Comfortable truths
Mary entered the room and no one inside it noticed. Not very surprising. Everyone was focused on the pair of furred beings who were in the middle of what was far larger than a normal private hospital room, both glaring at each other. Clearly a healing ward of some kind or emergency room. Several beds were empty. Two looked as if they had been occupied until just recently. Another being was in a bed on the far side of the room and he sat up as the odd trio entered. Mary felt her guts clench as she took in the face that as so similar to her Herald's, minus the right eye, the socket of which was covered by a bio-tech patch. The male Aenar looked well otherwise. Then again, given who ran this place? Not surprising.
"Mary." V'Larr hovered by one wall. Clearly, she had retreated there when the argument had started. The ancient bring was not a stranger to violence, but she didn't like it. The sole surviving Iconian Chief Healer sounded relieved to see her. Glenda'Lar moved to her mistress' side, the Herald remaining silent, but watchful.
"Healer V'Larr, I greet you." Mary bowed her head while raising both hands in formal Iconian greeting to the healer who returned it. Both females lowered their hands at the same time. V'Larr seemed to relax as Mary turned to the others. "Captain, Wing Commander." Mary nodded to the pair of furred beings who went totally still as she stepped towards them. "Making such noise in a Healer's Ward is not generally a good idea." She put just the right shade of humor into her tone and both of the cat people stopped whatever they were going to say. "Healer V'Larr is very patient, but there are limits." That was warning but then she spoiled it by smiling. "I learned said limits."
"Did you?" V'Larr couldn't physically show it, her metallic face never changed expression, but she could and did radiate amusement.
"I did, Healer." Mary said with aplomb that was spoiled anew when Jhinis coughed behind her, followed quickly by a muffled snort from the Gorn. "Hey!" Mary protested.
"Really? You have limits?" R'Kerti's soft monotone somehow carried across the whole room. Everyone with visible faces smiled as Mary pinked a little.
"I learned some wisdom the same way everyone does, from experience." Mary replied and looked at K'Mir who returned her gaze, the Ferasen's fur still spiky. "Wing Commander K'Mir? I greet you, friend." She stepped forwards and held out her hands to K'Mir who took her in an embrace.
"I thought we lost you." K'Mir whispered to Mary who smiled and hugged her back. "The ship, so many… And then you… It hurts, Mary. You helped us, protected us from the Romulans and…"
"It is over." Mary said firmly to the distraught Ferasen."Your past is past. The future awaits you." She released K'Mir and turned to R'Rollow who was relaxing. "Captain."
"Captain." R'Rollow replied. Now that Mary was looking and he was calmer, his fur was a mess. His eyes were bloodshot and had he been crying? He looked awful.
"Your people helped me, covered my approach to the Denali." Mary fully released the Ferasen, but held onto to K'Mir's hand. Said hand trembled in Mary's grip, but the Ferasen was calmer now. A good thing. "They paid the price for their heroism. So many found what they sought for so long. Surcease from their pain. I know what happened. I know what you found when you boarded the ship at Sol, Captain R'Rollow."
"Captain Owlna." R'Rollow met her gaze. "They needed help. I gave it."
"That you did. You had no idea what you would find on that ship. Beyond the gate that took you from it." For her part, Mary was fighting to keep from shaking in rage at what had happened. She fought past it, anger wouldn't help here. "I didn't want to believe that M'Tara had fallen so far, but she did. What she did there…" She broke off with a grimace. "That must never be repeated."
"It didn't matter. We were just trying to survive in that firestorm, Mary." K'Mir said quietly when R'Rollow did not speak. He just held Mary's eyes. "Until Sela pulled off her last moment save with that Dominion fleet, I don't think any of us expected to survive that battle. When the Berkeshire was hit and came apart, I managed to pull this fool and few others to my shuttle and we ran like hell."
"Right smack dab into a cloaked ship." Mary gave K'Mir's hand a squeeze. "A cloaked prison ship." She looked at the Healer, but V'Larr moved to the bedridden Aenar and started doing something, clearly to the consternation of said Aenar. "V'Larr won't hurt you, Jhinas. You are family."
