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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.
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