Arana – Book 1 - Chapter 17

By Kudara

Disclaimer: Star Trek Voyager and crew belong to Paramount/Viacom and no infringement of copyright/trade marks is intended.

Disclaimer: The Dungeons and Dragons Roleplaying System is owned by Wizards of the Coast and no infringement of copyright/trademarks is intended. The only thing I would like to lay claim to is the original D&D based character used in this story.

Rating: (M +16).

Feedback: Always welcome, feedback is what encourages me to keep writing. Please let me know what you like and what you dislike about the story.

Revision History: 01/29/06

Summary: Seven and Arana speak with Tyr and Mystra, plans are made.

My embrace began as a warm congratulation after Seven's first laugh, until she wrapped her arms around me and fitted her warm, leanly-muscled body against mine. I stared into her blue-grey eyes and my breath caught in my throat. Desire, at first nebulous, grew sharper, until it was a well defined yearning for each other. Our lips met, and for the first time tentatively opened to one another and I felt the first hesitant exploration of Seven's tongue.

At first I didn't react, uncertain as to whether or not I was ready for this escalation of our intimacy. I had feared that I might interpret strong arousal and desire as threatening, given that the rape by the Lovitarian's had only been weeks ago. Now though, I knew instantly how wrong I had been to worry. Her desire for me was not frightening, it was strong, yes, but also warm and tender, and I knew it went deeper than just a desire for my physical touch.

I felt her hesitation and intent to pull back, just before I responded with a sighing moan and returned her kiss willingly. Darting my tongue out, I caressed the softness of her full lips briefly. My action elicited a surprised moan, and then Seven tightened her arms around me, pressing herself even closer against me. The kiss grew more passionate as our tongues hesitantly, and then with more confidence, explored and met one another.

A pleading sound from Seven brought me to my senses, as I realized how quickly the passion between us had risen. I could feel her need now as an aching void, and I sensed she was rapidly approaching the point where she would want to do more than simply continue kissing. Yet, I knew I was not ready for us to go beyond this point. Even if I was, this was certainly not an appropriate place, it was public, and where the children could wake at any time and see us.

Gently I pulled back, ignoring both my own protesting emotions and hers. Our lips parted, and before she could say anything I whispered, "This is a public place, Milady. We should not do this where the children could wake and see us, it is not appropriate." I admitted hesitantly, "And also, I am not ready yet for more than this."

Seven pulled back, her desire diminishing as concern for me replaced it.

Before she could say or ask anything I volunteered, "No, nothing you did reminded me of what the Lovitarian's did to me. But I do not think I am ready for things to move beyond this point, I do not want to ever think of that when I am holding you."

Seven replied unhappily, "I do not wish for you to ever think that way either."

I rested my forehead against hers, "I want to know you better, to give ourselves time for our emotions for one another to grow."

Her eyes searched mine, "I want that as well," Seven assured me. Troubled she asked, "Was it incorrect for me to kiss you in that manner?"

"No," I assured her quickly, "It was only because I knew I would soon want to do more than just kiss you, that made me decide it was time to stop."

Seven smiled, reassured, "You would not have been alone in that desire," she admitted. Reluctantly, we released one another and parted. "Arana, if it will not interfere with your meditation may I accompany you to your quarters, and continue my work there? Or I could wait until you are finished?" Seven asked me hesitantly.

"You are always welcome in my quarters, Seven, and your working will not disturb my meditation." I replied, and was rewarded with another smile.

Several minutes later, with the quiet sound of Seven working at the console, I began trying to bring the events of the day into some type of order in my mind. Now that I had gotten over the shock of seeing Askal, and the repercussions of the very public conversation between us, I found myself wondering with growing concern just why Bane was interested in the Borg. What dark undertaking, could the Black Lord be planning?

It was with these thoughts swirling though my mind, that I began my meditation. Usually when I meditated, I focused on regaining my store of divine power and communing with my deities, and the entire time I remained completely aware of my surroundings. This time though, while I remained aware that I was actually sitting in my quarters aboard Voyager, it seemed as if I were standing on some vast white marble floor that stretched away in all directions infinitely. There were no walls here, no ceiling, only blackness on all sides except for the whiteness of the floor.

