Chapter 10: Not Sleeping
"Sing for me Imzadi. You have a peace I knew not of till we became one. You are my peace. In you I can rest. Sing me to sleep as you would a newborn." Shinzon became almost childlike in his appearance wrapped in warm arms where the dark of even Remus could not diffuse the light of their love for one another.
Allisa's voice began exceptionally low and shaky next to his ears, "hold on to me love you know i can't stay long
all i wanted to say was i love you and i'm not afraid
can you hear me? can you feel me in your arms?
holding my last breath safe inside myself
are all my thoughts of you sweet raptured light it ends here tonight
i'll miss the winter a world of fragile things
look for me in the white forest hiding in a hollow tree (come find me)
i know you hear me i can taste it in your tears
holding my last breath safe inside myself
are all my thoughts of you sweet raptured light it ends here tonight
closing your eyes to disappear you pray your dreams will leave you here
but still you wake and know the truth no one's there
say goodnight don't be afraid
calling me calling me as you fade to black."
Shinzon's eyes fixed upon Allisa's, "I am not afraid. You were a dream to me that was unreachable that came to life and breathed live into me as well. I can see a light in your eyes. They will guide me home. Don't be sad." He brushed a few tears from off of her reddened cheek.
Picard covered his face and turned to the side as to not let his emotions take control of his body. He was unable to control his wavering voice he whispered, "It was the best of times it was the worst of times." Remembering what Spock spoke to Kirk just before his death. Picard had a mind meld with Spock and a rush of those emotions touched his soul also. There was a momentary glint toward Shinzon letting Picard know that at that moment he had shared his thoughts.
Shinzon spoke after hearing Picard and his thoughts. "It's a far better thing I do in life than I have done before" Shinzon thought of when he made sure the Remans would align with the Federation in Unification for the evil times to come and the devoted love of Allisa. "...far better resting place I go to then I have ever known.
Allisa slowely began to sing, "Give me a reason to believe that you're gone
I see your shadow so I know they're all wrong
Moonlight on the soft brown earth
It leads me to where you lay
They took you away from me but now I'm taking you home
I will stay forever here with you
My love
The softly spoken words you gave me
Even in death our love goes on
Some say I'm crazy for my love, oh my love
But no one can hold me from your side, uh my love
They don't know you can't leave me
They don't hear you singing to me
And I can't love you anymore than I do."
"Don't fear." With that said Shinzon's eyes faltered from Allisa's gaze. She wrapped him with her arms and placed her head on top of his. Her hair surrounded him in a blanket of peace as she quietly wept for her love.
The medical team came running into the area where Shinzon was. One of the new medical officers who was a male Bajoran, Tyre, pressed a hypospray to Shinzon's neck. Everyone tensed as Shinzon's medical readings and vitals continued to lower. The Bajoran gave him another dose. Everyone felt their skin tingle as Allisa gasped when she seen his medical readings return to almost normal.
Shinzon still had his eyes closed as his voice spoke in a whisper to Allisa, "if i smile and don't believe
soon i know i'll wake from this dream
don't try to fix me i'm not broken
hello i'm the lie living for you so you can hide
don't cry
suddenly i know i'm not sleeping
hello i'm still here
all that's left of yesterday."
For the next hour the medical teams healed the wounded. Picard allowed his wounded leg to be fixed. Allisa could hardly leave Shinzon's side to let herself be healed. On the other side of Sick Bay Vernaka watched over the medical team who was helping Kunak recover.
Q and his guest were over the ship in space watching everything, "Yes, the dominant dimension from which all the rest stems from is the best."
The next day while on the way to see Picard in Sick Bay, Vernaka remembered the strength of the Klingon. She remembered liking it when he gripped her arm earlier and was pondering over it again. She had never seen a Klingon before and was obviously impressed. Kunak did not find Vernaka's amusement to be fitting behavior for a joined companion and glared at her crystal eyes. Vernaka looked at him from covered eyes under her hood and nodded her head not allowing him entrance further into her thoughts at the moment. The guards ushered them inside the room to their seats. They were early to the meeting, so they waited for the Captain.
Picard was in his Ready Room checking files. There was a chirp at the door, "Enter."
Mr Maiden entered, "Here is the report you requested, Captain."