"What?" The Aenar jerked in his bed, but did not move as the Iconian worked. "Um… I don't remember a lot after the goons in black grabbed me. Just pain. But I do remember bits. You are Mary. The… um…" He trailed off, clearly unwilling to give offense.
"The nutcase who thinks she is the daughter of an Iconian. Yes." Mary smiled at him and he relaxed, but then looked at V'Larr who completely ignored him as she worked. "The answer to the question that I know you have is both 'No' and 'Yes'."
"Uh… okay." Jhinas was clearly confused, but since no one was hurting him now, he relaxed a bit. "Long story?"
"A long story indeed." The female Aenar said as she looked at her brother. She was clearly scanning with more than her non-functional eyes and for his part, her brother focused his sole milky orb on the arc of metal that hung over her forehead.
"Okay." Jhinas repeated slowly. "The Healer introduced herself as an Iconian, which bothered me." He made a face, but no one commented. "I was and am very confused, but she was kind and gentle. Now, I see you with Iconian metal over your head, Jhinis, and your 'feel' is different."
Aenar did not use their eyes to 'see' their surroundings. They used their minds. They used their extra senses so well that many who should have known better did not understand that they were blind in actual fact. Both Jhinis and her brother were not weak of mind.
"Is it bad?" His twin sister asked. "Does it hurt like it did before?"
"No." Jhinas mused. "Feels good. Natural. But… It isn't, is it?" That was to anyone and everyone.
"Um… Healer?" Mary asked and the Iconian turned from her work to face Jhinas who looked a bit uncomfortable to be so close to one of the dreaded beings. "You are the best one to answer that."
"The biologic and synthetic hybrid technology that the meridians are composed of is made from the body of the one who shows it." The healer said reasonably. "It is natural, but it is technology that your people do not know. The meridian that your sister bears was made from her own cells. It will feel like her, but different to your enhanced senses since you have no frames of reference."
"Mine feels natural too." Jhinas' sole milky orb turned to K'Mir and it widened as her own Meridian became visible. Then it varnished again. "Iconian technology bothers people, so I hide mine when I am not among people who understand."
"That I can comprehend." The bedridden Aenar said softly. Then he smiled. "Do I get one?"
"If you want." Mary answered him when Jhinis looked at her. "You still have healing to do. The scum who had you hurt you very badly to hurt your sister and me."
"You feel like my sister to me." The male Aenar said, still a bit dubious. "That is… It feels right, but at the same time, wrong." He wasn't upset, just confused.
"It will." Mary reassured him. "As the Healer says, you have no frames of reference. This is new. We will adapt. You have a long recovery ahead of you, Jhinas. But you are not alone and no one will hurt you or your sister again if I have anything to say about it." Darkness reared in her tone, but then she smiled as K'Mir hugged her again.
"Let the past stay in the past." The Ferasen said mildly. "We have enough problems with the present, Mary."
"Indeed we do." Mary took a deep, cleansing breath. More to reassure her fellows than nay need for oxygen herself. "Captain R'Rollow, your ship can be repaired. Is that what you wish?" K'Mir stiffened beside her, but Mary gave the Ferasen a squeeze and the cat woman did not interrupt.
"The Alliance says it can't be." R'Rollow said slowly. "They are going to scrap the ship, break up the crew. They… We can't do that." He said a bit weakly.
"I owe you and yours more than I can pay. I call the debt current and valid. If I ask them too, the Iconians can repair the K'Valk's Honor." Mary said softly. "Just like the Denali is being repaired. But that won't erase the past any more than my scars will disappear." She touched her skull. "Your crew cannot accept their help however. Not after everything that happened to them."
"Hence why the Alliance wants to separate us. They say it is to let us heal on our own time." K'Mir said softly. Mary looked at her and the Ferasen shook her head. "They don't understand."