"Champion Arana," a deep male voice spoke, and I turned swiftly, a tall broad shouldered man now stood beside me, his dark hair was streaked with grey. I could not help but immediately notice that his right arm and hand badly scarred as if from severe burns, and upon his face were several more scars, one of which ran directly over the empty socket of his left eye.

I stared at him, dismayed by the mute evidence of his suffering. I met the steady gaze of his remaining eye, and realized that I knew who this was, I bowed deeply to him, "My Lord Tyr," I acknowledged remaining in my bow. Tyr, Torm and Ilmater were known as the Triune, and of the three deities Tyr was indisputably the most powerful. Ilmater served the Triune as its heart, and Torm as the hand that took action, but Tyr was the one that guided both as the Triune's mind.

"Rise, Champion Arana," he instructed me gently.

I did as he bade, and waited to find out why I had been summoned here by him.

"I have been told of your battle with the priest of Bane, and that you now know of our origins." Tyr stated, and looked at me expectantly.

I replied, "Yes, Lord Tyr." I regarded him with respectful awe, as I recalled who he was, and why he was here.

Tyr regarded me sorrowfully, "Do not look upon me so, Arana. The Q you spoke to would say that we grew as enamored of the thankful worship of those we saved, as did the other Q of torturing and killing, and he would be correct in saying so, though that was not the entire reason for our decision."

I was taken aback by his statement for a just a moment, then I rallied, "None the less, My Lord Tyr, our lives would not be worth living had you not chosen exile to protect us."

He stared at me, and finally nodded, acceding to my logic. His expression became sorrowful once again, and he said, "Arana, I am not perfect; I have faltered, given into doubt and despair, sought solace from that despair, and I have failed those that had every right to expect me to be their protector." He said harshly, in what seemed like bitter self-anger to me.

"Milord," I protested, then faltered, and fell silent. His emotions were strong, and I could not help but feel his turmoil and pain. His emotions deeply affected me, but they also confused me, I did not understand why he was revealing this to me, and what events he was referring to that so obviously tormented him. However, I did know that I could not let his pain remain unanswered. "Even if it were so Milord, it is not my place to judge you, and if it were I am certain there were reasons beyond even your control that prevented you from doing so."

His stern face softened as he looked at me, "You have a kind and forgiving nature, combined with an inner core of strength and courage that has seldom faltered, even with all that you have suffered." Tyr replied gently. We looked at one another for a moment longer; he gazed at me searchingly, but for what I did not know.

Finally he spoke once again, "Arana," he hesitated, frowned, "Perhaps it would have been better if we had informed our followers of our nature, of our history, but we did not. Over the course of time some of us, including myself, realized that our followers had interpreted the different ways we interacted with them as coming from different deities, not one, and since it seemed to help mortals to think of us so, we allowed it to continue."

I stared at him confused until his form grew indistinct and instead of one man I saw three. One was Tyr, as I more commonly knew him, a one handed, one eyed, stern figure. The other two were Ilmater, in the form of a kind eyed man, bent and hunched from the pain of fresh whip marks, and Torm as an older warrior with a mane of silver hair clasped at his neck, radiating calm and courage. Then the three figures merged back into the scarred man I had first met.

I stood numbly, my mind trying to grasp what I had just been shown. I looked once again at the brutal scarring upon his body. "Bane and Lolth did that to you." I blurted out, and then stopped aghast at what I had said to him, at my insensitivity.

"Yes," he replied. With a casual wave, he dismissed my worry, "Do not be concerned, it was a long time ago, and I am not that sensitive about how I got them." He hesitated and then smiled wryly, "Excepting perhaps, that they were able to capture me in the first place." He was silent for a moment, then his demeanor changed abruptly, "Well, enough of my self-indulgence, we must discuss Bane and Lolth, and what their plans might be."

He paused, realizing that I was staring at him in confusion, for I was not entirely sure what self-indulgence he referred to. "My self-indulgence in wanting to personally tell you that I am known as Torm and Ilmater, as well as the first name mortals called me, Tyr. I did not wish you to feel betrayed, or that it was merely some ill-mannered jest on my part." He held up a silencing hand, stopping my protest. "I wanted you to understand that, even though I did not tell you that you have always served only me, I did so only because I believed it was what you and others needed from me."

