***Time Is Too Slow…***
~Chapter 7~
Aerial sighed. It was 2130 according to the clock behind the counter, and Aerial couldn't wait to go to bed. She'd explained to her coworker, "The company moved me here without enough warning to find a place to stay; especially with all the rioting, there's no one doing real-estate."
And much to her relief was told "We'll find you a room right here; the privilege of working in a hotel."
Rina, as the girl's name was, ran for a minute over to the front desk and returned. She appeared back behind the counter and slid a room key to Aerial, "In case management asks, I wasn't involved."
"No problem." Aerial agreed with a smirk, "Thanks."
Rina shrugged it off with a grin, "You seem like a nice girl, I can stick out my neck for you once." She turned to the counter with a painted-on smile and yelled over the crowd "Can I help the next person?"
Aerial finished with the guy from room 206's request for 6 pillows and took a phone call order for room service, telling them in a sickeningly-sweet voice, "Next time you can dial directly to room service and not bother me by dialing 77. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy the twelve dollar pudding."
The line was dying down & the crowd in the lobby was dispersing to their rooms. Because the hotel front doors were closed with the rioters outside, the uninvolved vacationers were bored out of their minds, and giving the Concierge Desk a lot to deal with. Aerial looked at the clock again, 2152.
"I can go to bed at 10, right?" she asked Rina wearily.
Rina nodded, "The night shift will show up then and we're done for the night."
"Yay," Aerial mumbled, yawned and turned to the last two people in her line. The first was a business man she'd seen three times already that day - and she informed him yet again that he wouldn't be able to leave, but could use an open conference room to call into the important meeting he was missing. When she'd finally chased him away for the night, promising to have the desk call him in case the riots ended overnight, she turned around and started to gather her things.
A cough behind her prompted her to turn back to the counter. "Oh, I'm sorry, how may I help you?"
She looked up to find a familiar face; the nicer of the two men in the elevator. She braced herself for inappropriate comments, but received, "You forgot I was here?"
"I'm just in such a hurry to get to bed! I haven't slept in a lot of hours! I just arrived this morning! I'm sharing too much about me. What can I help you with?"
"Well, I was going to ask if you wanted to go for a drink, but since you are headed straight home, I guess the answer's 'no.'"
She nodded, "Thank you anyway, but no."
Before she could dismiss him, he continued, "I don't mean to sound like a stalker or anything, but I've been watching you for a while now - I just can't take my eyes off of you."
She gave him a blank look, "Now, if you'll excuse me--" She picked up her bags and walked around the counter to leave the lobby. He stepped in front of her,
"If it wouldn't be too forward, could I walk you home?"
*****
Keei strolled back to the lobby, passing the newlywed couple who were now arguing over which was better, Puce, or Lime. She shook her head and decided to loiter in the weight room, catch up on lost gym time. She turned the corner and stumbled backwards as someone rammed into her.
"Sorry!" She opened her mouth to answer but the figure was already striding away. Having had, in the past, a light-fingered little brother Keei automatically checked the pockets on her shorts. Her eyes widened.
"My PADD!" It had romance novels, solitaire high scores and the inventory of her chocolate! . . . as well as the details of their mission. She sprinted after the pickpocket who, after glancing over his shoulder, also broke into a run.
"STOP THIEF! THIEF!"
*****
The Midnight Galactic Kiddy Scavenger Hunt had just commenced. Teams of joyful youngsters troubled by the confinement with the hotel burst into the lobby. The best way to minimize the noise level was to limit the area in which the hunt could occur. Planted items covered the lobby. Elenna walked out among the kids. "I'm sorry they're causing so much noise, but something had to be done to keep them from becoming truly uncontrollable," said Elenna to the passing couple. Elenna noticed Aerial trying to avoid the swarm of kids. "Arelliaka, I'm glad that you were able to stay to help with the scavenger hunt," commented Elenna.
"Actually Ms. Súprimes I was heading home to get some sleep," replied Aerial.
"Could you wait another hour and keep an eye on these kids? It will be considered as overtime," Elenna entreated.
"I guess so," sighed Aerial. She had really wanted to get to sleep and the mass of screaming kids wasn't helping. A young man with a PADD in his hand sprinted into the hive of frantic children. Keei appeared around the corner screaming, "Stop thief!" Elenna screamed over the din, "A special prize will be given to the team that retrieves the lifeguard's stole item." A fury of kids began chasing the thief.
*****
Keei's eyes widened as the kids swarmed the PADDnapper bringing him down, and several began arguing over who had gotten to him first. Using the confusion the disguised Science Officer sat on the mans back, ignoring his pained "oof".
"Who hired you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Keei grinned evilly and stood.
"Hey kids! He's volunteered to play with ya'll!"