He placed a disk on Picard's desk and sat by his side when Picard pointed to a chair. Picard reviewed the file about the Stupinshin family. It appeared that Darla Stupinshin had committed more acts of violation to the U.S.S. Enterprise's codes. Her husband, Al Stupinshin had been making problems for the officers in Astronomics. He was especially targeting Science Officer Lieutenant Jack Dortan and the Chief of Astronomics Clintor Sealt. It was apparent that Al wanted Clintor's job and also wanted Ensign Curre in Jack's job.
With his eyebrow raised as he read other things the Stupinshin's were up to, "I want this forwarded to Star Fleet. I have already requested their transfers and Janeway is waiting for your file. Mr. Maiden I know you are new to the Enterprise, but I would ask for you to keep your eyes and ears open. If you hear of any other problems like this one, I want you to have someone investigate then review the findings. Next, I would appreciate your recommendations of how to handle the situation in a report of what is going on. I don't want to loose anymore good officers, because there is one bad one." Picard paused and took a sip of his morning tea, "You have done an excellent job."
There was another chirp at the door, "Enter...Thank you Mr. Maiden that will be all." Maiden turned to see Damerin McCure enter the Captain's Ready Room. "How can I help you McCure?"
"Its about Astronomics. Lieutenant Stupinshin, the second in command, has been terrorizing everyone and they are to afraid to report it. You will do doubt hear about it anyway, so here it goes. Stupinshin kept getting in my way and trying to gain access to my project. I warned him on several occasions that only you were allowed access. Yesterday when you were busy in Sick Bay, I walked into my work station and found him hunched over at my analysis computers. I grabbed him and forced him out of my work station and locked the door. He started yelling about I was not allowed to shove him and saying 'I'm going to tell.' I admit I lost my temper when he threw a memory cell at me."
"I uh...I turned to face him. He was holding something and tried to hit me in the head with it. He looked at me kind of shocked as I grabbed him by the neck. He started hitting me. I squeezed his neck and picked him off of his feet and walked out to the main room. Everyone saw me do it. I walked to the door; with my other hand I grabbed his bag and dropped him and the bag outside the door. Then I said, 'Al Stupinshin everything about you is All Stupid-sh. If you ever touch my workstation or try to break my codes, you will wish for security to show up to save your stupid a.' I went back to my station to see if he gained access to any of the confidential files. He had been in the process of entering codes trying to get at the files, but was unsuccessful. Here is the computer recording of him in my workstation. I believe the secret of the alien object is intact." Damerin handed Picard a disk.
Picard watched and listened to the recording and attached it to Maiden's report. "I have already asked for his transfer along with his wife's. I would like to ask you not to tell anyone about talking to me about this situation till he is transferred. With everything we have found, I believe both of the Stupinshin's will be under review. I seriously doubt that they will continue working for Star Fleet. So you found an officer breaking the rules and took measures to stop sensitive information getting into his hands. He attacked and you were forced to defend yourself. I told Mr. Maiden to help Clintor find a new second in command for Astronomics. Do you have any suggestions?"
"Well, I have been busy. I am not very sociable when I am working on projects I am not allowed to share with others." Damerin smiled thinking of the look on Stupinshin's face when he lifted him off the ground by his neck with only one hand. He remembered walking back to his station and the majority of workers backed out of his way smiling.
Picard was listening partially to his thoughts and determined to suggest Damerin working on the Enterprise permanently. "What would you think of working on the Enterprise for a prolonged period of time?"
Damerin's appearance became serious, "I am the Trill in line to receive your Medical Officer Paulera 's symbiont if she is wounded and can not sustain it. I have also grown fond of your ship. It would be nice to have a permanent posting." He smiled again thinking of Paulera and Sergio. "There is a matter with my project, I have been meaning to speak with you about."
"Take a seat then. In about an hour, I have a meeting with the Remans. I would enjoy speaking to you about the alien object until that time." Picard then ordered another cup of tea and offered Damerin one as well and he excepted.