It had always been a source of strength and comfort to me to know that Torm and Ilmater cared for my wellbeing, and that I frequently pleased them with my actions. Now, of course, I understood it had been Tyr that had been concerned about me, Tyr that I had made proud by my actions, and now he seemed to be asking if I was disappointed that he had hidden this from me. Or rather not hidden, but had not corrected my misassumption that Torm and Ilmater were individual deities, since he had never once told me he was Torm or Ilmater, he had simply came when I called him by those names, and appeared to me as I thought he should.

"My Lord Tyr, forgive me if I am being presumptuous, but if you are asking my forgiveness for not informing me that it has always been you I chose to follow, you that I turned to for comfort and strength in my times of torment, then I can tell you that I do not see where forgiveness is needed on my part." I informed him with solemn truthfulness.

I regarded him uncertainly, wondering if I had understood the situation correctly, and even if I had understood it correctly, whether I had just grossly overstepped the bounds of propriety in my response to it.

Tyr's face stilled at my words, and he seemed caught up in some inner emotional struggle, finally he nodded brusquely. "As for Bane and Lolth," he began, abruptly ending the more personal conversation, "We believe that the information needed, to understand what their plans are, will be found easier on Faerun than from the vessel Voyager."

I was wondering why Tyr had said, we instead of I, when there was a brief flash of light beside him and the form of a woman appeared. She was slightly shorter than he, with straight, midnight-black hair, intense green eyes, and the features and ears of a half-elf. It vaguely crossed my mind, as I looked at her, that we could easily be mistaken for sisters or at least cousins. Then I realized who she had to be, and I was embarrassed at the direction my thoughts had taken me, for we could not possibly be related. I bowed courteously to her, "Lady Mystra?" I asked uncertainly.

Her mouth quirked in a slight smile, "And Selune, Eilistraee, and Sehanine Moonbow, but I prefer Mystra of all of the names mortals have given me."

I nodded respectfully, acknowledging her words. Turning back to Lord Tyr I asked, "I am to return for a time to Faerun?" I questioned, willing myself to do my duty, as my heart sank at the thought of leaving Seven. I did not even want to think of the possibility that Captain Janeway's fears would prove to be correct, and I would be ordered to return permanently.

"Yes," it was not Lord Tyr who answered me, but Lady Mystra, "But not alone. There is someone who will be called upon to accompany you, provided she is willing and accepts my patronage and training of her."

I almost asked who the person was they were referring to, before realizing the answer for myself, "Seven," I whispered.

Dimly, as if from a long distance away, I heard Seven reply, "Arana?" There was the sound of her footsteps, and then the feel of her hand upon my shoulder.

"What is the…," Seven's voice trailed off in surprise as she appeared beside me.

"Seven," I paused, confused as what to say first of everything that I had learned. Seven glanced at me then turned her attention to the two Q. "Seven, this is Lord Tyr and Lady Mystra." I introduced them, recalling my manners.

"I am also called by the names Torm and Ilmater," Tyr informed Seven calmly.

A momentary widening of her eyes, betrayed Seven's surprise, before she turned and looked at me in concern.

I gave her a reassuring smile, letting her know that I was no longer upset about that revelation. I hesitated at telling her the next piece of information, not quite certain about my feeling on the issue of her accompanying me. On one hand her company would be very welcome, allowing us to continue our fledgling relationship, on the other hand tracking down information about Bane's plans was most certainly dangerous and potentially deadly, and the thought of taking Seven into such a situation was frightening.

As if she had read my thoughts Lady Mystra said to me sternly, "If our suspicions are correct, and this situation is not resolved satisfactorily, then there will be no place you can take Seven to keep her safe, because no one will be beyond Bane's reach, not even us. And the probability of this situation being resolved satisfactorily is considerably less if you go without her assistance." At my shocked gaze, she continued, "And no I did not read your mind, I did not need to, you would not be who you are if you did not worry about taking her with you."

I was taken aback at the accuracy of her words, feeling uneasily surprised at how well Mystra apparently knew me.

"I am to accompany Arana where?" Seven asked evenly.