"No, they don't." Mary agreed. "But I do." Suddenly, she was the focus of everyone's attention. "M'Tara sought allies in very strange places. She was the reason that the golden scum was here. Now that my memories are unlocked, I remember her talking to him once. They were allies." V'Larr had stilled along with the rest and now, the ancient synthetic being bowed her head. "Vengeance is a powerful motivator but it never ends once that road is taken. M'Tara is gone, Healer. We have to clean up the mess she left."
"My sister never confided in us completely. I do not know if she kept secrets just to do it or if she thought she was protecting us." V'Larr admitted. "She never told us all of what she did there. She gave basic explanation, but never specifics. In hindsight, we should have looked closer at what she was doing, but we were always so busy. That is no excuse, but that is all I can offer." She said to the group who looked at one another. "I am sorry and I wish to help when and as I can. My surviving sisters all agree with me except T'Ket."
"I think it is better that we do not bother T'Ket." Mary said with a grimace that many shared.
"Probably wise." V'Larr agreed and went back to working on the tech next to Jhinas' bed.
"Captain R'Rollow, you assumed a burden at Sol that dwarfed any oath you ever gave to Starfleet." Mary turned back to R'Rollow who was clearly wilting. From his stance, it was just as clear that anyone who offered aid would get spat at or clawed. "You told them what happened and they didn't believe you."
"How could they?" R'Rollow said softly. "They were not there. I was there. I did it and I barely believe it sometimes." He shook his head. "No one believed it when the ship de-cloaked and joined the fight on the Alliance side. I know you had doubts too, love." He stepped up to K'Mir who slid out of Mary's arms into his.
"I did." K'Mir shook her head. "I didn't think any of us would make it to the portal, let alone three ships! I just…" She buried her head in R'Rollow's shoulder and the Catian held her as she started to cry.
"I know." R'Rollow held his mate as the hard bitten warrior sobbed like a baby. R'Kerti looked at Mary who shook her head.
"It is a long story, R'Kerti." Mary said to the Gorn. "Not a good one either." Then she turned back to the pair of furred forms. "For now, Captain R'Rollow, 'I' take formal responsibility for the crew of the K'Valk's Honor. Any from your crew who wish it are welcome to join me on the Denali." R'Rollow went totally still as Mary stepped forwards and laid a hand on K'Mir's shoulder that was free. "You and your mate are both welcome aboard anytime, Captain. But for now? Healer?" She inquired, looking at V'Larr. "What is your prognosis?"
"The illness has been eradicated from his cells but great damage was done. Captain R'Rollow will recover, but even with our technology, his rehabilitation will some take time." V'Larr said quietly as she finished up whatever she was doing and moved away from Jhinas' bed. "We took pains to ensure that our cure was easy to replicate with your peoples' current level of technology so, when you are healed, Captain R'Rollow, you are welcome to take it back to your people. The sooner, the better." She warned. "The palliative the evil one made will wear off soon."
"Then, I should take it now, but... K'Mir?" R'Rollow had his hands full with the crying Ferasen. "She isn't like this." He complained.
"She is now." V'Larr replied as she started for the door. "You didn't tell him, did you?" K'Mir looked at the Iconian as V'Larr made it to the door. The Ferasen shook her head. "Ah, children." That was sour and Mary stiffened as V'Larr focused on her. "Mary. The Denali will be ready when you are."
Then she was gone! Her Herald followed her out.
Both Aenar were staring at the crying Ferasen even as R'Rollow tried in vain to calm her. R'Kerti jerked and then turned to Mary who nodded slightly.
"As V'Larr said, the sooner the better. You need to take time to heal. I will take the cure to your people, Captain R'Rollow." Mary said softly as R'Rollow continued trying to soothe K'Mir and failed. "And what has been said in here will not be repeated. Clear?" That was to Jhinas and R'Kerti who both nodded. "R'Kerti, you have healing to do as well."
"If I am not there to keep you out of trouble, stars only knows what messes you will get into." The Gorn crossed her arms and it was clear she wasn't going to budge.