"The initial reports said the marking on the object were coded and people heard voices in the installations the object was kept. I have to admit I have been hearing voices. They are mainly repeats of conversations or things I have heard in the past. There have also been 23 other people who have reported hearing voices when no one was there. The patterns on the object that were discernable did indeed indicate the Denab system. Now that we are in that system, the patterns have been slightly glowing." Damerin continued to brief the Captain, for the rest of the time till he had to leave for the meeting.
Picard walked into Sick Bay and ordered for the medical staff to update him on Shinzon's critical condition. After divulging all they knew, Picard left for the meeting with the Remans. While on his way, he received a message that his guests had arrived.
Paulera entered and seen Allisa embracing Shinzon. She flushed remembering she asked Allisa to help him, but this was not what she had in mind. Paulera paused as she heard a voice coming from a room near by in Sick Bay. She walked to the door and looked inside finding no one there. She entered, "Hello?"
The voices stopped and she stood there looking puzzled for a few minutes. She then reported to Worf what had happened. He added her name to the list of officers who had heard strange voices then added his own name to total twenty-five. He had spoke to the captain early that morning about the voices. He remembered Picard did not look worried. Worf just got a message from Picard to add Damerin McCure to the list and to keep an account of all of the reports. Worf walked around checking into the voices and concluded that it now totaled twenty-nine incidences of voices with no explanation. He entered the room and found the Remans already inside. Worf took his seat.
Picard entered and sat down at a large table, but the Remans remained standing, "It appears that the threat of the changeling has been removed. From the help of all of you, Shinzon will live it seams. What I must ask of you both." Picard looked to his left where the two Remans stood, "...is cooperation." He motioned to the seats in front of them.
Vernaka spoke next, "Would it be possible to lower the lighting a little because our eyes are still not use to this brightness, Captain, in the name of cooperation?" Her voice was composed and seductive.
"Certainly, computer, lower lighting four settings to dim." Picard ordered with a pleasurable voice.
Kunak removed his cloak to reveal a muscularly superior frame. He placed the cloak on the back of his seat. Picard stared at his light blue shirt. He then noticed his dark blue pants that were made out of a leathery material. It was similar from the pair of pants Shinzon had worn. This one was a had a half wrap around the waist that was to the floor, but open in the front to show the leather pants. Picard tipped his head and thought it attached on either side on his waist like the cape he just removed.
Kunak turned to Vernaka with approval to removed her cape and hood as well. Picard and Worf almost gasped as the Reman female revealed her tall and slightly less muscular frame to be voluptuous. Her skin was light, but smoother and softer texture with a surprisingly human looking face. She also had exotic crystal eyes of an elf. Her eyes seamed to shimmer like diamonds. She was magnificently wicked appearing with her razor-sharp teeth and fangs. She had on a matching outfit except for her shirt was lower cut. She also wore a medallion around her toned neckline that was gold pressed platinum it appeared. It had a symbol he had never seen before. Picard was in wonder if all Reman females were this strikingly alluring.
Worf also noticed the appeal of the Reman female. He allowed his competitor mind to conjecture regarding her abilities in combat and what she must be like as a comrade or even as a mate. He compared Ba'el and Vernaka. He found Ba'el more agreeable to a Federation way of life and Vernaka more dominate in a warrior lifestyle. Vernaka was honorable in her endeavor to safeguard Shinzon and Kunak during the attack. 'They must understand and operate under allegiance and honor,' Worf thought of the Reman race. Vernaka was listening to his every thought and welcomed his views of her.
Both Remans sat down at the conference table with ease. Their manner was that of presumptuous dominance over the group of weaker beings. That changed when Kunak attempted to read Picard's mind and failed. They then tried mutually and were unsuccessful. Picard smiled at them perceptive at what they were attempting to achieve, "If you have questions, I would invite you to ask me straightforwardly." Picard kept his eyes upon Kunak. He had communication with Adije earlier and she informed him further on how to make use of the medallion he had on a thin chain about his neck.
Vernaka spoke in Kunak's place with deliberate languid tones knowing that the males in the room were fixed upon her body and voice, "How much do you know about the situation with the Romulans and the Remans claiming the mines on Remus?"
The Remans stood to their feet and turned to face the door perceiving who was about to enter. Worf stood up also. Picard was the last to stand as the door chirped. The Remans experienced apprehension. Worf felt confusion at what was going on. Picard felt calmer, because he had invited a couple of people to join them.