"Faerun," answered Mystra, "But you will need extensive training before you are ready, and you will need a way to maintain your implants."

Seven met Mystra's stare with outward impassiveness, "What do you believe are the reasons behind Bane's actions?" she asked.

Mystra smiled approvingly, "Gather all available information before coming to a decision, a sensible choice. Very well, there are several reasons we can think of for Bane to ally with the Borg. We do know, given Bane's nature, that he has to think that he can either control the Borg Queen, or take control of the Collective from her."

Seven inhaled sharply in dismay, at the last statement.

"Yes, the idea of the Collective with him in direct control, and used as an instrument of fear and oppression is fairly frightening, but the logical progression of either possibility is of even more concern." Mystra stated grimly, "and with either possibility we do not see how Bane would be content with just Toril, he would want both Toril and your universe."

Mystra paused a moment for the information to sink in, "If the first possibility is the true one, and he controls the Borg Queen, then she will have access to everyone on Toril." Mystra turned to Seven, "I think you can agree that the planet would be of interest to her because of the biological distinctiveness of its inhabitants."

"It would," Seven agreed after a moment, her face tense.

Mystra and Tyr shared an uneasy look, "There is not only that. You must understand that a full battle between each group of Q would endanger not only our own existence, but also the existence of this plane and Toril. Neither side, excepting Shar who would like for just that to happen, wants that outcome, therefore both sides have mostly limited themselves to using willing mortals to fight for them."

Mystra hesitated, "Lolth was the first one to interfere with the development of the elves who followed her, giving them limited abilities to control and manipulate various sources of energy. And to protect our followers, we were forced to do the same. Now such abilities are fairly widespread, inborn, and usually develop around puberty." Mystra's green eyes met mine, "Including Arana's abilities, which due to your elven heritage you developed around the age of seventeen."

I was surprised, I could clearly remember when the Doctor had examined my genetic code and determined that it did not contain the information necessary to form the energy controlling organelles he had found inside my body. I frowned at Lady Mystra, confused.

Mystra continued, "Your genetic code was obscured to hide this fact for your protection. We know that the Borg Queen scans Voyager regularly, and monitors communications to keep up with your activities." Mystra said the last directly to Seven. "We could not risk her finding out the truth."

Seven looked sharply at her, then back at me, "Arana's abilities should be of interest to the Collective, but since the Borg Queen believes they are caused by the Q she has obviously not judged Arana to be of such interest as to order her assimilation. If she were to find out they are inborn, it might increase Arana's value to the Collective enough to order the assimilation of Voyager to obtain her." she analyzed.

Upon hearing Seven's assessment I was suddenly much more appreciative of the actions taken to protect me, I had no desire to endanger Seven, or Voyager by my mere presence. And, of course, there was the fact that I did not want to join the Collective.

"So we concluded," Mystra agreed. She watched Seven, for a moment, "Seven, the Borg Queen's actions are not your responsibility. We have done what was necessary to protect Arana, and since both of you are still individuals, we know that our deception succeeded."

I looked sharply at Seven, dismayed that I had missed how the revelation of the Queen's spying had troubled her.

Mystra paused waiting until Seven nodded in reluctant agreement, then she continued briskly, "However, that is not our main concern. We fear that given the nature of the changes made, the Borg would gain considerable knowledge of the Q. I know that our powers seem immense, but there are ways to capture us, kill us, and, I'm sure with enough time and information, perhaps even enough to eventually assimilate one of us"

The very idea that Tyr or Mystra could be assimilated bothered me profoundly, and it brought the potential severity of the situation into sharp focus, even I understood how much more powerful possession of even one Q would make the Borg. "They cannot be allowed to assimilate Toril, or both planes will be lost." I concluded.

"If you have changed Arana's genetic code to hide this information, cannot you do this for all the inhabitants of Toril?" asked Seven.

"We could," answered Tyr, frowning mightily, "If it were not for the fact that we can only change approximately one half of the population. We cannot touch those that follow them, and that renders such effort useless."

"He plays a dangerous game," I commented, stunned at Bane's recklessness, "He must be fairly certain then that the can control her or conquer her and take the Collective from her."

Tyr added, "And if he fails he would not care about what happened to anyone else."