"What! I did no-" he was cut off as a multitude of sugar hyped kids played their favorite game, 'Jump on the adult'. Keei smiled at the little girl who'd wrenched the PADD out of the thief's hand and handed her one of the large chocolate bars she'd gotten from the vending machine.
"Split it with your team." She then knelt down, smiling as the pickpocket's face contorted with each thump.
"Who. Hired. You. You didn't just pick me at random, as a lifeguard my PADD has nothing of value. Why would you take it?" the man grit his teeth and glared. Midori shook her head tsk-ing.
"I'm afraid I'll have to bring out the big guns then, Mr.PADDnapper."
*****
"Ugh." Aerial sighed, "Babysitting?"
Elenna stared at her, a mix of pleading and ordering.
"If I have to." Elenna nodded and hurried away before Aerial could change her mind. I'm so tired... She mumbled to herself. Looking around, she took measure of the chaos. Maybe it won't be soo bad...if they all stay occupied...beating that man... "Wait! Are they beating that man?" She called after Elenna, but it was too late - she'd left.
"Babysitting?" A question from behind her startled her. Aerial whirled around to find the elevator guy still behind her, his question still hanging in the air.
"Yes, I suppose I am."
"Could I possibly help you out?"
Aerial shot him a suspicious look, "You're persistent, aren't you?"
"I just want to be helpful...and I'd like to spend some time with you."
"How do you know that? You don't know me."
"I couldn't stop thinking about you all day."
He sounds so sweet, but…she thought. "And seeing me in my bra?"
"Didn't hurt." He grinned sheepishly. "But I'm sure there's a whole lot more too you then that - a whole lot more that I want to know."
"Nice save."
Decisions, decisions... she thought to herself. "I'll give you one chance - as long as you help control the rugrats."
*****
"Hey, whoa, what?"
Haioden turned around to look at Cray, confusion apparent on his face.
"She, um, disappeared," Cray said quietly, as if it were some sort of explanation.
"What?"
"I said--"
"I know what you said. We have to find her. Where was she last?"
"In the same back hallway as when we followed her. That place seems to be no good..."
"Whatever you say, my young friend," Haioden said as the door opened to let him through.
"Wait!" Cray called as he hurried out the door, It was about time things came to a head.
*****
After an hour and a half of Barney songs it was revealed that the poor pickpocket was indeed, just a poor pickpocket. Keei sighed.
"It's not fair. You steal my stuff, I go through all the trouble of chasing you down, with help, and you're just doing it for money? Yeesh." She took her PADD and continued on her way to the Weight room.
"I wonder how everyone else is doing?"
******
Captain Cosmo was none too happy when she was woken up. Again.
"Er... Captain?"
"Yes, Ensign?"
"They lost her."
"Joy."
*****
=/\=Empire to Stellar=/\=
"Stellar here."
=/\=We're beaming you up. We've got some rescuing to do.=/\=
*****
Where am I?
Darkness. Everywhere.
Ocala's head felt - it was an odd sensation. Trying to place it, she decided on a mixture of feeling too heavy, and as if she couldn't quite articulate her thoughts. Like that time she had been half drunk on bloodwine during that party back when...when had it been, exactly? She shook her head, unable to answer he own question, but it only made her mind throb painfully.
Suddenly, the strong stench of an aefnumn, a plant indigenous to Romulus, a delicacy. Its pungent aroma was enough to make Ocala'Dhael sway slightly where she was seated on the ground. Wafting around here, she felt at home in the pitch black of somewhere.
It was enough to clear her head. With a start, Ocala remembered the cloaked Romulans, being kidnapped, the delegation, Tempest.
Tempest...
She needed out. Now. Tempest would be worried sick about her. The admiral could probably care less, including the vast majority of Starfleet. But Tempest...
Ocala stood up and started running blindly in the hopes of finding her way out, or at least seeing light. After a few seconds, she ran head on into a rather large object. Jumping back, she carefully extended her hand, until she made contact with the warm surface. Moving around, she discovered a metallic feeling and knew it at once. How many times had she walked up to her father and laid her hand on his chest hoping for some comfort? Recoiling quickly, Ocala retraced her steps until she was where she started, or she thought she started.
"Tremok."
No answer.
"Tremok!"
From every direction, lights focused their blinding beam on Ocala'Dhael's slim figure. The shadows of the hulking guards - larger then your average Romulan - stood still. The light was so focused that Ocala couldn't see the room - if that's what it was - she was encased in. Frozen on the spot, Ocala tried to draw in a breath, bring her shoulders back, make herself look taller. It wasn't helping.
From the depths of the darkness, footsteps approached. Another shadow emerged to dwarf Ocala's own. Even though he was hidden in the oblivion, she could tell from his stance, and the slight stooping of his shoulders from age.