"Sing for me Imzadi. You have a peace I knew not of till we became one. You are my peace. In you I can rest. Sing me to sleep as you would a newborn." Shinzon became almost childlike in his appearance wrapped in warm arms where the dark of even Remus could not diffuse the light of their love for one another.
Allisa's voice began exceptionally low and shaky next to his ears, "hold on to me love you know i can't stay long
all i wanted to say was i love you and i'm not afraid
can you hear me? can you feel me in your arms?
holding my last breath safe inside myself
are all my thoughts of you sweet raptured light it ends here tonight
i'll miss the winter a world of fragile things
look for me in the white forest hiding in a hollow tree (come find me)
i know you hear me i can taste it in your tears
holding my last breath safe inside myself
are all my thoughts of you sweet raptured light it ends here tonight
closing your eyes to disappear you pray your dreams will leave you here
but still you wake and know the truth no one's there
say goodnight don't be afraid
calling me calling me as you fade to black."
Shinzon's eyes fixed upon Allisa's, "I am not afraid. You were a dream to me that was unreachable that came to life and breathed live into me as well. I can see a light in your eyes. They will guide me home. Don't be sad." He brushed a few tears from off of her reddened cheek.
Picard covered his face and turned to the side as to not let his emotions take control of his body. He was unable to control his wavering voice he whispered, "It was the best of times it was the worst of times." Remembering what Spock spoke to Kirk just before his death. Picard had a mind meld with Spock and a rush of those emotions touched his soul also. There was a momentary glint toward Shinzon letting Picard know that at that moment he had shared his thoughts.
Shinzon spoke after hearing Picard and his thoughts. "It's a far better thing I do in life than I have done before" Shinzon thought of when he made sure the Remans would align with the Federation in Unification for the evil times to come and the devoted love of Allisa. "...far better resting place I go to then I have ever known.
Allisa slowely began to sing, "Give me a reason to believe that you're gone
I see your shadow so I know they're all wrong
Moonlight on the soft brown earth
It leads me to where you lay
They took you away from me but now I'm taking you home
I will stay forever here with you
My love
The softly spoken words you gave me
Even in death our love goes on
Some say I'm crazy for my love, oh my love
But no one can hold me from your side, uh my love
They don't know you can't leave me
They don't hear you singing to me
And I can't love you anymore than I do."
"Don't fear." With that said Shinzon's eyes faltered from Allisa's gaze. She wrapped him with her arms and placed her head on top of his. Her hair surrounded him in a blanket of peace as she quietly wept for her love.
The medical team came running into the area where Shinzon was. One of the new medical officers who was a male Bajoran, Tyre, pressed a hypospray to Shinzon's neck. Everyone tensed as Shinzon's medical readings and vitals continued to lower. The Bajoran gave him another dose. Everyone felt their skin tingle as Allisa gasped when she seen his medical readings return to almost normal.
Shinzon still had his eyes closed as his voice spoke in a whisper to Allisa, "if i smile and don't believe
soon i know i'll wake from this dream
don't try to fix me i'm not broken
hello i'm the lie living for you so you can hide
don't cry
suddenly i know i'm not sleeping
hello i'm still here
all that's left of yesterday."
For the next hour the medical teams healed the wounded. Picard allowed his wounded leg to be fixed. Allisa could hardly leave Shinzon's side to let herself be healed. On the other side of Sick Bay Vernaka watched over the medical team who was helping Kunak recover.
Q and his guest were over the ship in space watching everything, "Yes, the dominant dimension from which all the rest stems from is the best."
The next day while on the way to see Picard in Sick Bay, Vernaka remembered the strength of the Klingon. She remembered liking it when he gripped her arm earlier and was pondering over it again. She had never seen a Klingon before and was obviously impressed. Kunak did not find Vernaka's amusement to be fitting behavior for a joined companion and glared at her crystal eyes. Vernaka looked at him from covered eyes under her hood and nodded her head not allowing him entrance further into her thoughts at the moment. The guards ushered them inside the room to their seats. They were early to the meeting, so they waited for the Captain.
Picard was in his Ready Room checking files. There was a chirp at the door, "Enter."
Mr Maiden entered, "Here is the report you requested, Captain."