"And who is the one who did not obey orders?" Mary asked, but her tone was humorous rather than snide. "You are welcome to come with me, R'Kerti. I will need to recruit more people anyway if I am to run a full on battle carrier properly. Starfleet will want to keep an eye on me. So will lots of other people." She patted K'Mir's shoulder, but the distraught Ferasen likely didn't notice. "Who do I deliver it to, Captain?"
"Take it to Cait and asked for Clan Leader R'Lass. She will know who to talk to." R'Rollow said firmly. "Tell her I sent you and she will roll out the red carpet."
"Oh?" Mary asked. She was, about to turn to leave, but she paused at his tone. Irony?
"Her mate never thought I would amount to anything and he took great joy in calling me a fool and traitor after Sol." R'Rollow said quietly. "But Mom put him right." Mary stared at him and he smiled, an oddly tender expression. "She met K'Mir and they like one another."
"I… I…" K'Mir managed to speak, but just barely. "I have to tell you... Mary… I…"
"Tell him, not me. You know he won't mind." Mary reassured her friend. K'Mir stiffened and Mary was quick to continue. "No. No one said. But I have eyes, ears and a nose. It is all right, my friend. It is going to be all right."
"Nose?" R'Rollow stilled and then bent his head down towards K'Mir, taking her scent carefully. Then he gasped. "What the-? Oh my god! K'Mir! You… When? How?"
"I didn't mean to go behind your back!" K'Mir was all but falling over now. "I thought you were going to go to the ship even as sick as you were, to find a way to die with honor! To go out in a blaze of glory as humans say and I-" She broke off as R'Rollow kissed her.
"Come on." R'Rollow released K'Mir, but held onto her hand and led her towards one of the rumpled beds. "We do need to talk. About a lot of things it seems. Mary, talk to R'Lass. She will help you."
Mary nodded to the Catian, turned and left the room without a backward glance. Her Herald and the Gorn followed. A look at Jhinis and Mary smiled at the feelings that she could sense from the Aenar.
"Jhinas is asleep again." Jhinis offered. "He was in a bit of pain, but the Healer took care of it. I wasn't sure he would accept this." She said with a small smile. "I am glad he did."
"He may have second thoughts, Jhinis." Mary cautioned. "He has a mind of his own and he has been through several massive traumas. We need to give him time to heal."
"I know." Her Herald agreed. "But he wasn't very quiet about his wishes, was he?" She asked with smirk as Mary shook her head.
"What?" The Gorn inquired as both mismatched not-quite-Iconian females shared as chuckle. "Or do I want to know?"
"His mind is a mess at the moment." Mary hedged, but Jhinis elbowed her in the ribs! "Hey!"
"Let's not introduce Jhinas to Horil, shall we?" For once, the female Aenar was totally serious. "My brother would bed anything. He will ask you." She warned R'Kerti who stiffened.
"You are not serious!" R'Kerti stared at the Aenar who was at best half her size.
"I will say that he does know how to take 'No' for an answer, but he can be darned persistent. He won't mess with Mary, he doesn't touch family and she is." Mary smiled at that. "That said? He has tried weirder things." Jhinis shook her head as Mary led the way towards a door that only she could see. "At least V'Larr creeped him out enough that he didn't make any comments to her."
That was pure 'annoyed sister'.
"Bets on how long until he does it to the Wing Commander?" R'Kerti asked slyly and both others winced. "Um… Wait. Not a good idea, that if she is bearing young."
Neither of the others reacted and she had her answer. Yes, K'Mir was. R'Rollow's if all of the comments were to be taken right. That wasn't supposed to be possible. Ferasen and Catian could not interbreed, could they? But… R'Kerti stared around at the Iconian architecture all around her and kept her questions to herself.
"No, its not." Mary said as she exited the building and the others followed. "But I did warn V'Larr and the others. Glenda'Lar won't put up with anything if she is half as competent as she seems."
"He will try." Jhinis said with a long suffering sigh. "At least here, when he gets his butt kicked, he won't die."
Of course, Mary had to have the last word.
"He might prefer that to V'Larr's tender care."