"Ocala'Dhael. Like the bird you were named for, you stand here surrounded by the light, captured in your moment of triumph. And like your namesake, you'll be toppled here, surrounded by family and blood. You who have betrayed the Empire of its glory, and have betrayed the Federation of its loyalty. Ocala'Dhael, for the last time called daughter of Tremok, you will end here, and all you have brought with you."
Ocala froze. She was religious enough in her people's beliefs, but not attending a Romulan gathering in years made her rusty on the interpretation. Was this the ritual killing in a time of need, or the ritual killing for the purpose of revenge? Whatever the purpose, the meaning was clear: they wanted her dead.
Tremok was walking circle of guards, shadow contorting and twisting to match his steps. He stopped, and tossed something at Ocala'Dhael's feet. Carefully, she bent down over the metallic object and plucked it off the ground. The silver cover was made of gresem, a type of metal rare on Romulus, favored for its spiritual purposes in Romulan religion. Most of the world's supply was used in the development of items for the people's religion. Regarding it wearily, she traced her slight fingers over the engravings on the front.
Aedhai Stelam. Temple of the Star.
The Romulan death book.
She knew this part. Regardless of how she was going to die, she was to prepare herself first. All Romulans knew the procedure, and regarded it as the highest honor, a reward at the end of their lives. For Tremok to give this to her meant much deep down, that he would give her the proper death of a Romulan, but that he felt it had to come to this was unforgivable.
"You know where you have been Ocala. Now, take the Aedhai Stelam and make yourself welcome to the Otherworld. They've been waiting." All of the light beams shut off except for the one directly overheard. With retreating footsteps quickening her pulse, Ocala'Dhael sat down and prepared herself for death.
*****
Katana McCoy sat twirling the straw in her glass as she giggled, a bevy of men surrounding her in between numbers. The previous red and green dresses had been traded in for a strapless black satin dress, the likes of which defied physics and conventional thought, as it usually goes with strapless dresses. She rolled her eyes briefly as they swooned, and then slapped on her distracting 'charming to be around, and charming you' face again. Her eyes flicked to the side as she noticed a tall African American man running into the bar. As he scanned the bar, and finally focused in on her, a little horizontal frown-y line appeared on her forehead, and multiple patrons contemplated ritual suicide. Cray dashed over, panting heavily.
"Katana, we've got a big problem. Haioden's gone all Jedi-zen on me, and now I can't find him, Ocala's missing, and we've got to go," he frantically said. She raised both eyebrows.
"Cray, ixnay on the alkingtay! e'reway in ublicpay!" she said under her breath as quite a few of her admirers looked at him and her, patently confused. He shook his head.
"That doesn't matter. The mission's been compromised enough as it is. You, me, Kinta, we all have to go now!" he said fervently. Katana sighed.
"I suppose the order came from her Highness herself, then?" Katana asked, not so obliquely referring to Sarah. Cray nodded. Katana stood up, smoothed out imaginary wrinkles, and waved at Kinta, who'd been watching cautiously from the bar. "C'mon boys, we'd better blow this gig," she smoothly walked through the gaggle of protesting fanboys, and turned at the door, and blew a kiss behind her.
"Oh, if you get that starved for beautiful company, and don't mind getting your ears assailed, you can call Blondie, and tell her I was joking about the communicable disease."
Amongst the chaos left behind her, Cray and Kinta gawked, and then dashed out after her into the lobby.
*****
There had been a time when this would have truly meant something to her. Perhaps as she was about to die after a long and fruitful life, sitting here reading the stories of the Otherworld would have intrigued her. But right now, the words blurred in her eyes, and her well honed Romulan mind was racing for a way out. The ultimate peril that faced those who didn't adhere to the Aedham Stelam was supposedly brutal in the afterlife, but Ocala'Dhael was hoping that she wouldn't get that far. Yet.
The page the book was open to described the vast expanse that would await her in the Romulan equivalent of heaven: a place that is always night, where the sky is filled with stars, and the earth with rolling pastures. And - of course - the fire. Ocala inwardly rolled her eyes. Romulans always had to have the fire, didn't they?
*****
Cray was about this close to hyperventilating, which wasn't too much to worry about seeing as Katana already had the paper bag waiting. Still, he couldn't help feeling panic settle over him as the seconds ticked by and he still had no idea where i-Erreah was.
"Are you sure we can't just bust into those coordinates we have?" Keei asked, obviously hopeful Sarah would change her mind.
"If we just run in there, they'll kill her. If they haven't already," Toru said, shaking his head.
"No transporters mean we have to go in and get her," Kinta said, obviously trying to form a plan.