He placed a disk on Picard's desk and sat by his side when Picard pointed to a chair. Picard reviewed the file about the Stupinshin family. It appeared that Darla Stupinshin had committed more acts of violation to the U.S.S. Enterprise's codes. Her husband, Al Stupinshin had been making problems for the officers in Astronomics. He was especially targeting Science Officer Lieutenant Jack Dortan and the Chief of Astronomics Clintor Sealt. It was apparent that Al wanted Clintor's job and also wanted Ensign Curre in Jack's job.
With his eyebrow raised as he read other things the Stupinshin's were up to, "I want this forwarded to Star Fleet. I have already requested their transfers and Janeway is waiting for your file. Mr. Maiden I know you are new to the Enterprise, but I would ask for you to keep your eyes and ears open. If you hear of any other problems like this one, I want you to have someone investigate then review the findings. Next, I would appreciate your recommendations of how to handle the situation in a report of what is going on. I don't want to loose anymore good officers, because there is one bad one." Picard paused and took a sip of his morning tea, "You have done an excellent job."
There was another chirp at the door, "Enter...Thank you Mr. Maiden that will be all." Maiden turned to see Damerin McCure enter the Captain's Ready Room. "How can I help you McCure?"
"Its about Astronomics. Lieutenant Stupinshin, the second in command, has been terrorizing everyone and they are to afraid to report it. You will do doubt hear about it anyway, so here it goes. Stupinshin kept getting in my way and trying to gain access to my project. I warned him on several occasions that only you were allowed access. Yesterday when you were busy in Sick Bay, I walked into my work station and found him hunched over at my analysis computers. I grabbed him and forced him out of my work station and locked the door. He started yelling about I was not allowed to shove him and saying 'I'm going to tell.' I admit I lost my temper when he threw a memory cell at me."
"I uh...I turned to face him. He was holding something and tried to hit me in the head with it. He looked at me kind of shocked as I grabbed him by the neck. He started hitting me. I squeezed his neck and picked him off of his feet and walked out to the main room. Everyone saw me do it. I walked to the door; with my other hand I grabbed his bag and dropped him and the bag outside the door. Then I said, 'Al Stupinshin everything about you is All Stupid-sh. If you ever touch my workstation or try to break my codes, you will wish for security to show up to save your stupid a.' I went back to my station to see if he gained access to any of the confidential files. He had been in the process of entering codes trying to get at the files, but was unsuccessful. Here is the computer recording of him in my workstation. I believe the secret of the alien object is intact." Damerin handed Picard a disk.
Picard watched and listened to the recording and attached it to Maiden's report. "I have already asked for his transfer along with his wife's. I would like to ask you not to tell anyone about talking to me about this situation till he is transferred. With everything we have found, I believe both of the Stupinshin's will be under review. I seriously doubt that they will continue working for Star Fleet. So you found an officer breaking the rules and took measures to stop sensitive information getting into his hands. He attacked and you were forced to defend yourself. I told Mr. Maiden to help Clintor find a new second in command for Astronomics. Do you have any suggestions?"
"Well, I have been busy. I am not very sociable when I am working on projects I am not allowed to share with others." Damerin smiled thinking of the look on Stupinshin's face when he lifted him off the ground by his neck with only one hand. He remembered walking back to his station and the majority of workers backed out of his way smiling.
Picard was listening partially to his thoughts and determined to suggest Damerin working on the Enterprise permanently. "What would you think of working on the Enterprise for a prolonged period of time?"
Damerin's appearance became serious, "I am the Trill in line to receive your Medical Officer Paulera 's symbiont if she is wounded and can not sustain it. I have also grown fond of your ship. It would be nice to have a permanent posting." He smiled again thinking of Paulera and Sergio. "There is a matter with my project, I have been meaning to speak with you about."
"Take a seat then. In about an hour, I have a meeting with the Remans. I would enjoy speaking to you about the alien object until that time." Picard then ordered another cup of tea and offered Damerin one as well and he excepted.
"The initial reports said the marking on the object were coded and people heard voices in the installations the object was kept. I have to admit I have been hearing voices. They are mainly repeats of conversations or things I have heard in the past. There have also been 23 other people who have reported hearing voices when no one was there. The patterns on the object that were discernable did indeed indicate the Denab system. Now that we are in that system, the patterns have been slightly glowing." Damerin continued to brief the Captain, for the rest of the time till he had to leave for the meeting.
