A/N: First of all, I don't expect this to be very popular. Who would see this among a queue of stories about characters who are actually on that list? We know so little of the "Lower Decks" characters because they occur in so few episodes, so past events among them are all fabricated. We also know so little about Pon Farr so I've made up a lot of that as well. I hope no one minds.
HEART BEAT by Lina Shay
Chapter One: Addled
With each echoing clop, she knew he was coming closer. Too frightened to move, the young bajoran cowered in her damp cell ...listening ...waiting. A tremble sunk deep down to her bones.
"Bajoran!" Called a cold voice from near the force field.
She barely had the strength to look up at him. When she did, the light pierced her eyes. The tall figure was black against the brightness of the corridor behind him. The figure came closer, each step causing her heart to thud faster. He got so close she could hear his gruff breathing and she could make out the ugly ridges encircling his dark eyes through the shadows.
"Get up!" He commanded.
She hadn't been fed in days, so many days that she lost count. She tried to move, get to her feet and face him with honor, but she was too weak. Her legs shook beneath her so badly that she could not keep balance.
"Get up!" He barked the order.
She tried again to get to her feet, but when she was just beginning to make progress, the cardassian standing over her booted her right in the ribs. She choked on her breath and collapsed to the ground, in so much pain that she could barely hear the cardassian's laughter. It echoed in a far off tunnel, floating still farther and father away.
Taurik's eyes shot open. He was in his dark quarters, the stars outside the window placidly floating by as the Enterprise passed star system after star system.
"Computer," Taurik said in a low drone, "what is the current hour?"
The computer beeped in response, then answered in a sterile, female voice, "Three hundred hours, forty-two minutes."
There was still four hours and eighteen minutes before Taurik's shift in Engineering began. It was logical to sleep those remaining hours before his shift. It was always wise to get a full night's sleep. That way, he would be at his peak in awareness for the tasks ahead.
One thing weighed on Taurik's mind as he closed his eyes once more. Before Taurik had awakened, he had seen his former friend in a cardassian prison. This was out of the ordinary for two reasons. The first was the fact that Ensign Sito was dead. She had been killed on a secret mission two months previous by cardasssian border guards. The second reason why the dream was a rather odd occurrence was that Taurik's mental discipline normally screened out things like nightmares. Taurik contemplated these things. The only explanation was a slip in his mental control. This required extensive meditation. It seemed more logical to do this now rather than wait for his first shift break.
Taurik slipped into his robe, lit some ceremonial candles, and sat cross-legged on the floor, focusing and concentrating on bringing order to his mind. This process went on until Taurik could hear his roommate stirring. Taurik brought a close to his meditation with a deep, cleansing breath. He blew out his candles, stood up and turned to his sleepy-eyed companion.
"Taurik," yawned the flaxen-haired ensign, still sitting on his bed, "what are you doing up this early?"
"I was meditating, Ensign Hulme," Taurik stated dryly.
The blond ensign shrugged in a wry sort of way, then went off to take a sonic shower. Ensign Hulme had only been sharing quarters with Taurik since his previous roommate, Lavelle, was promoted to lieutenant. Ensign Hulme was transferred from the Mantua where he had served two years. Taurik wondered that he hadn't yet been promoted.
Taurik was pondering the dream about Sito as he refitted the power transfer conduit with nitrium in Engineering. Taurik just couldn't figure out what had happened that would ignite such a far-fetched dream. It was true that she had died in cardassian space. His wish for her to still be alive may have caused the image of her in a cardassian prison. But the fact that he had such a dream at all was confusing to him. Not a soul had mentioned Sito's name in over a month. Why did the dream come now?
"Taurik?"
Taurik stood instantly from where he was bent over the power transfer conduit at the sound of Commander LeForge's voice.
"Aren't you done refitting those power transfer conduits yet?"
"No, sir," Taurik said in self-frustration.
"It's been six hours, Ensign. You should have been able to finish the job by now."
"I'm sorry, sir," Taurik began, rubbing the side of his forehead. "I haven't been working with as much efficiency as usual. I will try harder, sir."
"What's wrong, Taurik?" LeForge asked in a kinder voice. "You look tired."
"I am fine, sir," Taurik told him. "I just have not been sleeping well."
"Did you already take a meal break?" Commander LeForge asked.
"No, sir. I suppose I got distracted."
"I think it's time for you to take that break," LeForge insisted.
"But, sir, I have not finished-" Taurik began desperately.
"It's alright, Taurik," LeForge interrupted, waving Taurik's attempt away. "I'll get Barclay in here to complete the refitting."
"Yes, sir," Taurik muttered, taking in a frustrated breath. He wasn't used to not finishing what he was assigned to do, and he loathed himself for being such a slothful worker. He just couldn't understand why he was not at his usual proficiency.
Taurik meandered down the corridors toward ten-forward. He was thinking of maybe joining Lavelle for a drink if he happened to be off. If he wasn't, there was the hopes of Ogawa. Taurik reached the ten-forward doors, which slid away to make roof for him. Taurik glanced across the room at all the people, not really seeing any of them. He suddenly didn't feel like a drink. He didn't feel like being in ten-forward. He didn't want to be near anyone. Taurik turned away from ten-forward and tromped back down the corridor. He found himself balling up his fists in anger. Was he mad at himself for not finishing the refit? Mad at the people in ten-forward for just being there? He didn't know. Taurik decided to go back to his quarters and meditate some more.
A/N: I know that it's not very interesting so far, but it certainly does get better. I promise.