raised their arms to the sky and linked hands in the open space above their heads; concentrating their mental energy on the physical union of their fingers. Slowly their arms began to sway in one flowing movement; circling Beverly's head, then down to their sides. Circling Deanna's head, then down to their other side.
They repeated this graceful moment - their energy building and combining, until suddenly both women froze, as if paralysed. Their arms dropped to their sides and hung loosely. Her eyes still firmly shut, Deanna reached out her left hand and covered Beverly's eyes, then gently placed her right hand around Beverly's throat. "Ta'mialrk snlat, rav-hun dinbcraey - your eyes are my eyes, your voice is my voice," Deanna chanted.
Troi's arms fell to her side and Deanna opened her eyes. Beverly put her left hand on Troi's forehead and pressed her right hand against Deanna's heart. "Ta'mialrk snlat, rav-liun dinbcraey - your mind is my mind, your heart is my heart," chanted Beverly. Then her arms fell to her side and she opened her eyes.
"Fenltnud shvrrh-It k't-nbayyf," they chorused in ritualistic harmony, pressing the palms of their hands together.
They rose to their feet, fingers entwined. Beverly and Deanna chanted. "Dixus, rituous, similious- dmt," repeatedly.
Their voices became louder and louder. Their hands reached up to the sky, which released a blinding flash of white light and an unearthly crashing sound. A bolt of pure energy filled the temple, fusing their souls together, uniting them with the spirit of their ancestors and future generations.
Then the night fell silent and the temple was drained of light.
Deanna and Beverly's bodies fell limply to the floor; Em'Lork and As'lork were now joined as one.
Em'Lork rested on the relic throne - a spectre projecting a yellow light. She patiently awaited the arrival of the Turparian Council - she knew they would put up no further resistance, not if they wanted their race to survive. Em'Lork looked down at Deanna and Beverly's bodies - they were still necessary. Em'Lork needed them to act as the physical catalyst between herself and the Council members. Deanna had been specifically selected for her empathic powers, and Beverly for her close friendship with Troi.
Sensing the Turparian Councillor's nearby, Em'Lork used the power of her mind to push the temple doors open.
Startled, the Turparian Councillor's, Enterprise crew and Strail entered.
Rocsp leading, the Council members marched toward towards the podium. As he reached the first step of the platform, Rocsp knelt down in honour of Em'Lork. The other Councillors followed his lead, not daring to defy Em'Lork.
Immediately Riker saw the limp figures of Deanna and Beverly on the podium and his breath caught in his throat. He felt Strail tug at his sleeve and quickly knelt, as a sign of respect to Em'Lork.
"Arise," commanded Em'Lork, her voice echoing through the building and sending a cold shiver down the backs of everyone present, except Data, who remained emotionally indifferent.
The humanoids before her rose.
"Prepare," bellowed Em'Lork.
The Councillors arranged themselves in an orderly line. Riker watched them with a strange curiosity. Strail joined the back of the line.
Em'Lork raised her right hand and Deanna's body stirred out of lifelessness. Troi sat up, then stood; her eyes still firmly shut. The light that Em'Lork was projecting became brighter, Deanna's eyelids flickered open while Riker looked on, helplessly.
Troi took a few steps towards Rocsp, seeming to understand what was expected of her.
Em'Lork raised her left hand and Beverly sat up, gently rising to her feet. She took her place behind Deanna and slipped her arms beneath Troi's arms and held them out, Deanna rested her arms on top of the Doctor's, as though they were the support of an armchair. Deanna spread her fingers and Beverly slotted her fingers between Troi's - their hands were joined, ready for the telepathic energy to be channelled through them.
Rocsp mounted the first step of the podium and knelt on one knee in front of the two Enterprise Officers. Deanna's hands, combined with Beverly's, reached forward and grasped the first Councillors face; their fingers carefully arranged about his jaw line and temples. Rocsp clamped his eyes shut in concentration. Troi delved into the mans mind, searching. The empath stumbled through his thoughts and inner feelings, as though they were a forest, until she found the path needed to free him and make him fertile - now he would be capable of passing on the gift and mentally releasing other Turparian males. Rocsp felt the energy rush through him as Deanna released him.
Deanna and Beverly's fingers lifted from Rocsp's skin and he stood in triumph, stepping away from them, allowing the next Councillor in line to be freed.
Rocsp felt the difference instantantly - the future was within his reach, he had the power to help his dying people.
Turparian Councillor followed Turparian Councillor.
When it came his turn, Strail knelt respectfully before Em'Lork. "Please forgive me," he begged.
Em'Lork glanced down at the pathetic sight of her servant begging. She sensed the fear within him.
"I have no time to waste on you - I will punish you later," Em'Lork stated.
Deanna and Beverly's hands reached out and touched Strail's face, his body convulsed and he collapsed to the floor. A deafening crash of thunder filled the sky above them and Geordi's body became lifeless. A few moments later, Geordi slowly sat up, as if from a bad dream. Riker noticed that the phaser burn on Geordi's arm was miraculously healed.
Deanna broke away from Beverly - their task was finished, they were no longer a requirement. She was in control of herself again and rushed toward Geordi.
Observing this, Em'Lork remarked. "Such compassion for someone so insignificant."
Deanna looked directly at the god. "He's not insignificant! He's my friend. Everyone is important to someone! You can't kill people without conscience," stated Deanna emotionally.
Beverly moved to Geordi's side and checked his vital signs.
"What just happened... wait, wait... it's all coming back to me," Geordi mumbled, rubbing his forehead.
With the aid of Deanna, Beverly helped her friend to his feet.
"Go!" ordered Em'Lork.
Deanna, Beverly and Geordi felt an immediate emptiness in their sudden individuality, a vagueness that was taking its time to abate. The three descended the steps quickly. Beverly still had a faint taste of Deanna's mind within her. Troi had been the most affected, she was worn out.
Geordi was more alert by the time they reached Riker, he could now support himself and thanked Deanna and Beverly for their help.
"Go," repeated Em'Lork, her tone more urgent. She wanted them out - this was not their place; they were outsiders.
Data and Riker led their friends out of the temple and into the night.
When they arrived at the rescue co-ordinates, the transporter beacons were not there.
Data pulled his tri-corder out of the holster belt around his waist and scanned the region. "There is still interference, the Enterprise has been unsuccessful in their attempts to break through the magnetic field. Therefore they will be unable to locate us and beam us directly aboard," Data clarified.
"Then we'll have to break through the magnetic field it ourselves," declared Riker.
Deanna, Beverly, Geordi, Data and Riker knew they would have to go to the Council Building, find the cause of the magnetic field and deactivate it themselves. Simultaneously, they turned in the direction of the Council Building and started walking cautiously towards it.