Seven was silent for a moment, her attitude coolly analytical, "How certain are you of this data?" she inquired.

Mystra gave her an approving look, "Not nearly enough, which is why we need to find out more about what Bane's plans are."

"Very well, what training is required of me," Seven asked Mystra, resolutely, standing stiffly with her hands clasped behind her back.

Mystra eyed her, a smirk slowly forming on her face, "Everything from basic survival and camping skills, and enough of an understanding of Faerun culture to not get yourself killed for insulting someone, to weapons skills and magical training."

Seven raised her brow, "I do not possess the same physical organs as Arana, how am I to manipulate the energy required for such training?" her tone slightly challenging.

I glanced back and forth between the two women, anxious about the rising tension between them.

"I give them to you," replied Mystra, off-handedly, "provided you make it to that part of your training."

Seven's shoulders stiffened, her chin rose, "I am certain that learning the necessary cultural knowledge and weapons training will not prove to be beyond my abilities. As for basic survival skills, I have been a Borg drone; I do know the basic survival skills of over ten thousand species."

Mystra eyed her dubiously, "Indeed? So you already know how to ride a horse? You actually know what it feels like to live outdoors for weeks at a time, dealing with cold, heat, rain, mud, and insects? And as for the cultural knowledge, while I agree that you can learn the different salutations and bows used to greet others from common to the highest level of nobility fairly easily, do you think you can manage to speak to them respectfully, no matter what your opinion of their intelligence and abilities?" once Mystra was finished with her listing, she raised an eyebrow questioningly, looking very like Seven when she doubted someone's truthfulness.

I quickly mastered my expression; for I had not fully considered the magnitude of what Seven needed to learn. After hearing Mystra's questions, I had my doubts about how she would deal with an environment so different from what she was used to, and whether or not she could manage to learn the polite mannerisms required to deal with the various people she would meet if she traveled with me. Or perhaps learn was the wrong word, I knew she could learn all of it, the question was would she be able to accept and implement what she learned.

The two of them exchanged glances, challenging on one side, defiant on the other, "I will adapt," Seven replied in a hard uncompromising voice.

I noticed Mystra's mouth quirk, and her eyes dance. "I guess we will see, won't we," she replied.

I was puzzled by Mystra's attitude, until it occurred to me that in challenging Seven, she had just made the training something Seven had to overcome to prove herself. Which meant the training was more than just something she had to endure to accompany me and stop the Borg Queen.

Seven's eyes narrowed slightly as she watched Mystra, her expression turning toward the analytical, and I was certain she suspected she had been manipulated.

The two women gazed with cool appraisal at one another. Seven raised her brow slightly and smirked at Mystra in what I thought was a silent acknowledgement. Then her expression became solemn. "We must keep this information out of Voyager's computer system, and it cannot be transmitted to Starfleet," Seven stated, frowning.

"More than that, you must keep it from everyone until this encounter with the Borg is over. If their plan fails, then the Queen will have access to Janeway's memories, so Janeway cannot know about this information until she returns, if she returns." Mystra ordered.

"Captain Janeway will not appreciate us keeping this information from her," Seven warned.

"But you know she would agree that it's too dangerous for her to know right now," Mystra challenged.

Seven nodded tensely, "Yes, given her other decisions in similar situations, I believe you are correct. That, however, will not stop her from being displeased that we kept this information from her."

Mystra only smirked in reply, but Tyr said, "And I am sorry for that, but it is necessary, to do otherwise would be to endanger everyone for the sake of her pride."

Seven and I traded wary glances, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing, no matter how true, it might be more prudent to simply have the Captain be displeased with us for withholding information, rather than repeat that particular statement to her.

"Champion Arana," I looked at Tyr inquiringly, "Train her well, and as quickly as possible, but do not rush her training and overwhelm her, Faerun is a very different place from anything she is used to." Tyr glanced at Seven kindly. "But I have no doubt that she will succeed if she sets her mind to doing so."

Seven's expression softened, "I will do my best," she responded.

Tyr nodded, and then we were back in my quarters, I still kneeling and Seven with her hand upon my shoulder. I looked up and met her blue eyes, and we traded somber glances both understanding that the future had just gotten more complicated and more dire.