Picard walked into Sick Bay and ordered for the medical staff to update him on Shinzon's critical condition. After divulging all they knew, Picard left for the meeting with the Remans. While on his way, he received a message that his guests had arrived.
Paulera entered and seen Allisa embracing Shinzon. She flushed remembering she asked Allisa to help him, but this was not what she had in mind. Paulera paused as she heard a voice coming from a room near by in Sick Bay. She walked to the door and looked inside finding no one there. She entered, "Hello?"
The voices stopped and she stood there looking puzzled for a few minutes. She then reported to Worf what had happened. He added her name to the list of officers who had heard strange voices then added his own name to total twenty-five. He had spoke to the captain early that morning about the voices. He remembered Picard did not look worried. Worf just got a message from Picard to add Damerin McCure to the list and to keep an account of all of the reports. Worf walked around checking into the voices and concluded that it now totaled twenty-nine incidences of voices with no explanation. He entered the room and found the Remans already inside. Worf took his seat.
Picard entered and sat down at a large table, but the Remans remained standing, "It appears that the threat of the changeling has been removed. From the help of all of you, Shinzon will live it seams. What I must ask of you both." Picard looked to his left where the two Remans stood, "...is cooperation." He motioned to the seats in front of them.
Vernaka spoke next, "Would it be possible to lower the lighting a little because our eyes are still not use to this brightness, Captain, in the name of cooperation?" Her voice was composed and seductive.
"Certainly, computer, lower lighting four settings to dim." Picard ordered with a pleasurable voice.
Kunak removed his cloak to reveal a muscularly superior frame. He placed the cloak on the back of his seat. Picard stared at his light blue shirt. He then noticed his dark blue pants that were made out of a leathery material. It was similar from the pair of pants Shinzon had worn. This one was a had a half wrap around the waist that was to the floor, but open in the front to show the leather pants. Picard tipped his head and thought it attached on either side on his waist like the cape he just removed.
Kunak turned to Vernaka with approval to removed her cape and hood as well. Picard and Worf almost gasped as the Reman female revealed her tall and slightly less muscular frame to be voluptuous. Her skin was light, but smoother and softer texture with a surprisingly human looking face. She also had exotic crystal eyes of an elf. Her eyes seamed to shimmer like diamonds. She was magnificently wicked appearing with her razor-sharp teeth and fangs. She had on a matching outfit except for her shirt was lower cut. She also wore a medallion around her toned neckline that was gold pressed platinum it appeared. It had a symbol he had never seen before. Picard was in wonder if all Reman females were this strikingly alluring.
Worf also noticed the appeal of the Reman female. He allowed his competitor mind to conjecture regarding her abilities in combat and what she must be like as a comrade or even as a mate. He compared Ba'el and Vernaka. He found Ba'el more agreeable to a Federation way of life and Vernaka more dominate in a warrior lifestyle. Vernaka was honorable in her endeavor to safeguard Shinzon and Kunak during the attack. 'They must understand and operate under allegiance and honor,' Worf thought of the Reman race. Vernaka was listening to his every thought and welcomed his views of her.
Both Remans sat down at the conference table with ease. Their manner was that of presumptuous dominance over the group of weaker beings. That changed when Kunak attempted to read Picard's mind and failed. They then tried mutually and were unsuccessful. Picard smiled at them perceptive at what they were attempting to achieve, "If you have questions, I would invite you to ask me straightforwardly." Picard kept his eyes upon Kunak. He had communication with Adije earlier and she informed him further on how to make use of the medallion he had on a thin chain about his neck.
Vernaka spoke in Kunak's place with deliberate languid tones knowing that the males in the room were fixed upon her body and voice, "How much do you know about the situation with the Romulans and the Remans claiming the mines on Remus?"
The Remans stood to their feet and turned to face the door perceiving who was about to enter. Worf stood up also. Picard was the last to stand as the door chirped. The Remans experienced apprehension. Worf felt confusion at what was going on. Picard felt calmer, because he had invited a couple of people to join them.