"Not necessarily. Keei, where is the interference field coming from?" Sarah asked.
"There are three generators, all outside the complex," Keei answered.
"And to disable the field, how many need to go?"
"Just one." Keei grinned, seeing where this was going.
"Can you blow it up, Mr. Whickman?"
Cray fought himself into a state not quite calm, but not needing the paper bag either. "I think so, Captain."
"And can we locate i-Erreah and Lt. Ocala'Dhael if the interference goes down?"
Keei thought before answering. "Lt. Dhael, definitely. But i-Erreah may be hard to find with all those other Romulans around."
"Does he have a commbadge?"
"He does," Cray answered. "I saw it on him when he ran off."
"I believe that solves our problem."
"Captain... Sarah... Lady... Dear, what if when they hear us shooting they kill her?" Katana put in
"Then I guess we'll just have to be quick about it. Mr. Stellar, set a course for directly above their hideout."
"Course laid in, Captain."
"Then let's go."
*****
Tremok and his buddies looked up in alarm when they heard a box of tools fall. They had been discussing quietly how the were going to get rid of Ocala's body, but now they were all suspicious. Very suspicious. Pulling out a large knife, Tremok stood and began to lurk towards the pile of tools and the shadows that lay beyond. A rustle gave him all he needed to lay his knife on Erreah's neck.
"Guess I'm not as young as I used to be," Erreah said in Romulan as he strained his neck backwards and up.
"No, it appears you are not," Tremok said coldly.
*****
Ocala'Dheal looked up in alarm as she heard a body roll past her and slam against the back wall. She couldn't see anything outside of her small circle of spotlights, so she instead chose to stay still.
"Madam Ambassador, how lovely to see you here," said a voice from behind her, presumably from whomever had just violently met the wall. The speaker was obviously not in the best of health, leading Ocala to believe he was a cellmate and not an assassin nor a rescuer.
"If you must call me something, I prefer 'Lieutenant,'" she said off-hand and without looking back at him.
"Forgive me, Lieutenant. I was just trying to show the proper respect."
"A respectful man would show himself and tell his name."
"I suppose so." There was a pause as she heard the unmistakable sound of the man dragging himself along the floor. "I am Haioden Erreah."
Ocala was very surprised. A Romulan man? Why would her father have had him captured as well? "You obviously know who I am," she replied neutrally. "Why are you here?"
"I was planning to rescue you. That is, until I was caught. Now most likely I'll be killed."
"So cheerful."
"Not cheerful. Hopeful. Somehow I think things will work themselves out."
Ocala looked at him skeptically as he lay back and tried to stop a trickle of blood with his sleeve. "I wish you could be right."
In the distance, she heard something explode. Instantly what sounded like a dozen alarms went off.
"The interference field is down!"
Ocala looked at the man. Smiling, Erreah could not resist. "Who says wishes don't come true?" And as Ocala was about to open her mouth to fire back that she was no one's fairy godmother, the transporter sparkles provided her no retort.
*****
Katana was waiting for them when the pair of Romulans rematerialized on the Empire's transporter pad. Haioden could not have been happier, mainly because blood was still gushing out his veins. Ocala, however, was a bit confused.
"Katana, what's going on?"
Katana didn't answer right away, but instead tried to stop Haioden's involuntary staining of the carpet.
"Don't tell me you're the doctor."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Katana asked, not looking up from Haioden
"You just don't seem very gentle. Or qualified."
"Just because I can bartend and sing and be very, very pretty, doesn't mean I can't be a doctor too," Katana said, indignant, but still moving quickly.
Ocala shrugged. "I only said you didn't seem qualified, not that you weren't."
"Well, remind me to leave you bleeding next time I find your soon to be lifeless corpse."
Katana had finally gotten Haioden under control and glanced back over her shoulder for a second.
*****
Aerial was very confused when the ship started to break orbit. She didn't think she had pushed anything, so where was the ship going? She tried to put the ship back into orbit, but it would always compensate. She was getting very frustrated when she heard Toru from the engineering console.
"Captain, our warp engine is being activated."
Captain Cosmo looked at Aerial. "Mr. Stellar?"
"I don't know, Captain. The computer seems to have a mind of its own. I'm trying to keep us in orbit, but something is pulling us away."
"Or someone. Cmdr. Midori, what's in this direction?"
"Er... space dust. Cool binary star system. And..."
"And...?"
"The Peanut People, Captain."
"How did I know?"
"Um... are you psychic?" Keei asked, the picture of confusion.
Sarah didn't dignify the comment with a response. "Let the ship go where it wants to go, Mr. Stellar. I have a feeling we're going back to where we came from."
*****
Ocala looked around once at the ship she was in and decided not to complain.