New Beginnings

Chapter Four

Seska smiled as she slid off the altar stone on which she had been reclining. The storm continued to circle the hillside, punctuating the air with stabbing flashes of light that burned their image into Kathryn's retina. Thunder descended in waves, bringing with it icy particles of rain that battered against her. From out of nowhere a tendril of mist reached out to her, snaking its way between her feet. Instinct took over, forcing her backward towards higher ground.

Unwilling to lose her advantage, Seska closed the distance between herself and her prey leaving the gathering mist to trail in her wake.

'What's the matter Kathryn? Is all this a little too authentic for you? Would you prefer to go back to your secure little world with its safety protocols and two-dimensional characters…' She circled her prey, shortening the space between them with every step. '…and I wasn't talking about the holograms.'

Seska's voice sharpened in irritation as her victim continued to stare at the mist that now covered the ground in a thick blanket. Perhaps it was the way the lightening seemed to pulsate within the swirling haze, or the hint of red that crept into the edges of her vision only to flee when she tried to focus on it. Whatever the reason, Kathryn knew she had seen this before…

'We've met before.'

Kathryn's words, barely discernible over the howling wind, stopped Seska in her tracks. With a sneer she reached over and tapped Kathryn on the cheek.

'Yes Kathryn…we've done that bit. Vengeful spirit returning from the dead to wreak her revenge on the woman who destroyed her. Do try to keep up.'

'No.' A hint of steel crept into Kathryn's voice, hardening as anger replaced fear. 'I don't think so.'

Without warning Kathryn stepped forward, forcing her opponent to retreat for the first time since this whole nightmare began.

'You look like her. You sound like her … but your not Seska.'

Out on the periphery of her vision, Kathryn was aware of the mist as it billowed up around her, no longer content to keep its distance. Fascinated she watched the tendrils dance towards her, lit from within by a creeping red glow that seemed to deepen with every passing moment.

'Would you prefer this face?'

Once again the colours merged, melting into each other before solidifying. It was a face as familiar to her as her own, a face the alien standing before her had used once before to bait his trap.

'Your not my father.'

Closing the gap between them Kathryn imitated Seska's actions, tapping the alien none to gently on the cheek.

'Been there, done that…do try to keep up.'

Startled by the unexpected show of defiance the creature stepped up its attack. Her father merged into Justin. Justin melted away leaving Sam. The alien had learnt from their previous encounter, layering one effect upon another in an unstoppable tide.

Despite all her training, all her years of experience, Kathryn felt herself wilt under its gaze. With every breath she found its smile more encouraging, its words more compelling. It took every ounce of strength she possessed to repel the creatures gaze with a glare of her own.

'I defeated you once, you son of a bitch, I can do it again.'

'Are you sure, Kathryn?'

This time it was Tuvix that smiled down at her, his expression compassionate, even as his face began to tear itself down the middle. Flesh sheared from bone, remoulding itself yet again.

'Kes!'

'Look around you Captain. Is this the mind of a well woman. So much repressed emotion, so much pain and loss…your soul is drowning in a sea of guilt. Look at me and tell me what it is about all of this that's worth fighting for…'

Kes spread her arms wide, encompassing the shadows that no longer confined themselves to the cracks and crevices within Kathryn's mind. One image after another crowded into her mind, forcing her to relive those moments she has spent so long running from. Yet if the creature's intention was to break her he had, once again, underestimated the steel that lay beneath the fragile flesh.

'You cant make me go with you…' Kathryn forced the words out from between gritted teeth. '… I have to agree, and I distinctly remember telling you to GO TO HELL!'

'Times change Kathryn , as have the rules …'

As he spoke the mist rose up to engulf her.

'And that Kathryn … makes you mine.'

'Never!'

Kathryn hurled the word at him, infusing it with seven years worth of frustration and guilt … finally finding an outlet for the burden she had carried for so long. Fate granted her a moment's satisfaction as her tormenter screamed in agony, before plunging her world into darkness.