We aren't angels, so in the midst of the pain of living,
when we look our own weakness in the eyes, we begin to realize the meaning
of gentleness. Don't fake the smile you gave to others. Sincerely
letting your tears flow also requires strength. We aren't angels, but
we can spread the wings called courage, and embrace each other with
a definite warmth, instead of with the sorrow engraved on our hearts.
If you close your eyes, I'm sure...

New Beginnings

It was a very warm night, but a gentle breeze keeps the temperature comfortable. A single moon shone brightly overhead, reflecting a pale white light onto its parent planet.

Half naked from the waist up, Rakurai sat alone on a beach, his eyes closed. Diverse battle scars mar his scaly, emerald green body. A pair of tarnished lockets, t'santari, were strung around his neck. Rakurai was barely over 21, but his face has been aged by ordeal, the pain in his eyes had dimmed, but was not gone.

For the last two years he has been reliving the terrible memories of his last battle, the effect it had on him and the consequences of his actions after he went mad. The day he wish never happened. A fateful day, two years ago ...

The Dominion's failed to conquer the seventh planet of this star system, the homeworld and very heart of the Edenian Federation of Worlds. The planet recorded its darkest day ever, millions died at the hands of the Founders during the attack. Sisters without their brothers and mothers wept at the onslaught of home and hearts. Many families left shattered. The destruction had stolen all the strength and joy from their once peaceful lives.

At this terrible cost, the Dominion was pushed back and out of Edenian territory. All that was left of Camineet and a number of other cities around the planet was a random tangle of metals and concrete, almost subterranean in its aspect -- as if hell had erupted through the grounds and kept on growing.

But, that was another time, another place. A state of grace exists here on Edenia Minor, it is peaceful here. Endless beaches, warm water currents void of big predators and the sky's beautiful changing colours was quite pleasing to the eye and to the mind. A little sanctuary away from civilization where for the last two years, he spent most of his time swimming.

Memories he would rather forget, cast off to the ocean. A fragmented man was slowly healing.

Wait, Danger!
There is a disturbance of silence ...

Behind him, someone quietly emerged from the bush. Without opening his eyes or turning around to face the source of the noise, "Nice try, pal."

The voice replied, "You are never going to believe what happened."

"Never going to believe what ?"

"The entire Dominion fleet was returning through that anomaly as we speak."

Rakurai glanced back, "You got to be joking."

"You can check for yourself. The entire sector is talking about it already. They has been defeated on the other side. The Dominion has even closed its borders. Completely withdrawn."

Rakurai grinned. "I have to meet these people."

"You and me both pal."

"Who you are these people ? What was their home world called ?"

"Numans or something, I think, their base of operations is on the planet called Earth."

"That is a weird name for a planet."

Wiuen nodded.

"Still work on that freighter ?"

Wiuen groaned softly. "Yes. Why not come with me ? We are heading out now, just out to Tielar then we return to Prime."

Rakurai nodded. He remembered Tielar was about five days from Edenia Minor.

Wiuen tapped a small metallic device on the top of his right hand. "Ryuka, mieu."

At their feet, a small column of cyan light appeared and rose from the ground, while a larger column of green light surrounded them both from a height of two meters, falling from above. Then there was a moment of disorientation as they rematerialize onboard the small freighter waiting in orbit.

He turned to Wiuen, "I have not been in space for more than two years. This feels weird, the sound of the engines and surrounded by so much metal."

"You have gotten used to the wide open spaces, haven't you ?"

Rakurai nodded as the ship broke orbit. He put a hand on his stomach, damn space sickness. "I need to lay down a bit. Where are my quarters ?"

Next Chapter
Home ...

Back to fiction

Author's notes
- The next chapter occurs between "StarTrek DS9: Avatar Part II" and "Mission: Gamma Part I"
- A "tenday" is the Edenian version of a week (7 days). A tenday is 10 days long.
- Jem'Hadar can become invisible via a device implanted in them, called shrouding. When shrouded, they can be detected by a sensor device.

- Aftermath of the Dominion attack on the Edenian homeworld. A combined fleet attacked and destroyed every cloning facility and shipyard within 9 lightyears of the Line (Across the border and into Dominion territory). The Dominion was weakened and the borders shared with two other neighbouring empires had to be reinforced.